Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in end stage renal disease: experience at a tertiary care centre.

Introduction: Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is difficult in the setting of end stage renal disease (ESRD). The present study aimed to analyze the treatment outcome in patients with CHC and ESRD, being evaluated for kidney transplantation.

Methods: Data of 65 patients of ESRD with CHC (males: 53, mean age: 39.

Diogenes syndrome: a case report.

Cessation of normal skin cleansing seen in geriatric or self-neglected patients can cause accumulation of keratinous crusts on the skin. In the extreme end of this spectrum is a condition known as Diogenes syndrome (DS). These patients may have psychiatric disorders like paranoid disorders, mood affection, or temporofrontal dementia.

A novel virus of the genus Cilevirus causing symptoms similar to citrus leprosis.

Citrus leprosis in Colombia was previously shown to be caused by cytoplasmic Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV-C). In 2011, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based diagnostic methods failed to identify CiLV-C from citrus samples with symptoms similar to citrus leprosis; however, virions similar to CiLV-C were observed in the cytoplasm of the symptomatic leaves by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the causal organism was transmitted by the false spider mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis, to healthy citrus seedlings.

Indocyanine green clearance test (using spectrophotometry) and its correlation with model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score in Indian patients with cirrhosis of liver.

Background: Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) score and Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) are used commonly to assess the prognosis of liver disease but the disadvantage of these static tests is their inability to identify the functional reserve of the liver. Among all quantitative liver function tests indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test is most widely used and has been used to determine operative risk before hepatectomy and to assess prognosis of patients with cirrhosis.

Aim: To correlate indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test with MELD score in patients with cirrhosis of liver.

Identification of expanded alleles of the FMR1 Gene in the CHildhood Autism Risks from Genes and Environment (CHARGE) study.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Expansion of a CGG trinucleotide repeat (>200 repeats) in the 5'UTR of the fragile X mental retardation gene, is the single most prevalent cause of cognitive disabilities. Several screening studies for FXS, among individuals with ID from different ethnic populations, have indicated that the prevalence of the syndrome varies between 0.

Clinico-immunological profile and outcome of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive children.

Objectives: To study the clinico-immunological, nutritional and growth characteristics of HIV-infected children and the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on these parameters.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Out-patient department of a paediatric ART centre, Delhi, India.

Correlation of adipose tissue with liver histology in Asian Indian patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Background: There is sparse literature on the association of adipose tissue with liver histology in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Aim: To study the correlation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and total adipose tissue (TAT) with liver histology in Indian patients with NAFLD.

Material And Methods: A single slice CT scan at the level of L4-L5 vertebrae was done to assess the abdominal VAT and SAT volumes in 21 patients with histological diagnosis of NAFLD.

Antioxidant potential and protection of pancreatic β- cells by Calotropis gigantea in streptozocin induced diabetic rats.

This study was designed to examine the antioxidant defense by chloroform extract of Calotropis gigantea on streptozotocin-(40mg/kg, intraperitonial, single-injection) induced diabetes in wistar albino rats. The extract significantly (P < .05) decreased the pancreatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels and significantly (P < .

Comparison of heart rate variability among children with well controlled versus refractory epilepsy: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Autonomic symptoms frequently occur during seizures. There are reports that the adult group of intractable epilepsy patients have different autonomic profile than the well controlled epilepsy, but there is no clear evidence in the children epilepsy group, therefore, we planned to study the autonomic profile in well controlled and refractory epilepsy children by recording the short-term heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital between July 2008 and June 2009.

Noradrenaline vs. terlipressin in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome: a randomized study.

Background & Aims: Various vasoconstrictors are useful in the management of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Terlipressin is the drug of choice; however, it is expensive. In this study, we evaluated safety and efficacy of terlipressin and noradrenaline in the treatment of HRS.

Preventive pharmacotherapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Over the last few decades certain demographic changes have been observed worldwide, which have led to an increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular disease are major contributors to this disease burden leading to rising morbidity and mortality. It is worrisome to see that type 2 diabetes with its micro- and macrovascular complications is occurring in younger populations where it was hitherto unseen.

Vitamin D supplementation for severe pneumonia--a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the role of oral vitamin D supplementation for resolution of severe pneumonia in under-five children.

Design: Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Inpatients from a tertiary care hospital.

Second trimester abortion in women with and without previous uterine scar: Eleven years experience from a developing country.

Objectives: To study the safety of second trimester abortion in women with previous uterine scar.

Methods: We screened the records of 518 women who underwent an abortion between 12 and 20 weeks' gestation at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, from January 2000 to December 2010. Methods used for abortion were: (i) vaginal misoprostol with or without pre-treatment with mifepristone, and (ii) intracervical dinoprostol gel or vaginal misoprostol ± extra-amniotic saline ± oxytocin infusion.

Rituximab.

Rituximab is a chimeric mouse-human monoclonal antibody against the CD 20 antigen on the surface of B lymphocytes. It binds to CD20 and causes B cell death by antibody dependant cell-mediated cytotoxicity, complement mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis. It leads to rapid and sustained depletion of B cells.

Effect of pre-heating composite resin on gap formation at three different temperatures.

Aim: The study aims to evaluate and compare total gap surface area formed after restoration of class II cavities with Filtek Z350 and P60 at room temperature, 37°C and 54°C.

Materials And Methods: Thirty extracted maxillary and mandibular molars were taken and divided into six groups of five teeth each. Standardized class II cavities were made and were restored with Filtek Z350 and P60, both at room temperature, 37°C and 54°C.

Corrected QT interval as a predictor of mortality in elderly patients with syncope.

Background: Prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) holds independent prognostic importance in predicting mortality in patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure. However, its association with all cause or cardiac mortality in the general population remains unclear. We evaluated the relationship between prolonged QTc and total mortality among patients with syncope.

Hepatic osteodystrophy is common in patients with noncholestatic liver disease.

Background: Patients with cirrhosis are more prone to develop metabolic bone disease. Scanty literature data are available on osteodystrophy in patients from India with noncholestatic liver diseases.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with cirrhosis were prospectively evaluated for bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and left forearm (distal radius).

B cells as a therapeutic target for IFN-β in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

IFN-β-1b is a first-line immunomodulatory therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS). However, its effects on B cells have not been characterized. In vitro studies of B cells derived from RR MS patients revealed that IFN-β-1b decreases B cells' stimulatory capacity, as detected by inhibition of the Ag-specific T cell proliferative response upon Ag presentation by IFN-β-1b-treated B cells.

Antiepileptic potential of flavonoids fraction from the leaves of Anisomeles malabarica.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The plant Chodara (Anisomeles malabarica R.Br. Family: Lamiaceae) has numerous therapeutic utilities in folk medicine.

Standardization of B19 IgG ELISA to study the seroepidemiology of parvovirus B19 in North Indian voluntary blood donors.

Background And Objectives: Parvovirus B19 (B19) being a non-enveloped DNA virus is hence thermo-stable to the current methods of viral inactivation. Therefore transfusion of blood or its component from a viremic donor to non-immune recipients may result in transfusion-transmitted B19 infection with occasional sinister complications. The serologically naïve blood donor population in our country has not been studied.