Fungal Endophytes as Mitigators against Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Crop Plants.

The escalating global food demand driven by a gradually expanding human population necessitates strategies to improve agricultural productivity favorably and mitigate crop yield loss caused by various stressors (biotic and abiotic). Biotic stresses are caused by phytopathogens, pests, and nematodes, along with abiotic stresses like salt, heat, drought, and heavy metals, which pose serious risks to food security and agricultural productivity. Presently, the traditional methods relying on synthetic chemicals have led to ecological damage through unintended impacts on non-target organisms and the emergence of microbes that are resistant to them.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Revised (2021) Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency and Rickets.

Justification: The emerging literature on prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in India, prevention and treatment strategies of rickets, and extra-skeletal benefits of vitamin D suggest the need for revising the existing guidelines for prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in India.

Objectives: To review the emerging literature on vitamin D prevalence and need for universal vitamin D supplementation. To suggest optimum vitamin D therapy for treatment of asymptomatic and symptomatic vitamin D deficiency, and rickets.

COVID-19-related disruptions to routine vaccination services in India: a survey of paediatric providers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in essential health services globally. We surveyed Indian paediatric providers on their perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on routine vaccination. Among 424 (survey 1) and 141 (survey 2) respondents representing 26 of 36 Indian states and union territories, complete suspension of vaccination services was reported by 33.

Erroneous reduction of HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on dapsone treatment for Hansen's disease - a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background Dapsone treatment may reduce HbA1c levels in patients with diabetes. Aims To assess the prevalence and characteristics of dapsone associated reduction of HbA1c in patients with Hansen's disease. Methods A retrospective data review of outpatient and inpatient charts of consecutive patients with Hansen's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus was conducted over two years from January 2014 to January 2016 at the Department of Dermatology, CMC Vellore, India.