Evaluation of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and lipid abnormalities in patients with newly detected hypertension and its association with severity of hypertension.

Introduction: Hypertension remains the major preventable cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lipoprotein (a) is seen to be associated with established essential hypertension and contributes to atherogenesis or to thrombogenesis or both.

Aim: Correlation between lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and lipid abnormalities in patients with newly detected hypertension and its association with severity of hypertension.

Assessment of DNA aptamers targeting GlcB and HspX antigens for application in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.

The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (aTB) is challenging and there is an urgent need for an accurate diagnostic test. We have developed a high affinity DNA aptamer against GlcB antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). We further compared the diagnostic utility of in-house-generated high affinity DNA aptamers and polyclonal antibodies against two Mtb antigens, namely GlcB and HspX, in ascitic fluid samples.

Utility of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA for the improved diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.

Abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) continues to pose a major diagnostic challenge for clinicians due to its nonspecific clinical presentation, variable anatomical location and lack of sensitive diagnostic tools. In spite of the development of several assays till date; no single test has proved to be adequate for ATB diagnosis. In this study, we for the first time report the detection of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.

A novel aptamer-based test for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis.

Pleural tuberculosis (pTB) is diagnosed by using a composite reference standard (CRS) since microbiological methods are grossly inadequate and an accurate diagnostic test remains an unmet need. The present study aimed to evaluate the utility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen and DNA-based tests for pTB diagnosis. Patients were classified as 'Definite TB', 'Probable TB' and 'Non-TB' disease according to the CRS.

Occurrence & predictors of osteoporosis & impact of body composition alterations on bone mineral health in asymptomatic pre-menopausal women with HIV infection.

Background & Objectives: Data on bone mineral density (BMD) and sarcopenia are scant from young females with HIV. This study was conducted to determine occurrence, predictors and impact of body composition alterations on osteoporosis in pre-menopausal women with HIV.

Methods: A total of 214 females with serologically documented HIV infection were screened, of whom 103 pre-menopausal women, 25-45 yr age, clinically stable, having at least one year follow up data, underwent hormonal and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis for BMD and body composition.

Presence, patterns & predictors of hypocortisolism in patients with HIV infection in India.

Background & Objectives: : Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is rarely diagnosed in patients with HIV infection, in spite of autopsy studies showing very high rates of adrenal involvement. This study was aimed to determine the presence, patterns and predictors of AI in patients with HIV infection.

Methods: : Consecutive HIV patients, 18-70 yr age, without any severe co-morbid state, having at least one-year follow up at the antiretroviral therapy clinic, underwent clinical assessment and hormone assays.

Occurrence, patterns & predictors of hypogonadism in patients with HIV infection in India.

Background & Objectives: Data on hypogonadism among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Indians are not available. This study was aimed to evaluate the occurrence, pattern and predictors of hypogonadism in HIV-infected Indians.

Methods: Consecutive stable HIV-infected patients, 18-70 yr age, without any severe comorbid state, having at least one year follow up data at the antiretroviral therapy clinic, underwent clinical assessment and hormone assays.

The increasing problem of subclinical and overt hypervitaminosis D in India: An institutional experience and review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in serum vitamin D distribution at an institute in India over the past 6 y and compare it with global trends.

Methods: We conducted an audit of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), calcium, and plasma intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) reporting from January 2011 to February 2016. References for review were identified through searches of PubMed, Medline, and Embase for articles published until February 2016 using keywords "hypervitaminosis D" (MeSH Terms) OR "vitamin D toxicity" (All Fields) OR "vitamin-D intoxication" (All Fields).

Prevalence and predictors of hyperprolactinemia in subclinical hypothyroidism.

Background And Aims: Hyperprolactinemia has been reported in 0-57% of primary hypothyroidism. Data on hyperprolactinemia in subclinical hypothyroidism (ScH) is scant and inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of hyperprolactinemia in ScH.

Prevalence and Predictors of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with HIV Infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: An Indian Perspective.

Background. Predictors of thyroid dysfunction in HIV are not well determined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of thyroid dysfunction in HIV infected Indians.

Novel urinary biomarkers in pre-diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Renal involvement was thought to occur more than 10 years after onset of diabetes, but recent studies provide evidence that it starts even in the pre-diabetes stage. However, there is no sensitive marker to detect these changes at such early stages. Novel urinary biomarkers have showed promising results in detection of early nephropathy in pre-diabetics.

An unusual case of heart failure due to Plasmodium vivax infection with a favorable outcome.

Although malaria is one of the oldest types of parasitic infection, we have recently witnessed substantial changes in the outcome of malarial infections. Severe Plasmodium vivax infections have recently become more frequent, and are occasionally associated with fatal outcomes. Cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial failure have also been reported, typically in association with Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Level of motivation amongst health personnel working in a tertiary care government hospital of new delhi, India.

Aims: To assess the level and factors of motivation amongst permanent government employees working in a tertiary health care institution.

Material And Methods: A sample of 200 health personnel (50 in each category) i.e.

Clinical, laboratory, and management profile in patients of liver abscess from northern India.

Objective. To describe the clinical profile, microbiological aetiologies, and management outcomes in patients with liver abscess. Methods.

Hypercalcaemia of malignancy: two primaries in the same patient.

Hypercalcaemia of malignancy (HCM) is a grave emergency in a cancer patient. Metastatic breast cancer and multiple myeloma are two of its important causes. Moreover, breast cancer is a predisposing factor for secondary malignancy, multiple myeloma being one of them.

A Study of Clinical, Microbiological, and Echocardiographic Profile of Patients of Infective Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis, a great masquerader, is a clinical entity which may present with a myriad of manifestations. Its changing epidemiological profile has been studied in the previous decades in both the developed and the developing nations. In this study, we strived to uphold the evolving clinical profile and its outcome from a government tertiary care hospital in Northern India.

Vitamin supplementation: unmonitored prescription can be dangerous.

A 75-year-old illiterate woman presented with severe dehydration and altered sensorium. Investigations revealed severe hypercalcaemia with deranged renal function. ECG showed changes of hypercalcaemia and hypokalaemia.

Atypical respiratory complications of dengue fever.

In last decade, dengue has emerged as one of the most important vector born disease. With increasing cases, uncommon presentations and complications are now commonly recognized. Here, we report two cases of rare pattern of respiratory involvement in dengue: acute respiratory distress syndrome and bronchiolitis with respiratory failure.

Acquired urethral meatal stenosis: a rare sequel of an aggressive form of Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is characterised by the triad of recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulceration, skin lesions and ocular inflammation. This disease frequently affects other systems including neurological, locomotor, cardiac or vascular systems. Recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcerations are the hallmarks of BD.

Multidrug resistant citrobacter: an unusual cause of liver abscess.

Liver abscesses are infectious, space occupying lesions in the liver, the two most common abscesses being pyogenic and amoebic. A pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a rare condition with a reported incidence of 20 per 100 000 hospital admissions in the western population. The right lobe of the liver is the most common site in both types of liver abscess.

Guillain-Barre syndrome in an adult patient with Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

A 42-year-old man presented with pain in the abdomen, massive haematemesis and rashes over the body and development of bilateral lower limb weakness the next day. The patient was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome with Henoch-Schonlein purpura. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins.