Serum 25(OH) vitamin D deficiency among young adults in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya and its influence on bone mineral density: Investigating the involvement of the RANKL/RANK/OPG system.

Introduction: Vitamin D's precise role in bone mineral density regulation remains elusive. Nevertheless, its deficiency is linked to increased bone turnover through the upregulation of RANK ligands by osteoblasts. This study aimed to (i) evaluate vitamin D status in young adults and (ii) assess the association between vitamin D deficiency and bone turnover markers receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), RANK, and the osteoprotegerin (OPG) in determining bone mineral density.

Comparison of Performance of Various Calculated Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Methods in the Indian Population: A Hospital-Based Study.

Introduction: In recent times, there has been a surge in proposed alternative approaches to computing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), with a focus on enhancing precision, particularly within diverse demographic and clinical groups. Our aim is to assess the agreement, precision, and practicality of these methods compared to direct LDL-C measurements, with the goal of identifying the most effective approach for estimating LDL-C in the Indian context.

Methods: It is a retrospective analytical study.

Insulin:Glucagon Bipolar Axis in Obesity With a Glimpse Into Its Association With Insulin Resistance in Different Glucose Tolerance States.

Background: Dysregulation of insulin and glucagon secretion alters the normal insulin:glucagon ratio (IGR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. This study explores the scope of construing the role of these two diametrically opposing hormones on the glucose level not just in obesity but in different glucose tolerance states by looking at the hormone levels and at the insulin glucagon bipolar axis itself.

Materials And Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study of 60 healthy adults consisting of an equal number of adults who are lean and adults who are obese.

Burden of iodine deficiency disorders and its association with various sociodemographic variables in a district of North East India.

Introduction: Iodine is one such micronutrient, the deficiency of which can impair the mental growth and development of young children and is the leading cause of preventable mental impairment. The present study has been conducted to study the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) and its association with various sociodemographic variables among children (6-12 years) residing in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

Methods: The sample size was 2700 with a multistage 30 cluster sampling method.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Multidetector CT Angiography in the Diagnosis of Takayasu's Arteritis: Assessment of Disease Extent and Correlation with Disease Activity.

Background: Takayasu's Arteritis (TA) is a large vessel vasculitis with diverse clinical presentations and arterial vascular bed involvement.It is characterized by chronic, nonspecific inflammation of all layers of the vessel wall which results in stenosis, occlusion, dilatation, or aneurysm formation in the involved blood vessels.

Methods: The study included 36 patients of TA.

Introduction of Class-room quality circles among 1 year MBBS students and its effect on students learning.

Aim: The aim of this interventional study was to introduce classroom quality circles (QCs) among first-year MBBS students, to assess the effectiveness of QCs on learning experience of the students, and to evaluate the students' satisfaction level during the process of learning.

Materials And Methods: A problem pool was created through a questionnaire. The study was carried out in the department of biochemistry, for a period of 6 months.

Introduction of structured feedback for MBBS students: Perception of students and faculty.

Introduction: Feedback is an important part of the assessment process. However, one-to-one structured and constructive feedback to the students is not practiced mostly due to lack of practice and feasibility issues. The present study was conducted to understand the perception of students and faculty toward one-to-one structured feedback.

Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Children in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, India.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders among school-going children in Meghalaya.

Methods: Multi-stage 30 cluster sampling with probability proportionate to size (PPS) method was used. Children (age 6-12years) were examined clinically for goiter.

Evaluation of thyroid function in type 2 diabetes in north-eastern part of India: A hospital-based study.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and thyroid dysfunctions are the two most common endocrine disorders to come across in any clinical practice. Both thyroid hormones and insulin act antagonistically in metabolic pathways or cycles of cells. The aim of our study is to look for thyroid dysfunction in patients with type 2 DM and its correlation with insulin resistance (IR).

Transnasal tracheobronchial stenting for malignant airway narrowing under local anesthesia: Our experience of treating three cases using this technique.

Purpose: To study the technical feasibility of tracheobronchial stenting via transnasal route under bronchoscopy and fluoroscopic guidance in severe malignant airway strictures using self-expandable nitinol stents.

Materials And Methods: We describe three patients with malignant airway strictures, treated entirely via transnasal route under local anesthesia using bronchoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. Nasal route allowed convenient access to the airway for the bronchoscope across the stricture and a guidewire was introduced through its working channel.

Presence of Concurrent Derangements of Liver Function Tests in Type 2 Diabetes and Their Relationship with Glycemic Status: A Retrospective Observational Study from Meghalaya.

Background And Objectives: The liver plays a pivotal role in carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, functional state of the liver in patients with diabetes is of interest. The objectives of the current study were to (i) identify co-existent biochemical derangements of liver function tests (LFTs) in type 2 diabetes and (ii) determine the association between liver function parameters and glycemic status in type 2 diabetics from Shillong, Meghalaya.

Serum Copper as a Marker of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introduction: Copper is an important trace element for normal growth and development of the body. It is also essential for maturation of collagen tissues. The purpose of the study was to estimate the serum copper levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients and to see its association with the various parameters of disease activity.

Association of Serum Magnesium Deficiency with Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is the key pathophysiological defect that leads to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to estimate serum magnesium level and insulin sensitivity indices among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and to see an association between them.

Methods: This study was carried out among 38 type 2 diabetic patients and forty age and sex matched controls.

Association of secondary hyperparathyroidism with hemoglobin level in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the less recognized reasons of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we evaluated the role of SHPT as a cause of anemia and correlation of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and hemoglobin (Hb) level in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 63 individuals admitted in HD unit of the institute.