Sickle cell disease in India: Not just a mild condition.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common and life-threatening global health problem, with more than 500 000 affected infants born annually. The burden of SCD in sub-Saharan Africa is well established, but the comparably high prevalence in India is not well recognized and many consider SCD in India to be less severe. In their paper, a national study in India demonstrated the significant impact of SCD for patients, families and the healthcare system, supporting a call to action to recognize and address SCD as a serious and common health condition in India.

The Evaluation and Management of Methimazole-Induced Agranulocytosis in the Pediatric Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Agranulocytosis is a rare, but serious complication of methimazole (MMI) use for Graves' disease (GD). Treatment requires discontinuation of MMI, and the use of propylthiouracil (PTU) is also contraindicated. Few reports exist about the optimal alternative treatment regimens for the management of thyrotoxicosis in these medically complex patients in the pediatric population.

Natural cycle versus hormone replacement cycle for transferring vitrified-warmed embryos in eumenorrhoeic women. A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates and cycle monitoring parameters between Natural Cycle (NC-FET) and Hormone replacement cycle (HRC-FET) in eumenorrhoeic women undergoing vitrified-warmed autologous embryo transfer.

Study Design: Single-centre retrospective cohort study analyzed 173 NC-FET and 507 HRC-FET cycles with transfer of day2/3/5/6 embryos. Natural cycle monitoring occurred with serial ultrasound with the first day of the scan determined by the shortest cycle frequency.

Unexplained infertility categorization based on female laparoscopy and total motile sperm count, and its impact on cumulative live-births after one in-vitro fertilization cycle. A retrospective cohort study involving 721 cycles.

Purpose: To determine how subcategorizing unexplained infertility based on female laparoscopy and total-motile-sperm-count assessment would impact cumulative live-births after one in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.

Methods: Seven hundred twenty one IVF cycles from Jan 2014-April 2019 performed at a single-center were retrospectively analyzed. Couples with unexplained infertility having normal uterine and endometrial morphology were subcategorized into three cohorts, UI (1): those with no tuboperitoneal pathology on laparoscopy and total-motile-sperm-count (TMSC) ≧20 million: n = 103; UI (2): tuboperitoneal pathology on laparoscopy or TMSC <20 million, n = 86; and UI(3): tuboperitoneal status not known: n = 114.

Immune thrombocytopenia: A review of upfront treatment strategies.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), resulting from antibody-mediated platelet destruction combined with impaired platelet production, is a rare cause of thrombocytopenia in both children and adults. The decision to treat newly diagnosed patients is based on several factors, including the desire to increase platelet count to prevent bleeding, induce remission, and improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL). At present, standard first-line therapy is corticosteroids.

Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor, an Aggressive Tumor Often Misclassified as Small Cell Variant of Hepatoblastoma.

The clinical management of pediatric liver tumors involves stratification into risk groups. One previously defined, high-risk group of hepatoblastomas is the small cell undifferentiated variant. In light of molecular studies showing deletion in these tumors, it is now recognized that most small cell, undifferentiated liver tumors represent an aggressive unrelated tumor-the malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT).

Effect of simultaneously started clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins in antagonist regimes, on cumulative live births, fresh-cycle live births and cost of stimulation in IVF cycles.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare simultaneously started clomiphene citrate (CC) and gonadotropins (Gn) with gonadotropins alone in conventional antagonist regimes with respect to fresh-cycle live births, cumulative live births and cost of ovarian stimulation per started cycle.

Methods: This was a single-center prospective cohort study conducted over 1 year. Women undergoing autologous in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in antagonist protocols and who consented to participate in the study were divided into two cohorts.

Anti-mullerian hormone cut-off values for predicting poor ovarian response to exogenous ovarian stimulation in in-vitro fertilization.

Objectives: (a) To establish the cut-off levels for anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in a population of Indian women that would determine poor response. (b) To determine which among the three ie.,: age, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), or AMH, is the better determinant of ovarian reserve.

Kir6.2 mutations associated with neonatal diabetes reduce expression of ATP-sensitive K+ channels: implications in disease mechanism and sulfonylurea therapy.

Heterozygous missense mutations in the pore-forming subunit Kir6.2 of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channels) have recently been shown to cause permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM). Functional studies demonstrated that PNDM mutations reduce K(ATP) channel sensitivity to ATP inhibition, resulting in gain of channel function.

Comparative evaluation of oral prostaglandin E2 & intravenous oxytocin for induction of labour.

Oral prostaglandin E2 tablets (group I) and iv Oxytocin (group II) were evaluated in 120 randomly selected women subjected to induction of labour. In group I, 60 women received oral prostaglandin E2 tablets in incremental doses from 0.5-1.

Randomized clinical trial with intrauterine devices (levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG), CuT 380Ag, CuT 220C and CuT 200B). A 36-month study. Indian Council of Medical Research Task Force on IUD.

A total of 1905 subjects were randomly allocated to four types of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and were observed for 45,683 woman-months of use. While no method failure was observed with levonorgestrel (LNG) IUD, 11 women became pregnant with other devices; 4 with Copper T 380Ag, 1 with Copper T 220C, and 6 while using Copper T 200B, indicating method failure rates of 1.0, 0.

Phase III-clinical trial with Norplant-2 (covered rods). Report of a 24-month study. National Programme of Research in Human Reproduction. Division of Human Resource Development Research Indian Council of Medical Research Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.

In a phase III multicentre clinical trial, the subdermal implant NorplantR-2 was studied for its clinical use effectiveness, safety and bleeding pattern. A total of 1466 healthy volunteers, with no contraindication to steroid use, were observed for 29,669 woman-months of use. One method failure was reported at 18 months of NorplantR-2 use.

INDUCTION OF SECOND TRIMESTER ABORTION BY INTRAAMNIOTIC ADMINISTRATION OF 15(S)15 METHYL PGF.

In a multicentre trial 139 women between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation were treated with 2.5 mg intraamniotic administration of 15(S)15 methyl PGF (Prostin 15M, Upjohn) for termination of pregnancy. Following treatment 97% of the primigravida and 94.

Teratologic effects of d,1-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino) cyclohexanone hydrochloride (ketamine hydrochloride) in rats.

Studies were conducted of the teratologic effects of ketamine hydrochloride in rats. Ketamine treatment had no significant effect on the number of animals per litter. The histological examination of heart, liver, and kidney showed focal nuclear hypochromatosis and interfibrillary edema; diffuse hemopoietic cell infiltration, and parenchymal cell degeneration; proximal convoluted tubule degeneration.

Phase II randomized comparative clinical trial of Norplant (six capsules) with Norplant-2 (two covered rods) subdermal implants for long-term contraception: report of a 24-month study. National Programme of Research in Human Reproduction.

In a randomized clinical study, contraceptive efficacy and bleeding patterns were studied in a group of healthy, regularly menstruating, non-lactating women (n = 84) using two 4.4 cm covered silastic rods containing levonorgestrel, Norplant(R)-2, and compared with another group of women (n = 88) using six 3.4 cm capsules also containing levonorgestrel, Norplant(R).

Effects of ketamine on brain monoamine levels in rats.

The effects of ketamine (50 mg/kg i.p.) on brain monoamines, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and its metabolite 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid, were studied in three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats.

The identification of ketamine and its metabolites in biologic fluids by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A simple gas chromatography-mass spectrometric method for the identification of ketamine and its metabolites in urine, blood, serum, and plasma has been developed in order to investigate a coma due to overdose of the drug.

Metabolism and probable active metabolite of alpha-l-acetylmethadol in rat.

alpha-l-Acetylmethadol is being currently evaluated as a substitute for methadone in the treatment of heroin addicts. The metabolites, isolated from urine, liver, and serum, were identified by gas-liquid chromatography. Methadone and its metabolites were found to be present in urine, liver and serum of rats treated with alpha-l-acetylmethadol.

Thin-layer and gas chromatographic determination of ketamine and its biotransformed products in biological fluids.

Ketamine, (2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-methylamine cyclohexanone) and its in vivo metabolite I (2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-aminocyclohexanone) and metabolite II (2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-amino-5-cyclohexene-1-one) were determined by thin-layer (TLC) and gas chromatography (GC). In vivo studies include intraperitoneal injection of ketamine in rats. Urine and blood samples were collected at regular intervals.

Rapid TLC determination of methadyl acetate and some in vitro metabolites.

Methadyl acetate was metabolized by microsomal preparations of rat liver to yield nor-methadyl acetate and 6-(dimethylamino)-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol. The identification and separation of these three compounds was established by TLC, using iodoplatinate spray as a visualizing agent.