Macrolipasemia variant of macroenzymes: An endocrine laboma.

Macroenzymes, formed by polymerization of physiological enzymes with immunoglobulins, have slower renal clearance rates due to their higher molecular mass. They are usually incidentally detected, have no pathophysiological importance, and can potentially lead to over-treatment and iatrogenic morbidity. We present, possibly for the first time, a macro-lipasemia variant of macroenzyme, detected in a 14-year-old girl with type-1 diabetes admitted with severe hyperglycaemia and pain abdomen.

Post COVID sequelae among COVID-19 survivors: insights from the Indian National Clinical Registry for COVID-19.

Introduction: The effects of COVID-19 infection persist beyond the active phase. Comprehensive description and analysis of the post COVID sequelae in various population groups are critical to minimise the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. This analysis was conducted with an objective to estimate the frequency of post COVID sequelae and subsequently, design a framework for holistic management of post COVID morbidities.

Developing Standard Treatment Workflows-way to universal healthcare in India.

Primary healthcare caters to nearly 70% of the population in India and provides treatment for approximately 80-90% of common conditions. To achieve universal health coverage (UHC), the Indian healthcare system is gearing up by initiating several schemes such as National Health Protection Scheme, Ayushman Bharat, Nutrition Supplementation Schemes, and Inderdhanush Schemes. The healthcare delivery system is facing challenges such as irrational use of medicines, over- and under-diagnosis, high out-of-pocket expenditure, lack of targeted attention to preventive and promotive health services, and poor referral mechanisms.

Association of Sex Hormones and Androgens with Disease Activity in Premenopausal Females with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Gonadal sex hormone dysfunction is frequently reported in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The relationship of these hormones with disease activity is still not clear and whether the hormone imbalance leads to increased severity of RA is not well studied in this part of the world. The present study aimed to elucidate this fact.

MPT51 and MPT64-based antigen detection assay for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis from urine samples.

In view of WHO's "End-TB" strategy, we developed a non-invasive, urine-based ELISA, targeting 2 Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens namely MPT51 and MPT64 for extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) diagnosis. Suspected EPTB patients (n = 137) [Pleural TB, Abdominal TB and Tuberculous meningitis] were categorized in "Definite" EPTB (n = 10) [Xpert-MTB/RIF and/or culture-positive], "Probable" EPTB (n = 77) and "Non-EPTB" (n = 50) groups using defined composite reference standards. ROC-curves were generated using ELISA results of "Definite" EPTB and "Non-EPTB" groups for both antigens independently and cut-off values were selected to provide 86.

Dealing with infodemic during COVID-19 pandemic: Role of effective health communication in facilitating outbreak response & actions - An ICMR experience.

Objectives: To highlight and assess the impact of intervention tools used by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) against COVID19 associated infodemic in the world's largest democratic country, India.

Study Design: It is a retrospective cross sectional study. The impact of ICMR's multi-pronged strategy to address the infodemic during pandemic has been assessed through analysis of print media reportage and social media engagements.

Evaluation of a Hospitalized Pediatric COVID-19 Cohort from Indian National Clinical Registry of COVID-19.

Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with mortality of a multicentric cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 0-18 y old, from 42 centers across India.

Methods: The National Clinical Registry for COVID-19 (NCRC) is an on-going prospective data collection platform enrolling COVID-19 patients diagnosed by real-time PCR or rapid antigen test. The data are collected in prestructured e-capture forms.

SNP rs9387478 at ROS1-DCBLD1 Locus is Significantly Associated with Lung Cancer Risk and Poor Survival in Indian Population.

Objective: Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are relevant therapeutic targets in the treatment of lung cancer. Germline susceptibility variants that influence these RTKs may provide new insights into their regulation.  rs9387478 is located in the genomic interval between two RTK-genes ROS1/DCBLD1, of which ROS1 alterations are implicated in lung carcinogenesis and treatment response while the latter remains poorly understood.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on cardiac risk markers in people living with HIV/AIDS.

Introduction: Chronic HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are the major causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mortality in HIV patients. This study was conducted to look upon the effect of ART on CVD risk markers in patients on different ART regimens and ART-naïve patients.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional, observational study done on 120 HIV-infected patients.

Delta variant SARS-CoV-2 infections in pediatric cases during the second wave in India.

Background: During October 2020, Delta variant was detected for the first time in India and rampantly spread across the globe. It also led to second wave of pandemic in India which affected millions of people. However, there is limited information pertaining to the SARS-CoV-2 strain infecting the children in India.

Drug Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Approach to Diagnosis and Management.

Corticosteroids and l -asparaginase used in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can cause drug-induced diabetes mellitus (DIDM). DIDM can lead to dyselectrolytemia, a higher risk of infections including cellulitis, bacteremia, fungemia, and a higher incidence of febrile neutropenia and may have an impact on the outcome of ALL. Literature on the management of DIDM among children with ALL is sparse and the diagnostic criteria for pediatric diabetes should be carefully applied considering the acute and transient nature of DIDM during ALL therapy.

Utility of cell-free transrenal DNA for the diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis: A proof-of-concept study.

Tuberculous Meningitis (TBM) diagnosis remains a grave challenge. We evaluated the utility of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a source of cell-free transrenal-mycobacterial DNA (cf-Tr-MTB DNA) for TBM diagnosis from urine samples. We developed a qPCR-assay targeting a highly repetitive 36-bp sequence specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

Characterisation of anaemia amongst school going adolescent girls in rural Haryana, India.

Objective: High burden of anaemia exists amongst rural adolescent girls in India. The objective of this study was to characterise anaemia in school going adolescent girls in rural Haryana, India.

Design: Linear and multiple logistic regression analysis of data collected prior to an intervention trial was conducted.

Prevalence of Macroprolactinemia in People Detected to Have Hyperprolactinemia.

Macroprolactinemia is an analytic laboma encountered as a part of prolactin assay. No data are available on the burden of macroprolactinemia in Indians. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of macroprolactinemia among people with hyperprolactinemia.

Sigma Metric Evaluation of Drugs in a Clinical Laboratory: Importance of Choosing Appropriate Total Allowable Error and a Troubleshooting Roadmap.

 Stringent quality control is an essential requisite of diagnostic laboratories to deliver consistent results. Measures used to assess the performance of a clinical chemistry laboratory are internal quality control and external quality assurance scheme (EQAS). However, the number of errors cannot be measured by the above but can be quantified by sigma metrics.

Efficacy and Safety of Novel Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Evogliptin in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis.

Aims: No meta-analysis is available which has summarized and holistically analyzed the efficacy and safety of evogliptin. We undertook this meta-analysis to address this gap in knowledge.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for RCTs involving diabetes patients receiving evogliptin in intervention arm and placebo/active comparator in control arm.

Carbohydrate-rich Meals Have no Impact on Post-prandial Lipid Parameters in Indians with Subclinical and Overt Primary Hypothyroidism.

Background And Aims: The impact of altered cholesterol metabolism on post-prandial lipids in Indians with hypothyroidism is not known. This study evaluated the impact of overt primary hypothyroidism (OPH) and subclinical hypothyroidism (ScH) on post-prandial lipids after a standardised, carbohydrate-rich, mixed meal.

Methods: Endocrinology outpatients were screened for possible inclusion into the study.

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 study comparing the clinical and hormonal profile of late onset and persistent acne in adult females.

Background: Adult acne has been classified into two major subtypes: "persistent acne" and "late onset acne". A surrogate marker of hyperandrogenism (HA) in adult female acne is the presence of clinical signs of HA and biochemical hyperandrogenemia. We compared the clinical and hormonal profiles of the two acne subtypes and evaluated the likely source of androgen excess - ovarian or adrenal.

Upper Extremity Muscular Strength in Push-Pull Tasks: Model Approach Towards Task Design.

Background: Pushing and pulling in workplaces are common actions. Repetitive forceful exertions in long-duration works lead to increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.

Aim: To investigate the upper extremity strength in generic push-pull modes while using hand tools and forecasting the limits of the workers while frequent or continuous operation.

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.

Comparisons of metabolite profile from paired serum and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-plasma samples using dry chemistry technology: An emergency department perspective.

Background: No data is available evaluating the difference in serum versus plasma sample assay of commonly tested parameters in the emergency department, where the sample processing time can be significantly reduced if plasma is used for analysis instead of conventionally used serum. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the differences in serum versus plasma sample estimation of commonly evaluated biochemical parameters using dry chemistry technology.

Materials And Methods: Paired blood samples were collected from a single venipuncture of 405 patients admitted to the emergency department.