Longitudinal Echocardiographic Follow-Up of a Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Cohort.

Objective: Significant involvement of the cardiovascular system is known in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This study aimed to examine the recovery of affected cardiovascular parameters over a medium-term follow-up.

Methods: A cohort of 69 children was studied prospectively.

Epstein-Barr Virus: An Infrequent Pathogen of Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India.

Context: Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is characterized by a sudden onset of raised body temperature and is a common cause of hospital admission though not recognized as a disease state by the World Health Organization. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is reported to account for a significant occurrence of AUFI cases.

Aim: To know the role of EBV infection as a cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI).

β-d-Glucan and Galactomannan assays in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections.

Background: With an increase in the number of patients who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised there has been an increase in invasive fungal infection (IFI) in the past few decades with its associated high morbidity and mortality, ranging from 60% to 90%. The critical problem is the identification of the causative fungus and initiation of appropriate therapy. Hence, there is a requirement for better diagnostic methods for IFI.

Speciation of fungi using real time PCR with molecular beacons: Can we solve the enigma of diagnosis of invasive fungal disease?

Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are difficult to diagnose and associated with high mortality rates, especially in the immunosuppressed. Species of and are the cause of majority of invasive fungal disease however IFDs are also caused by , Zygomycetes, , etc. Early detection is crucial for appropriate antifungal therapy.

Evaluation of three DNA extraction methods from fungal cultures.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays have been developed to amplify DNA of fungal pathogens as culture-based detection methods show low sensitivity. In order to perform a sensitive, specific, and reliable PCR based assay, the availability of pure DNA as well as an easy-to-perform DNA extraction protocol is essential. The existing protocols for DNA extraction used for bacteria or viruses show poor release of fungal DNA.