Metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors: delta BMI a risk factor in lower-middle-income countries.

Purpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is an important late effect of childhood cancer. The combination of rising obesity and high prevalence of under-nutrition at diagnosis makes this a unique population to study in LMIC (lower middle-income countries).

Methods: Children ≤ 18 years of age at cancer diagnosis, in a single center in a LMIC, who were disease free and had completed treatment at least 2 years prior to study were included.

Identification of peripheral blood CD26+ leukemic stem cells has a potential role in the rapid diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic stem cell (SC) neoplasm diagnosed by the demonstration of t(9;22)(BCR-ABL1) fusion gene. We performed a flow cytometric assay to identify CD26+ CML leukemic stem cells (LSCs) for its value as a standalone diagnostic investigation for CML and its utility for detection of residual disease in CML patients on therapy.

Methods: Patients with clinical suspicion of CML/CML on follow-up were included, and peripheral (PB) and/or bone marrow (BM) samples were utilized for flow cytometric analysis.

Assessment of fibrinolytic markers in patients with deep vein thrombosis.

The association of the fibrinolytic markers with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is still a matter of debate. The present study aimed to investigate the association between fibrinolytic markers and DVT. This observational study recruited 52 adult cases with lower limb DVT and 52 healthy adult volunteers as controls.

Incidence and Prognostic Impact of TCF3-PBX1 Fusion in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Single Centre Experience.

Molecular abnormalities in leukemic cells are important determinants of risk stratification in Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). TCF3-PBX1 fusion is one of the common aberrations in ALL with doubtful prognostic significance. Therefore, aim of our study is to revisit the clinical characteristics and outcome of this abnormality in children with ALL treated at our institute.

Cost of HSCT in a Tertiary Care Public Sector Hospital in India.

India harbours a significant burden of hematological diseases including cancers for which Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) is a definitive life-saving procedure. Very few studies in India have carried out the costing of the important procedure, hence we undertook a study to ascertain the cost of auto HCT in our tertiary care teaching hospital. We did a prospective study using Top-down and Bottom-up approach to arrive at the cost of autologous HCT which came out to be INR 699,200 ($10,282) out of which hospital bears 34% of the cost.

Successful Use of High Dose Methotrexate in Treatment of Primary CNS Lymphoma Patients Without Access to Serum Methotrexate Levels Monitoring: Challenges and Outcome.

Aims And Objectives: High dose methotrexate (HDMTx) based chemotherapy forms the backbone of therapy for patients with Primary Central Nervous system Lymphoma (PCNSL). However, delivering HDMTx in resource constrained settings, especially without therapeutic drug monitoring, is difficult. We share our experience of treatment of patients with PCNSL at our center over a 10-year period with local adaptations made to deliver HDMTx.

The Impact of Physicians' COVID-19 Pandemic Occupational Experiences on Mental Health.

Objective: To examine the association between a number of negative COVID-19 occupational experiences and probable anxiety, depression, and PTSD among physicians.

Methods: Cross-sectional examination of longitudinal registry data consisting of physician personal and occupational well-being. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine the association between negative COVID-19 experiences and outcomes.

Hydroxychloroquine in Treatment of Asymptomatic and Mildly Symptomatic COVID-19: A Multi-Centre Cohort Study.

Background: Although hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) lacks benefit in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, its role in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic disease needs better elucidation.

Methods: This multi-centre cohort study included asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic, RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 cases between 30 March and 20 May, 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups (HCQ-treated and untreated) based on exposure to HCQ.

Evaluating burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic among physicians in a large health system in New York.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated significant psychological distress among health care workers worldwide. New York State, particularly New York City and surrounding counties, were especially affected, and experienced over 430,000 COVID-19 cases and 25,000 deaths by mid-August 2020. We hypothesized that physicians and trainees (residents/fellows) who were redeployed outside of their specialty to treat COVID-19 inpatients would have higher burnout.

'FLT3-ITD Mutation Does Not Influence Survival Outcome in Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients Treated With ATO and ATRA-Based Therapeutic Regimen: Experience From a North Indian Tertiary Care Centre'.

Introduction: NPM1 and FLT3-ITD are frequently mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia. We studied clinico-hematological profile and survival outcome of adult acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients harboring these mutations.

Materials And Methods: De novo APL cases (> 12 years), enrolled between January 2019 and June 2020, were evaluated for FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutations (A, B, D mutations) by conventional and real-time qualitative PCR respectively.

Primary chest wall Burkitt lymphoma in a case of HIV infection with immune reconstitution.

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) develops at an increased frequency in patients with HIV irrespective of the CD4 count. Lymph nodes and gastrointestinal tract are common sites of involvement by BL; however, primary chest wall BL is rare. A 52-year-old man on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV with a CD4 count of 0.

Utility and feasibility of a six-color multiparametric flow cytometry for measurable residual disease analysis in plasma cell myeloma in resource-limited settings with 5-year survival data.

Introduction: Treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has evolved over decades with the introduction of novel therapeutic strategies. Response rates has significantly improved; however, there is a need for more sensitive techniques to study the residual disease other than conventional means. We evaluated the feasibility and utility of a two-tube six color multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) assay for measurable residual disease (MRD) detection in MM patients on treatment.

Flow cytometric immunophenotyping in a liquid-based cytology sample of pleural fluid: Connecting the dots.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is an uncommon non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is rarely described in cytology samples. The present study highlights the importance of flowcytometric immunophenotyping and immunocytochemistry in an effusion sample of an uncommon case of PMBCL.

Recognition and Management of Nonaccidental Esophageal Perforation.

Nonaccidental trauma is a common pediatric concern that often goes unrecognized. Although most patients present with bruising, burns, fractures, and head trauma, it is critical that physicians be able to diagnose and treat atypical presentations such as pharyngeal and esophageal trauma. In this report, we describe the presentation and management of a 5-week-old girl with an inflicted esophageal perforation.

Native State Hydrogen Exchange-Mass Spectrometry Methods to Probe Protein Folding and Unfolding.

Native state hydrogen exchange (HX) methods provide high-resolution structural data on the rare and transient opening motions in proteins under native conditions. Mass spectrometry-based HX methods (HX-MS) have gained popularity because of their ability to delineate population distributions, which allow a direct determination of the mechanism of inter conversion of the partially folded states under native conditions. Various technological advancements have provided further impetus to the development of HX-MS-based experiments to study protein folding.

The impact of cochlear implantation on speech and language outcomes in children with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss.

Introduction: Cochlear implantation (CI) is considered in children with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASHL), or severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in one ear, and better hearing contralaterally. The benefits of a CI in these children are not well established. This study investigated the impact of unilateral CI on speech and language outcomes in pediatric patients with ASHL.

Artemisinin Binds and Inhibits the Activity of Ddi1, a Retroviral Aspartyl Protease.

Reduced sensitivity of the human malaria parasite, to Artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) threatens the global efforts towards eliminating malaria. ARTs have been shown to cause ubiquitous cellular and genetic insults, which results in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways. The UPR restores protein homeostasis, which otherwise would be toxic to cellular survival.

PHi-RACE: PGIMER in-house rapid & cost effective classifier for the detection of -like acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Indian patients.

For the detection of -like ALL cases, two methodologies, specifically Gene expression profiling (GEP) or Next-generation targeted sequencing (NGS) and TaqMan based low-density (TLDA) card, are being used. NGS is very costly and TLDA is not widely commercially available. In this study, we quantified the expression of 8 selected overexpressed genes in 536 B-ALL cases.

Strategy to prevent infection from Covid-19 among security officers of tertiary care centre: A preexperimental study.

Background: The extensive spread of Covid-19 pandemic globally became the main cause of concern for everyone, including security officers working in a health care setting.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of instructional module for Covid-19 prevention among hospital security officers.

Methods And Materials: A preexperimental study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from North India.

Tyrosine kinase domain mutations in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients: A single center experience.

Introduction: Despite the impressive responses achieved with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, treatment resistance develops in 16-33% of patients of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Of the BCR-ABL1 dependent mechanisms, mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) are the commonest cause of resistance.

Material And Methods: Allele specific oligonucleotide - polymerase chain reaction (ASO-PCR) was done for testing the six common TKD mutations, T315I, G250E, E255K, M244V, M351T, and Y253F.