Does Raised Transaminases Predict Severity and Mortality in Patients with COVID 19?

Background: The most dreaded pandemic grappling world now, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), chiefly involves the respiratory system; nevertheless, it is a multisystem disorder. Its involvement of the hepatic system is considerable; however, still emerging are its clinical implications and the effects on morbidity and mortality.

Aim: The aim of this study is to report on the various aspects of its hepatic involvement by describing the alterations in tests of liver function and its significance in the disease outcome in a cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at a tertiary center in northern India.

Primary hyperparathyroidism: A changing scenario in India.

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is largely a symptomatic disease with varied systemic manifestations, complicated by coexisting Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency. Increasing awareness, developments in diagnostics, and Vit D supplementation may have an impact on the disease profile of PHPT.

Methods: Clinical, biochemical, and pathological profile of PHPT presenting to a tertiary care center in South India were compared in two groups separated as per the period of presentation (Group A: January 1994-May 2007 - 51 cases and Group B: June 2007-January 2015 - 59 cases).

Vitamin D status and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Context: Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are increasingly being seen in Indian women. The role of Vit D in causing GDM is not clear.

Aims: (1) To compare Vit D status in pregnant women with or without GDM.

Acute pancreatitis with gliptins: Is it a clinical reality?

There are reports of acute pancreatitis with the use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (gliptins). This class of drugs is widely being prescribed for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in our country. We evaluated the incidence of acute pancreatitis with the use of gliptins during the period January 2012-June 2013.

Transient central diabetes insipidus following ischemic stroke.

Central Diabetes Insipidus (CDI) following ischemic infarction of the brain has been described as a rare presentation. Posterior pituitary ischemia has also been postulated as a possible cause of idiopathic CDI. We encountered a young male with bilateral extensive ischemic infarction sustained at high altitude, who had transient polyuria due to central diabetes insipidus, requiring desmopressin therapy.

Pregnancy outcomes with thyroxine replacement for subclinical hypothyroidism: Role of thyroid autoimmunity.

Objective: To study pregnancy outcomes in relation to thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status with optimum thyroxine replacement for subclinical hypothyroidism.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-eight women with subclinical hypothyroidism were followed up until the end of their pregnancy. TPO antibody status was performed for 59 women (positive 20, negative 39).

Pregnancy predisposes to rhabdomyolysis due to hypokalemia.

Increased predilection for hypokalemia-induced rhabdomyolysis has been noted in pregnant women. We managed a woman with distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with persistent hypokalemia who presented with recurrent rhabdomyolysis in her consecutive pregnancies despite adequate potassium citrate therapy.

Central hypothyroidism.

A 15-mth-old male child of consanguineous parents, presented with classical features of congenital hypothyroidism. Serum total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3) and TSH were low. There was no evidence of deficiency of other pituitary hormones.

Letrozole as a booster therapy in growth hormone deficiency.

A 13 year old boy presented to us with short stature. Evaluation revealed growth hormone (GH) deficiency. He was treated with GH replacement for 10 months and to further boost up the growth potential, an aromatase inhibitor Letrozole was added to GH therapy.

Role of thyroid Doppler in differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis.

Objective: To evaluate the role of thyroid blood flow assessment by color-flow Doppler ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis.

Methods: Consecutive patients with thyrotoxicosis presenting to our center between June 2007 and March 2008 were included in the study. Clinical data were collected, and thyroid function tests including measurements of thyrotropin, total thyroxine, and total triiodothyronine were performed.

Distal renal tubular acidosis due to primary hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: To present 4 cases of distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and discuss their possible etiopathogenetic correlation.

Methods: We diagnosed distal RTA in 4 patients with symptomatic primary PHPT on the basis of the baseline biochemical variables and the results of the ammonium chloride loading test. Complete resolution of distal RTA was documented after surgical cure of PHPT by removal of a parathyroid adenoma.

Correlation between bone markers and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Objective: To study the relationship between bone markers and bone mineral density (BMD) in an effort to identify their utility in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Methods: Eighty-two consecutive postmenopausal women with untreated osteoporosis were included in the study. Forearm, spinal, and femoral BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and markers of bone formation (serum osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) and bone resorption (urinary free deoxypyridinoline) were measured in all patients.