A case-control study of tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter polymorphism and its serum levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Kashmir, North India.

Aim: Data about polymorphism in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and its serum levels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are conflicting. We aimed to evaluate the association of TNF-α-308 G > A polymorphism in patients with COPD in Kashmir (North India), a high burden area and also determined the serum TNF-α levels in these patients.

Materials And Methods: One hundred spirometrically confirmed COPD patients and 163 controls resident from Kashmir valley (North India) were recruited.

Novel risk factors and early detection of anti tubercular treatment induced liver injury-Looking beyond American Thoracic Society Guidelines.

Introduction: ATT remains the standard treatment for tuberculosis. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) has been a long-standing concern in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) infection.

Aims And Objectives: To study the occurrence and risk factors of DILI in patients on ATT by regular clinical and biochemical monitoring.

Significance of serum magnesium levels in critically ill-patients.

Background: Magnesium is one of the major electrolytes, deficiency of which is frequently overlooked in critical illness, leading to an adverse clinical outcome if not monitored regularly.

Settings And Design: Single center prospective observational study of 2 years duration.

Materials And Methods: The subjects studied were monitored for serum magnesium levels 2 times: Day 1 and day 4 of intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Distal renal tubular acidosis and hypokalemic paralysis in a patient with hypothyroidism.

A 43- year- old woman on treatment for primary hypothyroidism presented with 1- day progressive weakness of all her limbs and history of similar episodes in the past. Clinical examination revealed grade 2 hyporeflexive weakness. Investigations revealed features of hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, alkaline urine, and a fractional bicarbonate excretion of 3.

Systemic lupus erythematosus with distal renal tubular acidosis presenting as hypokalemic paralysis with respiratory failure.

An eighteen-year-old woman presented with hypokalemic respiratory failure. She was found to have distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) as the underlying cause for hypokalemia. This was treated successfully, and no apparent etiology for the dRTA was discovered.