Utility of microRNA analysis in exhaled breath condensate of sarcoidosis and mediastinal tuberculosis patients: a pilot study.

Background: Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis (TB) are the two most common causes of granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy. These often exhibit overlapping clinical and radiological characteristics, rendering accurate diagnosis difficult. MicroRNA (miRNA) analysis is increasingly utilised as a potential biomarker for various diseases.

Selection of Ideal Reference Genes for Gene Expression Analysis in COVID-19 and Mucormycosis.

Selection of reference genes during real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is critical to determine accurate and reliable mRNA expression. Nonetheless, not a single study has investigated the expression stability of candidate reference genes to determine their suitability as internal controls in SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM). Using qRT-PCR, we determined expression stability of the nine most commonly used housekeeping genes, namely, TATA-box binding protein (), cyclophilin (), β-2-microglobulin (), 18S rRNA (18S), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) coactivator 1 alpha (α), glucuronidase beta (), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (), , and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase () in patients with COVID-19 of various severities (asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe) and those with CAM.

Efficacy of Intrabronchial Voriconazole Instillation for Inoperable Pulmonary Aspergilloma: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Endobronchial administration of voriconazole is a potential therapeutic option for inoperable aspergilloma.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of endobronchial instillation of voriconazole for inoperable pulmonary aspergilloma.

Method: Patients with mild to moderate hemoptysis, due to inoperable aspergilloma, were randomized to receive either medical therapy (MT) alone or bronchoscopic instillation of voriconazole with MT and followed up till 3 months.

The Utility of the Ultrasonographic Characteristics in Differentiating Between Malignant and Tuberculous Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy During EBUS-TBNA.

Background: Ultrasonographic characteristics may help differentiate between benign and malignant lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). There is limited data on the utility of various ultrasonographic lymph node features to differentiate between malignant and tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Methods: We studied the various EBUS ultrasonographic lymph node characteristics (size, shape, margins, heterogeneous echotexture, calcification, central hilar structure, lymph node conglomeration, central intranodal vessel, and coagulation necrosis sign) from our available EBUS-TBNA database.

Patient profile and comparison of three diagnostic criteria for cardiac sarcoidosis in a tuberculosis endemic population.

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is an underdiagnosed and life-threatening condition. Histopathological diagnosis is difficult due to the risks and variable diagnostic yield of endomyocardial biopsy.

Objectives: To study the clinical profile and compare the diagnostic criteria of CS in a cohort of sarcoidosis.

Fifty Shades of COVID-19 - Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in HIV-TB-COVID Co-Infection.

SARS CoV-2 infection is associated with various hematological manifestations, including leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia. Severe thrombocytopenia is, however, rare and is associated with severe COVID-19. ITP remains an important differential among other causes.

Head and Neck Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from a Tertiary Care in India.

Head and neck pathologies requiring surgical intervention are considered a high-risk subsite in the context of COVID-19 pandemic by virtue of its close proximity to the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Retrospective review of all head and neck surgical procedures is undertaken during the pandemic from 23rd April 2020 to 30th September 2020. One hundred procedures were performed on 98 patients.

Utility of Elastography for Differentiating Malignant and Benign Lymph Nodes During EBUS-TBNA: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Ultrasound elastography noninvasively estimates tissue hardness. Studies have evaluated elastography for differentiating malignant from benign lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. Several methods of performing elastography are described with variable diagnostic accuracy.

Characteristics and outcomes of 231 COVID-19 cases admitted at a tertiary facility in India: An observational cohort study.

Background: Ongoing pandemic because of COVID-19 has spread across countries, with varied clinical features and severity. Awareness of clinical course among asymptomatic and symptomatology in symptomatic cases is essential for patients' management as well as optimal utilization of health services (in resource limited settings) based on clinical status and risk factors. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted with COVID-19 illness in the initial phase of the pandemic in India.

Otolaryngologic Manifestation and Long-Term Outcome in Mild COVID-19: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in India.

This study endeavours to comprehensively the study the spectrum of ENT manifestations in mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 and observe the natural course of anosmia and dysgeusia consequent to SARS-Cov-2 infection. A prospective cohort study was undertaken at a tertiary care centre in India on admitted patients with RT-PCR proven COVID-19. Patients were included provided the baseline National Early Warning Score (NEWS) was less than 4.

SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR profile in 298 Indian COVID-19 patients: a retrospective observational study.

Background: despite being in the 5th month of pandemic, knowledge with respect to viral dynamics, infectivity and RT-PCR positivity continues to evolve.

Aim: to analyse the SARS CoV-2 nucleic acid RT-PCR profiles in COVID-19 patients.

Design: it was a retrospective, observational study conducted at COVID facilities under AIIMS, New Delhi.

EBUS-TBNA versus EUS-B-FNA for the evaluation of undiagnosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy: The TEAM randomized controlled trial.

Background: Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a standard of care modality for the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Transesophageal Bronchoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-B-FNA), wherein one introduces the EBUS bronchoscope through the esophageal route, is also a safe and efficacious diagnostic modality for sampling the mediastinal lymph nodes. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield and patient comfort with these two available approaches.

Bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma: A position statement of the Indian chest society.

Unlabelled: Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an interventional bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma. There is a need to define patient selection criteria to guide clinicians in offering the appropriate treatment options to patients with severe asthma.

Methodology: An expert group formed this statement under the aegis of the Indian Chest Society.

Rigid Mini-Thoracoscopy Versus Semirigid Thoracoscopy in Undiagnosed Exudative Pleural Effusion: The MINT Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is debate regarding the ideal instrument for medical thoracoscopy. The authors compared rigid mini-thoracoscopy with semirigid thoracoscopy for thoracoscopic pleural biopsy.

Methods: Consecutive subjects with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion were randomized (1:1 ratio) to mini-thoracoscopy or semirigid thoracoscopy groups.

Tracheobronchial puncture-site nodular reaction (TPNR) following endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA): Systematic review of case reports.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive and efficacious diagnostic modality for lung cancer staging and evaluation of undiagnosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Procedure-related complications are uncommon. We herein report an infrequently described phenomenon following EBUS-TBNA in which two patients developed nodular granulation tissue at the tracheobronchial puncture site.

A young man with hemoptysis: Rare association of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, celiac disease and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of recurrent diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) with no specific treatment. Herein, we discuss a case of hemoptysis, who had IPH and other rare associations. A 19-year-old man presented with recurrent hemoptysis, generalized weakness and progressive dyspnea for 3 years.

Pleuro-peritoneal lymphomatosis with concurrent tonsillar involvement in T-cell nonHodgkin's lymphoma: Clinical presentation mimicking disseminated tuberculosis.

A young male patient had been evaluated for pleural effusion at another center wherein on the basis of exudative, lymphocyte predominant pleural effusion with high pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels and tuberculin skin test (TST) reactivity, antituberculous medications had been administered. Reevaluation in view of worsening symptoms led to confirmation of the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma with pleuro-peritoneal lymphomatosis and tonsillar involvement. This case highlights the fact that elevated ADA levels should not be taken as surrogate for a diagnosis of TB in the absence of histopathological/microbiological confirmation even in countries with high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence.

Dermatological manifestations in HIV-infected patients at a tertiary care hospital in a tribal (Bastar) region of Chhattisgarh, India.

Background: Cutaneous disorders during HIV infection are numerous and skin is often the first and only organ affected during most of the course of HIV disease. Some Cutaneous disorders reflect the progression of HIV disease; though the relation is still controversial.

Aims: The objective of this study, conducted at a tertiary care centre in Bastar, Jagdalpur, is to estimate the status of cutaneous manifestation in HIV-infected patients and its relationship with CD4 cell counts.

Prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhea: a problem related to menstruation, among first and second year female medical students.

Dysmenorrhea is the most common of gynecologic complaints. It affects half of all female adolescents today and represents the leading cause of periodic college/school absenteeism among that population. To evaluate the menstrual problem specially dysmenorrhea and its severity in female medical students and its effect on their regular activities.