Evaluation of MicroRNA 145 and MicroRNA 155 as Markers of Cardiovascular Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to a progressive decline in renal function, primarily due to deteriorating kidney structures. Vascular calcification is a key effect of CKD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in the onset and progression of both cardiovascular illness and CKD.

Matrix Gla Protein and Nitric Oxide Synthase-3 Genetic Variants in Chronic Kidney Disease and Their Relation with Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by gradual deterioration of renal parenchyma and decline of functioning nephrons. The risk of cardiovascular events is drastically increased in patients with CKD. This complicated link of CKD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not well understood till date.

Neurotrophin-3 gene polymorphism in schizophrenia and its relation with diseases severity and cognitive dysfunction.

Objectives: Synaptic plasticity markers are known to alter in schizophrenia. The objective of the study was to investigate the genotype and allele frequency of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene polymorphism (rs6489630, rs6332, and rs11063714) and plasma NT-3 levels in schizophrenia and their relation with cognitive status.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted on 216 Schizophrenia patients and 216 controls.

Stress and psoriasis: Exploring the link through the prism of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammation.

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory disease affecting mainly the skin. Chronic stress leads to the blunted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) that might induce pro-inflammatory conditions. Hence, we assessed the blood levels of the HPA hormones and interleukin-17 (IL-17) and the effect of stress and emotional distress to understand the link between stress and psoriasis better.

Perceptions about controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies among members of ethics committees of Indian medical institutions: A qualitative exploration.

Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies provide a unique platform for studying the pathophysiology of infectious diseases and accelerated testing of vaccines and drugs in controlled settings. However, ethical issues shroud them as the disease-causing pathogen is intentionally inoculated into healthy consenting volunteers, and effective treatment may or may not be available. We explored the perceptions of the members of institutional ethics committees (IECs) in India about CHIM studies.

Etiology and outcomes of acute kidney disease in children: a cohort study.

Background: There is paucity of information regarding the etiology and outcomes of Acute Kidney Disease (AKD) in children.

Methods: The objectives of this cohort study were to evaluate the etiology and outcomes of AKD; and analyze predictors of kidney survival (defined as free of CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4 or 5). Patients aged 1 month to 18 years who developed AKD over a 4-year-period (January 2018-December 2021) were enrolled.

In vitro detection of suspected drug in maculopapular drug reaction to antibiotics using secreted cytokines from drug-specific activated T cells.

Background: Maculopapular drug eruption (MPE) in reaction to antibiotics is associated with enhanced expression of T-helper (Th)1 cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) or Th2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5. Identifying the culprit drug usually involves rechallenge, which may not be forthcoming. Memory lymphocytes remain responsive to the culprit drug long after the reaction has resolved.

Relationship Between Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 and Cognitive Functioning in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder.

Abnormal synaptic plasticity leads to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Markers of synaptic plasticity are known to be altered in schizophrenia, but there are limited data available about neural cell adhesion molecule-1 (NCAM-1) levels and its association with cognitive functions in schizophrenia. The objective of the study was to analyze NCAM-1 levels and its association with various cognitive domains in schizophrenia.

Predictive markers in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by gradual deterioration of the renal parenchyma and decline of functioning nephrons. CKD is now recognized as a distinct risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This risk rises in tandem with the decline in kidney function and peaks at the end-stage.

Early Markers of Atherosclerosis in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives: To detect early atherosclerosis changes using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, IL-6), and endothelial markers (sICAM and sVCAM).

Methods: The authors recruited 4 to 18-y-old children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and age- and sex-matched normal children, excluding those with familial hypercholesterolemia, syndromic disorders, and cardiovascular disease. CIMT and FMD were measured in both the groups.

Impact of nutrition status and body mass index on mortality in hospitalized general medical patients: A prospective observational study.

Background: Malnutrition and low body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for mortality in hospitalized patients. Data substantiating this are unavailable for hospitalized general medical patients in our setting. We studied the prevalence of malnutrition among patients admitted to general medical wards in a tertiary care hospital and its role as a risk factor for 1-month mortality.

Utility of Urinary Biomarkers Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 as a Marker for Diagnosing the Presence of Renal Scar in Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR): A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: To explore the possibility of using urinary biomarkers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) to assess the presence of renal scars in children with Vesicoureteric Reflux (VUR).

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 94 children aged 0-16 years diagnosed with VUR in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, JIPMER. Urinary biomarkers were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, normalized with urinary creatinine (Cr) and compared with severity of VUR (low grade [I and II] and high grade [III, IV, and V]), presence or absence of renal scar in VUR patients and severity of renal scar.

Utility of Urinary Nephrin in Patients With and Without Diabetic Nephropathy and Its Correlation With Albuminuria.

Introduction Nephrin is a podocyte-specific protein that may serve as a urinary biomarker in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The objectives of the study were to determine urinary nephrin levels in patients with and without type 2 diabetic nephropathy and to assess the correlation between urinary nephrin and albuminuria. Methods This was a cross-sectional comparative study that was carried out at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry over 18 months.

Assessment of Causality in Hospitalized Children With Aminoglycoside-Related Nephrotoxicity.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of aminoglycoside-related nephrotoxicity and ascertain drug causality and its risk factors.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted from January, 2019 to January, 2021, and recruited 110 consecutively admitted children aged 1 month to 12 years, receiving aminoglycosides for ≥4 days. Drug causality was assessed using Liverpool adverse drug reaction causality assessment tool.

Evaluation of cytokine gene expression in psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the skin with an unclear etiological significance.

Aim: In this study, we determined the mRNA expression and circulating levels of T helper (Th)/T regulatory (Treg) cytokines in psoriasis and analyzed their association with disease severity and treatment response.

Material And Methods: 189 psoriasis patients and 189 controls were recruited.

Vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease: Myth or reality?

Background And Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem, which has a prevalence of 17.2% in India. As kidney function decreases, there is a gradual deterioration in the regulation of bone mineral homeostasis.

Is vitiligo associated with systemic aquaporin-3 deficiency?

Introduction: Recent studies on pathomechanisms of vitiligo have focused on the abnormality of keratinocytes that affect the melanocytes. Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) was implicated as a mechanism for keratinocyte apoptosis owing to the relationship between the PI3K/AKT pathway and the E-cadherin-catenin complex.

Aim: Based on this evidence, we undertook a cross-sectional study to assess the skin and blood AQP-3 levels in patients with non-segmental vitiligo in comparison to controls and to correlate these levels with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) in the skin and blood of patients with non-segmental vitiligo and also with their disease activity.

Ocular surface disorder among adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus and its correlation with tear film markers: A pilot study.

Purpose: The purpose is to study the ocular surface changes among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and to correlate them with tear film markers such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out on diabetic patients (>5 years' duration) and healthy age- and gender-matched controls with 21 individuals in each group. Schirmer's test for basal and reflex tear secretion, tear film breakup time (TBUT) for tear stability, ocular staining score (OSS) for dryness severity, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) for symptomatic assessment of dryness and conjunctival impression cytology (IC) for epithelial cell integrity, keratinization, squamous metaplasia, and goblet cell density was studied.

Assessment of Patients with Periorbital Melanosis for Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance.

Background: Periorbital melanosis (PM) is one of the most common dermatological condition seen in routine practice. Several cutaneous markers such as acanthosis nigricans have been associated with insulin resistance (IR). However, the association of PM with IR needs to be substantiated.

Acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with febrile urinary tract infections: A prospective observational study.

Background: Febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) can be associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to study the risk factors for AKI, its pathophysiological categories, and the role of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) in differentiating these categories in patients hospitalized with fUTI.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively studied patients with fUTI admitted to the Department of Medicine of a tertiary care hospital in southern India from January 2017 to December 2018.

Frequency and clinical significance of prostatic involvement in men with febrile urinary tract infection: a prospective observational study.

: Frequent asymptomatic involvement of the prostate has been demonstrated in men with febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI). In view of this, men with fUTI are often given a longer duration of antibiotic treatment; however, evidence to support this is limited. : We prospectively studied adult men with fUTI admitted under the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care hospital in southern India.

Pulmonary function severity in relation to interleukin-23 levels in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Background Interleukin-23 (IL-23), a key inflammatory regulator in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, is suspected to play a role in the onset of pulmonary dysfunction (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in psoriasis. Despite that, pulmonary function tests are rarely studied in these subjects. This study aims to seek a possible relation between pulmonary function in psoriasis patients serum IL-23.

Association of Urinary Vitamin D Binding Protein and Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin with Steroid Responsiveness in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome of Childhood.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common kidney diseases of childhood. In this study, we assessed urine Vitamin-D binding protein (VDBP) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels as a predictor of steroid responsiveness in idiopathic NS. This cross-sectional study included children with steroid-resistant NS (SRNS) (n = 28), steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS) (n = 28), and healthy controls (n = 28).