From Spores to Suffering: Understanding the Role of Anthrax in Bioterrorism.

Introduction: Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, stands as a formidable threat with both natural and bioterrorism-related implications. Its ability to afflict a wide range of hosts, including humans and animals, coupled with its potential use as a bioweapon, underscores the critical importance of understanding and advancing our capabilities to combat this infectious disease. In this context, exploring futuristic approaches becomes imperative, as they hold the promise of not only addressing current challenges but also ushering in a new era in anthrax management.

2-deoxy-D-glucose as an adjunct to standard of care in the medical management of COVID-19: a proof-of-concept and dose-ranging randomised phase II clinical trial.

Background: At present, no single efficacious therapeutic exists for acute COVID-19 management and a multimodal approach may be necessary. 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) is a metabolic inhibitor that has been shown to limit multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 in-vitro. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of 2-DG as adjunct to standard care in the treatment of moderate to severe COVID-19 patients.

Urinary metabolic modulation in human participants residing in Siachen: a 1H NMR metabolomics approach.

The main physiological challenge in high altitude environment is hypoxia which affects the aerobic metabolism reducing the energy supply. These changes may further progress toward extreme environment-related diseases. These are further reflected in changes in small molecular weight metabolites and metabolic pathways.

Does the initial chest radiograph severity in COVID-19 impact the short- and long-term outcome? - a perspective from India.

Purpose: The chest radiograph (CXR) is among the most widely used investigations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Little is known about its predictive role on the long-term outcome. The purpose of this study was to explore its association with the short and long-term outcome in COVID-19 patients.

Brain functional connectivity in patients with hyperthyroidism after anti-thyroid treatment.

Thyroid disease is known to affect brain metabolism and cognitive function, although the recovery of thyroid-induced brain functional changes after treatment remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the alteration in brain functional connectivity and its correlation with neuropsychological variables in hyperthyroid patients before and after anti-thyroid treatment using a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) technique. This is a follow-up rsfMRI study of previous work that showed impaired brain functional connectivity in hyperthyroid patients compared to healthy controls.

Neurometabolite Changes in Hyperthyroid Patients Before and After Antithyroid Treatment: An H MRS Study.

Patients with hyperthyroidism have frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms such as lack of attention, concentration, poor memory, impaired executive functions, depression, and anxiety. These neurocognitive impairments such as memory, attention, and executive functions appear to be associated with dysfunction in brain regions. This study was conducted to investigate the metabolic changes in the brain subcortical regions, i.

Aberrant intra and inter network resting state functional connectivity in thyrotoxicosis.

Thyroid hormones epigenetically play an important role in the regularisation of neural networks and in neural differentiation during brain development. The present study aimed to explore the intra and inter network resting state functional connectivity changes underlying the neurobehavioural symptoms in thyrotoxicosis. To understand the pathophysiological changes, we investigated the correlation between functional connectivity and clinical and behavioural measures.

Alteration in intrinsic and extrinsic functional connectivity of resting state networks associated with subclinical hypothyroid.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is characterized by mild elevation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (range 5-10 μIU/ml) and normal free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4). The cognitive function impairment is well known in thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, but little is known about deficits in brain functions in SCH subjects. Also, whether hormone-replacement treatment is necessary or not in SCH subjects is still debatable.

Trimester specific reference intervals for thyroid function tests in normal Indian pregnant women.

Context: Accurate assessment of thyroid function during pregnancy is critical, for initiation of thyroid hormone therapy, as well as for adjustment of thyroid hormone dose in hypothyroid cases.

Aims: We evaluated pregnant women who had no past history of thyroid disorders and studied their thyroid function in each trimester.

Settings And Design: 86 normal pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy were selected for setting reference intervals.

Correlation between bone mineral density measured by peripheral and central dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in healthy Indian children and adolescents aged 10-18 years.

There are few large-scale studies on the utility of peripheral dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (pDXA) in children. As central dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (cDXA) equipment is not commonly available in the developing world, we assessed the correlation of bone mineral density (BMD) with cDXA and pDXA in children to determine the optimal Z-score thresholds of pDXA for predicting two predefined Z-score cutoffs (≤-1, ≤-2) of cDXA in 844 subjects (441 boys, 403 girls) aged 10-18 years. The BMD of antero-posterior lumbar spine (L1-L4), proximal femur and forearm was measured by cDXA, while the peripheral BMD of forearm and calcaneus was estimated using pDXA.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) & tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) antibodies in patients with thyroid autoimmunity.

Background & Objectives: Several autoimmune disorders have been reported to be associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and may coexist with other organ-specific autoantibodies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies in patients suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis as diagnosed by anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, which may indicate high risk for developing celiac disease or type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Five thousand children and 2800 adults were screening as part of a general health examination done on a voluntary basis in four different parts of Delhi.

Status of thyroid function in Indian adults: two decades after universal salt iodization.

Objectives: The aim was to find impact of two decades of universal salt iodization on the prevalence of goiter, thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid dysfunction in Indian adults.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study from Delhi, India. The subject population included 4409 adult members of resident welfare associations of 5 residential colonies, from 18-90 years of age, who participated in general health check-up camps.

Thyroid function and bone mineral density among Indian subjects.

Background: Thyroid hormones affect bone remodeling in patients with thyroid disease by acting directly or indirectly on bone cells. In view of limited information on correlation of thyroid function with bone mineral density (BMD) in euthyroid subjects, we undertook this study to evaluate the correlation between thyroid function with BMD in subjects with normal thyroid function and subclinical hypothyroidism.

Material And Methods: A total of 1290 subjects included in this cross sectional study, were divided in Group-1 with normal thyroid function and Group-2 with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Nationwide reference data for height, weight and body mass index of Indian schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND. The assessment of growth is crucial for child care and reference data are central to growth monitoring. We aimed to assess the height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of Indian schoolchildren in order to develop genderappropriate growth charts for children 5-18 years of age.

Vitamin D status in healthy Indians aged 50 years and above.

Introduction: There is widespread prevalence of vitamin D deficiency from new-born to infancy, childhood and adult male and females (non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating). However, there is limited information of the vitamin D status in elderly Indians.

Material And Methods: The study was carried in 1346 healthy subjects more than 50 years of age residing in Delhi, India.

The evolution of thyroid function with puberty.

Objective: This study was planned to describe thyroid functional status in different stages of puberty.

Study Design: We collected data from five schools across different geographical zones of Delhi. All children who consented were evaluated for anthropometry, pubertal stage, goitre status, serum free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4), TSH, anti-TPO (thyroid peroxidase) antibodies and thyroid ultrasound.

Thyroid status two decades after salt iodization: country-wide data in school children from India.

Objective: Country-wide evaluation of thyroid disorders in school children following two decades of universal salt iodization (USI) has not been carried out till date. This study was planned with aim to assess thyroid status of school children two decades after the launch of USI programme.

Design: Population survey.

Dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism in an Indian population.

Objectives: In view of inconsistent reports on the prevalence of dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), we studied lipid abnormalities in Indian subjects with SCH.

Design And Methods: A cross sectional study of 5343 subjects divided in two groups, Group-1 (age≤18 years) and Group-2 (age>18 years) was undertaken. They were further subdivided on the basis of their thyroid functional status: Normal (Control); SCH with TSH≤10.

Peak bone mineral density of physically active healthy Indian men with adequate nutrition and no known current constraints to bone mineralization.

We undertook this study to characterize peak bone density and evaluate its determinants in a healthy cohort of young adult male paramilitary personnel. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 473 healthy men aged 21-40 yr. The effect of anthropometry and biochemical parameters on BMD was determined.

Reference range of thyroid hormones in healthy school-age children: country-wide data from India.

Objective: This study was planned to obtain normative data of thyroid functions in school-age children from different regions of India.

Design And Methods: Students from 36 schools involving 13 states across four geographical zones of India were evaluated for goiter. Subjects who consented, underwent evaluation for serum FT3, FT4, TSH, anti-TPO antibodies and thyroid ultrasound.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with thyroid autoimmunity in Asian Indians: a community-based survey.

25-Hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency is linked with predisposition to autoimmune type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to assess the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and thyroid autoimmunity. Subjects included students, teachers and staff aged 16-60 years (total 642, 244 males, 398 females).

Evaluation of the role of ultrasonography in diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis in goitrous children.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of thyroid ultrasound in children with autoimmune thyroiditis diagnosed either on cytopathology or by the presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies.

Design And Settings: Children presenting for the first time to the Thyroid Clinic at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences for the complaint of goiter over a two year period (January 2005-December 2006) were studied.

Subjects: 695 school children (244 boys and 451 girls) aged 5-18 year were studied.

Reference range of thyroid hormones in normal Indian school-age children.

Objective: There is an ongoing debate on narrowing the TSH reference range in adults. In view of the scarce data on normal values of thyroid function tests in children from India, we planned to establish a reference range for thyroid hormones in school-age children.

Design And Subjects: All children (N = 9527; 6-19 years) from six schools representing various zones of Delhi were evaluated for clinical evidence of goitre, thyroid ultrasound, serum free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4) and TSH and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies.