Harnessing the Power of Big Data Analytics-Estimation of Reference Intervals for Neonatal Serum TSH in Pakistan Using RefineR Algorithm.

Objective: To estimate the population-specific reference intervals (RIs) for neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in Pakistani neonates, utilising the refineR algorithm.

Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from 17th May to 30th November 2023.

Lixisenatide in early parkinson's disease: efficacy, safety, and future directions: a correspondence.

Parkinson's disease (PD) presents as a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, resulting from dopaminergic neuron degeneration. Current treatment strategies primarily aim to alleviate symptoms through pharmacotherapy and supportive therapies. However, emerging research explores novel therapeutic avenues, including the repurposing of drugs like lixisenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist initially developed for type 2 diabetes.

Inappropriate supplementation of Vitamin D can result in toxicity: a crosssectional study of paediatrics population.

Objective: To evaluate children with suspected or definite hypervitaminosis D with respect to prevalence, clinical manifestations and pharmacological aspects.

Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised medical records from January 1 to December 31, 2018, of children aged <18 years with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels >50ng/ml. Clinical and pharmacological data was retrieved.

Evaluation of CSF kappa free light chains for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS): a comparison with oligoclonal bands (OCB) detection via isoelectric focusing (IEF) coupled with immunoblotting.

This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid kappa free light chain (KFLC) for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, against isoelectrofocusing (IEF) to detect oligoclonal bands (OCB) as gold standard. 64 cases were divided into positive and negative based on the OCB results. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated for the 1 mg/L cut-off.

Biotin-responsive Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency (MCD).

This study aimed to determine the clinical spectrum and biochemical findings on urine organic acids (UOA) in Biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD) patients presenting to the biochemical genetics laboratory (BGL). Patients reported as MCD, from January 2013-December 2020 were included. The UOA was analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometer.

Practices of vitamin D supplementation leading to vitamin D toxicity: Experience from a Low-Middle Income Country.

Introduction: The trend of prescribing VD preparations for nonspecific body aches and self-medication has increased significantly. The importance of vitamin D toxicity (VDT) has been underestimated and under recognized. This study was done to determine the frequency toxicity (>150 ng/ml) in subjects for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and evaluate the vitamin D (VD) supplements used by these subjects.

Establishing reference interval for thyroid-stimulating hormone in children below two-year ages in Pakistani population.

Introduction: Reference intervals (RIs) of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) are age, assay and population specific. Currently, the age and assay-specific RIs for TSH are not available for children under two years of age. This study aimed to establish reference intervals for serum concentrations of TSH and FT4 in healthy children aged 1-24 months as per CLSI C28-A3 guidelines.