Coronavirus Disease -2019 (COVID-19) in 2020: A Perspective Study of a Global Pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which was first reported from Wuhan, China, in late 2019. This infection spread to thousands of people globally within a short span of time with a progressive trend to mortality of citizens. Posing a potential public health threat, SARS-CoV-2 progressed from animal-to-human to human-tohuman transmission with symptoms ranging from little or no illness to persons being severely ill and many deaths, confirming two criteria for declaring COVID-19 a pandemic.

Variations in the inhibin gene in Kashmiri women with primary ovarian insufficiency.

Inhibin is a glycoprotein produced by granulosa cells and its main function is the negative feedback control of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which has an important role in folliculogenesis. Mutation in the gene leading to decreased bioactive inhibin has been associated with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of variations in the gene in increasing the susceptibility to POI in Kashmiri women.

High prevalence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20101A mutations in Kashmiri patients with venous thromboembolism.

Aim: The genetic variants of the factor V (G1691A), prothrombin (G20210A) and MTHFR (C677T) genes have been widely implicated as inherited risk factors for developing venous thrombosis. This study was undertaken to reveal the frequency of these mutations in Kashmiri patients with venous thromboembolism.

Methodology: A case-control study was designed with 250 VTE patients and 250 healthy controls.

Rheumatoid arthritis and genetic variations in cytokine genes: a population-based study in Kashmir Valley.

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the genetic associations between polymorphisms of the IL1β gene (-511C/T and +3953C/T) and IL6 gene (-174G/C) with disease susceptibility and severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in ethnic Kashmiri population.

Methods: Allele and genotype frequencies of IL1β -511 C/T, IL1β +3953 C/T and IL6 -174 G/C polymorphisms were compared between 150 RA patients and 200 healthy controls by using PCR-RFLP method.

Results: We did not find any significant association between IL1b +3953 C/T and IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism and Rheumatoid Arthritis risk (p>0.

The association between TNFα gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in an ethnic Kashmiri population: relationship with disease activity and severity markers.

Aim: The aim of our study was to determine the genetic associations between polymorphisms of the TNFα gene (-308G/A and -238G/A) with disease susceptibility and severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in an ethnic Kashmiri population.

Methods: Allele and genotype frequencies of TNFα-308G/A and TNFα-238G/A polymorphisms were compared between 150 RA patients and 200 healthy controls by using polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Demographic, clinical and serological data were prospectively evaluated.

Role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms in susceptibility to multiple myeloma in ethnic Kashmiri population.

Background: Vitamin D regulates many biological processes including bone metabolism, innate immune response, and cell proliferation and differentiation by binding to its receptor VDR. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been associated with many cancers like breast, colorectal, prostate, and skin. The main aim of this study was to determine whether VDR polymorphisms (ApaI, BsmI and FokI) are associated with increased risk of multiple myeloma.