Rheumatic Heart Disease in India in 2020: Advances in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options.

Rheumatic Fever (RF)/ Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is the result of autoimmune response triggered by group A Beta-haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis leading to immune-inflammatory injury to cardiac valves. It is practically disappeared in developed countries. However, it continues to be a major cause of disease burden among children, adolescents, and young adults in low-income countries and even in high-income countries with socioeconomic inequalities.

Innate Immune Cytokine Profiling and Biomarker Identification for Outcome in Dengue Patients.

Background: Early biomarkers of progression to severe dengue are urgently required to enable effective patient management and control treatment costs. Innate immune cells, which comprise the earliest responders to infection and along with the cytokines and chemokines they secrete, play a vital role in orchestrating the subsequent adaptive immune response and have been implicated in the enhancement of infection and "cytokine storm" associated with dengue severity. We investigated the early innate immune cytokine profile of dengue patients during acute phase of disease in a prospective blinded study that included subjects with acute dengue and febrile controls from four major hospitals in Bengaluru, India along with healthy controls.

Functionally significant, novel GATA4 variants are frequently associated with Tetralogy of Fallot.

Transcription factor GATA4 is known to play crucial role during heart development, regulating expression of several other key cardiogenic factors. Various GATA4 mutations are reported in familial as well as sporadic cases of congenital heart defects (CHDs). To estimate the prevalence and pathogenic potential of GATA4 variants in our CHD cohort, we have screened 285 CHD cases along with 200 controls by Sanger sequencing and identified 9 genetic variants (c.

A clinico-etiological study of urethritis in men attending sexually transmitted disease clinic at a tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Urethritis is an important sexually transmitted infection in the present day. Causative agents are many for urethritis, ranging from bacteria, virus, to protozoa.

Aim: The aim was to study the various etiological agents and clinical presentation of men with urethritis.

Comparison of Upper Lip Bite Test and Ratio of Height to Thyromental Distance with Other Airway Assessment Tests for Predicting Difficult Endotracheal Intubation.

Background And Aims: Unanticipated difficult intubation or the failed intubation in operating room and in emergency department is an imperative source of anesthesia-related patient's mortality. The aim of this study is to compare the predictive value of upper lip bite test (ULBT) and ratio of height to thyromental distance (RHTMD) with other commonly used preoperative airway assessment tests for predicting difficult intubation in Indian population.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, single-blinded observational study, 260 adult patients of either sex, belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists physical Status I and II undergoing elective surgical procedure under general anesthesia were included in the study.

Outcome of Dermal Grafting in the Management of Atrophic Facial Scars.

Background: Scars over the face are cosmetically and psychologically disturbing. Various techniques have been described and are being practiced in the management of these scars.

Aims And Objectives: This study was undertaken to study the safety, effectiveness of using dermal grafts as fillers in the management of facial scars due to acne, chickenpox, trauma or any others.