Estimation of baseline IgG antibody levels to 23 pneumococcal vaccine-type capsular polysaccharides in healthy vaccine naïve Indian adults.

Since immunological responses to pneumococcal vaccines are assessed by a fold-increase in antibody levels relative to pre-immunization levels, it is therefore critical to determine baseline antibody levels to establish putative threshold as a measure of normal response. Herein, for the first time, we measured baseline IgG antibody levels in 108 healthy unvaccinated Indian adults using WHO-recommended ELISA. Median baseline IgG concentration ranged between 0.

Predictive Ability of Serum Uric Acid Levels in Assessing the Severity of Chronic Liver Disease.

Introduction: Study aims to assess uric acid levels with severity of CLD, which is in turn a marker of inflammation and to establish cut off levels with severity of CLD in the current study.

Materials: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 subjects aged ≥18 years, with chronic liver disease for a period of 1 year. The data was collected, serum uric acid levels were determined and the severity of CLD was assessed using Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) scoring.

Koch's Tuberculosis of the Sternoclavicular Joint.

Introduction: Tuberculosis bacilli have lived in symbiosis with mankind since time memorial. Rigveda and Atharvaveda (3500-188 B.C), Samhita of charka and Sushruta (1000 and 600 B.

Recent advances in research, training and teaching in anaesthesia and critical care.

Teaching and learning in anaesthesia and critical care has traditionally included seminars, journal clubs and clinical teaching in the operation theatre. The aim has always been to ignite the spark of thinking and self-directed learning in the students. The process of 'dissertation preparation' introduces basic knowledge and interest in research in the postgraduate student.

Performance of a new portable near-infrared spectroscopy device for detection of traumatic intracranial hematoma.

Introduction: We report results of a newly developed portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based point-of-care device CEREBO® to detect traumatic intracranial hematoma (TICH).

Materials And Methods: Patients with alleged history of head injury visiting emergency room were enrolled. They were examined consecutively for the presence of TICH using CEREBO® and computed tomography (CT) scans.

Evaluation of p16 expression in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Oral and oropharyngeal cancers together are the 6 most common cancers in the world and more than 90% are squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC, OPSCC). HPV is an important risk factor. p16 expression apart from indirectly assessing HPV infection, is an independent favorable prognostic marker.

A Rare Diagnosis of Nasal Mass:Castleman's Disease.

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare disease of lymph nodes and related tissues. The disease can occur anywhere in the body where lymphoid tissue is normally present. Mediastinum is the most common site of involvement (approximately 70%) followed by the neck (15%) and the abdomen (15%) but extra lymphatic sites such as lungs, larynx, parotid glands, pancreas, meninges can be involved.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Autorickshaw Drivers in Bangalore: A Cross Sectional Study.

To find prevalence of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) among auto drivers in central Bangalore using a structured questionnaire and audiometric evaluation. To establish a relation between age and duration of work to the presence of noise induced hearing loss among the autorickshaw drivers. To assess the validity of the questionnaire as a screening tool.

Emergence of a multidrug-resistant and virulent Streptococcus pneumoniae lineage mediates serotype replacement after PCV13: an international whole-genome sequencing study.

Background: Serotype 24F is one of the emerging pneumococcal serotypes after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). We aimed to identify lineages driving the increase of serotype 24F in France and place these findings into a global context.

Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was performed on a collection of serotype 24F pneumococci from asymptomatic colonisation (n=229) and invasive disease (n=190) isolates among individuals younger than 18 years in France, from 2003 to 2018.

Coverage of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Booster Dose (Precautionary) in the Adult Population: An Online Survey.

Background The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic devastated public health worldwide, including India. COVID-19 vaccines and their boosters are life-saving developments that have helped prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. We conducted this study to assess the coverage of the booster dose in an Indian population (the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in India is referred to as the booster or precautionary dose), record the reasons for not taking the booster dose, and determine the effectiveness of the booster.

The Nexus Between Diabetes and Depression: A Narrative Review.

Comorbid diabetes and depression are a significant public health burden as the consequences of both diseases are worsened by each other. In this study, we have compiled and analyzed findings from various studies to demonstrate that diabetes has a strong association with depression. Both have a significant impact on the quality of life, although the exact mechanisms through which these two chronic diseases affect each other remain unknown.

Cardio-Metabolic Disease and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): A Narrative Review.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is considered the most common endocrine disorder affecting females in today's world. Although it has been primarily studied and discussed in terms of its reproductive symptoms such as infertility, amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, acne, hirsutism, and mood disorders, there is yet another unexplored and under-diagnosed category in the PCOS spectrum of diseases: its cardio-metabolic consequences. PCOS patients are prone to these abnormalities from a very young age, increasing their morbidity and mortality rates compared to their regular counterparts.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Asthma: A Narrative Review.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined by retrograde reflux of gastric contents to the esophagus leading to various signs and symptoms that range from heartburn/regurgitation to the development of extraesophageal respiratory syndromes like asthma. Although a cause-effect relationship has been proposed, evidence suggests that these two entities share a complex mechanism that may be reciprocal to each other. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms is imperial due to the fact that asthmatic patients may benefit from reflux therapy with subsequent improvement in pulmonary function testing and quality of life.

Multiple Sclerosis: Therapeutic Strategies on the Horizon.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the brain and the spinal cord. It is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults.

Fibromyalgia and Depression: A Literature Review of Their Shared Aspects.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread, persistent pain that lasts more than three months without an evident organic lesion. FM has been considered controversial throughout history due to its validity as a diagnosis being constantly in question. Most patients diagnosed with FM are females.

Safety and clinical efficacy of human rabies immunoglobulin in post exposure prophylaxis for category III animal exposures.

The human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) is a life-saving immune biological essential for all category III animal exposures. It provides neutralizing antibodies at the site of exposure until the body can produce vaccine-mediated antibodies. We conducted this study to determine the safety and clinical efficacy of an HRIG being used presently for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and to strengthen the existing evidence for its further usage.

A Rare Case of Sheehan Syndrome With Cardiac Tamponade.

Sheehan syndrome, also called postpartum hypopituitarism, is primarily caused by ischemic necrosis of the pituitary resulting from a complicated pregnancy. As the clinical presentations occur years after the complication, it is difficult to diagnose this condition. In this report, we discuss the case of a 35-year-old female with altered mental status, generalized edema, and loss of appetite.

Desidustat in Anemia due to Non-Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease: A Phase 3 Study (DREAM-ND).

Background: Desidustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, is being developed to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) without dialysis dependency.

Methods: In total, 588 patients with a clinical diagnosis of anemia due to CKD without dialysis need and with baseline hemoglobin of 7.0-10.

Desidustat in Anemia due to Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease: A Phase 3 Study (DREAM-D).

Background: A phase 3 study to assess the efficacy and safety of the desidustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, against the epoetin alfa for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with dialysis dependency.

Methods: DREAM-D was a phase 3, multicenter, open-label, randomized, active-controlled clinical study conducted across 38 centers in India. A total of 392 patients with clinical diagnosis of anemia due to CKD with dialysis need (Erythrocyte Stimulating Agent [ESA] naïve or prior ESA users) and with baseline hemoglobin levels of 8.

Prevalence of hyponatremia in chronic liver disease patients and it's correlation with the severity of the disease.

Unlabelled: Hyponatremia has been most common electrolyte abnormality found among the patients with advanced cirrhosis indicating a poor prognosis. Hyponatremia is noted to be a marker of the severity of cirrhosis. However, there are limited studies conducted on this in the current study setting and hence the current study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of hyponatremia in chronic liver disease patients and to assess the correlation of hyponatremia with the severity of the chronic liver disease.

Breakthrough covid 19 infections after 2 doses of covid 19 vaccination and comparing severity between hospitalized and non hospitalized in tertiary care hospital.

Unlabelled: The COVID 19 infection is highly transmissible and spreading globally, including in populations with high vaccination rates. COVID-19 vaccination in India, was started in month of January 2021 with healthcare workers (HCWs) becoming the first to get vaccinated. However, there has been lot debate on the efficacy of the vaccine.

Can Uric Acid be Used as a Prognostic Factor to Determine the Severity of Covid 19 Infection.

Unlabelled: A Novel corona virus (covid -19) was identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. Greater proportion of patients infected by covid 19 may show signs of kidney damage. hyperuricemia has attracted greater attention.

A lineage usually associated with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) serotypes is the most common cause of serotype 35B invasive disease in South Africa, following routine use of PCV.

Pneumococcal serotype 35B is an important non-conjugate vaccine (non-PCV) serotype. Its continued emergence, post-PCV7 in the USA, was associated with expansion of a pre-existing 35B clone (clonal complex [CC] 558) along with post-PCV13 emergence of a non-35B clone previously associated with PCV serotypes (CC156). This study describes lineages circulating among 35B isolates in South Africa before and after PCV introduction.

Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (ZyCoV-D): the interim efficacy results of a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in India.

Background: ZyCoV-D, a DNA-based vaccine, showed promising safety and immunogenicity in a phase 1/2 trial. We now report the interim efficacy results of phase 3 clinical trial with ZyCoV-D vaccine in India.

Methods: We conducted an interim analysis of a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial at 49 centres in India.