Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are global challenges, with obesity increasing risk of T2DM. Body mass index (BMI), the conventional measure of obesity, may not accurately predict metabolic risk, especially in Asian individuals. Evaluation of alternative anthropometric indices may offer additional approaches for risk assessment. The multicenter, cross-sectional study examined whether anthropometric indices—such as waist, hip, neck, calf, and wrist circumferences, as well as waist–hip, neck–height, and waist–calf ratios—are associated with T2DM in adults with obesity. The study included 750 adults (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) recruited from four endocrinology centers across India. Anthropometric and clinical data were recorded using a standardized electronic form. T2DM was present in 73

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are major factors of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the clinical profile and identify laboratory, radiological, and echocardiographic parameters associated with adverse outcomes in SCD. 120 adults with laboratory-confirmed SCD participated in the study. Clinical assessment, echocardiogram, and relevant laboratory tests were conducted to correlate with patient outcome, and the respective associations were analysed. The study indicated that 32 patients (26.7

OBJECTIVES:To evaluate serum soluble programmed death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) levels in neonatal sepsis and assess its diagnostic performance, association with disease severity, and clinical outcomes. METHODS:This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary-care neonatal intensive care unit. Neonates with suspected sepsis, defined according to National Neonatology Forum (NNF) 2021 guidelines, were enrolled after parental consent. Serum sPD-L1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparisons were performed across early-onset and late-onset sepsis, culture-positive and culture-negative sepsis, presence of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and survival outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS:Serum sPD-L1 levels were significantly elevated in neonates with sepsis. Higher levels were observed in early-onset sepsis, culture-positive sepsis, neonates with MODS, and non-survivors, indicating a positive association with disease severity and adverse outcomes. ROC analysis demonstrated good diagnostic performance, with an area under the curve of 0.86. A cut-off value of 85 pg/mL showed clinically meaningful diagnostic discrimination. CONCLUSIONS:Serum sPD-L1 is significantly elevated in neonatal sepsis and correlates with severity, organ dysfunction, and mortality. It may serve as a promising adjunct biomarker for early diagnosis and risk stratification in neonatal sepsis, warranting validation in larger multicentric studies.

Background Helicobacter pylori is an important gastric pathogen linked to several upper gastrointestinal (UGI) conditions, including gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancers. Its ability to cause disease is largely driven by major virulence factors, such as the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) and the vacuolating cytotoxin gene (vacA). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among patients presenting with UGI symptoms using both phenotypic and molecular methods, and to identify the presence of cagA and vacA genes in the isolates. Materials and methods Patients with symptomatic GI complaints who underwent UGI endoscopy were enrolled. Four gastric biopsy specimens were collected from each patient in brain-heart infusion medium and sent from the medical gastroenterology division for microbiological and molecular testing. Identification of H. pylori was performed using standard culture techniques with Skirrow Campylobacter medium and growth supplements. Molecular detection was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was extracted using Amp Ready reagent and stored at -20°C until analysis. Data were collected using a structured proforma and analyzed with Epi Info version 7.3.2 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA). Categorical variables were summarized as percentages with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Associations were assessed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Among the 250 gastric biopsy samples processed, H. pylori grew on culture in 38 samples (15.2%). PCR targeting the ureB gene detected H. pylori DNA in 36 samples (14.4%). Of these PCR-positive isolates, 30 (83.3%) carried both the cagA and vacA virulence genes. Genotyping showed that the vacA s1 and m1 alleles frequently coexisted, with the s1m1 genotype being the most common and associated with higher virulence. Conclusion PCR-based testing proved more sensitive and efficient for detecting H. pylori and its key virulence markers compared to conventional culture methods. Incorporating molecular techniques into routine diagnostic workflows may facilitate earlier and more accurate identification of high-risk strains.

[This retracts the article on p. e49461 in vol. 15, PMID: 38152804.].