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Background and Objectives: The matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) level gets heightened in the urine samples of diabetic individuals with impaired renal function. Renal biopsy is seldom offered because of its invasive nature. These concerns spurred the investigation of relationships between urine MMP-7 levels and the renal function of diabetic individuals. Studies exploring this aspect are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the glycemic and renal parameters of female and male individuals with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or kidney disease. We also assessed the correlation of urine MMP-7 with various parameters., Methods: This prospective, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India, from February 2020 to January 2023. Female and male individuals 18-85 years of age diagnosed with either T2DM, hypertension, or kidney disease were assessed for their glycemic indices and renal parameters. Those with both renal disease and T2DM were placed in group A. The diabetic individuals without kidney disease constituted group B. People in group C had neither kidney disease nor T2DM. Patients in group D had kidney disease but were not diabetics. The parameters of the male and female participants in each of the four groups were assessed and compared, including: age, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum urea, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin, urine creatinine, urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), serum sodium, serum potassium, and urine MMP-7 levels. Furthermore, we correlated urine MMP-7 with all these traits. We used R software (version 4.4.0, Vienna, Austria) for data analysis., Results: Two hundred eighty-seven (87.5%) of the 328 individuals we screened were eligible. Of them, group A had the maximum number (94) of participants, followed by B (75), C (65), and D (53). Males comprised 60.3% (n = 173) of the study population. The median age of the participants was 52.0 (44.0-61.1) years. The intergroup variations were statistically significant (p < 0.001) owing to their glycemic status and renal function. The gender-basis comparison of FBS and HbA 1c yielded non-significant differences. On the contrary, assessment of the renal parameters revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) between females and males. The study population had a median urine MMP-7 level of 19.9 (1.1-50.5) µg/L. Significant associations with urine MMP-7 were found with serum creatinine (r = 0.91, p < 0.001), urine ACR (r = 0.86, p < 0.001), and eGFR (r = -0.84, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our study portrayed that male diabetics, in comparison to female diabetics, had greater levels of urine ACR, urine MMP-7, eGFR, and serum creatinine. Moreover, urine ACR, eGFR, and serum creatinine strongly correlated with the urine MMP-7 level., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India issued approval KIIT/KIMS/IEC/211/2020 dated January 16, 2020. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Sarangi et al.)

Background and objective The prostate gland, which plays a crucial role in the male reproductive system, has a complex structure and function. Prostate enlargement, often benign but occasionally malignant, poses significant health concerns, particularly in aging populations. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serves as a vital biomarker, reflecting changes in prostate architecture and aiding diagnostic stratification. Elevated PSA levels correlate with prostate pathology and standard grading systems such as Gleason grading help guide treatment decisions. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between prostate enlargement, PSA levels, and Gleason grades, particularly within the Indian context. Materials and methods This study was conducted over one and a half years at the Department of Pathology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, and involved 100 cases of clinically enlarged prostates. Clinical data, including age, symptoms, and relevant features, were collected, and histopathological analysis was performed on biopsy specimens. Statistical analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and SPSS Statistics version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Our study identified possible links between several factors and prostate conditions. Non-vegetarian diets showed a potential association with increased adenocarcinoma prevalence (p = 0.179). Urinary symptoms like hesitancy, incomplete voiding, retention, frequency, and urgency were significantly more common in men with adenocarcinoma (p<0.05). Additionally, bone pain and abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings strongly correlated with adenocarcinoma (p<0.001). As expected, age showed a positive correlation with prostate weight and PSA levels (p<0.01). Interestingly, bone pain was associated with a lower likelihood of other prostate symptoms (p = 0.023). Conclusions Our findings provide key insights into the clinical factors associated with prostate pathology and highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis in these patients, integrating clinical evaluation and histopathological assessment., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Mishra et al.)

Background Bone marrow examination (BME) is an indispensable diagnostic tool to evaluate various hematological and non-hematological disorders. Bone marrow aspirate cytology and bone marrow trephine biopsy, even though performed simultaneously, are assessed at different points in time due to different processing methods. Aims and objective This study aims to assess and compare the role of bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy to formulate an effective and rapid method for diagnosing a wide spectrum of various hematological and non-hematological disorders. Materials and methods The approach of our study was a hospital-based prospective study conducted on 200 patients over a period of 1 year. The role of bone marrow aspiration and a trephine biopsy is to formulate an effective and rapid method for diagnosing a wide spectrum of hematological and non-hematological disorders. Results In our study, a total of 200 cases were studied, of whom 119 patients were male and 81 were female. The most common finding was erythroid hyperplasia, comprising 40 (20%) cases, followed by hypoplastic marrow, comprising 28 (14%) cases. Subsequently, there were 19 (9.5%) cases of acute leukemia, while 15 (7.5%) cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase were found. In our study, bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow trephine biopsy were found to positively correlate in 137 (68.5%) of the cases. Conclusion Bone marrow aspiration alone is sufficient for the diagnosis of megaloblastic anemia and most of the hematological malignancies. Bone marrow trephine biopsy is more appropriate for the detection of disorders of focal marrow involvement such as lymphoproliferative disorders and staging of lymphomas, metastatic cancers, granulomatous lesions, and hypoplastic marrow. However, it is strongly recommended that both procedures should be done simultaneously to ensure maximum diagnostic accuracy., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ranchi Institutional Ethics Committee of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences issued approval 122/IEC/RIMS. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Jawed et al.)

Introduction Congenital malformation studies serve several purposes, including establishing baseline rates, monitoring changes over time, exploring the origins of these defects, and helping in planning health services. Increasing public awareness about pediatric surgical interventions is another goal of these studies. However, the impact of congenital malformations is often underestimated in developing countries due to insufficient healthcare data and diagnostic facilities, particularly in rural areas. Families affected by the birth of a child with congenital malformations face significant stress and hardship. Methods The main aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical pattern of congenital structural malformations in our region (Uttarakhand, India), identify possibly associated factors of congenital malformations, and find out the immediate outcome of congenital malformations in enrolled participants. Results Among a total of 150 cases, 73 (48.7%) cases were inborn, whereas 77 (51.3%) cases were outborn. Investigation of congenital malformation revealed cleft lip or palate in 37 (24.7%) cases, congenital heart disease (CHD) in 33 (22%) cases, meningomyelocele (MMC) in 18 (12.0%) cases, anorectal malformation (ARM) in 11 (7.3%) cases, hypospadias in 10 (6.7%) cases, congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) in nine (6.0%) cases, tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) in nine (6.0%) cases, polydactyly in seven (4.7%) cases, pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) in four (2.7%) cases, duodenal atresia in three (2.0%) cases, midgut volvulus in three (2.0%) cases, umbilical sinus in two (1.3%) cases, sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) in one (0.7%) case, phimosis in one (0.7%) case, microtia in one (0.7%) case, and micrognathia in one (0.7%) case. Mortality was observed in 11 (7.3%) cases, whereas 105 (70%) cases were successfully discharged. Among 11 mortality cases, the cause of death was CHD in seven (63.2%) cases, TEF+CHD in two (18.1%) cases, MMC in one (9%) case, and duodenal atresia in one (9%) case. Conclusion Contrary to the common belief that advanced maternal age of greater than 35 years is a major cause, 86.6% of the congenital structural anomalies in our hospital-based study in Uttarakhand occurred in babies of mothers belonging to the age group of 18-30 years. Also, consanguineous marriage was observed in only 3.3% of cases, indicating that it may not be a major contributing factor causing congenital structural malformations in our region. External congenital anomalies are most commonly observed (60.7%), with cleft lip and cleft palate being the most common. The most frequently observed internal congenital anomaly is CHD (22%) followed by gastrointestinal (GI) (18.6%) and urinary anomalies (10.1%). Death and referral are commonly seen in CHD., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Pandey et al.)

Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), postnatal growth failure, and distinctive dysmorphic features. We present a case of a four-year-old male presenting with a slow growth velocity with a history of IUGR and surgical interventions, exhibiting classic RSS features. Laboratory investigations revealed low insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and low growth hormone (GH) levels on stimulation tests. Clinical exome sequencing revealed a de novo mutation in the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene. Additionally, a variant of uncertain significance in the DHX37 gene was noted in the patient and the asymptomatic father. After genetic counseling, recombinant GH therapy was initiated. This case underscores the genetic complexity of RSS and highlights the importance of early diagnosis, genetic testing, and multidisciplinary management in optimizing outcomes for patients with RSS., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Boro et al.)

Background: Umbilical cord milking (UCM) and delayed cord clamping (DCC) are strategies that improve the hemodynamic condition of the newborn and also increase the storage of iron. This study aimed to compare the effects of DCC with or without milking in late preterm and term neonates at different time intervals after birth (60, 120, and 180 seconds) on hematological and hemodynamic parameters in neonates at six weeks of age., Materials and Methods: In this double-arm, parallel-group, triple-blind, and active-controlled trial, all 150 eligible neonates were randomized with allocation concealment into three groups: Group A (DCC with UCM at 60 seconds), Group B (DCC with UCM at 120 seconds), and Group C (only DCC for 180 seconds). Hemodynamic parameters were recorded and compared during the first 48 hours, and hematological parameters were compared at six weeks of age., Results: At six weeks, a significant difference in hemoglobin levels was noted between Groups A, B, and C (p<0.001). The difference in serum ferritin values at six weeks was also statistically significant in comparisons across all three groups (p=0.003). Regarding secondary outcomes examined, hemodynamic parameters and the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia were found to be comparable at 48 hours after birth., Conclusion: DCC followed by UCM at 120 seconds and DCC till 180 seconds proves superior to DCC with UCM at 60 seconds in preserving elevated hemoglobin levels and iron stores in neonates at six weeks of age. DCC for 180 seconds yielded comparable results, followed by UCM at 120 seconds. All three methods are considered safe and effective without compromising the neonate's hemodynamics., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Singh et al.)

Background The incidence of head and neck carcinoma is increasing. The use of an intraoperative frozen section plays a vital role in the evaluation of margin status in patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma. A negative margin is not only an indication of successful surgery but also decreases the recurrence of disease and improves the overall survival of patients. Aims and objective The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of margin in patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma by intraoperative frozen section and compare it with conventional histopathological examination. Methodology The approach of our study was a hospital-based prospective study conducted on 28 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma. A frozen section was done on all patients undergoing surgery and compared with histopathological examination. Results Out of 28 patients undergoing surgery, the incidence of males was more than females, with a ratio of 6:1. The most common site of the tumor was left buccal mucosa comprising 28.57%, followed by gingivobuccal sulcus comprising 17.85%. In our study, the frozen assessed margin showed a sensitivity of 58.33%, specificity of 98.76%, and accuracy of 95.25%. Conclusion Frozen section is a reliable method for confirmation of margin accuracy and thus reduces the chance of re-surgery and recurrence of disease and increases overall patient survival., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Mahto et al.)

Introduction:  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has substantially disrupted essential maternal and infant healthcare services due to the diversion of resources. The imposition of lockdown was one of the critical strategies to flatten the curve in several countries, including India. This led to restricted access to pregnancy-related care, immunization services, and had an impact on home-based newborn care. We aimed to determine the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on institutional deliveries and child healthcare services in a residential community of East Delhi., Methods: This community-based, comparative study was conducted between January 2021 and August 2022. Seventy-seven families experiencing childbirth during the COVID-19 lockdown period (24 th  March 2020 to 30 th  November 2020) were compared with an equivalent number of families having childbirth during the corresponding period preceding the lockdown (24 th  March 2019 to 30 th  November 2019). The study involved face-to-face interviews conducted using a pretested and pre-validated interviewer-administered schedule., Results: We found that non-institutional deliveries were substantially higher in the during-lockdown group (n=11, 14.3%) compared to the before-lockdown group (n=1, 1.3%) (OR=12.67 [1.59, 100.73]). Additionally, a significantly lower proportion of pregnant women received a minimum of four antenatal checkups (OR=8.26 [2.71, 25.23]), as well as iron and calcium supplementation during the lockdown. Reasons for non-institutional deliveries primarily included unavailability and denial of delivery services, as well as the fear of exposure to COVID-19 infection, as highlighted in our study. A significantly lower proportion [OR=6.07 (2.56, 14.42)] of children were found to be immunized-for-age, along with a substantial delay in vaccination among those born during the lockdown period. There was a significant decrease in home visits by community health workers during both the antenatal and postnatal periods amidst the lockdown. Moreover, the proportion of children exclusively breastfed for six months was notably lower [OR=2.32 (1.17, 4.63)], and the age until which exclusive breastfeeding was continued was lower in the during-lockdown group. Regarding healthcare-seeking behavior, services were sought by the families of 95.5% of children who fell sick during the lockdown period. Approximately 45.2% of families procured medicines from private health facilities, while about one-third acquired them from non-registered medical practitioners (NRMPs)., Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown significantly affected maternal and child healthcare services, leading to adverse outcomes across various crucial aspects. Institutional deliveries, antenatal care, community health worker visits, child immunization, and healthcare-seeking behavior were all adversely affected. In times of natural disasters like pandemics, it is crucial to establish specific provisions ensuring uninterrupted maternal and child healthcare throughout the lockdown. Integrating health education into essential services becomes imperative within the pandemic preparedness plan., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Aggarwal et al.)

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental ailment diagnosed with inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. It is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders and has complex aetiology, both genetic and environmental. There is a perceived decrease in skill acquirement, leading to insufficient income and job opportunities as adults, which drives them towards poor physical and mental outcomes compared to their contemporaries without ADHD. The impact of heavy metals on ADHD is a topic of interest but is much less studied. Copper has been implicated as a pro-oxidant and in the metal accelerated production of free radicals that may affect oxidative stress. Zinc also serves as an antioxidant, and changes in its concentrations may impact the homeostasis of oxidative stress. Methods Twenty-four children diagnosed with ADHD were taken as cases and matched with 24 healthy controls. Hair and urine samples were collected from all the study participants. The samples were collected in sterile containers according to established protocols. Acid digestion of hair samples was done using 65% nitric acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide. Urine samples were extracted by a solution of 0.1% Triton-X-100 and 1% ultrapure nitric acid. The levels of zinc and copper were determined in both samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The copper/zinc ratio (Cu/Zn) was calculated from these values. Mann Whitney U Test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were done to estimate statistical significance. Results The median age of the study population was eight years. Overall, 34 male and 14 female subjects participated. There was no significant difference in height, weight and BMI between the cases and controls. Hair zinc levels in the ADHD group (198.49 µg g -1 of hair) was significantly lower than the control group (527.05 µg g -1 of hair). However, hair copper levels were increased significantly in the ADHD children (14.01 µg g -1 of hair) compared to the controls (7.43 µg g -1 of hair). Urine zinc levels were significantly lower in cases than controls (525.7 µg g -1 of spot urine creatinine vs 1374.09 µg g -1 of spot urine creatinine). However, copper levels in urine were higher in the ADHD children (17.01 µg g -1 of spot urine creatinine compared to 7.26 µg g -1 of spot urine creatinine in controls). Both hair and urine copper to zinc ratio was significantly higher in the ADHD group. On ROC analysis, the hair Cu/Zn ratio had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.920 (p-value <0.001), and the urine Cu/Zn ratio had an AUC of 0.967 (p-value <0.001). When used as a diagnostic classifier for ADHD based on the cut-off value determined by ROC, both hair and urine Cu/Zn ratio had high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion Low zinc levels in the urine and hair of children and higher levels of copper may impact the aetiology of ADHD in these children. At an early stage, the Cu/Zn ratio in both hair and urine samples may be used as a precise biomarker to identify and monitor such children., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Nayak et al.)