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The most important aspect of treating drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is timely discontinuation of the offending drug. Steroids, oral as well as intravenous (IV), are used in the treatment of drug-induced AIN. The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of oral prednisolone versus IV suprapharmacological doses of corticosteroids in the treatment of drug-induced AIN. This prospective randomized controlled study included drug-induced AIN diagnosed on histopathology over a period of two years. Patients were randomized to oral prednisolone (Group A) 1 mg/kg for two weeks or pulse methylprednisolone (Group B) 30 mg/kg for three days (maximum 1 g) followed by oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg for two weeks, tapered over two weeks. Response was reported as complete remission (CR) [improvement in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2], partial remission (PR) (improvement but eGFR

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) remains one of the most common glomerular lesions, which has a striking geographic distribution and is the most common form of primary glomerular disease in Asia. However, the exact prevalence or clinicopathological spectrum of IgAN in India is not well documented. This retrospective study analyzed the presentation in 126 patients of primary IgAN out of 298 native kidney biopsies (42.28%) performed over a period of three years (2013–2015). The patients were followed up for three months. This is the second highest prevalence recorded in the world after Japan. Among the clinical features of our cohort, the mean age was 31 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1, with the highest incidence observed in the third decade of life in both sexes. The majority of our patients (47%) presented with renal failure with a mean serum creatinine value of 3.1 mg/dL and with burnt out morphology on histo-pathology; 72.2% of patients were hypertensive at presentation. On histopathology, Haas class V (35.5%) had the highest frequency followed by class IV (25.8%). The Oxford MEST score was not applicable in 36 patients because of advanced sclerosis (>50%). In the remaining ninety patients, majority had tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis of varying degrees. At three months of follow-up, the patients who had presented with renal failure (47.6%), settled in chronic kidney disease stage III (25.4%) followed by stage IV (18.6%) and stage V (11.8%). Our study in Kashmir suggests that IgAN is more common in the younger age group, with a significant number of patients presenting with advanced renal failure and, on morphology, showing a burnt out disease, with many developing end-stage renal disease. Studies evaluating the underlying factors can have immense importance in dealing with the disease.

Background: Vitamin D has important role in regulating various metabolic processes in the body including calcium metabolism. Fetuses and neonates are dependent on their mothers to get adequate supply of Vitamin D. Maintaining adequate maternal Vitamin D levels may be highly beneficial for their fetuses and the babies. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to find a correlation, if any, between maternal Vitamin D status and neonatal Vitamin D levels and delayed neonatal hypocalcemia. Materials and Methods: Fifty mother infant pairs with neonatal late onset hypocalcemia were included in the study. Detailed clinical history along with simultaneous maternal and neonatal blood samples were taken for estimation of calcium, phosphorus, parathormone (intact), and Vitamin D levels. Results: Mean maternal and neonatal serum Vitamin D (25-OH Vitamin D) levels were 19.5±7.5 and 15±8.5, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between maternal and neonatal Vitamin D levels (P=0.001). There was also a direct correlation between low maternal Vitamin D levels and delayed hypocalcemia in neonates (P=0.048). Mean maternal and neonatal serum calcium levels were 9±1.5 mg/dl and 6.2±0.4 mg/dl, respectively. There was no significant statistical correlation between the two (P>0.05). Conclusion: Maternal Vitamin D level appears to be an important determinant of neonatal Vitamin D and serum calcium levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unlike COVID 19 lockdown, very little is known about the impact of non-COVID 19 lockdown and two lockdowns (post abrogation of article 370 and post COVID 19) in series on health-care delivery system. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to look for the impact of two lockdowns, separately and in combination, on health-care delivery system. Materials and Methods: Data of patients visiting the pediatric outpatient department, pattern of hospital admissions and patient outcomes 1 month and 6 months before and after two lockdowns were recorded and compared within a lockdown and with each other. Results: Fall in Outpatient visits and its persistence even after 6 months was more pronounced for post COVID 19 Lockdown or lockdown 2 (-73%VS-43% and +195VS-61%). There was a statistically significant difference between admissions rates 1 month before and after lockdown 1 (post article 370 abrogation) as well as 1 month before and after lockdown 2 (P= 0.001; P< 0.0001). For the same time period, admission rates were significantly different for respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses during the two lockdowns (<0.0001). Also, there was a significant difference between admissions rates 6 month before and after lockdown 1 and 6 months before and after lockdown 2 (P< 0.00001; P<=0.02). There was a significant difference between hospital admission rates 1 month after lockdown 1 and lockdown 2 (<0.0001). There was also significant difference between clinical spectrum of admitted patients 1 month and 6 months after the two lockdowns (<0.03-<0.0001). Conclusion: Both Lockdowns had a significant negative impact on healthcare delivery system. However, post COVID-19 lockdown had a much stronger impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important grain legumes after common bean. In the present study, a total of 35 chickpea genotypes including desi and Kabuli types of cultivated chickpea (C. arietinum) were evaluated for seed physical characteristics that are very important for seed storage, processing and determining seed quality traits. Therefore, it has become imperative to study the seed physical characteristics of chickpea during the present study. The analysis of data revealed that substantial variation is present among the genotypes under study with respect to seed physical characteristics such as seed size, seed volume, seed density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. These traits are considered important to determine the seed rate at the time of sowing of the crop, cooking quality, storage and processing and thereby have a direct bearing on the economics of chickpea consumption. Our results indicated that the desi, Kabuli and pea-shaped genotypes differ significantly in seed physical characteristics with overall superior trait performance of the Kabuli type compared to other seed types, making them superior with respect to consumer/market demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient deficiency is a widespread food-related health problem around the world. The present study was conducted to evaluate a set of 63 advanced breeding lines of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for grain iron (GFe) and grain zinc (GZn) concentrations, and to characterise the germplasm set via simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (both genic and random). Substantial variation was found for both micronutrients. GFe concentration ranged from 28.9 to 67.4 mg kg-1 and GZn from 26.3 to 56.6 mg kg-1.Molecular characterisation with six genic and 20 random SSR markers detected 168 alleles with an average of 3.170 alleles per locus. Analysis of genotypic data based on division into two subpopulations revealed 165 alleles with an average of 3.113 alleles per locus in the low GFe--GZn subpopulation, whereas in the high GFe--GZn subpopulation, 149 alleles with an average of 2.811 alleles per locus were detected. Genic SSRs detected a higher average number of alleles (3.273 alleles per locus) than random SSRs (3.143 alleles per locus). Hierarchical clustering using genic markers alone clustered the whole germplasm set into two distinct groups: one possessing low GFe--GZn genotypes, the other with high GFe--GZn genotypes. Study of marker--trait associations (MTAs) identified seven new MTAs (six for GZn and one for GFe) and validated one MTA for GZn concentration. The promising genotypes andMTAs identified during the study will prove useful in wheat bio-fortification programs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is considered as one of the principal grain legume crops grown in north-western Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India. Huge diversity has been observed for this crop in state Jammu and Kashmir. The hilly regions of the state J&K are famous for producing high quality, tasty and highly flavoured beans. In order to characterise this huge diversity and trace the origin of common bean, systematic efforts have been made for the first time in collection, evaluation and characterization of bean collection from Jammu & Kashmir. A set of 428 common bean lines were initially collected/procured and based on cluster analysis using few qualitative traits/site of collection, a diverse set of 96 lines was selected. The PCR assay for phaseolin locus led to the characterization of 96 lines into Meso-american and Andean types. Out of 96 lines tested, 45 possessed “S” type phaseolin and 51 possess “T” type phaseolin. The ITS region of selected local and exotic lines was Sanger sequenced and the sequence analysis of ~ 800 bp long region revealed the presence of 12 SNPs including one promising SNPs showing significant association with phaseolin patterns. The clustering based on ITS sequence data led to the clear cut separation of common bean lines into two distinct clusters based on their phaseolin types. The results of the present study helped to gain insights into the origin of common bean landraces grown in state of J&K, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a clinically heterogeneous endocrine disorder affecting up to 4-8% of women of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of microalbuminuria in women with PCOS and study its correlation with the various metabolic, clinical, and hormonal parameters. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 69 PCOS women was carried out in a tertiary care center hospital. The diagnosis of PCOS was made according to the Rotterdam criteria. Blood samples were collected in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and analyzed for fasting luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), total testosterone (T), glucose, insulin, and lipid profile. Urinary albumin was measured in the first void spot urine sample. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 22.0 ± 4.1 years and 21.8 ± 4.7 years in normoalbuminuric and microalbuminuric groups, respectively. Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) varied from 5 mg/l to 100 mg/ml, with a median of 5 mg/l. Microalbuminuria was observed in 17/69 (24.6%) of subjects. The mean UAE was 3.65 ± 4.44 mg/l in the normoalbuminuria group versus 45.29 ± 22.74 mg/l in the microalbuminuria group. Upon univariate analysis, hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose showed significant correlations with urinary albumin concentration (r = 0.264, 0.264, and 0.551, respectively; P = 0.028, 0.029, and 0.000, respectively). No association between UAE and the usual cardiovascular risk factors could be found upon regression analysis. Conclusion: About 24.6% of women with PCOS showed presence of microalbuminuria in the first void spot urine sample. Screening for the presence of microalbuminuria can help in early identification of a subset of PCOS women with a high risk for future CVD, who can be subjected to preventive strategies at the earliest. However, further studies are needed before recommending routine use of UAE in PCOS cases for the detection of CVD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is prevalent across all age groups in general population of India but studies among tribal populations are scanty. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of VDD in the indigenous tribal population of the Kashmir valley and examine associated risk factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, a total of 1732 apparently healthy tribal participants (n=786 males and n=946 females) were sampled from five districts of Kashmir valley by using probability proportional to size method. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were classified as per the Endocrine Society (ES) recommendations: deficiency (<20 ng/ml), insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml) and sufficiency (>30 ng/ml). The serum 25(OH)D levels were assessed in relation to various demographic characteristics such as age, sex, education, smoking, sun exposure, body mass index and physical activity. Results: The mean age of the male participants was 43.79±18.47 yr with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 20.50±7.53 kg/m2, while the mean age of female participants was 35.47±14.92 yr with mean BMI of 22.24±4.73 kg/m2 . As per the ES guidelines 1143 of 1732 (66%) subjects had VDD, 254 (14.71%) had insufficient and 334 (19.3%) had sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels. VDD was equally prevalent in male and female participants. Serum 25(OH)D levels correlated positively with serum calcium, phosphorous and negatively with serum alkaline phosphatase. Gender, sun exposure, altitude, physical activity and BMI did not seem to contribute significantly to VDD risk. Interpretation & conclusions: VD deficiency is highly prevalent among Kashmiri tribals, although the magnitude seems to be lower as compared to the general population. These preliminary data are likely to pave way for further studies analyzing the impact of vitamin D supplementation with analysis of functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt (FW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri is a devastating disease of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ). To identify promising resistant genotypes and genomic loci for FW resistance, a core set of 179 genotypes of chickpea was tested for FW reactions at the seedling and reproductive stages under field conditions and controlled conditions in the greenhouse. Our results revealed that at the seedling stage, most of the genotypes were resistant, whereas at the reproductive stage, most of the genotypes were susceptible. Genotyping using a 50K Axiom ® Cicer SNP Array and trait data of FW together led to the identification of 26 significant ( P ≤ E-05) marker-trait associations (MTAs) for FW resistance. Among the 26 MTAs, 12 were identified using trait data recorded in the field (three at the seedling and nine at the reproductive stage), and 14 were identified using trait data recorded under controlled conditions in the greenhouse (six at the seedling and eight at the reproductive stage). The phenotypic variation explained by these MTAs varied from 11.75 to 15.86%, with an average of 13.77%. Five MTAs were classified as major, explaining more than 15% of the phenotypic variation for FW, and two were declared stable, being identified in two environments. One of the promising stable and major MTAs (Affx&#95;123280060) detected in field conditions at the reproductive stage was also detected in greenhouse conditions at the seedling and reproductive stages. The stable and major (>15% PVE) MTAs can be used in chickpea breeding programs., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.