Clinical-assessment-of-primary-and-secondary-hypertension-in-children-and-adolescents-in-tribal-area-of-gujarat

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features of patients with elevated blood pressure and to detect variables associated with the diagnosis of primary hypertension. We identified 383 (69%) hypertensive children (197)[51.5%] with primary hypertension, and 186 [48.5%] with secondary hypertension) out of 553 children referred to our clinic with a history of elevated blood pressure. The primary hypertension group was significantly older and had higher BMI, positive family history of hypertension, and lower prevalence of preterm birth compared with those with secondary hypertension. No difference was found between the two groups in terms of the frequency of target organ damage. Multiple regression analysis showed that a family history of hypertension, obesity, age over 10 years, elevated uric acid, and presence of higher systolic blood pressure values at admission were independent predictors of primary hypertension; therefore, these parameters can be considered important clues for diagnosing primary hypertension.

A cross-sectional e-survey to map clinical practice of electrocardiogram use as a screening tool in outpatient department: India office electrocardiogram e-survey

Background:Early detection of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in high risk cardiovascular patients with routine ECG screening is the need of the hour. The aim of the e-survey was to understand the use of ECG in high risk cardio-metabolically deranged patients at outpatient departments (OPDs) by Indian physicians.Methods:A cross-sectional India office ECG (IOECG) e-survey was conducted using Google form questionnaire from November 2021 to December 2021 among Indian physicians. Survey results were collected and analysed using Google form survey tool.Results:We received total of 1863 responses. The results of the survey showed that while 90% of physicians agreed to the necessity of doing 12 lead ECG of cardio-metabolically deranged patients, only 61% of all physicians could perform ECG screening in less than 40% of high risk cardio-metabolic patients mainly, due to several practical challenges. Among physicians, 40.2% physicians believed that 12 lead ECG was too time consuming, 35.8% physicians believed that the unavailability of ECG device was common reason while 27.5% physicians believed that there was a lack of trained staff. Majority of physicians (69.7%) agreed to use point of care ECG device which can be a solution for more screening of such patients whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. According to the survey, 88.7% physicians would appreciate if a portable handheld ECG device was made available to facilitate screening in their practice.Conclusions:There is a need of the portable handheld ECG device which helps physicians to screen large number of cardio-metabolically deranged patients in their busy OPDs.

Effect of water stress on antioxidative enzymes and glycine betaine content in drought tolerant and drought susceptible cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes

Drought stress is one of the foremost abiotic stress, which causes a reduction in plant growth and yield. Therefore, present study was aimed to analyzed the activity of four antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), esterase (EST), and osmolyte glycine betaine (GB) in leaf and root tissues of two cotton genotypes namely, G.cot-16 (drought tolerant) and GBHV-177 (drought susceptible) subjected to drought stresses by withholding of irrigation.A differential response was observed for antioxidant enzymes and GB network in cotton genotypes. GB content was significantly higher in leaf tissues as well as root tissues of G.cot-16 than GBHV-177. The activity of SOD significantly boosted in leaf and root tissues of both the genotype up to 20 days after stress (DAS) however, further it declined in the GBHV-177 with increasing severity of water deficit stress. Activities of GR and EST significantly enhanced in leaf and root tissues of G.cot-16 while drastically declined in the leaf and root tissues of GBHV-177 till 40 DAS under water stress condition. Moreover, POD activity was significantly increased in the leaf and root tissues of G.cot-16 up to 30 DAS then it was declined to 40 DAS, however in GBHV-177 markedly declined in the leaf and root tissues till 40 DAS under water deficit stress condition. It is concluded that during water stress leaf tissues of drought-tolerant genotype shows higher reactions of an antioxidative pathway to cope up drought stress. Thus, the existence of this variability in the cotton genotypes might be used by the breeder for improvement of cotton productivity under drought or water deficit stress condition.