Association Between Neonatal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Status and Maternal Urinary Iodine Status

Background: Maternal urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) andpercentage of neonates with Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)>5 mIU/L are amongst the parameters suggested for assessingadequate iodine status.Objective: To assess the correlation between MUIC andneonatal TSH levels.Study design: Cross-sectional.Settings: Tertiary care center in Delhi, India, between November2015 to November 2016.Participants: Postnatal mother-neonate dyads.Methods: TSH levels assessed among neonatal samples werestratified as below and above 5 mIU/L. MUIC was measured in544 mothers, 400 mother-neonate dyads with neonatal TSHlevels >5 mIU/L (cases) and 144 mother-neonate newbornmother dyads with neonatal TSH <5 mIU/L (controls).Results: The percentage of mothers with iodine insufficiency(9.8% vs 5.6%) as well as iodine excess (54.3% vs 41.7%) weresignificant higher in cases than controls. Mean TSH was alsohigher (P=0.0002) in both the iodine deficient and iodine excessgroup. There was no correlation between neonatal TSH valuesand MUIC.Conclusions: Lack of correlation between neonatal TSH andMUIC is due to iodine excess together with iodine deficiency.

Genetic diversity analysis in Buckwheat germplasm for nutritional traits

Feeding the growing global human population is a tough challenge. Researchers look towards lesser known food crops which are nutritionally adequate, if not superior than the common major crops. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tartaricum L. Gaerth), also called ‘pseudocereal’, is one such multipurpose crop with promising nutritive value. To enhance utilization of buckwheat as supplement food, here, we did genetic diversity analysis for nutritional parameters. Significant genetic diversity was observed in buckwheat germplasm for 24 nutritional parameters including total oil content (0.75-5.45%), oleic acid (36.98-47.87%), linoleic acid (32.75-44.61%), total protein content (5.65-14.17%), lysine (4.19-8.63 g/16 g N), methionine (0.54-2.48 g/16 g N) and half cystine (0.82-3.57 g/16 g N). The entire germplasm was grouped into three clusters. Cluster I comprised accessions promising high oil, stearic acid, oleic acid, least in linoleic acid and essential amino acids. Cluster II had accessions promising quality oil with highest linoleic acid and linolenic acid (PUFA) and highest half-cystine and glycine. Cluster III possesed promising accessions for highest oil percent, total protein, high essential amino acids and highest test weight. The inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) analysis using 26 primers indicated significant genetic diversity existed at molecular level. This study includes large number of accessions analyzed for nutridiversity in entire spectrum of germplasm collections of the world. Nutritionally rich promising genotypes identified will be potential genetic stocks for making buckwheat, a prospective supplement food crop.

Small for Gestational Age: Growth and Puberty Issues.

Context: Small for gestational age infants have multifold increased risk of growth failure and adulthood disorders. Those who experience rapid catch up growth are at risk of developing metabolic syndrome, whereas those without catch up may end up with short stature. These children are also prone to an altered pubertal development. Need and Purpose: Scarcity of literature, lack of published guidelines on the follow-up and management plan of children born with small for gestational age. Evidence Acquisition: Literature search in PubMed was conducted with regard to epidemiology, growth and puberty, comorbidities, its pathogenesis and management in small for gestational age, with particular relevance for developing countries. An algorithm for follow-up of these children is outlined, based on available empiric data. Conclusions: Being born small for gestational age predisposes to many metabolic and pubertal disorders. Special emphasis is needed for early detection and management through early surveillance in growth clinics, and regular follow-up to prevent associated comorbidities.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 in infants with sepsis.

Thirty-two infants above one month of age admitted to a tertiary care hospital with signs of infection and presumptive diagnosis of sepsis were included. Cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFmu) and interleukin-6 (IL 6) were estimated at admission and after 48 to 72 hr, and their relationship examined to the outcome. Significantly higher TNFalpha and IL-6 levels were seen in infants with sepsis compared to control. The TNFalpha levels significantly decreased in patients with sepsis, septic shock and the survivors, while the patients who did not survive, the levels showed no significant change after 48 hr. The initial levels of IL6 were comparatively higher in patients with septic shock and non-survivors, and increased at 48 hr of admission in patients with sepsis, septic shock and non-survivors.

Comparative evaluation of measles, mumps & rubella vaccine at 9 & 15 months of age.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) contribute to significant amount of mortality and morbidity in our country. Though MMR vaccine has been a part of immunization schedule in the developed countries, it is yet to be included in our national immunization schedule. Hence this study was conducted to assess the serological status of measles, mumps and rubella in young children and to evaluate the seroconversion of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at 9 and 15 months of age. METHODS: The cohort study was carried out at the out patient department of a tertiary care hospital in north India. A total of 240 normal children, 120 each in the age group 9-10 and 15-18 months attending the hospital for immunization were enrolled for the study. None of them had been vaccinated with MMR vaccine in the past, or gave any history of measles, mumps or rubella infection, or were on any immunosuppressive agent. The pre-vaccination blood sample was taken and each child was administered a single dose of trivalent MMR vaccine. The post-vaccination sample was taken 6-8 wk later. The paired serum samples were analysed for the presence of measles, mumps and rubella antibodies using commercially available ELISA kits. RESULTS: Of the 120 infants in the age group of 9-10 months, 102 (85%) were seronegative for measles and 96 (80%) were seronegative for both mumps and rubella. Following MMR vaccination, 102 infants came for post vaccination sampling of which 92 per cent were seropositive for measles, 100 per cent for mumps and 98 per cent for rubella. In the age group of 15-18 months, of the 120 children, 67 (56%) were seronegative for measles, 84 (70%) for mumps and 86 (71.6%) for rubella. In 50 per cent of the children, there was a history of measles immunization at 9 months of age. After MMR vaccination, 100 children came for post vaccination sampling and seropositivity of 92, 96 and 94 per cent was observed for measles, mumps and rubella, respectively. The rise in the pre- and post-immunization geometrical mean titre was significant (P < 0.05) for each component of the vaccine in both the age groups. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The MMR vaccine can be offered safely and with equal efficacy to children at 9 and 15 months of age.