New onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) in renal transplant recipients: a study from tertiary care center in Kashmir, India

Background: New onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a common entity in the post-transplant period after several types of organ transplants like kidney, liver heart and lungs. NODAT is a common complication after solid organ transplantation and has been reported to have an adverse impact on patient and allograft outcomes. Risk stratification and intervention to minimize risk should be an integral part of management of transplant recipients.Methods: A total of 100 patients who underwent renal transplantation were observed for the development of NODAT in the post transplantation period. Patients were evaluated in the pre- transplant and post-transplant period. Risk factors which were associated with the development of NODAT were analyzed.Results: Out of 100 patients, 79 were males and 21 were females. The mean age of the patients undergoing renal transplantation was 40 years. The youngest patient was 18 years old and the eldest was 64 years old. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 31 to 50 years (60 patients, 60%). The incidence of NODAT in present study was 17%. The major risk factors for the development of NODAT were identified as male sex, positive family history of diabetes, history of alcohol intake before renal transplantation, hypertriglyceridemia, post renal transplantation hypomagnesemia, proteinuria, and use of drugs like tacrolimus and prednisolone.Conclusions: NODAT has been identified as a risk factor for graft rejection, long-term graft failure, and decreased patient survival. Once NODAT has been diagnosed, specific anti-hyperglycemic therapy is essential to reach a tight glycemic control, which contributes to significantly reduced post-transplantation morbidity. Due to the importance of NODAT, diabetes education and its impact on the outcome of post-transplantation morbidity and mortality becomes crucial point of research among organ transplantation populations. Diabetes education in a group setting can be adopted for organ transplantation recipients with NODAT

Fabry’s Disease: Case Series and Review of Literature

Fabry’s disease is an X‑linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha‑galactosidase A enzyme with the progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in vascular endothelial cells leading to cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neuropathic, lenticular, and dermatological manifestations. It is a rare cause of end‑stage renal disease. It classically affects males whereas 10–15% of female heterozygote carriers are affected depending on localization. Both the FD and its association with ESRD is rare. With this background, this case series of five patient’s along with the review of literature is presented here.Keywords: Alpha‑galactosidase A, End‑stage renal disease, Fabry’s disease, Kidney transplantation, Proteinuri

High resolution ultrasonography of thyroid nodules: can ultrasonographic assessment obviate the need for invasive aspiration cytology in ultrasonographically benign lesions?

The use of high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) thyroid imaging has resulted in a significant revolution in the treatment of thyroid nodules. The enigma of thyroid nodules has been a blind spot for radiologists for a long period. Reporting a thyroid nodule as benign or malignant is quite difficult and many times not accurate. The American Collage of Radiology-Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR-TIRADS) 2017 classification has solved this problem to a large extent. However, the classification needed pathological confirmation for it to be highly accurate. We compared our HRUS-based TIRADS labeling of thyroid nodules with thyroid cytopathology using revised Bethesda classification system. Patients detected with thyroid nodules by HRUS were categorized using ACR-TIRADS and further were taken for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in our department. The pathological results were compared with the initial TIRADS category of the nodule and the effectiveness of the TIRADS classification in categorizing nodules into benign and malignant was assessed using various statistical variables. The initial USG and the FNAC were performed by a single radiologist with over 10 years of experience. A total of 201 patients underwent HRUS followed by FNAC after obtaining written consent in our department. The thyroid nodules labeled as true benign on ACR-TIRADS (TIRADS 2) were all true benign on Bethesda cytopathology (less than Bethesda III), confirming the high accuracy of HRUS. The diagnostic accuracy of HRUS in cases of ACR-TIRADS 3 nodules was approximately 90.6% with an error rate of 9.4%. Nodules labeled as ACR-TIRADS 4 and 5 had error rates of 47% and 10% in labeling nodules as malignant. The ultrasound-based ACR-TIRADS system can accurately predict the likelihood of specific nodules being benign. There is a strong concordance between Bethesda cytology and ACR-TIRADS classification, particularly for benign nodules. In resource-constrained system like ours, patients with TIRADS 2 and 3 nodules can be safely followed obviating the need for an invasive procedure like FNAC

Sero Conversion of Viral Hepatitis among End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis in Kashmir: Results of a Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: The seroconversion is a significant health concern in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis particularly in high endemic zones of HBV and HCV. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted from January 2009 to April 2018 at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir. A cohort of 459 end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis was enrolled from four dialysis centres and followed in a longitudinal manner. Their seroconversion rates, risk factors were studied. Positive patients were treated and followed up. RESULTS: This study demonstrated HBV seroconversion rate of 7.4 % (n = 34) and HCV seroconversion rate of 10% (n = 46) in a cohort of 459 patients on hemodialysis attending four dialysis centres of Kashmir. Patients with diabetes mellitus outnumbered in seroconversion rates of (43.75%) followed by patients with glomerulonephritis (23.75%). Of 15 patients who had undergone renal transplantation 10 (66.67%), patients had seroconversion on hemodialysis which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Patients who were dialysed at multiple HD centres had significant seroconversion than those who followed up at a single center. Seroconversion was associated with longer duration of dialysis (80.30 ± 30.92 vs 61 ± 9.41months, P < 0.000). HBV vaccination of the ESRD patient on hemodialysis was significantly protective against seroconversion (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B vaccination, stringent precautions in all dialysis centres could help to reduce the high seroconversion rates which have a high financial burden on ESRD patients. Intense health education to both patients and medical staff will be beneficial to lower the seroconversion rates

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Primary hyperoxaluria: a case series

Abstract Background Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the excessive production and accumulation of oxalate. We present five cases of PH, each exhibiting varying manifestations of the disorder including a case presenting as postpartum kidney failure. Notably, three of these cases involve a previously unreported mutation. Case presentations We evaluated five Indian patients who presented with varying manifestations of PH. The first case, a 30 year old woman, presented as post-partum kidney failure and was found to be having oxalate nephropathy precipitated by dietary oxalate overload in the setting of previously undiagnosed PH. Genetic analysis revealed a previously unreported mutation in the alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase gene. The patient underwent simultaneous kidney liver transplant. The second and third cases, 26 and 28 year old women respectively, were asymptomatic siblings of the first patient, who were diagnosed through screening. The fourth case is a 12 year boy with PH type 1 presenting as nephrolithiasis and rapidly worsening kidney function requiring combined kidney liver kidney transplant. Case 5 is a 6 year old male child with type 2 PH presenting with nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis and normal kidney function. All the patients were born to consanguineous parents. Conclusions Due to limited clinical suspicion and inadequate diagnostic resources in certain countries with limited resources, it is possible for PH to go undiagnosed. The manifestations of the disease can range from no noticeable symptoms to severe disease. Interestingly, in some individuals with primary hyperoxaluria, the disease may not exhibit any symptoms until it is triggered by a high intake of dietary oxalate

Etiological Profile of Chronic Liver Disease: An Experience from Northern India

Introduction: In present age of globalization, etiological differences in disease profiles are getting narrower between different regions of world. However there are still regions were etiological profile of diseases is quite different for given particular disease that demands scrutiny from time to time so as to develop and update clinical acumen’s for correct clinical diagnosis and management of that public health problem. Chronic liver disease (CLD) is an emerging epidemic that is projected to pose enormous challenge to us in near future. So to study its various aspects from time to time is of utmost importance. Aims and objective: To study etiological profile in cases of chronic liver disease in our region.Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study was carried out in Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Government Medical College; Srinagar: India over period of two years in 2018- 2020. Patients with documented CLD or diagnosed CLD on admission followed by complete etiological workup were included in study.Results: Over 2 year’s period, 246 patients were enrolled. Mean age of patients was 57.09 ± 13.90 years. Hepatitis B virus is a major etiological contributor to the burden of CLD amounting to 28% in Kashmir with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)not so far behind at 23%. Whereas Alcohol related CLD disease is almost non-existent.Conclusion: Our region has etiologic profile in CLD unique in a sense that chronichepatitis B is leading contributor of CLD burden whereas Alcohol related CLD is rare in this region. Most patients were presenting at advanced stages signifying need of sensitizing people for emerging epidemic of CLD