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This article, titled "Pediatric Cardiologist's Viewpoint," discusses the role of early selective treatment of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extremely preterm neonates. The study suggests that the administration of ibuprofen at less than 72 hours of age to close a hemodynamically significant PDA is not advisable, as there is a trend towards harm. The article calls for further studies to evaluate the effectiveness of other drugs and to determine the appropriate window for administering drugs to close PDA. The author concludes that a "wait-and-watch" approach should be taken based on the evidence presented. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To study the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the utilization of pediatric cardiac care services and to determine the role of teleconsultation services in delivering healthcare in this subset of population. Methods: It was a retrospective, observational study. All children who attended pediatric cardiology outpatient/teleconsultation services or were admitted to pediatric cardiology ward between April 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019 and April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, were recruited in the study. Data for patients who underwent surgery or catheter intervention for congenital heart disease were also recorded and analyzed. Comparisons were drawn between the statistics during the two time-periods. Results: Physical outpatient services were discontinued and were replaced by teleconsultations from April 2020. Inpatient admissions during COVID-19 pandemic (n = 66) decreased by two-thirds as compared to the admissions during similar period in 2019 (n = 189). Similarly, the percentage decrease during these 4 mo of pandemic were 84% for catheter interventions, 90% for total congenital heart disease (CHD) surgeries, and 40% for emergency CHD surgeries. The number of patients availing successful teleconsultation was 1079, which was only 15% of the total number of patients attending physical outpatient services (n = 7176) during the corresponding period in the year 2019. During the pandemic, systematic teleconsultation and local evaluation and investigations aided in better management of patients with CHD. Conclusions: The utilization of cardiovascular services for CHD has reduced significantly during COVID-19 pandemic, for both out- and inpatient care. Teleconsultation services have streamlined the follow-up care to some extent and have helped in noncontact triaging of these patients for further care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac imaging provides invaluable guidance at all stages of the management of congenital heart disease. Advances in the field of cardiac imaging have contributed immensely to improved outcomes of these patients. Echocardiography remains the first-line imaging modality. Non-invasive cross-sectional imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging supplements morphologic and physiologic evaluation and are being increasingly used for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with a malformed heart. Cardiac catheterization, being invasive, is mostly reserved for accurate assessment of hemodynamic status and percutaneous interventions. Simultaneous improvement in visualization techniques has amplified the information obtained from various imaging modalities. This review provides an overview of cardiac imaging and visualization techniques commonly used in the diagnosis and management of patients with congenital heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fetal arrhythmias constitute 10 to 20% of the total referrals to fetal cardiology unit. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a rare form of fetal tachyarrhythmia. Materials and methods: This report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic features, and successful management of VT in a fetus at 32 weeks of gestation. Transplacental therapy with sotalol resulted in the termination of tachyarrhythmia in 48 h, followed by good postnatal outcome. Conclusion: Fetal m-mode showing ventricular rate higher than atrial rate with atrio-ventricular dissociation is suggestive of VT. Early diagnosis and institution of transplacental therapy prior to development of hydrops seem to carry a good prognosis even in malignant fetal arrhythmias like VT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide based drugs are now a day fascinating application areas. This brief review focuses on the history of peptides, synthesis of peptides, their therapeutic applications and the current status of peptides in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous 2014 issues including one about the randomized controlled trial by Li Xue and colleagues aimed at reducing the length of ventilation in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome, one on the Guidelines on immunization schedule for children up to the age of 18 years recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), and one on the treatment guidelines for seasonal influenza.

The article discusses the efforts to eliminate kerosene poisoning among children in Delhi, India. Topics discussed include the success of the Delhi: A Kerosene-Free City campaign in 2012, studies which indicate that kerosene poisoning is the most common form of accidental poisoning, and the call for the extension of the kerosene-free scheme.