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Background: Studies on stature estimation models for North West Indian populations are limited. The present study attempts to develop stature estimation models for the Indian population using hand and foot dimensions. Materials and Methods: Hand and foot measurements of 280 individuals (140 males and 140 females) were recorded for the estimation of stature in the present study. The stature and nine hand and foot anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard methods and relevant landmarks. For bilateral and sex differences, independent and paired t-tests were used to statistically analyze the data. Results: The findings showed statistically significant sex differences (P < 0.05) in stature, foot, and hand measurements. However, there were no significant bilateral differences. The Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the association between stature and hand/foot measurements. All the studied parameters in both sexes demonstrated a statistically significant (P < 0.001) and strong positive correlation with stature. Males and females had the strongest correlation coefficients for right-foot length (r = 0.70) and right-hand length (r = 0.64), respectively. Each sex’s regression equations were calculated separately. Stature predictions were accurate to within 4.02–6.64 cm. Conclusion: Stature estimated from hand and foot measurements can help in personal identification by creating an individual’s biological profile. Morphological differences in feet and hands demonstrate the significance of developing ethnic group-specific models to determine stature. According to the study’s findings, the stature of a person belonging to the Indian subcontinent can be estimated using hands and feet for anthropological and forensic purposes.

Low birth weight is one of the leading factors for infant morbidity and mortality. To a large extent affect, various maternal risk factors are associated with pregnancy outcomes by increasing odds of delivering an infant with low birth weight. Despite this association, understanding the maternal risk factors affecting term low birth weight has been a challenging task. To date, limited studies have been conducted in India that exert independent magnitude of these effects on term low birth weight. The aim of this review is to examine the current knowledge of maternal risk factors that contribute to term low birth weight in the Indian population. In order to identify the potentially relevant articles, an extensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Goggle Scholar and IndMed databases (1993 – Dec 2020). Our results indi­cate that maternal age, educational status, socio-economic status, ethnicity, parity, pre-pregnancy weight, maternal stature, maternal body mass index, obstetric history, maternal anaemia, gestational weight gain, short pregnancy outcome, hypertension during pregnancy, infection, antepartum haemorrhage, tobacco consumption, maternal occupation, maternal psychological stress, alcohol consumption, antenatal care and mid-upper arm circumference have all independent effects on term low birth weight in the Indian pop­ulation. Further, we argue that exploration for various other dimensions of maternal factors and underlying pathways can be useful for a better understanding of how it exerts independent association on term low birth weight in the Indian sub-continent.

The increased prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) is reflected in the rising economic burden of health conditions. Observational studies conducted in health economics research are detecting associations of NCDs or related risk factors with economic measures like health insurance, economic inequalities, accessibility of jobs, education, annual income, health expenditure, etc. The inferences of such relationships do not prove causation and are limited to associations which are many times influenced by confounding factors and reverse causation. Mendelian randomization (MR) approach is a useful method for exploring causal relations between modifiable risk factors and measures of health economics. The application of MR in economic assessment of health conditions has been started and is producing fruitful results.

Context: According to various epidemiological studies, the aetiology of recurrent miscarriages (RMs) is multifactorial. The goal of this study is to learn more about the link between genetic polymorphisms and RM. Aim: To evaluate the association of 5-Methytetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (MTR) A2756G, 5-Methytetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine Methyltransferase Reductase (MTRR) A66G and cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) 844INS68 genetic polymorphisms with RM and also to understand the combined effect of the selected genotypes. Setting and Design: This was a hospital-based, case–control, observational study. Materials and Methods: A total of 516 participants were recruited in the present study, of which 200 RM cases and 258 controls were included in the present study. Fasting blood sample (~5ml) was drawn from all the participants and were screened for genetic polymorphisms of MTR A2756G, MTRR A66G and CBS 844INS68. Statistical Analysis Used: The frequency, odd's ratio and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were evaluated. SPSS (version 21.0) was used for the data analysis. Results: MTR A2756G genetic polymorphism was not associated with the risk of RM. The ancestral allele of MTRR A66G and the mutant allele of CBS 844INS68 was causing an increased risk of more than two folds for RM. CBS 844INS68 in combination with MTR A2756G was found to pose an increased risk of more than two folds for RM. Conclusion: Genetic polymorphisms particularly MTRR A66G and CBS 844INS68 seems to be elevating the risk and hence making women susceptible for RM.

Monitoring graft health and detecting graft rejection is crucial for the success of post-transplantation outcomes. In Western countries, the use of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) has gained widespread recognition as a diagnostic tool for kidney transplant recipients. However, the role of dd-cfDNA among the Indian population remains unexplored. The recipients were categorized into two groups: the post-transplant recipient (PTR) group (n = 16) and the random recipient (RR) group (n = 87). Blood samples were collected daily from the PTR group over a 7-day period, whereas the RR group’s samples were obtained at varying intervals. In this study, we used a targeted approach to identify dd-cfDNA, which eliminated the need for genotyping, and is based on the minor allele frequency of SNP assays. In the PTR group, elevated dd-cfDNA% levels were observed immediately after transplantation, but returned to normal levels within five days. Within the RR group, heightened serum creatinine levels were directly proportional to increased dd-cfDNA%. Sixteen recipients were advised to undergo biopsy due to elevated serum creatinine and other pathological markers. Among these sixteen recipients, six experienced antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), two exhibited graft dysfunctions, two had active graft injury, and six (37.5%) recipients showed no rejection (NR). In cases of biopsy-proven ABMR and NR, recipients displayed a mean ± SD dd-cfDNA% of 2.80 ± 1.77 and 0.30 ± 0.35, respectively. This study found that the selected SNP assays exhibit a high proficiency in identifying donor DNA. This study also supports the use of dd-cfDNA as a routine diagnostic test for kidney transplant recipients, along with biopsies and serum creatinine, to attain better graft monitoring.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global healthcare crisis. Kidney transplant (KTx) patients and the patients with chronic kidney disease are two of the most vulnerable populations to the risks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A systematic literature search on PubMed and Web of Science was conducted. We analyzed published case reports, case series and articles on COVID-19’s clinical presentation, management, outcomes and vaccination among kidney transplant recipients. A total of 33 studies were included in the study, which included 1676 KTx recipients and 108 waiting list patients infected with COVID-19. These studies reported the clinical presentation, management and immunosuppressive adjustment among the KTx recipients. The remaining studies focused on other aspects, such as vaccination and transplantation, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mortality due to COVID-19 was observed to be the highest for KTx recipients, followed by patients on hemodialysis, and lowest in the general population. There is no definitive treatment of COVID-19 yet, and managing transplant patients is enigmatic of this: the treatment is based on symptom management. There is an urgent need for guidelines on managing kidney transplant recipients and immunosuppressive adjustments for the course of COVID-19 treatment.

BackgroundMore than 250 loci have been identified by genome-wide scans for type 2 diabetes in different populations. South Asians have a very different manifestation of the diseases and hence role of these loci need to be investigated among Indians with huge burden of cardio-metabolic disorders. Thus the present study aims to validate the recently identified GWAS loci in an endogamous caste population in North India.Methods219 T2D cases and 184 controls were recruited from hospitals and genotyped for 15 GWAS loci of T2D. Regression models adjusted for covariates were run to examine the association for T2D and fasting glucose levels.ResultsWe validated three variants for T2D namely, rs11634397 at ZFAND6 (OR = 3.05, 95%CI = 1.02-9.19, p = 0.047) and rs8042680 at PRC1 (OR = 3.67, 95%CI = 1.13-11.93, p = 0.031) showing higher risk and rs6813195 at TMEM154 (OR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.09-0.90, p = 0.033) showing protective effect. The combined risk of 9 directionally consistent variants was also found to be significantly associated with T2D (OR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.18-3.08, p = 0.008). One variant rs10842994 at KLHDC5 was validated for 9.15mg/dl decreased fasting glucose levels (SE = -17.25-1.05, p = 0.027).ConclusionWe confirm the role of ZFAND6, PRC1 and TMEM154 in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes among Indians. More efforts are needed with larger sample sizes to validate the diabetes GWAS loci in South Asian populations for wider applicability.

BackgroundInfertility is a very distressing condition. It is often associated with long-term stress, which can emerge as anxiety and depression.AimTo understand the effect of socio-demographic variables, reproductive trajectories, and lifestyle variables on stress, depression, and anxiety independently and to understand the relationship of psychological variables with each other among infertile and fertile women.MethodsThis cross-sectional study recruited 500 women which included 250 primary infertile cases and 250 age-matched fertile controls of the age group 22-35 years. A pretested modified interview schedule was administered which included demographic variables, lifestyle variables, and reproductive trajectories. In addition, psychological tools like PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 were used to collect the data pertaining to Stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Data analysis was performed with the statistical software version SPSS, IBM version 24.ResultsInfertile women are more prone to various psychological disorder (stress, anxiety and depression). None of the demographic and lifestyle variables were associated with stress, anxiety, and depression among infertile women. Only reproductive trajectories were found to be causing stress, anxiety, and depression respectively among infertile women. In addition, stress is leading to both anxiety and depression among infertile women but only to depression in fertile women.ConclusionInfertile women should be counselled by medical experts regarding reproductive trajectories. Infertile couples should be guided and counselled to incorporate mental health screening and treatment in their routine check-up.

Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) is a non-invasive biomarker that is more sensitive and specific towards diagnosing any graft injury or rejection. Due to its applicability over all transplanted organs irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and the non-requirement of a donor sample, it emerges as a new gold standard for graft health and rejection monitoring. Published research articles describing the role and efficiency of dd-cfDNA were identified and scrutinized to acquire a brief understanding of the history, evolution, emergence, role, efficiency, and applicability of dd-cfDNA in the field of transplantation. The dd-cfDNA can be quantified using quantitative PCR, next-generation sequencing, and droplet digital PCR, and there is a commendatory outcome in terms of diagnosing graft injury and monitoring graft health. The increased levels of dd-cfDNA can diagnose the rejection prior to any other presently used biochemistry or immunological assay methods. Biopsies are performed when these tests show any signs of injury and/or rejection. Therefore, by the time these tests predict and show any unusual or improper activity of the graft, the graft is already damaged by almost 50%. This review elucidates the evolution, physiology, techniques, limitations, and prospects of dd-cfDNA as a biomarker for post-transplant graft damage and rejection.