Background: Arterial and venous thrombosis is one of the major complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Studies have not assessed the difference in D-dimer levels between patients who develop thrombosis and those who do not. Methods:Our study retrospectively assessed D-dimer levels in all virus confirmed hospitalized patients between May to September, 2020. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 with normal D-dimer of < 0.5 µg/mL, group 2 with elevation up to six folds, and group 3 with more than six-fold elevation. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software 23.0.Results: Seven hundred twenty patients (group1 (n = 414), group 2 (n = 284) and group 3 (n = 22)) were studied. Eight thrombotic events were observed. Events were two with stroke, two non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and one each of ST elevation myocardial infarction, superior mesenteric artery thrombosis with bowel gangrene, arteriovenous fistula thrombus and unstable angina. No significant difference (P = 0.11) was observed between median D-dimer levels among patients who developed thrombosis (1.34) and those who did not develop thrombosis (0.91). Twenty-nine patients died. The adjusted odds of death among those with a six-fold or higher elevation in D-dimer was 128.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.2 -446.3, P < 0.001), while adjusted odds of developing clinical thrombosis was 1.96 (95% CI: 0.82 -18.2, P = 0.18). Conclusions:Our study observed a 1.1% in-hospital incidence of clinical thrombosis. While, a six-fold elevation in D-dimer was significantly associated with death; the same was not a strong predictor of thrombosis; an observation which implies that dose of anticoagulation should not be based on absolute D-dimer level.

Increase in the incidence of drug resistance and association with HIV has led to a resurgence of tuberculosis. However, tubercular arteritis continues to remain a rare entity with a prelidection for the thoracic aorta. We report a tubercular ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm in a patient already on treatment for disseminated tuberculosis who underwent successful surgical repair and also review literature pertaining to this entity.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the outcome and mortality predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization among elderly population. Methods: In this retrospective study, hospitalized elderly people with virologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated. Participants were divided into three groups of mild, moderate, and severe based on oxygenation. The primary outcome was death or discharge to home. Results: A total of 169 patients were studied (mean age: 68 years). Apart from respiratory symptoms, other reported symptoms included gastrointestinal complaints in 11% (n = 19), acute stroke in 1.1% (n = 2), delirium in 1.7% (n = 3), and anosmia or ageusia in 8.88% (n = 15). Also, 65 (38.5%) patients required oxygen support, 25 (14.7%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), 7 (4.1%) required non-invasive ventilation (Fio2 0.6 to 1.0), 14 (8.28%) were mechanically ventilated. 72 (42%) received steroid, and 100 (59%) received prophylactic heparin. Overall mortality was 12.4% (n = 21). Gender had no effect on mortality (P = 0.83). Presence of ≥ 3 risk factors, elevated neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer, and lactate dehydrogenase, were associated with mortality (P = 0.001, P = 0.0005, P = 0.05, and P = 0.0005, respectively). Sepsis and cardiovascular events were higher among those who died. Conclusions: We observed a low mortality among the elderly treated with steroids compared to studies done in the pre-steroid period. Elevated NLR, LDH, and D-dimer were associated with mortality.

Background: Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance occurs in obese patients with primary hypertension independent of diabetes and obesity. This study was aimed at assessing serum fasting insulin levels, the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum lipid levels in non-obese patients with primary hypertension when compared to normotensive subjects. Methods: This observational study comprised 100 patients over 18 years of age, divided into two groups. The hypertensive group comprised non-obese patients with primary hypertension (n=50); the normotensive group comprised normotensive age- and sex-matched individuals (n=50). Patients with diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, obesity, and other causative factors of insulin resistance were excluded from the study. Serum fasting insulin levels and fasting lipid profiles were measured, and insulin resistance was calculated using HOMA-IR. These data were compared between the two groups. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the extent of a linear relationship between HOMA-IR and to evaluate the association between HOMA-IR and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Results: Mean serum fasting insulin levels (mIU/L), mean HOMA-IR values, and fasting triglyceride levels (mg/dL) were significantly higher in the hypertensive versus normotensive patients (10.32 versus 6.46, P<0.001; 1.35 versus 0.84, P<0.001; 113.70 versus 97.04, P=0.005, respectively). The HOMA-IR levels were associated with systolic blood pressure (r value 0.764, P=0.0005). Conclusion: We observed significantly higher fasting insulin levels, serum triglyceride levels, and HOMA-IR reflecting hyperinsulinemia and possibly an insulin-resistant state among primary hypertension patients with no other causally linked factors for insulin resistance. We observed a significant correlation between systolic blood pressure and HOMA-IR.

Background: The profile of acute poisoning cases is fast changing in last few years, due to advancements in agriculture, construction, sanitation, cosmetic industry and not the least in pharmacology. The advancements and invention of new chemical agents in these industries have increased the access to wide range of materials with quite varied chemical nature, which is reflected in the profile of acute poisonings.Methods: The study is a prospective observational study for a period of 18 months .The study population included all the patients presenting to the emergency department with history of acute poisoning excluding accidental non-self- poisoning.Conclusion: In the current study, highest proportion of subjects in the overall study group was between 26 to 40 years. The proportion of males and females were almost equal whereas in OPC poisoning group the proportion of males was much higher than females. Majority of the affected population were married, living in urban areas, educated ,belonged to lower class. Highest proportion was constituted by housewives and students .Organophosphorous poisoning was the most common poisoning reported followed by benzodiazepines and rat killer in thestudy.The overall mortality rate in the study was 10.53%.Mortality was highest when the subjects were presented beyond 6 hours. Among the type of poisons OPC poisoning had highest mortality.