This study reveals high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among cases of acute MI and controls from India, with levels of 25 (OH)D being significantly lower among cases. Despite rampant hypovitaminosis, severe vitamin D deficiency was associated with acute MI after adjusting for conventional risk factors. This association needs to be tested in larger studies in different regions of the country.

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Aim:Telomere length (TL) measurement by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been widely accepted, but limited information regarding its validation with a gold-standard technique is available.Materials & methods:We measured TL by Southern blot and monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR (MMqPCR) and validated the results of TL in leukocytes of 94 participants with mean age 43.2 years, BMI 19–41 (mean 27.8 ± 4.3) kg/m2.Results:A significant positive correlation was observed between TL measured by MMqPCR and Southern blot assay (correlation coefficient r = +0.896, p < 0.0001). The inter- and intra-assay CVs of the MMqPCR assay were 5.3 and 4.07%, respectively.Conclusion:We observed that experimental discrepancies have an impact on TL analysis and there is a need to improve the optimum conditions.

Older adults represent a substantial number of the world population, which is set to grow considerably in the coming years. The health challenges faced by the older adults are unique. Several age-related changes in them make phlebotomy difficult. Application of dried blood has been demonstrated to be useful in the other similarly vulnerable population, the neonates. Similar approach of standardization and demonstration of use of dried blood spots (DBS) for analytes of interest in older adult population would be highly appreciated. There are very few reports of use of DBS in older adults. There are several potential areas of interest for older adults in which DBS assays are available but have not been applied for screening in them. This review describes a brief general overview of DBS, its advantages and disadvantages and potential use in disease diagnosis in older adults.

To develop a bioassay for estimation of sodium, potassium and creatinine in dried urine strips and comparing with their respective concentration in liquid urine samples. Materials & methods: Urine was collected on filter paper strips, dried at room temperature and, eluted for estimation of sodium, potassium by indirect ion selective electrode method and creatinine by Jaffé method. Result: This bioassay was validated based on the US FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation and was linear, sensitive, accurate and precise with acceptable recovery and matrix effects. Analytes were stable in dried urine strips during 1 year of storage at 4 • C. Conclusion: We conclude that the dried urine is suitable for analysis of sodium, potassium and creatinine and offers a convenient alternative for monitoring dietary salt intake.

Born small for gestational age due to undernutrition in utero and subsequent catch‐up growth is associated with risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. Telomere length has been shown to be a predictor of these age‐related diseases and may be a link between birth size, a surrogate for foetal undernutrition, and adult chronic diseases. We assessed the relationship of leukocyte telomere length in adult life with birth outcomes and serial change in body mass index (BMI) from birth to adulthood. Leukocyte relative telomere length (RTL) was measured by MMqPCR in 1,309 subjects from New Delhi Birth Cohort who participated in two phases of the study between 2006–2009 (Phase 6) and 2012–2015 (Phase 7) at a mean age of 39.08 (±3.29), and its association with birth outcomes and conditional BMI gain at 2, 11, and 29 years was assessed in a mixed regression model. We did not find any significant association of RTL with body size at birth including birthweight, birth length, and birth BMI. Gestational age was positively associated with RTL (P = .017, multivariate model: P = .039). Conditional BMI gain at 2 and 11 years was not associated with RTL. BMI gain at 29 year was negatively associated with RTL in multivariate model (P = .015). Born small for gestational age was not associated with RTL in adulthood. Leukocyte telomere attrition was observed in those born before 37 weeks of gestational age as well as in those who gained weight as adults, which may predispose to chronic diseases.

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