Background The incidence of autoimmune disorders has seen a rise in India in recent times. The symptoms and signs of these conditions are caused by a systemic autoimmune response, essentially characterized by the expression of the antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Presence of ANA in serum of patient could be the prime evidence of an autoimmune disorder. Aim This study aimed to determine the antibody patterns and assess the clinical significance of ANA in patients of a teaching tertiary care hospital of central India. Material and Methods This retrospective cross-sectional data analysis study retrieved 538 reports of individuals, who were prescribed the ANA test by indirect immunofluorescence assay over a period of 11 months, from the archives of the Department of Biochemistry. For continuous data, student t-test was used while Chi-square and Fisher exact was conducted for categorical data. A p value less than 0.05 were taken as significant. Results Out of the 538 patients investigated for ANA testing by indirect immunofluorescence assay, 33% were positive, among which 74% were female, and majority belonged to the young adult age group. The most common pattern identified was nuclear, subpattern nuclear speckled. Conclusion A high-ANA pattern positivity could be related to a high-autoimmunity prevalence in this region, and also promotes its use as a tool of evidence of suspected autoimmune disorders.

Background: In India, the prevalence of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is showing an upward trend. Gamma glutamate transferase (GGT) and ferritin increase oxidant stress in the body through their role in glutathione homeostasis and iron metabolism, respectively. The increase in oxidant stress increases the inflammatory load, a risk factor for metabolic syndrome. These parameters are cheap, patient-friendly, and available in routine diagnostic labs compatible for follow-up, relieving the already overburdened healthcare system. Methodology: In a case-control study, samples of 77 cases of metabolic syndrome and 77 age and sex-matched controls were analyzed for serum GGT (by modified IFCC) and serum ferritin (by CLIA). Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 20.0 version. Results: The mean ± SD for ferritin and GGT were 101.58 ± 84.20 ng/dL and 36.67 ± 26.40 IU/L, respectively in cases, whereas in control group these values were 38.38 ± 29.26 ng/dL and 16.5 3 ± 6.79 IU/L ( P < 0.001). Positive and significant correlation was seen between GGT with TG (r-value- 0.376/ P -value-0.001) and GGT with waist circumference (r-value- 0.298/ P -value- 0.022). A positive and significant correlation was seen between GGT and ferritin in cases with an r-value of 0.307 ( P -value - 0.01). Conclusion: The increased values of GGT and ferritin in cases suggest an inflammatory load. The positive and significant correlation between GGT and triglyceride indicates its role in increasing oxidants’ stress leading to inflammation and the development of MetS. The association of ferritin with MetS though insignificant may be considered as a biomarker.

Objectives: The fundamental prerequisite of a screening program is the accessible epidemiological data regarding disease burden and awareness regarding the disorder. This is the foremost study in this state to estimate the burden of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency in infants born or attending a tertiary care hospital, pursuing skill development for the technical staffs, and creating awareness for parents. Study Design: A cross-sectional study for 21 months was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Methods: The screening was conducted on 1282 babies, 48 hours subsequent to birth and up to 8 weeks of age. The dried blood spot specimens collected were analyzed for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and G6PD enzyme activity by fluoroimmunoassay method. Prevalence was calculated by percentage. Results: The proficiency of the program for all live birth babies delivered in the institute was 94.6%. In consequence to improper sampling, 4.1% samples could not be analyzed. The screening tests reported elevated TSH levels in 1.6% of total population and G6PD enzyme deficiency in 2.6% of all babies enrolled. Confirmatory tests revealed that 4 (3.1/1000) babies were declared positive for CH and 8 (6.2/1000) were announced to be G6PD deficient. Conclusion: The new prevalence observed is one of the highest prevalence of CH published in India that urges mandatory and immediate need for development of newborn screening program in the state, and improvisation and upgradation of regional diagnostic center with facilities for primary- and secondary-level testing.

Gold, sulphur and mercurial formulations in Indian alchemy are consumed in conjunction with suitable adjuvant for the better result of their synergistic action, reduced toxicity and consequently boosting their bioavailability via the body's cells due to their nano size resulting in improved effectiveness. Poorna chandrodaya chendooram is a well-known mercurial mixture containing gold and sulphur that has traditionally been used to treat a variety of diseases including tuberculosis, jaundice, fever, rat-bite, malignant ulcer, sprue, and male sterility. Fel bovinum purifactum ( Gorochanai ) is an expectorant. It is used to treat fever, nausea, dyspnea, general weakness, headache, and other symptoms in children. Gorochanai pill relieves asthma, hiccups, cough, and Hemiplegia. It acts as a bronchodilator. The second wave mutant virus has better transmission potential and a shorter incubation period than the first wave. Some diabetic patients treated for SARS-CoV-2 with high dose corticosteroids had a decrease in angioinvasive maxillofacial fungal infections (Mucormycosis). Without using synthetic steroids and with optimum oxygen support, this case report emphasises the therapeutic success of administering Poorna chandirodayam and Gorojanai mathirai together with herbal and herbomineral Siddha formulations as a supplementary when required in the early inflammatory phase of COVID-19 infection and hypoxic situation. 5 patients with the laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (SARS- CoV2) infection admitted in the approved Siddha Covid hospital have been involved in the study. When the drug is properly prepared and given in a safe dosage during the duration of treatment there will not be any side effects. Metal-based medications Poorna chandirodayam and Gorojanai mathirai been demonstrated through these case series to be safe and useful in COVID19.

Aims: To evaluate clinical validation, safety assessment and efficacy of Siddha line of treatment in COVID-19 patients. Presentation of the Case: Open labelled, interventional, prospective cohort study conducted in Covid ward, Kokila Siddha Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai between June and Aug 2021. Among 22 registered in the trial 5 (22.72%) developed breathing difficulty, treated with oxygen support, 10 (45.5%) were male, 12 (54.5%) were female. At the time of admission, maximum 9 (40.9 %) had fever, followed by dry cough 18 (81.8%), dyspnea 8 (36.4%), malaise 16 (72.7%), anorexia 8 (36.4%), headache 4 (18.2%), Type-2DM 5 (23%), and 2 (9%) had hypertension as comorbidity. Hematology, LFT, RFT, D-Dimer, PTT, CRP were taken before and after 5 days of treatment. Discussion: The mean hospital stay was 7 days and discharged on a minimum of 4th day and a maximum of 16th day. The mean hospital stay for hypoxic patients was 10 days. Paired sample test analysis has been carried out to find a significant difference in the counts of lymphocytes, ESR, CRP and PTT after the administration of the intervention. Conclusion: The medications chosen according to the pathology of Kaba suram and administered starting on first day of admission, depending on the stage and severity of the infection. Patients were provided with appropriate food, exercise, therapy in conjunction with medications and found the patient's condition has not deteriorated further. It is reasonable to conclude that the treatment of COVID-19 with selective Siddha medications stopped the disease progress more critical.