Single monoclonal spike characterized as double monoclonal gammopathy in a patient with multiple myeloma: A rare finding.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with the secretion of a unique monoclonal protein (M-protein) due to overproduction of immunoglobulin (Ig) by a clone of abnormally proliferating plasma cells. However, in 4% of the cases more than one M-protein can be found. This category of gammopathies is called "double monoclonal gammopathies." Here, we present a rare case of MM with double monoclonal gammopathy, where the presence of both M-proteins was observed in the single sharp peak on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Further the interference of Hook effect is also discussed. Double monoclonal gammopathies need to be identified to increase diagnostic accuracy and reliability, and to get a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis and progression.

Unraveling the Possibilities of Monoclonal Protein Migration, Identification, and Characterization in SPEP on Capillary Zone Electrophoresis.

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a method by which proteins present in serum are separated into different fractions based on their molecular weight and electric charge. Presence of M spike, composed of monoclonal protein, on electrophoretogram is a characteristic finding that can be seen in monoclonal gammopathies like multiple myeloma. M spike is most commonly seen in the gamma region however, the M-spike can be observed in fraction other than the Y fraction as well i.e. in the beta region and rarely alpha region. Here we have enumerated few cases where M protein has been seen in fractions other than the gamma region. Thus one needs to be cautious about the variable appearance of M-spike during interpretation of SPEP as some physiological proteins if elevated can also give rise to similar spike sometimes referred as pseudo monoclonal pattern.

COVID 19-related burnout among healthcare workers in India and ECG based predictive machine learning model: Insights from the BRUCEE- Li study.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented increase in rates of stress and burn out among healthcare workers (HCWs). Heart rate variability (HRV) has been shown to be reflective of stress and burnout. The present study evaluated the prevalence of burnout and attempted to develop a HRV based predictive machine learning (ML) model to detect burnout among HCWs during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Mini-Z 1.0 survey was collected from 1615 HCWs, of whom 664, 512 and 439 were frontline, second-line and non-COVID HCWs respectively. Burnout was defined as score ≥3 on Mini-Z-burnout-item. A 12-lead digitized ECG recording was performed and ECG features of HRV were obtained using feature extraction. A ML model comprising demographic and HRV features was developed to detect burnout. RESULTS: Burnout rates were higher among second-line workers 20.5% than frontline 14.9% and non-COVID 13.2% workers. In multivariable analyses, features associated with higher likelihood of burnout were feeling stressed (OR = 6.02), feeling dissatisfied with current job (OR = 5.15), working in a chaotic, hectic environment (OR = 2.09) and feeling that COVID has significantly impacted the mental wellbeing (OR = 6.02). HCWs with burnout had a significantly lower HRV parameters like root mean square of successive RR intervals differences (RMSSD) [p < 0.0001] and standard deviation of the time interval between successive RR intervals (SDNN) [p < 0.001]) as compared to normal subjects. Extra tree classifier was the best performing ML model (sensitivity: 84%) CONCLUSION: In this study of HCWs from India, burnout prevalence was lower than reports from developed nations, and was higher among second-line versus frontline workers. Incorporation of HRV based ML model predicted burnout among HCWs with a good accuracy.

Design and rationale of an intelligent algorithm to detect BuRnoUt in HeaLthcare workers in COVID era using ECG and artificiaL intelligence: The BRUCEE-LI study.

BACKGROUND: There is no large contemporary data from India to see the prevalence of burnout in HCWs in covid era. Burnout and mental stress is associated with electrocardiographic changes detectable by artificial intelligence (AI). OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of burnout in HCWs in COVID-19 era using Mini Z-scale and to develop predictive AI model to detect burnout in HCWs in COVID-19 era. METHODS: This is an observational and cross-sectional study to evaluate the presence of burnout in HCWs in academic tertiary care centres of North India in the COVID-19 era. At least 900 participants will be enrolled in this study from four leading premier government-funded/public-private centres of North India. Each study centre will be asked to recruit HCWs by approaching them through various listed ways for participation in the study. Interested participants after initial screening and meeting the eligibility criteria, will be asked to fill the questionnaire (having demographic and work related with Mini Z questionnaire) to assess burnout. The healthcare workers will include physicians at all levels of training, nursing staff and paramedical staff who are involved directly or indirectly in COVID-19 care. The analysis of the raw electrocardiogram (ECG) data and development of algorithm using convolutional neural networks (CNN) will be done by experts. CONCLUSIONS: In Summary, we propose that ECG data generated from the people with burnout can be utilized to develop AI-enabled model to predict the presence of stress and burnout in HCWs in COVID-19 era.

Evaluation of systemic inflammatory and thrombotic markers of cardiovascular risk among young Indian oral tobacco users.

BACKGROUND: While the pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant effects of cigarette smoking have been well described, the effect of smokeless tobacco (ST) on inflammatory and coagulation markers is still not clear. The study aimed to evaluate impact of smokeless tobacco use on systemic markers of inflammation [(TLC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (ESR), interleukin (IL) IL-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)] and hypercoagulable state [fibrinogen and d-dimer] leading to increased cardiovascular risk in ST users as compared to non-users. METHODS: 150 healthy young adults using oral tobacco products for at least 1 year were included in the case group and 50 age-matched non-consumers as controls. Subjects with any known chronic illness or comorbidity were excluded from the study. Blood samples were tested for TLC, NLR, ESR, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNFα, fibrinogen and d-dimer. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 17.0 software. RESULTS: The baseline clinical and cardio-metabolic characteristics were comparable between the two groups. ST users had significantly elevated serum IL-6 [59.29 ± 124.69 pg/mL (n = 149) vs 8.21 ± 27.27 pg/mL (n = 47), p-value = 0.005], TNFα [77.18 ± 236.10 pg/mL (n = 149) vs 8.32 ± 9.36 pg/mL (n = 47), p-value = 0.041], fibrinogen [310.53 ± 129.05 mg/dL (n = 143) vs 282.82 ± 65.23 mg/dL (n = 42), p-value = 0.045] and d-dimer [0.28 ± 0.42 mg/L (n = 144) vs 0.17 ± 0.09 mg/L (n = 45), p-value = 0.043] levels as compared to non-users. Serum TLC, NLR, ESR and IL-1ß remained unchanged in ST users and were similar to that of controls. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic use of ST is associated with systemic inflammation and coagulation, which may increase the risk of athero-thrombotic cardiovascular events among ST users.

Epidemiological profile and management patterns of acute myocardial infarction in very young patients from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in India. Previously it was thought to be a disease of the elderly but now an epidemiological transition is being seen with increasing incidence in the very young adults as well. Such patterns are not well studied in the South East Asian population. OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological profile of very young (≤35 years) adults presenting with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with an older cohort. METHODOLOGY: The present study included all patients presenting with AMI to the emergency or to the out-patient department of the G B Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER), New Delhi between January 2014 and October 2015. A total of 102 subjects ≤35 years with AMI comprised the study subjects (cases) and were compared with 104 subjects >35 years old with AMI (Controls). RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Most of the very young AMI patients presented with an anterior wall ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, a stable hemodynamic profile, single vessel disease and better left ventricular ejection fraction as compared with controls. Most of the patients were from urban and semi-urban areas, middle and lower middle socioeconomic status and were smokers but lacked other traditional risk factors.

Role of ApoE gene polymorphism and nonconventional biochemical risk factors among very young individuals (aged less than 35 years) presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Incidence rate of acute myocardial infarction (MI) has increased in younger population over the years. The young patients have a different risk profile, presentation, and prognosis than the elderly. Hence, it is essential to understand the risk factors in young patients for proper treatment. METHODS: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism and biochemicals such as total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), lipoprotein(a), insulin, interleukin-6, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein were investigated in very young MI (yMI patients; age ≤ 35 years; n = 125), in old MI (oMI patients; age >35 and < 80 years; n = 111), and healthy controls (age ≤35 years; n = 103). RESULTS: HDL-C was significantly lower in yMI patients than in controls (p = 2.63E-04) and oMI patients (p = 1.29E-05). ApoA1 was also lowest in yMI patients, but significant only in comparison to controls (p = 2.62E.04). The yMI group had the highest ratios of total cholesterol:HDL-C (p = 0.027 in yMI patients versus controls and p = 0.018 in yMI patients versus oMI patients), LDL-C:HDL-C (p = 0.002 in yMI patients versus controls and p = 0.005 in yMI patients versus oMI patients), and ApoB:ApoA1 (p = 8.75E-05 in yMI patients versus controls and p > 0.05 in yMI patients versus oMI patients). No significant pattern of ApoE polymorphisms was observed. CONCLUSION: The lower level of HDL-C and ApoA1 and higher ratios of total cholesterol:HDL-C, LDL-C:HDL-C, and ApoB:ApoA1 are risk factors for MI in young patients.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -308G/A gene polymorphism and novel biomarker profiles in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

BACKGROUND: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory disease of the aorta and its branches, leading to stenosis, occlusion, and aneurysmal dilatation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine with pleomorphic actions and plays a pivotal role in inflammation; the serum level of TNF-α is genetically determined. However, the literature lacks adequate information on the association of TNF-α polymorphisms with TA. Hence, the present study investigates the contribution of TNF-α polymorphism toward the complex etiology of TA. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 87 patients with TA and 90 controls. A promoter region polymorphism of TNF-α, rs1800629 G/A, or -308G/A was genotyped in all the study subjects followed by a case-control association study. Furthermore, to understand the biomarker profile, levels of specific markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-18, interleukin-6, and TNF-α were measured in all the study subjects. RESULTS: All the inflammatory markers were significantly higher in the TA patients than in the controls. The genetic study (available for 57 TA patients and 36 controls) revealed that the TNF-α -308A allele was overrepresented in the TA patients (12% vs 7%). The TNF-α -308A allele correlated with the increased TNF-α levels, but it could not attain significance because of a small sample size. CONCLUSION: The TNF-α -308G/A polymorphism is associated with TNF-α levels in Indian population, which might have implications for clinical risk stratification and treatment. The different TNF-α gene promoter polymorphism might contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of TA. However, further study of the underlying mechanism is warranted.