Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research

Neonatal Hypocalcemia and its Association with Neonatal and Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency

Mohd Muthiuddin Muzammil, Lingareddy Kasula, Fatima Nasir — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: In neonates, hypocalcaemia is a common metabolic manifestation. It is a potentially fatal condition, with reported prevalence varying according to gestational age, maternal and infant comorbidities, and perinatal factors.
Methods: All 100 new-borns admitted in the NICU, and having hypocalcaemia, defined as total serum Calcium <8mg/dl and ionic calcium <3mg/dl, during the study period, and whose parents have given informed consent
Results: The male predominance was seen in 58% and females were 42%. The male : female ratio was 1.38:1. Early onset of hypocalcaemia was seen in 83% of the cases of which Males were 59% and females were 41%. The mean gestational age was 36.27)
+ 1.99 and the mean birth weight was 2.46 + 0.65. The preterm neonates were 27 (32.53%) and term neonates were 56(67.46%)
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was found to be very prevalent in healthy term born infants. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in new-borns, and it was observed that this deficiency was attributed to early neonatal hypocalcaemia. However, the long-term effects of a vitamin D deficiency in childhood are unknown. The use of 25-OH cholecalciferol as a sensitive marker in both term and preterm new-borns is recommended. To prevent neonatal Vitamin D deficiency, mothers were given 1200 IU/day vitamin D supplements from the 12th gestational week to the 6th month of pregnancy.

Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis And Its Association With Maternal Vaginal Infection

Fatima Nasir, Lingareddy Kasula, Mohd Muthiuddin Muzammil — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal
vaginal infection is an important source of vertical transmission.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 80 term neonates born to mothers with risk factors for
vaginal infection. High vaginal swab (HVS) cultures were obtained from mothers, and neonates were evaluated using
sepsis screen and blood culture.
Results: The incidence of EONS was 37.5% (30/80). Among neonates with EONS, 96.4% had positive sepsis screen,
and 40% (12/30) had positive blood cultures. Gram-negative organisms such as Klebsiella (66.6%), E. coli (25%), and
Acinetobacter (8.3%) predominated. Significant association was observed between maternal risk factors (UTI, PROM)
and EONS.
Conclusion: Maternal vaginal infection is strongly associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis. Early screening using
HVS and neonatal sepsis screening can help reduce morbidity and mortality.

Risk Stratification and Care Plan for Intervention Based on Indian Academy of Paediatrics Malnutrition Proactive Assessment

Puja Kumari, Ashutosh Kumar Mishra, Navneet Kumar, Sujit Kumar — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background:Malnutrition continues to be a major public health concern in India, significantly contributing to childhood
morbidity, impaired physical and cognitive development, and increased mortality. Despite ongoing national nutrition
programs, early identification of at-risk children remains a challenge. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has
recommended proactive assessment strategies that emphasize early screening, systematic risk stratification, and timely
intervention to address this burden effectively.
Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IAP-based malnutrition risk stratification in identifying atrisk
children and to assess its role in guiding appropriate intervention planning in a clinical setting.
Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted involving 250 pediatric patients assessed for nutritional
status. Data were collected from hospital records, including demographic characteristics, nutritional risk categories (low,
moderate, high), and intervention requirements. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and chisquare
tests to determine associations between variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:Out of the 250 children included in the study, 40% were categorized as low risk, 35% as moderate risk, and 25%
as high risk for malnutrition. Overall, 60% of the children required some form of nutritional or medical intervention. A
statistically significant association was observed between risk category and intervention requirement (p = 0.03), with
higher-risk groups demonstrating a greater need for intervention. These findings indicate that the IAP stratification model
effectively differentiates children based on clinical need.
Conclusion:The IAP proactive malnutrition assessment model is an effective tool for early risk identification and
structured intervention planning. Its implementation in routine pediatric practice can facilitate timely management,
prevent progression to severe malnutrition, and improve overall child health outcomes.

Comparative Study of Palmar Dermatoglyphics in Vitiligo Patients and Normal Controls

U. Sujatha, S. Sreelatha, D. Sushma — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Dermatoglyphics is the study of epidermal ridges and the patterns formed by them during early intrauterine period. Epidermal ridges have been useful in diagnosing hereditary diseases.
Objective: To evaluate significant difference in dermatoglyphic patterns in vitiligo cases and controls.
Material and methods: The palmar prints of 100 vitiligo cases were taken from outpatient department of Dermatology, Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad and 100 healthy controls from general population. Ethics committee clearance has been obtained. Informed consent was taken from the patients and controls. Dermatoglyphic prints were taken by the ink method of Cummins and Midlo. The prints were then subjected to dermatoglyphic analysis with the help of magnifying hand lens and ridge counting was done with the help of a sharp needle and the details were noted.
Results: There was an increased incidence in ulnar loops and decreased incidence of radial loops in vitiligo cases compared to controls. There was a decreased incidence of whorls in male cases and an increased incidence of whorls in female cases compared to controls. There was a decreased incidence of arches in both male and female cases compared to controls. There was a significant increase in the percentage of Simian line in right hand of female cases compared to controls. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of Sydney line in the right hand of female cases compared to controls.
Conclusion: At present there are very few studies on palmar dermatoglyphics in vitiligo. The present study was a small study consisting of 100 patients only. Hence its findings cannot be generalized. Further large case control studies are needed to establish the exact relation between vitiligo and dermatoglyphics.