Background: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the major nutritional deficiencies and an important contributor to nutritional and growth failure in infants, especially in those with low socioeconomic status. Aim: The primary objective of this study was to determine the proportion of vitamin D deficiency in infants, and the secondary objective was to assess the correlation between infant and maternal vitamin D levels. Methods: This prospective, observational study was carried out at a tertiary care center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, in the Department of Pediatrics from January 2017 to December 2018. Children aged less than one year and their mothers were enrolled in the study. All the infants attending the Department of Pediatrics for well-child visits and sick-child visits were enrolled after obtaining written, informed consent. Infants with major congenital malformations and liver and kidney dysfunction were excluded. Serum vitamin D level of <20 ng/mL was defined as vitamin D deficiency. Results: A total of 200 infants and 200 mothers were enrolled in the study. Among the study infants, 80% were neonates, and 20% were infants beyond the neonatal period. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 74% in infants and 85.5% in mothers. Nearly half of the infants and mothers had severe vitamin D deficiency. Logistic regression analysis showed a positive correlation between maternal and infant vitamin D levels (r=0.074, p<0.001) and also with neonatal age group and low socioeconomic status. Hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia were predominant biochemical manifestations. Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the study infants was 74%. Neonatal age group, lower socioeconomic status, and maternal vitamin D deficiency were major determinants of vitamin D deficiency in infants.

Introduction: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) smear may serve as a convenient sample for DNA extraction for molecular pathology in addition to more commonly used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections. DNA quantification done by fluorometer is more accurate than UV vis spectrophotometer regardless of the source. This study was conducted to compare DNA yield and quality from cytology smears, FFPE sections and peripheral blood using both fluorometer and spectrophotometer. Further, introspection was made to check for the adequacy of DNA extracted from cytology smears with respect to DNA extracted from core biopsies. Method: DNA was extracted from 10 fresh peripheral blood samples, core biopsies and FNAC smears. The DNA was quantified using a fluorimeter and UV vis spectrophotometer in all cases. Results: Statistically significant difference was seen between the data obtained from UV vis spectrophotometry and flourometry. The quantity of DNA extracted from FNAC smears was higher than that of core biopsy as per fluorometry data (mean DNA of core biopsy = 1.9ng/µl, of FNAC = 3.3ng/µl). Conclusion: DNA estimation by fluorometry is more accurate and precise than spectrophotometry in FFPE, FNAC and whole blood samples. DNA yield from FNAC slides is comparable to that from core biopsies.