Comparative evaluation of cell proliferative indices and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in gastric carcinoma

A total of 62 patients of gastric carcinoma were studied to find a correlation between newer prognostic indicators like cell proliferative indices including Nucleolar Organizer regions (AgNORs), Ki 67 Labelling Index and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression with the various, histopathological criteria and compared with 30 controls of non neoplastic gastric diseases. EGFR expression was positive in 48(77.4%) cases. The Ki 67 labelling indices ranged from 0 to 50% with a mean of 21.35 +/- 17.88% among the cases. AgNOR counts ranged from 1.64 to 4.49 with a mean of 3.41 +/- 0.81 among the cases. Positive EGFR expression correlated strongly with differentiation of the tumour, poorly differentiated tumours showing a higher positivity. EGFR positivity also showed good correlation with metastasis as well as with the invasiveness of the tumour. Ki 67 labelling indices correlated significantly with metastatic status, microscopic types and degree of differentiation of the tumour. A strong correlation was observed between AgNOR counts and metastasis as well as the microscopic type of the tumour. EGFR expression correlated strongly with Ki 67 scores and weakly with AgNOR counts among the patients of gastric carcinoma.

Multiple myeloma complicating HIV-infection. A case report

A case of multiple myeloma associated with HIV disease and hepatosplenomegaly presented to us as pyrexia of unknown origin, is reported. Because of paucity of such cases in the literature, the case is dealt in detail and the literature reviewed briefly.

Comparative evaluation of breast lesions with the help of impression smears, histopathology and mammography

A total of 148 surgically removed benign and malignant breast lesions were studied to correlate cytomorphologial features in impression smears and histopathological sections. Mammograms were taken prior to surgery. Role of mammography in detection of non-palpable breast lesions was enlightened. Impression smears helped in quick diagnosis (intraoperative) and overall accuracy obtained was 97.4%. Cluster predominant and Grade II nuclear grading on smear pattern was seen in 58.8% and 57.4% cases respectively amongst the 68 malignant cases. 45% cases revealed non-palpable breast lesions on mammography which was later confirmed on histopathology.

Hemostatic profile in nephrotic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the coagulation profile and its relation to steroid therapy, and the frequency of thromboembolic complications and its correlation with coagulation parameters in nephrotic syndrome (NS).

SETTING

Hospital based.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty children with NS were subdivided into four groups, namely, fresh cases, steroid dependent, remission after therapy and steroid resistant. An equal number of age and sex matched children served as controls. In all the study and control subjects, detailed clinical examination, liver function tests, renal function tests and detailed coagulation profile were done. Evaluation of renal veins and inferior vena cava for the presence of thrombosis was also done by abdominal ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Thrombocytosis was detected in 57.5% and the degree of thrombocytosis was directly related to the amount of proteinuria. The mean prothrombin and thrombin times were within normal range in the study children. The activated partial thromboplastine time (APTT) was prolonged in six cases (15%) and three out of these six children had thromboembolic complications. Antithrombin-III level was significantly lower (p < 0.001) whereas protein C and S were significantly elevated (p < 0.001) as compared to controls. The levels became normal with remission of the disease. Steroid therapy significantly increased the levels of proteins C, protein S. AT-III and fibrinogen as compared to controls. Thromboembolic complications were seen in 3 cases (7.6%) and were associated with very low levels of AT-III and protein C and all three had serum albumin below 2 g/dl.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of coagulation profile in nephrotic syndrome is highlighted and a high index of suspicion for thromboembolic complications is warranted in patients with thrombocytosis, hyper fibrinogenemia, prolonged APTT and in children with low levels of AT-III, protein C and protein S.

Malaria vaccine

Recently it has become evident that he same candidate antigen can be shared by several of the parasite stages, and thus the concept of a multistage vaccine is becoming more and more attractive. A TDR Task Force evaluated the promise and stage of development of some 20 existing asexual blood stage candidate antigens and prepared a strategy for their development leading to clinical testing and field trials, Amongst these are merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1), Serine Rich Antigen (SERA), Apical Membrane Antigen (AMA-1), and Erythrocyte Binding Antigen (EBA). A field study conducted in Tanzanian children showed that the SPf66 Colombian vaccine was safe, induced antibodies, and reduced the risk of developing clinical malaria by around 30%. This study, confirmed the potential of the vaccine to confer partial protection in areas of high as well as low intensity of transmission. Pfs25 is a leading candidate antigen for a transmission blocking vaccine. It is found in the ookinete stage of the parasite in the mosquito midgut. Gramme amounts of GMP-grade material have been produced and a vaccine based on the Pfs25 antigen formulated with alum should have gone into phase I and II clinical trials in the USA and Africa during 1995. Because the first malaria prototype vaccine to be tried out in people on a large scale has been the polymerized synthetic peptide developed by patarroye on the basis of the SPf66 antigen of P. faliciparum, the results are with much interest. It is still premature to predict the effectiveness of this vaccine globally, but its development will encourage further progress in a fields that has repeatedly been characterized by raised and then dashed drops. These various vaccines are based on the classical approach to vaccination, which is to raise host immunity against the parasite so as to reduce parasite densities or to sterilize an infection. A newer approach is development of antidisease vaccines which aim to alleviate morbidity by suppressing immunopathology in the host. Antidisease vaccines are based on neutralizing parasite components that induce host pathology, leaving the parasite itself directly unaffected. These effects would occur when each type of the disease is considered by it self; however, synergistic effects may be expected when they are used in combination. The rational for vaccines based on any of these stages was that immunization of various hosts with whole parasites of each of these stages has been able to induce protection or total transmission-blocking immunity. Less significant but not to be discounted is the fact that natural malaria infections in humans have been shown to induce immunity against every one of these parasite stages against which vaccines are being developed, an exception to this are those stages that are present only in the mosquito vector with component molecules not presented to the human host, such as exclusively ookinete antigens. For several very apparent reasons a vaccine today is conceived of as subnit as opposed to show1 parasite vaccines, either in the form of a recombinant product or as synthetic peptide constructs. Genes coding for several antigens of P. falciparum and some of P. vivax have been seems to be common to many Plasmodium antigens; this is that they contain tandem repeats of oligopeptide sequences which often code for immunodominant epitopes. Following several decades of research on malaria vaccine development, the field at a glace may present a conflicting picture, with several achievements, and some disappointments and controversies. Issues facing the development of a malaria vaccine are complex. It is not clear how far we may yet be from achieving this goal. The work of the past decades has laid an extensive foundation of ralevant knowledge and technologies, and the goal it self remains as important as ever, will scientists remain committed to this objective?

Congenital sulfhemoglobin and transient methemoglobinemia secondary to diarrhoea

Sulfhemoglobinemia and Methemoglobinemia are common causes of cyanosis arising due to accumulation of abnormal heme pigment. We present an unusual case of congenital sulfhemoglobinemia along with diarrhoea induced methemo-globinemia in a neonate. A high index of suspicion and a proper diagnostic approach is needed to determine the true frequency of their occurrence together.