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Introduction: Diagnosis of malaria is largely influenced by the quality and design of the method used and antigenic variation exhibited by the parasite. Appropriate selection of these tests is necessary for routine case investigation, screening and for monitoring the response to various antimalarial agents. Aim: To evaluate the blood samples collected from suspected patients of malaria by various diagnostic methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 blood samples were collected from suspected cases of malaria from January 2015 to January 2016. The blood samples were screened by microscopy, rapid malaria antigen detection method (Histidine Rich Protein-2 and Lactate dehydrogenase), solid phase ELISA (Lactate dehydrogenase) and conventional PCR for 18s rRNA. Results: PCR was found to be the most sensitive method from this study. The specificity and positive predictive values were 100% for microscopy, rapid antigen detection method and ELISA. The negative predictive values were 94.4% for microscopy and rapid tests, followed by 93.5% for ELISA. The sensitivity was 75% for microscopy and rapid tests and 70% for ELISA. Conclusion: In this study PCR was found to be the most sensitive method which gave more positive results, followed by microscopy and rapid antigen detection methods, whereas ELISA was the least.

Introduction: Platelet activation is presumed to play an important role in the immunoinflammatory reactions. Several recent studies on a variety of inflammatory disorders have used Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) as a marker for platelet activation. Aim: To determine the relationship between haematological parameters and disease severity index in psoriasis patients. Materials and Methods: A Case control study was carried out on 50 psoriatic patients and 50 healthy control subjects. Ten haematologic parameters were compared between patients and control subjects. These parameters were also correlated in patients with PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) score. The data was statistically analysed using IBM SPSS software (Version 21). Spearman Rank Correlation was used to find the correlation between PASI and haematological parameters. Results: When all the patients were considered together, mean values for MPV, Platelet Count (PLT) and Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) were significantly different between the two groups (Control and Patients). While MPV and RDW were raised, PLT was reduced in patients of both sexes when compared with controls. In Male patients the MPV and RDW showed statistically significant correlation with Psoriasis Area And Severity Index (PASI) (MPV

The platelet count, mean platelet volume, and other hematological parameters were compared in blood samples anticoagulated with MgSO 4 and EDTA. A total of 15 samples were taken, and the platelet counts were observed to be significantly high in MgSO 4 -anticoagulated blood samples ranging from 53 × 10 3 to 499 × 10 3 /µL, whereas in EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples, the counts ranged from 10 × 10 3 to 353 × 10 3 /µL. This increased platelet count was also statistically significant with the P value being .005. The morphology of red blood cells and white blood cells in Leishman-stained smears from MgSO 4 -anticoagulated blood was below average. In conclusion, MgSO 4 can be used as an alternative anticoagulant only to estimate the platelet counts in EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia.

Introduction: Platelets are tiny, disc-shaped, non-nucleated structures derived from megakaryocytes. The morphological differences in measuring Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) of platelets have important implications for assessing the functional expressions of platelets. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of glycogen as prominent masses in platelets. MPV values have been generally reported to be very high in individuals with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). Aim: This study aimed to determine and compare the MPV values in uncontrolled and controlled group of Type-2 Diabetics along with healthy non-diabetic people and to correlate MPV values with age, sex and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in diabetic groups. This study also aimed to determine the prevalence of retinopathy in uncontrolled and controlled group of diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This case control study was carried out in our institution for 1 year. The patients were grouped as uncontrolled group of diabetic patients and controlled group of diabetic patients based on their HbA1c levels. 106 uncontrolled diabetic patients and 100 controlled diabetic patients were included, with 100 non-diabetic subjects as controls. Patient’s profile which included all demographic particulars and medical history was obtained. Fundus examination and other ophthalmic findings of 50 uncontrolled and 50 controlled diabetic cases were recorded. The findings were analysed statistically using IBM SPSS software. Results: In uncontrolled group of 106 diabetic patients, 54 patients were males and 52 patients were females and the mean age was 51.63±11.04, mean HbA1c was 9.86±1.91% and mean MPV was 8.93±0.90fl. In controlled group of 100 diabetic patients, 49 patients were males and 51 patients were females and the mean age was 47.88±15.17, mean HbA1c was 6.08±0.49% and mean MPV was 8.106 ± 0.72fl. In 100 non-diabetic controls 77 patients were males and 23 patients were females and the mean age was 37.97±9.69 and mean MPV was 8.02±0.86fl. Among 50 cases of uncontrolled DM, 14 uncontrolled DM patients had diabetic retinopathy with an average MPV of about 9.2±0.61fl and mean HbA1c of 10.6±1.98% whereas, 30 uncontrolled patients with no evidence of retinopathy with an average MPV of about 8.39±0.676 fl and mean HbA1C of 9.18±1.91%. Conclusion: MPV values are higher in uncontrolled DM patients when compared with controlled DM patients and a higher percentage of them develop microvascular complications like Diabetic Retinopathy suggesting that mean platelet volume could indicate and play a more important role in the detection of vascular complications of Diabetes.

Introduction: Cancer of the breast is one of the commonest carcinomas in women, both in western world and in India. The high frequency of breast cancer in women has prompted an intensive study of possible modifiable risk factors (clinical parameters, morphological typing, and biological markers) for assessment of prognosis, prevention strategies, and treatment modalities. p53 is one of the most significant prognostic markers for breast carcinomas. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of p53 mutated protein in breast carcinomas by immunohistochemistry and correlating the results with clinical and histological parameters and also determine its influence on axillary node metastasis. Materials and Methods: Clinico-pathological evaluation of 50 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, with reference to p53 mutated protein expression by means of immunohistochemistry was undertaken. Results: The percentage positivity of p53 immunohistochemistry of this study was 22% which is similar to the reported statistics of various other studies. The immunohistochemistry results also showed an equivocal p53 status in both the positive and negative cases of lymph node metastases. The carcinomas with p53 positivity demonstrated aggressive characteristics, including larger size, higher grade, in comparison with p53 negative cases. The probability of getting positive p53 status was higher for those with severe lymphocytic reaction of tumours, for patients less than 35 years of age and for those with tumour on the left side. This study clearly indicates that p53 over expression in breast cancers are mostly aggressive tumours and they confer poor prognosis and likelihood of a poor response to endocrine therapy and chemotherapy.

Introduction: Platelets are tiny, disc-shaped, non-nucleated structures derived from megakaryocytes. The morphological differences in measuring Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) of platelets have important implications for assessing the functional expressions of platelets. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of glycogen as prominent masses in platelets. MPV values have been generally reported to be very high in individuals with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). Aim: This study aimed to determine and compare the MPV values in uncontrolled and controlled group of Type-2 Diabetics along with healthy non-diabetic people and to correlate MPV values with age, sex and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in diabetic groups. This study also aimed to determine the prevalence of retinopathy in uncontrolled and controlled group of diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This case control study was carried out in our institution for 1 year. The patients were grouped as uncontrolled group of diabetic patients and controlled group of diabetic patients based on their HbA1c levels. 106 uncontrolled diabetic patients and 100 controlled diabetic patients were included, with 100 non-diabetic subjects as controls. Patient’s profile which included all demographic particulars and medical history was obtained. Fundus examination and other ophthalmic findings of 50 uncontrolled and 50 controlled diabetic cases were recorded. The findings were analysed statistically using IBM SPSS software. Results: In uncontrolled group of 106 diabetic patients, 54 patients were males and 52 patients were females and the mean age was 51.63±11.04, mean HbA1c was 9.86±1.91% and mean MPV was 8.93±0.90fl. In controlled group of 100 diabetic patients, 49 patients were males and 51 patients were females and the mean age was 47.88±15.17, mean HbA1c was 6.08±0.49% and mean MPV was 8.106 ± 0.72fl. In 100 non-diabetic controls 77 patients were males and 23 patients were females and the mean age was 37.97±9.69 and mean MPV was 8.02±0.86fl. Among 50 cases of uncontrolled DM, 14 uncontrolled DM patients had diabetic retinopathy with an average MPV of about 9.2±0.61fl and mean HbA1c of 10.6±1.98% whereas, 30 uncontrolled patients with no evidence of retinopathy with an average MPV of about 8.39±0.676 fl and mean HbA1C of 9.18±1.91%. Conclusion: MPV values are higher in uncontrolled DM patients when compared with controlled DM patients and a higher percentage of them develop microvascular complications like Diabetic Retinopathy suggesting that mean platelet volume could indicate and play a more important role in the detection of vascular complications of Diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer of the breast is one of the commonest carcinomas in women, both in western world and in India. The high frequency of breast cancer in women has prompted an intensive study of possible modifiable risk factors (clinical parameters, morphological typing, and biological markers) for assessment of prognosis, prevention strategies, and treatment modalities. p53 is one of the most significant prognostic markers for breast carcinomas. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of p53 mutated protein in breast carcinomas by immunohistochemistry and correlating the results with clinical and histological parameters and also determine its influence on axillary node metastasis. Materials and Methods: Clinico-pathological evaluation of 50 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, with reference to p53 mutated protein expression by means of immunohistochemistry was undertaken. Results: The percentage positivity of p53 immunohistochemistry of this study was 22% which is similar to the reported statistics of various other studies. The immunohistochemistry results also showed an equivocal p53 status in both the positive and negative cases of lymph node metastases. The carcinomas with p53 positivity demonstrated aggressive characteristics, including larger size, higher grade, in comparison with p53 negative cases. The probability of getting positive p53 status was higher for those with severe lymphocytic reaction of tumours, for patients less than 35 years of age and for those with tumour on the left side. This study clearly indicates that p53 over expression in breast cancers are mostly aggressive tumours and they confer poor prognosis and likelihood of a poor response to endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric oncologists are curing increasing numbers of patients with childhood cancer, and most children diagnosed with a malignancy may now be expected to become long-term survivors. As the number of childhood cancer survivors grows, so too does the need for evidence-based surveillance of the long-term effects of cancer therapy. Long-term effects involving the endocrine system represent a frequent complication of therapy. The Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancers(COG LTFUG), most recently updated in 2006, provide a summary of the known endocrine late effects of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant. This paper summarizes the scope and nature of the endocrine late effects of childhood cancer therapy based upon a review of the pertinent medical literature, and demonstrates how pediatric oncologists can use these guidelines in clinical practice. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate whether assigning young, healthy and motivated lay volunteer partners ("buddies") to adolescents with type 2 diabetes improves hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)., Methods: Adolescents with type 2 diabetes were randomized to partnering with a "buddy" or to conventional treatment. During the initial screening visit, which coincided with a routine outpatient diabetes clinic visit, patients with type 2 diabetes underwent a physical examination, detailed medical history, laboratory measurement of HbA1c, and completed two questionnaires (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Children's Depression Inventory) to assess their overall quality of life and the presence of depressive symptoms. Patients were then randomized to the intervention (the buddy system) or conventional treatment (standard care). All patients were scheduled to return for follow-up at 3- and 6-mo after their initial visit. HbA1c was determined at all visits (i.e., at screening and at the 3- and 6-mo follow-up visits) and quality of life and depressive symptoms were evaluated at the screening visit and were reassessed at the 6-mo visit., Results: Ten adolescents, recruited from a pool of approximately 200 adolescents, enrolled over a two-year time period, leading to premature termination of the study. In contrast, we easily recruited motivated lay volunteers. We found no change in HbA1c from the initial to the 6-mo visit in either group, yet our small sample size limited systematic assessment of this outcome. Participants repeatedly missed clinic appointments, failed to conduct self-glucose-monitoring and rarely brought their glucometers to clinic visits. Total quality of life scores (72.6 ± 6.06) at screening were similar to previously reported scores in adolescents with type 2 diabetes (75.7 ± 15.0) and lower than scores reported in normal-weight (81.2 ± 0.9), overweight (83.5 ± 1.8), and obese youths without diabetes (78.5 ± 1.8) or in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (80.5 ± 13.1). Among adolescents who returned for their 6-mo visit, there were no differences in total quality of life scores (70.2 ± 9.18) between screening and follow-up., Conclusion: Our approach, effective in adults with type 2 diabetes, was unsuccessful among adolescents and emphasizes the need for innovative strategies for diabetes treatment in adolescent patients.