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Background: Anemia, a widespread global health issue, poses significant challenges in both developing and developed countries. Accurate diagnosis and classification of anemia are crucial for effective management and treatment. This study explores the correlation between automated hematology analyzers and peripheral blood film (PBF) examination in classifying anemia types. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 consecutive anemic patients. EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples were analyzed using the HORIBA Pentra DX Nexus automated hematology analyzer and examined manually via PBF. Key parameters including mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red cell distribution width (RDW) were assessed. Concordance between automated results and PBF findings was analyzed using the kappa statistic. Results: Normocytic normochromic anemia with normal RDW was the most common, observed in 39% of both RBC indices and PBF findings. Normocytic hypochromic anemia was identified in 5% of the indices and 6% of PBF cases. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was consistent across both methods, seen in 30% of cases. Macrocytic anemia was noted in 12% of both indices and PBF results. Dimorphic anemia was exclusively identified by PBF in 13% of cases, with no corresponding findings from the analyser. The study found an 86% agreement rate between automated and manual methods, with a kappa value of 0.721, indicating substantial correlation. PBF identified 13 cases of dimorphic anemia not detected by the analyzer. These findings highlight the complementary value of PBF in diagnosing complex anemia types. Conclusion: Both automated analyzers and PBF are essential for comprehensive anemia diagnosis. While automated methods provide efficient routine classification, PBF remains vital for detecting complex anemia types. The integration of both approaches ensures accurate and thorough evaluation of anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Balanoposthitis is a common dermatological condition across the globe, but studies describing clinico-morphologic features and their diagnostic correlates are scarce. Objective: To study various morphological patterns of balanoposthitis and their correlation with etiological diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients with balanoposthitis visiting the dermatology out-patient department and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic over a period of 8 months. Detailed history, demographic data, and clinical features were recorded. Relevant investigations were performed. Results: A total of 129 patients of balanoposthitis were studied. Common causes were because of candida (33.3%), bacteria (17.1%), irritants (13.3%), herpes (11.4%), drugs (8.6%), and lichen sclerosus (6.7%). Common morphological patterns were erosion/confluent wet erythema with sub-preputial discharge (24.81%), fissure with superficial pustules (15.5%), fissure alone (13.18%), patchy dry erythema (11.63%), and superficial pustules (intact or exfoliated) with or without underlying erythema (10.85%). Fissure and superficial pustules were the most common presentation of candidal balanoposthitis (51.43%), erosions/confluent wet erythema with sub-preputial discharge of bacterial balanitis (55.56%), and patchy dry erythema of irritant balanitis (50%). Limitations: Detailed investigations such as fungal culture, herpes serology, real-time polymerase chain reaction and histopathology could not be performed. Conclusion: Certain morphological patterns of balanoposthitis strongly point toward final diagnosis which can help in quick diagnosis and early treatment in resource poor settings, especially in STDs.

Background: Balanoposthitis is a common dermatological condition across the globe, but studies describing clinico-morphologic features and their diagnostic correlates are scarce. Objective: To study various morphological patterns of balanoposthitis and their correlation with etiological diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients with balanoposthitis visiting the dermatology out-patient department and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic over a period of 8 months. Detailed history, demographic data, and clinical features were recorded. Relevant investigations were performed. Results: A total of 129 patients of balanoposthitis were studied. Common causes were because of candida (33.3%), bacteria (17.1%), irritants (13.3%), herpes (11.4%), drugs (8.6%), and lichen sclerosus (6.7%). Common morphological patterns were erosion/confluent wet erythema with sub-preputial discharge (24.81%), fissure with superficial pustules (15.5%), fissure alone (13.18%), patchy dry erythema (11.63%), and superficial pustules (intact or exfoliated) with or without underlying erythema (10.85%). Fissure and superficial pustules were the most common presentation of candidal balanoposthitis (51.43%), erosions/confluent wet erythema with sub-preputial discharge of bacterial balanitis (55.56%), and patchy dry erythema of irritant balanitis (50%). Limitations: Detailed investigations such as fungal culture, herpes serology, real-time polymerase chain reaction and histopathology could not be performed. Conclusion: Certain morphological patterns of balanoposthitis strongly point toward final diagnosis which can help in quick diagnosis and early treatment in resource poor settings, especially in STDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a widely used technique for the screening and diagnosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous masses in dogs. In our laboratory routine, FNAC has been performed since 2008, and increasing demand is evident. However, until now, no studies have been performed using these samples. This study aimed to establish the diagnostic agreement between FNAC, and histopathology performed in cutaneous and subcutaneous masses from dogs. FNAC samples collected from cutaneous and subcutaneous masses on dogs between January 2017 and May 2019, archived in the Veterinary Clinical Laboratory (VCL-UFSM), which also had respective histopathologic results, were included. A clinical pathologist with 3 years of experience reviewed the cytologic specimens. The cytologic diagnosis was compared to the histopathologic diagnosis, used as the gold standard technique, to determine FNAC accuracy in diagnosing neoplasia as well as the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Eighty cytologic samples were included. Sixty-seven samples were neoplastic (65 true positives and 2 false positives), and 13 samples were non-neoplastic (9 true negatives and 4 false negatives). The accuracy of FNAC for diagnosing cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasms was 93% (74/80), with a Se of 94.3% (65/69), Sp of 81.8% (9/10), PPV of 97% (65/67), and NPV of 69.2% (9/13). This study demonstrates that FNAC is an excellent diagnostic tool for diagnosing cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasms in dogs and should always be performed as available in the veterinary clinic routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that individuals affected by type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) carry a 2-to-5-fold higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) when compared to non-diabetic subjects. Thus, biochemical parameters that can be easily and routinely assessed for high-confidence evaluation of diabetic conditions leading to AD (AD-T2DM) are regarded as efficient tools aimed at early diagnosis and, in turn, timely AD treatment. In this regard, the activity of lysosomal glycohydrolases may of use, in light of the implication of these enzymes in early events that underlie AD pathology and an overt correlation, in diabetes, between altered metabolic homeostasis, abnormal glycohydrolase secretion in body fluids, and occurrence of diabetic complications. Based on marked up-regulation previously shown in a peripheral, cell-based model of AD, we selected β-Galactosidase, β-Hexosaminidase, and α-Mannosidase to discriminate T2DM from AD-T2DM subjects. A screen of 109, 114, and 116 patients with T2DM, AD and AD-T2DM, respectively, was performed by testing enzyme activities in both blood plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Compared to age-matched, healthy controls (n = 122), β-Galactosidase and β-Hexosaminidase activities markedly diverged across the three groups, whereas virtually unchanged values were observed for α-Mannosidase. In particular, plasma β-Galactosidase and β-Hexosaminidase levels were higher in patients with AD-T2DM compared to those with T2DM, suggesting different mechanisms leading to enzyme secretion. Statistical analyses based on ROC curves showed that both β-Galactosidase and β-Hexosaminidase activities, either intracellular or plasma-secreted, may be used to discriminate AD patients from controls and AD-T2DM from T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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