Clinicopathological Profile of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Single-center Real-world Experience and Review of Literature

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. MM primarily affects bone marrow, but extramedullary sites can also be involved. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is an atypical and rare complication of MM. We aimed to systematically study the incidence and clinicopathologic profile of patients with MPE in a real-world setting.

Spontaneous gallbladder perforation—An unusual presentation of carcinoma of the pancreas

A 50 year old man with a two month history of upper abdominal pain and a one month history of anorexia and weight loss, presented with icterus and evidence of peritonitis. Laparotomy revealed biliary peritonitis which had been caused by a rupture of the fundus of the gallbladder. The common bile duct was dilated and there was a large growth in the head of the pancreas with multiple hepatic metastases. A cholecysto-jejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy were done and the patient had an uneventful recovery.     

Laparoscopy for pre-operative staging and assessment of operability in gastric carcinoma.

Laparoscopy was performed in 40 patients with gastric carcinoma, whose lesions were otherwise considered amenable to operation, in order to more accurately stage the disease and ascertain the prospect of resectability. Laparoscopy disclosed hitherto unrecognized distant metastases in 5 cases (12.5%) and locally advanced, unresectable neoplasia in 11 cases (27.5%). Thus, laparoscopy served as a basis for avoiding the burden of futile laparotomy in 16 patients (40%). Laparoscopy confirmed the feasibility of resection in 24 patients, and this finding was borne out in 20 of 23 patients surgically explored (87%). The overall diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was 91.6%. Laparoscopy was performed in these patients with no mortality or morbidity. We conclude that laparoscopy is an effective means of evaluating resectability of gastric carcinomas and can provide valuable help in planning surgical approach.     

Microbiological study of vaginal discharge associated with the use of CuT 200.

A microbiological study of the vaginal discharge was conducted on 75 women attending family planning outdoors. In 24 out of 25 symptomatic CuT 200 users suffering from non-specific vaginitis, Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from 19 cases (79%). The difference in the recovery rate of Gardnerella vaginalis was highly significant between symptomatic CuT 200 users and non-users (p less than 0.001) and that between symptomatic and asymptomatic CuT 200 users (p less than 0.05). But the difference between asymptomatic CuT 200 users and non-users was not statistically significant. The presence of clue cells on direct Gram's staining of vaginal discharge is significantly (p less than 0.05) related to the recovery of Gardnerella vaginalis on culture.     

Quality assessment program in histopathology: a pilot study from Maharashtra

Histopathology reports are important quality assurance tools and evaluation of pathological diagnoses described in them is an integral part of total quality control and quality improvement program. We describe a program based on slide circulation which was aimed at both continuing education to upgrade knowledge and proficiency testing of histopathologists. The performance of the participating pathologists was analyzed and the degree of agreement was also studied. The results showed improvement indicated by rising level of performance in 35.3% of consistent participants and increasing trend in the average score. The degree of agreement was comparatively low (65.29%). The practicability of this program and its acceptability as an EQAS was also investigated.     

Abnormalities of cholesterol metabolism in autism spectrum disorders.

Although Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS), a genetic condition of impaired cholesterol biosynthesis, is associated with autism [Tierney et al., 2001; Am J Med Genet 98:191-200.], the incidence of SLOS and other sterol disorders among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is unknown. This study investigated (1) the incidence of biochemically diagnosed SLOS in blood samples from a cohort of subjects with ASD from families in which more than one individual had ASD and (2) the type and incidence of other sterol disorders in the same group. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, cholesterol, and its precursor sterols were quantified in 100 samples from subjects with ASD obtained from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) specimen repository. Although no sample had sterol levels consistent with SLOS, 19 samples had total cholesterol levels lower than 100 mg/dl, which is below the 5th centile for children over age 2 years. These findings suggest that, in addition to SLOS, there may be other disorders of sterol metabolism or homeostasis associated with ASD.     

Insecure Birth: A Qualitative Study of Everyday Violence During Pregnancy in Port au Prince,Haiti

Maternal and Child Health Journal - While the city offers economic opportunities for women in many countries, their safety and security remain vulnerable to urban violence, especially in poor...