Cation Exchange High Performance Liquid Chromatography for Diagnosis of Haemoglobinopathies.

Background: Cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is emerging as the method of choice for initial screening and diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies. The use of alkaline and acid gel electrophoresis in the developing countries may result in incorrect diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies. The aim of the study is to assess the accuracy and precision of diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies by HPLC and its possible advantage over conventional techniques.

The Role of anti-HBc IgM in Screening of Blood Donors.

Background: Transfusion transmitted hepatitis B has always been a dreaded disease, with incidence of increased transmission through donated blood. The screening test for hepatitis B infection is detection of HBsAg that does not rule out the risk of transmission of hepatitis B as the donor may be in the 'window period'. During this period, detection of the antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) IgM type serves as a useful serological marker.

Transfusion Transmitted Infections in Armed Forces: Prevalence and Trends.

Background: This study presents data on the prevalence rate of infectious markers among voluntary and replacement donors in the blood transfusion service in Armed Forces from 2000 to 2004.

Methods: 39,646 units of blood were collected from donors during the period from 2000 to 2004. All the samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1&2, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and by venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL).

Role of gel based technique for Coomb's test.

The direct (DAT) and indirect antiglobulin tests (IAT) are one of the most important diagnostic tools used in the investigation of immune mediated disorders. Recently, transfusion laboratories have seen the introduction of column technology in the form of the gel technology (GT). Aim of this study is to compare the conventional tube tests (CTT) and the GT for Coomb's test and to evaluate their sensitivity and specificity.

Leucodepletion and Blood Products.

Background: Leucoreduction of blood products is increasingly being employed to produce blood products with residual WBCs < 5 × 10(6) per unit (99.9 percent or a log 3 leucoreduction). Clinical data suggests that non-haemolytic febrile transfusion reactions can be prevented by leucodepletion.

Hypercoagulable State.

Background: The hypercoagulable state results from a complex interplay of blood coagulation factors, coagulation-inhibitory factors, platelets and the vascular endothelium. Imbalance of the complex interplay between these factors results in thrombosis often complicated by embolism. The causes of thrombosis are varied and maybe congenital or acquired.

Difficulties in Immunohaematology : The Weak D Antigen.

Background: The Rh blood system is one of the most polymorphic and immunogenic systems known to humans. The expression of Rh blood group antigen is complex. The Rh D antigen is the most important of the antigens that constitute the Rh antigen system.

Gene conversions are a common cause of von Willebrand disease.

von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder, is very heterogeneous, both in its phenotype and genotype. One particular molecular mechanism of VWD is due to recombination events between the true gene and its pseudogene on chromosome 22. We assessed the frequency and extension of such events in 50 multi-ethnic index patients with severe VWD type 3 and in five index patients with VWD type 2M Vicenza.

Cytokines : as useful Prognostic Markers in Lymphoma Cases.

Cytokines are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis and enhanced expression in patients with Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Based on this phenomenon, a multicentric study was carried out in various lymphoma cases. The diagnosis of lymphoma was made on tissue biopsies and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

A rare germ-cell tumor site: vaginal endodermal sinus tumor.

Malignant germ-cell tumors (MGCT) are rare tumors of childhood accounting for less than 3% of pediatric malignancies. Endodermal sinus tumor (EST) forms the most common histologic subtype of MGCT. The vagina is an extremely rare site for GCTs.

IMMUNOBIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF VARIOUS GASTROINTESTINAL AND PRIMARY HEPATIC MALIGNANCIES.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha fetoprotein levels (AFP) were assayed by enzyme-labelled immunoassay in 75 cases of gastrointestinal (GI) and primary hepatic malignancies. Mean CEA levels were found to be significantly higher (p<0.005) in metastatic non-operative group of GI malignancies (range 5.

HISTAMINE RELEASE AND CHANDONIUM IODIDE.

Histamine releasing activity of chandonium iodide and -tubocurarine was studied in guinea pig ileum (in vitro), guinea pig peritoneum (in vivo) and in human volunteers (in vivo) by intradermal testing at dilutions of 1:1,000 and 1:10,000 of the clinical dosage of drugs. -tubocurarine revealed significant histamine releasing activity in in vivo animal experiments and high incidence of positive intradermal reaction, 53.5 per cent and 13.

FIBRIN AND FIBRINOGEN DEGRADATION PRODUCTS IN MALIGNANCY.

Sixty four patients of cancer, comprising of 39 leukaemia, 8 lymphomas and 17 cases of solid tumours were included in this study. Quantitative estimation of FDP, fibrinogen and platelets were done in all. Elevated levels of FDP (≥ 10 µgm/mL) were found in 29 patients.

A clinical study of adult leukaemias.

The incidence of adult leukaemias, their response to therapy and the complications of therapy were studied in 121 cases over seven years (1981-1987). All cases were followed up till recovery or death for periods ranging from seven days to seven years. Adult leukaemias accounted for 2.

Aggressive angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) treated with high dose melphalan and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

A case of aggressive widespread angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia in a 42-year-old male, treated with high dose melphalan is presented. The disease had failed to enter a durable remission after chemotherapy. High dose melphalan with autologous bone marrow transplantation achieved a complete remission which has lasted for 15 months to date.