Immunohaematological conundrums in obstetrics from transfusion services viewpoint in Armed Forces setup.

Background: Obstetrics as a speciality has a very long association with the transfusion services and poses its own set of immunohematological (IHL) challenges. A study was carried out to evaluate the spectrum of IHL issues in obstetrics in our setup and to suggest a way forward.

Methods: This study was carried out in a transfusion services setup catering to antenatal care (ANC) clientele in two tertiary-level health care setups.

A pilot study on DNA hypermethylation status in promoter region of P16 gene in patients with sporadic breast cancer.

Background: Epigenetic modification of cancer-related genes plays a role over and above their genetic alterations and contributes to the tumor initiation and progression of breast cancer. Promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes is one such epigenetic modification, which can be potential biomarker. In this study, promoter methylation status of p16 gene was studied in blood samples of patients with breast carcinoma.

Major and minor blood group phenotyping and database generation for recruits : A pilot study.

Background: Alloimmunization to minor blood group antigens is a problem that has for long befuddled the blood bankers, requiring blood group phenotyping of target populations worldwide. However, the same exercise had been lacking in our Armed Forces population necessitating this pilot study.

Methods: A total of 2000 recruits of a regimental center in northern India were phenotyped for major and minor blood group antigens including ABO, Rhesus (D, C, c, E, and e antigens), Kell (K), MNSs (S and s antigens), Kidd (Jka and Jkb), and Duffy (Fya and Fyb) using commercially prepared polyclonal antisera on a fully automated system based on electromagnetic technology.

Rapid hybridization and immunohistochemistry: a pilot comparative study of two rapid diagnostic techniques for establishing monoclonality in plasma cell dyscrasias.

Background: Light chain restriction needs to be established on the paraffin embedded tissue in certain types of plasma cell dyscrasias when serum levels of monoclonal immunoglobulins and light chain assays in the urine and serum may be normal. Rapid-in-situ-hybridisation (RISH) is thought to be a superior to immunohistochemistry (IHC) for kappa and lambda staining due to brighter and crisp staining without any background.

Methods: Fifty cases were included in this pilot study.

Double-positive in triple-negative? How significant is basal cytokeratin expression in breast cancer?

Background: Basal-like breast cancer has an unfavorable prognosis. Immunohistochemically, they are predominantly estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and CerbB2 receptor (HER2)-negative, show expression of Cytokeratins (CKs) 5/6, CK14, CK 17 and P-cadherin and are associated with germline BRCA1 mutations. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an easily available and relatively inexpensive technique that can detect this cancer subtype, and patients can benefit from aggressive management protocols.

A study of BRAF mutation in colorectal carcinoma in Indian population.

Context: BRAF mutation has been extensively studied and associated with various tumors. Targeted therapeutic intervention against BRAF mutation is established modality against many such tumors. Various studies have estimated that the prevalence of BRAF mutation in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is 5%-25%.

A study of therapy targeted EGFR/ALK mutations in Indian patients with lung adenocarcinoma: A clinical and epidemiological study.

Background: Established predictive biomarkers for Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) include sensitizing Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) fusion oncogene. The primary aim of the study is to ascertain the prevalence of EGFR mutation and ALK gene rearrangement in patients of lung adenocarcinoma in Indian population and the second objective is to impress upon the importance of adequate processing of limited tissue samples.

Methods: Histopathologically confirmed cases of lung adenocarcinoma, whose tumour had been tested for both EGFR and ALK gene mutations, were included in this study.

Adult-onset Still's disease with myocarditis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: Rare manifestation with fatal outcome.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized by fever, evanescent pink salmon rash, arthritis, and multiorgan involvement. Here, we report an unusual manifestation of AOSD in a 40-year-old male who presented to our hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin and rash of 3 weeks duration. All his serological investigations and imaging studies were unremarkable.