CD9 as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Paediatric B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Objective: To evaluate the role of CD9 for predicting ETV6::RUNX1, BCR::ABL1, and KMT2A fusion genes with prognostic significance in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL).

Study Design: An observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan, from May 2020 to August 2022.

Chromosome-1 abnormalities in Childhood B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia - An analysis with reference to clinical variables and survival outcome.

Background: Chromosome-1 abnormalities (C1As) are common genetic aberrations in hematological malignancies. We sought to evaluate significance of these abnormalities with reference to clinical characteristics and survival outcome in a pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) cohort.

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in cytogenetic section of Indus Hospital and Health Network.

Degree of blood safety of voluntary non-remunerated versus replacement blood donations: A multi-centre study of the large cohort of blood donors from two provinces of Pakistan.

Background And Objectives: Voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBDs) are recognized as being crucial for the safety and sustainability of national blood supplies. Systems based on replacement donors (RDs) pose high risks of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). Currently, only 10%-13% of blood donations are voluntary in Pakistan.

Plasmablastic Lymphoma in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive Child With a Suspicion of Concomitant Primary Immunodeficiency Disorder.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) occurs in the setting of immunodeficiency, in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, in elderly patients, and in the posttransplantation state. It is exceptionally rare in children. PBL is an aggressive lymphoma with a poor prognosis.

Cytogenetic Profiling In Paediatric Acute Leukaemia; A Report On 746 Newly Diagnosed Paediatric Cases Analyzing The Spectrum Of Recurring Chromosomal Rearrangements In B Cell Lymphoblastic And Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Background: Cytogenetics is evolving and different molecular mechanisms we know now have proved to be of diagnostic and prognostic significance in both acute lymphoid (ALL) and myeloid leukaemia (AML). This study aims to find out and compare the occurrence of different cytogenetics in paediatric acute leukaemia.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of diagnosed B-ALL and AML patients presenting at The Indus Hospital.

Monocyte Distribution Width, a Novel Biomarker for Early Sepsis Screening and Comparison with Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein.

 Monocyte distribution width (MDW) can be used for the early recognition of sepsis. The study compared the diagnostic accuracy of the MDW with two well-known sepsis biomarkers, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP).  A study was conducted from July 2021 to October 2021, on 111 patients admitted to the Indus Hospital and Health Network.

Myoepithelial Carcinoma arising in a background of pleomorphic adenoma.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a neoplasm of the salivary gland that causes 3.6% of salivary gland tumours and 12% of salivary gland malignancies. It is a myoepithelial or epithelial neoplasm that arises from pleomorphic adenoma, whether primary or recurrent.

Association of Seroconversion Status with Outcome in Admitted Covid-19 Patients.

Objective: To determine the association between seroconversion status and outcome in admitted COVID-19 patients and compare inflammatory markers amongst them.

Study Design: Single cohort observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Indus Hospital and Health Network between 10th May and 10th July 2020.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis in an inguinal lymph node: an unusual presentation of primary myelofibrosis.

Background: Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a proliferation of hematopoietic tissue outside of the bone marrow medullary space. It is a pathophysiologic response, more often associated with either a benign reactive hematological disease or a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). Identification of EMH in adults is always pathologic.

Neutralizing Antibody Response to BBIBP-CorV in Comparison with COVID-19 Recovered, Unvaccinated Individuals in a Sample of the Pakistani Population.

Fifty five percent of the Pakistani population is still unvaccinated with the two-dose protocol of COVID-19 vaccines. This study was undertaken to determine the seroconversion rate and antibody titers following the two-dose BBIBP-CorV protocol, and to compare these variables in unvaccinated, COVID-19 recovered individuals (total = 180) at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi. Pseudotyped lentivirus antibody neutralization assays and SARS-CoV-2 IgG Quant II (Abbott) immunoassays were performed 4-8 weeks following the second dose of the BBIBP-CorV or PCR positivity/onset of symptoms of COVID-19.

Frequency, Distribution Of Subtypes And Immunohistochemical Profile Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma In Paediatric And Adolescent Patients.

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a common malignant disorder in paediatric and adolescent age group. There is a need of large-scale studies to understand the disease pattern in Pakistan as no official registry exist in most of the developing countries. This study comprised a large cohort of 223 patients, spanned over a decade from January 2008-December 2019 and aimed to report the prevalence of subtypes, demographics and immunohistochemical profile from this region.

Initiation of Molecular Pathology FCPS in Pakistan Is Urgent!

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Re-evaluating the merits of decentralization as a core strategy for effective delivery of drug-resistant tuberculosis care in Pakistan.

Decentralized, person-centred models of care delivery for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continue to be under-resourced in high-burden TB countries. The implementation of such models-made increasingly urgent by the COVID-19 pandemic-are key to addressing gaps in DR-TB care. We abstracted data of rifampicin-resistant (RR)/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients initiated on treatment at 11 facilities between 2010 and 2017 in Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan.

Histopathological Features Of Denosumab Treated Giant Cell Tumours Of Bone "A Single Institutional Experience" At A Tertiary Care Center, Karachi.

Background: Giant cell tumour (GCT) is a primary benign, locally aggressive bone tumour. Treatment is surgical however, denosumab has been increasingly used as a treatment in recurrent or unresectable locally advanced GCT because of its effect in reducing tumour size. Denosumab treated GCT can exhibit a wide array of histopathological features resulting in diagnostic problems for pathologists.

Duration of respiratory sample stability at -80ºC for SARS-CoV-2 PCR.

Objective: To determine the stability of respiratory samples for SARS-CoV-2 PCR at standard laboratory ultra-freezer temperatures (-80°C).

Methods: Five hundred and sixty-five archived, SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patient specimens received at the Pathology Department of the Indus Hospital & Health Network between January 2021 and June 2021 were retested in June 2021. Samples had been stored at -70°C or below throughout this duration.

Chemotherapy induced histopathological changes in retinoblastoma, assessment of high risk predictive factors & its correlation with comorbid conditions.

Background & Objectives: Retinoblastoma is a malignant intraocular tumor and its treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Chemotherapy is an important modality in treatment of retinoblastoma. The purpose of this study was to assess the histopathological changes in retinoblastomas treated with chemotherapy along with correlation of comorbid conditions with high risk histopathological factors (HRF).

High risk histopathological factors in retinoblastoma in upfront enucleated eyes: An experience from a tertiary care centre of Pakistan.

Background & Objectives: The assessment of histopathological risk factors (HRFs) in retinoblastoma in upfront enucleated eyes is important in deciding treatment protocols. Limited data is available from the developing countries as very few studies were conducted on retinoblastoma. The study aims to report this data from Pakistan.

COVID-19 Testing Crisis Management Through a Public-Private Partnership in Sindh, Pakistan.

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic spread, meeting the testing needs to control the spread of infection became a major challenge worldwide. In Pakistan, the lack of the requisite infrastructure and training compounded the acute shortage of testing kits and other consumables. Against this backdrop and to urgently improve province-wide access to high-quality COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with rapid turnaround times, the Government of the Sindh (GoS) province of Pakistan entered into a public-private partnership with Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN).

Burkitt Lymphoma With Aberrant Immunophenotype Imposing Diagnostic Challenge.

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) exhibits a characteristic immunophenotype that is positive for pan-B-cell antigens and germinal center markers while negative for immature markers. A deviation from classic immunophenotype can cause diagnostic confusion and might result in false exclusion of BL. In some cases, overlapping clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features of BL and B lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LL) can be of diagnostic challenge.

Distribution of subtypes and immunophenotypic characterization of 1379 cases of paediatric acute leukaemia.

Objectives: Acute leukaemia is the most common and highly curable childhood malignancy; subtyping and identification of antigens via immunophenotyping helps in treatment plan as well as minimal residual disease monitoring.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Haematology section of the clinical laboratories of Ziauddin University Hospital and The Indus Hospital, Karachi conducted at January 1st, 2012 to December 31, 2017. The study included 1379 cases of de novo acute leukemia from 2012 to 2017.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Detection Kits - Comparison and Agreement between Fifteen Different Assays.

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical for proper care and identification of affected individuals. This led to early availability of many serological assays in the market, but with limited validation. In this study, we aimed to validate the serological assays based on different techniques.

Her-2/neu Oncogene Amplification by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Protein Overexpression on Immunohistochemistry in Breast Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the concordance and discordance between the test results of Her-2/neu by immunohisto-chemistry (IHC) and flourescence In Situ hybridization (FISH) in breast cancer cases.

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Histopathology, Dr.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Correlation of Immunophenotypic Features with Age.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of hormone receptors and Her2neu expression and their correlation with age in patients of carcinoma breast.

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Histopathology, Dr.