Prevalence of hemoglobin variants and hemoglobinopathies using cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography in central reference laboratory of India: A report of 65779 cases.

Context: Hemoglobinopathies constitute the world's most common genetically inherited red blood cell disorder. Screening and accurate identification of hemoglobin (Hb) variants have become increasingly important in antenatal diagnosis and prevention of Hb disorders.

Aim: The aim of this study was to screen and identify Hb fractions prevalent in the Central Reference Laboratory of India.

HLA-B27 testing: A journey from flow cytometry to molecular subtyping.

Background: Determination of HLA-B27 status plays an important role as adjuvant in suspected cases for diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondilytis (AS). Objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) flow cytometry method in comparison with DNA microarray for HLA-B27 typing and (ii) EUROArray HLA-B27 Direct assay for HLA-B27 allele detection along with discrimination of AS/non-AS subtypes in Indian population.

Methods: A total of 7543 patients with a presumptive clinical diagnosis of AS were referred for screening of HLA-B27.

An analysis of 24 autopsied cases with supramitral rings.

The supramitral ring is a rare congenital malformation formed by presence of a ridge of connective tissue, usually attached at or above the mitral annulus. The incidence and clinical presentation is highly variable due to difficulty in diagnosis. A review of autopsied congenital heart diseases at our institute over a 17-year-period revealed 24 cases of supramitral ring.