Hemolysin test as a tool to screen high-titer Group O platelet apheresis donors: A prospective study.

Background: Minor ABO-incompatible apheresis platelet transfusion poses a risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions in non-Group O recipients when donor's plasma possesses unusual high titers for anti-A and anti-B. The aim was to determine whether the hemolysin test can be used as a screening tool to predict high-titer Group O platelet apheresis donors.

Methods: A prospective study, with Group O platelet donor's samples, was tested for hemolysin test and antibody titration test in parallel.

Origin and survival outcomes of Pseudomyxoma peritonei-A retrospective study.

Background: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is an unusual clinical condition typically presenting with widespread mucinous neoplastic lesions within the peritoneum resulting in gelatin material-rich ascites. It was first described by Werth in 1884. Ever since, its clinical presentation, definition, site of origin, and prognosis have been a subject of debate.

Intracellular Toll-Like Receptors Modulate Adaptive Immune Responses in Head and Neck Cancer.

The percentage of head and neck cancer (HNC) positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) is unknown in most parts of India. How toll-like receptors (TLRs) affect the adaptive immune response in HNC is also mainly unknown. We here assessed the expressions of HPV DNA, p16, inflammation, and TLRs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC).

Ghost Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma with Sarcomatous Transformation : Report of a Rare Case with Review of Literature.

Ghost Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma is a rare malignant odontogenic tumor that can appear as "de novo " or arises from malignant transformation of preexisting benign calcifying odontogenic cysts or dentinogenic ghost cell tumors after multiple recurrences. Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma is histopathologically characterized by ameloblast-like islands of epithelial cells with aberrant keratinization, simulating a ghost cell, with varying amounts of dysplastic dentine. This article reports an extremely rare case of ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma with foci of sarcomatous change, involving maxilla andnasal cavity which arose from a previously existing recurrent calcifying odontogenic cysts in a 54-year-old man and reviews the features of this unusual and rare tumor.

Frequency of EGFR mutations in lung adenocarcinoma patients - A study from tertiary cancer center of South India.

Background And Objectives: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation analysis has become an important part of the initial workup of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC) patients. This study is attempted as South Indians population is comprised of ethnic groups with diverse genetic makeup and only very limited data on EGFR mutation is available from south India. A detailed understanding of EGFR mutation profile will help in better planning of treatment strategies and resource allocation.

The Spectrum of Histomorphological Changes and Pathological Tumor Response following Preoperative Oral Metronomic Chemotherapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Sithara Aravind  Oral metronomic chemotherapy (OMCT) represents an emerging concept in cancer treatment involving frequent administration of chemotherapeutic drugs at doses below maximum tolerated doses and with no prolonged drug-free break. OMCT is being tried preoperatively in developing nations with constrained resources to prevent disease progression during the waiting period from diagnosis to surgery (bridge OMCT). The aim of the present study was to assess the spectrum of histomorphological changes and pathological tumor response following bridge OMCT in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to propose a new pathological response scoring system.

Testing for Microsatellite Instability in Colorectal Cancer - a Comparative Evaluation of Immunohistochemical and Molecular Methods.

Background: Introduction: The majority of colorectal cancers (CRC) develop through the chromosomal instability pathway and approximately 15% display microsatellite instability (MSI) as a carcinogenic event. CRCs with microsatellite instability status have a characteristic phenotype. We aimed to assess the clinico-pathological and MSI profiles of sixty-one cases of CRC through immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for the mismatch repair(MMR) proteins and DNA based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay for microsatellite markers.

Predicting donor-related factors for high platelet yield donations by classification and regression tree analysis.

Introduction: Collecting high-dose (HD) or double-dose (DD) apheresis platelets units from a single collection offers significant benefit by improving inventory logistics and minimizing the cost per unit produced. Platelet collection yield by apheresis is primarily influenced by donor factors, but the cell separator used also affects the collection yield.

Objectives: To predict the cutoff in donor factors resulting in HD and DD platelet collections between Trima/Spectra Optia and MCS+ apheresis equipment using Classification and Regression Trees (CART) analysis.

Expression of p16 in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from a tertiary cancer centre of South India: A preliminary study.

Background & Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are found to be strongly associated with each other with an increase in incidence has been noted globally over the years. A literature search for data depicting the role of HPV in oropharyngeal carcinoma in South India, however, has resulted in little information, thus, the present study was aimed to assess a possible association between the two among OPSCC patients from a tertiary care cancer centre in South India.

Methods: One hundred and fourty three OPSCC cases were included in the study and analyzed for age, gender, marital status, habits, clinical TNM staging, site, laterality, symptoms, histological type (keratinizing and non-keratinizing), primary treatment and follow up period.

Evaluation Of Pathological Response And Its Predictors In Carcinoma Rectum Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery is the standard of care in locally advanced rectal tumors. Better pathologic response after chemoradiation is associated with better outcomes. Pathologic response may depend on various, patient and tumor related factors.

Analysis of red blood cell irradiation practices from South India.

Introduction: Age of red blood cell (RBC) units at the time of irradiation is important and prolonged storage of preirradiated units is detrimental. The objectives were to determine RBC age at irradiation, days from expiry (DFE), and percentage of late transfusions of irradiated RBC. To estimate the concordance on expiry of irradiated RBC units with present American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)/Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), New Delhi over British Committee for Standards in Hematology (BCSH) and Council of Europe (CE) guidelines.

Determination of mononuclear cell count using peripheral smear and flow cytometry in peripheral blood stem cell products: A retrospective study from an Indian cancer center.

Background: Mononuclear cells (MNCs) are considered equivalent to hematopoietic stem cells, and differential count using peripheral smear was routinely practiced to enumerate MNC. Flow cytometry plots used for CD34 enumeration assay can also be used in MNC enumeration as it counts more WBC events than manual methods. The aim was to determine the relationship and degree of agreement between peripheral smear and flow cytometry in MNC enumeration of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) products.

Adopting a vein assessment tool improves procedural outcomes in double dose platelet collections - A prospective study.

Background: This study aims to determine the phlebotomy and procedural outcomes using a vein assessment tool (VAT) in Double Dose Platelet (DDP) collections by apheresis.

Methods: VAT was based on assessing vein visibility, palpation and size with maximum score of 12 and the least being 0 and the scores were graded as adequate and inadequate. A vein-viewer was used for studying cubital vein patterns (type 1-5).

Modeling predonation testing strategies in platelet donations - Approach from low throughput apheresis blood center from India.

Background: Hospital-based blood centers in India adopt pre-donation testing for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) before plateletpheresis donations. However, the WHO emphasizes on TTI tests be performed on samples collected during the donation process. The study objective was to determine whether cost implications by adopting product testing along with predonation testing or only product testing strategy in platelet donation in Indian blood centers.

Recurrent hyperhemolytic transfusion reaction in myelodysplastic syndrome- A case based approach.

We present here a case report of a 27 year old female, with myelodysplatic syndrome suspected to have recurrent hyperhemolytic transfusion reactions (HHTR). Patient was transfusion dependent for ten years and was transfused with leukodepleted and irradiated Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBC). She presented with signs and symptoms of acute intravascular hemolysis, deranged coagulation profile with post transfusion Hb lower than baseline.

Incipient Warthin tumor of intraparotid lymph node in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal: An incidental finding.

The occurrence of intranodal salivary gland neoplasm is uncommon; squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the external auditory canal (EAC) is another rare occurrence. Clinically, SCC of EAC presents with symptoms similar to other benign otologic conditions. A case of Stage I SCC in EAC region is presented here in a 60-year-old male patient with incidental intranodal Warthin tumor along with the histological differential diagnosis.

Comparison of abo antibody levels in apheresis platelets suspended in platelet additive solution and plasma.

Background: Transfusion of platelets (PLTs) with high ABO antibody titres can pose a risk of hemolysis if the unit crosses the ABO type. The PLTs stored in the platelet additive solution (PAS) remove asubstantial fraction of plasma and replace it with an isotonicbuffered solution.We aimed to assess the difference in anti-A/B antibody levels in Groups O, A and B apheresis platelets (APs) suspended in plasma and PAS.

A Study on Influence of Donor Hematocrit on the Procedural Parameters of Concentrated Single Donor Platelets Collected by Two Apheresis Devices.

With improvements in apheresis collection, platelet additive solution (PAS) is steadily replacing plasma as the storage medium in single donor platelets (SDP). Concentrating platelets in SDP with one-third of plasma and two-thirds of PAS is referred as Concentrated-SDP (C-SDP). We studied the influence of donor hematocrit (Hct) in C-SDP procedures.

Flow cytometric enumeration of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells: A comparison between single- versus dual-platform methodology using the International Society of Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering protocol.

Background: Flow cytometric enumeration of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is the reference point for undertaking apheresis and evaluation of adequacy for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) engraftment.

Aims: To determine whether single platform correlates with dual platform methods in CD34+ enumeration using ISHAGE protocol.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of CD34 Enumeration assays on both peripheral blood and PBSC product samples using Beckman Coulter FC500 Flow Cytometer.

Prognostic efficiency of clinicopathologic scoring to predict cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The extent of involvement of cervical lymph nodes is known to be the most important prognosticator in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that significantly affects the survival rate of patients. The clinical, radiological and pathological factors that can predict cervical lymph node metastasis are yet to be ascertained clearly, which poses a challenge for the surgeon to determine the extent of neck dissection.

Aim: This study aims to identify the clinical and histopathologic predictors of lymph node metastasis among patients with oral SCC and to devise a scoring system based on those predictors to aid in better clinical decision-making regarding the extent of neck dissection.

Frozen Section Evaluation in Head and Neck Oncosurgery: An Initial Experience in a Tertiary Cancer Center.

Objective: Frozen section evaluation is routinely used by oncosurgeons across specialties for rapid assessment of the presence of tumor in any tissue and its most common use is in surgical margins. Today, the use of intraoperative frozen-section evaluation of surgical margins is an accepted and frequent practice in head and neck oncology. This study aims to determine the efficacy and accuracy of frozen sections in head and neck cancer patients and compare the results with the respective paraffin sections and also to analyze the reasons for any disparity between them.

Clinicopathological Spectrum of Anaplastic Carcinoma of Thyroid - 5 Year Experience from a Tertiary Cancer Centre.

Background: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal solid tumors known to affect humans. Although ATC accounts for only 1% to 5% of all thyroid tumors, it portends a dismal prognosis with a median survival of 4 to 12 months from the time of diagnosis. In this retrospective review we aim to study the clinical, cytological and histopathological features and management of ATC cases reported in our institution.