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.

Osteoarticular tuberculosis: A series of six cases diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration cytology.

A few studies are dealing with the role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in diagnosing osteoarticular tuberculosis (TB). The present study was undertaken to study the cytomorphological features of six cases of osteoarticular TB throughout 1 year, diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. The Papanicolaou, Giemsa, Ziehl-Neelsen, and periodic acid-Schiff stains were used in each case.

Seeing Is Not Believing: Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring (IONM) in the Thyroid Surgery.

Ensuring the integrity of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) and preservation of normal voice are the prime 'functional' goals of thyroid surgery. More in-depth knowledge of neuronal mechanisms has revealed that anatomical integrity does not always translate into functional integrity. Despite meticulous dissection, neural injuries are not always predictable or visually evident.

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.

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.

Tracheo Esophageal Prosthesis Insertion Under Endoscopic Guidance and Local Anaesthesia- Feasibility and Outcome.

Objectives: Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy is by tracheo esophageal puncture (TEP) and prosthesis insertion. Secondary TEP is very difficult due to neck fibrosis. Puncture under local anaesthesia with endoscopy guidance is a feasible option.

Case report and strategies to mitigate passive hemolysis with platelet transfusions in children.

Mismatched platelet concentrate transfusion due to inadequately maintained inventories is relatively common and in most instances do not cause any untoward event in adults. The cases of passive hemolysis following a mismatched apheresis platelet transfusion are common but are relatively rare with platelet concentrates. We report here a case of a nine year old boy who received three units of mismatched platelet concentrates(PC) followed by acute hemolysis.

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.

Elevated CEA with negative PET scan on surveillance of colorectal cancers-a role of CEA kinetics.

Introduction: The management of patients with elevated CEA after curative treatment of colorectal cancers without structural disease is uncertain. The aim was to study the clinical risk factors, CEA thresholds, and kinetics that could predict relapses.

Methods: Retrospective study of colorectal cancers patients that were detected to have an elevated CEA (> 5 ng/ml on 2 separate occasions) and normal clinical exam, colonoscopy, and positron emission tomography (PET).

Pattern of extranodal involvement and its impact on survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from a tertiary cancer center in rural India.

Introduction: Extranodal (EN) involvement in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) carries poor prognosis. Both the number and the specific sites of EN involvement are important in predicting prognosis. Given that the epidemiologic pattern of DLBCL in India is different from the rest of the world and such data correlations are scarce from developing countries, we aimed to find out if specific site and number of EN involvement could predict survival in DLBCL.

Assessment of Chemopreventive Potential of the Plant Extracts against Liver Cancer Using HepG2 Cell Line.

The edible parts of the plants , and were extensively used in ancient practices such as Ayurveda, owing to their potent biomedical significance. They are very rich in secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, which are very good antioxidants and exhibit anti-carcinogenic properties. This study aims to evaluate the anti-cancerous properties of these plant crude extracts on human liver cancer HepG2 cells.

Extent of transfusion support in a developing country in managing a bleeding acute myeloid leukemia patient with platelet transfusion refractoriness.

Conventional platelet transfusion may not be adequate to deal with platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR), and therefore human leukocyte antigen (HLA) or human platelet antigen (HPA) matched and platelet crossmatch compatible units are recommended. However, in developing countries, finding a unit that is HLA or HPA matched or platelet crossmatch poses a challenge. Hence, easier and cost-effective alternatives such as massive platelet transfusion and continuous platelet transfusion were attempted to manage bleeding in PTR.

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).

Validation of an Intelligibility Assessment Tool in an Indian Language for Perceptual Speech Analysis in Oral Cancer Patients.

This study aimed to develop a speech intelligibility tool in Malayalam, an Indian language, based on the perceptual analysis. The tool had components of vowel, consonant, word, passage, and overall intelligibility. After face and content validation, a sample of 30 consecutive oral cancer patients underwent preliminary testing for internal consistency, inter- and intra-rater reliability, concurrent, and known-group validity.

MiRNA expression profiling and emergence of new prognostic signature for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common type of head and neck cancers, is associated with high recurrence, metastasis, low long-term survival rates and poor treatment outcome. As deregulated miRNA expression plays a crucial role in malignant transformation and cancer progression, the present study is aimed at profiling the miRNA expression pattern in OSCC and developing a new miRNA prognostic signature for oral cancer. MiRNA expression profiling was performed using MiRNA microarray in 30 tumor and 18 normal samples.

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.

Hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma syndromes: experience from western India.

The data from the Indian subcontinent on Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and associated endocrinopathies in hereditary MTC (HMTC) syndromes are limited. Hence, we analyzed clinical and biochemical characteristics, management, and outcomes of HMTC and other associated endocrinopathies [Pheochromocytoma (PCC) and Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT)] and compared with apparently sporadic MTC. The records of 97 (51 sporadic and 46 hereditary) consecutive MTC patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Impact of active tuberculosis on treatment decisions in cancer.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) and cancer can coexist in some patients especially from low- and middle-income countries. Impact of active TB on treatment decisions in cancer is less well studied. Methods A retrospective case record review of all cases of cancer diagnosed and or treated between January 2012 and December 2019 who were also diagnosed to have active TB (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) was done.

Role of structures in the masticator space in selecting patients with resectable T4b oral cancer: findings from a survival analysis.

Oral squamous cell cancers involving the masticatory space are staged as unresectable cancers and their treatment is difficult. Curative treatment with extensive surgery followed by adjuvant therapy is one of the treatment options. In this retrospective study, the survival of 123 patients (93 with T4a cancers, 30 with T4b cancers), treated during the period August 2009 to August 2015, was evaluated.

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.

Congenital Nevus with Metastatic Melanoma.

Congenital giant nevi are melanotic proliferations present at birth which often grow to 20 cm or more when adulthood is attained. These patients stand the risk of developing melanomas including dermal melanomas in more than 2/3rd of patients. The risk of melanoma development is highest in childhood although it can occasionally occur in adults.

Clinical Outcomes of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Palliative Oral Metronomic Chemotherapy at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Kerala, India.

Background: Cetuximab-based chemotherapy is the standard palliative chemotherapy in head and neck cancers, but there is a limitation due to financial and logistic reasons, and where oral metronomic chemotherapy can be a successful alternate. Oral metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) can either be with Methotrexate alone or a combination of Methotrexate and Erlotinib. The study was aimed to assess the clinical outcome of oral MCT in head and neck cancer patients.