An incidental finding of Rapunzel syndrome in a case of perforated appendix in a young girl.

A bezoar is a mass of indigestible foreign material found in the gastrointestinal tract, usually in the stomach. Trichobezoars are the second most common bezoars which are usually found in young psychiatric patients. A 15-year-old female patient presented with signs of intestinal obstruction and acute abdomen. The preoperative investigations revealed a perforated appendix, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed. Intraoperative findings showed presence of a mass of hair in the stomach along with a long tail extending into the small intestine. Postoperatively, the patient's condition worsened and she died because of complications of perforation peritonitis on day 3. Early diagnosis of Rapunzel syndrome can help in making early interventions. The prognosis of incidental detection of this condition depends on the accompanying cause.

Rationale & design of the PROMISES study: a prospective assessment and validation study of salivary progesterone as a test for preterm birth in pregnant women from rural India.

BACKGROUND: In India, 3.6 million pregnancies are affected by preterm birth annually, with many infants dying or surviving with disability. Currently, there is no simple test available for screening all women at risk of spontaneous PTB in low income setting, although high resource settings routinely use cervical length measurement and cervico-vaginal fluid fetal fibronectin for identification and care of women at risk due to clinical history. In rural India, where the public health system has limited infrastructure, trained staff and equipment, there is a greater need to develop a low-cost screening approach for providing early referral, treatment and remedial support for pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. There is interest in the use of a salivary progesterone test as a screening tool preliminary evidence from India, Egypt and UK has shown promise for this type of test. The test requires further validation in a low resource community setting. METHODS: The Promises study aims to validate and test the feasibility of introducing a low-cost salivary progesterone preterm birth prediction test in two rural districts in India with high rates of prematurity. It is a prospective study of 2000 pregnant women recruited from Panna and Satna in Madhya Pradesh over approximately 24 months. Demographic and pregnancy outcome data will be collected, and pregnancies will be dated by ultrasound sonography. Saliva progesterone will be measured by ELISA in samples obtained between 24-28 weeks of gestation. The association between salivary progesterone and preterm birth will be determined and the utility of salivary progesterone to predict preterm birth < 34, as well as < 30 and < 37 weeks assessed. Additional qualitative data will be obtained in terms of acceptability and feasibility of saliva progesterone testing and knowledge of PTB. DISCUSSION: A validated cost-effective saliva test, which has potential for further adaptation to a 'point of care' setting will allow early identification of pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, who can be linked to an effective pathway of care and support to reduce preterm birth and associated adverse consequences. This will reduce both economic and emotional burden on the affected women and their families.

Immuno-Modulatory Effect and Therapeutic Potential of Brugia malayi Cystatin in Experimentally Induced Arthritis.

Helminths are known to modulate host's immune system and understanding this modulation can help in identification of novel therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases. In this study, we have assessed the immune-modulatory activity and the therapeutic effect of Brugia malayi recombinant cystatin (rBmCys) in methylated BSA (mBSA) induced arthritis using rodent model. Administration of rBmCys has suppressed the severity of mBSA-arthritis in mastomys by reducing paw swelling and other clinical disease parameters as evident from significantly decreased arthritic index. The anti-arthritic effect of rBmCys was also confirmed by decreased histopathological score for synovitis, bone erosion and fibrosis in the tissue sections of paws. Further, this therapeutic effect of cystatin was found to be associated with significantly decreased production of IFN-γ and TNF-α and increased release of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. These results implied that rBmCys treatment has alleviated mBSA-induced arthritis and thus can be a promising alternative agent for the treatment of arthritis.

Intracranial Remote Metastasis from Adenoid Cystic Cancer of Parotid Gland: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is rare, locally aggressive salivary gland tumor. It has indolent course, multiple local recurrences and delayed distant metastasis in lung, bone, liver and soft tissues which are detected up to a maximum of 5.5 years after local-regional resection of the primary tumor. Intracranial remote metastasis of ACCs is extremely rare, and very few cases have been reported in the literature. Here we report a rare case of intracranial remote metastasis of ACC of the parotid gland developed after 15 years of primary curative surgery, emphasizing long term follow up on these cases.

Immunohistochemical Analysis Of Novel Biomarkers Cyclin D1, p53 And Ki67 In Endometrial Carcinoma: Clinicopathological Significance And Prognostic Value.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the only gynecologic cancer with increasing incidence and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to determine association of cell proliferation marker CyclinD1, p53 and Ki67 with clinicopathological parameters and survival analysis in patients of EC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-four histological confirmed cases of EC treated at our institute were included in this study. The appropriate tissue blocks of cases which were retrieved from 2010 to 2015. The study period was from Jan 2018 to Jan 2020. Data pertaining to patient's clinical details, histopathological diagnosis, treatment and follow up was retrieved from Hospital information System. Immunohistochemical evaluation of Cyclin D1, p53 and Ki67 was done. Overall survival and Disease-free survival for each category were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Of the 124 cases of EC, 108(87.09%) cases were of type I and 16 (12.89%) cases of type II. Overall positive staining of cyclinD1, p53 and Ki67 were noted in 53.22%, 42.22% and 32.3% cases respectively. The clinicopathological parameters affecting disease-free survival were age (p=0.039) histological types (p=0.007), and FIGO stage (p< 0.001). Elevated Ki67 index and p53 overexpression was associated with type II morphology (p= 0.001). Whereas Cyclin D1 expression was associated with type I morphology and poorly differentiated tumor. CONCLUSION: Cyclin D1 positive staining, p53overexpression and an elevated Ki-67index all had an independent prognostic significance in endometrial cancer. This panel of biomarkers may help to differentiate tumor behavior, and necessity for more radical surgery and post- operative chemotherapy. Key words: Endometrial carcinoma; cyclin D1; p53; Ki67; Survival analysis.

Intraperitoneal dissemination of primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma of omentum simulating an ovarian cancer - A case report.

Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a rare subtype of liposarcoma with a high preponderance of local recurrence and distant metastasis. The frequent site of DDLPS is the retroperitoneum, followed by the limbs and trunk. The primary omental DDLPS is very rare and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Here we report a rare case of primary giant DDLPS of omentum with intraperitoneal metastasis in a 61year old woman. The present case report adds to our knowledge, that a case of intraperitoneal DDLPS can mimic ovarian cancer clinically and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pelvic mass in postmenopausal women.

Quantitative assessment of DNA damage directly in lens epithelial cells from senile cataract patients.

PURPOSE: Most of the studies regarding DNA damage in lens epithelial cells (LECs) of cataract patients have been done on lymphocyte or human LECs cultures. Studies of DNA damage directly in LECs of cataract patients are scanty and, to our knowledge, neither photographic evidence nor has a quantitative assessment of DNA damage have been put forward. In our study, we assessed and quantified DNA damage directly in the LECs of senile cataract patients, right after cataract surgery. METHODS: LECs were taken from different morphologic types of senile cataract patients after surgery and DNA damage was immediately assessed by comet assay. Quantitative assessment of DNA damage was conducted using CometScore ™ software. RESULTS: There were no prominent comets in most of the LECs of the control subjects, but comets were found in cataractous LECs. DNA fragments in the tail of the comet gave smearing (not banded), which was indicative of chemical damage (i.e., not site specific). DNA damage in the LECs of cataract patients was highly significant (p<0.001). DNA damage in cortical cataracts was significant (p<0.01) when compared to that of nuclear or posterior subcapsular cataracts, but the DNA damage between nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataracts was not significant. Furthermore, we found disrupted nuclear membranes in some of the nuclei in LECs of patients, but not in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In senile cataract patients, LECs DNA was randomly damaged and this type of damage was possible by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The damage was found maximally in the cortical type of cataracts. Oxidative DNA damage of the LECs may be one of the etiology of senile cataractogenesis.

The PROMISES study: a mixed methods approach to explore the acceptability of salivary progesterone testing for preterm birth risk among pregnant women and trained frontline healthcare workers in rural India.

INTRODUCTION: India has an overall neonatal mortality rate of 28/1000 live births, with higher rates in rural India. Approximately 3.5 million pregnancies in India are affected by preterm birth (PTB) annually and contribute to approximately a quarter of PTBs globally. Embedded within the PROMISES study (which aims to validate a low-cost salivary progesterone test for early detection of PTB risk), we present a mixed methods explanatory sequential feasibility substudy of the salivary progesterone test. METHODS: A pretraining and post-training questionnaire to assess Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) (n=201) knowledge and experience of PTB and salivary progesterone sampling was analysed using the McNemar test. Descriptive statistics for a cross-sectional survey of pregnant women (n=400) are presented in which the acceptability of this test for pregnant women is assessed. Structured interviews were undertaken with ASHAs (n=10) and pregnant women (n=9), and were analysed using thematic framework analysis to explore the barriers and facilitators influencing the use of this test in rural India. RESULTS: Before training, ASHAs' knowledge of PTB (including risk factors, causes, postnatal support and testing) was very limited. After the training programme, there was a significant improvement in the ASHAs' knowledge of PTB. All 400 women reported the salivary test was acceptable with the majority finding it easy but not quick or better than drawing blood. For the qualitative aspects of the study, analysis of interview data with ASHAs and women, our thematic framework comprised of three main areas: implementation of intervention; networks of influence and access to healthcare. Qualitative data were stratified and presented as barriers and facilitators. CONCLUSION: This study suggests support for ongoing investigations validating PTB testing using salivary progesterone in rural settings.

Cytological diagnosis of collagenous spherulosis of breast associated with fibroadenoma: report of a case with review of literature.

Collagenous spherulosis of the breast is a rare incidental finding frequently associated with other benign lesions of the breast. The estimated incidence of this innocuous condition is only about 0.2% in cytological material. It is of utmost importance to differentiate collagenous spherulosis from its malignant mimics to avoid unnecessary treatment. This article discusses the cytological findings of a case of collagenous spherulosis of breast associated with fibroadenoma, along with a brief review of literature.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast in an HIV-positive patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm that causes diagnostic difficulty on fine needle aspiration smears. Breast carcinoma in HIV-infected patients occurs at a relatively early age, with increased bilateral disease, unusual histology, and early metastatic spread with a poor outcome. CASE: A case of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast arose in a 36-year-old woman who was seropositive for HIV. In the absence of a sarcomatous component and presence of obvious ductal differentiation on aspirates, a diagnosis of high grade infiltrating duct carcinoma, not otherwise specified, was made on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). CONCLUSION: This case underlines the limitations of FNAC in the diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. It also shows that it is imperative to maintain a high index of suspicion for rare pathologies in immunocompromised patients.

Eosinophilic panniculitis in a female child: An unusual presentation.

Eosinophilic panniculitis (EP) is characterized by prominent infiltration of subcutaneous fat with eosinophils. The etiology is diverse. This is not a disease but represents a reaction pattern that may occur in a variety of circumstances. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is still unclear. We present the case of a 6-year-old girl child who was diagnosed with EP.

Intranuclear inclusions in a case of pigmented villonodular synovitis of the ankle.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative disorder of the synovial lining of the joints. Although the cytological findings of this disorder have been described in the literature, there is no mention of intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions in this entity. A 65-yr-old woman presented with a painful swelling on the ankle. In addition to other characteristic findings of PVNS, we found the presence of intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions in the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) smears. The characteristic cytological findings of abundant mononuclear cells occurring singly and in papillary clusters, multinucleated giant cells, and hemosiderin deposition should aid in the diagnosis of PVNS and in its differentiation from melanoma and other soft tissue sarcomas, even in the presence of uncommon features such as intranuclear inclusions.

Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma of the breast. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma of the breast is associated with aggressive behavior. CASE: Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed on a breast lump in a 55-year-old woman. The aspirates showed highly pleomorphic, large cells in a dyscohesive pattern, with a tendency of few cells to aggregate in small groups. A diagnosis of ductal carcinoma was made on cytology. On histology, the paraffin sections showed features of pleomorphic lobular carcinoma of the breast. CONCLUSION: The cytologic features of pleomorphic lobular carcinoma overlap with those of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. It is very difficult to make a diagnosis of pleomorphic lobular carcinoma prospectively on cytology. However, if Indian file arrangement and cytoplasmic vacuolation are present, pleomorphic lobular carcinoma must at least be suggested for the differential diagnosis as it has different clinical implications.

Study of haemoglobin S percentage and haematological parameters in sickle cell trait.

A total of 101 individuals who showed AS pattern on haemoglobin electrophoresis were included in this study and various haematological investigations were carried out on them. Of these, 79 cases were grouped as AS patients. Twenty two healthy relatives of sickle anemia patients were grouped as AS controls. Twenty AA controls were also included in this study. Haemoglobin S (HbS) and hemoglobin A (HbA) quantitation was carried out. The frequency distribution of HbS percentage showed that maximum subjects had HbS levels above 33%. A female predominance was seen in subjects of sickle cell trait. Haemoglobin levels and total red cell counts of AS patients were found to be significantly lower than those of AS controls. Reticulocyte counts and hematocrit values of AS patients were found to be significantly higher than AS controls. MCV and MCH values of AS patients were found to be significantly lower, but MCHC was not significantly altered.

Effects of iron deficiency on cognitive function in school going adolescent females in rural area of central India.

Iron deficiency anemia is most common nutritional deficiency disorder in India and remains a formidable health challenge. Girls in the period of later school age and early adolescence are prone to develop iron deficiency. Iron deficiency leads to many non-hematological disturbances which include growth and development, depressed immune function in infants; reduces physical work capacity; decreases the cognitive function in both infants and adolescents. Present study was done to know the prevalence of iron deficiency in both the anemic and non anemic school going adolescent girls, to assess the effect of iron deficiency on cognitive functions in anemic iron deficient and non-anemic iron deficient school girls in a village school situated in central India. Methods. A secondary school having girl students in the age group of 12-15 years studying in sixth to ninth standard was selected. Serum ferritin concentration was estimated by ELISA. For assessing the cognitive function mathematics score, one multi-component test for memory, attention and verbal learning and Intelligent Quotient scores of the students were used. Results. Scholastic Performance, IQ and Scores of Mental balance, Attention & Concentration, Verbal Memory and Recognition were decreased in iron deficient girls, both anemic and non anemic as compared to the non iron deficient girls.