Analysis of spatial distribution of genetic diversity and validation of Indian foxtail millet core collection.

Foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] is an important small millet, grown as a short duration, drought tolerant crop across the world. This crop can be grown on wide ranges of soil conditions and has an immense potential for food and fodder in rainfed and arid regions of the India. In the present study, 31 primer pairs (27 SSR and 4 EST-SSR) were used to analyse the genetic diversity in 223 core collection accessions. Analysis resulted in detection of a total of 136 alleles with an average of 4.38 alleles per locus. Among these 136 alleles, 22 were rare, 70 were common and 44 were frequent. The PIC value ranged from 0.01 to 0.86 with an average of 0.31. The average number of observed alleles ranged from 2.0 (northern hills of India accessions) to 4.06 (exotic) with an average of 2.72. The mean Shannon's Information Index ranged from 0.44 (northern hills of India) to 0.69 (exotic) with an average of 0.52. Pair-wise Fst values indicated little to moderate genetic differentiation among the group of accessions. UPGMA clustering grouped the accessions into two major groups while analysis for population substructure indicated presence of four subpopulations. However there was no statistically well supported grouping of the accessions based on eco-geographic specificities. The core collection designated here represented substantial genetic diversity at molecular level, hence may be a good source of diversity for use in foxtail improvement programs in the region.

Non urothelial bladder cancers: a case series.

Non urothelial bladder cancers frequently present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The article presents a case series of 21 patients of non urothelial urinary bladder cancers presented in our institute over a period of three years and review of literature on this rare condition. Details of patients were reviewed from hospital records of surgical, medical, radiotherapy and pathology departments. Simple percentage and frequencies have been used to interpret the data. Total 21 patients were included in the study. 12 (57.2 %) were males and 9 (42.8 %) were females (M: F :: 4:3). Mean age of the patients was 51.3 years ranging from 22 to 65 years. Eleven (52.3 %) out of twenty one patients had hematuria as their presenting complaint. Out of 21, there were nine (42.8 %) adenocarcinoma, nine (42.8 %) were SCC and one (4.76 %) each of carcinosarcoma, neuroendocrine tumor and sarcoma. Fourteen (66.6 %) patients out of 21 were referred for upfront surgery. Out of remaining seven (33.33 %) patients from the non surgical group three were referred for definitive concurrent chemoradiation, two for definitive radiotherapy. One patient of adenocarcinoma (non urachal) was referred for palliative chemotherapy. Remaining one patient of neuroendocrine tumor who was referred for neoadjuvant chemotherapy died before any definitive treatment could be considered. This study highlights the role of surgery and status of adjuvant therapies in the management of non urothelial bladder cancers.

Clinicopathological correlation of serum TSH in patients with thyroid nodule.

Thyroid nodules and goitre are common. Carcinoma occurs in 5% of thyroid nodules. Early detection and treatment is beneficial to prolonged survival. Higher thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level in patient with thyroid nodule is associated with greater risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. To assess relationship of TSH with thyroid carcinoma in nodular goitre and usefulness of this marker in predicting likelihood of thyroid malignancy, a study was undertaken among patients with nodular goitre enrolled prospectively during the period 2007 to 2009. Clinically thyroid nodules, confirmed by high resolution USG underwent serum TSH estimation and FNAC of the the nodules. Finally outcome of histopathological examination of resected thyroid specimen were analysed. Overall 33 patients with thyroid nodules were included in this study. Fifteen patients belonged to age group of 31 to 40 years, 13 belonged to 21 to 30 years; 29 were women, 4 were men. Majority of nodules were in right lobe and firm or hard. Fifteen nodules were > 4cm in size. FNAC showed colloid goitre in 24 patients, 7 patients had papillary carcinoma, 2 patients had follicular nodule. Final histopathological report showed 9 papillary carcinoma, 1 medullary carcinoma, 1 follicular carcinoma, 2 follicular adenoma and rest being colloid goitre. Mean TSH value for colloid goitre was 1.8987 mlU/l, for papillary carcinoma it was 2.2400 mlU/l, for follicular carcinoma it was 2.8900 mlU/l, for medullat carcinoma it was 0.8500 mlU/l and for follicular adenoma it was 4.4200 mlU/l. In differentiated thyroid carcinoma TSH value is raised more than in colloid goitre (p = 0.687). Incidence of malignancy in nodular goitre was 30% (11 carcinoma out of 33) in this study. Incidence of malignancy in nodular goitre is rising. Firm to hard nodules, male sex, 3-4 cm sized nodules are mainly susceptible. There is an obvious trend towards cancer risk with higher TSH value. TSH may, therefore, be used as a supportive screening test to predict malignancy in patients with thyroid nodule.

A prospective study of the aetiology, severity and outcome of acute pancreatitis in Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is a common cause of hospital admission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aetiology, severity and outcome of acute pancreatitis in our tertiary referral center. METHODS: Between August 2002 and December 2003, 45 cases of acute pancreatitis were admitted to the hospital. Diagnosis was ascertained by clinical examination and investigations (hyperamylasaemia). The severity was assessed by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scoring system and contrast enhanced computed tomography scan. The patients were treated according to a designed protocol. The data related to aetiology, severity and outcome were noted for subsequent analysis. RESULTS: Of the 45 patients, 33 were male and 12 were female. The mean age was 30 years. Of the 45 patients, 34 patients had mild pancreatitis and 11 had severe pancreatitis. The aetiology spectrum of mild pancreatitis included the following: alcoholism in 14 (41.1%), gallstones in 8 (23.5%), trauma in 6 (17.6%), idiopathic in 4 (11.7%) and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 2 (5.8%). The causes of severe acute pancreatitis came under the following headers: trauma in 3 (27.2%), idiopathic in 2 (18.1%), gallstones in 2 (18.1%), alcoholism in 2 (18.1%) and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 2(18.1%). Mild pancreatitis led on to the following: pancreatic abscess in 1, pseudocyst in 3 and readmission for pain relapse within 6 months in 10 patients. The remainder had uneventful recoveries. There was no mortality in this group. Severe acute pancreatitis led on to the following: symptomatic sterile pancreatic necrosis in 2, infected pancreatic necrosis in 2, pancreatic abscess in 2 and presentation 8 months later with colonic stricture in 1 patient. There were 2 deaths in this group due to multi-organ failure. CONCLUSION: Although gallstones have largely been implicated as a common cause of acute pancreatitis our study found alcoholism as the main aetiological factor. Blunt abdominal trauma was also seen as a common cause of acute severe pancreatitis, particularly severe acute pancreatitits, as seen in our series. The outcome in mild pancreatitis was good, severe acute pancreatitis leads to more complications and greater mortality, thus requiring careful medical and surgical management.

[Not Available].

Bronchobiliary fistula is a very rare complication of liver abscess. It presents with biliptysis (bile in cough), and chronic cough. Here we present a case of intractable biliptysis from a bronchobiliary fistula secondary to a liver abscess with biliary obstruction.