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BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) curtailed endoscopy services, adding to diagnostic backlogs. Building on trial evidence for a non-endoscopic oesophageal cell collection device coupled with biomarkers (Cytosponge), an implementation pilot was launched for patients on waiting lists for reflux and Barrett's oesophagus surveillance. AIMS: (i) To review reflux referral patterns and Barrett's surveillance practices. (ii) To evaluate the range of Cytosponge findings and impact on endoscopy services. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cytosponge data from centralized laboratory processing (trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) for intestinal metaplasia (IM), haematoxylin & eosin for cellular atypia and p53 for dysplasia) over a 2-year period were included. RESULTS: A total of 10â577 procedures were performed in 61 hospitals in England and Scotland, of which 92.5% (N = 9784/10â577) were sufficient for analysis. In the reflux cohort (N = 4074 with gastro-oesophageal junction sampling), 14.7% had one or more positive biomarkers (TFF3: 13.6% (N = 550/4056), p53: 0.5% (21/3974), atypia: 1.5% (N = 63/4071)), requiring endoscopy. Among samples from individuals undergoing Barrett's surveillance (N = 5710 with sufficient gland groups), TFF3-positivity increased with segment length (odds ratio = 1.37 per cm (95% confidence interval: 1.33-1.41, P < 0.001)). Some surveillance referrals (21.5%, N = 1175/5471) had ≤1 cm segment length, of which 65.9% (707/1073) were TFF3 negative. Of all surveillance procedures, 8.3% had dysplastic biomarkers (4.0% (N = 225/5630) for p53 and 7.6% (N = 430/5694) for atypia), increasing to 11.8% (N = 420/3552) in TFF3+ cases with confirmed IM and 19.7% (N = 58/294) in ultra-long segments. CONCLUSIONS: Cytosponge-biomarker tests enabled targeting of endoscopy services to higher-risk individuals, whereas those with TFF3 negative ultra-short segments could be reconsidered regarding their Barrett's oesophagus status and surveillance requirements. Long-term follow-up will be important in these cohorts.
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Esôfago de Barrett , COVID-19 , Neoplasias Esofágicas , Humanos , Esôfago de Barrett/diagnóstico , Triagem , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53 , Endoscopia , Biomarcadores/análise , Neoplasias Esofágicas/diagnósticoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Implementation research with pre- and post-comparison was planned to improve the quality of evidence-based intrapartum care services in Indian medical schools. We present the baseline study results to assess the status of adherence to intrapartum evidence-based practices (IP-EBP) in study schools in 3 states in India and the perception of the faculty. METHODS: A concurrent mixed-methods approach was used to conduct the baseline assessment in 9 medical schools in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Union Territory from October 2018 to June 2019. IP-EBP among pregnant women in uncomplicated first (n=135), second (n=120), and third stage (n=120) of labor were observed using a predesigned, pretested checklist quantitatively. We conducted in-depth interviews with 33 obstetrics and gynecology faculty to understand their perceptions of intrapartum practices. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (version 22). COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behavior) model was used to understand the behaviors, and thematic analysis was done for the qualitative data. FINDINGS: Unindicated augmentation of labor was done in 64.4%, fundal pressure applied in 50.8%, episiotomy done in 58.3%, and delivery in lithotomy position was performed in 86.7% of women in labor. CONCLUSIONS: Intrapartum practices that are not recommended were routinely practiced in the study medical schools due to a lack of staff awareness of evidence-based practices and incorrect beliefs about their impact.
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Prática Clínica Baseada em Evidências , Faculdades de Medicina , Lista de Checagem , Feminino , Humanos , Índia , Parto , GravidezRESUMO
Pulmonary carcinoid tumors are considered as low-grade neoplasms, seen as centrally located endobronchial masses or as peripheral circumscribed nodules. Calcification or ossification is a known phenomenon, but presentation as large bony mass is extremely uncommon. Herein, we report a case of ossifying bronchial carcinoid along with nodular Hashimoto's thyroiditis as incidental autopsy findings in a 32-year-old patient with a prior recent excision of pituitary macroadenoma. This association suggests the possibility of multiple endocrine neoplasia in this young male.
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Adenoma , Tumor Carcinoide , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Neoplasias Hipofisárias , Adulto , Tumor Carcinoide/patologia , Tumor Carcinoide/cirurgia , Humanos , Masculino , OsteogêneseAssuntos
COVID-19 , Equipamento de Proteção Individual , Pessoal de Saúde , Humanos , Controle de Infecções , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: An increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TTTG) distance is used for deciding a treatment plan in patello-femoral instability (PFI). The centre of the patellar tendon and the chondral trochlear groove can be directly visualised on MRI, and measured, giving the patellar tendon-trochlear groove (PTTG) distance. A study was designed to compare the inter-rater and the test-retest reliabilities of PTTG and TTTG measurements in MRI of patients without PFI and in a group with PFI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional reliability study was done on archival MRI films of 50 patients without patellar instability and 20 patients with patellar instability. TTTG and PTTG distances were independently measured by two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists. A hybrid PTTG measurement with bony landmarks on the femoral side and the patellar tendon landmark on the tibial side, was used to estimate the influence of the differences in the femoral and tibial landmarks on the difference in reliabilities. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for all four raters, as well as separately for each rater. RESULTS: The PTTG distance had a higher inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.86, 95% CI=0.79-0.92) compared to the TTTG distance (ICC=0.70, 95% CI=0.59-0.80) in patients without PFI. Similar trends were seen in patients with PFI (0.83 vs 0.66). The inter-rater reliability for the hybrid PTTG distance was found to lie in between the TTTG and PTTG. CONCLUSIONS: The MRI-based PTTG distance had better inter-rater reliability compared with the MRI-based TTTG distance.
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@#Introduction: An increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TTTG) distance is used for deciding a treatment plan in patello-femoral instability (PFI). The centre of the patellar tendon and the chondral trochlear groove can be directly visualised on MRI, and measured, giving the patellar tendontrochlear groove (PTTG) distance. A study was designed to compare the inter-rater and the test-retest reliabilities of PTTG and TTTG measurements in MRI of patients without PFI and in a group with PFI. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional reliability study was done on archival MRI films of 50 patients without patellar instability and 20 patients with patellar instability. TTTG and PTTG distances were independently measured by two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists. A hybrid PTTG measurement with bony landmarks on the femoral side and the patellar tendon landmark on the tibial side, was used to estimate the influence of the differences in the femoral and tibial landmarks on the difference in reliabilities. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for all four raters, as well as separately for each rater. Results: The PTTG distance had a higher inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.86, 95% CI=0.79-0.92) compared to the TTTG distance (ICC=0.70, 95% CI=0.59-0.80) in patients without PFI. Similar trends were seen in patients with PFI (0.83 vs 0.66). The inter-rater reliability for the hybrid PTTG distance was found to lie in between the TTTG and PTTG. Conclusions:The MRI-based PTTG distance had better inter-rater reliability compared with the MRI-based TTTG distance.
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A record number of ^{100}Sn nuclei was detected and new isotopic species toward the proton dripline were discovered at the RIKEN Nishina Center. Decay spectroscopy was performed with the high-efficiency detector arrays WAS3ABi and EURICA. Both the half-life and the ß-decay end point energy of ^{100}Sn were measured more precisely than the literature values. The value and the uncertainty of the resulting strength for the pure 0^{+}â1^{+} Gamow-Teller decay was improved to B_{GT}=4.4_{-0.7}^{+0.9}. A discrimination between different model calculations was possible for the first time, and the level scheme of ^{100}In is investigated further.
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Antirreumáticos/administração & dosagem , Hidroxicloroquina/administração & dosagem , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/tratamento farmacológico , Antirreumáticos/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Hidroxicloroquina/efeitos adversos , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Doenças Retinianas/induzido quimicamente , Sociedades Médicas , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is characterized by extensive and invasive fibro-inflammatory proliferation, triggered by a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to variety of infective or noninfective stimuli. The infective agents often have a geographic distribution such as Histoplasma capsulatum in North America and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Asian regions. In few reports, the mediastinitis is caused by fungi, particularly Aspergillus species. We report the first case of possible aspergillous FM in a young pregnant woman.
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Aspergillus/isolamento & purificação , Mediastinite/diagnóstico , Esclerose/diagnóstico , Tuberculoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Anticonvulsivantes/uso terapêutico , Antituberculosos/uso terapêutico , Aspergilose , Evolução Fatal , Feminino , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Mediastinite/tratamento farmacológico , Gravidez , Esclerose/tratamento farmacológico , Cefaleia do Tipo TensionalRESUMO
A comprehensive investigation of magnetostriction optimization in Metglas 2605SA1 ribbons is performed to enhance magnetoelectric performance. We explore a range of annealing conditions to relieve remnant stress and align the magnetic domains in the Metglas, while minimizing unwanted crystallization. The magnetostriction coefficient, magnetoelectric coefficient, and magnetic domain alignment are correlated to optimize magnetoelectric performance. We report on direct magnetostriction observed by in-plane Doppler vibrometer and domain imagining using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis for a range of annealing conditions. We find that annealing in an oxygen-free environment at 400 °C for 30 min yields an optimal magnetoelectric coefficient, magnetostriction and magnetostriction coefficient. The optimized ribbons had a magnetostriction of 50.6 ± 0.2 µm m-1 and magnetoelectric coefficient of 79.3 ± 1.5 µm m-1 mT-1. The optimized Metglas 2605SA1 ribbons and PZT-5A (d31 mode) sensor achieves a magnetic noise floor of approximately 600 pT Hz-1/2 at 100 Hz and a magnetoelectric coefficient of 6.1 ± 0.03 MV m-1 T-1.
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The histological pattern and the associated molecular aberrations have an important bearing in the prognosis of pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Papillary and micropapillary growth patterns with mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma kinase rearrangements have an aggressive clinical course. We report one such cancer in a 49-year-old woman, where it assumed a miliary pattern in the lungs, and the patient presented with neurological symptoms related to carcinomatous encephalitis, an infrequent metastatic manifestation.
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Adenocarcinoma de Pulmão/patologia , Adenocarcinoma Papilar/patologia , Adenocarcinoma/patologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Adenocarcinoma/diagnóstico , Adenocarcinoma/cirurgia , Adenocarcinoma Papilar/cirurgia , Encefalite/patologia , Evolução Fatal , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/cirurgia , Metástase Linfática , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Metástase Neoplásica , Estadiamento de NeoplasiasRESUMO
The study evaluates the utility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Vitek MS for identification of microorganisms in the routine clinical microbiology laboratory. From May 2013 to April 2014, microbial isolates recovered from various clinical samples were identified by Vitek MS. In case of failure to identify by Vitek MS, the isolate was identified using the Vitek 2 system (bioMerieux, France) and serotyping wherever applicable or otherwise by nucleic acid-mediated methods. All the moulds were identified by Lactophenol blue mounts, and mycobacterial isolates were identified by molecular identification systems including AccuProbe (bioMerieux, France) or GenoType Mycobacterium CM (Hain Lifescience, Germany). Out of the 12,003 isolates, the Vitek MS gave a good overall ID at the genus and or species level up to 97.7% for bacterial isolates, 92.8% for yeasts and 80% for filamentous fungi. Of the 26 mycobacteria tested, only 42.3% could be identified using the Saramis RUO (Research Use Only) database. VITEK MS could not identify 34 of the 35 yeast isolates identified as C. haemulonii by Vitek 2. Subsequently, 17 of these isolates were identified as Candida auris (not present in the Vitek MS database) by 18S rRNA sequencing. Using these strains, an in-house superspectrum of C. auris was created in the VITEK MS database. Use of MALDI-TOF MS allows a rapid identification of aerobic bacteria and yeasts in clinical practice. However, improved sample extraction protocols and database upgrades with inclusion of locally representative strains is required, especially for moulds.
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Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Infecções Bacterianas/diagnóstico , Fungos/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Micoses/diagnóstico , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz/métodos , Bactérias/classificação , Infecções Bacterianas/microbiologia , Fungos/classificação , Humanos , Micoses/microbiologia , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Several new isotopes, ^{96}In, ^{94}Cd, ^{92}Ag, and ^{90}Pd, have been identified at the RIKEN Nishina Center. The study of proton drip-line nuclei in the vicinity of ^{100}Sn led to the discovery of new proton emitters ^{93}Ag and ^{89}Rh with half-lives in the submicrosecond range. The systematics of the half-lives of odd-Z nuclei with T_{z}=-1/2 toward ^{99}Sn shows a stabilizing effect of the Z=50 shell closure. Production cross sections for nuclei in the vicinity of ^{100}Sn measured at different energies and target thicknesses were compared to the cross sections calculated by epax taking into account contributions of secondary reactions in the primary target.
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OBJECTIVE: It is postulated that children with asthma who receive an interactive, comprehensive, culturally relevant education program would improve their asthma knowledge (AK), asthma control, and adherence compared with children receiving usual care. The aim of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the efficacy of a culturally relevant asthma education intervention for children with asthma and their parents in India. METHODS: Children with asthma (7-12 years) and their parents were recruited from an outpatient clinic in a Chest Diseases Hospital in New Delhi, and were randomly assigned to either an intervention or usual care group. At baseline, outcome data collected included pediatric asthma caregiver quality of life (PACQL, primary outcome), AK, asthma control, adherence, inhaler technique, action plan ownership, and goal achievement. These data were collected again at 1 and 6 months after baseline. Outcomes were compared within and between groups using ANOVA techniques. RESULTS: Forty parent-child pairs were recruited. Of these, 24 pairs of children with asthma and their parents received the educational intervention. The PACQL significantly improved from baseline to 6 months in the intervention (5.87 ± 0.94-7.00 ± 0.03) versus the usual care group (5.90 ± 0.52-6.34 ± 0.56) (P < 0.001). Other outcomes such as the parents' and child's AK, child's asthma control and inhaler technique were significantly improved in the intervention group across the study. All the participants possessed a written asthma action plan at the end of the intervention. Eighty-five goals were set by children with asthma across all the visits and were achieved by completion. CONCLUSION: An asthma educator delivered interactive program simultaneously involving children with asthma and their parents, improved quality of life, empowered and promoted better self-management skills.
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Asma/fisiopatologia , Cuidadores/educação , Educação em Saúde/métodos , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pais/educação , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto/métodos , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adolescente , Asma/tratamento farmacológico , Asma/psicologia , Cuidadores/psicologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Viabilidade , Feminino , Humanos , Índia , Masculino , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Pais/psicologia , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , AutocuidadoRESUMO
KEY MESSAGE: The present work demonstrates that induction of defense-related genes in tomato by neem extract was mediated by protein-protein and DNA-protein interactions. The induction of elicitor-mediated defense responses in plants is known, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its induction are not well studied. In the present study, third node leaf from the base of aseptically raised tomato plants was treated with aqueous fruit extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem). Samples were collected from the treated node at 24-h intervals for up to 96 h and analyzed for the gene expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), Peroxidase (POX) and Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO), ß-actin (standard). Samples were collected from elicitor-induced node at 5-min interval up to 70 min for analysis of protein-protein and DNA-protein interactions. The results demonstrated the induction of expression of PAL, POX and PPO due to the treatment whereas no change was observed in the expression of ß-actin. There was disappearance of lower molecular weight proteins which cross-linked with other proteins to form complexes. MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed the interaction of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). The analysis of proteins interacted with DNA after induction by neem extract indicated the involvement of WRKY transcriptional factors. Neem-elicited defense responses could possibly due to interaction of proteins with other proteins and transcription factors with DNA which might be crucial in enhancing the expression of defense-related genes (PAL, POX and PPO).
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Azadirachta/química , Frutas/química , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Solanum lycopersicum/metabolismo , DNA de Plantas/metabolismo , Solanum lycopersicum/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
PURPOSE: Enteric fever is a major public health problem in developing countries like India. An early and accurate diagnosis is necessary for a prompt and effective treatment. We have evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of two Rapid Salmonella-IgM tests (Typhidot-IgM and Enteroscreen-IgM) as compared to blood culture in rapid and early diagnosis of enteric fever. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2,699 patients' serum samples were tested by Rapid Salmonella-IgM tests and blood culture. Patients were divided into two groups. Test group - patients with enteric fever and blood culture positives for Salmonella Typhi; and three types of Controls, i.e. patients with non-enteric fever illnesses, normal healthy controls and patients positive for S. Paratyphi- A. In addition to this we have also evaluated the significance of positive Salmonella-IgM tests among blood culture-negative cases. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the Typhidot-IgM test and Enteroscreen-IgM test considering blood culture as gold standard were 97.29% and 88.13%, 97.40% and 87.83%, 98.18% and 92.03%, 96.15% and 82.27%, respectively. Typhidot-IgM test was found to be significantly more sensitive and specific as compared to Enteroscreen-IgM. Among blood culture-negative patients, Rapid Salmonella-IgM tests detected 72.25% additional cases of enteric fever. Although the Rapid Salmonella-IgM tests are meant to diagnose S. Typhi only, but these tests detect S. Paratyphi- A also. Thirty-eight patients who were blood culture-positive for S. Paratyphi- A were also positive by Rapid Salmonella-IgM tests. CONCLUSION: Rapid Salmonella-IgM tests offer an advantage of increased sensitivity, rapidity, early diagnosis and simplicity over blood culture.
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Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Técnicas Bacteriológicas/métodos , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Salmonella typhi/imunologia , Salmonella typhi/isolamento & purificação , Testes Sorológicos/métodos , Febre Tifoide/diagnóstico , Sangue/imunologia , Sangue/microbiologia , Diagnóstico Precoce , Humanos , Índia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Salmonella typhi/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
CONTEXT: Antimicrobial use has been associated with increasing antimicrobial resistance. There is an urgent need for judicious use of antimicrobials. Informational feedback has been shown to result in changes in behavioural practices of physicians in certain healthcare settings. We conducted this study to see if the passive informational feedback can reduce in antimicrobial usage in a tertiary care centre. AIMS: The study was undertaken to evaluate if the feedback to clinicians on their own antibiotic prescription results in any change in their antibiotic prescription habits. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was conducted at a tertiary care setting involving 33 units of different specialties. These units were split into 10 groups based on specialty and were allocated randomly to the control (16 units) and intervention (17 units) arms of the study. This study was a prospective intervention to assess the effect of prescribing feedback on clinical prescribing practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the intervention arm, information on resistance rates and antibiotic-prescribing patterns was provided to all doctors. Behavioural change was assessed by comparing baseline prescribing rates of each unit with prescribing rates after the intervention. In the control arm, only information on monthly resistance rates was provided. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Change in the antimicrobial prescribing rates in the treatment group was assessed by using a Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean antibiotic use for all the specialties was 189 DDDs/100BDs. The prospective intervention did not elicit any effect on the antibiotic prescribing practices of the physicians. Low prescribers continued to prescribe antibiotics at a low rate, and high prescribers continued to prescribe at a high rate. CONCLUSIONS: In view of unfavourable results of passive intervention in the above study, active intervention may be more effective.
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Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Terapia Comportamental/métodos , Prescrições de Medicamentos/normas , Uso de Medicamentos/normas , Retroalimentação , Prescrições de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Uso de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Índia , Estudos Prospectivos , Centros de Atenção TerciáriaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients of end stage renal disease (ESRD) on haemodialysis (HD). Stringent screening methods can help in its early diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The study addresses the utility of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) in the diagnosis and monitoring of HCV infection especially on seronegative and normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) HD patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out from January 2010 to December 2012. Patients of ESRD on maintenance HD and on whom all the three assays HCV antibody serology, PCR and ALT were done were included in the study (n=123). Group 1 (n=57), comprised of patients with negative serology and normal ALT, and Group 2 (n=66), had either raised ALT and or a positive or equivocal serology. RESULTS: Out of the 123 cases studied, HCV serology was positive in 36.5% (45), ALT raised in 18.6% (23) and PCR positive in 67.4% (83) cases. PCR positivity was significantly higher than serology and raised ALT. Group 2 had a significantly higher PCR positivity than Group 1 (P=0.0004), but 50.9% patients of Group 1, were also PCR positive and 69% of them had a high viral count of >8×10(5) IU/ml at the time of detection. CONCLUSION: Regular routine screening of HCV by RQ-PCR in ESRD patients can help in early diagnosis of HCV infection in patients with low index of suspicion.
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Hepacivirus/genética , Hepatite C/diagnóstico , Hepatite C/virologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Diálise Renal/efeitos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Hepacivirus/imunologia , Humanos , Falência Renal Crônica/complicações , Falência Renal Crônica/terapia , Testes de Função Hepática , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real/métodos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: (1) To detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) using Papanicolaou test (PAP test), visual tests (visual inspection after the application of acetic acid [VIA], visual inspection after the application of Lugol's iodine [VILI]), colposcopy, and biopsy. (2) To study the biomarker p16(INK4A) expression by immunostaining. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental study was conducted from November 2009 to April 2011. 1500 women were screened for cancer cervix using conventional PAP test, VIA, and VILI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of these tests were calculated individually, sequentially, and in parallel. Women having positive results underwent colposcopy and biopsy if required. p16(INK4A) expression in biopsy samples was studied using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: All test positive cases (n = 235) underwent colposcopy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of PAP with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) as cut-off was 40%, 99.25%, 35.25%, and 99.39%; VIA was 60%, 93.06%, 8.03%, and 99.56% and VILI was 80%, 86.06%, 5.4%, and 99.76%, respectively. When PAP, VIA, and VILI were used in parallel sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV improved to 100%, 85.18%, 6.38%, and 100%, respectively. Colposcopic abnormalities were detected in 83 and biopsy proven CIN in 15. p(16INK4A) expression was seen in eight of 15 CIN cases. CONCLUSIONS: (1) PAP test and visual techniques are complementary. (2) p(16INK4A) expression was seen in majority of CIN 2 lesions suggesting a higher grade lesion.