Evaluating the role of indirect bilirubin, urobilinogen and Shine & Lal index as an alternative screening tool for beta thalassemia minor

Background: Beta thalassemia continues to be a significant burden to Western India particularly Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Since cost of treatment is high emphasis must be shifted from treatment to prevention that includes mass screening as most effective tool including RBC indices & peripheral blood smear. These tests have limited availability, re quire sophisticated equipments and are expensive. Thus, there is need for simple, low cost and reliable test which can be used in absence of sophisticated equipments. The present study has evaluated the validity of such test: indirect bilirubin and urine urobilinogen. Study had two objectives: 1) Estimation of indirect bilirubin, urobilinogen and Shine & Lal Index. 2) Comparing specificity and sensitivity of above test with HbA2 electrophoresis.Methods: The present study was conducted on 100 (n=100) subjects in blood bank, department of pathology, government medical college Rajkot, Gujarat, India. In first group 50 subjects (Thalassemia minor) were selected while in second group 50 (n2=50) normal individuals from hospital staff were selected. Complete-haemogram, serum-direct, indirect and total bilirubin, urine urobilinogen and their sensitivity and specificity were calculated.Results: Of the 50 cases in test group, 41 had higher Indirect Bilirubin level (>0.7 mg/dl), 35 had high urobilinogen level (>1 mg/dl). In control group out of 50 cases, 3 had high indirect bilirubin levels, 4 had high urobilinogen levels. Indirect-bilirubin had sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 94%. Urobilinogen showed sensitivity of 70% & specificity of 92%.Conclusion: Indirect bilirubin and urine-urobilinogen is a valuable, cost-effective screening test for beta-thalassemia-trait with sensitivity & specificity comparable to RBC indices.

Granulomatous reaction - a histopathological study: a retrospective and prospective study of 5 years

Background:The present study was done to investigate the prevalence of granulomatous infection among the patients. The study was conducted from the time period of July 2008 to June 2013. The study was conducted at the histopathology laboratory, pathology department, P. D. U. government medical college, Rajkot (Gujarat, India).Methods:In the present study, total 300 cases were studied. Specimens for study were received from various departments like surgery, ENT, medicine, pediatrics etc. from July 2008 to June 2013. The sections of these specimens were taken & slides were prepared by staining with Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) for microscopic examination.Results: In present study, most the common granulomatous reaction was tuberculosis and majority of cases were found in among young Hindu males specially in the lower socioeconomical class of rural areas.Conclusion:Our study confirms that the most common granulomatous reaction is tuberculosis, mainly found in skin and more common among the population of lower socioeconomic class & rural population, signifying increasing incidence of granulomation infection. The present study is a comprehensive comparative study of granulomatous reactions done in correlation with the age, sex, involved sites and clinical profile of the patients. This information is valuable in policy formation for the control & specific treatment and outcome of granulomatous infection.

Spectrum of Cancers on Histopathology –Retrospective Study of 5 Years

Background: With the control of many infectious diseases and increase in general longevity of human lives, other diseases have occupied the front as casual factors of death. One of the chief contributor is cancer. It is now no more considered to be the disease peculiar to “ so called civilized” races and countries. It is now known to be present and prevalent in all nations and all populations.Aims: To study the incidence of cancer cases ;to study the cancer cases according to socio- demographic profile, gender and age; to evaluate cancers according to histopathology. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective study. A total 801 patients were evaluated clinically, pathologically and radiologically in Pathology Department, P.D.U.government medical college, Rajkot, during the period of 1st August 2013 to 31th July 2018. Results: Out of 801 cancer cases; accordingly to anatomical sites Lip, oral cavity,pharynx cancer cases were in lead in both sexes.Histopathological classification showed squamous cell carcinoma in the lead.Inmale according to histopathology squamous cell carcinoma and in female infiltrating ductal carcinoma cases were in lead.Conclusion: The present study concludes cancer cases analysis according to age, sex, religion, occupation ,residential Status ,anatomical site involvement and clinical diagnosis and pathological diagnosis which are helpful for understanding incidence of cancer cases