Chromobalstomycosis - A clinical mimic of squamous carcinoma

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by dematiaceous fungi. We report a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi from a subtropical region of India that developed over the left foot of a 45-year-old male farmer and was provisionally diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. The patient presented with irregular warty growths over the left foot, which had started one year previously, and has gradually progressed over a year to involve the lateral aspect of left leg. The diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis was confirmed by histopathology and fungal culture

Vascular leiomyosarcoma of thigh - a rare tumour at an unusual site

Leiomyosarcomas of vascular origin are rare. They originate from the smooth muscles of tunica media of major blood vessels. The majority of such tumours arising in the extremities affect the femoral vascular bundle. There is limited knowledge and experience of the clinical presentation, pathological reports and results of treatment of this type of tumour. A case of primary leiomyosarcoma of femoral vein is being reported from a subtropical region of India that developed over the right thigh of a 35-year-old male farmer and was clinically diagnosed as benign soft tissue tumour. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry

An evaluation of irregular antibody profile in voluntary blood donors and blood transfusion recipients

BackgroundUnexpected antibodies can develop in multiple transfused patients as well as in healthy donors who were either transfused or pregnant previously. This unexpected alloantibodies can complicate transfusion process, cross matching of blood and can occasionally cause severe transfusion reactions if a large amount of plasma or whole blood is transfused as in massive transfusion and in paediatric patients. AimsThe purpose of this study was to screen and identify irregular/unexpected antibodies in voluntary blood donors and blood transfusion recipients in and around Gangtok and to provide compatible blood and prevent transfusion reactions due to such antibodies.Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a total of 2415 samples from voluntary blood donors and transfusion recipients and tested for the screening and identification of unexpected antibodies for the period of 2 years from 1st September, 2014 to 31st August, 2016 in Blood Bank of Tertiary care hospital, Central Referral Hospital, Sikkim. Results The positive screening rates for unexpected antibodies were found to be 1.48 per cent in donors (n=1999); and 3.03 per cent in blood transfusion recipients (n=416). Antibodies against the Kell system were the most frequent (Anti-Kpa- 32.1 per cent; Anti-K- 27.7 per cent), followed by antibodies against Lutherium system (Lua-22.73 per cent), against Rh system (Anti-Cw-22.73 per cent; Anti-E -18.18 per cent) and so on. ConclusionSince clinically significant antibodies are frequently detected in our donor as well as transfusion recipient samples, screening and identification of unexpected antibody is a must and the need of the hour. Knowledge of such alloantibodies is essential not only in the multitransfused patients but in all hospital patients who require or may require transfusion. This study not only helps in selecting appropriate RBC products for transfusion but also avoids unnecessary delays in provision of blood in case of emergencies or surgical complications

NK/T-cell lymphoma with inverted papilloma: A rare coexistence

Natural killer/T-cell (NK/T) lymphomas are an infrequent tumour type of NK and NK-T cells commonly occurring in the upper aero-digestive tract. Most reported cases in the literature are random solitary cases of NK/T-cell lymphoma. A 35-year-old male farmer from Sikkim reported to our institution with NK/T-cell lymphoma (nasal type) with coexistent inverted papilloma of the nose. This case is being reported due to the unique and unusual simultaneous occurrence of these two tumour entities

EVALUATION OF REVERSAL EFFECTS OF EUGENIA JAMBOLANA SEED EXTRACTS AGAINST HIGH-FRUCTOSE DIET-INDUCED INSULIN RESISTANCE IN ALBINO RATS

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the reversal effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of jamun seeds against high-fructose (HFr) diet-induced insulin resistance (IR) in albino rats.Methods: Thirty male albino rats were divided into five groups (n=6), and all the group rats except normal control were provided with HFr (60% w/v) to their drinking water daily for 42 days. Group 1 and 2 served as a normal and fructose control. Groups 3, 4, and 5 were supplemented with metformin (MET 500mg/kg p.o) and aqueous and ethanolic extracts of jamun seeds (Jamun seed aqueous extract [JSAE] and Jamun seed ethanolic extract [JSEE] 1000 mg/kg of each p.o), from day 28 to day 42, respectively. Physical (body weights, food, and water intake) and biochemical (glucose, insulin, and lipid) parameters were estimated, and Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR values were calculated.Results: HFr diet significantly (p<0.05) increased weight gain and water intake with decreased food intake in rats. HFr-fed rats exhibited a significant (p<0.05) increase in fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid levels along with increased HOMA-IR values and confirms the development of IR. Supplementation with MET, JSAE, and JSEE significantly (p<0.05) restored the physical parameters and reversed fasting glucose and lipid levels in comparison with HFr control. Whereas, only JSAE had significantly reversed the fasting insulin levels in comparison with HFr control. HOMA-IR values were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in both the extract groups of HFr-fed rats, and the results were comparable to MET.Conclusion: Our study concludes that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of jamun exhibit a significant reversal effect against HFr diet-induced IR, due to insulin-sensitizing actions at the target tissues

Xanthogranulomatous Endometritis with calculus formation in setting of prolapsed uterus

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is a rare benign inflammatory lesion characterized by sheets of lipid-laden foamy histiocytes. It has been reported in various organs, mainly the kidney and gall bladder. Xanthogranulomatous endometritis (XGE) is sporadic, with only a few cases reported in the English medical literature. Herein, we report a case of xanthogranulomatous endometritis with the formation of stones in a 50-year-old female patient with a prolapsed uterus. Grossly the endometrium was irregular, and the uterine cavity was filled with a yellow friable material, a polypoid growth, and yellowish stones. The microscopy showed sheets of histiocytes with few preserved endometrial glands. In this case, the xanthogranulomatous inflammation may mimic a clear cell carcinoma involving the endometrium and myometrium. One of the important differential diagnoses is malakoplakia. Immunohistochemistry and special stains are helpful in diagnosis

Microbial Association of Gastroduodenal Diseases with Special Reference to Epstein–Barr Virus and Helicobacter pylori and their Effect on Expression of miRNAs: A Review

Gastroduodenal diseases are very commonly encountered among patients who attend hospital with the complaints of dyspepsia. These diseases range from inflammatory ones like gastritis and peptic ulcer disease to neoplastic ones like gastric carcinoma and lymphoma. Gastroduodenal diseases may be caused by various factors of which microbial association with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori and a virus called Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is noteworthy. It has also been noted in various studies that the coinfection by these two organisms may also play a significant role in an exaggerated inflammatory response in cases of gastritis which may ultimately lead to carcinoma (Correa’s cascade of carcinogenesis). As a result, it appears critical to identify both H. pylori and EBV in samples taken for biopsy in various gastroduodenal illnesses. Recent research has also suggested that these two separate etiologies may work together to cause gastric cancer, with miRNAs playing a key part in this process. This review presents the status of the current research on the association of gastroduodenal diseases with EBV and H. pylori along with the emerging context of the connection with miRNA expression. This will help to understand these complex etiologies having significant bearing on human health as well as highlight the need for intensive research in the subject