Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining was employed on 51 apparently normal representative soft tissues, 53 benign soft tissues tumors and 52 malignant soft tissue tumors with an aim to study the sensitivity and specificity of method in differentiating between the benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. The mean AgNORs count in apparently normal fibrous tissue was 1.02, whereas it was 0.94 in adipose tissue, 1.14 in smooth muscle tissue, 1.115 in skeletal muscle tissue, 1.025 in blood vessels endothelial lining cells and 1.04 in nerve tissue. The mean AgNOR count was found to be higher in benign soft tissue tumors as compared to respective apparently normal soft tissue and was found to be statistically significant. The mean AgNOR count in soft tissue sarcomas was found to be higher as compared to both apparently normal soft tissue and benign soft tissue tumors. An increase AgNOR score in both benign and malignant soft tissue tumors as compared to apparently normal soft tissue indicates high proliferative activity. The neurofibrosarcoma showed low AgNOR count as compared to other soft tissues sarcomas. The fibrohistiocytic sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma and angiosarcoma showed a mean AgNOR score of 4 or more than four. The mean AgNOR score was found to increase with high grade of the tumor. The AgNOR staining is simple and useful method in estimating tumor cell proliferation thereby differentiating normal soft tissue from non-neoplastic proliferative growth, benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. It may help in differentiating fibromatosis from fibrosarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of low grade malignancy from high grade malignant fibrous histiocytoma and benign hemangiopericytoma from malignant hemangiopericytoma.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was employed in 183 cases of clinically malignant scalp and underlying bone tumours from July, 1984 to December, 1994. The age of the patients ranged from 2 years to 89 years. There were 68 benign and 115 malignant lesions. Only the malignant lesions are analysed in the present series. The cytological findings correlated with the histopathological analysis in 94.7% of cases. There was no false positive report. The cytological analysis helped the neurosurgeons to arrive to a quick pre-operative diagnosis which help early treatment avoiding open surgical biopsy in this vital area. Very scanty literature is available on FNAC of this region.

Tissue damage, inflammation and necrosis are hallmarks of myocardial infarction. In the present study significant elevations of serum alpha-1-antitrypsin were noted in coronary artery disease and angina cases. Interestingly chronic rheumatic heart disease which is also characterized by tissue injury. Inflammation revealed normal levels of serum alpha-1-antitrypsin. The level in chronic rheumatic heart disease was 3.37 +/- 0.57 mumol/mt/ml (control level was 3.37 +/- 0.54 mumol/mt/ml). The corollary of these observations is that in heart diseases acute phase response in terms of enhanced levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin differ depending on the causative factors. Except chronic rheumatic heart disease, in all other stressful states studied there is (to a certain degree) an altered systemic homeostasis and haemostasis. On the other hand chronic rheumatic heart disease encompass certain amount of acute phase status in terms of tissue damage and inflammation does exist unaccompanied by altered systemic homeostasis and haemostasis. However, bacteriological etiologies predominate the triggered immune responses. It is hypothesised that serum alpha-1-antitrypsin enhancement will not occur even though acute phase state exists if specific immune responses are also a part of the disease manifestation.

A total of 600 individuals including 500 cases of hepatitis and 100 individuals at high risk for developing hepatitis were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using reverse passive haemagglutination (RPHA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBsAg carrier rate in clinically diagnosed cases of hepatitis was 38% and 32.4% by RPHA and ELISA respectively. In high risk individuals, the carrier rate was 14% by RPHA and 11% by ELISA. Taking ELISA as gold standard, RPHA showed 5.33% false positivity and 0.33% false negativity. The over all correlation between RPHA and ELISA was to the tune of 82.66%.

The standard urinary sediment of 80 consecutive patients with significant haematuria admitted at our hospital was examined for significantly dysmorphic red blood cells by 3 methods-1. Phase contrast microscopy, 2. Wright's staining of the urinary sediment, and 3. Simple light microscopy. The results of the study were compared with the final diagnosis reached in the ward and the sensitivity of the three methods was statistically compared. Our study conclusively proves that phase contrast microscopy is superior to light microscopy of plain or Wright's stained urinary sediment, with respect to both sensitivity and percentage of dysmorphism of the urinary red blood cells which can be detected.

Active mouse protection test (AMPT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the immunogenicity of whole cell typhoid vaccine when administered in conjunction with either tetanus toxoid (TT) or DEAE-Dextran (DD). Immunization of mice with whole cell typhoid vaccine showed enhanced potency either when administered in conjunction with TT or DD and values were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in comparison to conventional or standard typhoid vaccines. For ELISA, the mice were immunized with 2 different schedules, one in which a single dose of 0.25 ml subcutaneously (s/c) was administered and in another two doses of 0.25 ml each s/c, 14 days apart. In case of single dose schedule of immunization D vaccine (Whole cell typhoid + 5 mg/ml DD) showed significant increase of immune response (3.201 log10) as compared to plain vaccine (2.550 log10). Two dose schedule further increased the titres to 3.856 log10. DD adjuvanted vaccine showed higher potency by AMPT as compared to the TT adjuvanted vaccine or plain vaccine. The present study clearly demonstrates that a single dose of 0.25 ml which is equivalent to half of the conventionally used single human dose of typhoid vaccine adjuvanted with DD can significantly improve the immunogenicity of the vaccine.

Metastatic carcinoma to testis is an extremely rare but interesting phenomenon. Over a period of nineteen years 300 testicular tumors were diagnosed in our department, and of which 10 were metastatic carcinoma from other sites. Four of these patients (40%) presented as testicular lump of which two were already diagnosed cases of squamous cell carcinoma larynx and adenocarcinoma of lung, and two had occult primary in the kidney and colon. However six (60%) were detected incidentally in the orchiectomy done as a part of hormonal therapy for carcinoma prostate.

A rare case of parathyroid cyst in a forty six-year-old lady diagnosed clinically as solitary thyroid nodule is reported. An intra-operative diagnosis of parathyroid cyst was made which was confirmed histopathologically. The clinicopathologic aspects, diagnostic methods and treatment modalities of this unusual condition are briefly discussed.

This is a case report of a lady who presented with mass in the abdominal wall, clinically diagnosed as neurofibroma. On histological examination it was proven to be an intramuscular myxoma. Since it is rare it was thought relevant to report this case.

The cytologic findings of cystitis cystica glandularis--a form of proliferative cystitis which can be mistaken for a tumor clinically and radiologically have hardly been recorded. We describe a case of cystitis cystica where the bladder washings showed a spectrum of findings which were later corroborated on biopsy.

Haemangiopericytoma of nose and paranasal sinuses is relatively uncommon tumour. It occurs in adults in sixth and seventh decades of life. In view of paucity of intranasal haemangiopericytoma old in Indian literature and young age of patient, we are reporting one case in 28-year-old female who presented with recurrent, profuse epistaxis.

An unusual case of peripheral odontogenic fibroma, presenting as a swelling on gingiva involving hard palate in a 3-year-old female child, is described. Even with cellular stroma and unencapsulation these tumors behave in a benign fashion. To the best of our knowledge, cartilagenous differentiation of stroma as observed in this case has not been reported in English literature so far.

Synovial chondromatosis are rare tumours encountered in hip, knee and shoulder joints. Synovial chondromatosis at metatarso-phalangeal joints are still rarer. Herein is reported a case of primary synovial chondromatosis of metatarsophalangeal joint in 54-year-old male. A brief review of previous published articles has been dealt herewith.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is an unusual brain tumour of children with a favourable prognosis. The tumour takes origin from subpial astrocytes of the cerebral cortex. Histologically proliferation of spindle cells, mono and multinucleated giant cells containing lipid droplets and the absence of necrosis are distinctive features. Herein we report the morphological and immunophenotypical features of a case of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma.

A review of current scenario of transfusion medicine (TM) in India indicates an urgent need for restructuring the blood transfusion service (BTS). The BTS is hospital based with extreme variations in management and technology in different parts of the country. Compliance of quality assurance and good manufacturing practice is not ensured at all centres. Inspite of compulsory legislation, 34% of blood banks are yet unlicensed. Nearly 50% of 3 million units collected annually against a requirement of 6 million are estimated to be provided from paid blood sellers. Only 5% of voluntary donors are repeat donors. Complete testing of all donated blood is questionable due to operational problems. Only 40 centres are equipped to provide blood components. The shortage of blood is enhanced by inappropriate use of blood. Efficient clinical practice demands introduction of TM as a specialty.