26 AIDS patients within a period of 3 years were studied for associated malignant disease. There were 4 associated malignancy. The commonest AIDS associated malignant disease found is Kaposi's sarcoma seen in 2 patients. In one each of the AIDS patients, association of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute Promyelocytic leukemia (M3) was found. Findings by other workers are reviewed. With new trends in management of AIDS patients that prolong their survival, an increase in the incidence of AIDS associated malignancy is anticipated.

The cardiac findings in five cases of permanent pacemaker implantation seen at autopsy in a three-year period is reported. Implantation was done for complete heart block in four patients and sick sinus syndrome in one. The periods of implantation ranged from seven days to four years. The common findings were right sided valvar and mural bland thrombus formation. Additional findings included superior vena caval thrombosis, endocardial 'tunnel' formation for the pacing wires, perforation of the tricuspid leaflet and a gross morphology similar to that seen in right sided endomyocardial fibrosis.

In 31 patients of myelodysplastic syndrome, RAEB-t was the commonest subtype (29%), and RARS, the lease common (6.4%); 19.4% were characterised as the unclassifiable (UC) group. Pallor was the dominant sign (90.3%). Low haemoglobin in RA & RARS (p<0.05), thrombocytopenia in RAEB-t (p<0.01) and high leuco/monocyte counts in CMML (p<0.001) were observed. Neutropenia occurred most frequently in RAEB & RAEB-t and circulating blasts in all cases of RAEB-t and CMML. Bicytopenia was the commonest finding (58.1%) and pancytopenia the least (16.1%). 84% of marrows were hypercellular and trilineage dysplasia was seen in 68% of patients. Megaloblastoid dyserythropoiesis was the predominant feature in all cases, dysgranulopoiesis in all cases of RAEB, RAEB-t and CMML, and micromegokaryocytes in all cases of RARS, RAEB & CMML were seen. RAEB-t and RAEB (33.3% each) were the predominant groups which progressed to leukemia, FAB AML-M2, being the commonest type (60%).

Differentiation between glomerular and nonglomerular haematuria is a major challenge in clinical medicine, which is very important for a definitive diagnosis and management in individual cases. Phase contrast microscopy of red cells in urine is the standard practice for diagnosis of glomerular haematuria. Urine cell flowcytometry is recently being used for such diagnosis. In this context, the role of determination of haemoglobin content of urine red cells is not know. Application of image analysis to study the red cells in urine may be more objective and accurate for the diagnosis. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the urine red cells with the help of an automated computerized image analysis system for determination of hemoglobin content by integrated optical density (IOD). The morphometric parameters were also analyzed. The glomerular RBCs were significantly smaller in diameter, area and perimeter than nonglomerular RBCs with a greater variation in shape and lower [OD (p<0.0001 to <0.00002). With the help of morphometric parameters the percentage of cases diagnosed correctly varied from 90 to 95. The IOD helped to diagnose 100% cases. Thus application of this new technique may be very useful diagnostic tool in the investigation of haematuria.

Rhinosporidiosis was the commonest (68%) fungal lesion encountered during the period of 11 1/2 years from January 1987 to July 1998. Men in 2nd, 3rd, 4th decade were commonly affected. Nose and nasopharynx were the commonest (85%) sites involved followed by ocular tissue (9%). One patient had involvement of bone (tibia). Generally a lymphoplasmacytic response was observed in all cases. Polymorphonuclear leukocytic response mostly observed at the site of rupture of sporangia. Epithelioid cell granulomatous and giant cell response observed in 47% of cases. Transepithelial migration of sporangia observed in 76% of cases. Rhinosporidium seeberi could be easily identified in haematoxylin and eosin stained sections. The walls of young trophic forms are delineated well with the PAS stain and verhoeff van Gieson stain.

500 blood donors were screened for G6PD deeiciency using micromethaemoglobin reduction (microMRT) test. Most of the blood donors were young adult males (95.8%). The overall incidence of G6PD deficiency was found to be 0.8%. There, was apparently decreased frequency of G6PD deficient blood donors with increasing age, and no relation could be ascertained between G6PD) deficiency and blood groups.

A ten year retrospective study was undertaken to ascertain the pattern and incidence of cancer in Ludhiana which is an industrial town with catchment area of Ludhiana consisting of Ludhiana distt., Sangrur, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Ropar, Kapurthala, some parts of Himachel Pradesh and Haryana. A total number of 56,565 biopsies were received for histopathological examinaiton in 10 years and 4,730 cases of cancer were diagnosed. The incidence of total malignant tumors was 8.36%. Females out numbered males in the incidence of cancer, with male to female ratio being 1:1.09. Most of the cancers were seen in the age group of 41-50 years. In females the two most common cancer sites were breast (21.07%) and cervix (19.4%) while in males hypopharynx--larynx (13.94%) and prostate (9.65%) were the most common sites of cancer.

Benign giant cell tumour of bone with metastases to other bones and lungs is extremely rare. Benign metastasising giant cell tumour is distinctly separate from multicentric giant cell tumour, primary and secondary malignant giant cell tumour. Factors regulating the local recurrence and metastatic potential of this benign tumour depend on its aggressiveness which can be better assessed by clinical and radiological parameters rather than the histopathological appearance. A benign giant cell tumour of ischium with metastasis to vertebra and lung over an eleven year period is discussed. Extreme paucity of literature prompted to publish the article. A short review of factors determining the recurrence and metastatic spread of benign giant cell tumour of bone is highlighted.

From May, 1999 to April, 2000, 256 high vaginal swabs were culture from asymptomatic infertile women attending the out-patient department of the Institute of Reproductive Medicine. 41 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae were isolated from 33 patients (12.89%). Five patients had repeated isolations even after adequate therapy.

Rabies is one of the most common causes of human encephalitis in developing countries. This study shows the diagnosis of rabies among suspected human rabies encephalitis cases by Seller stain, Flourescent stain as well as mouse inoculation test. Out of 71 postmortem brain specimens, 26 were diagnosed as rabies positive. Negri bodies were demonstrated in 18 (25.4%) brain saples by Seller stain. Flourescent antibody technique could detect rabies antigen in 21 (29.6%) samples. Rabies virus could be isolated in 15 (42.9%) of the 35 samples by intracerebral inoculation in 15 (42.9%) of the 35 samples of intracerebral inoculation in newborn Swiss albino mice. Of the 26 confirmed cases, 61.5% occurred during the months of June to August and history of dog bite was present in 9 (34.6%) cases.

The present study was conducted over a period of 6 months to determine the Candida species causing candidemia in a neonatal intensive care unit and to analyse the risk factors associated with acquisition of significant fungemia. Speciation of the 19 isolated Candida spp was done by the standard techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility of these isolates was determined by disc diffusion method against Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, Ketoconozole and 5-Flucytosine. Candida glabrata was the most common species involved (42.1%). Other species isolated were C. tropicalis (31.6%). Calbicans (21.1%) and C.parapsilosis (5.2%). All the isolates were sensitive to Amphotericin B. Resistance to other antigungal agents was seen only in C. globrata. Significant candidemia was seen in 14/19 (72.6%) of neonates. Risk factors found to be associated with significant candidemis in these neonates included intake of multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics (p<0.0001), use of total parenteral nutrition (p<0.045) and ventilators (p<0.0001).

Immunofluorescence still remains a standard method for documenting antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Cryostat cut sections of rodent liver or Hep2 cell nuclei have been used as substrate in the test but are often difficult to arrange in laboratories in developing countries. Hence, a modification was developed using smears from rat liver suspensions. The smears were compared with the cryostat cut sections over 338 sera samples of suspected cases of collagen diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, hepatitis B, enteric fever, tuberculosis and normal subjects. The sera from suspected collagen diseases cases were also compared with ANA test using Hep2 cells. The modified smear technique was well comparable and the clarity of the immunofluorescence was even better than for cryostat cut sections. Using the modified smear technique 272 sera out of 2,851 sera gave positive test for ANA. The homogenous, speckled and peripheral patterns were seen for 203, 66 and 3 samples respectively. To conclude: The smears prepared from homogenised rat liver suspension and fixed like bacterial smears offer a very convenient and reliable tissue substrate for ANA test.

Gelatinous transformation of the marrow (GTBM) has been associated with various conditions. We present a unique case of GTBM in a patient with myeloma following treatment with Melphalan.

Endometrial stromal sarcomas are rare, low grade, malignant uterine tumours. Sometimes, they manifest an epithelial like or sex-cord like differentiation. This is a report of one such case in a 35 year old female.

Multiorgan neoplasms are encountered frequently in patients with neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder. Though skeletal abnormalities are common in these patients, the occurrence of primary bone sarcomas is very rare. We hereby report a case of post-radiation malignant fibrous-histiocytoma of bone developing in an elderly patient with neurofibromatosis.

It is unusual for cysticercosis to occur in the substance of the breast. Only a few cases have been described in the literature. We report a case of cysticercosis perched on fibroadenoma of breast found on surgical excision in a 35 year old Nepali woman. The patient had no discernible evidence of cysticercosis in the other organs.

Sertoli cell tumours are rare sexcord stromal tumours of testis. Malignant behaviour is observed in one tenth of such tumours. A malignant sertoli cell tumour is reported here in a 70 years old man. The tumour was of large size and showed necrosis, marked celllar pleomorphism, and mitotic figures.

Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is a rare tumour in children, mostly below 6 years of age. A case of 5 year old male child presenting with acute retention of urine due to botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is described.

Niemann Pick disease is a rare disorder occuring in paediatric age group. The clinical features, hematological characteristics and autopsy findings in an one year old male diagnosed to have Niemann Pick disease are presented.

Piloleiomyomas are uncommon smooth muscle neoplasms of the skin with a few reproted cases in Indian literature (1,2,3,4,5). They are often misdiagnosed clinically. A correct biopsy report is important because patients may have to be managed medically since surgery is associated with a high rate of recurrence. The classical histologic findings, and Masson's stain to confirm the smooth muscle origin aids in the correct diagnosis.