125 formalin fixed human tissues from different organs and 50 fresh animal tissues were taken. Each tissue piece was divided into two. Fresh animal tissues were fixed and processed in a domestic microwave oven and formalin fixed tissue were only processed in microwave oven. Simultaneous conventional processing was also carried out. Among the fresh tissues, 34 pieces were fixed in 10% formalin and 16 were stabilized in normal saline, with microwave irradiation. For histoprocessing graded ethanol (70% and absolute) for 150 tissues and graded isopropanol (70% and absolute) for 25 tissues were used for dehydration in microwave technique. Chloroform for 95 tissues, xylene for 15 tissues and isopropanol for 65 tissues were used as clearing agent in microwave technique. Liquid paraffin was impregnating agent in all 175 cases. The oven was operated at 50% power for 10 cases and 40% power for 165 cases. Recording of temperature could not be done. Regarding fixation with formalin 80% cases gave satisfactory result, while with normal saline, only 30% cases were satisfactory. Regarding dehydration with ethanol 80% were satisfactory and with isopropanol 60% were satisfactory. Regarding clearing--both chloroform and isopropyl alcohol gave satisfactory results in 80% cases but with, xylene tissues were fragmented and brittle.

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The chief limitation of Ultra Fast Papanicolaou (UFP) stain, suggested by Yang and Alvarez (1995), is that, Richard Allan Haematoxylin (RA-H) and Richard Allan Cytostain (RA-C), used in the staining procedure are not universally available. It has not been established so far, whether, changes in the reagents and their proportions depending on the local availability, influence the performance of the stain. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and applicability of a modified UFP stain to suit our local laboratory supplies of chemical dyes, as applied to the permanent smears prepared from Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) of breast lumps. In the present study, smears from FNA from 100 breast lumps were stained by the modified UFP stain. The modification consisted of following two changes: use of Gill's Haematoxylin instead of RAH and omission of Orange G from cytostain. Eighty Six breast aspirates were adequate for interpretation. Smears showed transparent cells with crisp nuclear features, equal to and even better than the conventional Papanicolaou stain, in a blood free background. There was an increase in total staining time by 40 seconds. We recommend the use of this modified UFP stain, only if similar reagents are being used in other laboratories. Otherwise situation specific modifications may be needed. If the UFP stain is to be used for tissues where the chances of cytoplasmic keratinization are negligible, then the use of Orange G component of the stain may become redundant.

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Ectopic pregnancy is an increasingly important health problem. We report a rare ovarian ectopic pregnancy which was diagnosed clinically and confirmed pathologically.

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Nucleic acid amplification using IS6110 primers to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical specimens has been extensively used as laboratory tool for the diagnosis for tuberculosis. Despite it's dramatic scientific value in practice, it is not as sensitive as expected for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The results of the study suggest that PCR using 123 bp fragment of DNA belonging to IS6110 is specific (95.6%) but only has a sensitivity of 30% to detect M. tuberculosis in clinical specimens.

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A rare benign polypoid tumor of the right palatine tonsil is described in a 23 year old male. It contained dilated lymphatic channels surrounded by fibrous tissue and foci of mature fat. The features of this lesion add support to the hypothesis that benign tumors of tonsil may be hamartomas of tonsil rather than true neoplasms. The differential diagnosis of polypoid lesions of the tonsil is discussed.

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Ovarian teratomas are known for their ability to form a wide variety of tissues. One unusual example of this potential is the strumal carcinoid in which the thyroid tissue is found in intimate association with carcinoid tumor. Although considered as a malignant transformation of struma ovarii, it is almost always benign. We report a rare case of strumal carcionid in a 44 year old lady who had metastasis in the contralateral ovary, myometrium and lungs.

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Primary malignant giant cell tumour of bone is extremely rare. It is distinctly separate from benign metastasising giant cell tumour of bone and secondary malignant giant cell tumour which occurs in response to radiotherapy and repeated curettage of benign giant cell tumor. The tumor has high mortality rate. It usually affects lower end of femur and upper end of tibia. Two usually affects lower end of femur and upper end of tibia. Two cases, on involving upper end of tibia and other in vertebra are discussed. Extreme paucity of literature prompted to publish this article. A short review of radiological appearance, histopathological findings and treatment modalities is highlighted.

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Studies were carried out to analyse the ultrastructural changes and the distribution of hepatitis A virus (HAV)/antigens at subcellular level in buffalo green monkey kidney (BGMK) cells persistently infected with HM-175 strain of HAV. HAV infected BGMK cells showed distinct abnormalities in the endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic membrane as compared to uninfected cells. The abnormalities were characterized by wavy arrays, structures like myelin, annulate lamellae, cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and vesicles. The wavy arrays within the cytoplasm of the host cells appeared to represent degenerating membranes. A complex myelin like body was found in close association with a group of virus like particles. Annulate lamellae like structures involving single paired membrane were detected infrequently whereas the cytoplasmic vesicles were numerous in these cells. An indirect immunogold technique was utilized to localize the HAV antigenin infected cells. A high density immunogold label for HIV like particles was predominantly detected in cytoplasmic vesicles. These results suggest a strong association of membrane substructure in vesicle forms with the compartmentalized replication of HAV within persistently infected host cells.

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Rise in ESR following inflammation processes is well known. However, the exact factors in blood responsible for the rise remain largely unknown. The present experimental work on mixing of plasma from pulmonary tuberculosis cases with RBCs from healthy volunteers indicates that ESR rising properties reside in plasma and not in RBCs. Levels of C-reactive proteins (CRP) are also known to rise following inflammation and hence CRP could contribute to rise in ESR. However, absorption of C-reactive protein from the plasma does not reduce the ESR and suggests that C-reactive proteins are not directly involved in raising ESR. Further experimental work was carried out to see whether cytokines released by mononuclear cells are responsible. However, cell culture supernatants added to whole blood samples did not cause rise in ESR. The ESR rising substances in plasma were non-dialysable and thus were of larger molecular weight.

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Lipoleiomyoma is a very uncommon tumor, and broad ligament of uterus is one of the rare sites. No case has been reported in last five years. This case is presented because of its rarity and its uncommon site of occurrence.

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A 45 year old patient wad admitted with pain abdomen and a palpable mass in the epigastrium of 3 months duration. Endoscopy revealed growth in the stomach and biopsy showed poorly differentiated Carcinoma. Distal radical subtotal gastrectomy was done. Histopathology revealed choriacarcinoma with Syncytiotrophoblastic and cytotrophoblastic and foci of adenocarcinoma. Postoperatively urine and serum had very high levels of beta-human chorionic gonogotrophins (B-HCG). Immunochemistry showed positivity for B-HCG. Clinically and on scan both the testis were normal. Because of its rarity, we are presenting this case with brief review of literature.

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Annuloaortic ectasia (AAE), in which there is an idiopathic aortic root dilation leading to pure aortic regurgitaion (AR), is a rare disorder and is usually seen as a forme--fruste of Marfan's syndrome. We report a case in which the patient presented with rapid onset of symptoms of heart failure and was being treated for mitral regurgitation due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Postmortem findings revealed an enlarged heart with annuloaortic ectasia.

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A total of 100 yeasts and yeast like fungi isolates from clinical specimens were negative for oxidase production on Sabouraud dextrose agar. When grown on Columbia agar, chocolate agar, tryptose agar, Mueller-Hinton agar, brain heart infusion and a medium resembling Sabouraud's dextrose agar but with starch instead of dextrose, all the isolate of Candida albicans (55), C. guilliermondii (6), C. parapsilosis (14), C. tropicalis (6), C. pseudotropicalis (6) and Crytococcus neoformans (2) were positive for oxidase producation. Torulopsis glabrata (2), Saccharomyces cervisiae (2) and two out of seven isolates of C. krusei were negative for oxidase test.

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Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas including those arising from the mesentery are rare. These account for 5.8% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Most of these tumors present in late life with female preponderance. Diagnosing these tumors at an early stage is difficult due to their location. Hence, most of them attain large sizes with metastases to distant sites at the time of diagnosis. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma arising from the sigmoid mesocolon due to it's rarity and unusual clinical presentation.

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The prevalance of enterically transmitted hepatitis viruses, namely, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) were studied in 404 patients with acute hepatitis attending a tertiary-care hospital in south India. Presence of current HAV/HEV infection was ascertained by the demonstration of IgM antibodies. In 381 patients tested for both agents, HAV IgM was present in 51(13.3%) and HEV IgM present in 66(17.3%). There was dual infection in 3 males (0.8%). HEV infection was seen mostly in older children and adults with only 5.5% occurring in children < 12 years of age. HAV infection was commonly seen to occur in < 12 years of age group (52.7%). One hundred and twenty-six patients were from the Vellore region, among whom HAV and/or HEV aetiology was observed in 28.5%. In this region there did not appear to be any correlation between occurrence of acute hepatitis due to these viruses and rainfall or environmental temperature. Acute hepatitis due to enteric hepatitis viruses was seen throughout the year.

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Basal cell carcinoma rarely arises in the penis and metastasizes infrequently. This article presents probably the first case report of a metastatic penile basal cell carcinoma.

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Filariasis, a mosquito borne disease is endemic in many tropical countries and sub tropics including India. A 44 years old male presented with signs and symptoms of pleural effusion. Pleural fluid on examination was exdudative in nature and showed presence of microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti.

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A case of peritoneal meosthelioma displaying unusual morphology, occurring in a 53 years old woman is described. The role of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in the evaluation of this tumour is stressed. The appropriate terminology to be used and possible etiologic factor are also discussed.

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External quality assessment forms a vital aspect of health laboratory service. Decisionto start National External quality assessment Programme (NEQAP) under IAPM was taken at the Annual conference at Bombay in December, 1989 to be run from Varanasi at the initiative of the author. It has been running now for more than ten years and is unique in that it does not have financial backing from government or any institution and runs by contributions from participants and help from IAPM from time to time. Another unique feature is that it is truly multiparametric including clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology and cytology. It covers about 300 labs from all corners of India. Details of the IAPM-NEQAP programme made during successful running for ten years (1990-1999) and recommendations for further action are given.

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Ganulocytic sarcoma (Chloroma) is a tumour of rare variety usually in assocoiation with granulocytic leukemia. It is related to soft tissue with extramedullay infiltration. We present a case of granulocytic sarcoma of humerus which preceded the initial clinical manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia in a young patient which ultimately proved to be FABM2 variety. Though many tissues are affected by this tumour but the most favoured site is the bone.

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Primary Orbital NHL is a rare, malignant neoplasm of the orbit. FNAC is particularly useful for patients with such non-resectable, deep seated retroorbital tumors which are difficult to biopsy and in whom a firm cytologic diagnosis is vital to guide further treatment, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A case of 70 years old female is described in the present article.

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Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) with intracytoplasmic inclusions is a rare and unusual subtype of acute leukaemia. Here we describe a case of ALL with intracytoplasmic inclusions in an adult female. These inclusions stained negative for Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Sudan Black E (SBB) and alpha-naphthyl acetate estarase (ANAE) and positive for Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS). This case is being presented for its unusual occurrence and to recognise the characteristics of this subtype of ALL to avoid a misdiagnosis of AML.

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The present study was planned to detect the iron binding protein, transferrin (TR) in paraffin sections of the human breast tumors. The distribution of transferrin has been studied in 153 cases (63 benign lesions and 90 malignant tumors). The extent of staining reaction was determined by semiquantitative grading (weak, moderate and consistent). Positivity rate for transferrin was higher (92.2%) in malignant tumors as compared to benign breast lesions (28.5%) with significant p value (p = 0.0001) for both the groups. The intensity was variable in both the groups, being more intense in the malignant tumors. Tumors with higher grade of malignancy presented consistent positive staining along with the lymph nodes involved. The extent of immunoreactivity revealed a significant positive correlation with axillary lymph node status. However, no significant correlation was found with the age of the patients. Thus the study of transferrin in breast tumors besides being of prognostic significance helps in the further management of malignant lesions of the breast.

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