ABSTRACT
Background: The age group of 5–17 years belongs to the vulnerable segment of the population for COVID?19 infection in India. Seroprevalence in this population can therefore allow inferences to be made about the extent of infection. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and to determine the factors associated with COVID?19 antibody among children aged 5–17 years in an urban and rural area of Kochi, Kerala. Methods: A community?based cross?sectional study was undertaken in the urban and rural field practice areas of the community medicine department in a medical college, Kochi. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information about sociodemographic data, history related to COVID?19, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody test result. Blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of COVID?19 antibodies using the Wantai test kit after attaining informed assent from the parent/guardian. Results: The seroprevalence of the COVID?19 antibody was 48.3% among participants. The seroprevalence of COVID?19 antibody was higher among children of mothers with skilled/unskilled occupation, residents of rural area, above poverty line category, those with a history of COVID?19, and those who had a history of contact with COVID?19?positive patients. Conclusion: Half of the study population were COVID antibody positive, and the rest were at risk of infection. Therefore, adherence to COVID?19 guidelines is essential to control further spread of infection among children.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tumor budding denotes a phenomenon in which the tumor cells, singly or in small aggregates, become detached from the neoplastic glands at the invasive front of adenocarcinoma. Tumors with budding cells have a significantly more aggressive clinical course. Significance of tumor budding has mainly been examined in the field of colorectal cancer. Aims: To document the number tumor buds at the invasive front of invasive breast cancer. To correlate the number of tumor buds with other histopathological parameters, and available clinical details. Setting and Study Design: Analytical study at a rural tertiary care referral institute. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective study of invasive breast cancer cases from January 2012 to April 2015. Tumor buds were counted in H and E stained sections in 10 High Power Fields (HPFs). Association of tumor budding with histological parameters and available clinical details were analyzed statistically. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequencies, Chi-Square Test and Crosstabs were used for calculation. Results: 50 cases of invasive breast carcinoma were analyzed. Invasive ductal carcinoma constituted predominant histological type (92%). Low tumor budding (tumor buds ?20/10HPFs) constituted 20 cases. High tumor budding (tumor buds >20/10HPFs) constituted 30 cases. Association of high tumor budding with lympho-vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, primary tumor staging, regional lymph node staging, necrosis and Monckeberg medial sclerosis was statistically significant. Conclusion: Tumor budding may be incorporated as a new parameter in reporting protocols. Tumor budding serves as an indispensable touchstone in evaluating cases of invasive breast cancer.