Helicobacter pylori Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Background: H. pylori infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in the world which can result in various gastrointestinal diseases, ranging from inflammation to even malignancy. Its prevalence is higher in developing countries, especially in lower socioeconomic groups. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of H. pylori infection in symptomatic patients and its relationship with various risk factors specially smoking, alcohol and socioeconomic status. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was done in symptomatic patients undergoing gastroduodenoscopy, to assess the prevalence of H. pylori and its associated risk factors in a tertiary care hospital of South Delhi. The gold standard diagnosis of H. pylori infection was histologic presence of the bacteria in the gastric biopsy. The variables analyzed as possible risk factors included demographic and living characteristics, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol, and clinical indications of H. pylori infection. Results: A total of 70 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were included in the study. On histopathology, 51were found positive for H. pylori infection with a prevalence of 72.86%. No statistically significant difference was found between the H. pylori infection and socioeconomic status. H. pylori infection was found to be statistically significant for subjects who consumed alcohol (93.3%, p=0.046). They had 6.67 times risk of developing H. pylori infection compared to non-alcoholics. There was no significant association of H. pylori infection among the smokers and the non-smokers. Conclusions: There was no significant relationship between smoking, tobacco consumption, socioeconomic status and H. pylori infection. However, alcohol consumption (93.3%, p=0.046) and non-vegetarian diet (80%, p=0.01236) showed a higher significant association with active infection.

Role of Imprint Cytology in Diagnosis of Lymph Node Lesions.

Introduction: Imprint cytology is proved to be rapid inexpensive tool in the diagnosis of various lymph node lesions. Objective: The present study was conducted to correlate the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of imprint cytology of various lymph node lesions with histopathological diagnosis. 102 cases were included in the study comprising inflammatory lesion, tubercular lymphadenitis, lymphomas and metastatic carcinomas. Material and Method: From 102 cases of lymph node excision, imprint smears were taken and stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin and Papanicolaou stains. The findings of imprint cytology were then compared with final histopathological diagnosis. Result: When compared with final histopathological diagnosis, imprint smears showed overall diagnostic accuracy of 97.8% with sensitivity and specificity of 95.05% and 98.69% respectively. Accuracy rate for metastatic lymphadenopathy was 100%, whereas, for tubercular lymphadenitis it was 98.04% and for lymphomas 96.04%. Conclusion: Imprint cytology proved to be very useful for diagnosis of metastatic tumour as it gave 100% diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Imprint cytology is also considered to be useful in superficial ulcers to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions without surgical intervention.

Gingival Granular Cell Lesion-Congenital Epulis.

Gingival granular cell tumour or congenital epulis is a rare benign soft tissue tumour that occurs mostly over lateral alveolar ridge of maxilla. The lesion behaves in a benign manner with spontaneous regression and without any recurrence or metastasis. We hereby report a case of congenital epulis in a 5 weeks old, baby girl who presented with single sessile mass over right side of maxillary alveolar ridge since birth; and want to emphasize that although rare this entity should always be considered in differential diagnosis of neonatal lesions of the oral cavity.

Microfilariae in Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.

Filariasis due to Wucheria bancrofti is endemic to Southern Asia. While the laboratory diagnosis has been conventionally made by demonstrating microfilariae in peripheral blood smears, these have also been occasionally diagnosed on aspiration cytology of various organs. This paper reports the finding of microfilariae in material obtained from the testicular mass in an eighteen year old male by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.