A Retrospective Study of Histopathology and Clinical Correlation of Spinal Meningioma at Thoothukudi Medical College, India

The study was conducted to understand the clinical algorithm of spinal meningioma. Correlation was done by clinical presentation with radiological features and histopathology .The stress upon to understand the necessity for a team-approach between Clinician, Radiologist and Pathologist and vice versa is emphasised. Aim: To correlate histopathology of spinal meningioma with the Clinical features. Methods: This is a retrospective study of spinal tumours, diagnosed by histopathology as various types of meningioma. All the relevant clinical data of the patients were searched from the ward records. The various Radiological features were collected. Results: The total number of spinal tumours studied during the 8 years period was 86 cases among which 25 cases were diagnosed by histopathology as various types of meningioma conclusively. Spectroscopy provides molecular information with regard to meningiomas and potentially aid in biopsy planning. Surgical resections were done as follows: 20 cases resected as Simpson Grade 1, 5 cases resected as Simpson Grade 2. Venous thromboembolism was seen in 1 patient. Four cases underwent follow up Adjuvant External Beam Radiotherapy. Conclusion: The Simpson grading of resection of meningioma correlated the degree of surgical resection completeness with symptomatic recurrence. Four cases underwent follow up Adjuvant External Beam Radiotherapy with good results .Spinal meningioma needs correlation between Radiologist, Pathologist and Clinician.

A Retrospective Study of Histopathology and Clinical Correlation of Primary Benign Bone tumours at Thoothukudi Medical College, India

The study was conducted to understand the clinical algorithm of benign bone tumours. Correlation was done by clinical presentation with radiological features and histopathology features. The osteogenic tumours are considered as one group because their common characteristic feature is the production of an osteoid or bone matrix by the tumour cells. The cartilaginous tumours have the characteristic feature of production of cartilage matrix. AIM: We have reported 62 cases of bone tumours during the study period of 5 years in the Department of Pathology, Thoothukudi Medical College, India. The cases were thoroughly studied by histopathology and 28 cases were diagnosed as benign tumours among which 8 cases were benign osteoid producing and 20 cases were diagnosed as benign cartilage producing tumours conclusively. The Histopathology diagnosis was correlated with the Radiological features. Methods: We have reported 62 cases of bone tumours during the study period of 5 years in the Department of Pathology, among which 28 cases were diagnosed as benign bone tumours. A total of 8 cases were osteoid producing and 20 cases were cartilage producing tumours conclusively. All the relevant clinical data of the patients were searched from the ward records. The data was stored in the Department computer server was very much useful in the study. The initial step in the assessment of patients with bone tumours is a good medical history, including age, gender, type and duration of symptoms, localization of the mass, and presence of a history of trauma. CT scan was useful in osteoid lesions. MRI Scan played a crucial role in cartilage producing tumours. Tests to assess general health included a complete blood count , differential count , tests for serum electrolytes including calcium, magnesium, phosphate, liver function studies, blood group typing, a coagulation profile, tests for hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus infection were taken and recorded. Results: The total number of benign bone tumours reported during the 5 years period was 28 cases,. In benign bone tumours osteochondroma was the most common neoplasm. CT scan established the best choice in studying cortical lesions and nidus in osteoid osteoma. CT can identify the calcification of cartilage. In cases of cartilage producing tumours, the T2 weighted MRI with high signal intensity with a lobulated outline made a useful role. MRI can delineate the medullary extent. Multinucleated giant cells were seen in sections of chondroblastoma. Histopathology provided the final conclusive diagnosis. Conclusion: Benign bone tumours frequently pose a diagnostic challenge for general surgical pathologists. Accurate pathologic diagnosis requires careful clinical, radiological and histopathological correlation. The most common benign bone tumour occurring in children is osteochondromas, representing 10 to 15% of all bone tumours and 20 to 50% of all benign bone tumours.

Buffering capacity and membrane H+ conductance of protease producing facultative alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus flexus from mangrove soil. Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics. 2009 June; 46(3): 261-265.

A facultative alkaliphilic protease-producing gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria (EMGA 5) was isolated from mangrove soil and confirmed as Bacillus flexus by the 16S rDNA sequence. Buffering capacity and membrane H+ conductance of this alkaliphilic isolate were investigated for the cells grown at pH 7.2 and 10.5 using acid pulse technique. Suspensions of B. flexus cells grown in poly peptone yeast glucose medium at pH 10.5 exhibited higher cytoplasmic membrane buffering capacity values (70 µmol H+/pH unit/mg protein at pH 9.9) than the cells grown at pH 7.2 (41 µmol H+/pH unit/mg protein at pH 9.9). B. flexus grown aerobically at pH 7.2 showed higher H+ conductance values than the cells grown at pH 10.5 (0.032 µmol H+/s/pH unit/mg protein at pH 9.9 and 0.028 µmol H+/s/pH unit/mg protein at pH 9.8, respectively). The present study revealed that the buffering capacity and membrane H+ conductance of the B. flexus isolates were influenced by pH of the medium.

Facultative alkalophilic bacteria from mangrove soil with varying buffering capacity and H+ conductance.

Facultative alkalophilic bacteria Planococcus sp. (EMGA-26), Bacillus sp. (EMGA-29) and Corynebacterium spp. (EMGA-33 and 130) were isolated from mangrove soil samples. Neutrophiles were predominant than alkalophiles. Buffering capacity and membrane H+ conductance were investigated for the strains grown in PPYG medium at pH 10.5 using acid pulse technique. Bacillus sp. showed higher buffering capacity than Planococcus sp. and Corynebacterium spp. Buffering capacity was two-fold higher in Corynebacterium sp. EMGA-33 than in EMGA-130. The membrane H+ conductance was high in Bacillus sp. and was directly proportional to the buffering capacity values. The Bacillus sp. (EMGA-29) had higher cell membrane adaptability in high pH environment than the Planococcus sp. and Corynebacterium spp.

Prevalence of dermatophytes and other fungal agents isolated from clinical samples.

The common cause of skin infections are dermatophytes and opportunistic fungi. Aim of this study was to isolate and identify the fungal agents from clinical samples from patients with different mycoses. Clinical samples from 165 patients were subjected to potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination and culture isolation; causative agents were identified macroscopically and microscopically. All the 165 specimens were KOH positive and 110/165 (66.7%) samples were culture positive. Of these, highest isolation rate was obtained in opportunistic mycoses such as candidiasis (29/29, 100%). Dermatophytes were isolated in 53/80 (66.3%) specimens and Trichophyton rubrum was the commonest isolate in skin samples (17/24) among the patients suffering from dermatophytosis. Phaeoannellomyces wernecki was isolated in a patient suffering from tinea nigra. The study signifies the importance of mycological examination in the diagnosis of various mycoses for their effective management.