Myeloma coexisting with jejunal light chain amyloidosis

Amyloid Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disease, which is seen in approximately one-tenth of patients with multiple myeloma. We report a 52 years old male, who presented with complaints of anorexia and weight loss. He was diagnosed to have multiple myeloma-international staging score (ISS) Stage 3 and was started on VTD (Bortezomib, Thalidomide, and Dexamethasone) chemotherapy. Within 2 weeks of therapy, he had abdominal symptoms like abdominal pain, loose stools, vomiting and hematochezia. Imaging showed dilated proximal bowel loops with fluid filled contents and prominent vessels in rectum. Emergency surgical exploration revealed thickened proximal jejunum with blood clots in the lumen. Resection of proximal jejunum was done. Histopathological examination of resected specimen was suggestive of AL amyloidosis. Post-surgical resection of jejunum, patient had initial improvement followed by deterioration. He was discharged against medical advice as per relative’s request. Hence an index of clinical suspicion of amyloidosis must been present in all Multiple myeloma patients.

Vitamin D deficiency and its correlation with pregnancy outcome

Background: There is a growing concern about the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with variety of diseases worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with pregnancy outcome.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted among 150 antenatal women from October 2014 to April 2015. Data containing socio-demographic details, vitamin D level, serum calcium, pregnancy complications and growth situation of newborns were collected and analyzed.Results: A total 150 pregnant women participated in the study, 75.3% were vitamin D deficient, 22.1% vitamin D insufficient and 2.6% normal. There was no significant adverse maternal outcome. NICU admission was required in 28.3 and 15.2% in the vitamin D deficient and insufficient groups respectively.Conclusions: Women from different socioeconomic status, irrespective of parity and educational levels had vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. This study fails to show a relation of vitamin D deficiency with other high-risk factors of pregnancy and does not show any adverse fetal outcome.

Obstetrical outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Majority of the maternal complications associated with GDM have been decreasing nowadays, however the relative risk of development of perinatal complications remain higher in women with hyper glycaemia.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted among 286 delivered pregnant women. The pregnant women were diagnosed as GDM by DIPSI diagnostic criterion. The study was performed to find the association of various risk factors with GDM occurrence and to assess the obstetrical outcome in the GDM and normoglycaemic women.Results: Out of the 286 women, the proportion of women affected with GDM was 20.6%. The onset of GDM was more common among women between 25-30year (62.7%). GDM onset is increased when they had previous history of GDM and family history of diabetes.  The obstetric complications were less common among GDM women (23.72%). GDM women had increased rate of caesarean delivery (69.5%) and induction of labour (42.4%). The neonatal complications were more common among GDM neonates (57.62%). The proportion of occurrence of congenital anomalies and macrosomia (>3.5kg) was similar among both groups.Conclusions: Risk factors associated with GDM onset such as previous history of GDM and family history of diabetes are significant risk factors. Advanced age, increasing parity and occurrence of abortions were not associated with GDM onset.  With good glycaemic control the obstetrical complications and macrosomia are preventable. Rate of Induction of labour, caesarean delivery and neonatal morbidity remains higher among GDM women.

Neonatal morbidity pattern in early term births

Background: Late preterm births are defined' as birth between 34 and 36 completed weeks gestation and term births as' born after 37 weeks of gestation. Maturation is a continuous' process till term and the severity of adverse outcomes with birth increases with decreasing gestational age. Recent studies showed increased risk of' morbidities for babies' at 37 weeks than its term counterpart babies' at 39 weeks. Considering the risk for adverse neonatal outcomes in early term births, various studies recommended that the label 'term' be redefined as early term, full term and late term designations to more accurately acknowledge deliveries occurring at or beyond 37' weeks of gestation. This designation will help precise' identification and targeting these early term' babies for early intervention and for better neonatal outcomes.Methods: This is a prospective study which included all' term births delivered during the 12-month study between January 2017 and December 2017. Babies born between 37 and 38 6/7 weeks were designated as early term and those born after 39 weeks as full-term babies. Neonatal outcomes of these babies were recorded and monitored till discharge.Results: There were 660 term live births during the study period. The incidence of early term births account for 19.7%, as compared with full term births representing 80.3 %. Compared with term babies, early term births were at risk for transitional problems such as respiratory distress (61.5% vs 38.5%), hypoglycemia (76.2% vs 23.8%), hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy (53.7% vs 46.7%) and feeding' problems (59.1% vs 40.9%).Conclusions: Early term births are associated with increased risk of neonatal morbidities as compared with full term births. This indicates need for more attention towards preventing early term births.

A rare variant of carcinoma of the cervix: neuroendocrine tumour.

Neuroendocrine neoplasm that occurs in the uterine cervix is rare. It accounts for 0.5-1% of all malignant tumours of the uterine cervix. A 55 years old female patient complained of postmenopausal bleeding and history of foul smelling discharge per vagina since 1 month. On examination cervix appeared bulky, both lips indurated, bleeds on touch, both parametrium involved but not up to pelvic wall with bulky uterus. Vagina and per rectal mucosa was free. Clinical diagnosis of carcinoma cervix, stage 2B was made. Cervix biopsy with HPE revealed squamous epithelium of cervix showing neoplastic cells arranged in nests and prominent perivascular pattern, small round cells with minimal cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nucleus, abundant mitosis, cells showed rosette pattern and isolated foci of cell debris and necrosis. Diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumour of cervix was considered. Immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin, neuron specific enolase, chromogranin and synaptophysin was positive, confirming the final diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma cervix (High grade of small cell type). Recognition of Neuroendocrine carcinoma cervix is important for appropriate therapy & management since these patients have worse clinical outcomes when compared with conventional squamous /adeno carcinoma of cervix. Immunohistochemistry should be supplemented with ultrastructural studies for confirmation and correct categorisation of carcinoma cervix for appropriate management.