Evaluation of 303 Cases of Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a common clinical problem with many etiological causes. Although transient bone marrow suppression and marrow infiltration by malignancies are important causes, certain non-malignant conditions such as nutritional causes and infections are equally important as the treatment is simple and cure is possible. Depending on the aetiology, the clinical presentation may vary. Knowing the exact aetiology is important for specific treatment and prognostication. A total of 303 cases of thrombocytopenia were studied out of which males were 44% and females were 56%. The patients’ age ranged from 5 months to 84 yrs. The commonest presenting symptom was fever with bleeding manifestations and jaundice. 14% of cases are of Grade 1, 20% of the cases of Grade 2, 5% of cases of Grade 3 and 31% of cases had counts less than 25000/cu.mm i.e. of Grade 4. 50% of cases in Grade 4 had a decreased number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. The most common cause of thrombocytopenia in our study was megaloblastic anaemia (48.6%), ITP (20%), post-viral (10.9%) followed by leukaemia, aplastic anaemia and others. Thrombocytopenia has a spectrum of causes which can be diagnosed by detailed history and peripheral smear examination supported by bone marrow examination. Megaloblastic anaemia was the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia followed by immune thrombocytopenia. Unlike in the western India megaloblastic anemia is highly prevalent and is the leading correctable cause of thrombocytopenia. Most of the patients with Grade 4 thrombocytopenia had a decreased number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow suggesting a production defect.

Urinary Bladder: Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour/Ewing's Tumour – A Rare Case

We hereby report a rare case of primary primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET)/Ewing's tumour of the urinary bladder. Primary PNETs of the bladder are very aggressive neoplasms. They are extremely rare and only 12, as on July 2014, have been reported in the literature. A young 22-year old male patient, agricultural labourer by occupation, presented with complaints of urinary obstruction and haematuria of 1-month duration. A provisional diagnosis of small round cell tumour was considered on examination of the biopsy specimen. Subsequently, the panel of immunohistochemical markers CD-99, NSE, LCA, Desmin and vimentin were performed and finally reported as urinary bladder – PNET/Ewing's tumour – CD-99+.

Isolation and identification of Micrococcus roseus and Planococcus sp from Schirmacher oasis, Antarctica.

Five cultures isolated from soil samples collected in Schirmacher oasis, Antarctica, have been identified as members of the family Micrococcaceae, with 3 belonging to the genus Micrococcus and two to Planococcus. The 3 Micrococcus isolates (37R, 45R and 49R) were red-pigmented and h a d ~ 75 mol% G + C in their DNA; they were identified as Micrococcus roseus. The two Planococcus isolates (30Y and Lz3OR) were yellow and orange in colour, and had 43·5 and 40·9 mol % G + C in their DNA respectively; they were identified as Planococcus sp.