Giant lipoma of breast: A rare case report

Malignant Lymphoma is uncommon in female genital tract. A rare presentation of Malignant Lymphoma of the vagina has been reported here. A 61 years old woman presented with postmenopausal bleeding of 10 days duration. On examination per vaginum, the patient had firm nodular infiltrative growth involving entire posterior vaginal wall and full thickness of recto-vaginal septum. Bleeding ulcer was seen at the superior part of the growth which is extending up to introitus. Cervix was free. Per rectal examination showed infiltration of anterior rectal wall. There was no lymphadenopathy or hepato-splenomegaly. C.T. Scan of abdomen revealed a large malignant soft tissue tumor involving the walls of vagina and infiltrating the rectum. Histopathology of the tumor revealed Diffuse Histiocytic lymphoma

Beta2-glycoprotein I dependent anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.

AIM: The present study was aimed to define the incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies of different types lupus anticoagulant (LAC), venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL) and Beta2-glycoprotein I dependent anticardiolipin antibodies Beta2 I aCL) in our cohort of population experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) from Andhra Pradesh, South India. SETTING AND DESIGN: A referral case-control study at a tertiary centre over a period of 5 years. PARTICIPANTS: 150 couples experiencing 3 or more recurrent pregnancy losses with similar number of matched controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: LAC activity was measured by the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) according to the method of Proctor and Rapaport with relevant modifications. VDRL analysis was performed by the kit method supplied by Ranbaxy Diagnostics Limited and Beta2 Glycoprotein I dependent anticardiolipin antibodies were estimated by ELISA kit (ORGen Tech, GmbH, Germany) with human Beta2 Glycoprotein I as co-factor. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test. RESULTS: LAC activity was found positive in 11 women (10.28%). The mean +/- SE Beta2 I aCL concentration in the study group was 14.53 (micro/ml) +/- 1.79 (range 0 to 90.4 micro/ml) which was higher than the control group with a mean +/- SE of 7.26 (micro/ml) +/- 0.40 (range 0 to 18 u/ml). The binding of the antibodies to the antigen was observed in 40.24% (n=33) of the cases compared to 6.09% (n=5) in controls. VDRL test was positive in 7(2.34%) individuals (3 couples and 1 male partner) and none among controls. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates the importance of antiphospholipid antibodies in women experiencing RPL and suggests the usefulness of screening for these antibodies as a mandatory routine for instituting efficient therapeutic regimens for a successful outcome of pregnancy.

Optimum age of a child for BCG vaccination.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether a newborn or a neonate is capable of responding immunologically after BCG vaccination and to find out if this immunity persists for one year. Normal infants aged between 0 days-3 months brought to immunization centre were included in the study. In vitro leukocyte migration inhibition test was performed in these children using Phytohemagglutinin and purified protein derivative (PPD). They were grouped based on their age at vaccination, their LMI values and on the time interval after vaccination. The mean values of % LMI (PPD) in all the age groups were positive and there were no significant differences between the newborns, the neonates and other groups. The values were positive and comparable even after 12 months in all the groups. The percentage of infants with positive or negative values to LMI (PHA) and negative values to LMI (PPD) were also comparable at different time intervals in different age groups. The results suggest that newborns or neonates are as capable of eliciting a positive immune response after BCG vaccination, as older infants and the practise of vaccinating a child at birth could be continued.