Yield and safety profile of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] of lymph nodes

Objective: To determine the re-biopsy rate, positive yield and safety profile of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in cervical lymph nodes in terms of its complications and repeat procedures

Study Design: An analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Dow University Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from June to December 2013

Methodology: Eighty neck swellings, which were found to be lymph nodes on ultrasound, underwent ultrasound guided FNAC, from outpatients. Lymph nodes which were included in the study were those that were not easily palpable, located near major blood vessels, where patient refused of direct palpation and wanted image guided FNAC, those directly sent by physician for image guided FNAC and where blind biopsy remained inconclusive. Patients who refused on explanation or did not give consent were excluded. Complications and repeat biopsy were noted

Results: This study consisted of 80 cases, of which 51 cases [63.75%] were female and 29 cases [36.25%] were male. Repeat biopsy was required in 1 case [1.6%]. There were no procedure-related complications. A total of 44 cases [55%] revealed evidence suggesting or confirming the existence of tuberculosis. Rest of the others showed other benign lesions, reactive lymphadenopathy and malignancy

Conclusion: Ultrasound guided FNAC is a safe procedure with low re-biopsy rate that aids diagnosis. The predominant cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in this study was tuberculous lymphadenitis

Immunohistochemical profile of Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Objective: To analyze the frequencies of histological types of lymphoma, diagnosed with complete immunohistochemical profile in younger and older age group

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January 2009 to September 2013

Methodology: Consecutive cases of lymphomas, which were diagnosed using immunohistochemistry, were analyzed according to WHO classification. Frequency and percentages for different types of lymphomas were calculated. Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas characteristics in two age groups of less than and more than 40 years were compared, applying chi-square test

Results: Out of the 318 cases, 79 [25%] were Hodgkin Lymphomas [HL] and 239 [75%] were Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas [NHL]. Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma [MCHL] was the commonest [n=48]. Amongst the NHL, 215 [89.95%] were B cell lymphomas and 24 [10.05%] were T-cell lymphomas. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma [DLBCL] was the commonest lymphoma [n=165, 69.95% of NHL]. Anaplastic T-Cell Lymphoma [ALCL, n=10] was the commonest T-cell lymphoma. The frequency of HL was significantly higher in the younger age group and that of NHL was higher in the older age group [p < 0.001]. Primary lymph node involvement was reported in 175 [55%] and cervical lymph node was the most frequent site. Extra nodal involvement was seen in 93 [29%] of all cases and was reported in 87 [36.4%] of NHL and 6 [7.5%] of HL. The most common extra nodal site was the gastrointestinal tract

Conclusion: Hodgkin lymphoma comprises 25% and non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises 75% of all lymphomas. Both occur in younger age groups than reported in the West. B-cell NHL is three times more common than T-cell lymphoma. DLBCL is the most frequent lymphoma. ALCL is the most common T-cell, and mixed cellularity is the most common Hodgkin lymphoma

Adverse effects on cardiovascular status and lipid levels of albino Wistar rats treated with cisplatin and oxaliplatin in combination with 5 Fluorouracil

The study was designed to comparatively assess direct damages on cardiac tissues and aorta associated with abnormalities in lipid profile and cardiac biomarkers induced by two platinum cytotoxic compounds with and without 5FU [5Fluorouracil] in rats

Albino Wistar rats were treated with 5FU [15mg/kg], cisplatin [0.8mg/kg] and oxaliplatin [0.8mg/kg] in different dosing schedules. The changes in the lipid levels, CPK and Tropinin I levels, following treatment with single and combination schedules of CDDP, 5FU and Oxaliplatin were compared with the control group maintained on normal saline. Changes in LDL and cholesterol levels were highly significant in cisplatin and oxaliplatin treated rats. Myofibrillar loss and vascular wall thickening was seen in cisplatin treatment groups in the acute model of toxicity

The damages were mild but progressive. Tropinin I levels were raised well above diagnostic risk levels in the delayed model of toxicity in the rats treated with oxaliplatin in combination of 5FU, indicative of definite cardiotoxic potential of oxaliplatin in combination of 5FU mimicking the FOLFOX regimen

Idiopathic adult ileoileal and ileocolic intussusception in situs inversus totalis: a rare coincidence

Situs inversus totalis is a rare autosomal recessive congenital anomaly that is characterized by mirror image anatomy of the abdominal and thoracic organs. We report a case of a 28-year-old male with situs inversus totalis, who developed an idiopathic ileoileal and ileocolic intussusception, which was diagnosed on computed tomography scan. Patient underwent successfully ileal resection and side-to-side functional anastomosis of ileum 12 cms from ileocecal junction. Postoperative course was uneventful. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of idiopathic adult intussusception with situs inversus totalis in the literature

Conhecimentos e práticas em saúde ocular de 1000 pessoas da cidade de Campinas (SP) / Knowledage and ocular health practices of 1,000 subjects of the city of Campinas (SP)

Apresenta-se estudo sobre conhecimentos e práticas de 1000 pessoas da cidade de Campinas (SP) em relaçäo a glaucoma, ambliopia, estrabismo, conjuntivite e acidentes oculares, quanto ao problema em si e sua prevençäo. Realizam-se entrevistas, de forma aleatória, com 200 pessoas no "campus" da Universidade de Campinas e 800 transeuntes no centro da cidade. Conclui-se pela insuficiência de conhecimentos e existência de conceitos e práticas errôneas sobre os aspectos abordados, recomendam-se o desenvolvimento de programas de educaçäo em saúde para prevençäo de distúrbios visuais e a realizaçäo de pesquisas no campo da oftalmologia sanitária