The socio-demographic determinants of gestational diabetes mellitus among postnatal women from Palakkad district, Kerala: comparative study

Background: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing all over the world and it is associated with different genetic factors as well as environmental factors. The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes among young people has led to an increase in number of pregnancies with this complication. As the incidence of diabetes is more in Kerala, the present study was undertaken to compare the socio-demographic determinants among pregnant mothers with normal gestation and mothers with GDM.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was carried out and sample size was calculated using the formulae of (Z? + Z?) 2 × 2 × P × Q/d2. The calculated sample size was 108 and consecutive sampling technique was used for data collection. A semi-structured questionnaire containing socio-demographic and obstetrics details were used as a study tool and an interview schedule was used for data collection.Results: Out of total 111 postnatal mothers, majority 80 (72.1%) belongs to the age group of 21-30 years, and more than half 64(57.66%) of mothers belongs to Hindu religion. When the socio-demographic and obstetrics details of mothers were compared among GDM and normal mothers it was found that there was statistically significant difference between religion, family history of diabetes and occurrence of GDM (p=0.001). Among obstetric details history of abortion, BMI of mothers and birth weight show statistically significant difference among two groups (p<0.001).Conclusions: The study reveals that the socio demographic factors and obstetric factors influence the occurrence of GDM.

Mast cell distribution in some commonly encountered benign and malignant salivary gland neoplasms.

Background: Mast cells with a battery of crucial chemical mediators in their typical metachromatic granules are known to play a role in health and various disease states in man. This study was undertaken to evaluate the mast cell profile in some commonly encountered benign and malignant salivary gland neoplasms. Materials & Methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, M.R. Medical College, Gulbarga over a period of 5 years (3 years retrospective i.e., from August 2003 to August 2006 and 2 years prospective study i.e., from September 2006 to August 2008) which included a total of 50 cases each of control and study groups. Sections were stained with H&E and 1% aqueous toluidine blue (pH=4) for mast cells. The mast cell count was performed per 10 HPF, tabulated, analyzed and statistically evaluated. Results: A significant (p<0.001) increase of mast cell was observed in commonly encountered salivary gland neoplasm’s when compared with that of control group. Mast cell count was significantly increased in Pleomorphic adenoma as compared to basal cell adenoma and oncocytoma. Mast cell count was significantly more (p<0.05) in malignant tumor as compared to benign tumors of salivary gland. Conclusion: The present study documents striking mast cell alteration in some common salivary gland lesions. Mast cell profile may be used as an additional diagnostic or supportive parameter to differentiate between malignant versus benign lesions of salivary gland in addition to other diagnostic parameters.

Castleman's disease - hyaline vascular type - clinical, cytological and histological features with review of literature.

Background and Aims: Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare disease of lymph node with two identified forms - the hyaline vascular (HV) type or angiofollicular type and plasma cell (PC) type. It usually presents as localized or systemic lymphadenopathy or even as extra nodal mass and may give rise to several differential diagnoses. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), as the initial investigation, may be misleading. Excision biopsy usually gives the diagnosis. This study analyzes the clinical, cytological and histological features of CD of HV type Materials and Methods: All the cases of CD reported between 2001 and March 2008 have been reviewed. Cytology and histopathology slides of all cases were reviewed by two reporting pathologists independently and the clinical records were analyzed. Result: We had five cases of CD all of which presented as cervical lymphadenopathy of 1 to 5 cms in young patients. Patients were mostly asymptomatic with all relevant investigations within normal limits. The cytology findings mostly showed a predominance of small lymphocytes with capillary fragments. On excision biopsy, all cases were diagnosed as CD of HV type. Conclusion: CD should be kept as a differential of lymphadenopathy, especially in asymptomatic and young patients.

Chromoblastomycosis in Nepal: a study of 13 cases.

BACKGROUND: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection caused by several pigmented fungi commonly seen in tropical and subtropical climates. AIM: To evaluate the epidemiologic, clinical and pathological characteristics of chromoblastomycosis in our patients. METHODS: This retrospective and prospective study was conducted at the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. Clinical features and histopathology of all the cases diagnosed as chromoblastomycosis during the last eight years were studied. RESULTS: A total of 13 cases of chromoblastomycosis were diagnosed during the period of 1999-2006. The disease was seen predominantly in middle-aged male farmers and those from rural areas. The lesions commonly involved the lower extremity and were single or multiple in number. They clinically presented as verrucous or nodular growths. Out of these 13 cases, three were diagnosed clinically as squamous cell carcinoma and one as psoriasis. The histopathological features included sclerotic bodies in 12 cases (92%), microabscess formation in 10 cases (76.9%), pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia in nine cases (69.2%) and granuloma in eight cases (61.5%). CONCLUSION: Farming is the commonest occupation in patients with chromoblastomycosis. Early histological diagnosis helps in effective management of the condition.

Prostatic inhibin peptide: Occurrence, localization and its hormonal modulation in prostates of primates and rodents.

Immunocytochemical localization studies revealed the presence of 10·5 kDa inhibin in the prostatic epithelial cells of the human, non-human primates (Macaca radiata, Presbytis entellus, Callithrix jacchus), dog and laboratory rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice). The capability of the prostate gland to synthesize inhibin in vitro was shown by the incorporation of radiolabeled leucine into inhibin which was immunoprecipitated. Unlike most prostatic proteins, inhibin was found to be androgenindependent since no significant alteration in inhibin concentration in prostate occurred pre/post castration. Physicochemical and immunological characteristics of inhibin as revealed by high performance liquid chromatography and parallel dilution curve in a radioimmunoassay revealed similarities of inhibin in prostates of various species.