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Background Breast carcinoma is one of the commonest cancer in women accounting for major health burden worldwide. Metabolic syndrome is a known risk factor of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as well as breast carcinoma. APRI (Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index), a known non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis and steatohepatitis has never been studied in patients of metabolic syndrome with breast carcinoma. Breast carcinoma has various modifiable risk factors such as obesity and alcohol consumption. Hence, we compared APRI score in patients with breast carcinoma in order to establish a possible correlation. Aims and Objectives Our primary objective was to study APRI (Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index) score in patients of breast carcinoma with and without metabolic syndrome. The secondary objective was to study APRI score in post-menopausal women with breast carcinoma. Material and Method This prospective observational study included 151 patients of breast carcinoma, these patients were sub grouped into two, with and without metabolic syndrome and pre and post-menopausal women. Multiple demographic and biochemical parameters including APRI score were studied in these groups. The sensitivity and specificity of APRI score was calculated in these groups. Results A total of 151 patients of breast carcinoma were included in the study group.53.64% patients with breast carcinoma had metabolic syndrome. The mean values of AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), BMI (Body mass index), FBS (Fasting blood sugar) and APRI score were significantly higher in the patients with metabolic syndrome. More than 50% patients of breast carcinoma belonged to the post-menopausal age group. Mean values of AST (aspartate aminotransferase), BMI (body mass index), FBS (fasting blood sugar) and APRI were higher in this group. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of APRI score of metabolic syndrome patients was 0.93 and that of post-menopausal women was 0.82. Conclusion APRI score can be used as a surrogate marker of metabolic syndrome in patients with breast carcinoma. It is also useful in planning preventive strategies in patients with breast carcinoma especially in post-menopausal age group.

Introduction Despite the high prevalence of Plasmodium vivax (P vivax) malaria, research into its complications has lagged disproportionately as compared to Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum) malaria. Material and methods The present retrospective observational study was conducted on cases with P vivax mono-infection presenting with severe malaria on the basis of one or more criteria as per the World Health Organization guidelines being used for severe falciparum malaria in children, as well as other manifestations been classified as complicated malaria, during an outbreak of malaria in a single tertiary referral hospital of north India. Results Seventy-four patients of acute malaria presented during the outbreak, of which 50 cases with P vivax mono-infection were included for the study. Complicated malaria was diagnosed in 41/50 cases, with thrombocytopenia being the commonest manifestation. Other presentations of severe malaria in our patients were liver dysfunction (with or without jaundice) 31/50 cases, respiratory involvement 14/50 cases, renal impairment 11/50 cases, circulatory collapse (Shock) 8/50 cases, severe anaemia 3/50 cases and central nervous system (CNS) involvement 2/50 cases. Conclusion The term “benign tertian malaria” no longer holds true for P vivax mono-infection. The authors wish to open a new front for researches on the possible genotypic abnormalities that the parasite or its carrier might have acquired over decades and has transformed into a species with the malignant potential of P falciparum .