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Background & Method: The aim of the study is to assess advantages and limitations of peripheral blood smear and bone marrow examination. The bone marrow aspirate of about 0.2 ml is discharged into the elevated part of the slide. Sufficient quantity was used to make direct smears. The slides were stained with Romanowsky stain (Leishman stain) and observed for the quality, fragments, stain, readability and results will be compared with peripheral blood smear. Result: In aspirate smears 16.7% cases had cellularity <50%, 33.3% in 50-75% and 50.0% 75-95%, no case in the 95-100% cellularity. Majority of cases showed increased M:E ratio. 71 % cases fell in the range of 15:1 - 45:1. Storage (pseudo gaucher) histiocytes were present in 3 cases. Mild to marked reticulin fibrosis was seen in 5 cases. Conclusion: Peripheral smear of ITP showed thrombocytopenia with few giant cells. RBCs were microcytic hypochromic. Bone marrow aspirate showed marked megakaryocytic hyperplasia with non-functioning megakaryocytes demonstrating smooth cytoplasmic borders. Peripheral smear gave only the rough idea of the diagnosis in cases of Megaloblastic anemia. Bone marrow aspirate was the most helpful in making the diagnosis. Morphology of megaloblasts was best appreciated in bone marrow aspirate. Bone marrow gave better idea of cellularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer worldwide. The pathogenesis of BCC involves interplay between various environmental and genetic factors. It is believed that chemokines play a significant role in the modulation of cancer growth by generating autocrine and paracrine signaling effects. The present study was conducted to elucidate the expression of chemokine, CXCL11, and its receptor CXCR3, and their interaction with tumor cells and peri-tumoral stroma in various subtypes of BCC. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of chemokine CXCL11 and its receptor CXCR3 in various subtypes of BCC. Materials and Methods: The study included 40 cases of histopathologically confirmed BCC. Clinical and histopathological features of various tumor subtypes were noted. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies against CXCL11 and CXCR3, and these were assigned scores 0, 1, and 2 on the basis of immunohistochemical expression. Results: The median age of study participants was 65.0 ± 12.2 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1. The most common site was face, followed by neck, scalp, and back. The tumor subtypes included in the study were nodular (n = 20), pigmented (n = 8), infiltrating (n = 5), superficial (n = 4), and adenoid (n = 3). On immunohistochemistry, CXCR3 expression was seen in 34 (85%) cases with stromal inflammatory cells immunopositivity in 29 (72.5%) cases and tumor cells immunopositivity in 5 (12.5%) cases. CXCL11 expression was seen in 36 (90%) cases with weak expression in stroma and tumor in 18 cases and strong expression in the rest 18 cases. In individual subtypes, higher immunopositivity for CXCR3 and CXCL11 in tumor cells and peri-tumoral stroma was seen for nodular, infiltrating, and pigmented subtypes, compared to adenoid and superficial subtypes. Conclusion: Our study shows the enhanced expression of chemokine CXCL11 and its receptor CXCR3 in tumor cells and peri-tumoral stroma of BCC. This expression is greater in tumor cells of aggressive subtypes, i.e. nodular, infiltrating, and pigmented types. This suggests that receptor ligand pathway involving CXCR3 and CXCL11 plays a key role in pathogenesis of BCC, and blocking this pathway may result in inhibition of tumor growth. Thus, these chemokines may serve as future potential targets in developing novel therapeutic regimens against BCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral renal agenesis is an uncommon diagnosis of prenatal life. It is seen to be associated with many other congenital anomalies and is also seen in association with Potter's sequence. A still born female baby of 38 weeks and 5 days period of gestation was delivered by Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) with physical findings of low-set ears, a flat nose, loose skin fold over the neck, wide set eyes and bilateral club foot, suggestive of Potter's sequence. On autopsy, baby had ascitis with smaller lungs. Both the kidneys were not identified in the renal fossa or at any other (ectopic) site (bilateral renal agenesis). There was also an associated unilateral ureteral agenesis. Additional finding that was detected at autopsy was dilated terminal bowel with congenital pouch colon, rectovaginal fistula and anal atresia (anorectal malformation). This case has been reported due to rarity of the combination of these constellations of findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]