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CONTEXT: Globally, trauma is the leading cause of death in young adult population, with approximately accounting for 10% of all deaths. Trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. AIMS: The aim of the study was to find the prevalence of abnormal test results of coagulation on admission to a trauma center and correlate them with mortality. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted on patients admitted to a trauma center of a tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 149 patients with an Injury Severity Score >15 were included in the study. Blood samples of the patients were collected within 24 h of trauma and 2 h of admission and tested for platelet (PLT) count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen (FIB) level. The patients were stratified into two groups – presence/absence of TIC and followed for 2 weeks for mortality. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and statistics software SPSS 20 version. RESULTS: Among the 149 patients, 84 had TIC, out of which 71.43% of the patients showed mortality. Of the remaining patients who had no TIC, 35.38% reported mortality. If all the four parameters, that is, PT, APTT, FIB, and PLTs, were considered together, then the percentage of mortality increased to 89.47%. If PT and APTT were studied together, then the percentage of mortality increased to 85.71%. If PT, APTT, and FIB were studied together, the mortality was 84.62%, whereas for parameters PT, APTT, and PLTs together, the mortality was 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Coagulopathy is a strong predictor of mortality in major trauma patients. Basic coagulation tests appear to be sensitive tools for identifying patients at high risk of early death and can be used for early minute diagnosis of TIC. Patients with TIC should be managed aggressively to prevent mortality.

Carcinosarcoma is a malignant mixed Müllerian tumor with a highly malignant, biphasic tumor consisting of both epithelial and mesenchymal components. A 59-year-old nulligravida came with postmenopausal bleeding. Hysteroscopy revealed highly vascular polypoidal mass with prominent vasculature. Gross examination of specimen showed a polypoid mass, occupying whole uterine cavity and invading more than half of myometrium. Immunohistochemical analysis showed epithelial component AE1/AE3 and stromal component desi and p16. Tumor cells were negative for ER. As carcinosarcoma is a highly aggressive less common variant of endometrial cancer, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are important to minimize morbidity and overall survival.

The development of polymer blends has attracted great interest over the past decades and is currently considered as very active area of science of great economic importance allowing to synthesize materials with enhanced performances through low cost processing. Particle filled polymer blends have become attractive because of their wide applications and low cost. Incorporating inorganic mineral fillers into polymers improves various physical properties of the materials such as mechanical strength, modulus and heat deflection temperature. In general the mechanical property of particulate filled polymer blends depends strongly on size, shape and distribution of filler particles in matrix polymers and good adhesion at the interface surface. In this study, the influence of adding talc fillers on the mechanical properties of polyamide 6/polypropylene (PA6/PP) blends was investigated. They were chosen in order to establish a comparative study in terms of their contributions on the improvement of the morphology as well as the final properties of PP/PA6 blends prepared by melt mixing using twin screw extruder followed by injection molding. Incorporation of natural talc fillers greatly improves thermal stability of PP matrix. Highest elastic modulus and best ductility was obtained in presence of natural talc. The role of the surface characteristics of talc has been highlighted. Then the positive changes induced by talc on morphology, kinetics, thermal and mechanical properties of blends have been studied. Thus, this better dispersion greatly improves the thermal stability of PP/PA6 blends and leads to better mechanical properties (+ 40% in Young’s modulus).