Apart from reducing the acid secretion, omeprazole inhibits activation of the nuclear factor-κB, release of inflammatory cytokines, and chemotaxis of neutrophils. These mechanisms prompted us to evaluate antineuropathic effect of omeprazole in the chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced rat model of neuropathic pain and LPS mediated ROS-induced U-87 cells. Omeprazole at 50 mg/kg/day/oral for 14 days significantly reduced the intensity of neuropathic pain estimated as paw withdrawal latency, withdrawal pressure threshold and restored the motor nerve conduction velocity in the constricted nerve, when compared with respective groups. The histological findings revealed the protective effect of omeprazole against the CCI-induced damage. Omeprazole significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as compared to their respective control groups. It also reduced the oxidative stress by up regulating the SOD, catalase activity and decreasing MDA content. Similarly, in-vitro study, LPS mediated ROS-induced U-87 cells, omeprazole reduced the oxidative stress as well as the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Altogether, these results suggest that, neuroprotective effect of omeprazole is mediated through preventing release of proinflammatory cytokines, augmenting endogenous anti-oxidant defense system, and maintain the structural integrity of sciatic nerve from the CCI-induced structural damage and inflammatory changes.

Aim:Our study aimed at a cell pattern approach to interpret thyroid cytology and to demonstrate diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with an emphasis on diagnostic pitfalls.Materials and Methods:A total number of 218 goitre cases, from the year 2000 to 2004, were reviewed retrospectively from the cytology files, without considering the previous cytological diagnosis. Four cases with inadequate aspirate were excluded. The predominant cell pattern, such as macro/normofollicular, microfollicular, papillary, syncytial, dispersed and cystic pattern, was noted in each case. The final diagnosis was arrived by observing the cellular details and background elements. Cytological diagnosis was correlated with histopathology in 75 cases. The sensitivity and specificity were computed.Results:Normo/macrofollicular pattern was seen in 71.96% of nodular goitre and 6.9% of follicular neoplasms. Around 86.2% of follicular neoplasms and 17.6% of papillary carcinoma had microfollicular pattern. The papillary pattern was seen in 47% of papillary carcinoma. Syncytial pattern was noticed in 72.3% of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and 29.4% of papillary carcinoma. Cytological diagnosis was concordant with histopathological diagnosis in 65 cases. Overall sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in diagnosing neoplastic lesions of thyroid were 83.33 and 95.55%, respectively.Conclusion:FNAC is more sensitive and specific in triaging neoplastic from non-neoplastic thyroid lesions. Identification of the predominant cell pattern would be complementary to analysis of cell morphology and background details in cytological diagnosis of thyroid lesions. This approach helps to diagnose follicular neoplasm and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) & Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are transfusion transmissible infections. Observation of the trend in seroprevalence is useful to plan preventive measures. Aims & Objective: To study trend of seroprevalence of HBV & HCV infections among blood donors with respect to type of the donor, age, sex and blood group of the donor. Material and Methods: A study was conducted from January 2005 to December 2009 at the blood bank of tertiary care Medical College Hospital, serving people of Central Karnataka. Blood units collected from eligible blood donors were subjected to ELISA for screening for hepatitis B surface antigen and IgG antibodies to Hepatitis C virus. Prevalence of HBV and HCV infections was noted using SPSS version 13 statistical package in relation to type of donor, age, sex and blood group of donor. Significance of the trend was determined by chi square test. Results: A total of 19,413 blood donors were screened, the seroprevalence of HBV & HCV infection was 2.12% & 0.1% respectively. HBV infection was more prevalent among replacement donors. Decrease in seroprevalence of HBV & HCV infections was noted from 2005 to 2009. Conclusion: To reduce the prevalence of post-transfusion hepatitis, stringent donor screening procedure and 100% voluntary blood donations may be effective. Routine screening for HBV & HCV in blood banks should be performed using more sensitive methods.

Background: Background: Blood safety in India becomes prime importance with a large number of blood donors. The donated blood is screened for transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) using immunoassays and nucleic acid amplification Test (NAT). However the risk of infection during window period (WP) might be missed by the immunoassay, which are responsible for most of the TTI. Zero window period might provide complete blood safety.Aim: 1) To study sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy (efficacy) of NAT over enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) methods in detecting TTI among blood donors 2) To assess the impact of introduction of individual donor -nucleic acid amplification test (ID-NAT) by all the blood banks and this study was conducted at blood bank, Gadag institute of medical sciences (GIMS), Gadag, Karnataka, India.Methods: Over a period of 1year & 6 months, a total number of 6000 blood donors, samples were subjected to ELISA and NAT.4th generation ELISA and NAT testing using, transcription mediated amplification(TMA) was used. The results were tabulated in an excel format and data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software 21st version. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value(NPV) and diagnostic accuracy(efficacy) were calculated using Galen and Gambino method.Result: A total of 6000 donors, blood samples were subjected to ELISA and NAT, among them 60 were seroreactive. 52 were NAT reactive and seronegative. The NAT yield was 1 in 113. The present study showed 53.57%, 100%,100%, 99.12% and 99.13% of sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy respectively. Conclusion:NAT could detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cases in blood donor samples those that were undetected by immunoassays. Thus, NAT provides an additional layer of blood safety and provides safest blood pack for donation.

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