We report a case of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma in a thirteen year old girl who presented with a tender swelling in the left upper back. The tumor consisted of varying proportions of inflammatory, myxoid and hyalinized areas. Large bizarre cells with virocyte like inclusions and lipoblast like cells were present. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma of the back, the extremities being the commonest site of involvement. Due to its varied histologic appearance, the tumor should be differentiated from various benign and malignant soft tissue lesions.

Objective: To investigate the phytochemicals and GC-MS analysis of ethanol extracts of Silybum marianum. Methods: The air-dried leaves were powdered and subjected to selective sequential extraction using solvents of increasing polarity through percolation, ethanol to obtain an ethanolic extract. Then, each of the extracts was further subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Qualitative determination of the different biologically active compounds from crude extracts of Silybum marianum using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed different types of high and low molecular weight chemical entities with varying amounts present in each of the extracts. These chemical compounds are considered biologically and pharmacologically important. Conclusions:The study established the chemical composition and anticancer activity of the plant.

Introduction: Retinoblastoma (RB) is a prototype of heritable cancers. It is more common in the lower socioeconomic strata. Delayed presentation significantly reduces the overall outcome. We have analyzed the epidemiological and clinical data of children who were diagnosed with RB between the years 2009 and 2014. Aim: RB being a disease of the poor, delayed presentation is common due to lack of awareness. We have analyzed the epidemiological profile of our patients and tried to establish the link between delayed presentation and the presence of high-risk features. High-risk features are associated with higher chance of metastasis and poor rates of vision salvage in RB. Methodology: Data were collected in a retrospective manner from the patient case files retrieved from the Medical Records Department, Kidwai cancer Institute. The data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS software (IBM Corp. released 2016, IBM SPSS statistics software for Mac OS, version 24, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results: A total of 53 patients were diagnosed with RB in the years 2009–2014. There was a male predominance with 1.2:1 incidence. Bilateral RB was present in 21 cases. The mean age of children with bilateral RB was 2.1 years, against 1.5 years in unilateral cases. High-risk features such as optic nerve invasion, choroidal invasion, intracranial extension, and orbital involvement were found in 12, 6, 5, and 5 eyes, respectively. Bone marrow involvement was detected in 5% and lung metastasis in 2%. Intracranial involvement was found in 10.4% and cerebrospinal fluid positivity in 15%. Children with high-risk features had a significant delay in presentation in comparison to those without high-risk features ( P = 0.035). Conclusion: Incidence of metastatic disease and delayed presentation is still high in developing countries. Routine eye examination during vaccination visits can ensure early diagnosis and appropriate referral in many of these children.

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Brain tumors are the second most common cancers after hematological malignancies accounting for approximate 21% of all childhood malignancies in children between ages of 0 and 14 y. The present study was undertaken to determine the spectrum of the brain tumors diagnosed in a tertiary cancer center in South India. A retrospective analysis of the data of pediatric brain tumors diagnosed between 2003 and 2009 was done and data was classified according to the age, gender and histology types. Out of 2,844 pediatric patients, 341 (11.99%) were diagnosed as having brain tumors. Most of the patients were in the age group of >5-14 y. Male to female ratio was 1.58:1. The most common pediatric brain tumor was medulloblastoma followed by astrocytoma and ependymoma. Glioblastoma multiforme was the most common subtype of astrocytoma. Other common tumors were glioma, oligodendroglioma, periphereral neuroectodermal tumor and germ cell tumor. As compared to western data, incidence of brain tumors in children was found to be less in the present study.

The distribution of malignancy in infants is quite different from that which is found in older children. Although neuroblastoma is the most common infantile tumor in western countries, in our study leukemia is the most common infantile malignancy. Embryonal tumors such as neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, retinoblastoma, and hepatoblastoma were more prevalent in infants. Solid tumors were the most common malignancy in infants which is followed by leukemia.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic pharmacognostical characters of Costus spicatus in rhizomes extract along with their physico-chemical parameters and fluorescence analysis. Methods: The pharmacognostical characters were determined in terms of macroscopy, microscopy, Powder microscopy, rhizome constant, fluorescence analysis and Preliminary phytochemical investigation. Result: The fluorescence characteristics of rhizome powdered extracts were determined under UV radiation of long and short wavelengths and ordinary visible light. When the powdered drug and extracts were treated with different reagents and observed under UV and ordinary light, they emitted various colour radiations. The colour change for the rhizome powder and individual extract were distinctive and reproducible revealing the solvent properties to the phytoconstituents and data is present. The moister content was calculated through the loss on drying method and was found to be 1.43%. The swelling and foaming index values were recorded. The phytochemical investigation indicates the presence of the organic phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, carbohydrate, flavonoids, protein, amino acids, phenols, tannin, glycosides, steroids and inorganic constituents like iron, phosphate, sulphate and chlorides. Conclusion: Various pharmacognostical and physicochemical parameters have pivotal roles in identification, authentication and establishment of quality parameters of the species. Keywords: Costus spicatus, Physico-Chemical parameters and fluorescence analysis.

Objective:To identify the phytochemical constituents present in ethanolic leaves extract of Taraxacum officinale (T. o) and to elucidate the bioactive compounds. Methods: The fresh leaves of T. officinale (1000g) were shade dried at room temperature for 30 days and the dried leaves were made into a fine powder. The ethanolic leaves extract obtained was dried with help of desiccator and rotatory evaporator. The dried samples tested for phytochemical analysis and bioactive compounds profiling through GC-MS analysis. Results: The phytochemical screening studies showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones. in the leaves extract of T. officinale. GC-MS analysis showed 10 essential bioactive compounds and it revealed the presence of significant anticancer, Antimicrobial and antidiabetic compounds. Conclusions: The ethanol extract of T. o possess the most important phytochemical compounds and it has various medicinal properties to cure dangerous diseases and disorders.