Background: The function of Vitamin D in preventing inflammation and infection has been studied previously for different pathologies in different populations globally. Relationships between serum Vitamin D levels and its effect on pulmonary exacerbations in the cystic fibrosis (CF) population are not well studied in our part of the world. Therefore, we aimed to ascertain the Vitamin D status in pediatric and adolescent CF patients and its association with pulmonary exacerbations. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital from 2015 to 2018. Patients of CF with sweat chloride value >60 mmol/l and who had at least one measurement of 25 hydroxy Vitamin D (25 OHD) were included in the study. Annual serum Vitamin D levels were documented for enrolled patients and their past 1-year data were analyzed for pulmonary exacerbations, average length of stay, and tracheal/airway colonization with organisms. Results: 69 patients were included in the study. 28 patients (40.57%) were found to be Vitamin D deficient, 22 patients (31.88%) were Vitamin D insufficient and 19 patients (27.53%) were labeled as Vitamin D insufficient. The average number of exacerbations per year was significantly high in Vitamin D deficient group (3.71 ± 0.96) in comparison with insufficient (3.18 ± 1.09) and sufficient groups (2.26 ± 0.93) ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is related to an increased number of annual pulmonary exacerbations and pseudomonas infections.

SummaryA 20-year-old young male patient presented with limited mouth opening and cosmetic disfigurement since childhood. On examination, marked mandibular hypoplasia resulting in a convex facial profile was noted. Further radiographic investigation using orthopantomograph and CT scan with three-dimensional reconstruction revealed bifid mandibular condyle of the right side. BACKGROUND

Background: Thyroid cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasm worldwide. Among Indians, thyroid cancer constitutes 3.96% of total cancers. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with distinctive nuclear features. PTC represents, about 85% of all malignant thyroid neoplasm. Though histopathological diagnosis is the gold standard for PTC diagnosis, pathologists usually face difficulty due to morphologic overlap between follicular neoplasms and PTC, especially the follicular variant of PTC. CD56 is a neuroendocrine marker and an antigen important for the follicular epithelium differentiation. Recent studies have reported low or absent expression of CD56 in PTC and its presence in normal thyroid tissue, benign thyroid lesions, and most follicular non-PTC tumors. Aims: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of immunohistochemical marker, CD56 in distinguishing PTC from benign thyroid lesions and follicular neoplasms. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective and retrospective case control study conducted at department of Pathology of our institute. All 125 thyroidectomy specimens received during a study period from January 2017 to December 2019 were studied and any already established recurrent case of PTC was excluded. After routine histopathological examination, the expression of CD56 was studied and statistically analyzed. Results: The difference between expression of CD56 antibody in differentiating PTC from other thyroid lesions was found to be statistically significant (p=<0.001). The sensitivity of CD56 was 94.6%, and its specificity was 97.7%. Conclusion: Thus, CD56 was found to be a valuable and sensitive biomarker even when used individually.

Background: The present study was conducted to assess the association of morphometry of the placenta and birth weight of fetus in hypertensive mothers. Subjects and Methods: The present study was conducted on 74 pregnant women with an uncomplicated pregnancy and those with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). The following morphometric parameters of each placenta were recorded: weight, volume, thickness, transverse diameter, and shape. Gestational age of mothers, sex and birth weight of newborns were recorded. Results: The majority of male babies with weight > 2500 grams had > 37 weeks of gestational age and the majority of female babies with weight >2500 grams had >37 weeks of gestational age. The mean weight of placentae in male babies was 416.7 grams, the mean surface area was 226.5 sq cm, mean volume was 372.2 ml and mean thickness were 2.04 cm. while the mean weight of placentae in female babies was 407.5 grams, the mean surface area was 220.4 sq cm, mean volume was 354.6 ml and mean thickness was 2.10 cm. Statistics show that the highest sensitivity and specificity for determining the low birth weight of babies in hypertensive mothers was seen with a surface area of the placenta which was 82.3% and 75.6% respectively. The positive predictive value for the weight of the placenta was 65.4%, for the surface area it was 67.8% and for the volume of the placenta, it was 64.2%. Conclusion: To conclude, it was found that placental morphometry like weight, surface area, volume and sex of the baby determined the birth weight efficiently in hypertensive mothers.

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