Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women; it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the United States with a lifetime risk of dying of about 3.4%. Regional lymph node involvement is quite early in breast carcinoma and axillary lymph node metastasis is an important predictor of recurrence and survival, particularly in invasive ductal histology of breast carcinoma. Localization of sentinel lymph node/nodes followed by frozen section and histopathological evaluation helps to prevent unnecessary axillary nodal dissection and, hence, reduces associated post-surgical morbidity. Sentinel nodes are the first ones to receive lymph-borne metastatic cells and, hence, lymphoscintigraphy followed by biopsy is quite reliable to detect nodal metastasis, particularly at an early stage (I, II) of breast cancer. Methods: Here we will share our experience of introducing procedure, personnel training, and workflow of sentinel lymph node lymphoscintigraphy in breast cancer patients at our cancer institute to help other centers establish programs for this study. Results: Initially, 10 procedures were performed, all of which were successful in the localization of sentinel nodes and played a substantial part in the surgical planning of breast cancer. Planar lymphoscintigraphy and single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT)-CT images of our first patient revealed radiotracer avidity in the lymph node in the ipsilateral axilla, which was later on diagnosed as metastatic resulting in axillary nodal clearance. Conclusions: In multidisciplinary/closely-placed surgical, pathological, and hybrid imaging facility settings, lymphoscintigraphy provides a quick, accurate, and better way of nodal localization leading to correct surgical decision-making. In addition to planar imaging, SPECT-CT acquisition significantly improves the specificity of the lymphoscintigraphy procedure, which is beneficial for patients to avoid false-positive results, thus saving breast cancer patients from potential adverse effects of surgery.

Background: HIV has been under serious consideration by the World Health Organization as well as the Federal government and Provincial health departments. Strict measures have been taken and protocols implemented to curtail the spread of HIV along with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Data from privately-run blood banks have not been reflected in the last 15 years. Aim: To identify current trends of HIV positivity in Lahore Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology & Laboratory, Doctors Hospital & Medical Centre, Lahore from August 2021 to January 2022. After fulfilling the selection criteria 3160 non-remunerated blood donors selected through non-probability consecutive sampling, were enrolled. Anti-HIV test was performed using chemiluminescence. Results: 3160 voluntary blood donors were investigated. All subjects were males with mean age 29.7 years ranging from 21 years to 46 years. 2 candidates for blood donation (0.06%) were tested positive for HIV. Conclusion: This study reflects stagnation in HIV control as depicted by the frequency of its positivity. There is need to enhance awareness programs in controlling the spread of blood borne diseases especially HIV. Keywords: HIV, blood donor, blood borne diseases, blood transfusion

Aim: To determine the viral load in the patients admitted in Covid-19 isolation and its correlation with the inflammatory markers and the following clinical outcome. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted in the Pathology Department of Doctors Hospital and Medical Centre in Lahore, Pakistan from November 2020 to January 2021. IRB approval was granted. A total of 86 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Data was analyzed using research tool SPSS 24. Results: Increased serum viral load in SARS-CoV-2 infection showed positive correlation with inflammatory markers IL-6 (P =0.04) and D-dimer (P =0.029). Inflammatory markers LDH, Ferritin, Procalcitonin, D-Dimers and viral load itself (CT) all correlated with higher mortality while IL-6 did not. Conclusion: Serum viral load in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 correlates with higher mortality rates itself and also raises certain inflammatory markers (IL-6, D-Dimers), which are independently accountable for causing higher mortality as well. Hence, increased inflammatory markers resulted in poor prognosis regardless of high or low viral load. Their correlation with mortality can still serve as prognostic indicators. Keywords: viral load, inflammatory markers, Covid-19, mortality

Objective: To determine immature platelet fraction (IPF) in patients with thrombocytopenia and correlation with their bone marrow findings and to determine its predictive value in differentiating peripheral (hyper destructive) thrombocytopenia from central (hypo-productive) thrombocytopenia.