To determine the association between E-cadherin expression and hormone receptors status in patients with breast cancer.

Cross-sectional study.

Department of Medical Oncology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan, from March to December 2019.

Two hundred and forty-eight women, aged 18-65 years with histologically proven diagnosis of breast carcinoma, were included in the study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed for the evaluation of E-Cadherin expression and status of hormonal receptors [Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR) and HER-2-neu]. The positive homogeneous pattern of staining for the cellular membranes is considered normal. The non-homogeneous or the heterogeneous pattern of the cytoplasm and membrane, represented aberrant E-cadherin expression (loss of E-cadherin expression). SPSS version 23 was used to analyse data.

The results of IHC showed that 82.7% of the tumours were E-cadherin positive, 65.7% were ER positive, 62.9% were PR positive and 29.4% were HER 2 positive. A normal pattern of immunostaining of E-cadherin for the membranes is seen in hormone receptor positive and young patients with low grade tumour. Aberrant E-cadherin expression (loss of E-Cadherin)was noticed inHER 2 negative, postmenopausal women with high grade large size tumour(p<0.05).

The study showed that there is significant association between E-cadherin expression and hormone receptor status, HER2-neu, menopausal status, age of patients, grade of tumour and size of tumour. Key Words E-cadherin, Hormone receptors, Breast carcinoma, ER, PR and HER 2.

The study showed that there is significant association between E-cadherin expression and hormone receptor status, HER2-neu, menopausal status, age of patients, grade of tumour and size of tumour. Key Words E-cadherin, Hormone receptors, Breast carcinoma, ER, PR and HER 2.

To determine clinical features and biochemical markers in COVID-19 patients at a tertiary care hospital, in Multan.

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan, Pakistan, from March to June 2020.

Sixty-three cases of all ages admitted in Isolation ward, Combined Military Hospital, Multan with COVID-19 were included. Clinical features like fever, cough and shortness of breath were recorded. click here Blood sample was collected in plain tube for biochemical features like serum albumin, ferritin, AST, LDH, CRP and urea, which were analysed in Pathology Department of the Hospital. Association of the clinical features and these biochemical markers were determined.

In 63 patients, only one (1.6%) patient was between 1 to 12 years, 42 (66.7 %) belonged to 13 to 45 years while 20 (31.7%) patients were between 46 to 95 years. Mean age was 41.39+15.68 years. Forty-eight (76.2%) patients were males and 15 (23.8%) females. Thirteen (20.6%) patients presented with fever, 14 (22.2%) had productive cough and only 3 (4.8%) patients were aware of known history of contact. Median (IQR) value of serum ferritin, LDH, albumin, AST, CRP and urea were 176.5 (252) ng/ml, 284 (96) IU/L, 42 (7) g/L, 28 (22) U/L, 3.9 (11) mg/L and 4.25 (1.6) mmol/L, respectively.

Pakistani patients with COVID-19 disease showed variable pattern of clinical features. Specific biochemical markers, particularly serum ferritin, may help in diagnosis. Key Words Covid-19, Clinical features, Biochemical features, Multan, Pakistan.

Pakistani patients with COVID-19 disease showed variable pattern of clinical features. Specific biochemical markers, particularly serum ferritin, may help in diagnosis. Key Words Covid-19, Clinical features, Biochemical features, Multan, Pakistan.

To analyse the distribution of malnutrition in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and its effect on treatment outcome and survival in Pakistani children.

Descriptive, analytical study.

Department of Paediatric Oncology, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan from January 2012 to January 2019.

Data of all newly registered cases of paediatric AML was analysed to see the association of nutritional status according to Z-score classification and treatment outcome. The outcome was divided into disease-free and overall survival.

A total of 206 cases, including 130 (63.1%) boys and 76 (36.9%) girls were evaluated. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.96 ± 3.58 years. Pallor was the most common clinical feature in 172 (83.5%) followed by fever in 158 (76.7%) cases. AML M-2 was the most frequent French-American-British (FAB) subtype in 94 (45.6%) cases. Majority of the patients (n = 128, 62.1%) were well nourished; and 46 (22.3%) and 32 (15.5%) were moderately and severely malnourished, respectively. Disease-free survival (DFS) was 43.0%, 32.6% and 21.9% in well nourished, moderately malnourished and severely malnourished patients, respectively (p=0.022). Overall survival (OS) was 43.8%, 39.1% and 21.9% in well nourished, moderately malnourished and severely malnourished patients, respectively (p=0.012).

Malnutrition adversely affects the treatment outcome in paediatric AML. It is significantly associated with increased treatment-related mortality, mainly due to infection and decreased disease-free and overall survival. Key Words Paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia, Mortality, Nutritional status, Weight-for-age, Z score, Pakistan.

Malnutrition adversely affects the treatment outcome in paediatric AML. It is significantly associated with increased treatment-related mortality, mainly due to infection and decreased disease-free and overall survival. Key Words Paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia, Mortality, Nutritional status, Weight-for-age, Z score, Pakistan.

To investigate the incidence, clinical features, and risk factors of opportunistic infections in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Observational study.

Department of Digestive and Geriatrics Center, Sichuan University West China Hospital, China between January 2012 and January 2019.

Patients (≥18 years) with IBD were enrolled in this study. Clinical data from the infected elderly group (age ≥60 years), non-infected elderly group (age ≥60 years) and infected adult group (age 18-59 years) were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used for risk factors associated with opportunistic infection.

A total of 8.9% (307/3,456) of patients with IBD had opportunistic infection. The opportunistic infection rate of elderly group was 16.5% (80/485), which was significantly higher than that of adult group (7.6%, 227/2,971, p <0.05). Compared with infected adult group or non-infected elderly group, infected elderly group had less fever and leukocytosis, but more hypoproteinemia and several activities (p <0.