Background: Alcoholism is a major problem in India thereby causing a heavy toll on the health related expenditure of the country. Detection of alcohol abuse rely mainly on clinical details which is sometimes inaccurate or unreliable and hence using a specific diagnostic parameter might be of immense use not only for early diagnosis but also during follow up of the cases. Aims and Objectives:This case control study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) as a sensitive marker to diagnose alcohol abuse.

Introduction: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a red cell measurement given by fully automated hematology analyzers. It is a measure of heterogeneity in the size of circulating erythrocytes. Studies have shown that it is a prognostic marker in non -anemic diabetic patients with symptomatic cardiovascular disease but its correlation with cardiac failure in diabetics has not been studied so far. Moreover, studies have also shown that a higher RDW may reflect an underlying inflammatory state. Since Diabetes is a pro inflammatory state there is a possibility that it might have an influence on the RDW values even when there is no cardiac failure, but research data on this aspect is lacking.B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a proven marker for cardiac failure whose values are comparable with echo cardio graphic findings in assessing the left ventricular dysfunction. Aim and Objectives:This study aimed to find out the correlation between RDW% and serum BNP levels in Diabetics with heart failure (cases) when compared to those without failure (controls). Further, we compared the RDW % values of the cases with controls. Settings and Design :The study was approved by institutional ethical and research committee. A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients attending the Diabetes clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India, during the period of October to December 2013.Hundred known cases of type II Diabetes mellitus attending Diabetes centre of the Hospital, with clinical and Echo cardio graphic features of cardiac failure were included as cases. Hundred age and gender matched diabetics with negative history of cardiovascular disease and with normal Echo cardio graphic features were included as controls. Informed consent was obtained from all the cases and controls.Demographic data and clinical history were gathered from all the cases and controls by using a standardized self -administered questionnaire.Biochemical and hematological parameters which included Fasting and Postprandial blood sugar, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Complete Blood count including RDW and serum BNP were performed for all the cases and controls.Statistical Analysis: Results were tabulated and analysed using SPSS 20.0 version Results: A statistically significant correlation (p<.001) was found between Red cell Distribution Width % and Serum B type Natriuretic Peptide values in the cases. Further, RDW% showed a statistically significant difference between cases and controls.Conclusion: RDW% can be used as a screening parameter to identify cardiac failure in Diabetic patients similar to non-diabetic cardiac failure. RDW% values are significantly higher in cases of Diabetes with failure in comparison to uncomplicated Diabetes.

A 69-year-old male, who presented with complaints of vague abdominal discomfort since two months and with history of malena since one month .The patient is a known case of diabetic and hypertensive, post CABG on regular medication .On physical examination pallor and bilateral minimal pitting pedal edema were seen. Abdomen was soft with epigastric tenderness. There were no organomegaly or free fluid , bowel sounds heard, hernial orifices and renal angle were free and external genitalia appeared normal. Per rectum examination showed normal spinchter tone, and the glove stained black. His haemoglobin was about 5.2g/dl and PCV of 17%, stool for occult blood was positive. Peripheral smear examination showed microcytic hypochromic picture. His renal and liver function tests were normal.Chest X-ray, Echocardiography and ultrasound examination of abdomen were normal. Upper Alimentary tract endoscopy, showed an ulceroproliferative growth in the antrum.Computed tomography abdomen revealed thickening of the gastric antrum. Clinically diagnosed as carcinoma of the stomach with features of anemia. After the correction of anemia the patient underwent subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y Gastro jejunostomy and jejuno-jejunostomy with 5cm clearance proximally. The resected specimen was sent to the Department of Histopathology. On Gross examination, the Subtotal gastrectomy specimen measured 12x8x4 cm. On the cut section an ulcer was identified measuring 3x2 cm along the lesser curvature of the stomach with everted edges and necrotic base [Table/ Fig-1 ].Microscopic evaluation showed a neoplasm in the submucosa [Table/ Fig-2 The post-operative period was uneventful. He was discharged on 13 th post-operative day and followed up on an outpatient basis. He has now completed his 4 th cycle of chemotherapy and he is doing well. Pathology Section aBstRaCtNeuroendocrine carcinomas of stomach have been considered a rare neoplasm. The present case concerns with a 69 year old male, who presented with vague abdominal discomfort and history of malena. Upper alimentary tract endoscopy showed an ulcero-proliferative growth in the antrum. Computed tomography abdomen revealed thickening of the gastric antrum, a subtotal gastrectomy was performed after correction of anemia. Microscopic evaluation revealed a neuroendocrine neoplasm. Immunohistochemically positive for Chromogranin A and Synaptophysin.A diagnosis of Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach was given based on recent WHO classification of Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach and on mitotic index with reference to grading scale.[table/ Fig-1

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Background: Second year undergraduate medical students lack an integrated approach towards the basic laboratory data. So, they find it difficult when analytical exercises are asked for in pathology practical examinations. A Complete Health Checkup (CHC) is one exercise where an individual undergoes a clinical examination, followed by various basic laboratory tests, along with other tests like ECG, X-ray and USG of the abdomen. A critical analysis of such charts would help in developing higher cognitive skills in the form of integration of all the data which is available, in order to arrive at a final diagnosis.We hypothesized that facilitating the students to analyze a set of clinical pathology tests by using CHC charts as modules would enhance their integrated approach towards the laboratory data. Aim:To evaluate the use of pre designed complete health charts which were designed to enhance the students' ability to apply and integrate their knowledge on the clinical pathology data.