CD(4) counts show significant correlation with FNAC patterns of TBL in HIV patients. Pattern 1, suggestive of poor immunological response (chiefly necrosis, occasional ill defined granuloma, AFB 3+) had low CD(4) counts, while pattern 4, suggestive of good immunological response (well defined granuloma, no necrosis and AFB 1+), had high CD(4) counts. Thus FNAC patterns may be used to predict the CD(4) counts in HIV patients where CD(4) facilities are not available or vice versa.

Polymorphism in Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) has been implicated as one of the causes for Vitamin D deficiency. However there is paucity of data regarding the effect of genetic polymorphism in DBP in Vitamin D deficient patients in our population. This pilot study was undertaken to analyze the common genetic polymorphism in vitamin DBP in these population and its effect on vitamin D supplementation. 80 vitamin D deficient subjects were selected by convenient sampling. Genetic analysis for DBP (GC) gene polymorphism (rs7041 + rs4588) was carried out in all these individuals after informed consent and correlated with the vitamin D levels post supplementation. Six combinations of genotype were obtained (rs7041 + rs4588): TT+CA, TG+CC, TT+CA, TT+CC, TT+AA, GG+CC. A third of all individuals (33%) were found to have the TG+CA genotype, followed by about 26 % of individuals having the GG+CC genotype. TT+CA group was found to have 13% individuals and a tenth of all individuals belonged to each of the groups with TG+CC and TT+AA genotypes. Least proportion of individuals was found to have the TT+CA genotype (6%). There was no significant difference in the vitamin D levels with individual polymorphism (p value <0.01). However the combined genotype had an effect, with homozygotes for both such as TT-CC, TT-AA showing least response and heterozygotes such TG-CA and CG-CC showing better response: In this study, the individual SNP (rs7041 and rs4588) did not seem to significantly influence the response to vitamin D supplementation. However the combined genotype seem ed to influence the proportion of patients showing improvement after supplementation. The homozygotes for both such as TT-CC, TT-AA showing least response and heterozygotes such TG-CA and CG-CC showing better response.

Background Internal quality control IQC samples are used to monitor and evaluate the day to day analytical performance of parameters in a laboratory. While IQC is more useful in evaluating analytical precision External quality assessment EQA can evaluate both precision and agreement with peers. With the introduction of newer software IQC results can also be compared with peers to give an estimate of agreement in values.Aims This study was undertaken to evaluate the agreement between the peer comparison scores obtained from EQA and IQC. The Z-score from EQA was compared with the Standard Deviation Index SDI from IQC peer comparison data using two common chemistry analytes glucose and urea on Siemenrsquos Dimension.Methodology The monthly IQC Data from Unity Real Time URT software and the monthly EQA report of glucose and urea over a period one year was used for obtaining the two scores. The monthly Z score from EQA reports was compared with the corresponding monthly SDI calculated from IQC peer comparison data for the two parameters. Glucose and urea were analyzed on Siemenrsquos Dimension ExL fully automated Chemistry analyzer.Result Our study showed similar trends in the performance of the parameters in the peer comparison scores between IQC and EQA. However there was no statistically significant agreement between the two absolute scores.Conclusion This study shows that although the peer comparison scores in performance of an analyte can be obtained from both IQC and EQA it may not be appropriate to extrapolate the analyte performance observed in IQC to EQA in terms of absolute value in the scores.

Context: Esculetin is a natural polyphenolic compound. It is chemically 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin and one of the ingredients of Cortex fraxini, a Chinese traditional medicine. It is used as a dietary supplement and found as non-toxic. Recently, there are many research works evaluated on esculetin in arthritis with supported molecular mechanisms.Objectives: Esculetin becoming more attractive prodrug for arthritis. Hence, the present minireview will consolidate the targeted site of esculetin in the treatment of arthritis over the past decade.Results: The most important molecular mechanism of esculetin is an antioxidant activities with decreased level of reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species. It also inhibited lipoxygenase 5, lipoxygenase 12, and tyrosinase enzymes. It reduces the inflammation by modulating the key inflammatory enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity. It also lowers the nitrous oxide and prostaglandin E2 level in synovial fluid. Esculetin derivatives such as 5-methoxy esculetin inhibited the activity of nitrogen-activated protein kinases. The updated data also reveal that esculetin suppresses the leukotriene B4 level in plasma of adjuvant-induced arthritis tested animals.Conclusion: The presented update showed that esculetin may be useful as a tool in regulating the mechanism and physiological functions of the inflammatory mediators and enzyme. Hence, the presented review work may be considered as a scientific proof for the development of an attractive drug candidate for the patient with rheumatoid arthritis.