The future molecular cloning of the candidate tumor suppressor gene at 5p15.1-15.2 may provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms of cervical carcinogenesis. Analysis and clinical follow-up of a large cohort of prospectively ascertained cases of precancerous lesions would help to validate the usefulness of these markers.

Sixty primary untreated squamous cell carcinomas were studied for C-erbB2 gene amplification by non-fluorescence in situ hybridization technique. Amplified tumour cells showed intranuclear dark brown, often paired signals under light microscopy. Twenty-two out of 60 tumours (36.6%) showed signs of amplification of different degree (+ to ++++). Considerable heterogeneity of C-erbB2 amplification per cell was seen within each amplified tumour. The proportion of amplified cells ranged between 10 and 90% in these tumours. The arrangement of C-erbB2 in clusters in most amplified tumours suggests that C-erbB2 amplification occurs intrachromosomally. No significant difference in the frequency of amplification was observed according to clinical stage or the histological patterns of the tumours. The results of the present study showed frequent amplification of C-erbB2 in cervical carcinoma on paraffin sections. This technique was found to be more sensitive than the Southern blot technique which could detect amplification in 14% of the tumours of the same cohort.

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BACKGROUND- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Initial evidence suggests that Procalcitonin (PCT) can act as a potential blood based biomarker in AMI. Therefore, it may be helpful in prognostication and risk-stratication of patients with STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and help us to predict the risk of cardiovascular complications and outcome. AIM- To study the association of PCTlevels at the time of admission with incidence of cardiovascular complications in terms of cardiogenic shock, heart failure, arrhythmia and death in patients admitted with STEMI. METHOD- Aprospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre of India. Patients diagnosed with STEMI were enrolled in the study after making the necessary exclusions. The PCT levels were checked at the time of admission along with electrocardiography (ECG), Echocardiography, Troponin I ,total leukocyte count (TLC), blood urea, creatinine and liver function test (LFT). Patients were followed till discharge / death and outcomes were recorded. RESULT- Two hundred and fty patients were included in the study (57.60 % males, mean age- 59.77±13.63 years). High PCT levels (>0.10 ng/ml) were signicantly associated with cardiovascular complications in terms of cardiogenic shock, arrhythmia's, heart failure and signicant left ventricular dysfunction. Raised PCTlevel was found to be a good predictor of mortality (relative risk =10.51). CONCLUSION- Raised PCT levels were associated with higher cardiovascular complications and mortality in patients with STEMI. PCT levels at the time of admission may be useful as a biomarker in prognostication and risk stratication of STEMI patients.

Background: Age and diabetes are important prognostic factors in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing thrombolysis. In our study we compared the post-thrombolytic effect of streptokinase in elderly diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in tertiary care center of India in which 140 elderly patients diagnosed with STEMI and undergoing thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase were enrolled after making necessary exclusions and were divided into diabetic (n=70) and non-diabetic (n=70) as study and control groups respectively. ECG was done immediately before and at 60 minutes after thrombolytic therapy. ST-segment resolution was measured and patients were classied as failed (<30%), partial (30-70%) and successful (>70%) resolution of STsegment. Results: Failed thrombolysis was evident in 34.3% non-diabetic and 57.1% diabetic patients (p=0.010). The incidence of successful thrombolysis was present in 41.4% non-diabetic and 28.6% diabetic patients, whereas partial thrombolysis was seen in 24.3% non-diabetic and 14.3% diabetics. Anterior wall was the most common location of infarction in elderly population but the proportion was higher in diabetics than non-diabetics (p=0.025). Conclusion: Failed thrombolysis with streptokinase was higher in diabetics than in non-diabetics after 60 minutes of streptokinase infusion in elderly patients warranting the need of using another cost effective and easily available agent for elderly diabetic population.