[Survey the association between tissue eosinophil counts and prognostic factors of esophageal SCC]

According to World Health Organization reports, the esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma [SCC] is most frequent in north-east of Iran. Infiltration of inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils, may play an important role in biologic behaviors of tumors. Survey the association between tissue eosinophil counts and prognostic factors of esophageal SCC. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted applying a convenience sampling. The archive of pathology department of Imam-Reza Hospital, Mashhad, between 2005-2007 was standard method of Tumor-Associated Tissue Eosinophilia. Mean numbers of eosinophils and mastocytes between different groups of prevascular or preneural invasion, lymph node metastases, tissue differentiation status and depth of invasion were tested statistically. Twenty-five [61.0%] men and 16 [39.0%] women with a mean [Standard Deviation, SD] age of 53.6 [ +/- 14.78] were studied. Mean [SD] number of eosinophils and mastocytes were 115.4 [ +/- 88.16] and 30.7 [ +/- 26.03] respectively. Mean number of eosinophils was higher in patients with prevascular invasion [183.2 vs. 86.9] [p=0.002]. No other statistically significant association was found. Excess number of tissue eosinophils indicates the tendency towards more prevascular invasion. It is recommended to follow these patients intensively

Frequency of macroprolactinemia in hyperprolactinemic patients with simple polyethylene glycol precipitation test

Hyperprolactinemia is seen not only in pregnancy but also in several pathological conditions, However, some patients with hyperprolactinemia are diagnosed as idiopathic, because the causes are unknown. They are subjected to repeated radiological examinations to find a microadenoma, to a long term treatment with bromocriptine, and even to a surgical intervention. There is evidence that macroprolactinemia, in which most circulating PRL form large protein complexes [>150 KDa], is a major cause of idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. Macroprolactinemic patients are clinically characterized by lack of or less hyperprolactinemia - related symptoms. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of macroprolactinemia in hyperprolactinemic patients. Prolactin was measured before and after precipitation of macroprolactin by polyethylene glycole in 113 hyperprolactinemic [PRL>28 micro g/L patients. In 23% of the patients, macroprolactinemia was found. Considering the high prevalence of macroprolactinemia and to avoid diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls, the screening for macroprolactinemia in all hyperprolactinemic patients is recommended