Endobronchial ultrasonography for lung cancer staging in negative mediastinum on computed tomography

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer -related deaths. Chest CT scan is fre-quently unreliable in staging mediastinal lymph node metastases of lung cancer, since interpretation relies on lesion size. EBUS offers a unique way of imaging and parabronchial structures. The pro-cedure is safe, minimally invasive and does not require general anesthesia or hospitalization. The complication rate is extremely low. This study was conducted on eleven patients who were found without CT evidence of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Bronchoscopy and EBUS were performed for the diagnosis of lung cancer. TBLB of detected mediastinal lymph nodes was performed. CT guided biopsies were done for non-diagnosed cases. In this study bronchogenic carcinoma was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy in 6 cases [54.5%], by EBUS-TBNA in 2 cases [18.2%], and by CT guided biopsy in 3 cases [27.3%]. From the eleven patients with negative CT scan, EBUS of mediastinal L.N was positive in four cases [36.4%]. The first case showed 2 small subcarinal L.N station [7] and 2 right hilar lymph node stations[10R]. In the second case EBUS detected 2 subcarinal lymph node stations [7] and one left hilar station [10L] In the third case there was one subcarinal lymph node station [7]. The fourth case showed a left hilar lymph node station [10L]. EBUS is safe and minimally invasive technique in the detection of mediastinal lymph metastasis. EBUS in combination with conventional radiologic tools may contribute to improve diagnosis and staging of lung cancer

Histopathological, morphometric and quantitative study on the effect of garlic against PCBs-induced hepatic toxicity in rats

Olychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] are widespread persistent residual environmental contaminants, which have been widely used for various industrial applications. The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of garlic against the hepatic toxicity of PCBs in rats. Four groups of animals were used in this study [control, garlic, PCBs and PCBs plus gartic] for 15 days. Histopathological and histochemical changes in the liver were investigated. In addition, nuclear area, nuclear volume, the ratio of nuclear volume/cellular volume and fibrotic areas were measured in the liver. Histopathological and histochemical observations showed severe damage in the liver. Garlic co-treatment to the PCBs-administered rats attenuated the increase of the mean values of nuclear area, nuclear volume, the ratio of nuclear volume/cellular volume and fibrotic area. Also, the morphological damage in the liver was reduced and the tissues appeared more or less normal. The present study suggests that garlic may be useful in combating damage due to PCBs toxicity

Application of morphometry as a new diagnostic determinant in differentiating mucinous and non-mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma in Egypt

Many different techniques, today, such as morphometry, sterology and flowcytometry are well established and routinely used in diagnostic quantitative pathology yet not popular in Egypt. The potential significance of these techniques includes the objective distinction between bordecline and malignant lesions. objective grading of tumor invasion and prediction of prognosis. Primary tumors from fifty patients both mucinous adenocarcinoma and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma in different grades [Nuclear Grade I. II, III] including metastatic and non-metastatic types were analyzed using an image analysis system for the following size variables: Nuclear area, cellular areas, thickness of the cell membrane and the ratio of nuclear area/cellular area. maximum and minimum Diameter and form features. Seven colonic adenomas were only used as control for measurement. The results revealed a significant difference in cellular areas, thickness of the cell membrane and the ratio of nuclear area/cellular area in mucinous adenocarcinoma and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma but there is no significant difference in nuclear area between mucinous adenocarcinoma and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma. Quantitative measurements of the nuclear variables are useful in accurately discriminate the patients with different colonic cancer types with better staging and better follow-up and treatment

Interstitial pulmonary disease in hepatitis C virus patients

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection has been reported in association with several extrahepatic manifestations. Included in this list is interstitial lung involvement. This study aimed to elucidate the association of HCV infection with interstitial pulmonary involvement and to investigate the relationship of severity of hepatic affection and respiratory functional and radiological changes among involvement. Thirty patients with proved hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection from the outpatient clinic of tropical department of Kasr El-Aini hospital were enrolled in this study. High resolution CT [HRCT] chest was performed to all the patients. Pulmonary changes were detected in HRCT of 14 patients [46.6%]. Lung spirometry was done to all of them. FVC%, and FEV1% were abnormal in 6 patients [20%], FEF25-75% were abnormal in 3 patients [10%]. DLCO was measured in 23 patients and was abnormal in 3 patients [13%]. Liver biopsy results according to the fibrosis stage [METAVIR fibrosis grading scale] revealed to be grade I in 11 patients [36.7%], grade II in 9 patients [30%], grade III in 8 patients [26.7%] and grade IV in 2 patients [6.7%]. The study showed significant inverse correlation between viremia level with DLCO% pred as well as significant direct correlation between liver fibrosis stages with AFP, FEV1/FVClevel and HRCT score in the studied patients. In addition to this AFP was directly correlated with the HRCT score. Otherwise, there was no significant correlation between the following variables: HRCT score and pulmonary function tests, Liver fibrosis with FEV1%, FVC%, DLCO% and viremia level, Alphafetoprotein with pulmonary function tests and viremia level in the studied patients and Age with pulmonary function tests, AFP, liver fibrosis, and viremia level and HRCT chest