Touch imprints cytology of lymph nodes

Touch imprints [Tl] is an inexpensive and a rapid diagnostic technique that can be utilized during surgery. In this study touch imprints of 54 cases of lymphadenopathy were studied and reports were delivered on the same day. The results were correlated with histopathology later on. In 38 cases tuberculosis was diagnosed, 5 were Non Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 7 metastatic tumour and 2 had reactive hyperplasia. From this study it was concluded that touch imprints give early diagnosis with more than 90% accuracy, so it can be used for intraoperative diagnosis in radical surgery

Oral cancer and bio-nutrition

Conspicuous national and international variations in oral cancer incidence and mortality rates, as well as observations in migrant populations, raise the possibility that diet and nutritional status could be an important aetiologic factor in oral carcinogenesis. Abuse of alcohol and tobacco have serious nutritional implications for the host and generate increased production of reactive free radicals as well as elicit immunosuppression. Maintenance of optimal competence of the immune system is critical for cancer surveillance. Active oxygen species and other reactive free radicals mediate phenotypic and genotypic alterations that lead from mutation to neoplasia. Consequently the most widely used chemopreventive agents against oral cancer [e.g. Vitamin A, E, C and beta carotene] are antioxidants/ free radical scavenger. These antioxidants, both natural and synthetic, neutralize metabolic products, interfere with activation of procarcinogens, prevent binding of carcinogens to DNA, inhibit chromosome aberrations, restrain replication of the transformed cell, suppress actions of cancer promoters, and may even induce regession of precancerous oral lesions such as leukoplakia and erythroplakia. This review article underscores the compounding but important roles of nutritional/dietary factors in the longestablished causal link between abuse of alcohol and tobacco [smoking and smokeless] with oral cancer

Role of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy

Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] of 56 cases of lymphadenopathy using a 21 guage needle and Leurlok syringe was performed at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi during 1990-91. The result of the FNAC were compared with histological diagnosis and an accuracy of 95% was achieved. The study correlated highly with the findings of other authors. It was concluded from the study that FNAC is a reliable, easy, rapid and economic technique of diagnosis and can be adopted in our institutions to avoid unnecessary surgery

spectrum of chronic disease and the morphology of chronic hepatitis B and C

To determine the spectrum of chronic liver disease and to study the morphology of chronic Viral Hepatitis B and C, a total of 120 patients with a clinico-pathological of Chronic liver disease were studied. Out of these equal number of seropositive cases for hepatitis B and C [n=60 each] the histopathology revealed that; respectively 25% and 6.6% had Chronic Persistent Hepatitis; 13.3% and 10% had Chronic Lobular Hepatitis; 38.3% and 60% had Chronic Active Hepatitis; 15% and 16.6% had Cirrhosis and 8.3% and 6.6 had Hepato-cellular carcinoma. The patients with Chronic Hepatitis C showed more portal lymphoid aggregates [82.6% versus 26%], Steatosis [76% versus 32%], Mallory body like material in hepatocytes [30.4% in HCV positive cases only], and activation of sinusoidal inflammatory cells [58.6% versus 21.7%]. Whereas the patients with Chronic Hepatitis B showed more of ground glass hepatocytes [54% versus 2.1%] multinucleated giant cells [50% of HBV positive cases only], and liver cell dysplasia [26% versus 15.2%]. In conclusion some these histological parameters were useful in diagnosis of chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B and C viruses

Physicians to patient ratio in the accident and emergency department of Salmaniya medical centre

The average annual number of patients seen in Accident and Emergency [A/E] Department in Salmaniya Medical Center [SMC] is 170,293 and the average time spent by the SMC A/E physician is 10.45 minutes/patient. The purpose of this study is to calculate the optimal number of physicians needed to look after these patients using the Bahrain Civil Service Bureau formula. Our figures indicated a need for a minimum of 33 physicians, but the Department is now run on 16 doctors only. One of the most difficult questions to answer in emergency medicine is "How many physicians on an average do we need to cover our emergency department"? The answer to this question is complex and depends on many factors such as the qualifications and experience of the emergency physicians, the patients flow, the philosophic attitude towards treatment of patients in A/E, the acuteness of the illness, management procedure and the financial structure on which the Emergency Department physicians group is based

Characterization of reed-sternberg cells with granulocyte specific monoclonal antibody

Monoclonal antibody Leu M[1] represents a highly specific marker to locate granulocyte antigen in Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease. Except the L and H variants of Reed-Sternberg cells in lymphocyte predominance variety in which antigens are probably sialylated. All the cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were negative with this marker, because of absence of antigen. Therefore this specific marker characterizes granulocyte origin of Reed- Sternberg cells

Histology of upper gastrointestinal lesions in chronic renal failure [CRF] patients

One hundred and sixty-eight endoscopic biopsies from the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum in patients with chronic renal failure were examined under light microscope for histologic changes. Patients with histologic alterations were picked up in 81% cases compared to 44.6% on endoscopy alone. Both on endoscopy and on histology, stomach was the commonest site involved followed by duodenum and oesophagus. Oesophagitis was seen in 45% of the cases, reflux oesophagitis constituted the majority of these. In stomach, but not in duodenum, 20% cases showed helicobacter like organisms whereas in duodenum blocked glands were seen in 40% of the biopsies. The results were compared in the normal endoscnpic biopsies obtained from G. I. clinic and these served as controls. The correlation between histology and endoscopy was poor when no lesion was detected on endoscopy

Basement membrane pattern in hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions of the endometrium the value of immunoperoxidase stain in the identification of borderline lesions

Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma are sometimes difficult to diagnose on histology alone. It was therefore decided to study the basement membrane pattern of the hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium, with the help of immunoper-oxidase stain, using specific antibody against the laminin component of the basement membrane. For this purpose 25 blocks each of normal endometrium in various phases of menstrual cycle, cystic hyperplasia, adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma were selected for study. The staining was done with Histoset immunoperoxidase staining kit from E.Y. Laboratories. The procedure recommended by the suppliers was adopted. It was based on the methodology described by Sternberger. The stain demonstrated small breaks in a few glands in 4 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, well-defined breaks in 10 cases of non-invasive or micro-invasive carcinomas, gland breaks and fragmentation in 15 cases of frankly invasive adenocarcinoma. An intact basement membrane was seen in the normal endometrium during the various phases of the menstrual cycle and benign hyperplastic endometrium. Thus this technique helped in the differentiation of benign hyperplastic lesions, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and well-differentiated non-invasive or micro-invasive adenocarcinoma

Effects of marine toxins albino rats

An association of toxins of marine animals with a few deaths in fishermen, without any apparent preceding illness, has been suspected for a long time. An experimental study was carried out by injecting venom and toxins of marine animals into albino rats. Significant pathological changes were observed in skin, liver, kidneys, heart and lungs due to physalia venom, and in stomach, kidneys, liver, heart and lungs due to mussel toxins

histopathological study of analgesic hepatotoxicity in rabbit

This study of analgesic hepatotoxicity was conducted on rabbit divided into four equal groups [A-D]. The group "A" served as control. The group "B" animals were administered acetylsalicylic acid [600 mg/Kg/day] orally, while group "C" animals received paracetamol [300 mg/Kg/day]. The group "D" was given both the acetylsalicylic acid [300 mg/Kg/day] and paracetamol [150 mg/I:g/day]. An autopsy was performed on all the animal groups at the end of 4 weeks. On gross and microscopic examination of liver sections, the control animals did not reveal any hepatic abnormality while the group "B" animals showed acute hepatitis [57%], acute cholangitis [14%] and focal necrosis [14%]. The group "C" revealed acute hepatitis in 86% cases. The group "D" receiving combination of drugs showed acute hepatitis [71%] and acute cholangitis [14%]. This study indicates that paracetamol is more toxic to liver as compared to acetylsalicylic acid in higher doses

Potentiating effects of phenobarbitone on the induction of cirrhosis in rats by carbon tetrachloride

The potentiating effects of phenobarbitone sodium on the experimental induction of liver necrosis and cirrhosis by carbon tetrachloride [CCL4] were studied in 50 rats. CC14 was given by intraperitoneal injection, phenobarbitone in drinking water. Thirty rats received both agents; and 10 each received only one agent. In 7 of 10 animals given CC14alone, moderate cirrhosis without ascites developed within 6 to 8 weeks; the other 3 rats died before fourth week. All animals receiving both agents and surviving for as long as 5 to 8 weeks developed severe cirrhosis with marked proliferation of the bile ducts within 2 months. Most of these animals also had ascites. Five rats given only phenobarbitone remained healthy, although their livers increased in weight