ABSTRACT
Background and objective: Immunohistochemistry is the application of immunologic principles and techniques to demonstrate molecules in cells and tissues. Gene p53 is a tumor-suppressor gene. The product of this gene is a nuclear protein thought to be involved in the control of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and the maintenance of genomic stability. Gene p53 is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor gene found in human cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate p53 protein over expression in skin cancer and compare it with benign skin lesion
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on paraffin block from skin biopsy of 36 patients with various skin lesions; eight benign cases and 28 malignant cases. The sample of patients was collected from the Pathology Laboratory in Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq from December 2011 to December 2012. The age of the patients ranged from 34 to 80 years. The p53 protein over expression was investigated by immunohistochemical staining. Sample sections were stained and scored
Results: Nineteen out of 28 [76.8%] skin cancer showed over expression of p53 gene compared with benign skin lesion and there was a statistically significant difference. There was statistical significant difference in relation to the age group of patients with various skin cancers which was higher in patient above 40 years
Conclusion: Increased expression of p53 a nuclear protein can be detected in human skin cancer compared with benign skin lesion and it may play an important role in pathogenesis of many types of skin cancers
ABSTRACT
Herpes simplex virus type 2 linked to the genital tract infection may produce significant acute or chronic cervicitis. Identification of the virus is important due to its association with genital tract disease and sexual transmission. The virus establishes lifelong latency with periodic reactivation. Therefore, it causes significant physical and psychological morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess and compare cytological examination with serological test in the diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus type 2. This study included 104 women. Pap smear was collected from 24 healthy women as a control group [group A], 40 patients with severe cervicitis on cytological examination [group B] and 40 patients with atypical cervicitis [group C]. Blood sample was obtained from the patients and the control group and tested for Herpes simplex virus type 2 specific serology. The ages of the studied groups ranged from 21-53 years. They were referred to the Maternity Teaching Hospital and private laboratories in Erbil city, Kurdistan region, Iraq during the period from December 2011 to December 2012. Herpes simplex virus type 2 IgG antibodies were found in 10 sera from patients with nonspecific cervicitis [group-B] and only in three patients with atypical cervicitis [group-C]. No positive serological test was identified in the control group. All Pap smear results showed features suggestive of cervicitis but without viral cytopathic herpetic changes. The serological test was superior to cytology for the diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in women presented with cervicitis with no clinically apparent genital ulcer or blisters