distinct autosomal recessive ocular anomaly in Chaharborj, Islamic Republic of Iran

In Chaharborj, a village in north-eastern of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a high prevalence of congenital blindness [1.1%] has been reported. The clinical findings have not been fully described. We therefore assessed the clinical aspects of this condition in a case series of 20 congenially blind patients and 24 of their parents. All patients had been blind since birth. There was anterior segment dysgenesis and retinal non-attachment in all patients. There were no systemic anomalies. Histopathologically, there was iridocorneal adhesion, normal angle structure and retinal dysplasia. No significant difference was found in the frequency of different HLA class I alleles compared with the general population. The anomaly causing congenital blindness in these patients has components of both anterior and posterior segment dysgenesis. It appears to be a distinct entity with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance

Predicting factors for anastomotic leakage after esophageal cancer resection

Esophageal anastomosis leaks continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy. The purpose of the present study was to identify the predisposing factors of esophageal anastomotic leakage. 95 patients who underwent surgical resection for esophageal or cardia cancer were included for the study. The mean age of the patients was 59.5 years and male to female ratio was 1.56 to 1. The preferred management strategy for anastomotic leakage was the conservative approach when possible. The operative approach was reserved for those patients with fulminant sepsis or those who did not respond to the conservative management. Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software and P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Sixty six patients had cervical esophageal anastomosis and 29 had intrathoracic anastomosis; 18.9% anastomotic leakage was diagnosed. Patients with symptoms longer than 6 months prior to operation, and diabetic patients had a significantly higher risk of anastomotic leakage. Our data showed that the presences of diabetes mellitus as well as prolonged symptoms [more than six months] are associated with higher anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy. Controlling blood glucose, early diagnosis of esophageal cancer, early resection of tumor before a long-term period of symptoms, and effective screening program for esophageal cancer may reduce the risk of esophageal leakage

Telecytology in the diagnosis of pleural effusion smears

Telecytologic diagnosis of pleural effusion smears is potentially useful because it could allow more efficient use of cytopathologist resources and expertise. The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate how well this type of review correlates with a review which the entire silde is available for examination by the. pathologist. 35 pleural effusion smears with different diagnosis were selected retrospectively. they includ 16 benign, 5 suspiicious for malignancy and 14 malignant which were confirmed with two expert cytopathologists. for each slide number 3 to 11 fields containing abnormal cells were digitaly imaged. Pathologists reviewed all glass slides and digitized images individually. Diagnoses based on selected digitized images were compared with those based on conventional review. The kappa static, a measure of chance-corrected agreement [reroducibility], was calculated in each setting. The interobserver kappa value for the 3 observe for the slides was 76%. The interobserver kappa value for the digital images was 67%. The disagreement between a pathologist's glass slide and digital dignose [mean intraobserver kappa value = 73%] is greate than that or different pathologists reviewing glass slides [mean slide interobserverr kappa value= 76%]. Overall, intraobserver and intreobserrver reproducibility of pleural effusion slides [consists of direct smear after centrifugation and cytospin preparation] diagnoses is good to excellent

Immunohistochemical expression of P53 protein in histologically favorable Wilms tumor and its relationship to tumor stage at presentation

Wilms tumor, as the most common renal tumor of children, has been associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Although a correlation between anaplasia and mutations of P53 tumor suppresser gene has been found in Wilms tumor, significance of these mutations in different clinical stages of favorable- Wilms tumor, remains largely unresolved. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of P53 expression in histologically favorable Wilms tumors and its correlation to tumor-stage at presentation. In this retrospective study, 48 cases of confirmed Wilms tumor with favorable-histology were retrieved from the files of departments of pathology in three hospitals in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences between 1990 and 2004. Histological characteristics and clinicopathological staging were in accordance with National Wilms Tumor Study guidelines. P53 expression was determined by the immunohistochemical method. For each section, the proportion of neoplastic cells exhibiting nuclear positivity was broadly quantified and their intensity of staining was charted, based on visual impression by two pathologists. A total of 48 cases of histologically favorable Wilms tumor were assessed. Eleven cases [23%] showed positivity for P53 which were 3 [27.3%] with stage II, 3 [27.3%] with stage IV, 2 [18.2%] with stage I, 2 [18.2%] with stage III and 1 case [9.1%] with stage V. The P53 immunopositivity was seen in 1-25% of tumor cells in 9 cases [18.8%], in 26 to 50% of tumor cells in 1 case [2.1%] and in >75% of tumor cells in the other one case [2.1%]. The intensity of staining was moderate in 6 cases [12.5%], weak in 4 [6.3%] and strong only in one case 4.2%]. The most common component with P53 immunoreactivity was blastemal in 11 cases [100%]. In 4 cases [36.4%] there was also positivity in epithelial and in 2 cases [18.2%] in mesenchymal components. We found no correlation of P53 immunoreactivity and its intensity to tumor stage at presentation in individuals with histologyically favorable Wilms tumors [p=0.66, p=0.52 respectively]

Isolation of Biosurfactant producing bacteria from oil reservoirs

Biosurfactants or surface-active compounds are produced by microoaganisms. These molecules reduce surface tension both aqueous solutions and hydrocarbon mixtures. In this study, isolation and identifi-cation of biosurfactant producing bacteria were assessed. The potential application of these bacteria in petroleum industry was investigated. Samples [crude oil] were collected from oil wells and 45 strains were isolated. To confirm the ability of isolates in biosurfactant production, haemolysis test, emulsification test and measurement of surface tension were conducted. We also evaluated the effect of different pH, salinity concentrations, and temperatures on biosurfactant production. Among importance features of the isolated strains, one of the strains [NO.4: Bacillus.sp] showed high salt tolerance and their successful production of biosurfactant in a vast pH and temperature domain and reduced surface tension to value below 40 mN/m. This strain is potential candidate for microbial enhanced oil recovery. The strain4 biosurfactant component was mainly glycolipid in nature

histopathological changes of mice liver due to morphine administration

Morphine is an opioid analgesic and has known effects on different organs. This study was done to determine the histopatological; changes of liver due to morphine administration in adult mice. In this experimental study, 20 male Blab/c mice divided experiment and control groups. In experiment and control group, animals received 15mg/kg/day morphine and salin normal interperitoneally, for 2days respectively. Day 22 the livers were dissected under anesthesiology. Specimens were processed for histological study and stanied with H and E. In experimental group, small sites of necrosis with poly morphic inflammatory infiltration and debris formation of necrotized nucleus in death area, so hepatitis was suggested. Also accumulation of micro droplets of lipid inside the hepatocyte cytoplasm withont nucleus displacement [fatty damages with small vacuoles] observed in cases. In addition, microvesicular steatosis and mouth teeth necrosis in liver parenchyma with inflammation in the vein and portal space were seen in cases. Any changes was not seen in control group. The interperitoneal administration of morphine can cause histopatological changes in mice liver