Significance of deep section in small gastric biopsies.

Aim of Study: Chronic gastritis is defined as the presence of chronic mucosal inflammatory changes leading eventually to mucosal atrophy and epithelial metaplasia. This condition constitutes a background for dysplasia and thereby carcinoma. Detection of exact histopathology of inflammatory process is necessary in biopsy specimen. We designed the current study to determine the value of taking more sections in small gastric biopsies for better histopathologic evaluation. Materials and Methods: Gastric biopsy specimen of children who suffered from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms was sent in 10% formalin to our laboratory. After routine processing, three slides with several sections on them were taken from the specimen: t0 he first was named the superficial section, the second was stained by Giemsa and the third was named deep section (further sections after this slide will diminish in size). The slides were not taken exactly consecutively but several sections were discarded between them. The purpose of this study is to compare the superficial and deep sections for detection of inflammatory processes. Results: In 1062 specimens the results of superficial section and deep section were the same (87.1%) and in 158 specimens the results were different. In 88 (7.2%) specimens deep section was diagnostic. The difference was seen usually as normal tissue in superficial sections but presence of lymphoid follicle in deep sections. The difference between superficial and deep sections was statistically significant. Although obtaining more sections will put an economic burden on the laboratory, we propose that in small gastric biopsies, it is helpful in better evaluation of histopathological changes.

Liver needle biopsy in Iraninan pediatric patients: diagnostic significance and pattern of liver diseases.

We aimed at determining the pattern of liver disease in the Iranian children referred to the Medical Center of Children affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted over 2 years, 425 liver needle biopsies were sent to the pathology laboratory of our center. Slides were prepared from paraffin-embedded blocks, stained by routine H & E and special stains and were then reviewed. The frequency of each disorder, separately and in combination with the age group or gender of the patients was calculated and compared with other similar studies. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.42:1. The age range was between 1 month and 18 years old and 41.4% were less than 2 years old. The most common histological diagnosis was iron overload due to major thalassemia (17.5%) followed by biliary atresia (9.7%), no significant pathologic change (8.7%), neonatal hepatitis (8.7%), chronic hepatitis (8.5%), cirrhosis (6.5%), metabolic disease (5.5%) and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (5%). Results of the hemosiderosis grading in patients with thalassemia revealed no or minimal, mild, medium, or marked increase in 10%, 27.1%, 10%, 21.4% and 31.5% of the cases, respectively and the degree of iron deposition rose in parallel with age and also the stage of fibrosis (p< 0.05). Conclusion: A liver biopsy is a useful and practical tool for the appropriate diagnosis of pediatric liver diseases. Also, we found that in non thalassemic children, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis and neonatal hepatitis, in the stated order, are the most prevalent histologic diagnoses in Iranian pediatrics.

Trends in antimicrobial resistance of fecal Shigella and Salmonella isolates in Tehran, Iran.

CONTEXT: The resistance of bacteria to commonly prescribed antibiotics is increasing both in developing as well as developed countries. Resistance has emerged even to newer, more potent antimicrobial agents. The present study was therefore undertaken to report resistance rates to antimicrobial agents in 2487 stool culture isolates in a tertiary care hospital between 1996 and 2000 and 2001 and 2005. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 1996 to 2005, 31776 fecal samples were collected from all patients having diarrhea aged> 1 month to 14 years old. Microbiology records were reviewed and information on each isolate regarding its antimicrobial susceptibility profile was collected and recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, Version 11.5 software. RESULTS: Of the positive fecal cultures, 1329 (53.43%) of the isolates were Shigella spp and 700 (28.14%) of the isolates were Salmonella spp. Resistance to antimicrobial agents increased among most of the pathogens between 2001 and 2005. An increase in the rate of resistance was observed in Shigella spp for kanamycin (from 11 to 37%) and ceftazidime (from 1 to 9.9%) and among Salmonella spp. for nalidixic acid (from 9.2 to 42.3%) and ceftazidime (from 3 to 23.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Routine surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibilities to all classes of clinically used agents is necessary to detect resistance trends in different parts of world, detecting the emergence of new resistance mechanisms that guide infection control measures and public health guidelines; such trends may help in identifying outbreaks of resistant organisms. Such a check seems to be the best way to find appropriate antibiotic regimens.