Evaluation of relationship between cytomegalovirus infection and skin squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma by using IHC technique

Skin squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] has high potency for aggression and metastasis; Basal cell carcinoma [BCC] is the most common form of skin cancers. These tumors are highly prevalent in middle-aged and old persons and have a high recurrence risk. Few studies showed the relationship between these tumors and cytomegalovirus [CMV]. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of CMV infection in these skin cancers. In this cross-sectional study, 60 paraffin embedded tissues including 30 SCC and 30 BCC blocks with non-involved margins were collected. Then slides were prepared by cytomegalovirus specified immunohistochemical staining. They were compared with positive control case under light microscope. From 30 SCC cases, 4 cases [13.3%] and 1 margin from non-involved cases were positive for CMV. From 30 BCC cases, 2 cases [6.7%], but no margin, were positive for CMV. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of CMV infection according to histological grade, age, site of lesion or margins. The findings of this study do not support the association of CMV infection with SCC and BCC

[ evaluation of tubule formation in breast cancer using fraction of fileds showing tubular differentiation [FTD] method and compare it with conventional methods]

Histological grading is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. So far, there has not been any available method for quantitative estimation of tubular differentiation. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the experimental and conventional method and compare the reproducibility of it with the other quantitative and semi-quantitative methods using 200 morphometric microscopic magnifications. In this descriptive-analytical study which, conducted in 2006, a total of 38 histological samples of breast invasive ductal carcinoma were selected of 38 histological samples of breast invasive ductal carcinoma were selected and tubular differentiation was assessed by two pathologists using three methods. The first method [conventional], the rate of tubular differentiation [a portion of tumor with malignant tubules] to the total sample calculated and shown in percentage. The second one, was the fraction of fields showing tubular differentiation [FTD], and the third one was the subjective evaluation of each field and then considering the mean of all fields. Using Friedman test, the difference between the 3 methods was compared and Kappa test was used to compare the reproducibility of each method between the two observers. The results showed that using the second method, the scoring of the samples by the two observers was almost the same. It means that Kappa indices in the first, second, and third method was 0.4, 0.832, and 0.558, respectively [p<0.001]. Also, Friedman test showed that there was statistically significant difference between the findings of each of the observers in any of the 3 methods used [p<0.001]. Base on the results, FTD has higher reproducibility than that of other two methods. Thus, it can be used as a simple method in assessment of tubular differentiation

Frequency of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries of autopsy specimens in Insfahan forensic medicine Center

Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and myocardial infarction are the most common fatal cardiac diseases discovered in autopsies. The fact that formation of these lesions are preventable through exact health care programs necessitates collecting baseline information on the prevalence of such lesions as performed in this study. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, from October 2002 to November 2003, during a randomly chosen month of every season, the hearts of autopsy specimens aging 15-50 years referred to Isfahan forensic center [204 specimens] were dissected and fixed in formalin 10% and coronary arteries were sectioned. In case of a definite or suspicious lesion, microscopic slides were also prepared. Otherwise, 3 random slides from each branch of coronary arteries were studied by a pathologist. Then the percentage of vessel obstruction was detected and stages of lesions were classified as fibrotic and complicated. Frequency of atherosclerotic lesions in 204 studied specimens [182 male and 22 female] was 29.4%. Atheromatous plaques were observed in 31.3% of the male and 13.6% of the female specimens. The most frequent involved branches were left anterior descending, right coronary, left main and left circumflex arteries respectively. Relative frequency of lesion increased with age. The frequency of atherosclerotic lesions in this study is comparable to other studies. The difference in relative frequency of atheromatous plaques in both sexes is expectable, probably due to low number of studied women or the low prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions among young women