ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare transvaginal sonography (TVS), sonohysterography (SHG), hysteroscopy and endometrial aspiration (EA) and p53 expression in assessing endometrial abnormalities in women on tamoxifen. METHODS: In a cross sectional study of 50 pre- and post-menopausal women receiving tamoxifen for > 2 years, all participants underwent TVS and EA. Those with endometrial thickness > 4 mm on TVS underwent hysteroscopy and SHG. Serum p53 antibody and p53 immunohistochemistry were tested in all women. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity when compared with histopathology as the reference standard were as follows: TVS 100% and 33.3%, SHG 85.7% and 50%, hysteroscopy 92.8% and 80.8%, serum p53 50% and 83.3%, and p53 immunohistochemistry 57.1% and 61.1%. Prevalence of endometrial abnormalities was not significantly different in asymptomatic and symptomatic women. CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen-users require routine testing for endometrial evaluation. TVS followed by hysteroscopy and biopsy is an effective option. p53 expression correlates with histological abnormalities.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/adverse effects , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endometrium/drug effects , Female , Humans , Hysteroscopy , Middle Aged , Tamoxifen/adverse effectsABSTRACT
The serological activities of arabinogalactan from M. smegmatis and phenolic glycolipid-1 from M. leprae were examined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay using sera from 88 patients with leprosy (44 treated and 44 untreated) and 45 normal healthy individuals. Both IgM and IgG type of antibodies were measured against these antigens. The results confirmed the previous observation that anti phenolic-glycolipid-1 IgM antibodies are higher in lepromatous leprosy cases than in normal individuals. However, with arabinogalactan, the ratio of IgM/IgG was more than one in normal individuals and less than one in untreated LL patients. Treated patients fell in both categories. Moreover, a reverse relationship was found between anti PGL-1 IgM titers and anti arabinogalactan IgM/IgG ratio.