S100A1 protein as a potential discriminating marker between chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma

The morphological differentiation between chromophobe renal cell carcinoma [RCC] and renal oncocytoma [RO] may be difficult. This study evaluates S100A1 protein as a new marker for the differentiation between these two tumors. We selected twenty cases; fifteen of which were typically diagnosed after routine histopathological staining by hematoxylin and eosin [7 chromophobe RCC and 8 RO] while the remaining five cases showed confusing cytomorphological features and uncertainly diagnosed. Immunoperoxidase technique using atni-S100A1 antibody carried out semiquantitavely in all cases displayed a strong cytoplasmic positive granularity in five typical RO, moderate immunopositivity in two typical RO and weak reactivity in on typical RO while all seven typical chromophobe RCC cases were immunonegative. Regarding uncertainly diagnosed cases, three were immunopositive for S100A1 antibody [one strong, one moderate and one weakly reactive] in the same pattern as typical RO while the remaining two cases were immunonegative like typical chromophobe RCC cases. From our study, we concluded that S100A1 may be a potentially powerful marker to differentiate the chromophobe RCC from RO particularly when these tumors are in doubt about routine histologic diagnosis

Renovascular protective effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor "Ramipril" and the angiotensin receptor blocker "osartan" on experimentally diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases in the world. It has the potential to cause many complications such as increased blood pressure, disturbance in the kidney functions and elevation of blood lipids.. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possible renal and vascular protective effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI], ramipril, as well as the selective angiotensin II receptor blocker [AIIRB], losartan, and the combination of both drugs in diabetic rats. We used 50 rats divided into 5 groups: control, diabetic control and three other diabetic groups each was treated by one of the described drug regimen. Systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, renal function tests, lipid/profile and histopathological examinations were performed to all the groups. Our results revealed that after'6eeks of treatment with rarnipril, losartan, and ramipril plus losartan, there was a significant decrease in the systolic blood pressure [SBP]. When we analyzed the obtained data, we found that the described drug groups had a renoprotective effects in diabetes meilitus. In addition, there were significant decrease in serum triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein [LDL], while serum high density lipoprotein [HDL] was increased as compared with diabetic control group. However, the intensity of changes produced by losartan was of greater extent than that produced by ramipril. The combination of ramipril plus losartan proved to be superior on the two other separate drugs

Immunohistochemical expression of P53 and cyclin D1 proteins in follicular thyroid tumors: evaluation of their significance

The sequential mutational events which may underlie the tumorigenesis of thyroid neoplasia are gradually becoming apparent. To clarify the role of P53 and cyclin D1 in the oncogenesis and tumor progression of thyroid neoplasms, we examined the immunoreactivity of these proteins in one hundred and thirty [130] thyroid tumors originating from the follicular epithelium using immunohistochemistry. The tumors were divided into two groups group I: included thirty five [35] follicular adenomas and group II: included ninety five [95] follicular carcinomas; 65 of which were well differentiated [WDC] while the remaining [30] were poorly differentiated [PDC]. P53 positivity was more frequent in group II [20/95; 21.1%] than in group I [6/35; 17.1%] and in PDC [11/30; 26.6%] than WDC [9/65; 13.8%]. On the other hand, cyclin D1 positivity was frequent in WDC [21/65; 32.3%] and rarely seen in adenoma group [2/35; 5.7%]. Co -positivity for P53 and cyclin D1 proteins was more observed in PDC [5/30; 16.7%] than in WDC [3/65; 4.6%]. The study suggested that cyclin DI may be involved in the thyroid oncogenesis and concluded that both proteins may be incriminated in the progression of follicular thyroid neoplasms. Moreover, we found that age at the time of diagnosis, the histologic differentiation, necrosis in primary tumor, extrathyroidal invasion and the presence of distant metastases are important prognostic and risk factors. In addition, our study revealed that the detection of P53, but not cyclin D1, in primary follicular carcinomas is a significant independent prognostic indicator which, together with the above mentioned important prognostic factors, may be of value in the theraputic planning of these tumors

Effects of aging on pancreatic islet cell function: an experimental immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

A strong relationship between aging and diabetes mellitus has been clinically suggested, however, none of the previous published data had clearly focused on the age-related cytomorphological changes in the pancreas which are the goal of this study. Three groups of male apparently healthy rabbits have been used, ten animals each; classified as group-1 [3-5months old]; group-2 [9-12 months old] and group-3 [24-36 months old]. After sacrification, sections from the pancreas were stained by Haematoxylin and Eosin [H and E], Gomori trichromic stain and ultrastructurally to detect aging histologic changes as well as immunohistochemically to identify insulin and glucagon secreting cells using their appropriate monoclonal antibodies. A progressive histological distortion with fibrosis and fatty changes were directly proportional to age, being mild in group-2 and severe in group-3. Morphometric studies by computerized image analysis showed that the mean number of islets was significantly higher in group2 [8.98+/-1.51], lowest in group-1 [5.08+/-1.48] and intermediate in group-3 [6.37+/-1.37]. The mean diameter and square area of islets were significantly higher in group-2 compared to other groups [P< 0.05]. The mean number of beta cells per islet and their secretary granules were significantly [P <0.05] higher in group-2, intermediate in group-1 and lowest in group-3.In contrast, the mean number of alpha cells per islet and their secretory granules were insignificantly [P< 0.05] higher in group -2, intermediate in group-3 and lowest in group-1.Also, the beta/alpha ratio [beta cells/alpha cells] was greatest in group-2 [3.059:1], intermediate in group-1 [3.37:1], and lowest in group-3 [2.479:1]. The increased number of beta cells may be due to a compensatory process to correct the hormonal feedback mechanism of insulin .The results of this work suggest that beta cells are generally more vulnerable to aging, an observation which might be correlated clinically with higher incidence of diabetes in older ages

Cd 34 glycoprotein as a differentiating marker between basal cell Carcinoma and Trichoepithelioma

Trichoepithelioma [TE] is a benign skin tumor with follicular differentiation, which is sometimes difficult to distinguish clinically and histologically from basal cell carcinoma [BCC]. One of the most helpful differences is the histologic appearance of the stroma. CD34 is an antigen known to stain the spindle shaped cells located around the middle portion of normal hair follicles. We selected twenty clinically confused cases. After routine histopathological staining by haematoxylin and eosin, all cases showed typical diagnosis in seventeen cases [9BCC and 8 TE] while the remaining three cases revealed overlapped features. Immunoperoxidase technique using anti-CD34 antibody carried out in all cases displayed two out of the three overlapped cases had a staining pattern similar to the typical BCC cases; the immediate tumor stroma together with the spindle cells intermixing the tumor nests were CD34 negative. Moreover, the remaining uncertainly diagnosed case had a pattern resembling the typical TE cases; the immediate tumor stroma as well as the spindle cells surrounding the tumor islands were focally CD34 positive. From our study, we concluded that the CD34 staining pattern can be considered as a helpful tool in differentiation between TE and BCC particularly when these lesians are in doubt about the clinical or routine histologic diagnosis

Surgical alternative in the treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts

In this prospective study, 186 patients from 2 centers in Yemen were operated on for hepatic hydatid cysts aiming to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different operative techniques. These 186 patients [112 males and 74 females] had surgery between July 1999 and December 2001. Their mean age was 28.5 years [range 2-65 years]. They were assessed by clinical examination, ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen. Serology was not available for the patients. Anaphylaxis occurred in five cases. Chemotherapy [albendazole] was used for two months after operation for the selected cases. The hospital stay was considered for all cases. The study concluded that for the management of hydatid hepatic cysts, cystectomy capitonnage, omentoplasty and open drainage are superior to external drainage which should be kept for complicated and infected cysts

Laparoscopic assisted appendectomy in children

In a trial to reduce the operative time for laparoscopic appendectomy, it was modified as the ligation of the appendix was done outside the abdomen whenever possible. Forty-four patients underwent laparoscopic assisted appendectomy [LAA] were compared with 48 cases that had laparoscopic appendectomy [LA]. The operative time, postoperative complications, hospital stay and time of return to normal activity were compared in all patients. Both groups were comparable as regards the severity of appendicitis, mean hospital stay, time of return to normal activity, but with a significant difference concerning the operative time that showed a significant decrease in laparoscopic assisted appendectomy group. LAA was a useful technique for appendectomy and reduced the operative time for such procedure

role of urinary secretory immunoglobulin [A] in diagnosis of pediatric urinary tract infection

Secretory immunoglobulin A [SIgA], an immunoglobulin synthetized locally in, mucosal surfaces, plays a vital role in preventing mucosal localization by pathogenic bacteria. Its protective effect in urinary tract is still less well documented. This study was done to elucidate the role of SIgA in children with urinary tract infection. The work was carried out in Pediatric Department Zagazig University Hospitals in association with Clinical Pathology and Radiological Departments. 115 children [54 males-61 females] their age ranged between 1.5-14 years with a mean age of 5.4 years. They were classified into 4 clinical groups: Control Group: 40 healthy children who denied any history of urinary tract infection [UTI] and urine culture free. Group I: 30 cases subjects studied at the time of the first symptomatic [UTI]. Group II: 30 cases subjects who had a history of at least 2 documented episodes of UTI but had normal urinary tract and had negative bacterial culture at the time of the study.Group III: 15 cases subjects with symptomatic UTI and had an abnormal urinary tract .All subjects were age matched and subjected to full history taking-complete physical examination and laboratory aids and various radiological investigations. Urinary SIg A excretion rate was determined by immunodiffusion plates [L.C.partigen immunodiffusion plates from Behring AG Marburg, Germany]. Our results showed that: Urinary SIg A excretion rate was high among group I [1.74 +/- 0.13 mg/gm creatinine]-very high among group III [2.247 +/- .22 mg/gm creatinine] and low among group II [0.446 +/- 0.05 mg/gm creatinine]. The variation of SlgA urinary excretion among manifested our cases [group I, group Ill] was related to type of urinary pathogens involved. There was no correlation between urinary SIgA and number of bacterial colonies on urine culture.In localizing the site of UTI using SlgA excretion rate versus scintigraphy urinary SlgA was significant in localizing UTI in cases of group I and has no significance in cases of group Ill. Reflux, stricture urethra and stone Kidney were the commonest urinary abnormalities in our studied cases of group III and there were accompanied by high urinary SlgA excretion