Assessment of VEGF, CD-31 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical markers in oral pyogenic granuloma: a comparison with hemangioma and inflammatory gingivitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of two angiogenic immune-makers [CD-31 and VEGF], and one proliferative immune-marker [Ki-67] in oral pyogenic gramulomas [PG], hemangiomas [Hem] and inflammatoey gingivitis [IG]. Sixty cases of PG, Hem and IG [twenty cases each] were examined. Immunohistochemical [IHC] staining was performed based on routine techniques. The microvessel density [MVD] index was also evaluated. The male to female ratio was 1:2. The mean age was 33.3 years old [ +/- 20.52]. The reactivity percentages for all three markers [CD-31, VEGF and Ki-67] were significantly higher in PG compared to Hem [56.8%, 13.8% and 23.0% vs. 28.3%, 7.0% and 5.4%, respectively]. The mean MVD in PG was also significantly higher than in Hem [26.1 +/- 0.11 vs. 13.6 +/- 0.08]. There was no statistically significant difference between PG and IG. The current study supports the common nature of pyogenic granulomas and inflammatory gingivits

[Diagnostic accuracy of helicobacter stool antigen in dyspeptic patients before eradication therapy]

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen [HpSA] test with three other invasive and non-invasive diagnostic methods. A total of Fifty-two dyspeptic patients were included. None of the patients had previous eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori. Endoscopic biopsy samples were obtained for histology examination and Rapid Urease Test [RUT]. Urea Breath Test [UBT] and HpSA were also performed. Patients were considered Helicobacter pylori positive when 2 of 3 tests [histology examination, RUT and UBT] were positive [gold standard]. Diagnostic accuracy of HpSA was assessed performing a Receiver Operating Curve [ROC] analysis. Twenty-three Were men and 29 Were women, with a mean age of 42.3 years of the Patients. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 67.3%. ROC curve analysis was showed a significant area under curve of 94.6% [p=0.0001]. Cut-off value was estimated to be 0.1. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of HpSA wa 91.4%, 94.1%, 97% and 84%, respectively. HpSA level significantly increased with increasing in bacterial load. HpSA was proved to be a highly accurate, simple and non-invasive test for the diagnosis of Helicobater pylori infection before treatment in dyspeptic patients

Primary glomus tumor of the liver

Primary glomus tumors are extremely rare in the liver. To this date, only two cases of primary glomus tumors of the liver have been reported in the literature. This report is the third case of this specified tumor. The patient was a 50 year-old Iranian woman who presented with a history of epigastric pain and nausea. Abdominal computed tomography [CT] scan showed a huge hepatic mass that replaced the entire left lobe. Surgical biopsy showed that the specimen consisted of a vascular network confined by the proliferation of epithelioid cells with round-to-oval nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasms. The cells expressed diffuse reactivity for vimentin, smooth muscle actin and CD34, whereas no reactivity was observed with carcinoembryonic antigen, synaptophysin, chromogranin, cytokeratin, and human melanoma black 45. We conclude that glomus tumors must be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic masses, with immunohistochemical staining for smooth muscle actin being a useful method to prove the diagnosis

Familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency

Familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency is an uncommon autosomal recessive disorder from a heritable defect in esterification of plasma cholesterol. In 1968, the disease was described by Gjone and Norum in Norway. Our case was a 38-year-old woman. Her disease was manifested by presence of lower extremities edema, proteinuria, corneal opacities, increased plasma cholesterol, and hemolytic anemia. Suspicion of the disease was based on renal biopsy, which revealed mesangial expansion and capillary wall widening with clusters of foamy cells in the mesangium. Immunofluorescence study was nonspecific, but specific findings of electron microscopy showed deposition of lipid in the glomerular basement membrane and mesangium. This is the first report of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency in Iran. The diagnosis was confirmed by a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, decreased activity of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase in plasma, and positive familial history of the disease

Pattern of compensatory hypertrophy in contralateral testis after unilateral orchiectomy in immature rabbits

Our aim was to evaluate effects of hemicastration in immature rabbits on the histology of the contralateral testis after puberty. Eighteen immature male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. The first group underwent right or left hemicastration and the second, sham operation. After their puberty, the rabbits underwent the second operation. In the former group the contralateral testis and in the latter, the right or left testis was removed and sent for pathologic examination. The two groups were compared in terms of Leydig cell count, testis volume, and seminiferous tubule count and diameter. The mature rabbits' mean weight at the orchiectomy time, seminiferous tubule count, and seminiferous tubules diameter did not show significant differences between two groups. However, testis volumes and Leydig cell count were significantly higher in the first group with hemicastration prior to puberty. The mean testis volume was 3.24 +/- 2.06 mL in the first group and 1.4689 +/- 0.85701 mL in the second group [P = .03], and the mean Leydig cell count in every 5 microscopic high-power fields was 86.22 +/- 54.96 and 42.00 +/- 18.09, respectively [P = .04]. Our research demonstrated that prepubertal hemicastration in rabbits led to the compensatory hypertrophy in the contralateral testis after puberty and an increase in the number of the Leydig cells