Angiogenesis as a prognostic marker for carcinomas of the urinary bladder

To verify the relationship of tumor angiogenesis with some histopathological variables [tumor grade, stage and nodal metastasis] and prognosis in the different types of urinary bladder carcinoma, 33 radical cystectomy specimens were evaluated for angiogenesis using manual quantification technique of microvessel density [MVD] after immunohistochemical staining of vascular endothelium using an antibody for factor VIII-related antigen. The study involved different glades of bilharzial and non-bilharzial squamous cell carcinoma [SCC], transitional cell carcinoma [TCC] and adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder. A significant relationship was found between tumor angiogenesis and the histopathological variables in both of bladder SCC and TCC. In bladder adenocarcinoma significant relationship was found between angiogenesis and each of tumor grade and presence of lymph node metastasis

Expression of Bcl-2 in basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

This study was carried out to evaluate the patterns of bcl-2 expression in basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]. Nineteen paraffin-embedded skin biopsies from filed histopathologic material from the Pathology Laboratory, El-Minia Hospital were collected; 11 biopsies already diagnosed as BCC and 8 biopsies diagnosed as SCC. In addition, 2 specimens from normal skin were used as controls. In addition to routine hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunostaining using monoclonal antibody against bcl-2 protein was performed. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that bcl-2 expression was weak and limited to the basal cell layer of the epidermis and hair follicles in normal skin. Bcl-2 expression was distinct in the cytoplasm of all the BCC, 11/11 in variable degrees. However, SCC did not express bcl-2 in most of specimens. There is a distinctive difference in bcl-2 expression between BCC and SCC. This may reflect a difference regarding the cell of origin or a difference in the regulatory mechanisms of cell turnover between these tumors

role of silymarin and some antioxidants against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and fibrosis in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of some antioxidants in the prophylaxis against liver toxicity and fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride [CCI4]. 200 male albino rats were included and classified into seven groups, one was left as a normal reference group and the remaining six were chronically intoxicated with CCI4 [200 ul/100 g body weight orally every other day for three weeks]. Of these six groups, five were orally treated with antioxidants concurrently with CCI4. Three groups were given silymarin [30 mg/kg], vitamin C [50 mg/kg] and vitamin E [200 IU/kg], respectively, while the last two were given a combination of silymarin with vitamin C and E in the same mentioned doses. Routine liver function tests [aspartate transaminase [ALT], alanine transaminase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], direct and total bilirubin, total protein and albumin] were done to estimate the degree of hepatic toxicity and the amount of liver protection exerted by the antioxidant treatment. The liver tissues were subjected to routine hematoxylin and eosin staining together with special stains for collagen [Van Gieson's and reticulin stains] to estimate the degree of hepatic fibrosis beside the estimation of the degree of the degenerative or necrotic changes if present