Pathologically different features and fibrosis scores in chronic hepatitis C genotypes 3 and 1.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C genotypes 3 and 1 are the two most common genotypes in Thailand. OBJECTIVE: Identify the pathologically different features between genotypes 3 and land to compare the fibrosis score of Knodell HAI and Ishak modified HAI. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The pathological features of 114 liver biopsies were evaluated. RESULTS: Steatosis was more commonly found in genotype 3 than in genotype 1 (97.1% vs. 77.8%, p = 0.001). Portal lymphoid follicles were commonly found, but bile duct damage was uncommon. The majority of portal tracts showed partial involvement. The majority of patients had Knodell fibrosis 1 and Ishak fibrosis 3. CONCLUSION: Steatosis is significantly more common in genotype 3, while other features do not show any differences. The portal tracts show partial involvement because inflammatory cells tend to aggregate and form lymphoid follicles. The most comparable fibrosis scores are Knodell fibrosis 1 and Ishak fibrosis 3.

Time needed for rinsing the decalcification specimen by tap water.

Objectives: To determine a proper time for neutralizing the decalcified specimen by rinsing with tap water. Methods: Fix pork from fresh market in routine fixative for 24 hours, put into 5% nitric acid for 24 hours to 7 days. Then rinse in running tap water for 1-48 hours. Process and cut the specimens into slide, attain with H&E stain. Distribute to three pathologists to evaluate the quality of staining and microscopic detail. Results: Neutralizing for 2 hours or longer yields similar microscopic to the specimen that soaked in acid for 72 hours or less. The histologic feature is not recovered in the soaked in acid longer than 72 hours, no matter how long it is neutralized. Discussion: The result shows no benefit in rinsing the decalcified specimen longer than 2 hours, and soaking in acid longer than 72 hours causes permanent artifact.