Comparison of H. pylori--gastritis among young and old patients by usingn the modified sydney system of classification and grading

It is well known that the age at which H. pylori infection is acquired is crucial in the genesis of gastric cancer. The aim of the study is to compare antral biopsies from younger [age range3-20 years] and older [age range 51-60 years] patients infected with H. pylori. The biopsies were graded for five parameters according to the guidelines from "The modified Sydney System of Classification and Grading of gastritis". There was no significant difference in three parameters i.e. H. pylori density, neutrophilic activity and chronic inflammation between the two age groups. Two parameters i.e. the mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were, however, more prevalent in older age group. They are considered preneoplastic for gastric cancer. This study demonstrated that the intensity of inflammation is not age related. Preneoplastic changes do, however, being to emerge later in life

S-100 protein in the diagnosis of tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy

A definitive diagnosis of tuberculoid and borderline tuberculoid leprosy is based on a demonstration of either acid-fast bacilli or nerve elements within the granulomas. On routine hematoxylin and eosin stains, the nerve fibers are not easily identifiable. In this study, we used S-100 protein to highlight the nerve elements and to count their numbers in leprosy and non-leprosy granulomas. Skin biopsy specimens from 15 cases of tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy and 14 cases belonging to other granulomatous diseases of the skin were stained with S-100 protein. The surface area of all the biopsies was calculated and the number of nerve bundles stained with S-100 protein were counted in each specimen. The nerve bundles were 15 per cm2 in leprosy cases, and 9.2 per cm in non-leprosy cases. In addition, the leprosy cases showed longer nerve twigs that were perpendicularly oriented to the skin surface. Immunostaining with S-100 facilitated detection of nerve elements in tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy. Also, an increased number of nerve elements were found in leprosy granulomas when, compared with non-leprosy granulomas [P=<0.05]