Association of p53 overexpression with hormone receptor status and triple negative breast carcinoma

Objective: To determine association of p53 overexpression with hormone receptor status in breast carcinoma

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology in collaboration with Department of Oncology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, from January 2017 to January 2018

Methodology: All adult female patients coming to Department of Oncology with reports of breast cancer biopsy and receptor status were included. Their age, type of surgery, grade of cancer, stage of cancer, and hormone receptor status were noted from records. P53 immunomarker was applied on tumor containing tissue blocks. Pearson Chi-square test was run for strength of association between the variables using SPSS V. 22

Results: Mean age of 91 patients at diagnosis was 48 years ±12.49. Fifty-five [60.4%] patients had ER positive tumors, 36 [39.6%] were ER negative, 53 [58.2%] had PR positive status, and 38 [41.8%] were negative. Same number was seen in HER2 neu staining. Out of 91 cases, 31 [34.1%] were p53 positive and 60 [65.9%] were negative. Out of 55 [60.4%] ER positive cases, 11 [12.1%] were positive for p53 and 44 [48.4%] were p53 negative [p<0.001]. PR positive cases [53/58.2%] showed p53 positivity in 7 [7.7%] and negativity in 46 [50.5%] cases [p< 0.001]. HER2 positive cases were positive for p53 stain in 8 [8.8%] and negative in 45 [49.5%] cases [p<0.001]. Fifteen [16.48%] biopsies were negative for all three hormone receptors. P53 was positive in all of these hormone receptor negative tumors [15/15, 100%], although 9 [60%] showed strong positivity and 6 [40%] exhibited weak staining intensity of p53

Conclusion: P53 overexpression is less frequent in hormone receptor positive breast cancers. However, hormone receptor negative [triple negative] tumors overwhelmingly overexpress p53 protein in tumor cells. P53, detected either immunohistochemically or serologically, can serve to predict poor prognosis and survival in breast cancer patients, unless newer anti-p53 treatments are introduced in Pakistan

Microflora and antibiograms of discharging ears in a cross - section of population in Quetta, Balochistan

To study the micro flora and the antibiograms of patients with discharging ears due to Otitis externa / Otitis media in Quetta, Balochistan and to analyse and compare the results with other domestic and international studies. Prospective, descriptive study. Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, FC Hospital, Saleem Medical Complex and Mideast Hospital Quetta, from January 2003 to June 2005. The ear swabs of 1105 patients with otorrhoea were prospectively analyzed. Antibiotic testing was done using modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. In addition to the usual antibiotics, the two most common topically available antibiotics [gentamicin and Ofloxacin] were also tested. There were 1057 positive cultures for organisms from the 1105 patients with 1125 isolates. The most common causal organisms isolated were staphylococcus aureus [40%] with 10.29% Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] positive followed by pseudomonas aeruginosa [38.4%]. Fungi accounted for 3.7% of isolates. Out of the two antibiotics commonly available as topical eardrops, Ofloxacin has a very high overall susceptibility rate [97.3%] to all organisms cultured. Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest organism, replacing pseudomonas aeruginosa in discharging ears. All the isolates cultured were highly sensitive to Ofloxacin / Ciprofloxacin. Thus apart from fungal infection of the ear Ofloxacin eardrops should be the mainstay of treatment

Role of plain radiology in chronic maxillary sinusitis.

To determine the specificity and specificality of X-rays paranasal sinuses [water's view] in patients of chronic maxillary sinusitis. A prospective, comparative study between radiological findings and lavage of the maxillary sinuses. ENT department Combined Military Hospital Quetta over a period of 6 months. A total of 110 patients with suspected chronic maxillary sinusitis were selected for the study from general population; mostly defence personnel and few civilians reporting to ENT department of Combined Military Hospital Quetta, which is the only tertiary referral Military Hospital in Baluchistan. Provisional diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis was made on history and clinical examination. X-ray paranasal sinuses [water's view] was carried out in all cases. Radiological findings were classified as clear, mucosal thickening, opaque or fluid level. Antral lavage was also carried out in all cases and fluid return was classified as clear, mucoid or mucopurulent. X-ray PNS [water's view] had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 37% in chronic maxillary sinusitis when compared with the findings of lavage of the maxillary sinuses. Despite the fact that affluent countries have adopted CT scan as the diagnostic tool of choice in diagnosing sinusitis', it is fair to conclude that plain X-rays remain the preferential investigation in diagnosing chronic maxillary sinusitis in third world countries like ours