P57[Kip2] immunostaining, a diagnostic marker in differentiating complete hydatidiform mole from its mimics

Background and objective: The distinction of hydatidiform mole from hydropic abortion remains a problem because of interobserver and intraobserver variability. This study aimed to determine the utility of P57[Kip2] as a diagnostic marker in differentiating complete hydatidiform mole from its mimics

Methods: A total of 97 formalin fixed paraffin embedded material including forty cases of complete hydatidiform mole, 36 cases of partial hydatidiform mole and 21 cases of hydropic abortion were selected randomly from the files of histopathology laboratory of Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil. The samples were reviewed by two pathologists, afterward; immunohistochemical staining was performed by using a P57[Kip2] marker. We considered P57[Kip2] positive only if nuclear P57[Kip2] staining was identified in at least 10% or more of all in a tissue section

Results: Negative immunostaining was seen in 77.5% of the complete hydatidiform mole in both villous cytotrophoblast and stromal cells. In contrast, 86.1% of partial hydatidiform mole showed positive immunostaining for P57[Kip2]. All cases of hydropic abortion 100% were positive for P57[Kip2] immunostaining. In all gestations, P57[Kip2] was strongly expressed in decidua which served as internal positive control. The concordance between the initial histological diagnosis and P57[Kip2] immunostaining was statistically significant [P <0.001]

Conclusions: P57[Kip2] immunostaining is a highly sensitive and specific marker for diagnosis and classification of hydatidiform mole. P57[Kip2] staining has the advantage of differentiating hydropic abortuses from the complete hydatidiform mole

Clinical significance of hTERC and C-Myc genes amplification in a group of egyptian patients with cancer cervix

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide after breast cancer. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. The implementation of cervical cancer screening programs has greatly decreased the morbidity and mortality, as precancerous lesions and early invasive cervical cancer could be detected and treated effectively. The detection of hTERC gene amplification was suggested as a possible diagnostic marker for use in routine cytological screening. The present study was designed to detect genomic gains of the hTERC and C-MYC genes using FISH technique and to investigate the relationship between genes amplification and the clinical data of the patients. The current study was carried out on twelve cases with cervical cancer at different grades [three cases were grade I, six cases were grade II and three cases were grade III]. Interphase FISH analysis using LSI probe, Cervical Cancer probe hTERC [3q26] and C-MYC [8q24], was successfully performed on 12 patients with cancer cervix. Interphase FISH analysis revealed positive hTERC gene amplification in all cases of cancer cervix [100%]. However C-MYC gene amplification was detected in four cases only [33.3%]. Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant correlation between hTERC amplification and grating. Also, there was significant correlation between C-MYC amplification and grading and highly significant correlation between C-MYC amplification and hTERC amplification. On the other hand hTERC and C-MYC genes amplification showed an inverse correlation with the ages of the patients. The present study highlights the importance of using hTERC and C-MYC genes FISH probes for cases with cancer cervix or pre-malignant lesions as a sensitive technique. This method provides an easy and effective applicable approach which helps in the diagnosis and prognosis, as an increased copy number is associated with a more advanced grade that could be detected in the early stages of the disease

Case-control study to evaluate risk factors for acute hepatitis B virus infection in Egypt

Hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection is a significant health problem in Egypt. To better define risk factors associated with HBV transmission, we conducted a case-control study among patients admitted with acute hepatitis to an infectious disease hospital in Cairo. A total of 60 cases and 120 controls were interviewed about various exposures within 6 months prior to admission. Univariate analysis revealed HBV case-patients were more likely to report providing injections to relatives or friends, injecting drug use, exposure to a household contact with hepatitis, exposure to invasive medical procedures and being in the military. Efforts should be made to implement strict infection control standards in Egypt

Sentinel surveillance for patients with acute hepatitis in Egypt, 2001-04

Viral hepatitis is a major problem in Egypt. To define the epidemiology of the disease, sentinel surveillance was established in 5 hospitals in diverse areas of the country in 2001. Data were completed for patients meeting the case definition for viral hepatitis. Of a total of 5909 patients evaluated, 4189 [70.9%] showed positive antibody markers for hepatitis. Out of those, 40.2% had evidence of hepatitis A virus [HAV] infection, 30.0% hepatitis B virus [HBV] and 29.8% hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection. This surveillance system was useful in identifying the variable endemicity of acute HAV infection in different regions and for better understanding the epidemiology of HBV and HCV infection

Influencia de vehículos de disolución sobre el hidróxido de calcio / Influence of dissolution vehicles on calcium hydroxide

El uso del hidróxido de calcio es habitual en la práctica endodóntica, atribuyéndose propiedades reparativas a su elevado pH. El objetivo de este trabajo es de verificar el pH del hidróxido de calcio al ser mezclado con seis solventes diferentes. Se procedió a determinar colorimétrica y potenciométricamente el pH de los solventes y de sus mezclas resultantes. Los resultados determinaron que el paramonoclorofenol alcanforado baja el pH del hidróxido de calcio significativamente, comparación con el resto de los solventes. Es posible que el mecanismo de acción del hidróxido de calcio no sea debido exclusivamente a su elevado pH, sino que sea multifactorial