Diagnostic value of angyrophilic nucleolar organizer region [AgNORs] count in non-neoplastic and neoplastic breast lesions

This study assessed the value of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions [AgNORs] count as a helpful diagnostic method in breast lesions. The technique was applied on paraffin sections of 55 breast lesions classified as follows: 10 fibrocystic disease, 20 benign tumors and 25 carcinomas. Results revealed wide range of AgNORs count in fibrocystic disease [1.7-3.5/cell] which indicate various degrees of proliferative activity within that lesion. The mean AgNORs count in benign breast tumors was slightly lower than that of fibrocystic disease [2.47 and 2.86/cell, respectively, but the difference was statistically insignificant. The AgNORs mean count in malignant neoplasms [9.8/cell] was significantly higher than that of benign lesions [P < 0.0001]. Overlap was found in AgNORs ranges between lesions of intraduct and infiltrating duct carcinoma grade II. On the other h and, AgNORs mean count in cases with grade III carcinomas was significantly higher than that of grade II [P < 0.05]. AgNORs configuration was mainly of type I in benign lesions and of types III and II in malignant neoplasms. It was concluded that resorting to AgNORs count and the type of configuration may prove helpful both in identification and differentiation of breast lesions

Influence of piroxicam and piroxicam-cyclodextrin inclusions on gastric mucosal ulceration: an experimental study

The study was performed to prove the ulcerogenic effect of piroxicam [as an example of NSAIDs] in stomachs of experimental animals and to evaluate the protective effect of inclusion complexation of piroxicam with beta-cyclodextrin [B-CyD] against gastric irritation. 15 Wistar rats were used in this study. The drugs were given orally for 4 consecutive days and the animals were sacrificed on the fifth day. Their stomachs were examined both macroscopically [by measurement of ulcer index, UI] and microscopically. The study documented the ulcerogenic effect of piroxicam both macroscopically and microscopically. Moreover, it proved the benefit of piroxicam beta- CyD complexation in reducing its gastric ulceration

Nucleolar organizer regions [NORs] count in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma [NHL]: is it useful?

Silver stained nucleolar organizer regions [AgNORs] counts reflect cellular proliferation. The number of AgNORs sites increases with reactive cellular proliferation as well as increasing grade of malignancy. This study included 15 cases of reactive hyperplasia and 43 cases of NHL [11 low grade, 20 intermediate and 12 high grade NHL] which were stained with one step silver staining technique to evaluate the AgNORs count in these lesions. Cases with unexpected AgNORs count were reviewed and refreed blindly. Recommendations came up with upgrading and down-grading of some of these cases which were in accordance with the AgNORs count. Statistical analysis using the student t-test showed significant difference between all grades of lymphoma as well as between reactive hyperplasia and intermediate and high grades NHL. No significant difference was found between reactive hyperplasia and low grade NHL. It was concluded that AgNORs count provides a great help in grading of cases of NHL and minimize the number of cases to be evaluated by further expensive investigations. As it is simple, cheap and quick, it is useful in routine surgical pathology laboratory