ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To co-evaluate DNA analysis and the expression of c-erb B-2 and p53 oncoproteins with the histologic type and the other known prognostic factors of breast cancer. METHODS: Sixty-five imprint smears from breast surgical specimens were examined by immunocytochemical staining for c-erb B-2 and p53 and routine pap staining. The immunostaining was considered positive for c-erb B-2 if the cancer cells showed specific membrane staining and for p53 specific nuclear staining. In 30 breast carcinoma imprints, DNA ploidy was evaluated by an image analysis technique using a SAMBA 2005 analyser. RESULTS: From the total number of 53 breast carcinomas which were evaluated in our study 25 (47.1%) showed c-erb B-2 immunopositivity, while 16 (30.18%) exhibited p53 positive nuclear immunoreactivity. Ten out of 13 (76.92%) aneuploid breast carcinomas were positive for c-erb B-2 while five out of 13 (38.46%) showed immunopositivity for p53. CONCLUSION: From our findings it seems that detection of c-erb B-2 and p53 expression in samples of breast carcinomas could be an important prognostic factor and may identify patients with more aggressive disease.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Ploidies , Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism , Aged , Biopsy, Needle , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology , Carcinoma, Lobular/genetics , Carcinoma, Lobular/metabolism , Carcinoma, Lobular/pathology , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To measure the institutional maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Mali and suggest ways to reduce it. METHODS: Routinely recorded data from 24 health institutions in three regions were reviewed for 1988 to 1992. RESULTS: The overall MMR in the institutions was 201 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Hemorrhage, toxemia and infections accounted for 80% of the 360 recorded maternal deaths, almost all of which were preventable. The main reasons why these conditions result in death lie in poor quality and maldistribution of health services, lack of transport and late use of allopathic services. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal mortality is still a major public health problem in Mali, even among the small proportion of women who reach health facilities. Substantial new initiatives are urgently needed to reduce this major cause of preventable adult female mortality.
