Histologic detection of Helicobacter pylori by the immunohistochemical method using anti-Helicobacter pylori polyclonal antibody: A cross-sectional study of patients with gastric pathologies at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Immunohistochemistry is one of the superior methods and is regarded as the gold standard for the detection of Helicobacter pylori. We aimed to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies among patients at the Muhimbili National Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016. Also, we determined the predictors of Helicobacter pylori infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we retrieved the tissue blocks of gastric biopsies at the Central Pathology Laboratory of the patients with different gastric pathologies at the Muhimbili National Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016. Helicobacter pylori were detected using anti-Helicobacter pylori polyclonal antibodies. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to determine the predictors of Helicobacter pylori infection. A two-tailed p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of detection of Helicobacter pylori was 37.1% (63/170) using immunohistochemistry compared to 32.4% (55/170) using histology. Peptic ulcer disease, the absence of gastric cancer, and chronic gastritis were the predictors of Helicobacter pylori infection in our study (AOR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.06-0.70, p = 0.011, AOR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.02-10.29, p = 0.047, AOR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.12-0.87, p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this study, Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with the presence of peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, and the absence of gastric cancer. The rate of detection of Helicobacter pylori infection was higher in tissue blocks of elderly patients than in those of young patients. Also, gastric cancer was more prevalent in old female patients.

Expression of Progesterone Receptor and Its Association with Clinicopathological Characteristics in Meningiomas: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas that are progesterone receptor positive have a low recurrence rate and good prognosis compared to those that are progesterone receptor negative. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of expression of progesterone in meningiomas and its association with clinicopathological characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional laboratory-based study that was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital. The study included 112 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of patients who were confirmed to have meningiomas on histological basis from January 2010 to December 2014. Immunohistochemical expression of progesterone receptor was tested using a primary monoclonal progesterone receptor antibody ready to use (IR 068 Dako). The χ2 test was used to determine the association between clinicopathological characteristics and progesterone receptor expression. A 2-tailed P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 45.5 ± 3.601 years, and majority (66.1%, n = 74) were in the age group between 31 and 60 years. Also, majority of the patients (60%, n = 67) in this study were females. Over one-third of the cases (34.8%, n = 39) comprised of meningotheliomatous subtype, and majority of the cases (89.3%, n = 100) were of grade I. The prevalence of progesterone expression was 54.5% (n = 61), and only age was associated with progesterone receptor expression (P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The finding of high expression of the progesterone receptor for grade I cases in this study indicates that progesterone receptor expression in meningiomas is of prognostic value and may be considered when evaluating patients for management. Lack of expression of progesterone receptor in all the malignant cases is intriguing and needs further studies that can investigate its prognostic role.

Diets containing salmon fillet delay development of high blood pressure and hyperfusion damage in kidneys in obese Zucker fa/fa rats.

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic renal diseases, affecting more than 1 billion people. Fish intake is inversely correlated with the prevalence of hypertension in several, but not all, studies, and intake of fish oil and fish proteins has shown promising potential to delay development of high blood pressure in rats. The effects of baked and raw salmon fillet intake on blood pressure and renal function were investigated in obese Zucker fa/fa rats, which spontaneously develop hypertension with proteinuria and renal failure. Rats were fed diets containing baked or raw salmon fillet in an amount corresponding to 25% of total protein from salmon and 75% of protein from casein, or casein as the sole protein source (control group) for 4 weeks. Results show lower blood pressure and lower urine concentrations of albumin and cystatin C (relative to creatinine) in salmon diet groups when compared to control group. Morphological examinations revealed less prominent hyperfusion damage in podocytes from rats fed diets containing baked or raw salmon when compared to control rats. In conclusion, diets containing baked or raw salmon fillet delayed the development of hypertension and protected against podocyte damage in obese Zucker fa/fa rats.

Long-term outcome in 145 patients with assumed benign immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) who present with mild to moderate proteinuria and normal renal function are assumed to have excellent short-term renal prognosis, but the long-term prognosis is uncertain. METHODS: Patients were selected from the Norwegian Kidney Biopsy Registry based on the following criteria: diagnostic renal biopsy performed in the period 1988-99, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and proteinuria <1 g/24 h at the time of biopsy. Patients were invited for a nephrological examination with a review of medical history and investigation of blood pressure, urinary findings and eGFR. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients attended the examination, performed by the first author, after a median of 22 (interquartile range 19-25) years after diagnosis. At the examination, 27 patients (18.6%) had a ≥50% decrease in GFR, of whom 4 (2.8%) had developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The mean duration from renal biopsy to ≥ 50% decrease in GFR was 17.3 ± 5.1 years in our cohort. Clinical remission was observed in 42 (29.0%) patients. Renal biopsies were re-examined utilizing the Oxford classification criteria. Mesangial hypercellularity was found in 12.3%, endocapillary proliferation was detected in 10.7% and segmental glomerulosclerosis was observed in 23.8%. All biopsies were scored as T0 (tubular atrophy in < 25% of the cortical area). None of the clinical or histopathological variables recorded at the time of biopsy could identify patients with progressive disease. Cumulative risks of ≥50% decrease in eGFR were 2.1% after 10 years, 4.1% after 15 years, 13.9% after 20 years and 24.7% after 25 years. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that 18.6% of patients with assumed benign IgAN had progressive disease after a median duration of 22 years and that these patients could not be predicted at the time of biopsy. Our study demonstrates that an extended follow-up period is needed when assessing prognosis in this group of patients.