Invasive secretory (juvenile) carcinoma arising in ectopic breast tissue of the axilla.

Mammary carcinoma arising in ectopic breast tissue is an uncommon occurrence. Most reported cases have involved ductal carcinoma, but other types, such as medullary, papillary, and lobular carcinomas, have been described. For pathologists, the diagnosis of mammary carcinoma arising in ectopic breast tissue can be difficult, especially in the axilla, where carcinoma of adnexal origin must be excluded. We describe a 46-year-old woman who developed invasive (juvenile) secretory carcinoma in ectopic right axillary breast tissue and micrometastatic carcinoma in an ipsilateral axillary lymph node. The carcinoma arose in a right axillary mass that had been present for 8 years, from which she had secreted fluid during prior breast-feeding. To our knowledge, this is the first report of secretory carcinoma arising in axillary breast tissue to be documented in the current literature.

Inbreeding effects on average heterozygosity in the Sudan.

In the first series, the average heterozygosity based on ten polymorphic loci (Rhesus, MN, P, and Kell blood groups; haemoglobin; serum haptoglobin; transferrin; red cell acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase-1 and glyoxalase-1) was determined among the offspring of unrelated (n = 328) and related (first-cousin) matings (n = 466) in the Sudan. The estimated average heterozygosity was found to be the same in the offspring of the first-cousin and unrelated parents (0.3628 +/- 0.0584 and 0.3697 +/- 0.0581, respectively). In the second series, the average heterozygosity at five polymorphic loci (Rhesus blood group, haemoglobin, serum haptoglobin and transferrin and red cell acid phosphatase) was estimated in several tribes with variable levels of inbreeding coefficients. The estimated average heterozygosity varied from 0.14 +/- 0.09 to 0.37 +/- 0.08 in different tribes with varying degrees of inbreeding coefficients (alpha x 10(5) of 967-3,904). However there was no significant correlation between the level of parental inbreeding with either average heterozygosity or deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the offspring.

Evaluation of VDRL test in Sudanese blood donors.

2201 blood donors and 199 patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) were tested with the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and the fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) tests. The VDRL test was found positive in 30 (1.36%) of the blood donors and 11 (5.5%) of the patients. Syphilis was confirmed by FTA-ABS test in one patient (0.5%) but not in blood donors. The biological false positive (BFP) reactions were 1.36% in blood donors and 5.0% in control patients. The place of VDRL test as a screening test for syphilis and the low rate of its seroreactivity among blood donors was discussed. The BFP reactions were reviewed to assist in the interpretation of the VDRL test which was evaluated on the basis of the control specimens. It was concluded that syphilis should be excluded before blood is transfused and the VDRL test should remain the screening test of choice in the blood transfusion service.

Genetic association in vitiligo: ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, Kell and Duffy blood groups.

One hundred and seventy Sudanese patients suffering from vitiligo were investigated for the distribution of A1A2BO, MNSs, Rhesus (genotypes), Kell and Duffy blood groups. The same genetic markers were investigated in Sudanese controls, consisting of two series: a published population series and a random sample of healthy blood donors. The relative frequencies of these blood groups were examined between the vitiligo patients and either or both of the control series. There was no significant association of ABO, Ss, Rhesus, Kell and Duffy blood groups in vitiligo. However, a significant association was observed with the MN system with an excess of homozygotes and of the M gene in vitiligo.

Some blood genetic markers of selected tribes in Western Saudi Arabia.

A total of 292 randomly selected subjects belonging to two indigenous Arab tribes (Harbi and Ghamid) and two immigrant tribes (Mograbi and Mowallad), residents in Western Saudi Arabia, have been tested for genetic variants of six blood groups, four serum proteins, and five red cell enzyme systems. The distribution of the polymorphic systems was different between indigenous and immigrant tribes, and the present Arab population shows a considerable degree of admixture from the surrounding countries, in particular Africa.