ABSTRACT
It has been proposed that because there is inflammation around the nerve roots in disk herniation, there might be an association between serum C Reactive Protein (CRP) with this disease. This study aimed to distinguish between two forms of disk herniation (extrusion, bulging) by comparing the level of serum high-sensitivity CRP (hs CRP). In this perspective study, a total of 62 candidates for lumbar disk herniation surgery were recruited in Tabriz Imam Reza Hospital from 2012 to 2013. The patients categorized in two groups; with extrusion (n = 34) and with bulging (n = 28). Pre-operative serum hs CRP was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay. Both extrusion and bulging groups were matched for their patients' sex (males: 61.8% vs. 57.1%, respectively; p = 0.71) and age (mean: 52.22 +/- 7.32 years vs. 49.69 +/- 9.40 years, respectively; p = 0.48). The mean serum hs CRP was significantly higher in the extrusion group (3.56 +/- 2.90 with a range of 0.1 to 19 mg dL(-1) vs. 0.74 +/- 0.91 with a range of 0 to 5 mg dL(-1); p < 0.001). Based on the results of the receiver operator characteristics (ROC) cure, a cut-off point of hs CRP was =2.6 was highly indicative of extrusion, with a sensitivity and specificity of 66 and 63%, respectively. Based on the findings of the present study, the mean serum hs CRP is significantly higher in the patients with extrusive disk herniation vs. those with bulging. The proposed cut-off point may be useful as a preliminary indicator of the type of herniation, before more detailed imaging becomes available.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/blood , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/diagnosis , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/blood , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnosis , Intervertebral Disc/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Immunoassay , Intervertebral Disc/metabolism , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism , Lumbar Vertebrae/metabolism , Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Nephelometry and Turbidimetry , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
This study aims at evaluating the expression of P27, Ki67 and P53 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), Actinic Keratosis (AK) and Bowen Disease (BD) specimens. In an analytic-descriptive setting, skin biopsy specimens of 45 patients were evaluated in three 15-case groups including BD, AK and SCC specimens. Fifteen normal skin biopsy specimens were obtained and used as the control group. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in all the specimens and the expression rates and patterns of Ki67, P27 and P53 were determined. The results were compared between the four groups. Ki67 was expressed in 0.8, 23.7, 12.3 and 19.3% of the cells in the normal skin, AK, BD and SCC groups, respectively. No significant difference was seen between the three pathological conditions regarding the expression rate of Ki67. P27 was positive in 23.4, 26.2, 25.9 and 4.5% of specimens in the normal skin, AK, BD and SCC groups, respectively. This rate was significantly the lowest in the SCC group. P53 expression was detected in 26.6, 41.8 and 54.6% of the assessed cells in the AK, BD and SCC groups, respectively. There was no expression of P53 in the normal skin specimens. This rate was significantly the highest again in the SCC group. Based on these results, the quantitative and qualitative (pattern of distribution) evaluation of the expressions of Ki67, P27 and P53 may be helpful in differentiating malignant and premalignant epidermal lesions, particularly in unsatisfactory or fragmented specimens.
