Histopathological Changes of Placenta in Meconium Stained Liquor and Its Relevance in Fetal Distress: A Case Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Meconium passage during labour is a quite common finding. Studies describing correlation between meconium stained liquor, fetal distress and specific placental pathology are sparse. This case control study had been designed to ascertain these lacunae of knowledge. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Placentae from 41 cases of otherwise uncomplicated antenatal and intranatal pregnancies with meconium stained liquor at 37 completed weeks of gestation were studied, both grossly and microscopically, comparing them with controls of 41 cases of clear liquor. Apgar score of all newborns at 1 minute and 5 minutes were recorded and correlated with histopathological findings. RESULTS: Both cases and controls were found to be age matched. Meconium stained liquor was associated with more caesarian section than the clear ones. Significant correlation was found with meconium stained liquor and low Apgar scores. Histopathology of placenta revealed many statistically significant associations between specific placental histopathology in meconium stained liquor and depressed Apgar score. Evidence of placental vasculopathy rather than meconium induced placental damage came out as the potential culprit in causing a low Apgar score in this case control study. CONCLUSION: Placental vascular changes have a role in meconium staining of liquor. If timely interventions are taken, the chance of development of fetal distress is low.

Renal Tumours in Adults with Correlation between Fuhrman Grading and Proliferative Marker.

BACKGROUND: Definite data regarding the incidence and distribution of renal tumours in eastern India is not known. For better management, as it is essential to identify patients with poor prognosis, prognostic factors like stage, nuclear grade and their relationship to molecular markers are also unclear in this region. The purpose of our study was to assess the spectrum of adult renal tumours with respect to age and sex and to correlate Fuhrman nuclear grading with Ki-67 labeling index in a tertiary care hospital in eastern India. METHODS: All adult patients with kidney tumour referred to our hospital who were preoperatively diagnosed and undergone surgical resection were included. Distribution of histological subtypes of kidney tumours according to age and sex were done by Hematoxylin and Eosin stain. Fuhrman grading, performed by ocular morphometry and derivation of Ki-67 labeling index (LI), were done in malignant cases only. Correlation of Fuhrman grading and KI-67 LI were done individually. RESULTS: Among total 36 cases, 3 were benign and 33 were malignant. Among the malignant cases: Fifteen, twelve, four and two cases were of Fuhrman grade I, II, III, IV with mean Ki67 labeling index of 6.5, 18.2,44 and 76 respectively. Statistical correlation between mean Ki-67 LI and Fuhrman grading revealed significant correlation between Grade I and II, II and III and combined Grade I,II and III,IV tumours. CONCLUSION: Malignant Kidney tumours, especially, grade I RCC were commonest tumour. Fuhrman grading correlated well with Ki-67 labeling index. A 2-tier system for grading is proposed for better correlation with proliferation.

A histopathological study of liver and biliary remnants in the long-term survivors (>10 years) of cases of biliary atresia.

CONTEXT: Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive process affecting both extra- and intra-hepatic bile ducts leading to fibrosis and obliteration of the biliary tree and cirrhosis usually within 2 years. Factors influencing the outcome of portoenterostomy (PE) have not been clearly defined. AIMS: Our aim was to identify children with no evidence of liver disease 10 years or more after PE and to compare the pathology of liver and biliary remnants in this group with those associated with poor outcome. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wedge biopsies of liver and portal remnants, taken at the time of PE, where available, were reviewed. The parameters studied were - presence of large bile ducts (>150 µ), degree of fibrosis and bile duct proliferation (BDP), presence of ductal plate malformation (DPM) and age at operation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Fisher's exact test with Freeman Halton extension for univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis as multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 68 cases operated between 1995 and 2001, 14 patients survived >10 years and 54 were associated with poor outcome. Large ducts were significantly more in survivors (70% vs. 26%, P = 0.02). DPM was not seen in any of the survivors and was present in 24% of poor outcome group. Fibrosis and BDP were also significantly less among the survivors (P < 0.001, P = 0.03, respectively). The mean ages at operation in the two groups were 66.8 and 89.6 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: From this study, we feel that lower degree of fibrosis and BDP, absence of DPM, presence of large ducts and younger age at operation were associated with better long-term outcome. Of these, degree of fibrosis was the most significant factor.