Primary osteosarcoma of the uterus: a report of two cases.

Unlabelled: Primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma is an uncommon disease and has been reported to affect the uterus only rarely. Less than 20 cases have so far been reported in the English literature. The common clinical presentation is heavy bleeding , and in virtually all cases, the diagnosis has been made at an advanced stage of the disease.

The pathologist in Ghana and potential for research.

Unlabelled: One of the neglected areas of clinical medical practice in developing countries is the field of Laboratory Medicine. As a result, the important role of the laboratory physician in diagnosis of disease and subsequent management of patients is not much appreciated. Even more worrying is lack of appreciation of the research potential of laboratory medicine, considering that it provides a repository of confirmatory data on many human disorders; data that have been usefully employed for the study of various diseases in developed parts of the world.

Clinical subtypes and molecular basis of epidermolysis bullosa in Kuwait.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous blistering skin disease, but in countries such as Kuwait, there are very limited data on the clinical and molecular pathology of EB. To improve understanding of EB in Kuwait, we report the experience of a local tertiary referral center over a 17.5 year period (January 2000-June 2017) in establishing clinical and molecular diagnoses.

Ultrastructure of Hyperfunctioning Parathyroid Glands: Does it Explain Various Patterns of Tc-sestamibi Uptake.

The aim of this study was to correlate the uptake of Tc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI) with ultra-structural features of parathyroid adenomas. Twenty patients with proven primary hyperparathyroidism were evaluated prospectively. Preoperative double-phase Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was performed in all patients and the degree of tracer uptake by the parathyroid lesions was assessed visually and semi-quantitatively.

A pathological and clinical study of 706 primary tumours of the ovary in the largest tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Background: Ovarian tumours are a leading cause of death in Ghana. Even though geographical and racial differences exist in the frequency, types and age distribution of primary ovarian tumours, information about the clinical and pathological characteristics of ovarian tumours in Ghana and its neighboring countries is scanty. We determined the frequency, age distribution, histopathological types and clinical features of primary ovarian tumours diagnosed at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana to aid in the management of patients.

Outcome of Streptomycin-Rifampicin treatment of Buruli Ulcer in two Ghanaian districts.

Introduction: Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infectious skin disease, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, endemic in more than 30 countries worldwide especially Africa. Brong-Ahafo Region implemented WHO recommended daily treatment with streptomycin and rifampicin for eight weeks (SR8). Yet limited assessment of therapy exists.

Ovarian Cancer in Ghana, a 10 Year Histopathological Review of Cases at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

To determine the histopathological types, age distribution, presenting signs and symptoms of ovarian cancers diagnosed at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. All histopathology slides and request cards of ovarian cancers diagnosed over a ten-year period (2001 to 2010) were reviewed and the cancers classified according to the World Health Organization 1999 classification. Biographical and clinical data of the patients were collected and results entered into Epi-info to determine the frequency, age distribution and clinical presentation of the various types of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A 10-Yr Histopathologic Review in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

To determine the histopathologic types, frequency of occurrence, age distribution, presenting signs, and symptoms of ovarian tumors in children and adolescents diagnosed at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital all histopathology slides and request cards of ovarian tumors diagnosed in subjects aged, 0 to 19 yr over a 10-yr period (2001-2010) were reviewed. Biographical and clinical data of the patients were collected. The results were entered into Epi-info to determine the frequency of various ovarian tumors in different age groups and their association with presenting signs and symptoms.

Autopsy Practice in Ghana - Reflections of a Pathologist.

Autopsy practice in Ghana can be said to be far from satisfactory. Most Ghanaians do not know that there are different categories of death, which categories of death require an autopsy and who is required to perform the autopsy. The problems have further been complicated by the fact that, unlike other countries where separate facilities are available for storage of the different categories of dead bodies, all dead bodies in Ghana are conveyed to the hospital mortuary, thus encouraging hospitals to expand body storage facilities in their mortuaries to meet the increasing demand.

Molecular basis for the effects of zinc deficiency on spermatogenesis: An experimental study in the Sprague-dawley rat model.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of zinc deficiency on spermatogenesis in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat.

Materials And Methods: Three groups of eight adult male SD rats were maintained for 4 weeks on a normal diet as control, zinc deficient diet and zinc deficient diet with zinc supplementation of 28 mg zinc/kg body weight respectively. Using standard techniques, the following parameters were compared between the three groups of experimental animals at the end of 4 weeks: (a) Serum zinc, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd), (b) serum sex hormones, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), (c) interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 expression in the testes, (d) assessment of apoptosis of testicular cells using electron microscopy and (e) testicular volume and histology using the orchidometer and Johnsen score, respectively.

Pregnancy related causes of deaths in Ghana: a 5-year retrospective study.

Objective: Data on maternal mortality varies by region and data source. Accurate local-level data are essential to appreciate its burden. This study uses autopsy results to assess maternal mortality causes in southern Ghana.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR AND SURVIVIN EXPRESSION IN BLADDER CANCER TISSUE AND URINE CYTOLOGY OF PATIENTS WITH TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE URINARY BLADDER.

Objective: To assess whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and survivin immunostaining of tumour cells in urinary cytology and tissue of patients with bladder cancer has a prognostic significance.

Design: Prospective study

Setting: Department of Surgery (Division of Urology), Mubarak Al-Kabeer Teaching Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait

Subjects: Urine cytology smears obtainedpriorto cystoscopy in patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder were immunostained for EGFR and survivin. Bladder cancer tissue resected at surgery was also immunostained for EGFR and survivin expression.

Combined ciprofloxacin and amikacin prophylaxis in the prevention of septicemia after transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate.

Purpose: A steady increase in the incidence of septicemia after prostate biopsy in our unit between 2001 and 2005 prompted us to review our prophylactic antibiotic regimen. We compared the incidence of septicemia in patients undergoing prostate biopsy between 2001 and 2005 when only oral ciprofloxacin was used prophylactically (group 1) to the incidence among patients undergoing biopsy between 2006 and 2010 when a single dose of intravenous amikacin was added to ciprofloxacin (group 2).

Materials And Methods: In group 1 the 300 patients were given 500 mg oral ciprofloxacin twice daily 1 day before and for 2 days after the biopsy while in group 2 the 897 patients, in addition to the ciprofloxacin previously mentioned, received 500 mg intravenous amikacin 30 minutes before the biopsy.

The role of combined measurement of tissue mRNA levels of AMACR and survivin in the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with suspected prostate cancer.

Aim: To determine whether the measurement of tissue mRNA levels of AMACR and survivin has a role in distinguishing prostate cancer (PCa) from benign lesions and high risk from low-risk PCa in men with suspected PCa.

Methods: TRUS prostate biopsies from 170 patients with suspected PCa were used to measure the mRNA levels of AMACR and survivin using semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique. The diagnosis, staging and risk stratification of PCa was based on established clinical criteria.

The effect of prostate tissue inflammation in benign prostatic hyperplasia on enhancer of zeste homolog 2 ribonucleic acid expression.

Background And Objectives: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been recently found to regulate several genes involved in immunoresponse and autocrine inflammation network. The aim of the study was to quantitate EZH2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, evaluate its relation to conditions of prostatitis associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and correlate it with the levels of the inflammatory marker interlukin 6 (IL-6).

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study in Middle Eastern men with BPH and prostatitis or BPH only.

Urinary survivin mRNA expression and urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 BladderChek® and urine cytology in the detection of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of urine cytology (UC), survivin mRNA expression, and the NMP22 BladderChek® (NMP22BC) test for the detection, grading and staging of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.

Materials And Methods: Voided urine samples collected from 25 healthy controls and 80 patients diagnosed with TCC of the bladder were subjected to UC, the NMP22BC test and reverse-transcription real-time PCR for survivin mRNA expression.

Results: Survivin mRNA expression showed the highest sensitivity (87.

Survivin downregulation is associated with vasectomy-induced spermatogenic damage and apoptosis.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of the apoptotic genes survivin, Bax and Bcl-2 in vasectomized rabbits and to determine their relation with vasectomy-induced spermatogenic impairment and germ cell apoptosis.

Materials And Methods: Twelve adult rabbits (6-12 months old) were divided into three groups: sham control, unilateral vasectomy or bilateral vasectomy. Six months after vasectomy, testicular tissue was analyzed for germ cell apoptosis and DNA fragmentation by the TUNEL assay and gel electrophoresis, respectively.

Comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of urine cytology, urinary nuclear matrix protein-22 and multitarget fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in the detection of bladder cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of urine cytology, BladderChek® nuclear matrix protein-22 (NMP22) and UroVysion™ fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests in patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer, those with recurrent bladder cancer, and those with bladder cancer but in remission during surveillance.

Material And Methods: Voided urine samples obtained from 178 patients with suspected or known bladder cancer about to undergo diagnostic or surveillance cystoscopy and 25 control subjects without the disease were divided into four and used for urine culture and cytology, NMP22 BladderChek and UroVysion FISH tests. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for each test were calculated.

GAPO syndrome: a report of two siblings and a review of literature.

Growth retardation, alopecia, pseudoanodontia, optic atrophy (GAPO) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. The molecular nature of the disease is not fully understood and is considered to be one of the ectodermal dysplasia defects. In this report, we describe clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural features in two siblings born to consanguineous parents with a brief review of the literature.

Lithium protects against toxic effects of cadmium in the rat testes.

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Lithium against the toxic effect of Cadmium in the rat testes.

Methods: Twenty four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with four different regimens: Cadmium only, Cadmium and lithium, lithium only and controls. Rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks and testicular levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4), anti-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α), Pro-apoptotic protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) were measured by ELISA while serum levels of FSH, LH, Prolactin and Testosterone were measured using the Vidas parametric system.

Long term testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced apoptosis: involvement of survivin down-regulation.

Testicular torsion is associated with damage to the testicular tissue as a result of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and induction of apoptosis leading to progressive damage to spermatogenesis. Survivin is suggested to be an important regulator in the control of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, although its role in torsion-induced IRI is unknown. Therefore, we sought to evaluate testicular survivin expression after long term IRI induced by testicular torsion.

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta in fine needle aspirates of breast carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) in fine needle aspirates (FNAs) and correlate the findings with its expression in tissue sections.

Study Design: In 38 cases of breast carcinoma, expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and ERbeta in aspirates and tissue sections was correlated with the cytologic and histologic grade of the tumor.

Results: ERalpha and ERbeta were expressed as nuclear staining in 80% and 90% of the cases in tissue sections and 47% and 45% of the cases in aspirates, respectively.

Granulomatous inflammatory response in a case of typhoid fever.

Objective: To present a case of culture-proven typhoid fever in which granulomas were demonstrated histologically in the ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes.

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: A 47-year-old Pakistani man underwent emergency hemicolectomy for severe bleeding per rectum associated with diarrhea. Two large ulcers in the ileum, near the ileocolic junction, as well as mesenteric lymph nodes showed both necrotizing and non-necrotizing granulomas in addition to mixed inflammatory infiltrate on histology.