BackgroundThe diagnosis of uterine smooth muscle tumors depends on a combination of microscopic features. However, a small number of these tumors still pose difficult diagnostic challenges.AimTo investigate progesterone receptor (PR) and p53 expression in leiomyomas (LMs), atypical leiomyomas (ALMs), smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) and to evaluate the potential utility of the selected immunohistochemical markers in differentiating these tumors.Materials and methodsImmunohistochemical expression of PR and p53 was investigated in 41 uterine smooth muscle tumors comprising: 15 LMS, 4 STUMP, 6 ALM and 16 LM. Quantitative evaluation of PR and p53 expression was graded on a scale from 0 to 3+.ResultsLeiomyosarcomas showed reduced PR expression. All LMs as well as ALMs and STUMP were stained intensely for PR. Conversely, LMS was strongly stained with p53, while the three non-sarcomatous groups (STUMP, ALM, LM) were either entirely negative or weakly stained for p53. Regarding both PR and p53 expression, the difference between the LMS group and the three non-sarcomatous groups was highly significant (p < 0.001). Combined high PR - low p53 expression was seen in all the 26 examined cases of the non-sarcomatous group including the STUMP cases and none of the LMS cases. Therefore, it represents a "benign" profile with 100% specificity in diagnosis of a non-sarcomatous tumor.ConclusionImmunohistochemistry for PR and p53 is valuable as an adjunct tool to morphological assessment of problematic uterine smooth muscle tumors.

Combined utility of CD56 and claudin-1 is helpful in diagnosing the FVPC and its differentiation from other follicular patterned nodules. Application of these two markers may greatly aid in the reevaluation of the WDTs-UMP and interpretation of their expected behavior.

BackgroundThe microenvironment of astrocytomas includes infiltrative inflammatory cells that are dynamic in nature, possibly reflecting tumor biology. We evaluated the inflammatory cell infiltrate in astrocytic tumors aiming for a better understanding of their immunobiology.MethodsImmunohistochemical expression of CD68, CD3, and CD20 was investigated in 21 glioblastomas, 21 anaplastic astrocytomas, 13 diffuse astrocytomas, and 18 pilocytic astrocytomas. The inflammatory infiltrate was classified based on microanatomic location as perivascular and intratumoral, and subsequently graded semiquantitatively.ResultsPerivascularly, CD68-positive infiltrate was noted in 71.4% of glioblastomas compared with 14.3% of anaplastic astrocytomas (P = 0.0001), 7.7% of diffuse astrocytomas (P = 0.0001), and 33.3% of pilocytic astrocytomas (P = 0.017). Intratumorally, 85.7% of glioblastomas exhibited CD68-positive infiltrate compared with 42.9% of anaplastic astrocytomas (P = 0.004), 38.5% of diffuse astrocytomas (P = 0.008), and 33.3% of pilocytic astrocytomas (P = 0.001). Among diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas, intratumoral CD3-positive infiltrate was only associated with glioblastoma. A CD20-positive infiltrate was only detected in the perivascular space of a single case of diffuse astrocytoma.ConclusionThese data indicate a distinct immune profile in the glioblastoma microenvironment primarily related to the prevalence of macrophages. Thus, novel glioblastoma therapies should address this key CD68-positive population and its possible role in generating an antitumor immune response.

Background: The etiology of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is unknown, and it is commonly misdiagnosed clinically and/or radiologically as breast cancer. The role of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in its diagnosis is still a matter of debate. The aim of the current study is to assess the value of FNAC in the diagnosis of IGM, and to search for the presence of bacteria in IGM with cystic vacuoles, which was described recently by a few authors. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of cytologic smears and histologic tissue sections of 65 Egyptian IGM cases was done along with microbiologic testing. A comparison of the frequency of IGM in Egypt to that of other populations was also made. Results: IGM has typical FNA features which can easily exclude malignancy. Histologically, cystic vacuoles were encountered in 35 out of 65 cases (53.9%), with only 6 (17.14%) of these cases showing Gram-positive bacilli (GPB). The frequency of IGM in Egypt is comparable to those in other Middle Eastern countries but much higher than in Western countries. Conclusion: IGM is a common breast disease in Egypt. FNAC in IGM has a high diagnostic accuracy. This study supports the few recent studies that have detected GPB in IGM with cystic vacuoles. Thus, bacteriologic examination in such cases may affect the treatment strategy.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most potent and widely used chemotherapeutic agents to treat several malignancies. However, the clinical use of DOX is seriously restricted due to its acute and chronic cardiotoxic side effects This study investigated the protective effect of (Ajwa) date aqueous extract (AJDAE) against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Sixty Wister albino male rats (150-200 gms.) were comprised in our study and divided into six equal groups: group I (untreated control), group II, group III, rats were orally received AJDAE (0.75 & 1.5 gm/ kg.bw) respectively, for 4 weeks, rats of groups IV, V and VI were intraperitoneally injected with one dose of doxorubicin (5 mg/kg.bw) at the end of the 4th week of the study to induce cardiotoxicity, rats of groups V & VI were orally received AJDAE (0.75 & 1.5 gm/ kg.bw) respectively. Cardiac enzymes, lipid profile, SOD, GR, GST, GPx, CAT and MDA in rats’ hearts homogenate, urinary 8OHdG as well as DNA integrity and histopathological changes were investigated in all studied rats.Oral administration of AJDAE (0.75 & 1.5 gm/ kg.bw) attenuated the cardiotoxicity of DOX, improved the cardiac enzymes, lipid profile, reduced the urinary 8OHdG and prohibited the depletion of endogenous antioxidants and suppressed lipid peroxidation (MDA). Moreover, AJDAE enhanced DNA integrity. Histological findings showed that AJDAE (0.75 & 1.5 gm/ kg.bw) administration reduced cardiomyocytes alterations, congestion, edema and the intense cellular stress exerted on myocardial fibers as well as restored the cardiomyocytes architecture. Our data showed that AJDAE obviously resulted in protective effects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rat’s heart. It can be concluded that Ajwa date offers a considerable protection against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.