BackgroundMalaria during pregnancy is the main cause of low birth weight (LBW) in the tropics. There are few studies concerning B and T lymphocyte infiltrates in placental malaria infections or their potential association with LBW babies.MethodsA case–control study was conducted at the Medani Hospital, Central Sudan. Cases were women who had LBW deliveries (infants weighed < 2,500 g) and controls were parturient women with normal birth weight babies. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics were gathered from both groups of women using questionnaires. Cases and controls were investigated for malaria using microscopic blood film analysis, placental histology, and immunohistochemistry for detection of B (CD20) and T lymphocytes (CD3).ResultsThe two groups (97 in each arm) were well matched in their basic characteristics. There were no malaria-positive blood films in either the cases or the controls. Twenty-nine (30.0%) vs. 24 (24.7%), P = 0.519 of the cases vs. the controls had placental malaria infections on histological examination. Three (3.1%), two (2.1%) and 24 (24.7%) vs. two (2.1%), two (2.1%) and 20 (20.6%) of the placentae showed evidence of acute, chronic and past malarial infections on histopathological examination of the two groups (case–control), respectively, while 68 (70.1%) vs. 73 (75.3%) of them showed no signs of infection; P = 0.420. Women with placental malaria infections had significantly fewer CD20 cell infiltrates [6 (11.3% vs. 95 (67.4%), P < 0.001)] and higher numbers of CD3 cell infiltrates [50 (94.3%) vs. 42 (29.8%), P < 0.001] than those without placental malaria infection. Logistic regression analysis showed that neither placental malaria infections nor CD3 or CD20 were associated with LBW.ConclusionsSignificantly higher rates of CD3 T cells and lower rates of CD20 B cells were found in women with placental malaria infections compared with those without such infections. Neither placental malaria infection nor CD3 or CD20 are associated with LBW.Virtual slideshttp://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/6879723961063755

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Farmers are at high risk for developing adverse health problems due to occupational pesticide exposure. we aimed to compare the frequency of the micronuclear (MN) cellular changes, g binucleated cells (BN), karyorrhexis (KR) and karyolysis (KL) in pesticide exposed farmers and non-exposed individuals. Also, to correlate between the frequency of MN cellular changes and the other nuclear abnormalities with farmers‘ age, their use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the duration of pesticides exposure. A total of 92 buccal smears were collected from Sudanese farmers (cases: n=50, exposed to pesticides) and non-farm workers (controls: n=42, non-exposed to pesticides). The smears were fixed with 95% ethanol and stained following the standard Feulgen technique., A structured questionnaire was designed to collect demographic data and pesticide exposure related information. 39 (78%) farmers do not use PPE. In addition, there was a significant difference (P< 0.05) in the frequency of Micronucleated cells (MN), Total Micronuclei (TMN), Binucleated cells (BN), Karyorehxsis (KH), and Karyolysis (KL) in the buccal cells of cases and control. The application of pesticide without adopting standard protective measures caused genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in farmers’ buccal cells.

Purpose Demonstration of glycogen can be done in different lesions and is considered diagnostically significant, mainly in some tumors. Glycogen staining is affected by the type of fixative, the temperature of fixation, and the staining technique. Methods Grocott`s methenamine (Hexamine) silver technique quality was assessed after 4 different types of fixatives at 2 different temperatures (Bouin's solution, 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF), 80% alcohol, and Rossman's solution at room temperature (RT) and 4°C; for 24 hours). These variables were studied to optimize this technique for glycogen demonstration. Archived paraffin blocks were used in this study. They were prepared from one rabbit`s liver and thirty-two paraffin sections were prepared and stained with Grocott`s methenamine (hexamine) silver technique. Results Eighty percent ethanol gave better results at both RT and 4°C in comparison to the other fixatives. Conclusion 80% alcohol at 4°C seems to provide the best staining results for glycogen with the Grocott methenamine (hexamine) silver technique at the level of this study.

Purpose Demonstration of glycogen in tissue has valuable diagnostic significance in several lesions, including certain tumors. Histochemical staining of glycogen with Schiff's dependent methods is affected by the type of fixative, the temperature of fixation, and oxidizing agents. This study aimed to evaluate different fixatives, temperatures of fixation, and oxidizing agents with variable durations of treatment to be used with Schiff's reagent for glycogen demonstration. Methods Archived paraffin blocks prepared from one rabbit's liver were used and 340 paraffin sections were stained with different oxidizers-Schiff methods. Results For tissues fixed at 4°C: 10% NBF, 80% alcohol, and Bouins's solution provided good staining results with PAS reaction. For tissues fixed at RT: both 10% NBF and 80% alcohol provided good staining results with PAS reaction. The other oxidizing agents provided poor results with all fixatives and temperature of fixation, with two exceptions of satisfactory staining results for 5% chromic acid for 10 minutes at both room temperature (RT) and 60°C. Conclusion Both 10% NBF and 80% alcohol seem to be the fixatives of choice for glycogen when the PAS reaction is used. However, Bouin's solution could provide good results at 4° C.