Recent evidence has emphasized the importance of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and pathogenesis of tumors. This study analyzed the significance of apoptosis in relation to the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins, tissue proliferation defined by Ki-67 expression, and tissue histology in thyroid tissue. Extent of apoptosis was defined by morphological criteria and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy uridine triphosphate (dUTP) biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Immunocytochemistry was performed for p53, bcl-2, and Ki-67 expression. There was good correlation between TUNEL-reactive cells and morphological evaluation criteria for apoptosis. The extent of apoptosis was significantly associated with the type of thyroid lesion (r = 0.66990, p = 0.000012), both proliferative (namely multinodular goiter) and neoplastic (benign and malignant). A higher extent of apoptosis was evident in medullary and anaplastic carcinomas. Apoptosis also correlated to p53 protein accumulation (r = 0.485, p = 0.00041) and Ki-67 immunoreactivity (r = 0.435, p = 0.001). An inverse correlation was observed between bcl-2 expression and the extent of apoptosis (r = -0.33369, p = 0.01912). A direct correlation was also observed between p53 expression and Ki-67 immunoreactivity (r = 0.623, p = 0.0002). By inhibiting apoptosis, bcl-2, may cause a shift in tissue kinetics toward the preservation of genetically aberrant cells, thereby facilitating tumor progression. These results imply that rapidly proliferating tumors appear to have a high cell turnover state in which there may be increased chance of apoptosis among the proliferating cells. The ability of apoptosis to occur in the presence of a possibly mutant p53 protein suggest the existence of at least two p53 dependent apoptotic pathways, one requiring activation of specific target genes and the other independent of it. However, keeping in mind the limited number of subjects studied in each subgroup and the rather low correlation coefficients, these possibilities would have to be substantiated in a larger study population.

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Mucormycosis is an uncommon but potentially lethal fungal infection in immunocompromised individuals. The natural history of the disease is vascular invasion followed by thrombosis and necrosis of infected tissues. It can affect any organ system. Gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis is quite rare. Here, we report a case of primary invasive gastric mucormycosis in a 45-year-old male with diabetes and ethanol-related chronic liver disease who presented with necrotizing fascitis of the left thigh, groin, and lower abdominal wall. At presentation, he was hemodynamically unstable, anuric, and febrile with a high blood glucose level. He was stabilized with aggressive debridement and critical care management. During hospitalization, he developed sudden episode of upper GI bleed. Gastroscopy revealed extensive ulcerations with thick mucus in the fundus and body of the stomach. Biopsy from the lesions and special stain examination was consistent with invasive gastric mucormycosis. Delayed presentation of our patient and rapid progression to fungemia resulted in mortality.