No abstract

Xeroderma pigmentosa (XP) is a rare genetic disorder that is characterized by defective DNA repair after ultraviolet induced damage with a great tendency for recurrent cutaneous malignancies including basal cell carcinoma (BCC). BCC is frequently linked to impaired local immune response with a major role played by Langerhans cells (LCs). The current study aims at investigating LCs in BCC specimens of XP and non-XP patients, in a trial to study its possible impact on tumor recurrence. It included 48 retrospective cases of primary facial BCC (18 for XP patients and 30 for non-XP controls). Each group was subdivided, based on the 5 years follow-up data, into recurrent and non-recurrent BCC groups. LCs were assessed immunohistochemically using the sensitive marker; CD1a. Results showed significantly reduced LCs count (intratumoral, peritumoral, and in perilesional epidermis) in XP patients compared with non-XP controls (P˂0.001 for all). Intratumoral (P=0.008), peritumoral (P=0.005), and perilesional epidermal (P=0.02) LCs mean values were significantly lower in recurrent versus non-recurrent BCC specimens. Also, within each group (XP and controls), LCs were of significantly lower means in recurrent versus non-recurrent cases (P≤0.001 for all). Regarding recurrent BCC cases, peritumoral LCs showed a significant positive correlation with 1ry BCC duration (P=0.05). Also, intratumoral and peritumoral LCs correlated positively with BCC relapse interval (P=0.04 for both). Among non-XP controls, periocular tumors had the least LCs count (22.00±3.56), whereas tumors located in the rest of the face had the greatest count (29.00±0.00) (P=0.02). Sensitivity and specificity of LCs to predict BCC recurrence in XP patients reached 100% in intartumoral area and perilesional epidermis when cutoff points were less than 9.5 and 20.5, respectively. In conclusion; reduced LC count in primary BCC specimens of XP patients and also in normal subjects could help to predict its recurrence. Thus, it might be identified as a risk factor for relapse to apply new strict therapeutic and preventive measures. This presents new avenue for the immunosurveillance against skin cancer relapse. However, being the first study to investigate that link in XP patients recommends further research to confirm.

Cardiac dysfunction is one of the leading causes of death in epilepsy. The anti‐arrhythmic drug, amiodarone, is under investigation for its therapeutic effects in epilepsy. We aimed to evaluate the possible effects of amiodarone on cardiac injury during status epilepticus, as it can cause prolongation of the QT interval. Five rat groups were enrolled in the study; three control groups (1) Control, (2) Control‐lithium and (3) Control‐Amio, treated with 150 mg/kg/intraperitoneal amiodarone, (4) Epilepsy model, induced by sequential lithium/pilocarpine administration, and (5) the epilepsy‐Amio group. The model group expressed a typical clinical picture of epileptiform activity confirmed by the augmented electroencephalogram alpha and beta spikes. The anticonvulsive effect of amiodarone was prominent, it diminished (p < 0.001) the severity of seizures and hence, deaths and reduced serum noradrenaline levels. In the model group, the electrocardiogram findings revealed tachycardia, prolongation of the corrected QT (QTc) interval, depressed ST segments and increased myocardial oxidative stress. The in‐vitro myocardial performance (contraction force and – (df/dt)max) was also reduced. Amiodarone decreased (p < 0.001) the heart rate, improved ST segment depression, and myocardial contractility with no significant change in the duration of the QTc interval. Amiodarone preserved the cardiac histological structure and reduced the myocardial injury markers represented by serum Troponin‐I, oxidative stress and IL‐1. Amiodarone pretreatment prevented the anticipated cardiac injury induced during epilepsy. Amiodarone possessed an anticonvulsive potential, protected the cardiac muscle and preserved its histological architecture. Therefore, amiodarone could be recommended as a protective therapy against cardiac dysfunction during epileptic seizures with favourable effect on seizure activity.

Peeling skin syndrome is a relatively rare clinical case with pathology of apparently normal skin that needs clinical details to reach accurate diagnoses. Hence, this case was used as examples to declare how it is important for both the pathologist and the dermatologist to cooperate to reach an accurate diagnosis.

Introduction: Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy involving the urinary system and the ninth most common malignancy worldwide. Ki-67 is a nonhistone cellular marker for proliferation. HER2/neu is an oncogene that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many cancer types. In bladder carcinoma, its clinical significance remains under-investigated and poorly linked to the patients’ clinicopathological features especially with no reported Egyptian study. Aim: The aim of this work was to study the expression of HER2/neu and Ki-67 in urinary bladder carcinoma to evaluate their role in tumourigenesis and their correlation with other available clinicopathological variables associated with urothelial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Samples were paraffin blocks from 60 cases diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma underwent radical cystectomy. Ki-67 and HER2/neu immunohistochemical staining was done and of Ki-67 and HER2/neu Immunostaining was recorded. The associations between Ki-67, HER2/neu expressions and clinical and histopathological parameters of urothelial bladder carcinoma was evaluated. Results: The Ki-67 expression had significant association with tumour histological grade and lymphovascular invasion (p-value <0.05). The association of HER2/neu expression had significant association with perineural invasion (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: HER2/neu immunostaining was not associated with most of the clinicopathologic prognostic factors in urothelial bladder carcinoma.