Objective: This study aims to determine expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and of Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA) in hepatic stellate cells of CHC cases and their association with stage of fibrosis. Methods: The study was conducted at Ziauddin University, Clifton Campus during the year 2010-2012. Sixty Chronic Hepatitis C cases were immmunostained using anti α-SMA antibody and anti-GFAP antibody. Semi quantitative scoring in pericentral, periportal and perisinusoidal area of each case was done to assess immunoexpression of each marker. Results : Immunoexpression of GFAP showed significant association with α-SMA. GFAP expression was inversely correlated with progression of fibrosis. Conclusion : GFAP could represent a useful marker for early hepatic stellate cells activation. Follow up biopsies showing decline in GFAP levels may help identify the target group requiring aggressive therapy.

Objective:Correlation of CD24 expression with histological grading and TNM staging of retinoblastoma.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, BMSI, JPMC and NICH from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2013. A total 68 diagnosed cases of retinoblastoma were selected for CD24 immuno staining. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 22.Results:Out of 68 cases 7.35% showed grade 1 followed by 11.76% in G2, 26.47% in G3 and 54.41% in G4. Majority of cases i.e. 60.29% in stage IV followed by 19.11% in stage I, 10.29% each in stage II and stage III. CD24 immuno staining positivity was seen in majority of grade 3 and grade 4. In grade 3, 38.88% showed moderate and 22.22% strong immuno reaction. Amongst grade 4, 40.54% showed moderate and 13.51% strong positive. Variable immuno pattern was observed according to TNM staging. In stage I, 46.15% showed moderate and 7.69% strong positivity, while in stage II, 57.14% were negative for saining. In stage III, 42.85% were negative while 28.57% each showed moderate and strong staining. Majority of cases in stage IV i.e. 48.78% were negative for staining while 34.14%, 17.07% showed moderate and severe CD24 immuno staining.Conclusion:Majority of grade I retinoblastoma were in TNM stage I & II and mostly were immuno negative. Lymph node and distant metastatic cases were 75% in G4 and 25% in G3, all of them showed moderate to strong immunoreactivity. These results showed that CD24 expression may be a marker of poor prognosis in retinoblastoma. Whereas TNM staging of retinoblastomas with CD24 expression had varying pattern and showed no significant correlation between them.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene in diagnosed cases of renal cell carcinoma. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi, from January 2007 to December 2012. Paraffin embedded blocks of 30 cases of radical nephrectomy specimens diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma including CCRCC 21 (70%) CCPRCC, 3 (10%), PRCC 2 (6.79%), hybrid tumor 4 (13.3%), chromophobe tumor (0%) processed for VHL gene expression on Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results: All the 30 cases previously diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma were processed on PCR, VHL gene mutations were seen in 20 (95.23%) of CCRCC while a single case was negative for VHL mutations. All CCPRCC were negative for VHL mutation. Among the hybrid tumor 03 cases with foci of clear cells show VHL mutation while a single case showing combination of clear cells and chromophobe cells was negative for mutation. Both the cases of PRCC were positive for mutation. Exon 3 mutation at base pair 194 seen in 8 (32%) cases and Exon 2 mutation at base pair 150-159 seen in 17 (68%) cases. None of the cases showed Exon 1 mutation. Conclusion: The present study shows that majority of CCRCC showed VHL mutation including the hybrid tumor with clear cell component in our population.

Objectives: To assess the frequency of various histopathological types of testicular germ cell tumor in our study population. The prime identification of testicular germ cell tumor is important to prevent the advance stage of cancers. The present study was design to assess the frequency of different morphological types of testicular germ cell tumor which have a mirror effect on the treatment and prognosis of tumor. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Department of pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi. Period: 10 years period from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2015. Material and Methods: A 34 cases of testicular germ cell tumor were studied for morphological features using all properly formalin fixed, paraffin embedded surgical pathological testicular specimens received during the above period. All relevant clinical information was recorded on designed proformas. Section were taken and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Data entered and analysed through computer software SPSS version 21. Results: The result of study showed that the frequency of testicular germ cell tumor was 0.80% among all malignancy in male. Out of 36 cases of testicular tumor, 34 (94.5%) were germ cell tumors and remaining 02 (5.5%) cases were sex cord stromal tumor.  Among 34 cases of germ cell tumor 12 (35.2%) cases of mixed germ cell tumor found which was the most common between them, followed by seminoma 10 (29.4%) cases. However 05(14.7%) of yolk sac tumor, 04 (11.6%) of teratoma and 03(8.8%) of embryonal tumor were found. Conclusion: Results revealed that frequency of different types of testicular germ cell tumor in this study were in accordance to national and international studies. However the incidence of tumor varies noticeably in different geographical areas. Different pattern of seminomas and non – seminomas also may be emerging.

Objectives: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy in white population. The pattern of exon specific p53 mutations in BCC and its subtypes remain undetected in our population. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and mutational spectrum of p53 mutations in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and its subtypes in people of color in the population of Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Retrospective cross sectional study. Setting: Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center Karachi, Pakistan. Period: Five-year study from January 2012 to December 2016. Material and Methods: Convenient sampling technique was used. Sample size was calculated using open EPI software. Analysis of 32 BCC cases for p53 gene mutations in exons 5-8 was detected by polymerase chain reaction technique. Sebaceous carcinoma and malignant melanoma were used as positive controls and normal skin was used as negative control. Results: Out of 32 BCC cases, 26 (81.2%) displayed p53 exon mutations. The number of cases with single exon mutation was 17 (65.3%). Exon 5 mutation was most frequently observed in 8 (30.7%) cases. This was followed by 5 (19.2%) cases with exon 6 mutation and 4 (15.3%) cases with exon 8 mutation. None of the cases revealed exon 7 mutation. A considerable number 9 (34.6%) of BCC displayed dual exon mutation.  Dual mutations of exon 6 & 8 were seen in 6 (23%) cases. Exon 5 & 7 mutation was noted in 2 (7.6%) cases followed by a single (3.8%) case with exon 6&7 mutation. The highest number 12 (46.1%) of single and dual exon mutations was recorded in nodular subtype of BCC. Conclusion: The current study confirms the expression of p53 gene mutation in BCC in colored population. Majority of the single mutations were observed in exon 5. Dual exon mutation was the most notable finding of this study. The highest number of single and dual exon mutations was recorded in nodular form of BCC.