Summary. A retrospective histopathological study of the placental and non‐placental membranes and umbilical cords of 200 live and stillborn babies weighing <2·5 kg is reported. The pathological studies were specifically concerned with the presence of infection as evidenced by a polymorphonuclear leucocytie infiltrate at these sites. Inflammatory lesions were demonstrated in 48·5% of specimens. The incidence of inflammatory lesions was highest in those with prolonged rupture of the membranes, and in the placentas of the smallest and least mature infants of a size appropriate t o their gestational age. Puerperal pyrexia, neonatal sepsis and perinatal mortality were also more common in the infected group but none of the perinatal deaths was directly attributable to infection. The role of infection as a cause of premature rupture of the membranes, premature labour and subsequent perinantal outcome is still unclear though our data would suggest it is not unimportant.

Background and Objectives Breast cancer continues to frustrate oncologists worldwide. In India, it is the second most common neoplasm among women and is increasing in incidence. Several molecular markers have been associated with a poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer, and the presence of these markers is often thought to provide information on the biological behavior of the malignant breast tumor. Much attention has recently been focused on the tumor suppressor gene p53. Mutation or alteration in this gene leads to the loss of negative growth regulation and hence to rapid cell proliferation. The present study was designed to evaluate the connection between expression of the p53 protein and its relation to the tissue proliferative compartment as measured by expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Methods Expression of p53 and PCNA were detected by immunocytochemistry in paraffin‐embedded sections of infiltrating duct carcinoma and control breast tissue (normal tissue and adenoma). Results A significant correlation was observed between expression of p53 and PCNA. A significant correlation was also observed between expression of p53 and grade of tumor and stage of disease. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that accumulation of p53 is associated with a high tumor proliferation rate an association that might be expected in view of the role of wild p53 as a negative regulator of cell proliferation. J. Surg. Oncol. 1997;65:159–163 © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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