Breast Cancer Associated with Von Recklinghausen's Disease: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Breast cancer in association with type- 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a rare clinical entity. Here, we present the case of a 45-year-old woman with typical clinical manifestations of NF1, who presented with a right breast lump, which she had first noticed 8 months back but had disregarded, believing it to be another manifestation of her Von Recklinghausen's disease. Clinical examination and diagnostic workup were suggestive of a breast carcinoma. Subsequently, she underwent modified radical mastectomy, followed by postoperative chemotherapy. Histopathological examination revealed high grade invasive duct carcinoma and multiple neurofibromas. After 7.5 months, she developed recurrence at the drain site with pulmonary and bony metastasis and died 9 months after surgery. Delayed presentation of the patient was the result of her mistaken identification for the breast tumor as a manifestation of NF-1. Early onset, high grade tumor and early recurrence with metastasis place strong emphasis on clinical alertness and to opt for an aggressive treatment option.

Intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in oocytes at various stages of meiotic cell cycle and apoptosis.

The objective was to find out the functional roles of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) during various stages of meiotic cell cycle and apoptosis in rat oocytes. For this purpose, 30 oocytes from each stage such as diplotene, metaphase-I (M-I), metaphase-II (M-II) and apoptosis were collected and intracellular H(2)O(2), total nitrite level and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were analysed. This study demonstrated that generation of a tonic level of H(2)O(2) induces meiotic resumption in diplotene-arrested oocytes and further increase may lead to apoptosis. Conversely, reduction in iNOS expression and total nitrite level are associated with meiotic resumption in diplotene-arrested oocytes, but induce apoptosis in aged oocytes. These results suggest that generation of a tonic level of H(2)O(2), reduced iNOS expression and total nitrite level are associated with meiotic resumption, while more generation of H(2)O(2) and sustained reduced total nitrite level are linked with oocyte apoptosis in rat.

Age specific incidence rate and pathological spectrum of oral cancer in Allahabad.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of the oral cavity is one of the commonest cancers in India. Use of smokeless tobacco (Pan masala, Zarda etc ) is on the increase in North India and specially in Uttar Pradesh. AIMS: To assess the patients characteristics and histopathological subtypes of the oral cancer in our region. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A single institutional retrospective study of 11 years from 1990 to 2000 was designed. Data was collected year wise using the tumour registry data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40,559 biopsies were examined in the department during 1990-2000, out of which the oral cavity constituted 759 biopsies. The data was analysed with emphasis on age, sex, risk factors, site and histology. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data was analysed utilizing the Kolomogroo-Smirnov two sample test. RESULTS: A comparison of the age specific incidence rates of oral cancer during 1990-2000 in Allahabad showed that the incidence was maximum in the 50-59 years age group and squamous cell carcinoma grade I was the most prevalent type. Of the total of 759 biopsies from oral cavity, 303 malignant cases. 232 (76.57%) were males and 71 (23.43% were females with a male to female ratio of 3.27:1. The tongue was the most frequently involved site--found in 42.57% cases. On an average, 63 new cases of oral cavity per annum were detected during this period. CONCLUSIONS: Properly structured site specific data like this can augment National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) and is an essential indicator for the magnitude and the pattern of the cancer problem in India Urgent public health measures like public education and oral cancer awareness are required to curb this avoidable epidemic.

Photoacoustic determination of the color of inks.

Photoacoustic spectroscopy, using a PZT transducer, is a quick, direct, and accurate technique to measure ink colors from the absorption region and maximum absorption position.