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A produção e comercialização de carne de frango têm ocupado posição de destaque no fornecimento de proteína animal em diversos países, como o Brasil. Este estudo teve como objetivo fazer um diagnóstico da situação dos comerciantes de frango da feira de produtores rurais do município de Boa Vista, Roraima, para obter informações sobre a saúde, manejo, processos de abate, bem-estar animal e impactos na saúde pública. Os oito comerciantes de aves da feira foram entrevistados por meio de questionários. A partir dos resultados, identificou-se que os comerciantes tinham procedências distintas, 75% deles (6/8) eram do sexo masculino e 87,5% (7/8) não possuíam ensino superior, sendo a venda de aves sua principal fonte de renda familiar. A comercialização de aves na feira do produtor rural não apresenta condições higiênico-sanitárias adequadas de produção (manejo, abate e comercialização). Há, portanto, a necessidade de melhorar as condições de produção, garantir o bem-estar dos animais abatidos e implementar o controle sanitário geral para evitar um impacto negativo na saúde pública.

Aims: The heterogeneity within individual distinct cancer types in terms of behaviour, response to therapy and prognosis is well recognized. A major goal of translational research projects has therefore been to define clinically significant subgroups of individual tumour types by analysis of mRNA as well as protein expression. An essential premise of such investigations is that expression of these key molecules is a true reflection of conditions present within the neoplastic cells in vivo. The aim was to investigate the effect of methods of tissue handling and storage on expression of mRNA., Methods and Results: mRNA expression in 60 biopsy samples obtained from 10 patients with colorectal tumours was examined. The mRNA expression profile and the level of expression of specific mRNA species were significantly affected by the procedures used for collection and storage of tissue samples. Significant variation in the level of expression (both increased and decreased) of transcripts was detectable after 15 min, and by 120 min there was a fourfold increase in the number of genes with a more than twofold change in the level of expression., Conclusions: Reliable interpretation of results of gene expression at the mRNA level requires standardized protocols for tissue procurement.

We sought to determine whether seliciclib (CYC202, R-roscovitine) could increase the antitumor effects of doxorubicin, with no increase in toxicity, in an MCF7 breast cancer xenograft model. The efficacy of seliciclib combined with doxorubicin was compared with single agent doxorubicin or seliciclib administered to MCF7 cells and to nude mice bearing established MCF7 xenografts. Post-treatment cells and tumors were examined by cell cycle analysis, immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Seliciclib significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of doxorubicin without additional murine toxicity. MIB1 (ki67) immunohistochemistry demonstrated reduced proliferation with treatment. The levels of p21 and p27 increased after treatment with doxorubicin or seliciclib alone or in combination, compared to untreated controls. However, no changes in p53 protein (DO1, CM1), survivin or p53 phosphorylation (SER15) were observed in treated tumors compared with controls. In conclusion, the CDK inhibitor seliciclib (R-roscovitine) enhances the antitumor effect of doxorubicin in MCF7 tumors without increased toxicity with a mechanism that involves cell cycle arrest rather than apoptosis., (Copyright (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Kikuchi's disease is a rare self-limiting lymphoproliferative condition of unknown aetiology, characterised by acute or subacute necrotising lymphadenitis. It is a benign condition that can mimic malignant lymphoma. In this report, a case of Kikuchi's disease associated with a chromosomal abnormality is described. This is the first report in the literature of such a case and it highlights an important learning point; benign lymphoproliferative conditions can be associated with chromosomal abnormalities that are more typically associated with malignant lymphoproliferative conditions such as malignant lymphoma. The report illustrates the necessity for interpreting cytogenetic data in the relevant clinical and histopathological context in a multidisciplinary setting to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.

Individual pathologists deal with thousands of diagnostic biopsy and excision specimens annually. At each stage, procedures are in place to limit the possibility of human error, which could result in specimen transposition or contamination. One specimen contaminating another is usually easily identified and rarely causes diagnostic difficulty; however, when it does, the consequences can be very serious. We discuss 5 cases in which concerns over specimen identity and tissue contamination arose and the methodology by which we resolved those concerns. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of each case was carried out using a panel of 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers, specific for chromosomes 13, 18, and 21. These markers are routinely used in the molecular genetics diagnostic laboratory for rapid trisomy screening. In each case, the question of error was satisfactorily resolved. Using this approach, we prevented the real possibility of patients undergoing second invasive procedures. We suggest that this or a similar methodology become a routine part of pathology practice.

Aims: Follicular lymphoma (FL) arising primarily in the skin has recently been proposed as a distinct entity on the basis of a low incidence of t(14;18)(q32;q21) and bcl-2 expression, with a very high percentage of patients surviving more than 5 years. However, cases of t(14;18)(q32;q21)-positive primary cutaneous FL (PCFL) and examples of t(14;18)(q32;q21)-negative FL at nodal and other extranodal sites, are well documented. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is a subtype of FL lacking t(14;18)(q32;q21), which preferentially involves certain sites but is not restricted by anatomical location., Methods and Results: A cohort of 47 stage 1 FL was stratified according to the presence or absence of t(14;18)(q32;q21) using conventional cytogenetics, polymerase chain reaction and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. Compared with t(14;18)(q32;q21)-positive cases, FL lacking the translocation were less likely to express CD10 or bcl-2 (P<0.01), made up a significantly greater proportion of cases arising at extranodal sites (P<0.001) and had a significantly better overall and disease-specific 5-year survival (P<0.01)., Conclusions: These results support the concept of a subtype of FL lacking t(14;18)(q32;q21), characterized by low-intensity bcl-2 expression, a predilection for extranodal sites, particularly the skin, and a more favourable outcome than t(14;18)(q32;q21)-positive FL.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) has been described in association with a variety of neoplasms preceding, after, or synchronous with the other tumor. In some cases, a neoplasm may arise as a complication of therapy for LCH, and in others, the association may be coincidental. Synchronous occurrence has been reported most commonly in association with malignant lymphoma in which discrete proliferations of Langerhans cells (LCs) histologically indistinguishable from LCH are seen. In most cases, these LCs are closely related to or intermingling with the primary pathology. The nature of LCs in this context remains elusive with debate as to whether they represent a true clonal neoplasm or an exaggerated reactive phenomenon. The lack of evidence for LCH progression or disease elsewhere strongly supports the latter. We have encountered 5 examples of LCH-like proliferations occurring in the context of other lymphoproliferative disorders. These include 2 cases of mycosis fungoides and 1 of cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma, associations that to our knowledge have not been described before. Two patients were female, and the clonality of the LC proliferation was assessed using laser capture microdissection and the human androgen receptor. The results showed that the LCs forming discrete nodules in a case of cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma and a case of Hodgkin's lymphoma were polyclonal. This suggests that, at least in a proportion of cases, the aggregates of LCs occasionally identified within other lymphoproliferative lesions represent a reactive proliferation rather than a potentially aggressive second neoplasm.

The bcl-2 proto-oncogene, which inhibits programmed cell death (apoptosis), has recently been found to be cyclically expressed in human endometrium. In order to investigate its role in endometrial hyperplasia and neoplasia, bcl-2 expression was studied in 25 cases of endometrial carcinoma and 20 cases of endometrial hyperplasia (eight simple, two complex, and ten atypical hyperplasias). Uniform intense cytoplasmic bcl-2 expression was found in all cases of non-atypical hyperplasia, and less strong positivity in eight out of ten cases of atypical hyperplasia. In well-differentiated carcinomas, nine out of ten showed weak to moderate bcl-2 expression, whereas six out of seven poorly differentiated carcinomas were bcl-2-negative. Moderately differentiated tumours were an intermediate group, with six out of eight being positive. Widespread localization of bcl-2 protein to the chromosomes of dividing cells was also demonstrated, regardless of cytoplasmic bcl-2 expression, with rare staining of interphase nuclei. Our findings suggest a role for bcl-2 in the natural history of endometrial neoplasia and studies are needed to determine its usefulness as a prognostic marker. The finding of bcl-2 localization to chromosomes has important implications for its mode and site of action.

We previously observed, in decalcificated bone specimens, intraosseous crystal deposits with morphological and analytical similarity to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. We have now been able, by a combination of more detailed morphological studies of these and similar cases, and by infrared spectroscopy in three cases, to show that this is, in fact deposition of the secondary calcium salts brushite and monetite, occurring as an artefact during formic acid decalcification. Our earlier postulate of bone as an additional primary crystallization site for calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate is effectively disproved. This artefact deserves wider recognition.

Antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the MIB-1 antibody to the Ki-67 antigen were titrated to optimize identification of proliferating cells in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from a series of 40 human breast carcinomas. Cell culture studies have previously demonstrated that immunostaining for both PCNA and the Ki-67 antigen produces strong granular nuclear staining during S phase. PC10, other anti-PCNA antibodies (PC2, PC5, PC8 and 19F4) and MIB-1 were used at the minimum dilution which allowed a clear distinction between cells with strong and weak staining. With the anti-PCNA antibodies, nickel-cobalt enhancement of the reaction product was found to augment the granular nature of nuclear staining, corresponding more closely to patterns observed in cell culture studies. No enhancement was found to be necessary for MIB-1. The labelling indices of all these antibodies were compared with S phase fraction (SPF) obtained by DNA flow cytometry in the same cases. The PC10 labelling indices which included only strongly stained cells correlated well with SPF, but counting all strongly and weakly stained cells showed a poor correlation. With MIB-1, counting strongly stained as well as all stained cells produced labelling indices which correlated well with SPF, the former tending to be lower and the latter higher. None of the other anti-PCNA antibodies showed any advantage in application over PC10. Thus, PC10 and MIB-1, applied with care, can be correlated with S phase fraction in paraffin processed tissue sections of breast carcinomas.

p53 gene mutation appears to play an important role in the development of systemic lymphoma, and may be associated with tumour progression. Its role in cutaneous lymphoma is currently unknown. We examined p53 expression in 55 biopsies of cutaneous lymphoma, including patch-, plaque- and tumour-stage mycosis fungoides (MF), T- and B-cell lymphoma and lymphomatoid papulosis. Strong, homogeneous p53 expression, thought to correlate most closely with p53 gene mutation, was seen in only three cases; in a plaque and tumour from a patient with tumour-stage MF, in plaque-stage MF in a patient without tumours, and in one case of CD30+ large-cell anaplastic lymphoma. These data suggest that p53 gene mutation is not a critical step in the development of the majority of primary cutaneous lymphomas.

Aims: To describe the birefringent saponified fatty acid crystalloids seen in pancreatic fat necrosis., Methods: A histological review, including polarising microscopy, of three cases of subacute or subclinical acute pancreatitis was performed. Histochemical analysis using Nile blue sulphate for lipid, Holczinger's copper rubeanate for fatty acids, and Alizarin Red S for calcium was performed in one case. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopic micro-analysis were performed in two cases. Necropsy pancreatic tissue, surgical archival tissue from cases of pancreatitis, and pancreatic and adipose tissue permitted to autolyse together in the laboratory, were also examined. The autolysed tissue was also examined histochemically. Stained and unstained sections were mounted in DPX and Canada balsam. Surgical material showing traumatic fat necrosis was reviewed., Results: In each of the three cases there were subtle clues to subclinical pancreatitis. In neither surgical case was the true nature of the mass apparent to the operator. Histological analysis in all cases showed ghost adipocytes containing numerous polarising crystalloids, as well as some basophilic debris. Microanalysis showed calcium but no other substantial heavy element signals. Histochemical analysis showed a labile, polar, acidic lipid and the crystalloids behaved as calcium salts of free fatty acid. The crystalloids were not seen in archival material mounted in Canada balsam. No crystalloids were seen in traumatic fat necrosis., Conclusions: Little recognised, strongly birefringent, saponified free fatty acid crystalloids occurring in pancreatic fat necrosis may survive routine processing, and can point to the origin of obscure mesenteric masses related to subclinical pancreatitis.

Background: The histologic grading of the deep invasive margin of oral squamous cell carcinoma recently has been shown to have prognostic value, but previous series have not been homogeneous enough to allow grading parameters to be assessed individually., Methods: Forty-seven small lingual carcinomas limited to the lateral border of the tongue and treated by radiotherapy were graded histologically at their deep invasive front. Clinical and grading parameters were correlated by statistical tests performed by permutational techniques., Results: Carcinoma recurred locally in 6 patients, and metastases developed in 19. Local recurrence correlated with Broders' grade (P = 0.0143), keratinization (P = 0.017) and pattern of invasion (P = 0.0195). Metastasis had a highly significant correlation with Broders' grade (P < 0.001), pattern of invasion (P < 0.001), and invasive front grading total score (P < 0.001). Seven of 8 carcinomas with diffuse infiltrating patterns metastasised, whereas only 4 of 25 with large islands or a broad infiltrating pattern metastasized., Conclusions: The usefulness of the deep invasive front grading system for small lingual carcinoma was demonstrated. The pattern of invasion was the component of the grading system that had the closest correlation with metastasis and recurrence in this type of carcinoma.

If skilled histopathologists disagree over the same biopsy specimen, at least one must have an incorrect interpretation. Thus, disagreement is associated with, although not the cause of, diagnostic error. The present study aimed to determine the magnitude of variation among 10 observers with a special interest in gastrointestinal histopathology. They independently interpreted the same biopsy specimens for morphological features which may discriminate between patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and normal subjects. Thirty of 41 features had agreement measures significantly better than expected by chance (p < 0.05). The range of agreement in the 45 observer pairs over the final diagnosis was 65-76%. There was good agreement in discriminating between normal slides and those showing confirmed inflammatory bowel disease. For normal slides, however, the term nonspecific inflammation was often applied and without any consistency. In addition, true Crohn's disease slides were often and consistently thought to be ulcerative colitis. Having identified 11 important discriminatory morphological features, two multiple regression analyses were then carried out to produce a scoring system for inflammatory bowel disease. These results suggest there is considerable room for improvement in the reliability of colonic biopsy specimen interpretation and that this could probably be achieved using more exact definitions of morphological features and diseases.

Background: Loss of p53 tumor suppressor function is a critical step in the development of diverse malignancies, including skin cancers in nonimmunosuppressed patients where UV-specific p53 gene mutations have been identified. In tumors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), such as cervical carcinoma, p53 may be inactivated instead by binding to a viral oncoprotein., Objective: Our purpose was to examine the hypothesis that HPV may play an analogous role in the development of posttransplant skin cancer., Methods: p53 Immunoreactivity, suggestive of p53 gene mutation, was examined by immunocytochemistry. Oncogenic HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction., Results: Comparable p53 immunoreactivity was seen in skin tumors from both transplant and nontransplant patients. HPV DNA was not demonstrated in any tumor specimen., Conclusion: Our data do not implicate oncogenic HPV in posttransplant skin cancer. p53 Gene mutation, rather than HPV-induced p53 degradation, may be more significant in the development of these tumors.

A 29-year-old man presented with nodular skin lesions localized to areas of navy-blue pigmentation within a tattoo. Light microscopy demonstrated well-defined epithelioid granulomata in close relation to blue and black pigment. Although the patient was asymptomatic, a chest X-ray showed bilateral pulmonary shadowing, and histology of a transbronchial biopsy specimen showed features compatible with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy identified copper and titanium in the tattoo pigment. These elements were not found in tissue from the lung biopsy. The cutaneous eruption resolved with oral steroid therapy. Our observations suggest that the granulomatous reaction in the tattoo was a manifestation of sarcoidosis, rather than a specific reaction to pigment.

We describe a case of primary T cell lymphoma of the liver developing in a patient with Felty's syndrome (FS). We discuss the possible relationship of the two conditions with particular reference to liver disease in FS, and the role of the T cell in RA.

Amyloid arthritis is an uncommon cause of locomotor disease and may closely resemble RA. Macroglobulinaemia is rarely associated with amyloidosis and there has been only one report of amyloid arthritis in this setting, the patient having had Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia. We report the occurrence of amyloid joint disease in the course of an IgM kappa B-cell dyscrasia which evolved over 16 years to an overt lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma.

Immunohistochemical staining was carried out on a spectrum of normal, hyperplastic and malignant endometrial curettings, for proliferating cell nuclear antigen--PCNA (using the monoclonal antibody PC10) and for abnormally stabilized p53 (using the polyclonal antibody CM-1). The mean proportion of glandular epithelial cells showing PCNA immunoreactivity was significantly lower in atypical hyperplasia/intra-endometrial adenocarcinoma than in invasive adenocarcinoma, but the degree of overlap between the cases was such that this was not considered to be of diagnostic value. p53 immunoreactivity was detected in 47% of invasive adenocarcinomas and in a much smaller proportion of endometria showing simple hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia, but staining was only focal in the last two conditions. The majority of p53-positive invasive adenocarcinomas had a large proportion of glandular epithelial cells expressing PCNA, but a significant number of p53-negative cases also had a high PC10 index. This suggests that, in endometrial neoplasia, there is not a simple relationship between abnormally stabilized p53 and PCNA expression.

Background: Posttransplant lymphoma is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and appears to have a predilection for extranodal sites. We describe four cases of primary cutaneous posttransplant lymphoma., Objective: Our aim was to determine cell lineage and any possible association with EBV in each case of cutaneous lymphoma., Methods: Tumor tissue was examined by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, nonisotopic in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction., Results: The data were consistent with a diagnosis of EBV-associated cutaneous B-cell lymphoma in three cases and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma not associated with EBV in one case. No patient with B-cell lymphoma had extracutaneous involvement during a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. The patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma died of cerebral involvement 9 months after initial presentation., Conclusion: These data suggest a possible role for EBV infection in the origin of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma in immunosuppressed patients.

Paraffin-embedded sections of skin from patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with gold who had developed skin rashes were examined by light microscopy and scanning electronmicroscopy with microanalysis. Sparse, small, brown or black granules in plump, often elongated cells in the dermis were shown to contain gold by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. These cells expressed some macrophage markers. The amount of gold present showed some correlation with the total gold dose. Gold was not confined to lesional skin. In one case where uninvolved skin was examined, more gold was found there than in lesional skin.

The pattern of c-erbB-3 gene product was studied in 91 advanced gastric carcinomas, adjacent hyperplastic mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia and in normal controls, using immunohistochemistry in archival material. All tumours showed positive c-erbB-3 staining in both cytoplasm and membrane. No significant differences of expression were observed between intestinal and diffuse-type carcinomas or any other clinical parameters. Of interest is the expression in the adjacent mucosa, which is extensive, cytoplasmic, and of lower intensity than in the tumours. Further studies are currently being carried out to clarify the role of this protein in tumour behaviour and gastric carcinogenesis.

Expression of the tumour suppressor protein, p53, was determined in 77 cutaneous melanocytic lesions, and in five lymph node metastases from malignant melanoma, in an immunohistochemical study employing CM-1, an antiserum raised against recombinant human p53 protein. Because wild-type p53 protein is rapidly degraded in normal cells, p53 immunoreactivity suggests the presence of an abnormally stable p53 protein. This may occur through either post-translational mechanisms or gene mutation. A highly significant correlation was found between p53 immunoreactivity and malignancy in melanocytic lesions (P < 0.0001). Overall, p53 immunoreactivity was observed in 63% of tumour specimens examined, but not in benign melanocytic naevi, although occasional foci of weak nuclear p53 immunoreactivity were observed in a minority of dysplastic naevi and a solitary Spitz naevus. A significant correlation was also found between strong p53 immunoreactivity and malignant melanomas associated with a poor prognosis (P = 0.008). These data suggest an important role for p53 tumour suppressor protein in the biology of human cutaneous malignant melanoma.

TGF alpha and beta expression was examined using rabbit polyclonal antibodies and immunohistochemistry on a series of 195 breast carcinomas. TGF alpha immunoreactivity was observed in all but nine of the tumours, with over 50 per cent staining strongly. The polyclonal TGF alpha antibody (CIM1), when compared with a commercially available mouse monoclonal TGF alpha antibody used on the same sections, gave a good correlation (r = 0.52, P < 0.001). Both TGF alpha antibodies produced a granular cytoplasmic staining pattern, that with CIM1 being coarser, suggestive of binding to an aggregated protein or organelle. Eighty-one per cent of tumours stained with the TGF beta antibody, 35 per cent strongly. There was significant co-expression of TGF alpha and TGF beta (P < 0.001). However, they were not found to be useful prognostic indicators, lacking any significant correlation with histological classification, tumour size, nodal status, oestrogen receptor status, S-phase fraction, or overall survival over a 9-12 year period. The expression of these growth factors in most breast carcinomas suggests that they have important biological roles, but the exact nature of these roles remains unclear at the moment.

Aim: To define the distribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and silver staining nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) in Hodgkin's disease., Methods: PCNA was shown in a series of 34 cases of Hodgkin's disease using immunohistochemical methods. In a second series of 46 cases the AgNOR technique for interphase nucleolar organiser regions was studied. Both series comprised routinely fixed and processed paraffin wax sections of three main Rye subtypes., Results: In all cases, regardless of Rye subtype, most Sternberg-Reed cells and mononuclear Hodgkin cells showed nuclear PCNA immunoreactivity and such cells had 15 or more AgNOR sites. The Hodgkin cells had, in general, about half the number of AgNORs seen in Sternberg-Reed variants., Conclusions: These data support the notion that Hodgkin's disease can be regarded as a high grade lymphoma, the large Hodgkin's and Sternberg-Reed cells being the (PCNA positive and AgNOR rich) neoplastic elements with high proliferative capacity. A smaller proportion of the associated cells also showed evidence of proliferation.

In an immunohistochemical pilot study of 195 primary breast cancer patients with a 10-year median follow-up we found that patients with carcinomas who express p53 protein in the majority of their tumor cells (19% of the cases) have a considerably worse prognosis than those who do not. The effect of the presence of the protein is seen on disease-free interval (chi-square, 11.69; P < .001), overall survival (chi-square, 19.68; P < .001), and survival after relapse (chi-square, 4.93; P < .02), and is seen in node-negative (chi-square, 6.99; P < .009) and node-positive (chi-square, 13.05; P < .001) patients. Furthermore, the effect is most apparent in patients with infiltrating lobular and grade II infiltrating ductal carcinomas (chi-square, 27.97; P < .001) that have a rather heterogeneous clinical behaviour and are difficult to subdivide on the basis of currently available markers. Cox multivariate analysis shows that p53 majority staining is second only to node status in significance of effect on overall survival.

We report a patient with RA who developed serological evidence for lupus disease in the presence of a crescentic immune complex glomerulonephritis (GN). This occurred after 4 years therapy with penicillamine and resolved on withdrawal of this drug and following treatment with cyclophosphamide.

Aims: To report the appearances of zirconium dioxide and barium sulphate in interface membranes, synovium, and other tissues around joint prostheses., Methods: Histological sections from 23 specimens were reviewed by light microscopy and polarisation. Scanning electron microscopy and x ray microanalysis were performed on routinely processed paraffin wax sections., Results: Polyethylene, metals, and polymethylmethacrylate cement debris were easily recognisable. Almost all the cement remnants contained either zirconium dioxide or barium sulphate, confirmed by microanalysis. The contrast media had characteristic light microscopic appearances. Zirconium was identified in macrophages away from cement remnants., Conclusion: The presence of radiographic contrast media in tissues around prosthetic joints is common but not widely recognised.