Objective To study the effects of paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) alone and in combination on the skin. Methods Forty-eight guinea pigs were divided equally into 4 groups and exposed to PPD (4 mg/kg), LAS (12 mg/kg) and PPD (4 mg/kg) plus LAS (12 mg/kg) for 30 days. The biochemical parameters such as acid phosphatase, gtutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, lipid peroxidation and histamine contents in exposed skin were estimated. The histopathological examination of the exposed skin was also carried out. Results The skin enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and histamine increased while glutathione decreased in skin. The simultaneously exposed group showed additive toxic effects. The histopathological examination showed severe hyperkeratosis, thickening of collagen fibres and vacuolisation of epidermal cells in PPD plus LAS exposed skin. Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest that simultaneous exposure to PPD and LAS has additive toxic effects.

Serous ovarian cancer is the most common malignant ovarian tumour. Traditional management consists of surgical resection with postoperative chemotherapy. Currently neoadjuvant chemotherapy is offered to patients with advanced stage disease. The present study aims to analyse the histomorphological alterations in serous ovarian cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Correlation of these morphological alterations with survival is also presented here. Serous ovarian cancers from 100 advanced stage cases were included; 50 were treated with pre-surgery chemotherapy. Semi-quantitative scoring was used to grade the alterations in tumour morphology. Survival data was correlated with the final morphological score. Tumour morphology was significantly different in cases treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT group) as compared to cases with upfront surgery. The CT group cases showed more fibrosis, calcification, and infiltration by lymphocytes, plasma cells, foamy and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. The residual tumour cells had degenerative cytoplasmic changes with nuclear atypia. Patients with significant morphological response had a longer median survival, although it did not attain statistical significance in the current study. With the increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in management, the pathologist needs to be aware of the altered morphological appearance of tumour. Further studies are required to establish a grading system to assess the tissue response which can be helpful in predicting the overall therapeutic outcome and the prognosis of patients.

INTRODUCTIONThe aim of this study was to determine if racial differences exist in the rate of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) during cataract surgery in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSAll intraoperative complications during cataract surgery were prospectively reported as part of a clinical audit programme. A retrospective review of all patients who sustained a PCR during cataract surgery between July 1995 and December 1998 was performed.

RESULTSOf 8230 consecutive eyes which underwent cataract surgery, 6951 (84.5%) were Chinese, 597 (7.3%) were Malay, 524 (6.4%) were Indian, and 158 (1.9%) were of other races. The overall incidence of PCR was 1.9%. The PCR rates were 1.8% [125 of 6951; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.49 to 2.11] in Chinese, 2.0% (12 of 597; 95% CI, 1.01 to 3.57) in Malay, 2.7% (14 of 524; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.56) in Indian, and 2.5% (4 of 158; 95% CI, 0.00 to 4.98) in other races. There was no statistical difference between the PCR rates (P = 0.62, chi-square test).

CONCLUSIONRacial differences in Singapore do not have an effect on the rates of PCR during cataract surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Capsulorhexis ; adverse effects ; Cataract Extraction ; adverse effects ; Eye Injuries ; ethnology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intraoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; adverse effects ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Audit ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification ; adverse effects ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; ethnology ; etiology ; Singapore ; epidemiology