Articles

Cytomorphometric Changes of Buccal Exfoliated Pap Stained Smears among COVID-19 Recovered Patients; Sudan 2022

Introduction: COVID-19 is known to cause various changes in oral mucosa which can be detected by exfoliative cytology. The present study aimed to determine the cytomorphometric change of oral mucosa exfoliated Pap-stained smears for COVID-19 recovered patients at Khartoum state 2022.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative, community-based study conducted at Khartoum State. Eighty (80) participants who recovered from COVID-19 enrolled in the study as cases and twenty (20) healthy participants as the control group.

Results: In the present study the ages of the participants ranged between 19-75 years. Mean was significantly different in cytoplasm diameter (CD), nucleus diameter (ND), and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (N/CR) between the patients who recovered from COVID-19 versus the healthy group (69.71μm versus 37.45μm, P. value= 0.001; 10.02μm versus 6.05μm, P. value= 001; and 28.9 μm versus 18.0μm, P. value= 0.016) respectively.

Conclusion: The marked changes in cytomorphometric parameters caused by infection with COVID-19 prove that infection with the virus causes changes in the buccal mucosa.

These findings will help in the screening and diagnosis of the disease.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa as Nuclear Stain for Cytological Buccal and Cervical Smear

Introduction: Sudan is one of the biggest countries that produces and exports hibiscus Sabdariffa in Africa. The possibility of HS staining cytological specimens is not well explored. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the staining quality of Hibiscus Sabdariffa on cytological buccal and cervical smear as a cheap viable nuclear stain alternative to hematoxylin.

Methods: This study was an experimental descriptive study conducted at Alfajr College for Science and Technology from (June to September 2022). A total of 30 smears, 15 buccal smears collected from students and 15 cervical smears were retrieved from Alfajr’s histopathology lab.

Results: All (30) slides showed good staining quality with 20% concentration Hibiscus Sabdariffa water extract when mordanted with Iron, and acidified with acetic acid.

Conclusion: Hibiscus Sabdariffa is good as nuclear staining for a buccal and cervical pap smear and can replace hematoxylin by adjustment of concentration, time and pH.