Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure最新文献

Multifocal tumors are usually reported within the same cerebral hemisphere due to widespread dissemination along the white matter tracts. This case report describes the magnetic resonance imaging appearances of multifocal anaplastic oligodendroglioma in a 28-year-old adult male that showed three discrete heterogeneously enhancing cortical-based lesions in the left frontoparietal lobes. Left frontal craniotomy was performed and biopsy of the lesion was obtained, histopathology of which showed features of anaplastic oligodendroglioma.

Background: Quercetin is a flavonoid, with antioxidant and autophagy-modulating activities. Cisplatin is one of the platinum-based anticancer drugs. Early development of peripheral neuropathy as an adverse effect of cisplatin interferes with the continuation of therapy. Oxidative stress and autophagy impairment may play a role.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the possible protective effects of quercetin against cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 (control group) and Group 2 (cisplatin group) where peripheral neuropathy was induced using single ip injection of cisplatin. Group 3 (cisplatin + quercetin group) received single ip injection of cisplatin and was then treated with quercetin for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, nociception was evaluated by tail immersion test, and then, blood was collected for analysis of nerve growth factor. Sciatic nerve was used to assess histopathological changes and light chain 3-II by immunohistochemical staining. Reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, mTOR, and caspase-3 were estimated in sciatic nerve tissue homogenate.

Results: This research work revealed that quercetin significantly improved cisplatin-induced nociceptive impairment, attenuated cisplatin-induced oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis to protect against neuronal death.

Conclusion: From the current study, quercetin can act as a promising protective agent against cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the third most frequent cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Patients with diabetes exhibit a variety of oral symptoms, and hence the early detection of this condition can be addressed by a dentist.

Aim: The current study aimed to study the cytomorphometric alterations of buccal exfoliated cells in individuals with type II diabetes mellitus.

Methodology: The study included thirty diabetics and thirty healthy controls. The smears were obtained from the buccal mucosa and stained with Papanicolaou stain and hematoxylin and eosin stain. The presence of inflammatory cells, microbial carriage, nuclear enlargement, and perinuclear halo and binucleation were examined on the slides. Cellular and nuclear parameters were quantitatively measured using Image J software. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software, and the Student's t-test was employed.

Results: No inflammatory cells or microbes were observed in Group I individuals; however, the perinuclear halo was observed in 16.6% and binucleated cells in 3.3% of the controls. Inflammatory cells, consisting mainly of neutrophils and lymphocytes were seen in 40%, microbial carriage in 26.6%, perinuclear halo in 73.3%, and binucleated cells in 36.6% of the diabetic patients. The mean nuclear diameter, area, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio were significantly high in diabetic patients when compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion: Oral exfoliated mucosal cells of patients with diabetes mellitus exhibit distinct cytomorphometric alterations such as increased nuclear diameter, nuclear area, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio.

For rapid and successful treatment of infectious diseases, detection of the presence of microorganisms is essential. Traditional culture-based approaches are limiting and time consuming for microbial identification. The most popular staining technique for identifying Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms in various tissues is called Gram staining. This method is utilized in both clinical practice and research. Gram staining of the oral smears is the preliminary step in the identification of any pathological shift in normal oral microbiota. This review discusses the principle of gram stain emphasizing its significance in diagnostic utility for oral smears.

Background: Fluoxetine (FLX) is one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it is widely used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, but high doses can cause several adverse effects. Fisetin (FIS), a bioactive flavonoid presents in vegetables and fruits, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects.

Aim: To evaluate the possible ameliorating effect of FIS on the hepatic alterations induced by FLX in adult male albino rats.

Materials and methods: Our study was done, for 3-weeks, on 48 rats that were divided into four groups: Group I (control), Group II received FIS orally (100 mg/kg/day), Group III received FLX orally (10 mg/kg/day), and Group IV concomitantly received FLX and FIS at the same dose and manner of groups II and III. Blood and liver samples were obtained and prepared for histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies.

Results: FLX group revealed disturbed liver architecture, hepatocytes with vacuolated cytoplasm, inflammatory cellular infiltration, blood extravasation, and congestion of blood vessels in addition to, a significant increase in the area percentage of caspase-3, inducible nitric oxide synthase and the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein-expressing cells as well as a significant decrease in the area percentage of periodic acid-Schiff stain. Moreover, FLX significantly increased aspartate-aminotransferase and alanine-aminotransferase levels in the serum. In addition, FLX increased malondialdehyde level and decreased superoxide dismutase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, and reduced GSH levels in liver tissue. The concomitant administration of FIS ameliorated these alterations.

Conclusions: Administration of FIS ameliorated the histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical alterations induced by FLX in the liver of adult male albino rats.

Background: Long-term khat consumption is associated with significant neurocognitive changes, which have been elucidated in behavioral studies. With current research showing the centrality of astrocytes and other glial cells in neuronal signaling, there is possibility that these cells are also affected by chronic khat use. There is little literature on the structural changes in the prefrontal cortex neuronal and astrocytic cytoarchitecture and morphometry in chronic khat users.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the changes in astrocyte morphometry and structure in rats after long-term use of khat (miraa).

Materials and methods: Adult male Wistar rats, aged 2-3 months, weighing 200-300 g were randomized into four groups of 10 each (control, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3) to correspond with those used as controls and those that received 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg body weight khat extracts, respectively. Fresh khat leaves were purchased from Maua market in Meru, and crude extract was prepared using lyophilization. The control rats were fed on normal diet, while the experimental groups were fed on normal diet and khat extracts using oral gavage for 6 weeks. The animals were sacrificed and their brains were removed. We performed immunohistochemical visualization of astrocytes using glial fibrillary acidic protein. Photomicrographs of the stained sections were transferred to ImageJ Fiji software to study the astrocyte density and astrocytic processes. We used Kruskal-Wallis test to correlate the four animal groups in terms of astrocyte densities.

Results: We observed an increase in the average number of astrocytes with increasing doses of khat compared to controls, with those in Group 3 (2000 mg/kg) having an exuberant reactive astrocytosis. Further, escalating khat doses resulted in increased glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the nuclei and astrocytic processes, gliotic changes, and increased complexity of astrocytic processes.

Conclusion: Chronic khat use, especially at high doses, results in reactive astrocytosis and astrogliosis, which may be part of the mechanisms involved in the cognitive changes associated with its use.

The major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) are most frequently obstructed by calculi within the salivary gland, or more uncommonly, by ranulas. Despite the well-defined clinical and radiographic diagnostic features, sialolithiasis may sometimes be confused with sialadenitis and ranulas, especially when encountered in general dental practice. We, therefore, present a case that illustrates this diagnostic dilemma to highlight the salient features of all three conditions. A 28-year-old female presented with a history of a submandibular swelling for 8 months. On intraoral examination, a bluish sublingual swelling was identified at the left side of the lingual frenum, causing a slight elevation of the tongue. The preliminary diagnosis was of a ranula; however, the clinical history suggested sialolithiasis. A hard structure was palpated in the submandibular gland, and a mandibular occlusal film revealed a large ductal sialolith. Sialolithotomy was performed under local anesthesia, and a single 7.2 mm stone was retrieved. The postoperative follow-up period was uneventful, with good healing and restored normal salivary flow. Despite the fairly clear clinical and radiographic diagnostic criteria suggestive of sialolithiasis, the bluish-tinged swelling of the floor of the mouth prompted the examining dentist to provisionally diagnose a ranula. Sialolithiasis is a common obstructive condition of the salivary gland encountered in the dental setting. Despite the clinical and radiographic features usually guiding the correct diagnosis, it can be a challenging diagnosis for less experienced dentists, who must always carefully consider the history, clinical, and radiographic findings.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most devastating disease, particularly the lethal invasive form. It is the most underlying cause of death among women worldwide. The expansion of BC is controlled by a variety of alterations in the tumor cells themselves, in addition to the state of the immune system, which has a direct influence on the tumor microenvironment. Numerous receptors expressed by T-cells interact with ligands on antigen-presenting cells to provide activation signals results in mounting effector anti-tumor T-cell responses. On the other hand, there is a dearth of information about the actual interactions and reactions of T-cells and dendritic cells (DCs) all through the progression of tumor development.

Aim: Immune system response against BC was investigated through tumor induction in mice. The size and volume of the tumor were calculated. Moreover, the phenotypical profile of T-cells and DCs from lymph nodes (LN) and spleens of BC-bearing mice was investigated. In addition, the levels of Transforming growth factor-β, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin IL-2, IL-10, IL-4, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined.

Materials and methods: MDA231 cells were utilized to induce BC in 30 white BALB/C mice, whereas the other 30 mice acted as healthy controls and were not treated with any cancer-causing agents. The impact of malignancy was evaluated using flow cytometry based on the marking surface molecules, as well as the titer of specific cytokines of the mice's LN culture using the ELISA method. These cytokines included transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), IFN-γ, IL-2, IL -10, IL -4, IL -12, and TNF-α.

Results: The findings showed that the maturation of DCs was inhibited, followed by an accumulation of immature DCs. These immature DCs increase the release of TGF-β and cytokines like IL-10 and inhibit the release of IFN-γ and IL-12 in the culture supernatant of nodal lymph and spleen suspension of BC-bearing mice compared to control. In addition, there was a low expression of CD80 and CD86 on DCs, which indicates a low maturation process.

Conclusion: According to the findings, the tumor microenvironment may have been responsible for preventing the maturation of DCs. This, in turn, weakened the immune response and facilitated the ability of the tumor to proliferate. Furthermore, the tumor microenvironment increased the number of immature DCs by inhibiting their stimulation by overexpression of TGF-β-produced by regulatory T lymphocytes and stimulation of tumor cells. In addition, the tumor microenvironment stimulated the secretion of cytokines such as IL-10, and CD4 and decreased the secretion of IFN-γ-and IL-12 in tumor-induced mice cultured LN and spleen.

Background: The rapidly evolving pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented with clinical severity, which varies from asymptomatic cases to being fatal in others. The need of the hour is to find meaningful and cost-effective COVID-19 biomarkers out of conventional hematological and biochemical parameters, which will help in the early identification of patients with a poor prognosis, leading to timely intervention.

Aim: The aim was to analyze different biochemical and hematological parameters in COVID-19 patients and also to study the association of these parameters with disease severity.

Materials and methods: Cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 100 COVID-19 patients from a hospital from July to October 2020. Based on saturation of oxygen (SpO₂), admitted patients were grouped into mild-moderate (SpO₂ ≥90%) and severe groups (SpO₂ <90%). Hematological and biochemical parameters were studied in both groups, and association with disease severity was analyzed.

Results: Out of 100 patients, 57 patients were seen in the mild-moderate group (SpO₂ ≥90%), while 43 patients (SpO₂ <90%) belonged to the severe category. Males were predominant in both mild-moderate and severe groups. Among the hematological parameters, statistically significant higher values of absolute neutrophil count (P = 0.046) and significantly lower absolute lymphocyte count (P = 0.003) values were observed. With regard to biochemical parameters, increased urea and decreased total protein were found in the severe category and this association was statistically significant.

Conclusion: To conclude, early identification and monitoring of hematological and biochemical parameters, especially those associated with higher disease severity, may contribute toward improving disease outcomes.

Concomitant Hodgkin's lymphoma with tuberculosis is an exceedingly rare clinical scenario and a condition that is difficult to manage due to similar clinical presentation. This case report describes the same in a 44-year-old male patient diagnosed with Koch's and initiated on antituberculosis therapy, based on confirmation of findings from the spine biopsy and culture. The patient's clinical condition worsened despite being on treatment for tuberculosis. Hence, further work up of the patient was done which included mediastinoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound. Biopsy samples from a conglomerate mass in the lower cervical region and mediastinum revealed Hodgkin's lymphoma of the nodular sclerosis type. This time, the patient showed significant improvement following treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy along with antituberculosis therapy.