The influence of chronic intake of saccharin on rat hepatic and pancreatic function and morphology: gender differences.

There are opposite hypotheses on the effect of saccharin. Our aim was reviewing the influence of chronically ingested saccharin on the function and histological structure of liver and pancreas and all this in light of gender differences. The rats were divided into control group - (Group C) and saccharin-treated group - (Group S) which was given a normal diet and 0.0005% saccharin in drinking water for 6 weeks. Liver and pancreas were histologically processed and quantitative histological analysis was performed. Glucose blood levels and plasma activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), body weight, and food intake were analyzed. Quantitative histological analysis determined that the values of diameter and volume density of both Langerhans islets and exocrine acini were significantly higher in S group, especially in males. AST levels were significantly higher in treated group. Glucose levels were higher in treated group, mainly due to the values of the female subgroup. Food intake was significantly higher in control group, while weight gain was higher in treated group. Treated males had significantly higher food intake and weight gain in comparison with treated females. The data presented here suggests that chronic saccharin intake affects the examined parameters. Reported facts reflect various metabolic, hormonal and neural responses in males and females.

Lipoma of the sigmoid colon.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoma is a benign tumor of adipose tissue, the most common tumor of the human body soft tissues. As such, it can be found almost anywhere in the human body including the gastrointestinal system (incidence below 0.5%), but rarely in the sigmoid colon. CASE REPORT: This is a case report on symptomatic polyp of the sigmoid colon, which after one year, at control colonoscopy, caused suspicion to malignancy. Endoscopically diagnosed polipoid lesion was laparoscopically removed. The pathohistological diagnosis determined benign, submucosal, incapsulated lipoma of the sigmoid colon. CONCLUSION: Although lipomas of the gastrointestinal tract are rare, this case clearly indicates that we should not prematurely and without histological confirmation of malignancy do more extensive resection for a suspected malignancy.

Xanthomas of the stomach: a report of two cases.

Gastrointestinal tract xanthomas are non tumor, well demarcated mucosal lesions that consist of foamy histiocytes, most commonly diagnosed in the stomach. The histologic appearance of xanthomas can resemble certain malignant lesions. After retrospective data base search, we have encountered only 2 cases of xanthomas, both in the antral part of the stomach. Lamina propria of the mucosa contained rare, chronic inflammatory infiltrate and clusters of oval and polygonal cells with abundant, foamy cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of described cells did not show the presence of mucin (Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue staining). The cells showed distinct cytoplasmic CD68 positivity and CKMNF116 negativity, which confirmed the diagnosis of xanthoma. Given the frequent association of xanthomas and known precancerous lesions of gastric mucosa, and occasional coexistence of malignant change, we need to pay attention to its diagnosis, and it is advisable to use both histochemical and immunohistochemical methods.