Effects of topical applications of porcine acellular urinary bladder matrix and Centella asiatica extract on oral wound healing in a rat model.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of topical applications of porcine acellular urinary bladder matrix (AUBM) and Centella asiatica extract (CAE) on the healing of tongue wounds in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wounds were made in the tongue using a punch tool in 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats, randomized into four groups (n = 16 per group): group 1 (control), group 2 (CAE), group 3 (AUBM mixed with orabase), and group 4 (orabase). No product was applied in group 1 and groups 2-4 received three daily topical applications. The animals were weighed on day 0 and at the time of euthanasia. Four rats in each group were euthanized at days 2, 7, 14, and 21 and the tongues were processed for: macroscopic morphometric analysis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, histological wound repair (degree of reepithelialization and inflammation), and CD31 positivity. RESULTS: The animals' weight gain, histological wound repair, and CD31 positivity from greatest to least were: AUBM > CAE > orabase > control. Percentage of tongue occupied by wound, MPO, and MPA levels from least to greatest were: AUBM < CAE < orabase < control, whereby the AUBM group showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in comparison with the other groups on days 2, 7, 14, and 21 for percentage of tongue occupied by wound and MDA and on days 7, 14, and 21 for MPO. CONCLUSIONS: CAE is effective for oral tissue regeneration, while AUBM is an even more potent means of oral mucosa regeneration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: AUBM may be beneficial to patients with oral wounds; this finding requires further clinical and laboratory investigation.

Biochemical analysis and immunohistochemical determination of cardiac troponin for the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial damage.

Cardiac disease is the most common cause of sudden death in Western nations. In forensic practice there is a need for more sensitive diagnostic methods for the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial damage. The aim of this study was to analyse the diagnostic efficacy of biochemical markers in cadaver fluids in conjunction with histological studies and the immunohistochemical determination of cardiac troponin C (cTnC) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels in myocardial tissue fixed in formol and included in paraffin. We studied 50 cadavers (43 males and 7 females) with a mean age of 47.5 years (SD 19.2; range 12 to 87 years). Cases were chosen according to the postmortem interval, cause of death, and circumstances of death. Pericardial fluid and serum were tested in duplicate for cardiac troponin I (cTn I), myoglobin and CKMB by immunoassay system using commercial kits. In myocardial tissue, histological studies were performed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemical techniques involving streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase were performed. The results pointed to statistically significant differences for all the biochemical markers in pericardial fluid. The highest levels were obtained in the group of cadavers who had died from myocardial infarction. The immunohistochemical expression of cTnC was detected in 86% of cases; it was strongly positive and usually diffuse. The expression of cTnT, was much less frequent (46% of cases) and less intense. It was concluded that the immunohistochemical determination of cTnC and cTnT levels in myocardial tissue may be used as an index of myocardium damage.

Expression and significance of cell immunohistochemical markers (HHF-35, CD-31, Bcl-2, P-53 and apopDETEC) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

There are several hypotheses concerning the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (genetic, ischaemic, immune, inflammatory and apoptosis induction). We have studied three types of cardiomyopathy in order to observe the expression and assess the significance of different immunohistochemical markers (muscular actin, CD-31, proliferation cell nuclear antigen -PCNA-, Ki-67, and markers related with programmed cell death, bcl-2, p-53 and apopDETEC). We studied different microscopic (haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's thrichrome) and immunohistochemical parameters (streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase and "in situ" hybridisation) of forty cases: ten each of hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, essential hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in patients treated with chemotherapy and morphologically "normal" hearts. Our findings point to an absence of structural marker expression (actin and CD-31) in cases of hypoxic damage. The distribution and intensity of apoptosis markers, a seen by "in situ" hybridisation were irregular, and the rest of the markers studied showed negative results, with the exception of acridin orange (a marker of hypoxic damage). In our opinion, the above immunohistochemical markers, especially actin and CD-31, could be used for differentiating hypoxic lesions in these three types of cardiomyopathy. Moreover, it is difficult to know the significance of the apoptosis markers, because the autolysis process produces cross reactions with false positive results. We think that there is a need for new studies on DNA breakdown processes during the post-mortem interval. To avoid autolysis problems the post-mortem material needs to be as fresh as possible.

[Precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (I): incidence in 2 population groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic]. / Lesiones precursoras del cáncer gástrico (I): Incidencia en dos grupos de población: sintomática y asintomática.

We analyzed 850 gastric biopsy specimens: 643 were obtained from patients with gastric symptoms, and 207 from apparently normal individuals. We evaluated the incidence of precancerous lesions (PL) of the stomach (chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and gastric dysplasia) in both groups of patients (symptomatic and assymptomatic). We also studied the relationship between these lesions and diverse clinical and morphological parameters (age, sex, location and endoscopic findings). Our results indicate a higher incidence than expected of PL in an area of low risk of the gastric cancer, both in symptomatic patients (CAG: 65%, IM: 50% and GD: 23%) and in the normal population (CAG: 24%, IM: 17.4% and GD: 2%). These lesions were preferentially located in the antral region and the antro-corporal transitional zone. The incidence of the PL was highest in patients 50 and 60 years of age. These parameters should be considered as risk factors in the development of a gastric carcinoma of the intestinal type.

[Precancerous conditions in gastric cancer (II): relationship between atrophic gastritis-intestinal metaplasia-gastric dysplasia-gastric carcinoma]. / Lesiones precursoras del cáncer gástrico (II): Relación entre gastritis atrófica-metaplasia intestinal-displasia gástrica-carcinoma gástrico.

We studied a group of gastric precancerous lesions in order to analyze their mutual relationship as well as and their association with the development of gastric carcinoma of the intestinal type. This study was performed on 850 gastric biopsy specimens. Our results demonstrate the strong association of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and gastric dysplasia (p less than 0.001) which should be considered as precursor lesions of gastric cancer. Moreover, the relations between these lesions and the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma suggest their active participation in the genesis of this type of malignancy. Our results also suggest that chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia evolve to the dysplasia stage before developing gastric cancer.

[Nephrogenic bladder adenoma associated with glandular cystitis. Immunohistochemical study and significance]. / Adenoma nefrogénico vesical asociado a cistitis glandular. Estudio inmunohistoquímico y significado.

A histopathological and immunohistochemical study of a case of nephrogenic adenoma of the bladder associated to glandular cystitis is presented with a very similar immunostaining to adenomatoid tumors in other organs and probably of a mesothelial origin. Its pathogenesis seems to correspond to a metaplastic change of the bladder's urothelium through anomalous differentiation of the reserve cells faced with different irritating agents. Because of its benign characteristics, we think that treatment can be confined to endoscopic observation and conservative technique.

[Bladder carcinoma with osteoclast-type giant cells. A case with a rare presentation. Review of the literature]. / Carcinoma con células gigantes tipo osteoclasto de vejiga. Un caso de rara presentación. Revisión de la literatura.

We report a case of neoplasm of the urinary bladder with pseudosarcomatous stromal differentiation. Heterologous carcinosarcomas are extremely rare malignant neoplasms (seventy-eight cases have been previously described). This is a case of carcinoma containing numerous osteoclast type giant cells that stained for vinmentin and acid phosphatase and were negative for cytokeratin and lysozyme.

Histological findings and immunohistochemical surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in asphyxia: its application in the diagnosis of drowning.

The histopathological alterations that permit the diagnosis of death by asphyxia are very unspecific, although pulmonary alterations are of great importance in this respect. The postmortem diagnosis of drowning, particularly, continues to be one of the most difficult in forensic pathology. The aim of this study is to jointly evaluate microscopic findings and immunohistochemical surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in the upper and lower lobes of lungs in different causes of death, and their possible application to the diagnosis of drowning. We studied 120 cadavers from subjects with a mean age of 48.73 years (SD 19.45; range 2-86 years), and with a mean post-mortem interval of 30 hours (SD 39.59; range 3-216 hours). According to the scene, cause and circumstances of death, and autopsy findings, cases were classified into groups as follows: (a) drowning (n=47); (b) other asphyxia (n=44) and (c) other causes (n=29). In the upper and lower lobes of lungs, histological studies of H&E staining and immunohistochemical surfactant protein A expression were made. The presence and severity of congestion, haemorrhage and oedema, together with immunohistochemical SP-A expression, may have a diagnostic value in differentiating asphyxia and drowning from other causes of death, and drowning from other types of asphyxia. Our findings suggest that both lobes should be investigated to establish the diagnosis, although the findings in the upper lobe might be the most important for differentiating the exact cause of death.

Ultrastructural investigation of lead-induced intranuclear inclusion bodies in mice.

By means of optical and electron microscopy and by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in a graphite chamber, this study evaluated the effect of temperature (22-35 degrees C) on lesions in the kidney, liver, and brain, and on concentrations of lead caused by the administration of 2 and 5 mg/kg/IP of lead acetate to Swiss mice. The most pronounced effects were observed in the kidney and in groups of animals receiving the highest doses (5 mg/kg at 22 and 35 degrees C). These effects consisted of significantly higher (p < .05) lead concentrations in the tissues, a significant decrease (p < .05) in kidney weights, and progressive kidney atrophy and fibrosis with, at the ultrastructural level, constant intranuclear inclusions, which were also observed in the cytoplasm of renal and endothelial cells.

DNA-ploidy, morphometric-stereological and P-glycoprotein study of superficial bladder carcinomas.

We carried out a DNA-ploidy, morphometric-stereologic and P-glycoprotein study on 40 newly diagnosed superficial bladder cancer patients (G1-G2), correlating the results with histological grade and clinical outcome. Variations in the number of patients who present recurrences, progression or remain tumor-free during the whole follow-up period (at least 5 years) were not significant when related to nuclear size, proliferative diploid index, presence of aneuploidy and expression of P-glycoprotein. It is striking how the majority of disease-free subjects showed a proliferative diploid index higher than 10%. Moreover, 3 of them presented an aneuploid cell population. In our study, only histological grade showed a significant discriminatory level in terms of progression versus no progression in patients with superficial bladder cancer.

Abnormal melanosomes: ultrastructural markers of melanocytic atypia.

To identify possible ultrastructural markers of melanocytic atypia, a quantitative ultrastructural study was made of melanocytes found at the dermal-epidermal boundary of normal skin and in benign, premalignant, and malignant melanocytic lesions. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of melanosomes per melanocyte in the premalignant and malignant lesions compared with the number observed in the benign lesions. There was a significantly higher number (p < 0.05) of abnormal melanosomes (with irregularities in the laminar matrix or with a granular or clumpy matrix) in the premalignant and malignant lesions, which suggests that the presence of a high percentage of abnormal melanosomes might act as a useful ultrastructural marker in the diagnosis of melanocytic atypia.

Ultrastructural study across the leprosy spectrum.

We have carried out a systematic ultrastructural study of the bacilli, the cell-mediated response in the host, and the dermal microvasculature in lepromatous (LL), borderline lepromatous (BL), and borderline tuberculoid (BT) types of active leprosy (eight cases). In the types of least resistance (LL and BL), macrophages with large cytoplasmic processes were observed; in addition, numerous peripheral vacuoles were found in BL. Mast cells were abundant and vascular alterations constant. BT macrophages showed more regular outlines and multivacuolated cytoplasms with plentiful rough endoplasmic reticulum. Giant cells were scarce. Bacilli, both isolated and in globi, were contained within the vacuoles and appeared constantly in macrophages and endothelial and Schwann cells in LL and BL. Conversely, in BT they were found singly, infrequently in the endothelial cells, and not at all in Schwann cells. Forms in the process of destruction or degradation were more common than intact forms, in which the symmetric outline of the membrane could be seen clearly.

Palpebral and Periorbital Edema in an Immigrant Woman

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Carcinoma con células gigantes tipo osteoclasto de vejiga. Un caso de rara presentación. Revisión de la literatura / Giant osteoclast type cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. A case with unusual presentation. Review of the literature

Presentamos un caso de tumor vesical con diferenciación pseudosarcomatosa del estroma.Son extremadamente raros (sólo se había descrito 78 casos en el mundo hasta el año 2001).También son llamados carcinosarcomas heterólogos, dentro de los cuales se encuentran los llamados carcinosarcomas con células gigantes tipo osteoclasto, que se caracterizan por ser positivos para vimentina y fosfatasa ácida y negativos para marcadores epiteliales (citoqueratinas de bajo peso y lisozima) (AU)

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Adenoma nefrogénico vesical asociado a cistitis glandular. Estudio inmunohistoquímico y significado / Nephrogenic adenoma asociated with glandular cystitis. Significated and immunohistochemical study

Presentamos un estudio histopatológico e inmunohistoquímico de un adenoma nefrogénico vesical asociado a cistitis glandular, que muestran una expresión inmunohistoquímica similar a los tumores adenomatoides en otros órganos y de probable origen mesotelial. Su patogénesis parece corresponderse con cambios metaplásicos del urotelio de la vejiga, a través de una diferenciación anómala de las células de reserva ante diferentes agentes irritativos. Debido a sus características benignas, pensamos que su tratamiento debe ser conservativo y limitado al control endoscópico de la lesión (AU)

Modificaciones estructurales y ultraestructurales en la mucosa gastrointestinal por acción de radicales libres. Posible efecto protector del etanol / Estructural and ultraestructural modifications in gastrointestinal mucosa mediated by free radicals. Possible protective effect by ethanol

El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar como se modifica la estructura de la mucosa gastrointestinal al verse expuesta a radicales libre y determinar si el etanol puede disminuir los daños producidos por estos radicales libres. Para ello hemos estudiado las alteraciones histológicas (estructurales y ultraestructurales) de la mucosa gastroduodenal de ratas tratadas con el reactivo de Fenton (generador de radicales libres) con y sin etanol. Nuestros resultados muestran que a nivel estructural, el grupo de ratas a las que se administró etanol junto con el reactivo de Fenton presentaban menos lesiones de tipo inflamatorio que el grupo de animales tratados solo con el reactivo de Fenton sin etanol, lo que indica que el etanol sí amortigua la acción de estos radicales libres. Sin embargo a nivel ultraestructural no podemos hacer diferenciaciones entre los dos grupos ya que todas las lesiones encontradas son lesiones celulares inespecíficas y aparecen con igual frecuencia en los mismos. Por lo tanto, debido a la inespecificidad de las alteraciones histológicas producidas por los radicales libres, estas solo nos pueden reflejar la intensidad del daño producido pero no su etiología (AU)