Morphological and Histopathological Study of Autopsied Patients with Atherosclerosis and HIV.

BACKGROUND: Chronic infection by HIV evolves with a vascular inflammatory action causing endothelial dysfunction. The action of the virus, as well as the side effects of antiretroviral drugs, contribute to the progression of cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the percentage of collagen fibers and the density of mast cells, chymase and tryptase, in aortas of patients with and without HIV, and also patients with and without atherosclerosis. METHODS: Aortic fragments were obtained from autopsied patients aged 22-69 years and selected regardless of the cause of death or underlying disease. The samples were divided into four groups, (1) Group with HIV and with atherosclerosis; (2) Group with HIV and without atherosclerosis; (3) Group without HIV and with atherosclerosis; (4) Group without HIV and without atherosclerosis (Control). The percentage of collagen fibers was analyzed in the intima-media layer and the density of mast cells was analyzed in all aortic layers. Graphpad Prism 5.0® software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were more collagen fibers in HIV patients, with or without atherosclerosis. The group with HIV and atherosclerosis presented a higher density of chymase and tryptase mast cells. The correlation between collagen fibers and age was negative in the non-HIV group and with atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory process resulting from HIV infection may be relevant in the alteration of aortic collagen fibers and in triggering or accelerating atherosclerosis. The study is important because HIV patients have increased risks for the development of cardiovascular diseases, and follow-up is necessary to prevent such diseases.

Computerized morphometry of the area of the hard palate and of palatal rugae: a cross-sectional study / Morfometría computarizada del área del paladar duro y de las arrugas palatinas: un estudio transversal

Abstract Background: The evaluation of palatal rugae in human identification is important because these structures can remain intact for up to seven days after death. Aim: To compare the area and density of the palatal rugae between ages groups and genders. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: Dental plaster models obtained from patients at the Orthodontic Clinic of University of Uberaba were selected. Two hundred patients were divided into four groups: Group 1:10-15 years; Group 2:16-30 years; Group 3:31-50 years; and Group 4:51-70 years. The palatal rugae and hard palate of each plaster model were outlined and photographed. The evaluation of the area of the hard palate and palatal rugae was performed using the ImageJ software. Statistical analysis used: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square and Spearman correlation tests using GraphPad Prism 5 statistical software. Results and conclusión: The areas of the palatal rugae and of the hard palate were significantly smaller in the group 4. There was a significant negative correlation between age and palatal rugae area, and between age and hard palatal area. The present study was the first to demonstrate that patients between 51 and 70 years have a smaller palatal rugae area and a smaller hard palate area when compared to other groups. Thus, the evaluation of the hard palate area and of palatal rugae could be used as an adjunct with other methods to determine the age group of an individual; however studies using larger sample size are needed to validate this observation.

Morphological and histopathological evaluation of autopsied patients with hypertensive cardiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Physiopathological processes in hypertensive heart disease are controlled by complex interactions between cardiomyocytes, extracellular matrix, microvasculature and other cells present in the myocardium. OBJECTIVE: To analyze morphological changes in hypertensive cardiopathy and to describe and compare findings in order to help clarify determinant factors. METHODS: 42 fragments of the left ventricular myocardium and circumflex branch of the left coronary artery were obtained from individuals autopsied at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) in the period ranging from 1984 to 2018. Groups were split into individuals with hypertensive heart disease (HD) and individuals without heart disease (ND). Wall thickness was measured with a digital caliper and Computed Tomography. Quantification of collagen fibers was conducted by computerized morphometry and mast cell density was assessed by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: There was a significant increase of heart weight in the HD group compared to the ND group, (p = 0.0002). There was a significant increase of thickness of the middle third of the free wall in the HD group compared to the ND group, (p = 0.04). There was a significant increase of collagen fibers in the left ventricle in the HD group compared to the ND group, (p < 0.0001). Concerning mast cell density, there was a significant increase in the left ventricle of individuals with HD immuno-labeled by the set anti-chymase/anti-tryptase (p < 0.0001). There was a significant increase of mast cell density in the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery of individuals with HD immuno-labeled by the set anti-chymase/anti-tryptase (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Mast cells are involved in the development of hypertensive heart disease, contributing to the remodeling of collagen fibers in this disease.

Skin aging in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

To evaluate the histomorphometric skin changes over aging patients with autopsied acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 29 skin fragments of autopsied elderly (older than 50 years) and nonelderly patients with AIDS, epidermal thickness, the number of layers, the diameter of cells, the percentage of collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis, and the number and morphology of Langerhans cells were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by SigmaStat 2.03 program. The thickness of the epidermis (92.55 × 158.94 µm), the number of layers (7 × 9 layers), and the diameter of the cells (13.27 × 17.6 µm) were statistically lower among the elderly. The quantity of collagen fibers (9.68 × 14.11%) and elastic fibers (11.89 × 15.31%) was also significantly lower in the elderly. There was a decrease in total (10.61 × 12.38 cel/mm(2)) and an increase in immature Langerhans cells (6.31 × 4.98 cel/mm(2)) in elderly patients with AIDS. The aging of the skin of patients with AIDS is amended in different histomorphometric aspects, the epidermis constituents suffer less pronounced changes in normal aging, and the dermis has more intense changes in elastic fibers and collagen.

Morphometric evaluation of the aortic root in stillborns.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the dimensions and amount of collagen in the aortic root of autopsied fetuses at different gestational ages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 samples of aortic roots were selected from autopsied fetuses with gestational ages ranging between 20 and 40 weeks. The thickness and the area of the aortic wall were analyzed on slides stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, and the collagen was quantified on slides stained with Picrosirius, by using an image analyzing system. RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between the thickness of the media layer of the aortic wall and the gestational age. There was a positive and significant correlation between the percentage of collagen in the aortic wall with gestational age and fetal weight. The correlation between gestational age and the area of the aortic root circumference was positive and significant. And the correlation between the aortic diameter and the gestational age as well as fetal length was positive and significant. CONCLUSION: The thickness of the media layer, the amount of collagen in the aortic wall, the area of the aortic root circumference and the aortic diameter rose with the increase of the gestational age. Thus, the morphological analysis of the aortic root may help as a parameter during the follow-up of inter-uterine growth and fetal development.

Inflammation and glandular duct dilatation of the tongue from patients with chronic Chagas disease.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate morphologically the tongue of individuals with chronic Chagas disease (CD) in comparison to the non-chagasic ones. Twenty-four protocol cases of autopsies were selected. They were subdivided into CD patients (10 cases) and non-chagasic ones (14 cases). The morphometric analysis was accomplished for the tongue muscle and salivary glands duct lumen area. In three CD patients, perineuritis was found, and two of them showed megaesophagus and megacolon. The intensity of the inflammation in the von Ebner's glands, the tongue muscles, and the salivary glands duct lumen area was significantly higher in the CD patients. We concluded that the CD patients show salivary glands duct dilatation, which probably would have a relation with alterations in the autonomic nervous system. The inflammation found in CD patients is in accordance with that described in comparative studies on the digestive tract and heart. These morphological findings suggest that the histopathological analysis of the tongue associated with other organs, or even in an isolated manner, can add in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of the CD chronic phase.