Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in terms of symbiosis-parasitism continuum.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are forming the most wide-spread mycorrhizal relationships on Earth. Mycorrhiza contributes to phosphorous acquisition, water absorption and resistance to diseases. The fungus promotes the absorption of nutrients and water from soil, meanwhile the host plant offers photosynthetic assimilates in exchange, like carbohydrates, as energy source. The plant benefits from the contribution of symbiotic partner only when nutrients are in low concentrations in soil and the root system would not be able to absorb sufficiently the minerals. When the help of mycorrhizal fungi is not necessarily needed, the host plant is making an economy of energy, suppressing the development of fungi in the internal radicular space. In this moment, the nature of relationship turns from symbiotic to parasitic, triggering a series of defensive reactions from the plant. Also, there were several cases reported when the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi negatively influenced the host plant. For example, in adverse environmental conditions, like very high temperatures, instead of determining a higher plant biomass and flowering, the mycorrhiza reduces the growth of the host plant. We conducted a pot experiment with hydroponic culture to examine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on development of French marigold as a host plant. As experimental variants, the phosphorous content in nutrient medium and temperature varied. Plants were artificially infected with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi using a commercial inoculum containing three fungal species, as following: Glomus intraradices, Glomus etunicatum and Glomus claroideum. Colonization intensity and arbuscular richness were checked using root staining with aniline blue and estimation with the Trouvelot method. To observe the differences between plants from the experimental variants, we examined the number of side shoots, flower buds and fully developed flowers, fresh biomass and total leaf area. Results show that adverse climatic conditions, like temperature shock at the beginning of growing period modified the nature of symbiosis. In this case, the physiological parameters were reduced at colonized plants, while usual, constant growing conditions permitted the normal, efficient and beneficial development of symbiosis.

Amifostine and dexrazoxane enhance the rapid loss of bone mass and further deterioration of vertebrae architecture in female rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used in combination cocktails for treatment of childhood hematologic cancers and solid tumors. A major factor limiting DOX usage is DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Dexrazoxane (DXR) is an iron-binding compound and the only approved cardioprotectant for use with DOX. Amifostine (AMF) is a free radical scavenger and approved as a broad-spectrum cytoprotectant. We have shown that when female rats are treated with AMF, AMF + DOX, or AMF + DXR + DOX there is a significant decrease in the right femoral and lumbar vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) (P < 0.05) but not in the left femoral BMD. Furthermore, the relative bone volume (BV/TV) was significantly smaller in the lumbar vertebral bodies of rats treated with AMF (21.1%), AMF + DOX (34.4%), and AMF + DXR + DOX (38.4%), as was the trabecular number (Tb.N) with AMF (15.5%), AMF + DOX (29.9%), and AMF + DXR + DOX (32.3%). AMF + DOX- and AMF + DXR + DOX-treated vertebrae also exhibited deterioration in the microarchitecture of the trabecular bone and spinous processes as ascertained by microcomputerized tomography (micro CT). This information will be useful in designing better cancer combination therapies that do not lead to bone deterioration.

Morphological features in the embryological development of the anterior arch of the mandible.

OBJECTIVES: Our study is focused on the typical morphological features of the development of the mandible. There were investigated both specific elements for the ossification process as well as aspects of the developing tooth germs. METHODS: We performed transmission electron microscopy analyses on sections obtained from 15 human embryos aged between 6 and 20 weeks. The sections were acquired from specific areas of the anterior arch of the mandible, corresponding to the sites of development of the tooth germs, namely the incisors and the canines. RESULTS: There were observed some characteristic elements for the intramembranous ossification process (mesenchymal cells, collagen fibers, osteoblasts, bony spicules), and for the different stages of odontogenesis (bud, cap). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the important role of this territory and highlight the primary elements of the intramembranous ossification and of the odontogenesis, as essential steps in the development of the head and the face.

[Remodelling of the crown for occlusal equilibration in partially edentulous patients]. / Remodelarea coronara în cadrul echilibrarii ocluzale în edentatia partiala.

Two clinical cases of partial edentulous patients with irregular occlusal plane and their treatment are presented. The authors emphasize the role of occlusal rehabilitation before any prosthetic treatment. Gingivectomy, osteoplastic surgery and crown reshaping are used. Occlusal relationships before fixed or removable prosthodontics is applied, are essential to insure correct mandibular movements and the dento-maxillary system homeostasis. Two clinical cases of patients with irregular occlusal plane because of teeth migrations (horizontal or vertical) after long-term edentation are presented. Both cases were by crown reshaping after pulpectomy and gingivectomy to obtain a regular occlusal plane. Prosthetic treatment was applied only after these preparations. We achieved good results concerning the dento-maxillary functions.

Immunocytomorphological study on the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylarthritis.

The present investigation is based on the cytomorphological, histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Safranin 0, Gömöri), histoenzymological (acid phosphatase, chondroitinsulphatase, peroxidase) and immunological (rheumatoid factor (RF), circulating immune complexes (CIC), anticolagen II antibodies and C reactive protein (CRP) study on ankylosing spondylarthritis (2.5 cases). The synovial fluid (SF) synoviocytogram showed cytosis (6.067/mm3), with polynucleosis (65.19%) and ragocytosis (17.73%) as compared with the hydrarthrosie SF characterized by lymphocytosis (47%). Enzymological findings revealed phosphatasic and myeloperoxidasic activity in the ragocytary polymorphonuclear (PMNs) and mononuclear cells. Histopathologically, the severe forms of AS correlated with villous chronic synovitis, associated to processes of obliterating vascularitis, fibrosclerosis, necrosis and calcification of disintegrated synovial structures. The articular cartilage was severly damaged, while osseous necrobiosis was noted at the osteocartilaginous junction. Histoenzymologically, the chondrocytes and synovial macrophages showed lysosomal and oxidative enzymatic activity. Immunological assessments (72 sera and 25 synovial fluid samples) showed pathological values of circulating immune complexes, anticollagen antibodies and C reactive protein. Correlation of immunocytomorphological findings demonstrates the involvement of immunologic and enzymatic factors in the pathogenesis of AS.

Immunocytomorphopathological studies on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Thirty cases of rheumatoid arthritis were submitted to cytomorphological, histopathological (HE, VG, PAS Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O), histoenzymological (Acid Phosphatase, chondroitin-sulphatase, Peroxidase) and immunological (rheumatoid factor (RF)) studies; circulating immune complexes, anti-collagen antibodies II, Reactive C protein (CRP), Complementary C3 fraction were also assessed. The synoviocytogram of the rheumatoid synovial fluid (SF) indicated a cytosis with polynucleosis and ragocytosis compared to the hydroarthrosic SF defined by lymphocytosis (47.8%). Enzymologically, especially for high titres of rheumatoid factor, a phosphatase and peroxidase activity was observed in polymorphonuclear cells of a ragocytary type and in phagocytic mononuclear cells. The severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were correlated histopathologically with chronic villous synovitis associated with some processes of obliterant vascularitis, fibrosis and sclerosis. At the level of synovio-cartilage junction, fissures and a homogenization of the cartilaginous fundamental substance in the vicinity of disintegrated synovial structures were noticed. Histoenzymologically, a lysosomal and oxidative activity was found in chondrocytes and in synovial macrophages. Immunological assessments (73 serum and 60 synovial fluid samples) showed pathological values of circulating immune complexes, anti-collagen antibodies and C reactive protein. The complementary synovial depletion of the C3 fraction underlines the immune character of the rheumatoid synovitis. The immunocytomorphologic data correlation demonstrates the involvement of immunologic and enzymatic factors in the evolution of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Correlation of some cytomorphological and ultrastructural modifications of synovial fluid in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Experiments have been performed on 25 synovial fluid samples from patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (mono- and polyarticular forms) and with hydroarthrosis, the latter considered as controls. By cytomorphologic studies, we determined the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram of the synovial fluid cellular pellet and found out that the synovial fluid from cases of juvenile chronic arthritis is characterised by cytosis (11.270/mm3; 15.275/mm3), polynucleosis (67.3%, 72.2%) and ragocytosis (12.8%, 17.5%) whereas hydroarthrosis synovial fluid is characterised by lymphocytosis (47.8%). Ultrastructurally, ragocyte-like polymorphonuclear cells are characterised by: a) segmentation of the nucleus and preferential concentration of chromatime on the periphery of the nuclear membrane: b) frequent intracytoplasmic inclusions and phagolysosomes. Phagocyte-like mononuclear cells present numerous inclusions and phagolysosomes, certainly indicating an endocytic activity. Lymphocytes are characterised by a narrow cytoplasmic rim, presenting relatively few cellular organelles. They coexist with immunely activated lymphocytes rich in cytoplasm, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticle. Corroboration of cytomorphological and ultrastructural date enables us to explain the morphological modifications and emphasize their importance in juvenile chronic arthritis pathogenesis and diagnosis.

Histopathological and ultrastructural modifications of the arthrosis articular cartilage.

Thirty samples of articular cartilage taken during the operation from patients with incipient arthrosis, arthrosis with radiological modifications and arthrosis under study for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) were investigated using histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O) and electronmicroscopic techniques. The control material was made of posttraumatic cartilage (Moore prosthesis). Histopathologically, the incipient arthrosis cartilage had superficial exfoliations associated with reduced saframinophilic tinctorial perichondrocytic activity. The arthrosic cartilage with typical radiological modifications was individualized at the synovia-cartilage junction by villous aspects of the synovia associated with perichondrocytic gaps, reduction of safraninophilia and modifications of reticuline-collagenic network. The arthrosic cartilage under study for RA revealed destructive fibrous modifications of the synovia and severe affection of the articular cartilage at synovia-cartilage junction. Electronmicroscopically, the ultrastructural affection was minimum in the incipient arthrosis cartilage developing to chondrocytic degeneration in arthrosis with radiological correspondent. Both histopathological and ultrastructural data emphasize the fact that arthrosis is associated with synovitis following a primitive degenerative process similar to rheumathoid synovitis in arthrosis under study for RA.

Pathogenesis aspects of arthrosis in histopathological and electronmicroscopical studies of articular cartilage, correlated to some immunological parameters.

Twenty-five biopsies of arthrosic cartilage with radiological correspondence, arthro, sic cartilage under study for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and posttrauma cartilage as control-were examined using histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O) and electronmicroscopical techniques. The arthrosic cartilage with radiological correspondence shows superficial and deep fissures, perichondrocytic gaps and modified reticulino-collagenic network at the histopathological examination. At the level of synovia-cartilage junction, we found some villous aspects of the synovia desquamating in the proximity of the affected cartilage. The investigated arthroses for RA presented some destructive fibrous modifications of the synovia similar to rheumatoid synovitis and associated with some dystrophic chondrocytic alterations. The ultrastructural affection was severe leading to cellular degeneration. The immunologically-studied arthroses for RA had seric pathologic values regarding: circulating immune complexes (CIC) (mean = 67.08 +/- 1.45 U), Ig.M(mean = 358 +/- 3.02 UI/ml) and anti collagen antibodies (mean = 409.9 +/- 0.42 U). The synovial depletion of complementary fraction C3(mean = 42.3-1 mg%) as against the normal seric level (mean = 63.07 +/- 0.49 mg%) suggests an immune synovitis. Correlation of immunomorphopathological data emphasize that arthrosis coexists with a secondary synovitis following a primitive degenerative process and allows arthroses under study for RA to be separated from other degenerative rheumatism diseases.

Histopathological and histoenzimological investigations of the rheumatoid articular cartilage.

Twenty seven biopsies of articular cartilage taken intraoperatively from patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and from control patients with traumas were examined using histopathological techniques (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine 0) and histoenzymological techniques (Acid phosphatase-lysomal marker, Chondroitinsulphatase, Peroxidase). Histopathologically, the rheumatoid articular cartilage appears with superficial and deep cartilaginous fissures, frequent perichondrocytic gaps associated with modification of the tinctorial activity. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found invasive and destructive synovial inflammatory infiltrates penetrating and eroding the cartilage. Histoenzymologically, the rheumatoid chondrocytes have a high lysosomal potential (phosphatasic, chondroitinsulphatasic) and highly oxidative potential (peroxidasic) specific for lesion modifications.

Aspects of ankylosing spondylarthritis immunopathogenesis correlated with some immunoseric- and synovial parameters in the investigation of histopathological and electronmicroscopic alterations of the articular cartilage correlated with some immunoseric and synovial parameters.

Eighteen biopsies of articular cartilage taken intraoperatory from patients with Ankylosing Spondylarthritis (AS) and from others with traumatisms (controls) were investigated using histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranin 0), electronmicroscopic and histoenzymamologic techniques. Histopathologically, the synovitis in AS is characterized by abundant synovia lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates associated with aspects of vascular hyperplasia and fibrosis. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found the invasive synovia lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates. The proteoglycan (PG) depletion is confirmed histopathologically by diminishing the Safranin 0 staining, then ultrastructurally by the existence of collagen revealing areas, whereas biochemically, by the presence of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in serum and synovial fluid (SF). The morphological data were related to some immunological parameters involved in pathogenesis. In this way, we found pathological values of the immune circulating complexes (ICC) (serum, mean = 73.5 U; SF mean = 81.80 U) and of anti Collagen II antibodies (serum mean = 410 U; SF mean = 436 U). The reactive protein C acting in the phase (CRP) showed high pathological values both in serum (mean = 5.01 mg%) and in SF (mean = 3.6 mg%) of the patients with AS, emphasizing the inflammatory characteristics of the rheumatic disease. The presence of ICC, anticollagen II antibodies and GAS as well in synovia suggests that the inflammatory articulation in AS is a local potential antigen of collagen and proteoglycan nature.

Aspects of immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis correlated with some immunological parameters in histopathological and electronmicroscopical investigations of the articular cartilage.

The histopathological (H. E., V. G., PAS-Alcian, Safranine 0, Gömöri) and electron-microscopical investigations were carried out on twenty samples of articular cartilage taken during operations from patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (R. A.) and from others with traumatism, as controls. Histopathologically, the rheumatoid synovial membrane is characterized by synovitis with abundant perivascular lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found the invasive and destructive inflammatory infiltrates penetrating and eroding the cartilage. The histopathological characteristics of the rheumatoid articular cartilage lie in alteration of tinctorial activity, affection of reticuline collagen network and the presence of superficial and deep cartilaginous fissures. The histopathological alterations were confirmed ultrastructurally. Immunologically we found pathological serum values regarding the immune circulating complexes (I. C. C.) (mean = 104 +/- 1.04 U), anticollagen II antibodies (mean = 538 +/- 5 U), reactive Protein C (mean = 16.75 +/- 1.95 mg%) and orosomucoid (mean = 151.1 +/- 4.91 mg%), in seropositive R. A. The corroboration of histopathological, electronmicroscopical and immunological data show the inflammatory and autoimmune feature of this rheumatic disease.

Histopathological and ultrastructural modifications of the articular cartilage in ankylosing spondylarthritis.

The present study aims to analyse the articular cartilage in Ankylosing, Spondylarthritis (AS) versus the normal cartilage (18 cases altogether) by histopathological (HE, VG, Pas-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O), electronmicroscopic and histoenzymological techniques starting from the finding that the articular exudate in this affection is characterized cytomorphologically by cytosis (6,100/mm3), with polynucleosis (61%) and ragocytosis (25%). Histopathologically, the articular cartilage in AS evinced an alteration of safraninophilic areas and pale zones located in the neighbourhood of synovial lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates, pointing to the depletion of proteoglycans. The cartilage-synovia interference areas are relevant for the invasive nature of the inflammatory infiltrates which erode the cartilage. The histopathological modifications were confirmed ultrastructurally by the existence of some extended areas of revealed collagen, indicative of proteoglycans depletion. Functionally, chondrocytes have a high oxidative potential expressed by the presence of the peroxisomes and the positive reaction of peroxidase (PO), located near the nuclear membrane and the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The corroboration of histopathological, ultrastructural and histoenzymological data shows the alteration of the articular cartilage in AS, expressed morphologically at the level of the chondrocytes and of their synthesis products, collagen and proteoglycans.

Cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological characteristics of the ovialsyn fluid in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

Experiments have been performed on 15 samples of synovial fluid (SF) from patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Latex 1/280 and Waaler Rose 1/1024) versus 10 SF samples from patients with hydroarthrosis, used as control. By cytomorphologic studies, we determined the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram of the SF cellular pellet and found out that rheumatoid SF is characterized by cytosis (9953/mm3), ragocytosis (70%) and polynucleosis (73%) whereas hydroarthrotic SF is characterized by lymphocytosis (54.6%). Ultrastructurally, rheumatoid SF ragocytes present numerous intracytoplasmic inclusions and phagolysosomes, a fact that certainly evidences an endocytotic activity. At the level degenerative of PMN cells, (6%), the experiments evidenced the presence of some lysis cytoplasmic plateau associated with the absence of cellular organelles, as well as an alteration of the granulofibrillar structure of the nucleus. We also noticed cellular debris consisting of partially destroyed cellular organelles. By immunologic studies we obtained seric pathologic values for CIC (mean = 108.05 U), IgM (mean = 420 Ul/ml), IgG (mean = 355 Ul/ml), anti DNA antibodies (mean = 405 U) and anti collagen II antibodies (mean = 558 U). As regards the seric complement activity of C1q and C3 fractions, it was higher (mean = 18.87 mg% and mean = 109.94 mg%, respectively) than in the SF (mean = 5.78mg% and mean = 30.83 mg%, respectively). Corroborating the cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological data, we could better explain the lesional types examined and emphasize the importance of the immunomorphological changes in RA diagnosis.

Some humoral immunological aspects of the rheumatoid arthritis correlated with the ultrastructural changes of the rheumatoid synovial fluid.

We performed serologic and synovial investigations in rheumatoid (Latex 1/1280, 1/640, negative and Waaler Rose 1/1024, 1/512, negative), non-rheumatoid and control lots. The immunological results were correlated with ultrastructural changes found in the synovial fluid (SF) at the same titres of rheumatoid factor (RF). The pathologic values of the circulating immune complexes (CIC) (mean = 108.05 U), IgM (mean = 420 UI/ml), IgG (mean = 355.36 UI/ml), and anti-collagen II antibodies (mean = 558.6 U) were present at high titres of RF (Latex 1/1280, Waaler Rose 1/1024). These cases had also major ultrastructural changes of the nucleus and cytoplasm. We inferred from this the implication of the immune factors in the etiology and pathology of the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The high, titres of RF were correlated with pathologic values of the C-reactive-protein (CRP) (mean = 13.31 mg%) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (A-1-GA) (mean = 158.3 mg%). The decline of the complement fraction C3 from the synovial fluid in RA confirms the immune character of the rheumatoid synovitis and may be useful in the diagnosis process. The significantly lower concentrations of the protease inhibitors alpha-1-anti-trypsin (A-1-AT) (mean = 165.1 mg%) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A-2-M) (mean = 129.6 mg%) in synovial fluid suggest a diminution of the anti-proteasic activity due to local immune conflict.

Cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological particularities of the synovial fluid in seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Our studies on the cytomorphological and ultrastructural analysis of 15 Synovial Fluid (SF) samples from patients diagnosed with seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and 10 SF from patients with Hydroarthrosis considered as controls were carried out. By cytomorphological studies we determined the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram. SF in seronegative RA is characterized by leucocytosis (7,656/mm3) with polynucleosis (65.38%) and ragocytosis (59.27%) versus hydroarthrosis SF defined morphologically by lymphocytosis (47%). Degenerative forms of ragocyte-like polymorphonuclears (PMN) cells, individualized by an ultrastructural alteration less evident than recorded in seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), associated with a remarkable capacity of endocytosis. The ultrastructural alterations, immune complexes (CIC), the immunoglobulins (MG) and the anticollagen II antibodies, suggest the early implication of these immune parameters in etiopathogenesis. The corroboration of the cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological data allows the profound study of the etiopathogenic mechanism and may represent a paraclinical criterion for differentiated seronegative RA field.

An ultrastructural study of the synovial fluid (S.F.) in rheumatoid arthritis versus ankylotic spondylarthritis.

Our studies focused on the cytomorphological and ultrastructural analysis of ten synovial fluid (S.F.) samples from patients with serum positive rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.) (latex 1/1280, 1/640 and Waaler-Rose 1/1024, 1/1512) as compared to five S.F. sampes from patients with peripheral ankylotic spondylarthritis (A.S.). The cytomorphological investigation aimed at defining the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram. We found out that the average number of cells (R.A. = 8060/mm3; A.S. = 6100/mm3), percentage of ragocytes (R.A. = 75%; A.S. = 25%), polymorphonuclear cells (R.A. = 70%; A.S. = 58%), degradative polymorphonuclear cells (R.A. = 7%, A.S. = 3%) and phagocytic mononuclear cells (R.A. = 16%; A.S. = 13%) are by far larger in R.A. than in A.S., whereas the lymphocyte percentage is much more reduced (R.A. = 13%; A.S. = 26%). Ultrastructurally, the rheumatoid S.F. ragocytes present specific intracytoplasmic inclusions and phagolysosomes pointing to an endocytotic activity. At the level of the degradative polymorphonuclear cells (7% cytomorphologically confirmed), the alteration of the granular-fibrillar structure of the nucleus and the presence of some cytoplasmic lysis areas were associated with the absence of cellular organelles. We also noticed cellular and collagen detritus. In A.S. the ultrastructural effect on the polymorphonuclear cells is much more reduced (3%) as compared to R.A. and resides in the dilatation of both mitochondrial cristae and granularendoreticular cisternae as well as in a slight concentration of the fibrogranular nuclear matter. The cells are considerably active in endocytosis. The phagocytotic mononuclear cells of the rheumatoid S.F. and A.S. are morphologically identical to the immunologically activated macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)