Down-regulation of complement genes in lipopolysaccharide-challenged zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to Indonesian propolis

Although propolis has been reported for having anti-inflammatory activities, its effects on complement system has not been much studied. This research was conducted to find out the effects of Indonesian propolis on the expression levels of C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL, and C6 in zebrafish larvae which were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Counting of macrophages migrating to yolk sac and liver histology were carried out. Larvae were divided into four groups: CON (cultured in E3 medium only), LPS (cultured in a medium containing 0.5 μg/L LPS), LPSIBU (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then treated with 100 μg/L ibuprofen for 24 hours), and LPSPRO (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then immersed in 14,000 μg/L propolis for 24 hours) groups. The results showed that complement gene expression in larvae from the LPSIBU and LPSPRO groups were generally lower than in larvae from the LPS group. The number of macrophage migrations to the yolk in the LPSPRO group was also lower than in the LPS group. Histological structure of liver in all groups were considered normal. This study shows that Indonesian propolis has the potential to be used as an alternative to the substitution of NSAIDs.

Effect of a bradykinin potentiating factor separated from honey bee venom on thyroid gland and testis in hypothyroid white rats

Background Animal venoms have been known as a source of drugs beneficial to human health. Accordingly, this study was designed to determine the effect of bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF) separated from honey bee venom, Apis mellifera on histological structure, thyroid and male sex hormones of the thyroid gland and testis in a model of hypothyroid male white rats induced by carbimazole. Results This study includes male rats divided into 6 main and sub-groups (10 rats in each group). Control group, carbimazole group, levothyroxine group, BPF group, carbimazole group treated with levothyroxine and carbimazole group treated with BPF. At the end of experiments (60 days) rats were sacrificed and dissected; the blood was collected for determination of thyroid and male sex hormones. Also, the thyroid gland and testis were taken to histological study. The results indicated that, carbimazole group showed a highly significant decrease in thyroid hormones (T4, T3, Ft4 and Ft3) and male sex hormones (LH, FSH and testosterone), but a significant increase in TSH compared to control group. The results revealed that, treated groups with levothyroxine or BPF have significant increase in thyroid and male sex hormones and significant decreasein TSH. A significant improvement was detected in co-treated groups (hypothyroid groups) with levothyroxine or (BPF). Also, the present study showed a histopathological change in thyroid gland and testis of hypothyroid male rats. Conclusion Treated hypothyroid rats with levothyroxine as a drug and BPF as a natural product showed an improvement of these complications induced by carbimazole in thyroid gland and testis. Therefore, BPF may be benefical in treatment of hypothyroidism.

Epithelial Barrier: Protector and Trigger of Allergic Disorders

The epithelial barrier has been classically considered as only the first line of defense against irritants, pathogens, and allergens, but it is now known that it also plays an essential role in the immunological response against exogenous agents. In fact, recent reports postulate the epithelial barrier hypothesis as a possible explanation for the increasing incidence and severity of allergic diseases. The epithelial barrier preserves the isolation of the inner tissues from potential external threats. Moreover, a coordinated interaction between epithelial and immune cells ensures the unique immune response taking place in mucosal tissues and that is has been reported to be dysregulated in allergic diseases. Herein, we and others have demonstrated that in severe allergic phenotypes, the epithelial barrier experiments several histological modifications and increased in immune cells infiltration, leading to its dysfunction. This is common in atopic dermatitis, asthma, and/or food allergy. However, the precise role of the epithelial barrier in the mucosal biology during allergic diseases progression is not well understood yet. In this review, we aim to compile recent knowledge regarding the histological structure and immunological function of the epithelial barrier and to shed light on the role of this compartment in the onset, and progression of allergic diseases.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of γ-Oryzanol Compared to Rice Bran Oil to Repair Ovarian Histological Structure from One Push Transfluthrin Exposure Effect

BACKGROUND: Fertility is affected by both the reproductive organs and external factors (genetics, hormones, radiation exposure, use of insecticides, and nutrition). The histological structure of the ovaries is an indicator of reproductive function. Insect repellent use with pyrethroid active ingredients and its impact on health has become a discussion in the medical sector for years. Disruption of the reproductive system homeostasis may cause several issues, from disruption of ovarian function to infertility. γ-Oryzanol has higher antioxidants than vitamin E. It is found mostly in rice bran oil (RBO). Researchers have investigated the effectiveness of RBO and γ-Oryzanol, but the number of studies focusing on the reproductive system is very limited. Results of in silico showed anti-inflammatory potential, and nitric oxide γ-Oryzanol is stronger than the antioxidant activity. It also showed γ-Oryzanol bond with Foxo3a and Growth Differentiating Factor 9 (GDF9), indicating the γ-Oryzanol potential for reproductive health (women). Studies also reported that γ-Oryzanol administration caused anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity compared to RBO in improving ovarian physiological function using tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels, Foxo3a expression, and GDF9 expression exposed to one push transfluthrin as the parameter. AIM: We aimed to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of γ-Oryzanol compared to rice bran oil to repair ovarian histological structure from one push transfluthrin exposure effect. METHODS: Experimental research, post-test only control group design approach, with a completely randomized design, consisted of 6 (six) groups of Wistar strain female rats. They were exposed to one push with the active ingredient of transfluthrin 21.3%, by inhalation for 6 hours, RBO 0.3 mg/g/ body weight (BW)/day, γ-Oryzanol 3.75 ml/g/BW/day. Statistical analysis was done with the Mann Whitney’s posthoc Kruskal Wallis test with IBM SPSS version 25 software. RESULTS: γ-Oryzanol had more potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity than RBO in improving the ovarian histology structure (including maintaining ovarian weight, increasing follicular growth, and suppressing follicular abnormalities) through decreased TNF-α levels and decreased Foxo3a expression, and increased GDF9 expression. CONCLUSION: The administration of γ-Oryzanol improves the ovarian histological structure from free radicals effects, namely exposure to one push of transfluthrin.

Histological examination of cranial synchondroses as functionally significant elements in the cranial osteopathic concept

Introduction. In recent decades, medical science has accumulated convincing evidence of the fact that the normal activity of a human brain depends on the functional integration of its vascular system, a circulation system of cerebrospinal fluid and biomechanical features of a skull, forming a single structural and functional system.The aim of the study is to research the histological structure of functionally significant cranial synchondroses in the middle and elderly age group, to find possible points of osteopathic influence application in their structure. Materials and methods. The study was performed on cadaver material of 27 persons (7 men — 26 %, 20 women — 74 %) who died at the age from 49 to 66 years (57,5±5,3 years) from various somatic pathologies, but had no history of craniocerebral injuries with fractures of osseous structures. Small bone fragments with sutures of interest/synchondroses (spheno-occipital synchondrosis, petro-jugular synchondrosis, sphenopetrosal synchondrosis) were subjected to standard histological processing followed by microscopy.Results. Evaluating histological specimens of spheno-occipital synchondrosis, we observed the similar pattern: highly mineralized tissues at the edges of the bodies of the sphenoid and occipital bones were connected without elements of cartilagi-nous or connective tissue. In all cases, no fibrous or nerve tissue elements were found during the in situ immunohistochemical reactions. Reactions with the CD34 antibody mark multiple vessels of the Volkmann's or Haversian canals. Evaluating histological specimens of petro-jugular and sphenopetrosal synchondroses, we found the presence of cartilage tissue in the suture in the form of small islands of various sizes (from 20 to 120 microns) with signs of degeneration and a small number of remained chondrocytes. When evaluating specimens with immunohistochemical reactions with antibodies against the S100 protein, no elements of the nervous tissue were detected.Conclusion. Spheno-occipital synchondrosis has a temporary nature. With age, its cartilaginous tissue is replaced by osseous one. According to the histological structure, sphenobasilar synchondrosis demonstrates the complete absence of a cartilaginous component in the middle and elderly age groups. Petro-jugular and sphenopetrosal synchondroses retain the cartilaginous component in their suture throughout lifetime. During histological examination of the petro-jugular and sphenopetrosal synchondroses, the cartilaginous component is represented by variety of small islands. In all synchondroses, there is an absence of vascular and nervous components. At the same time, we revealed the presence of a prominent vascular bed in the bone tissue. The fact requires emphasizing the importance of liquid potency and elastic component in cartilaginous and osseous tissues as an application point for osteopathic techniques.

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Uveal Melanoma

A prerequisite for the growth, progression and metastasis of malignant tumors of any localization is the development of its own vascular network. Newly formed vessels not only nourish the primary tumor, but also create conditions for the spread of tumor cells through the circulatory system and the formation of distant metastases. Angiogenesis is able to launch a small population of tumors from 100–300 cells that have accumulated genetic aberrations and have begun to express proangigenic molecules. The phenomenon is known as “transformation of tumor cells into angiogenic phenotype”. A tumor with angiogenic phenotype carries a high potential for proliferation and malignization. This pattern has been found in many types of cancer, but studied less in uveal melanoma. Meanwhile, in this aspect, uveal melanoma, metastasizing exclusively in a hematogenic way, with its selective, organotropic nature of metastasis, becomes an attractive model for the study of the molecular “scenario” of tumor angiogenesis studies allow us to say that, UM is subject to the general patterns of the development of malignant tumors. As with many types of tumors, VEGF is an obligate condition for the development and progression of UM. The VEGF molecule’s producers in UM are two cell populations: endothelial vascular cells and tumor cells. VEGF’s expression in UM is cyclical. The cycle is re-initiated, apparently, by increasing cell density in tumor proliferate and the development of hypoxia zones. We found no correlation between the intensity of pigmentation, necrosis, hemorrhage, germination in the corner of the front chamber, ophthalmohypertension on the one hand, and expression of VEGF in UM cells on the other. At the same time, a direct link between the expression of VEGF in tumor cells and EC vessels on the one hand and the thickness, base diameter, as well as the localization of UM, on the other hand, has been revealed. Additionally, VEGF expression in tumor cells was closely correlated with the histological structure of UM, and VEGF expression in EC correlated with the stage of the disease. Thus, the authors showed that UM, like other malignant solid tumors, is prone to transformation into angiogenic phenotype and expression of VEGF.

HISTOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE CECUM AND VERMIFORM APPENDIX IN RATS AND HUMANS: COMPARATIVE ASPECTS

Background. In recent years, there have emerged new directions in the study of the histological structure of the digestive tract in humans and mammals and, in particular, white rats, since non-inbred white rats are the main model for reproducing human pathology under experimental conditions as well as for preclinical testing of new drugs. Objective. A comparative study of the histological features of the cecum and appendix in rats and humans by means of bibliographic analysis. Material and methods. Bibliographic analysis is based on published peer-reviewed articles, books, textbooks, monographs, dissertation abstracts. For the purposes of a systematic review, the literature search (concerning the study of the histological structure of the cecum and appendix) was carried out on the Internet, in native literature sources, the scientific and electronic library of Poltava State Medical University using the following keywords: “histology”, “microscopic structure”, "digestive system", "cecum", "appendix", "white rats", "rat anatomy". Results. The mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract of white rats, in terms of its histological structure, is similar enough to that of humans to serve as an object in the experimental modeling of certain pathological conditions of the digestive system. Conclusions. There has been found an increased concentration of lymphoid nodules in cecal mucosa of white rats. In white rats and humans, the cecum and the appendix in humans are endowed with the same immune defense structures, which together represent the immune system of the digestive tract mucosa.

Morphological and histological kidney structure in diabetic rats model treated with ethanol extracts of jengkol fruit peel (Archidendron pauciflorum)

In a long term, diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to nephropathy due to glomerular hyperfiltration. One of the plant used as a diabetic drug by the community in Karangwangi Village, Cianjur Regency, West Java is the fruit peel of jengkol. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of the ethanolic extract of Jengkol fruit peel (EEJFP) toward the morphological and histological structure on the kidney of the diabetic rat model. The method adopted was the Randomized Design (CRD) with 6 treatments namely NC (Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 0.5%), PC (CMC 0.5%), Pb (Glibenclamide 5 mg/kg BW), P1, P2, and P3 (EEJFP 385; 770; and 1,540 mg/kg BW) with 4 replications for 14 consecutive days. Furthermore, the induction of diabetes with streptozotocin dose of 60 mg/Kg BW was performed intravenously in experimental animals except for the NC group. The parameters observed include relative weight, morphological, and histological structure of kidney which include glomerular diameter, Bowman space distance, and percentage of proximal tubular cell necrosis. The non-parametric and parametric data were tested by Kruskal Wallis and ANOVA test as well as Duncan's follow-up test, respectively. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the morphological structure of the kidney between treatment groups. Furthermore, the relative weights of kidney in the PC, Pb, P1, and P3 groups were larger and significantly different compared to NC and P2 also, the histological structure showed that the glomerular diameter (65.43 ± 0.7 m), Bowman space distance (4.19 ± 1.7 µm), and the percentage of proximal tubular cell necrosis (24.6 ± 5.5%) at P2 were not significantly different from NC. Based on this results, it was concluded that EEJFP has no effect on the kidney’s morphological structure, however, it decreases its relative weight and repair the kidney’s histological damage of the diabetic rat model with the optimum dose of 770 mg/kg BW.

Necrobiosis lipoidica: a rare clinical and pathomorphological case

According to modern scientific researches, necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a disease characterized by focal disorganization and lipid collagen dystrophy. It is believed that the basis of skin changes in this dermatosis is diabetic microangiopathy that is accompanied by sclerosis and obliteration of blood vessels, which leads to necrobiosis with subsequent deposition of lipids in the dermis. This pathology is registered relatively rarely, in 1 % of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) on average. The combination of NL with DM, according to the literature data, ranges from 25 to 70 %; more often (in 40–60 % of cases) DM is preceded by NL, and in 10–25 % of cases they occur simultaneously. In addition, in 10–50 % of cases NL is diagnosed in people without concomitant diabetes. The variability of clinical, epidemiological features and the relatively low prevalence of this pathology is often the cause for misdiagnosis or late diagnosis. The described clinical case is typical in terms of the epidemiological data: sex, age, presence of DM. At the same time, it is rare in terms of the clinical picture: it is not classically diabetic by localization (symmetrical areas of the legs are typical), by appearance of necrobiosis areas — granulomatous type of necrobiosis in the form of granuloma annulare, by histological structure — area of chronic perivascular lymphoplasmocytic inflammation with the involvement of single giant cells, which required additional clinical and anamnestic data for an objective report of the pathologist. Biopsy in this case was used as a differential diagnosis between granuloma annulare and necrobiotic necrogranuloma. In addition, this method of diagnosis has played an additional therapeutic role. This case may have demonstrated the activation of the cellular and humoral immune response in the area of chronic inflammation in response to a mechanical damage and the resolution of inflammation with complete tissue repair.