Is there an Unnoticed Etiology of Right Atrial Aneurysm?

A 12-year-old male was referred for surgery with the diagnosis of right atrial aneurysm. Resection of the right atrial aneurysm was performed under total cardiopulmonary bypass. Besides a very thin muscular layer, histopathological evaluation of the aneurysm specimen revealed extensive eosinophilic infiltration at the epicardial side which, from place to place showed penetrations into the muscular layer. The screening tests performed for determination of the etiology of eosinophilia were indeterminate supporting the diagnosis of idiopathic right atrial aneurysm. In conclusion, although the reason for the eosinophilia could not be detected, it may have a part in the development of right atrial aneurysm that merits further investigation.

Ultrastructure of Hyrtl's Anastomosis of Pregnancy Induced Hypertensive Umbilical Arteries

BACKGROUND The human umbilical arteries form an important component involved in the exchange of materials between the foetus and the mother. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are responsible for a significant amount of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. It complicates about 6 - 20 % of all pregnancies. Although PIH (Pregnancy-induced hypertension) is one of the major causes of maternal death, especially in developing countries; its perinatal outcomes are also not so favourable. We wanted to study the ultrastructure of Hyrtl’s anastomosis between the normotensive and hypertensive placentas. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the variable anatomy in Hyrtl’s anastomosis and determine the alterations of the Hyrtl’s anastomosis in the case of pregnancy-induced hypertension from the year 2017-2018 at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences. For TEM (transmission electron microscopy) the portion of the Hyrtl’s anastomosis was carefully dissected out and processed. The study included women with pregnancy-induced hypertension if their arterial blood pressure with systolic as ≥ 140 mm Hg and diastolic ≥ 90 mm Hg measured on two or more occasions at least after the 20th week of gestation with or without oedema. Due to an inadequate number of cases essential hypertensive cases were excluded. RESULTS From the study conducted, transmission electron microscopy revealed a disrupted muscular layer in pregnancy-induced hypertension when compared to normal Hyrtl’s anastomosis. Thickening of the muscular layer was observed in the pregnancy-induced Hyrtl’s anastomosis. Statistical Analysis - Independent t-test was considered in the analysis for continuous among the ultrastructure of the Hyrtl’s anastomosis between the normotensive and hypertensive groups. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. SPSS 20.0 was used for data analysis. CONCLUSIONS The effect of hypertension brought about structural changes in the blood vessel which might probably have an effect on the fetoplacental circulation and therefore adversely affecting the foetal outcome. KEY WORDS Hyrtl’s Anastomosis, Pregnancy- Induced Hypertension

Mapping CGRP-IR innervation of male mice stomach with Neurolucida 360 v1

This protocol describes the process of using Neurolucida 360 software to map the topographical organization of Calcitonin gene related peptide – immunoreactive axons and terminals in the muscular layer of mice stomach. Stomachs were removed, layers were separated and gone under immunohistochemistry as whole mounts, then scanned using confocal microscopy.

Determination of Intestinal Viral Loads and Distribution of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Classical Swine Fever Virus, and Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus: A Pilot Study

The aim of this pilot study was to determine viral loads and distribution over the total length, at short distances, and in the separate layers of the intestine of virus-infected animals for future inactivation studies. Two calves, two pigs, and two goats were infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), respectively. Homogenously distributed maximum BVDV viral loads were detected in the ileum of both calves, with a mean titer of 6.0 log10 TCID50-eq/g. The viral loads in colon and caecum were not distributed homogenously. In one pig, evenly distributed CSFV mean viral loads of 4.5 and 4.2 log10 TCID50-eq/g were found in the small and large intestines, respectively. Mucosa, submucosa, and muscular layer/serosa showed mean viral loads of 5.3, 3.4, and 4.0 log10 TCID50-eq/g, respectively. Homogenous distribution of PPRV was shown in the ileum of both goats, with a mean viral load of 4.6 log10 TCID50-eq/g. Mean mucosa, submucosa, and muscular layer/serosa viral loads were 3.5, 2.8, and 1.7 log10 TCID50-eq/g, respectively. This pilot study provides essential data for setting up inactivation experiments with intestines derived from experimentally infected animals, in which the level and the homogeneous distribution of intestinal viral loads are required.

Experimental investigations of the human oesophagus: anisotropic properties of the muscular layer in large deformation

Technological advancements in the field of robotics have led to endoscopic biopsy devices able to extract diseased tissue from between the layers of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite this, the layer-dependent properties of these tissues have yet to be mechanically characterised using human tissue. In this study, the ex vivo mechanical properties of the passive muscularis propia layer of the human oesophagus were extensively investigated. For this, a series of uniaxial tensile tests were conducted. The results displayed hyperelastic behaviour, while the differences between loading the tissue in both the longitudinal and circumferential directions showcased its anisotropy. The anisotropy of the muscular layer was present at different strain rates, with the longitudinal direction being consistently stiffer than the circumferential one. The circumferential direction was found to have little strain-rate dependency, while the longitudinal direction results suggest pronounced strain-rate-dependent behaviour. The repeated trials showed larger variation in terms of stress for a given strain in the longitudinal direction compared to the circumferential direction. The possible causes of variation between trials are discussed, and the experimental findings are linked to the histological analysis which was carried out via various staining methods. Finally, the direction-dependent experimental data was simulated using an anisotropic, hyperelastic model.

Combination of histochemical analyses and micro-MRI reveals regional changes of the murine cervix in preparation for labor

The cervix is responsible for maintaining pregnancy, and its timely remodeling is essential for the proper delivery of a baby. Cervical insufficiency, or “weakness”, may lead to preterm birth, which causes infant morbidities and mortalities worldwide. We used a mouse model of pregnancy and term labor, to examine the cervical structure by histology (Masson Trichome and Picrosirius Red staining), immunohistochemistry (Hyaluronic Acid Binding Protein/HABP), and ex-vivo MRI (T2-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging), focusing on two regions of the cervix (i.e., endocervix and ectocervix). Our results show that mouse endocervix has a higher proportion of smooth muscle cells and collagen fibers per area, with more compact tissue structure, than the ectocervix. With advanced gestation, endocervical changes, indicative of impending delivery, are manifested in fewer smooth muscle cells, expansion of the extracellular space, and lower presence of collagen fibers. MRI detected three distinctive zones in pregnant mouse endocervix: (1) inner collagenous layer, (2) middle circular muscular layer, and (3) outer longitudinal muscular layer. Diffusion MRI images detected changes in tissue organization as gestation progressed suggesting the potential application of this technique to non-invasively monitor cervical changes that precede the onset of labor in women at risk for preterm delivery.

Effect of Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO4) on the Gall Bladder of Clarias batrachus (Linn. 1758)

Heavy metal exposure to biota has become a severe thread to the environment, as its bioaccumulation, toxicity and persistence is happing at an alarming rate. Heavy metal presence in water bodies has been reported by various researchers. Henceforth their exposure to aquatic organisms is certain. An investigation on the possible toxicological impact of Zinc sulphate on fish Clarias batrachus is carried out in laboratory. Histology of gall bladder was used as a marker for evaluation of toxicity after sub lethal exposure. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of 5mg/L, 10mg/L and 15mg/L for 20 days. Simultaneous control was also maintained. Principle histological alterations were deformities in the normal structures of columnar epithelial line, muscular layer, and mucosal folds. 15mg/L and 20mg/L exposure of zinc sulphate altered the sub mucosa besides leading the formation of bile crystals, an indication of water loss. The severity of histopathology was exposure dependent. Histopathological alteration in gall bladder can be regarded as sensitive biomarkers of Zinc sulphate toxicological manifestations hence can be utilized for ecotoxicological biomonitoring of aquatic bodies.

Chemically-Induced Inflammation Changes the Number of Nitrergic Nervous Structures in the Muscular Layer of the Porcine Descending Colon

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the part of the nervous system that is located in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and regulates the majority of the functions of the stomach and intestine. Enteric neurons may contain various active substances that act as neuromediators and/or neuromodulators. One of them is a gaseous substance, namely nitric oxide (NO). It is known that NO in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may possess inhibitory functions; however, many of the aspects connected with the roles of this substance, especially during pathological states, remain not fully understood. An experiment is performed here with 15 pigs divided into 3 groups: C group (without any treatment), C1 group (“sham” operated), and C2 group, in which experimental inflammation was induced. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of inflammation on nitrergic nervous structures in the muscular layer of the porcine descending colon using an immunofluorescence method. The obtained results show that inflammation causes an increase in the percentage of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-positive neurons in the myenteric plexus of the ENS, as well as the number of nitrergic nerve fibers in the muscular layer of the descending colon. The obtained results suggest that NO is involved in the pathological condition of the large bowel and probably takes part in neuroprotective and/or adaptive processes.

A case report of Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is a benign, uncommon type of chronic cholecystitis manifested by focal or diffuse severe inflammatory process of the gallbladder (GB). It is inflammatory disease of the gallbladder characterized by the infiltrations of plasma cells, lipid-laden histiocytes, and the fibroblasts proliferation in GB wall. Gallstones are present in all patients, and like most symptomatic gallbladder diseases, there is a female predominance. It is an active inflammatory process which could leads to significant morbidity. The term Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was initially proposed by Goodman and Ishak in 1981. The pathogenesis of XGC is the rupture of Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses and extravasation of bile into the muscular layer. The rupture of the serosa results in adhesion to the adjacent liver, duodenum, and transverse colon. Macroscopically, it appears like yellowish masses in the wall of the GB. Radiologically it is an important mimic of gallbladder carcinoma.