Correlation Between Oxidative Stress Generation, Reticular Fiber Density and Testicular Histomorphometric Parameters Of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rat

The actual underlying mechanism of alterations in testicular histomorphometric parameters resulting from diabetes-induced oxidative stress is still not well understood because of the absence of supporting evidence from scientific experiments. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between serum oxidative stress markers with testicular histomorphometric parameters and reticular fiber density of Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rat. The experiment included twenty eight adult male rats sorted into four groups, Group A (Control), other animals were sorted into treatment groups based on their blood glucose levels after inducing diabetes with 65 mg/kg/bw of streptozotocin, Groups B (100 - 200 mmol/l), Group C (210 - 250 mmol/l), Group D (260 - 300 mmol/l). At termination, Serum superoxide dimutase (SOD), catalase and melondialdehyde where evaluated using reagent based antioxidant enzyme assay while reticulum stain kits was used to demonstrate for reticular fiber density. Histomorphometric measurements were carried out using ocular micrometer after calibration on a light microscope. Statistical analysis was done using analysis of variance with p<0.05 considered significant. Results reveal that the higher the blood glucose levels in diabetic animals, the higher the serum concentration of oxidative stress markers. Density of reticular fiber increased with increase in blood glucose levels, while tubular diameter and epithelial height decreased with increase in increase in hyperglycaemic levels. In conclusion, there was a progressive increase in reticular fiber density and decrease in tubular diameter and epithelial height as a consequence of increase oxidative stress generation in diabetic model. J. Bio-Sci. 29(2): 01-08, 2021 (December)

Goose Nephritic Astrovirus infection of Goslings Induces Lymphocyte Apoptosis, Reticular Fiber Destruction, and CD8 T-Cell Depletion in Spleen Tissue

The emergence of a novel goose nephritic astrovirus (GNAstV) has caused economic losses to the Chinese goose industry. High viral load is found in the spleen of goslings infected with GNAstV, but pathological injuries to the spleen due to GNAstV are largely unknown. In this study, 50 two-day-old goslings were infected orally with GNAstV, and 50 goslings were treated with PBS as control. Spleens were collected at different times following infection to assess damage. GNAstV infection caused visceral gout and urate deposition in joints, and resulted in 16% mortality. GNAstV was found in the lymphocytes and macrophages within the spleen. Lymphocyte loss, especially around the white pulp, and destruction and decline in the number of reticular fibers was observed in GNAstV-infected goslings. Moreover, in GNAstV-infected goslings, ultrahistopathological examination found that splenic lymphocytes exhibited condensed chromatin and apoptotic bodies, and reticular cells displayed damage to plasma membrane integrity and swollen mitochondria. Furthermore, TUNEL staining confirmed apoptosis of lymphocytes, and the mRNA levels of Fas and FasL were significantly increased in the GNAstV-infected goslings. In addition, GNAstV infection reduced the number and protein expression of CD8. In conclusion, GNAstV infection causes lymphocyte depletion, reticular cell necrosis, reticular fiber destruction, lymphocyte apoptosis, and reduction in CD8 levels, which contribute to spleen injury.

Characterizing the Invasive Tumor Front of Aggressive Uterine Adenocarcinoma and Leiomyosarcoma

The invasive tumor front (the tumor–host interface) is vitally important in malignant cell progression and metastasis. Tumor cell interactions with resident and infiltrating host cells and with the surrounding extracellular matrix and secreted factors ultimately determine the fate of the tumor. Herein we focus on the invasive tumor front, making an in-depth characterization of reticular fiber scaffolding, infiltrating immune cells, gene expression, and epigenetic profiles of classified aggressive primary uterine adenocarcinomas (24 patients) and leiomyosarcomas (11 patients). Sections of formalin-fixed samples before and after microdissection were scanned and studied. Reticular fiber architecture and immune cell infiltration were analyzed by automatized algorithms in colocalized regions of interest. Despite morphometric resemblance between reticular fibers and high presence of macrophages, we found some variance in other immune cell populations and distinctive gene expression and cell adhesion-related methylation signatures. Although no evident overall differences in immune response were detected at the gene expression and methylation level, impaired antimicrobial humoral response might be involved in uterine leiomyosarcoma spread. Similarities found at the invasive tumor front of uterine adenocarcinomas and leiomyosarcomas could facilitate the use of common biomarkers and therapies. Furthermore, molecular and architectural characterization of the invasive front of uterine malignancies may provide additional prognostic information beyond established prognostic factors.

Improvement Effect of Reticular Glass Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Tailings Sand with the Lenticle (Layered Sandy Soil)

Glass fiber is a kind of polymer, which can effectively improve the mechanical properties of sand. However, the improvement effect of glass fibers with a reticular structure is different from that of ordinary fibers. At the same time, the sandy soil structure is diversified and part of the soil is layered, such as the lenticle in tailings dam, which often forms layered sandy soil with nearby tailings sand. The existence of the lenticle has adverse effects on the stability of the tailings dam. In order to study the reinforcement effects of reticular glass fibers on tailing sand with the lenticle (layered sand), a series of triaxial shear tests were carried out on the tailings sand by changing the layers of reticular glass fibers and the position of reinforcement. The results demonstrated the following five main points: (1) the shear strength of the tailings with the lenticle is significantly lower than the shear strength of the tailings fine sand, and the influence of the lenticle on the shear strength of the tailings is mainly concentrated on the cohesion. (2) When the reticular fiber is added to the tailings with the lenticle, the cohesion of the sample increases nonlinearly with the increase of the number of fiber layers, while the internal friction angle is basically unchanged. (3) The improvement effect of the reticular fiber on the shear strength of the sample varies with the position of the reinforcement, which is represented as the interface > tailings fine sand > lenticle. (4) Only when the axial strain develops to a certain extent, the reinforcement of the reticular fibers is reflected. (5) The reinforcement effects of reticulated fibers are determined by the interaction of forces at the interface between fibers and sand. The research results can not only provide a scientific basis for the construction of reinforced tailings dam, but also play a guiding role in disaster prevention and mitigation work of reinforced slopes with a weak zone, and even provide the reference for the reinforcement research of layered structures.

The Protective Effect of Aspirin against Myocardial Hypertrophy in Rats

The protective effect of aspirin against myocardial hypertrophy (MH) was studied. Model rats of pressure overload MH were prepared by abdominal aortic coarctation. Rats were randomly divided into the sham group ( n = 9 ), MH model group ( n = 9 ), and MH+aspirin group ( n = 9 ), which was, respectively, divided into the 4-week group and 8-week group according to the time of intragastric administration. Arterial blood pressure and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured. Changes in myocardial tissue structure were observed by HE staining, Masson staining, and reticular fiber staining. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. The levels of TNF-α, IL-10, TXA2, and PGI2 in myocardium and plasma were detected by ELISA. The arterial blood pressure in the MH model group was significantly higher than that in the 4- and 8-week sham groups, but that in the MH+aspirin group was significantly lower than that in the MH model group. At 4 and 8 weeks, the LVWI in the MH model group was significantly higher than that in the sham group, but it was significantly reduced after aspirin treatment. The myocardial cell hypertrophy was obvious, collagen fibers were proliferated, and reticular fibers were reduced in the 4- and 8-week MH model groups. Compared with the MH model groups, myocardial cells in the MH+aspirin groups were significantly reduced, the collagen fiber content was significantly reduced, and the reticular fiber content was increased. The apoptotic cardiomyocytes in the 4- and 8-week MH model groups were obviously increased. The apoptosis of myocardial cells in the MH+aspirin groups was obviously decreased. The TNF-α levels in the myocardial tissue of the 4- and 8-week MH model groups were significantly increased, while those of the MH+aspirin groups were significantly decreased. There was no significant change in the IL-10 level or PGI2 level at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks, the PGI2 level was significantly decreased in the MH model group while significantly increased in the MH+aspirin group. The TXA2 levels were significantly increased in the 4- and 8-week MH model groups and those in the 4- and 8-week MH+aspirin groups were significantly lower. Aspirin has an anti-inflammatory effect, can effectively reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, inhibit myocardial apoptosis, and has a certain protective effect against MH.

Effects of Two Polypropylene Fibers on the Properties of High Strength Concrete

Portland cement, crushed stone, sand and superplasticizer were used to obtain a high strength concrete with a low water to binder ratio. A reticular polypropylene fiber and a single polypropylene fiber were used to improve the strength of the high strength concrete, but the effects of the two fibers on the slump and strengths were quite different. The reasons of the differences were the surface area and the modulus of elasticity of the fibers. The results show the reticular fiber was better to used in high strength concretes.

Platelets are necessary for airway wall remodeling in a murine model of chronic allergic inflammation

Asthma is associated with airway remodeling. Evidence of platelet recruitment to the lungs of asthmatics after allergen exposure suggests platelets participate in various aspects of asthma; although their importance is unknown in the context of airway remodeling, their involvement in atherosclerosis is established. Studies from our laboratory have shown a requirement for platelets in pulmonary leukocyte recruitment in a murine model of allergic lung inflammation. Presently, the effects of platelet depletion and corticosteroid administration on airway remodeling and lung function were examined. Ovalbumin (OVA)–sensitized mice, exposed to aerosolized OVA for 8 weeks, demonstrated epithelial and smooth muscle thickening, and subepithelial reticular fiber deposition in the distal airways. The depletion of platelets via an immunologic (antiplatelet antisera) or nonimmunologic (busulfan) method, markedly reduced airway remodeling. In contrast, dexamethasone administration did not affect epithelial thickening or subepithelial fibrosis, despite significantly inhibiting leukocyte recruitment. Thus, pathways leading to certain aspects of airway remodeling may not depend on leukocyte recruitment, whereas platelet activation is obligatory. OVA-sensitized mice exhibited airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) compared with shamsensitized mice following chronic OVA exposure. Neither platelet depletion nor dexamethasone administration inhibited chronic AHR; thus, mechanisms other than inflammation and airway remodeling may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic AHR.

Histopathological study of major intracranial arteries in premature infants related to intracranial hemorrhage

✓ The incidence of various types of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and the microscopic appearance of the major intracranial arteries were investigated in 112 premature infants, and related to birth weight. In none of the premature newborns, regardless of the presence of ICH, did the intracranial arteries contain true elastic elements. The wall of the basilar artery was significantly thinner in all premature infants with any kind of ICH. Within each body-weight group those with ICH had intracranial arteries with fewer reticular fibers than did those without ICH. The density of the reticular fibers in the cerebral arteries of premature neonates without ICH did not seem to depend on maturity. The authors believe that the hypoplasia of the major intracranial arteries and the reticular fiber deficiency most probably involve the whole vascular system of the brain and may predispose to hemorrhage.