Histopathological and Histochemical Study of Human Cholecystitis

In our study the following inferences were made. Chronic calculous cholecystitis was seen in the age group of 41 to 50 years. A female preponderance was noted with male to female ratio of 2:3. The most common signs and symptoms were upper abdominal tenderness and right hypochondria pain. The mucosa showed ulceration in 63%, hyperplastic mucosa in 34% and metaplasia in 5%. 22% of cases showed mild (Grade-I) inflammation while 41 % of cases and 27% of cases showed moderate(Grade-2) and severe (Grade-3) inflammation respectively. 44 % of cases showed mild (Grade-I) fibrosis while 22% of cases and 15% of cases showed moderate (Grade-2) and severe (Grade-3) fibrosis. With increase 1n severity of inflammation and fibrosis, the total acid mucin content decreased while the neutral mucin content increased. Similar changes were observed in cases of metaplasia too.

Mycosis Fungoides with Dermal Mucin Deposition: An Unusual Variant of the Most Challenging Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is defined as an epidermotropic primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma composed of small-to-medium-sized T lymphocytes with cerebriform nuclei and with a T-helper phenotype. LeBoit first described an unusual variant of MF with dermal acid mucin deposition. Such a variant was still considered in the list of clinicopathological variants of MF by Cerroni and colleagues. We herein report a case of patch-stage MF with abundant papillary dermal mucin deposition in a clinical setting of an erythematous patch on the lower abdomen and thigh.

Remission in Crohn’s disease is accompanied by alterations in the gut microbiota and mucins production

Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) in remission do not exhibit an improvement in gut microbiota composition, which might trigger relapses. The present study investigated the dysbiosis and mucins production in CD patients during remission. We performed an analytical cross-sectional single center study, which recruited 18 CD patients and 18 healthy controls (CG) residing in the same home, meaning that all of the participants experienced the same environmental factors, with similar hygiene status, diet, pollution and other common lifestyle characteristics that may influence the composition of the gut microbiota. When compared to healthy controls, the CD patients exhibited lower microbial α-diversity (p = 0.047), a greater abundance of the Proteobacteria phylum (p = 0.037) and a reduction in the Deltaproteobacteria class (p = 0.0006). There was also a reduction in the Akkermansia (p = 0.002) and Oscillospira (p = 0.024) genera and in the proportion of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (p = 0.01). Additionally, CD patients in remission presented increased neutral (p = 0.001) and acid mucin (p = 0.002) concentrations. The reductions in the proportions of Oscollospira and Akkermansia genera, sulfate-reducing bacteria and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, observed in the CD group, may account for the increased mucins production observed in these patients.

Histomorphological and Histochemical Observations of the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) Tongue

Common myna tongue was studied histomorphologically and histochemically. Four tongues of adult birds were carried out macroscopically and microscopically. The tongue was triangular; the dorsum of the body had median groove. Two to three backward directed papillae were located on each side of the body-base junction. A single transverse row of pharyngeal papillae was located behind the laryngeal cleft. The parakeratinized mucosa covered the entire surface of the tongue except clearly keratinized band on the ventrolateral surface and the conical papillae. Compared with the lateral group (LG), the secretory cells of the medial group (MG) of the anterior lingual glands (ALG) and the posterior lingual glands (PLG) contained large amount of mucin. It was neutral mucin. However, the LG had weak acid mucin with carboxylated group. Meanwhile, the MG of the ALG and the PLG had strong acid mucin with both carboxylated and sulphated groups. In conclusion, the morphological observation of the common myna tongue showed some variation from the other birds. Histochemical results indicated the differences between the LG and MG of the anterior lingual glands. However, no difference was observed between the latter and the PLG.

Solid papillary breast carcinoma with mucinous differentiation

A case is reported of a solid variant of infiltrating papillary carcinoma of the breast with mucinous differentiation in a 74-year-old woman. Macroscopically, the tumor was solid and lobular, 4.5 cm in diameter. Light microscopy showed solid papillary invasive carcinoma mixed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified. Abundant intracellular and extracellular acid mucin produced by the solid papillary tumor cells was proven histochemically by: PAS, PAS-D, mucicarmine and alcian blue. Immunohistochemically, the papillary carcinoma cells were strongly reactive to estrogen receptors, and weakly to moderately reactive to smooth muscle actin. We suggest that papillary carcinoma of the breast could have potentially high degree of aggressiveness, and that differential diagnosis of these rare tumors might be a histopathological problem.

Functional morphology of the mouthparts and alimentary tract of the slipper lobster Thenus orientalis (Decapoda : Scyllaridae)

The mouthparts and proventriculus of Thenus orientalis Lund are adapted to ingest soft flesh, which is consistent with the diet of this and other scyllarids. The crista dentata are reduced, with food transfer into the oesophagus facilitated by large stout setae on the second and third maxillipeds. The mandibles exert little force and most food maceration is effected by the gastric mill. Ingestion is aided by mucus secreted by rosette glands in the paragnaths and membranous lobe, as well as expansion of four longitudinal folds in the oesophageal wall. The cardiac stomach has considerable food storage capacity by extension of its membranous walls, reduced ossicles and simplified ventral filtration channels. The filtering ability of the pyloric filter press is consistent with other macrophagous decapods. The dorsal caecum above the pyloric stomach has an absorptive columnar epithelium that contains acid mucin granules and protein. Muscular walls and longitudinal folds in the hindgut facilitate faecal pellet extrusion.