Evaluation of human pineal gland acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase immunoreactivity in suicide: A preliminary study

Disorders of the serotonergic system are especially known to be present in the neurobiology of suicidal behavior. Studies investigating melatonin levels show that changes in pineal gland functions may also play a role in the pathogenesis of suicide. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the activity of pinealocytes responsible for melatonin synthesis in suicide. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the relationship among pinealocyte, acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) immunoreactivity, and suicide. Samples of pineal gland, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and urine were obtained from 21 suicide and 21 non-suicide cases on which medicolegal autopsies were performed. Expression of ASMT in human pineal gland was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. A scoring system was used to define the anti-ASMT-positive staining in the sections. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to assess serum and cerebrospinal fluid melatonin levels and blood and urine noradrenaline levels. The ASMT-immunopositive pinealocyte count was observed to be lower in suicide cases compared to the non-suicide cases. With the exception of two cases (with moderate staining), all graded scores were 3 (strong staining) in non-suicide group, whereas scores were 1 (mild staining) or 2 (moderate staining) in the suicide group. Melatonin levels in the blood were lower among the suicide victims. These results support decreased pineal gland activity in suicide. However, further studies are needed to assess whether these changes are related to a psychiatric disorder.

Dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice up-regulated extracellular matrix tenascin-C

Tenascin-C, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, expresses high level during embryogenesis and almost absent during the normal postnatal life. However, it is re-appeared in a diverse condition such as tissue injury and in the stroma of various carcinomas. In this study, we investigated the appearance of tenascin-C in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. DSS induced colitis mice demonstrated severe mucosal damage, with distortion and loss of crypts, depletion of goblet cells and infiltration of macrophages particularly F4/80 positive macrophages, granulocytes and lymphocytes in the colon tissues. These DSS inflamed colon expressed a high and dense level of tenascin-C in the severe damaged areas, whereas, moderate staining was observed in the moderate inflamed areas. DSS-induced colitis mice significantly increased macrophages infiltration in the colon tissues. These results suggested that tenascin-C extracellular matrix re-appeared in the colon tissues during inflammation.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 582-586

Rare Giant Granular Cell Ameloblastoma: A Case Report and an Immunohistochemical Study

Aims. The aim is to present a case of rare giant granular cell ameloblastoma and to review the pertinent literature highlighting the molecular aspects of its pathogenesis by analyzing the expression of CD-68, Bcl-2, andβ-catenin.Methods. H and E stained sections showed large odontogenic islands showing peripheral ameloblast-like cells and central stellate reticulum-like cells with extensive granular cell transformation surrounded by fibrous stroma. Polyclonal rabbit anti-CD 68, anti-Bcl2, and anti-β-catenin were stained immunohistochemically.Results. CD-68 showed a moderate to strong staining intensity in granular cells. Moderate staining of Bcl-2 was expressed by the peripheral columnar cells of tumor islands and negative in the granular cells. Expression ofβ-catenin was generally weak, except for only the focal areas that showed a moderate staining intensity and weak in peripheral cells.Conclusion. The present case of giant granular cell ameloblastoma is a rare entity. Development of monstrous size is indicative of ameloblastomas persistent growth. Granular cell transformation in ameloblastomas probably occurs as a consequence of extensive molecular changes. Immunohistochemical studies help us to know the pathogenesis of this granular cell ameloblastoma. Therefore, an effort has been made here to study the expression of Bcl-2, CD-68, andβ-catenin.

Alternative Cutting Methods To Minimize Transfer of Nervous System Tissue during Steak Preparation from Bone-in Short Loins

Fresh beef products, such as steaks, may become contaminated with potential specified risk materials (SRMs), such as central nervous system tissue, during the fabrication of bone-in loin subprimals. The objective of this study was to evaluate current and alternative cutting methods that could be used to minimize the transfer of nervous system tissue (NST) tissue during preparation of steaks from bone-in short loins. Bone-in short loins were cut according to three methods. (i) Cutting method I—The vertebral column bones were removed prior to cutting the loin into steaks from the medial (vertebral column) to lateral (flank) side. (ii) Cutting method II—The loin was cut into steaks from the vertebral column side to the flank side prior to removal of the vertebral column bones. (iii) Cutting method III—The loin was cut into steaks from the flank side to the vertebral column side prior to removal of the vertebral column bones. Results indicated that surface areas along the vertebral column cutting line had detectable (0.10 and 0.22% NST/100 cm2) and, thus, higher potential SRM contamination than resulting steak surfaces or the cutting blade. Overall, there were no detectable (<0.10% NST/100 cm2) differences in NST contamination of steaks produced by the three cutting methods. Immunohistochemical evaluation of areas on excised and ground steak surfaces indicated that regardless of cutting method, there was generally “no” to “moderate” staining, suggesting that detectable (0.137 to 0.201% NST) contamination from these samples was most likely due to peripheral nerve detection. These results imply that steaks may be cut from bone-in short loins prior to removal of the vertebral column bones without affecting the transfer of NST to resulting steaks at concentrations <0.10% NST/100 cm2.