A Rare Case of Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma with Unusual Presentation: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma is a rare malignancy of the lung and has poor prognosis than non-small cell lung cancer. Effective treatment has not been developed for non-resect able advanced stage. We report a case in a 51-year-old female who presented with a right sided massive pleural effusion. Pleural biopsy tissue histology and immunohistochemistry revealed carcinosarcoma.

Lipid Profile, Haematological Assay and Tissue Histology of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats Administered Extracts of Vernomia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) and Gnetum africanum (okazi leaf)

Diabetes mellitus is predominant in numerous nations of the world with millions of deaths directly linked to it. The utilization of plants in providing answers to this pandemic has expanded over the years. This study investigated changes in some haematological parameters and tissue histology of alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats administered combined leaf extracts (CLE) of vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf (BI)) and gnetum africanum (okazi leaf (OK)). Aqueous extracts of bitter leaf and okazi leaf were prepared using the conventional method. Forty Wistar rats were grouped into eight of five rats each. Groups A and B were normal and diabetic control respectively, groups C to G (diabetic groups) were treated with varied mixtures of extracts of vernomia amygdalina and gnetum africanum at (10:90BI/OK), (30:70BI/OK), (50:50BI/OK), (70:30 BI/OK) and (90:10% BI/OK) ratios respectively. Group H, the diabetic control was administered the standard drug (Metformin). The animals were sacrificed on the 28th day, blood samples and liver tissue were collected for biochemical analysis and histological examination. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the lipid profile of the diabetic groups (C-G) especially in triglycerides with the highest reduction in (50:50 BI/OK) combination (0.70±0.07) while the least reduction was seen in (30:70 BI/OK) combination (1.37±0.08). There were time and ratio-dependent variations in the haematological indices. Hepatic histology showed evidence of varying levels of restoration of cellular structural integrity by the combined extracts. These results suggest that the combined extracts of vernomia amygdalina and gnetum africanum could be used to manage diabetes mellitus.

Metformin on Insulin, Glucagon, Oxidative Stress Markers and Pancreatic Tissue Histology in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

This study determined the effects of Metformin on plasma insulin, glucagon, oxidative stress status and histology of pancreas in diabetic rats. Grouping was carried out on 21 rats, and were assigned into 3 groups (n = 7 rats per group); non-DM, DM and DM+metformin (200 mg/kg). Diabetes Mellitus was induced and treatments were given daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Food intake, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucagon, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl were significantly higher while final body weight, insulin and total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in Diabetes Mellitus group compared with non- Diabetes Mellitus group. There was significantly higher body weight, insulin level and total antioxidant capacity with significantly lower food intake, FBG, glucagon, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels in Diabetes Mellitus +Metformin group compared with the Diabetes Mellitus group. Pancreatic tissue histology revealed islet cells regeneration in Diabetes Mellitus +Metformin group. This in vivo study provides evidence of the potential of antihyperglycemic and improved oxidants- antioxidant status which may be due to the oral hypoglycaemic nature or effects of metformin as seen in this study.