The Toxicity of Polyester Fibers in Xenopuslaevis

Microplastics are practically ubiquitous and pose a serious survival challenge for many species. Most of the exposure experiments for determining the toxicological effects of microplastics were performed with a microplastic varying little in shape and size (often purchased microplastic beads), but few studies deal with non-homogeneous samples. We analyzed the effect on Xenopuslaevis larva on the early development of polyester fibers, PEFs, taken from a dryer machine in which 100% polyester fabrics were dried after washing. Three concentrations were tested. The results showed that the gastrointestinal tract, GIT, was the most affected system by PEFs which modified the normal shape of the intestine with an EC50 96 h value of 6.3 µg mL−1. Fibers were observed to press against the digestive epithelium, deforming the normal architecture of the gut, sometimes pushing deep into the epithelium until piercing it. Physical GIT occlusion was observed in a concentration-dependent manner. However, no other damages were registered. No mortality was observed, but PEF-exposed larvae showed a significant reduction in their mobility. The results of the present paper suggest that environmental samples with their heterogeneity may have adverse effects on X. laevis development.

Molecular Genetics of Microcephaly Primary Hereditary: An Overview

MicroCephaly Primary Hereditary (MCPH) is a rare congenital neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a significant reduction of the occipitofrontal head circumference and mild to moderate mental disability. Patients have small brains, though with overall normal architecture; therefore, studying MCPH can reveal not only the pathological mechanisms leading to this condition, but also the mechanisms operating during normal development. MCPH is genetically heterogeneous, with 27 genes listed so far in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. In this review, we discuss the role of MCPH proteins and delineate the molecular mechanisms and common pathways in which they participate.

Platlet-Rich Plasma – Review of Literature

Wound healing is a dynamic and physiological process for restoring the normal architecture and functionality of damaged tissue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous whole blood product that contains a large number of platelets in a small volume of plasma with complete set of coagulation factors, which are in physiological concentrations. PRP has haemostatic, adhesive properties and acts supraphysiologically in the process of wound healing and osteogenesis. Platelets play a very important role in the wound healing process by providing growth factors that enhance the rate and quality of wound healing by many different mechanisms. The aim of this review is to describe: the biology of platelets and their role in the wound healing process, the terminology of platelet rich products, PRP preparation, activation and concentration of PRP, as well as the use of PRP in plastic surgery.

Skin Cyst: A Pathological Dead-End With a New Twist of Morphogenetic Potentials in Organoid Cultures

A cyst is a closed sac-like structure in which cyst walls wrap certain contents typically including air, fluid, lipid, mucous, or keratin. Cyst cells can retain multipotency to regenerate complex tissue architectures, or to differentiate. Cysts can form in and outside the skin due to genetic problems, errors in embryonic development, cellular defects, chronic inflammation, infections, blockages of ducts, parasites, and injuries. Multiple types of skin cysts have been identified with different cellular origins, with a common structure including the outside cyst wall engulfs differentiated suprabasal layers and keratins. The skin cyst is usually used as a sign in pathological diagnosis. Large or surfaced skin cysts affect patients’ appearance and may cause the dysfunction or accompanying diseases of adjacent tissues. Skin cysts form as a result of the degradation of skin epithelium and appendages, retaining certain characteristics of multipotency. Surprisingly, recent organoid cultures show the formation of cyst configuration as a transient state toward more morphogenetic possibility. These results suggest, if we can learn more about the molecular circuits controlling upstream and downstream cellular events in cyst formation, we may be able to engineer stem cell cultures toward the phenotypes we wish to achieve. For pathological conditions in patients, we speculate it may also be possible to guide the cyst to differentiate or de-differentiate to generate structures more akin to normal architecture and compatible with skin homeostasis.

Review of Dermoscopy and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Features of the Mucosal Melanoma

Mucosal melanoma is a rare tumor with aggressive biological behavior and poor prognosis. Diagnosis is often performed at an advanced stage when the lesions become symptomatic. Although dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) are widely used techniques for the diagnosis of cutaneous tumors, their use for mucosal lesions is not well established, probably because the latter are rarer. The objective of this study was to evaluate current literature on these imaging techniques for mucosal melanoma. We searched in PubMed and Cochrane databases all studies up to October 2020 dealing with dermoscopy, RCM, and mucosal melanoma. We found that the most relevant dermoscopic features were structureless pattern and/or the presence of multiple colors. RCM examination mainly showed numerous basal hyper-reflective dendritic cells and loss of normal architecture of the papillae of the lamina propria. Although diagnostic algorithms have been proposed for both techniques, the limit of these methods is the absence of large studies and of standardized and shared diagnostic criteria.

The oil of garlic, Allium sativum L. (Amaryllidaceae), as a potential protectant against Anisakis spp. Type II (L3) (Nematoda) infection in Wistar rats

The consumption of inadequately thermally treated fish is a public health risk due to the possible propagation of Anisakis larvae. The present study demonstrated the physiological and histopathological changes that accompanied an oral inoculation of crude extracts from fresh and thermally treated Anisakis Type II (L3) in rats. Worms were isolated from a marine fish and examined and identified using light and scanning electron microscopy. The study was performed in 6 rat groups: control (I), garlic oil (GO) inoculated (II), fresh L3 inoculated (III), thermally treated L3 inoculated (IV), fresh L3 + GO inoculated (V), and a thermally treated L3 + GO inoculated (VI) groups. Rats inoculated with fresh and thermally treated L3 showed abnormal liver and kidney functions associated with the destruction of normal architecture. GO produced a protective effect in rat groups inoculated with L3 extracts + GO via the amelioration of liver and kidney functions, which was confirmed by the marked normal structure on histology. Cooking of L3-infected fish induced severe alterations compared to uncooked fish. The administration of garlic before and after fish eating is recommended to avoid the dangerous effect of anisakids, even if they are cooked.

Clinical importance of left atrial infiltration in cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. INTRODUCTION The clinical significance of left atrial (LA) involvement in ATTR amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) has not been characterized. The aims of this study were to characterize: (1)LA pathology in explanted ATTR-CM hearts; (2)LA mechanics using echocardiographic speckle-tracking in a large cohort of ATTR-CM patients; (3)to study the association with mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS Congo red staining and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the presence, type and extent of amyloid and associated changes in 5 explanted ATTR-CM atria. Echo speckle-tracking was used to assess LA reservoir, conduit, contractile function and stiffness in 906 ATTR-CM patients (551 wt-ATTR-CM;93 T60A-ATTR-CM;241 V122I-ATTR-CM;21 other). There was extensive ATTR amyloid infiltration in the 5 atria with loss of normal architecture, vessels remodelling, capillary disruption and subendocardial fibrosis. Echo speckle-tracking in 906 ATTR-CM patients demonstrated increased atrial stiffness [median(25th-75th quartile) 1.83(1.15-2.92)] that remained independently associated with prognosis, after adjusting for known predictors (lnLA stiff:HR = 1.26,CI 1.07-1.57;p = 0.009). There was substantial impairment of the three phasic functional atrial components [reservoir 8.86(5.94-12.97)%; conduit 6.5(4.53-9.28)%; contraction function 4.0(2.29-6.56)%]. Atrial contraction was absent in 21.6% of patients whose ECG showed sinus rhythm (SR)-"atrial electro-mechanical dissociation"(AEMD). AEMD was associated with poorer prognosis compared to SR patients with effective mechanical contraction (p < 0.0001). AEMD conferred a similar prognosis to patients in AF. CONCLUSION The phenotype of ATTR-CM includes significant infiltration of the atrial walls with progressive loss of atrial function and increased stiffness, which is a strong independent predictor of mortality. AEMD emerged as a distinctive phenotype identifying patients in SR with poor prognosis. Abstract Figure.

Monoblastic Sarcoma- A Rare Case Report of Myeloid Sarcoma Variant

Myeloid sarcoma, also known as chloroma, granulocytic sarcoma, extramedullary Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), myeloblastoma or extramedullary myeloid tumour, is a rare manifestation, characterised by the proliferation of immature myeloid cells, myeloblasts or monoblasts occurring as one or more tumour at an extramedullary site. It is associated with disruption of normal architecture of tissue in which it is found. Monoblastic sarcoma is a rare variant of myeloid sarcoma. Hereby, the authors report a rare case of primary monoblastic sarcoma in a 64-year-old male patient presented with complaint of swelling over right side lower cervical region. He had no history of AML. On physical examination, the swelling was over medial one-third of right clavicle measuring 6×5.8×3 cm. The swelling was excised and sent for histopathological examination, which was diagnosed as monoblastic sarcoma, and confirmed on immunohistochemistry.

Abstract 13148: Clinical Importance of Left Atrial Infiltration in Cardiac Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Introduction: The clinical significance of left atrial (LA) involvement and dysfunction in ATTR amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) has not been characterized. We sought to study: 1) LA pathology in heart specimens from ATTR-CM patients 2) LA stiffness and mechanics using echocardiographic speckle tracking (EST) in cardiac ATTR-CM 3) the association between parameters of atrial function and mortality. Methods: Congo red staining and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess amyloid in the atria from 5 ATTR-CM heart specimens. 2D EST was used to assess LA reservoir, conduit, contractile function and stiffness in 906 ATTR-CM patients (551 wt ATTR; 93 T60A ATTR; 241 V122I ATTR; and 21 other gene variants). Results: There was extensive ATTR amyloid infiltration in the 5 atria, with loss of normal architecture, infiltration and remodelling of vessels, capillary disruption and subendocardial fibrosis. EST demonstrated increased atrial stiffness [median (25th-75th quartile) 1.83 (1.15-2.92)] that remained independently associated with reduced survival, after adjusting for known prognostic variables (lnLA stiff: HR= 1.26, CI 1.07-1.57; p=.009). There was substantial impairment of the three phasic functional atrial components [reservoir 8.86(5.94-12.97)%; conduit 6.5(4.53-9.28)%; and contraction 4.0(2.29-6.56)%]. Atrial contractile function was absent in 21.6% of patients whose ECG showed sinus rhythm (SR)-atrial electro-mechanical dissociation (AEMD). AEMD was associated with a poorer prognosis compared to SR patients who had effective mechanical contraction (p <.0001). AEMD conferred a similar prognosis to patients in AF. Conclusions: The phenotype of ATTR-CM includes clinically significant infiltration of the atrial walls characterized by progressive loss of function and increased stiffness, a strong independent predictor of mortality. AEMD emerged as a distinctive functional phenotype identifying patients in SR with poor prognosis.

Mandibular and Sublingual Sialoadenectomy to Treat Cervical Sialocele in Dogs

Background: Cervical sialocele is one of the most common type of mucoceles. It results from continuous leakage of saliva from the injured duct and/or gland and it is characterized by a gradually growing, fluctuating and painless swelling in the inter-mandibular region or ventrally along the proximal cervical region. Aspiration and drainage are usually inadequate treatments; therefore, surgical ablation of the affected glands along with duct is recommended. Scanty literature on the occurrence and surgical management of cervical sialcocele is traceable in Indian conditions. This clinical study describes mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy to treat idiopathic cervical sialocele in dogs.Methods: This clinical study included seven cases of cervical sialocele in adult dogs. Five cases had unilateral while in two it appeared bilateral. The condition was diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical and cytological findings. Unilateral or bilateral sialoadenectomy of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands, using lateral surgical approach, was done under general anaesthesia.Result: Lateral surgical approach was found adequate without any intra-operative complications. Histopathology of the resected glands showed normal architecture suggesting possibility of physical trauma as an etiology. All cases recovered uneventfully with no recurrence on the same or contralateral side on follow up of 1 year. This clinical study demonstrated that unilateral or bilateral mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy using lateral surgical approach may be done safely for the successful management of cervical sialocele in dogs.