Asymmetric crypt fission in colectomy specimens in patients with ulcerative colitis

AimsWe previously found colonic crypts with asymmetric fission bordering regenerating ulcers in ulcerative colitis (UC). The present objective was to assess the frequency of asymmetric crypt-fission in colectomy specimens from patients with long-lasting UC.MethodsH&E-stained sections from seven colectomies from patients with UC without dysplasia or carcinoma were investigated. Symmetric fission was characterised by branched colon crypts showing ≥2 identical crypts, whereas asymmetric fission exhibited branched colon crypt portraying ≥2 dissimilar crypts, differing in diameter, length and/or shape.ResultsThe number of crypts in fission in the 89 sections was 3586; of those, 2930 (81.7%) were asymmetric and the remaining 656 (18.3%), symmetric. Out of 927 vertically-cut crypts (in well-oriented sections), 912 (98.4%) were asymmetric, and the remaining 14 (1.6%), symmetric, and out 2660, cross-cut (transected) crypts in fission, 2018 (75.9%) were asymmetric and the remaining 642 (24.1%), symmetric.ConclusionCrypt fission is rarely found in the normal colon in adults. Symmetric crypt fission found in UC is possibly triggered by a compensatory homeostatic mechanism of crypt production in mucosal areas replaced by chronic inflammation. But asymmetric crypt fission is a pathological aberration that affects crypts in patients with a particular predisposition to develop mucosal dysplasia. It is suggested that this previously unattended histological parameter be included in the pathological descriptions of colectomy specimens from patients with UC.

The histopathological diagnosis of atypical meningioma: glass slide versus whole slide imaging for grading assessment

Limited studies on whole slide imaging (WSI) in surgical neuropathology reported a perceived limitation in the recognition of mitoses. This study analyzed and compared the inter- and intra-observer concordance for atypical meningioma, using glass slides and WSI. Two neuropathologists and two residents assessed the histopathological features of 35 meningiomas—originally diagnosed as atypical—in a representative glass slide and corresponding WSI. For each histological parameter and final diagnosis, we calculated the inter- and intra-observer concordance in the two viewing modes and the predictive accuracy on recurrence. The concordance rates for atypical meningioma on glass slides and on WSI were 54% and 60% among four observers and 63% and 74% between two neuropathologists. The inter-observer agreement was higher using WSI than with glass slides for all parameters, with the exception of high mitotic index. For all histological features, we found median intra-observer concordance of ≥ 79% and similar predictive accuracy for recurrence between the two viewing modes. The higher concordance for atypical meningioma using WSI than with glass slides and the similar predictive accuracy for recurrence in the two modalities suggest that atypical meningioma may be safely diagnosed using WSI.

Pharmacognostic studies of Flemingia vestita

Flemingia vestita (Family: Fabaceae), is a leguminous root crop commonly found in the northeastern region of India. The tubers are anthelmintic and eaten unpeeled by the natives against gastrointestinal worm infection. The present study deals with the pharmacognostic studies on the rhizome of crude drug F. vestita. Our preliminary phytochemical studies of the powdered rhizome revealed the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrate, protein, amino ac-ids, phenol, tannic acid flavonoid, phytosterols, saponins, fat, oil, gum and mucilage. The physico-chemical, morphological, histological parameter may be proposed as parameters to establish the authencity of F. vestita.

Pharmacognostic studies of Flemingiavestita

Flemingia vestita(Family: Fabaceae), is a leguminous root crop commonly found in the northeastern region of India. The tubers are anthelmintic and eaten unpeeled by the natives against gastrointestinal worminfection. The present study deals with the pharmacognostic studies on the rhizome of crude drug F. vestita. Our preliminary phytochemical studies of the powdered rhizome revealed the presence of alkaloid,carbohydrate, protein, amino acids, phenol, tannic acid flavonoid,phytosterols, saponins,fat, oil, gum and mucilage. The physico-chemical, morphological, histological parameter may be proposed as parameters to establish the authencityof F. vestita. Key words: Flemingiavestita, pharmacognostic, phytochemicals, thin layer chromatography

Nutritive diet becomes unhealthy if taken in a wrong ratio: Scientific validation of Ayurvedic concept of “incompatible diet” (Virrudh Aahar)

Honey and ghee is an important constituent of our diet. Honey contain about 200 components in its which play an important role as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound healing and sunburn, etc. Ghee has also many essential constituents such as phospholipids, PUFA, fat- soluble vitamins, etc. It is mention in Charak Samhita that equal ratio of honey and ghee when taken in food become toxic to health. This study was designed to explore the mechanism of toxicity through the biochemical and histological parameter. For this study, 24 Charles foster rats were taken and divided into four groups (n=6) normal, honey, ghee, and honey+ghee (1:1). After 60 days rats were sacrificed. Weight loss, Hair loss and red patches on ear were found on honey+ghee fed rats. LFT, amadori test, AGE, UV, glucose, DPP-4 and LPO were found significantly increased in honey+ghee group. SOD, Catalase, GSH, ABTS+, GLP-1, GIP-1, ACB and HB were found significantly decreased in honey+ghee group. No changes were found in RFT. H&E show normal morphology in kidney, intestine, and pancreas but mild inflammation was found in liver tissue. We conclude that the equal mixture of honey and ghee shows toxic effect. Increased formation of hydroxymethyl furfural, amadori product, DPP-4 activity and low incretins (GLP-1, GIP-1) activity resulting high postprandial hyperglycemic response are collectively responsible for oxidative stress-mediated toxicity of the mixture of honey and ghee in equal ratio.

Probiotics and antibiotics as additives for sows and piglets during nursery phase

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of probiotics in diets for sows and piglets on performance and morphophysiologic parameters and the incidence of diarrhea in piglets during 28 days after weaning. A total of 120 pigs weaned at 21 days of age from 24 litters whose sows (primiparous) received probiotics or antibiotics from the 94th day of gestation until weaning. It was used a complete randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial (probiotics or antibiotics for sows and three diets for piglets - antibiotics, probiotics or probiotic-antibiotic combination) with four replicates of five animals to evaluate the performance and incidence of diarrhea. At 28 days of experiment, two animals from each plot were sacrificed for histological parameter measurement of the pH of the stomach, jejunum and cecum. The association antibiotics+ probiotics in the diet of pigs resulted in greater weight gain and feed intake in animals born from of sows which received probiotics during the gestation and lactation phases. When females received antibiotics, the piglets receiving only probiotics showed higher consumption, but there were no differences for feed conversion. The use of antibiotics + probiotics in diets for piglets reduced the pH of the cecum and, when associated with the use of probiotics for sows, villous:crypt ratio in the jejunum increased. The use of growth promoters did not affect stomach pH neither the incidence of diarrhea. Supply of probiotics in the diet of sows during the gestation and lactation phases associated to the use in the diet of piglets after weaning is effective in maintaining animal performance, to histophysiological conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and control of diarrhea during the nursery phase.

Uterine adenosarcomas overgrown by sex-cord-like tumour: report of two cases

Müllerian adenosarcomas are tumours of low malignant potential with proliferation of benign glands and low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS). Unusually, the latter may include foci of uterine tumours resembling ovarian sex-cord tumours (UTROSCT). Two cases of uterine adenosarcomas massively overgrown by UTROSCT are reported, for the first time. The patients, aged 71 and 64, one receiving tamoxifen, presented with intracavitary polypoid adenosarcomas; each was overgrown by an immunopathologically characteristic UTROSCT that constituted more than 75% of its volume. Periglandular CD10+LGESS represented less than 25%. Both are alive and well after 5 and 3 years, respectively. Compared to the poor prognosis of adenosarcomas overgrown by high grade sarcomata, the cases reported here had a benign behaviour. Quantitative assessment of volume percentage of the potentially aggressive LGESS, CD10+ areas should be considered as a relevant prognostic histological parameter in these tumours.