Digital quantification of fibrosis in liver biopsy sections: description of a new method by Photoshop software

BACKGROUND: The precise quantification of fibrous tissue in liver biopsy sections is extremely important in the classification, diagnosis and grading of chronic liver disease, as well as in evaluating the response to antifibrotic therapy. Because the recently described methods of digital image analysis of fibrosis in liver biopsy sections have major flaws, including the use of out-dated techniques in image processing, inadequate precision and inability to detect and quantify perisinusoidal fibrosis, we developed a new technique in computerized image analysis of liver biopsy sections based on Adobe Photoshop software. METHODS: We prepared an experimental model of liver fibrosis involving treatment of rats with oral CCl4 for 6 weeks. After staining liver sections with Masson's trichrome, a series of computer operations were performed including (i) reconstitution of seamless widefield images from a number of acquired fields of liver sections; (ii) image size and solution adjustment; (iii) color correction; (iv) digital selection of a specified color range representing all fibrous tissue in the image and; (v) extraction and calculation. RESULTS: This technique is fully computerized with no manual interference at any step, and thus could be very reliable for objectively quantifying any pattern of fibrosis in liver biopsy sections and in assessing the response to antifibrotic therapy. It could also be a valuable tool in the precise assessment of antifibrotic therapy to other tissue regardless of the pattern of tissue or fibrosis.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling mediates regranulation of rat nasal goblet cells

BACKGROUND: Mucus hypersecretion is a common response to inflammation in the lower airways and is a hallmark of chronic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of regranulation (mucus production) of goblet cells in nasal epithelium. METHODS: Because neutrophils induce an epidermal growth factor (EGFR) cascade, we induced degranulation of goblet cells in rat nasal respiratory epithelium by means of intranasal inhalation of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), and we examined regranulation of the goblet cells and the role of EGFR inhibitors and neutrophils in the regranulation process. RESULTS: In the control state Alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff and mucin MUC5AC staining was present. Degranulation was induced in the nasal septal epithelium 4 hours after intranasal inhalation of fMLP (10(-7) mol/L); 48 hours later, goblet-cell regranulation was complete. In the control state EGFR protein staining was absent in the epithelium, but after fMLP-induced degranulation, EGFR protein was expressed. After pretreatment with BIBX1522, a selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, fMLP-induced degranulation was unaffected, but goblet-cell regranulation was prevented completely. CONCLUSION: These data suggest a role for the EGFR cascade in neutrophil-dependent production of goblet-cell mucins. Proving this theory will require the use of selective EGFR inhibitors in clinical studies of nasal hypersecretory states.     

11-Isopropylcryptolepine: A novel alkaloid isolated from cryptolepis sanguinolenta characterized using submicro NMR techniques

A new alkaloid has been isolated from extracts of the West African plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and identified by submicro NMR techniques as 11-isopropylcryptolepine (1). The unusual incorporation of the isopropyl group at the 11-position of the indolo[3,2-b]quinoline nucleus is suggestive of a mixed biosynthetic origin for the alkaloid.     

Radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnants after preparation with recombinant human thyrotropin.

Radioiodine ablation (RA) of normal thyroid remnants after thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma improves the sensitivity of subsequent radioiodine scans and serum thyroglobulin measurements for detection of residual thyroid carcinoma. Local cancer recurrences are also lower after RA. One standard preparation for RA involves rendering the patient hypothyroid in order to stimulate endogenous thyrotropin (TSH) secretion and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) activity. An alternative approach is to prescribe thyroxine after thyroidectomy and to stimulate NIS with exogenous recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH). This latter approach was used in 10 patients at our medical center. Complete resolution of all visible 131I thyroid bed uptake was achieved in all when follow-up scans were performed 5 to 13 months later. This approach has the potential to successfully ablate thyroid remnants without the need to induce hypothyroidism.     

In vitro anti-Candida Activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss

Zataria multiflora Boiss known as Avishan Shirazi (in Iran)is one of the valuable Iranian medicinal plants. The aim ofstudy was to evaluate anti-Candida activity of Z. multifloraagainst different species of Candida in vitro. Anti-Candidaactivity of the aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic macerationextract of the aerial parts of Z. multiflora Boiss was studiedin vitro. Anti-Candida activity against Candida species wasdone using serial dilutions of extracts in Sabouraud's dextroseagar. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the methanolicand ethanolic extracts was 70.7 and 127 mg l^–1, respectively.Aqueous extract showed no remarkable activity against Candidaspecies. We conclude that methanolic extract of the aerial partsof Z. multiflora Boiss has more anti-Candida effect at 70.7mg l^–1 compared to ethanolic extract 127 mg l^–1.In addition, the isolates of Candida parapsilosis were moresusceptible to methanolic extract than other tested species.     

Mechanism of Alternariol monomethyl ether-induced mitochondrial apoptosis in human colon carcinoma cells

Alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) is a major mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Alternaria and a common contaminant of food products such as fruits and cereals worldwide. AME can cause serious health problems for animals as well as for humans. In this study, human colon carcinoma cells (HCT116) were used to explore the mechanisms of cell death induced by AME. Exposure of HCT116 cells to AME resulted in significant cytotoxicity manifested by a loss in cell viability mainly mediated by activation of apoptotic process. AME activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway evidenced by the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) downstream generation of O(2)(-), cytochrome c release and caspase 9 and 3 activation. Experiments conducted on isolated organelles indicated that AME does not directly target mitochondria to induce PTP-dependent permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Moreover, no difference was observed in Bax-KO cells in comparison to parental cells, suggesting that the pro-apoptotic protein Bax is not involved in AME-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that AME induces cell death in human colon carcinoma cells by activating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.