Histopathological and functional effects of antimony on the renal cortex of growing albino rat

Contamination of the environment with antimony compounds may affect human health through the persistent exposure to small doses over a long period. Sixty growing male albino rats, weighing 43-57 grams, utilized in this study. The animals were divided into 3 groups; each of 20 rats: animals of group I served as control, animals of group II received 6 mg/kg body weight antimony trisulfide daily for 8 weeks with drinking water, and those of group III received the same dose by the same route for 12 weeks. The Malpighian renal corpuscles showed distortion, destruction and congestion of glomerular tuft, vacuoles in the glomeruli, peritubular haemorrhage, obliteration of Bowman’s space, and thickening with irregularity of Bowman’s membrane. The proximal convoluted tubules demonstrated patchy loss of their brush border, thickening of the basement membrane with loss of its basal infoldings, disarrangement of the mitochondria, pleomorphic vacuoles in the cytoplasm, apical destruction of the cells, apical migration of the nuclei, and absence of microvilli. On the other hand, peri-tubular hemorrhage, apical vacuolation, small atrophic nuclei, swelling of mitochondria, obliteration of the lumina, destruction of cells, and presence of tissue debris in the lumina, were observed in the distal convoluted tubules. The present work demonstrated the hazardous effect of antimony on the renal function as evidenced by the significant increase of the level of blood urea, serum creatinine, and serum sodium and potassium. In conclusion, this study proposed that continuous oral administration of antimony for 8 and 12 weeks has hazardous toxic effect on the structure and function of the kidney in growing albino rat. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended to avoid the use of any drinking water contaminated with antimony compounds and forbidden its use in infants and children foods.     

Breast pathology

Cellular pathology is a key component of the breast disease multidisciplinary team, representing the ‘gold standard’ in the diagnosis of breast cancer and providing crucial information for determination of prognosis and management. Material may be obtained for pathological examination using fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology, needle core biopsy or surgical excision (histopathology). Common benign conditions include fibrocystic change, fibroadenomas, intraduct papillomas and radial scars. Carcinoma is by far the most common malignant tumour and may exist as in situ or invasive forms. The use of mammography in the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHS BSP) has resulted in the detection of breast cancers at an earlier stage of development (e.g. in situ carcinoma and small, low-grade invasive carcinomas) and a comprehensive independent review assessing the benefits and possible drawbacks of this approach is due to report during 2012. A cellular pathology report for a breast excision specimen should include comments on the factors most pertinent to prognosis and management, such as tumour type, size, grade, and presence of vascular invasion and lymph node metastases. Assessment of adequacy of excision will inform decisions regarding further surgical excision and radiotherapy while identification of lymph node metastases will prompt consideration for chemotherapy in suitable patients. Cellular pathology can also predict the likelihood of tumour response to hormonal manipulation and newer treatments such as trastuzumab. The application of increasingly sophisticated genomic technologies to breast cancer has enhanced the classification of the disease whilst highlighting new levels of complexity, and may lead to an improvement in both prognostication as well as the ability to better identify patients who may particularly benefit from chemotherapy and novel molecularly targeted therapies.     

Efficacy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosing Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis in the Presence of Ischemia

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been recognized as the most accurate imaging modality for the detection of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. However, how accurately MRI displays the extent of diabetic foot osteomyelitis in the presence of ischemia is still unclear. We retrospectively compared the preoperative MRI findings with the results of histopathologic examinations of resected bones and studied the efficacy of MRI in the diagnosis of diabetic foot osteomyelitis of different etiologies. A total 104 bones from 18 foot ulcers in 16 diabetic patients (10 men and 6 women; age range 42 to 84 years) treated by surgical intervention from 2008 to 2012 was examined. In 8 neuropathic ulcers, 29 bones were accurately diagnosed in detail using MRI, even those with severe soft tissue infection. Of 75 bones in 10 ischemic ulcers, only 7 bones evaluated by MRI after revascularization were diagnosed accurately; the other 68 could not be diagnosed because of unclear or equivocal MRI findings. On histopathologic examination, all the bones were found to be infected through the bone cortex by the surrounding infected soft tissue, not directly by articulation. Overall, preoperative MRI is effective in the diagnosis of neuropathic ulcers, but less so of ischemic ones.     

Potential Role of Proinflammatory Cytokines in the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Vascular Lesions in Goats Naturally Infected with Bluetongue Virus Serotype 1

In vitro studies have demonstrated that bluetongue virus (BTV)‐induced vasoactive mediators could contribute to the endothelial cells dysfunction and increased vascular permeability responsible of lesions characteristic of bluetongue (BT) like oedema, haemorrhages and ischaemic necrosis in different tissues. However, few in vivo studies have been carried out to clarify the causes of these lesions. The aim of this study was to elucidate in vivo the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the appearance of vascular lesions in different organs during BT. For this purpose, tissue samples from goats naturally infected with bluetongue virus serotype 1 (BTV‐1) were taken for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies to determine the potential role of proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha, TNFα and interleukin one alpha, IL‐1α) in the increased vascular permeability and their relationship with the presence of virus. Gross and histopathological examination revealed the presence of vascular damage leading to generalized oedema and haemorrhages. Immunohistochemical studies displayed that endothelial injury may have been due to the direct pathogenic effect of BTV infection on endothelial cells or may be a response to inflammatory mediators released by virus‐infected endothelial cells and, possibly, other cell types such as monocytes/macrophages. These preliminary results of what appears to be the first in vivo study of tissue damage in small BT‐infected ruminants suggest a direct link between the appearance of vascular changes and the presence of BTV‐induced vasoactive cytokines.     

Observations on experimental saccular aneurysms in the rat after 2 and 3 months

After 2 and 3 months we re-exposed 20 experimental saccular aneurysms. Under the operating microscopef we measured their sizes and compared them with the sizes immediately after induction. All aneurysms had grown significantly and none was thrombosed. Pathological examinations showed that the sac of the aneurysm was similar to that of the human saccular aneurysms. Based on the operating microscopy and pathological findings we postulate that abnormal histological structure and haemodynamic stress are the major causes of aneurysm enlargement. We also noted that there were some regenerative processes in these experimental aneurysm walls. The results prove that this model is reliable, because these aneurysms have the main characteristics of human saccular aneurysms, not only grossly but also microscopically.     

Chimeric Allografts Induced by Short‐Term Treatment With Stem Cell–Mobilizing Agents Result in Long‐Term Kidney Transplant Survival Without Immunosuppression: A Study in Rats

Transplant tolerance allowing the elimination of lifelong immunosuppression has been the goal of research for 60 years. The induction of mixed chimerism has shown promise and has been extended successfully to large animals and to the clinic; however, it remains cumbersome and requires heavy early immunosuppression. In this study, we reported that four injections of AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist, plus eight injections of low‐dose FK506 (0.05 mg/kg per day) in the first week after kidney transplantation extended survival, but death from renal failure occurred at 30–90 days. Repeating the same course of AMD3100 and FK506 at 1, 2 and 3 mo after transplant resulted in 92% allograft acceptance (n = 12) at 7 mo, normal kidney function and histology with no further treatment. Transplant acceptance was associated with the influx of host stem cells, resulting in a hybrid kidney and a modulated host immune response. Confirmation of these results could initiate a paradigm shift in posttransplant therapy.     

Pathology of vaccine-preventable infectious disease and the central nervous system

Infections of the central nervous system are important sources of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The risk for infections with specific bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic agents varies greatly with the patient's age, immune status, prior vaccination history, seasonality and geographic exposures. While vaccines are available for many viral and bacterial pathogens, there has been a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in recent years due to under-vaccination of eligible children and adults. This review will discuss key pathognomonic features of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases of the central nervous system that may be encountered in general surgical and autopsy practice.     

Parathyroid lesions: Difficult diagnosis on cytology

Cytology of parathyroid lesion (PL) is often confused with that of thyroid lesions. Differentiation between thyroid and PL is very difficult on cytomorphology because of their similar features and close anatomical proximity. Three cases of PLs reported on cytology in last one year were retrieved from archives of cytology department. Their cytomorphological details were studied and were correlated with the available biochemical parameters. Histopathology was available in two cases. Radiological assistance and parathyroid hormone (PTH) assessment in our cases formed the basis of diagnosing PLs on cytology. We discuss the differential diagnosis and pitfalls in cytological diagnosis of PLs. However, histopathology remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Interpretation of PLs on cytology remains problematic due to its rarity and limited available literature. The cytomorphology combined with clinical and biochemical data supported by histopathology are necessary to improve the diagnostic sensitivity of PLs. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:704–709. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.