Degree Of Morphological Changes Research Articles

Modeling Radiation-Induced Epithelial Cell Injury in Murine Three-Dimensional Esophageal Organoids

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly consequence of radiation exposure to the esophagus. ESCC arises from esophageal epithelial cells that undergo malignant transformation and features a perturbed squamous cell differentiation program. Understanding the dose- and radiation quality-dependence of the esophageal epithelium response to radiation may provide insights into the ability of radiation to promote ESCC. We have explored factors that may play a role in esophageal epithelial radiosensitivity and their potential relationship to ESCC risk. We have utilized a murine three-dimensional (3D) organoid model that recapitulates the morphology and functions of the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus to study persistent dose- and radiation quality-dependent changes. Interestingly, although high-linear energy transfer (LET) Fe ion exposure induced a more intense and persistent alteration of squamous differentiation and 53BP1 DNA damage foci levels as compared to Cs, the MAPK/SAPK stress pathway signaling showed similar altered levels for most phospho-proteins with both radiation qualities. In addition, the lower dose of high-LET exposure also revealed nearly the same degree of morphological changes, even though only ~36% of the cells were predicted to be hit at the lower 0.1 Gy dose, suggesting that a bystander effect may be induced. Although p38 and ERK/MAPK revealed the highest levels following high-LET exposure, the findings reveal that even a low dose (0.1 Gy) of both radiation qualities can elicit a persistent stress signaling response that may critically impact the differentiation gradient of the esophageal epithelium, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of radiation-induced esophageal injury and early stage esophageal carcinogenesis.

К вопросу об изменчивости измерительных признаков головы и лица у взрослых чувашей, обследованных в двух районах Башкирии (возрастные и эпохальные аспекты)

Introduction. This work is devoted to the study of some aspects of age and (or) temporal variability of a number of morphological features of the head and face in the adult Chuvash population in Bashkiria. The objectives of the study were to analyze and assess the presence and degree of morphological changes on the skull of an adult according to a number of signs included in the program on ethnic anthropology, as well as to study their possible connection with age-related transformations or acceleration of development and secular trend. Materials and methods. The surveys were conducted in two districts of Bashkiria, Aurgazinsky and Bizhbulyaksky, in villages with a predominantly Chuvash population. The material was collected in 1999, in total, data were obtained for 361 men and 352 women born from 1915 to 1980. The paper studied the temporal and age variability of the following features: longitudinal, transverse, zygomatic and mandibular dimeters, the smallest width of the forehead, measured the morphological height of the face (from the nasion) and the circumference of the head, calculated the head index. The material was collected by the same researcher. The data were divided into 11 age groups in increments of 5 years, starting in 1925. In each group, the average values of the features and standard deviations were calculated. For all signs, scatter diagrams of the values of signs vs year of birth are presented. Results and discussion. The most stable signs in terms of age were the minimal width of the forehead, head circumference and mandibular diameters. The magnitude of the head index varies significantly due to age-related changes in the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the head, which determine the magnitude of the index. The age-related decrease or stable condition of the head pointer, according to G.L. Hit’ [1968], contradicts our observations. For most indicators, with the exception of morphological height of the face and zygomatic diameter, no pronounced changes were found, which may be due to local features of the development of the examined group. Conclusion. The conducted studies have shown that for a more thorough study of the problem under consideration, it is necessary to attract additional materials collected at different times and under different environmental conditions for a close group (for example, in stable populations of Khalkha Mongols). @ 2023. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Osteological and historical data on extinct island night herons (Aves: Ardeidae), with special reference to Ascension Island, the Mascarenes and Bonin Islands

Night herons of the genus Nycticorax and Nyctanassa are adept island colonisers, occurring on a number of oceanic islands and island archipelagos. Continental species and those inhabiting large islands are generally not considered threatened, whereas night herons restricted to small, oceanic islands are particularly vulnerable to human interference. As a result, six out of nine described species and one subspecies, all derived from Nycticorax nycticorax, Nycticorax caledonicus or Nyctanassa violacea, are now extinct whereas a further three extinct species await description. The extinct island endemics generally exhibit morphological adaptations to an insular environment and diet, such as an increase or decrease in size, robust jaws and legs, and smaller wings with associated reduced flying ability than founding stock. Here I present an osteological comparison along with historical descriptions of the extinct, oceanic island night herons, with special reference to the Mascarene and Ascension fossil species, and Bonin Island subspecies, and show the degree of morphological changes between the founding and island taxa. I further discuss the reasons why they became extinct.

Modified Banff Criteria in Assessing SARS-CoV-2-Associated Renal Pathology: An Autopsy Study.

Introduction SARS-CoV-2 is an epitheliotropic viral agent with epithelial tropism. Although the clinical significance and severity of affection is the most pronounced in the respiratory system, other organs and systems are also infected and, hence affected, such as the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, and urinary systems. Herein, we set out to evaluate the presence and degree of morphological changes within the renal parenchyma and its relation to disease outcome. Materials and methods A retrospective non-clinical approach was utilized for the means of the study. All patients with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction proven infection, subject to an autopsy performed in a period of two calendar years, were included in the study. Kidney tissue histopathology samples were analyzed using a modified Banff criteria system for acute onset and chronic changes. The results were compared for statistical significance with overall patient survival from symptom onset to death. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 viral presence was evaluated in renal structures by means of immunohistochemistry. Results A total of 40 patients were included in the study. Immunohistochemistry showed viral presence within a myriad of renal structured - endothelial cells, tubular cells, and podocytes. Modified Banff criteria showed significant acute changes within the parenchyma, including endotheliitis, glomerulitis, mesangial matrix expansion, tubulitis, capillaritis, arteritis, thrombosis (including thrombotic microangiopathy in four patients), and hemorrhages. Individual cases also presented with signs of rhabdomyolysis - myoglobulin casts. Signs of chronic injury were also present in most patients. However, when calculated as scores, neither acute nor chronic changes showed a correlation with time from symptom onset to death. Conclusion The results of the present study show both viral presence and a myriad of induced changes in the contents of SARS-CoV-2 infection within the renal parenchyma. The lack of correlation with the degree of changes, when compared to survival, is an encouraging fact that the changes are unlikely to play a role in direct tanatogenesis while having the potential to manifest as chronic kidney disease in the future.

The Probable Cause for Nesting Pattern of Olive Ridley (<i>Lepidochelys olivacea</i>) at Ramnagar Beach, North East Coast of Andaman Island, India

The nesting behaviour of sea turtles remains a subject to study, due to their enigmatic pattern of seasonal breeding activities. Over a period of time, several reports have been made in this context associated with the nesting behaviour of the Olive Ridley turtles. In the present study, characteristics of the breeding beach and nesting pattern of Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) at Ramnagar along N-E coast of Andaman Islands were investigated, during the nesting periods 2016-2017. The study area hosts Olive Ridley, the dominant sea turtles with more than 300 individuals nesting each year. For this study, the number of sea turtles visited, nested, the sediment characters, salinity, and temperature were taken. The exposed sandy nesting beach characteristics are prone to varying degrees of morphological changes every day. The results depict that even though similar grain size (Coarse Sand to Fine Sand and Very well sorted to Poorly Sorted), with an ambient incubating temperature, pH and salinity with wide nesting area, the selective nesting in the particular location of the beach identified because of comfortable energy conditions in the waters (1.5 m/s) favours the female turtles to reach the beach at the preferable site of Ramnagar and nest.

Morphological and biochemical studies of Salvia guaranitica St. Hil. under simulated deposition with different amounts of dust

The collection of many environmental pollutants from road dust is harmful to living things and their surroundings. Previous studies have confirmed that road dust affects plant pigmentation, pollination, and biochemical properties. However, there are no comprehensive studies on multi-level dust pollution levels and multifaceted physiological properties of plants, and more importantly, there are no studies on atmospheric dust pollution monitors. In this experiment, the effect of road dust on the morphology and biochemistry of Salvia guaranitica St.Hil.was investigated by simulated deposition of different amounts of dust, and the changes of their physiological morphology under different pollution levels were also explored. A control group CK (0.00 g/plant), four experimental groups S1 (0.015 g/plant), S2 (0.030 g/plant), S3 (0.045 g/plant) and S4 (0.060 g/plant) were sprayed with the same dust samples every other day for 30 days. It was found that after 30 days of dust exposure, different degrees of morphological changes and damage occurred in Salvia. The different pollution levels also resulted in different degrees of biochemical characteristics of Salvia. With the increase of pollution, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and evaporation rates decreased significantly, but the activity of SOD and the content of MDA increased significantly in different experimental groups. Especially, the experiments also revealed that severe road dust pollution caused damage and deformation to stomata, as well as a significant reduction in stomatal and glandular density. In addition, the regression curves of the different physiological responses of Salvia to road dust can be used as a preliminary basis for plant monitoring of dust pollution degrees, thus provided a scientific basis for the use of plant biomonitors in the field of pollution biology.

AGE-RELATED MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN INTIMA OF GREATSAPHENOUS VEIN IN HEALTH AND IN VENOUS D

Aim: To study and evaluate degree of morphological changes in intima of great saphenous vein (GSV) in patients of different age groups in health and in venous disease. Materials and methods: We investigated autopsy material of GSV in 60 deceased patients and postoperative material of GSV in 80 patients with venous disease. Four age groups were formed: young age, middle age, older and elderly age. Totally there were 280 GSV fragments. Histological, morphometric, electron microscopic and biochemical studies were performed. Results: Our results are mainly consistent with the reference data. However, we carried out a comparative study of intima structure in norm and with venous disease in patients of different age. At the same time due to agerelated decline in varicose veins morphological changes are progressing. There are areas of endothelium atrophy and signs of fibrotic replacement in young and middle age patients with venous disease, whereas in older and elderly patients desquamation of endothelium and sclerosis were observed. Conclusion: Progressive degeneration in older and elderly patients with varicose veins promotes morphological changes of GSV and progression of the disease on histological and ultrastructural level that worsens endothelial dysfunction.

Clinical and diagnostic significance of the intestinal fraction of fatty acid binding protein in children with protein-induced enteropathy

Protein-induced enteropathyis a common manifestation of gastrointestinal food allergy in young children. Non-invasive diagnostic methods are especially relevant for the timely diagnosis and prevention of exacerbations.Objective. To evaluate serum, fecal and urinal levels of the intestinal fraction of fatty acids-binding proteins in children with protein-induced enteropathy and their clinical and diagnostic significance.Material and methods. The authors examined 29 children with protein-induced enteropathy aged from 1,5 to 12 months and 20 healthy children (control group). For differential diagnosis with congenital diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, all patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with morphological examination of biopsies. The Cow’s Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMMiS) was used to assess clinical symptoms. In all children, the intestinal fraction of the protein binding fatty acids (I-FABP) was determined in blood serum, urine, coprofiltrate byenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results. The scientists found an increase in the protein level in the blood 125,20±23,79 pg/ml, in coprofiltrate 0,36±0,05 ng/ml, in urine 0,164±0,031 pg/ml compared with those in the control group (19,21±4,94pg/ml, 0,18±0,02 ng/ml and 0,039±4,62 pg/ ml, respectively; p<0,05). The authors found direct strong relationship between the degreeof morphological changes, clinical severity of gastrointestinal manifestations and the concentration of fatty acid binding protein in serum and urine, moderate relationship with the indicators in coprofiltrate (p<0,05).Conclusion. An increase in serum, fecal and urinal levels of I-FABP in children with protein-induced enteropathy confirms the clinical and diagnostic significance of this biomarker in all biological fluids. Its high sensitivity and specificity of determination in urine is promising for pediatric practice.

Clinical and experimental studies of the effect of chronic fluoride intoxication on the hormonal status of the body and morphological changes in the thyroid gland

Introduction. The systemic violation of the body's homeostasis under the conditions of the negative impact of production factors scientists determine by the mismatch of neurohumoral mechanisms of regulation of metabolic processes. There are endocrinopathies. They occur with disorganization of the metabolism and violation of the thyroid gland's functional activity with disorganization of the metabolism, infringement of the thyroid gland's available action. The study aimed to learn the nature of endocrine dysfunction, histological changes of the thyroid gland associated with the dynamics of chronic fluoride intoxication of the body. Materials and methods. We analyzed the state of bone tissue and assessed the degree of articular syndrome during the large-scale structural reconstruction of the skeleton in aluminum production workers. The scientists examined the workers using double photon densitometry. The researchers studied the metabolic parameters based on a range of biochemical and instrumental methods. The experiment involved sexually mature male white laboratory rats with a bodyweight of up to 300 grams. We analyzed hormonal status disorders with an assessment of the degree of morphological changes in the thyroid gland. Results. The researchers analyzed the severity of disorders of individual endocrine mechanisms of homeostasis regulation and thyroid morph structure in hyperfluorosis. We treat fluorosis as a polyfunctional pathology. A high proportion of endocrinopathies is a clinical syndrome. It increases the pathological course of chronic fluoride intoxication in workers. We confirm the study with experimental data on metabolic disorders with a persistent toxic effect. We revealed hyperfunction of the thyroid gland against the background of a decrease in glucocorticoid activity, stable electrolyte, and mineral shifts. The researchers conducted an experiment on the late stages of fluoride intoxication. Conclusions. Clinical studies of individuals with chronic fluoride intoxication and concomitant endocrinopathy revealed a significant increase in the number of workers with abdominal obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, mineral metabolism disorders. Also, with deforming osteoarthritis of the joints, osteoalgia against the background of thyroid insufficiency. Experimental data confirm this. The fluorine accumulation in the body causes multidirectional disorders of the hormonal mechanisms of regulation of metabolic processes, alternation of hypo- and hyperfunction changes in the thyroid gland associated with fluoride duration intoxication.

VEGF-C — a biomarker of renal injury in the experimental model of intra-abdominal hypertension

Lymphangiogenesis plays an important role in development of renal parenchyma inflammation during kidney injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor type C (VEGF-C), cytokine that regulates lymphangiogenesis, is a potential early biomarker for acute kidney injury. Aim. To study the concentration of VEGF-C in renal homogenate and blood serum of newborn rats with experimental intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) of varying severity and duration, to establish a relationship with morphological changes in the renal tissue. Materials and methods. The experiment was conducted on 50 newborn Wistar rats. Rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 rats each: groups 1 and 2 with mild IAH lasting 5 and 10 days, respectively, and groups 3 and 4 with severe IAH lasting 5 and 10 days, respectively, and the control group. IAH was modelled by injecting sterile vaseline into the abdominal cavity to a predetermined level of IAH under the control of intra-vesical manometry. VEGF-C content was measured by ELISA. Morphological examination of the biopsy material and its photography were carried out using a Leica DM2000 microscope. The Mann—Whitney, Kruskal—Wallis, Wilcoxon tests, as well as one-way ANOVA, were used for statistical analysis. Results. The level of VEGF-C in the renal homogenate was increased in all groups (pc < 0.001); the degree of VEGF-C increase depended on the severity of IAH (p < 0.05) but not on the duration of IAH exposure. The VEGF-C blood serum level was increased only in group 3 (pc = 0.011). Morphological analysis showed hydropic dystrophy: changes in the height of the tubular epithelium, an increase in interstitial edema, expansion of the urinary spaces of glomeruli. The degree of morphological changes depended on the severity and duration of IAH. Conclusion. Changes in VEGF-C level assessed in the renal homogenate correlated with morphological changes in renal tissue of rats with different severity and duration of IAH.

Assessing cytokine status of patients with chronic endometritis combined with endometrial hyperplastic processes in reproductive period

The goal of our study was to examine local and serum cytokine level involved in regulating inflammation in patients with chronic endometritis combined with endometrial hyperplastic processes. On admission, all patients underwent hysteroscopy with separate diagnostic curettage followed by histological examination of samples isolated from the uterine and cervical canal mucosa. Such manipulations were indicated due to abnormal uterine bleeding as well as suspected endometrial pathology based on ultrasound examination. According to the histological examination data of the endometrial samples, all patients were divided into two groups: group I contained 45 women with CE combined with PEG without atypia; group II — 38 patients with morphologically verified CEE combined with AEG without atypia. Level of IL-1P, IL-2, IL-6, IFNy, TNFa in biological fluids (aspirate from the uterus; serum) was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that in both groups (91.1% and 89.6%, respectively) the vast majority of patients was hospitalized due to abnormal uterine bleeding. Oligomenorrhea alternated with intermenstrual bleeding (66.7% and 71.2%, respectively) and dominated in pattern of menstrual cycle disorders in the examined patients, whereas 11 (24.4%) and 7 (18.4%) patients from group I and II, respectively, were noted to suffer from severe menstrual bleeding. Overall, analyzing the data on cytokine level both in the uterine aspirate and serum evidences about ongoing inflammatory process found at examination time point. Upon that, such process was not only local, but also exhibited signs of a systemic inflammatory response. The data on cytokine level in the uterine aspirate from patients with CE coupled to PGE or CGE without atypia point at local inflammatory process characterized by significantly increased concentration of IL-ф, IL-2, IL-6, TNFa and IFNy. At the same time, higher level of IL-ф and IFNy in patients from group II might indicates that degree of morphological changes in the endometrium could affect the level of local cytokine production. Thus, the data obtained evidence that immune changes in chronic endometritis combined with non-atypical endometrial hyperplastic processes mostly occur locally. In this regard, measuring cytokine concentration in the uterine aspirate is a diagnostic predictor and serves as a sign for monitoring therapeutic effectiveness of therapy in this cohort of patients.

Intracranial self-stimulation-reward or immobilization-aversion had different effects on neurite extension and the ERK pathway in neurotransmitter-sensitive mutant PC12 cells

Various actions trigger pleasure (reward) or aversion (punishment) as emotional responses. Emotional factors that negatively affect brain neural control processes for long periods of time might cause various mental diseases by inducing neuronal changes. In the present study, newly developed PC12m12 cells which are　highly sensitivity to neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (ACh), were used. Exposing the cells to plasma from rats that had been subjected to intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) markedly upregulated neurite outgrowth. In addition, voluntary running in a wheel or forced on a rotating rod was used to induce behavioral excitation in rats, and examinations of their plasma confirmed that the ICSS-induced neurite outgrowth was not associated with the ICSS behavior itself. Furthermore, immunoblotting and treatment with U0126, an ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) antagonist, showed that the ICSS-induced neurite outgrowth was related to neuronal ERK activity. Exposing the same cells to plasma from rats that had been subjected to immobilization (IMM) also increased neurite outgrowth. Although the degree of enhancement was not as great as that seen after the ICSS rat plasma treatment, it was less than that observed after treatment with ACh as a positive control. These results indicate that ICSS or IMM lead to varying degrees of morphological changes, such as enhanced neurite outgrowth, in PC12m12 cells, but the neuronal signal transduction pathways underlying these effects differ; i.e.,the former morphological change might involve the activation of the ERK pathway, whereas the latter changes might not. Using PC12m12 cells which exhibit sensitivity to neurotransmitters, it might be possible to clarify the pathogeneses of mental diseases at the neuronal level and search for therapeutic drugs.

A similarity measure recognized by morphological characteristics analysis of well logging curves: application to the knowledge domain of sandstone reservoir

The identification of sandstone contrasting layers is a key step in the depth calibration of sandstone horizons, whose errors can cause large deviations in positioning results, which in turn affect subsequent drilling and production of oil wells. The identification of a sandstone contrast layer is calculated based on distinct response characteristics of well logging curves in the depth range of the layer. The identification of features of a well logging curve is generally made using the axial geological signals centered on the depth, combined with a time series similarity analysis of the data. However, when the local morphological features indicated and described by the curves corresponding to the depth of the sandstone reservoir are distinctly different, there will be differences in the features to obtained. To improve the accuracy in extracting similar features from well logging curves, we propose a similarity measurement method based on morphological characteristics to comprehensively analyze three morphological features of the curve sequence: the segmentation trend, fluctuation amplitude, and depth span. The similarity of the subsequence is measured according to the weighted slope difference of the comparative sequences. The method treats the attributes of similar waveform characteristics as a whole, which can overcome the shortcomings of conventional time series methods in describing the degree of morphological changes of the curves. Results from processing experimental data show that compared with the conventional method, the proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy in extracting the features of well logging curves and identifying the sandstone contrast layer.

P0551THE EFFECTS OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN PRECONDITIONING AND APOCYNIN TREATMENT IN POSTISCHEMIC ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY INDUCED IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Abstract Background and Aims Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant in-hospital morbidity and mortality, particularly in those admitted to the Intensive care units, where mortality rates may exceed 50%. Besides increased mortality rates, there are chronic consequences that carry high risk of developing or exacerbating chronic kidney disease and accelerated development of the end-stage renal disease. Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury is a common cause of AKI and hypertension might contribute to the increased incidence of AKI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning and apocynin treatment on kidney hemodynamics, function and structure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Method Male SHR were randomly selected in three experimental groups: sham-operated group (SHAM, n=9), AKI control group (AKI, n=11) and AKI group with HBO preconditioning and apocynin treatment (AKI+APO+HBO, n=13). HBO preconditioning was performed by exposing to pure oxygen (2.026 bar) twice a day for two consecutive days for 60 minutes and day before AKI induction. All surgical procedures were performed in anaesthetized rats and AKI was induced by removal of the right kidney and atraumatic clamp occlusion of the left renal artery for 45 minutes. NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin (40 mg/kg b.m., intravenously) was applied as a bolus injection 5 minutes before clamp removal. All hemodynamic parameters were measured 24 hours after reperfusion. After hemodynamic measurements, blood samples were collected and used for further analysis. Animals were sacrificed by pentobarbital overdose injection. Kidney tissue was removed and then prepared for histological examination. Results AKI significantly increased renal vascular resistance (RVR, p<0.001) and reduced renal blood flow (RBF, p<0.001), which were significantly improved in group with HBO preconditioning with apocynin treatment (RVR, p<0.05; RBF, p<0,01). AKI induction significantly increased plasma creatinine (p<0.001), urea (p<0.001), phosphate (p<0.001) levels. Remarkable improvement, with decrease in creatinine (p<0.001), urea (p<0.01) and phosphate (p<0.001) levels was observed in treated group. While AKI induction significantly increased plasma KIM – 1 levels (p<0.001), HBO preconditioning with apocynin treatment decreased its levels (p<0.05). Considering renal morphology, in SHAM operated rats, normal morphology of glomeruli, tubulointerstitium, and blood vessels were observed including rare kidney specimens with a few PAS positive casts in the lumen of the tubules. In animals with AKI significant morphological alterations were present: tubular cells necrosis, dilatation of certain segments of the proximal and distal tubules, mostly with loss of brush-border. The most notable changes were present in the cortico-medullary zone, where the broad areas of tubular necrosis and a large number of PAS positive casts in the collecting ducts were observed. In treated animals degrees of morphological changes were significantly lower compared to AKI control. There were reduced tubular dilatation, tubular necrosis in the cortico-medullary zone and PAS positive cast formation. Conclusion HBO preconditioning and apocynin treatment improve renal hemodynamics, function and in SHR which suffer AKI. These results suggest that it is reasonable to assume that HBO preconditioning and NADPH oxidase inhibition potentially may have beneficial effects, but further comprehensive experimental and clinical studies are needed to confirm these promising results.

Seckel Syndrome and the Skull: Quantifying Characteristics

Seckel Syndrome (MCPH‐SCKL) is a rare genetic disorder which causes morphological changes throughout the body. Some of the most commonly reported changes are those present within the cranium and mandible such as microcephaly, a beak‐like nose with convex nasal ridge, and mandibular deformities such as micrognathia. However, these clinical terms are insufficiently precise for proper diagnosis or to understand the distortions in physiology that take place with the disease. Therefore, quantification of the features of the skull are necessary to further explain this pathology, and comparisons to normal variation will help to understand the degree to which the anatomy is affected. Our hypothesis is that MCPH‐SCKL will demonstrate a dramatic deviation from a normal distribution of craniums and mandibles.In this experiment: A patient diagnosed with MCPH‐SCKL underwent hi‐resolution CT imaging at voxel dimensions of approximately 1.117 mm3. This sample was manually segmented using 3D Slicer for the cranium, cranial vault, mandible without the alveolar bone and teeth, and atlas vertebrae. Each segment was used to perform radiomics analysis to produce shape features. In addition, rulers were used to analyze 2D distances from landmarks. The patient was also compared to similar segmentations and analysis results from ten patients without MCPH‐SCKL (representing a normal population). A power test was used to evaluate the results to ensure proper sample size given the results. Statistical shape models of the mandible were also used to establish a mean model for normal variation (figure 1), and compared used full and partial Procrustes analysis to demonstrate volume and natural shape differences between a normal population and MCPH‐SCKL.Seckel Syndrome is classified as a member of the microcephaly family of pathologies, however, our results demonstrate that the overall volume of the skull is not as significantly decreased as the cranial vault itself, which may provide the catalyst for Chiari Type I malformations. The mandible, likewise, is severely altered by Seckel Syndrome; the mandible’s volume decreases 44% and demonstrates altered physical proportions. Finally, the osteological measurements of the facial features demonstrated inconsistent findings between different anatomical structures, providing evidence that Seckel Syndrome may have a variable effect on the different bones and tissues of the skull.In conclusion, this project demonstrates the degree of morphological changes that can be associated with MCPH‐SCKL. This helps us to better understand the effects of the disease on the cranium, brain, and jaw. In addition, this may provide clinicians with better diagnostic criteria for MCPH‐SCKL and may provide better prognostic options for symptom management.A mean mesh created from N=10 meshes using statistical shape modelling. Procrustes was used to align the meshes by the landmarks of the mandibular condyles, coranoid processes, mandibular angles, and mental protuberance. Parametric non‐rigid registration was used to create correspondence afterwords,, and PCA was used to build the statistical shape model. The MCPH‐SCKL patient mandible was then aligned using the same landmarks.Figure 1

ANATOMIC-FUNCTIONAL STATE OF PELVIC ORGANS IN WOMEN WITH INFERTILITY AND OVARICOVARICOCELE


 
 
 Introduction. High informativeness and accessibility of ultrasound examination in infertile patients provides for the exclusion or confirmation of morphological changes in genitals, the degree of damage to the organ and the involvement structures, in particular, varicose veins of the gonadal veins, which can be explained by the emergence of ovarian dysfunction. In addition, the polymorphism of semiotics of echographic signs of pathological changes in pelvic organs in the examined patients confirms the complexity of determining the main and concomitant etiological factors of the emergence of functional infertility in women, the development of disorders of reproductive function and causes the need to involve other methods. The aim of the work was to study the anatomical and functional characteristics of the pelvic organs by ultrasound, medical diagnostic laparoscopy and hysteroscopy to determine the degree of morphological changes of the genitals in women with infertility and ovaricovaricocele. Materials and methods. To solve the goals and objectives, 117 pregnant women of reproductive age (21-44 years old) with functional infertility were prospectively examined and divided into 2 groups for the comparative analysis: the main group was 62 women with infertility and varicose veins in the ovaries; a comparison group was 55 women with infertility without varicose veins. The study of the anatomical and functional state of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes in women of the studied groups was performed by standard ultrasound examination on the PHILIPS ATL-HDI 4000, PHILIPS HD 11-XE with the analysis of folliculogenesis. Laparoscopic intervention was performed by the patients of the main group on the apparatus "Karl Storz" (Germany) in the first phase of the menstrual cycle. Diagnostic hysteroscopy in order to clarify the state of the uterus and endometrium was performed simultaneously with laparoscopy in the 1st or 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle using the equipment "Karl Storz" (Germany).Results. In women of the main group with a combination of functional infertility and ovaricoaricocele, there is a statistically significant increase in the percentage of incorrect position of the uterus - 36 (58.1%) in normal form and size of the uterus, both in the main group of women and in the comparison group - 53 (85,5%) and 48 (87.3%) cases respectively. Analyzing the indicators of ovarian size and the number of antral follicles, a statistically significant difference was found in the direction of its reduction in women with functional infertility and ovaricovaricocele women without varicose dilatation of ovarian veins - 4.1 ± 0.1 cm3 vs. 5.8 ± 1 , 4 cm3 and 3.9 ± 1.1 versus 5.6 ± 1.4, respectively, in two groups. In addition, there is a tendency to reduce the size of the ovary of the protradiental age in women of all the studied groups with statistically significant rates in the patients of the main group. Also, there is a difference in the right ovary volume relative to the left in women with infertility and ovaricovaricocele in the direction of decreasing the size of the latter, which may be due to the predominant localization of the enlarged gonadal vein, and this difference is statistically significant. In determining the functional state of the ovaries in the overwhelming number of women in all of the studied groups ovulation was noted, however, when studying the characteristics of the functional state of the yellow body according to echographic signs, decrease in the thickness of the endometrium in the middle of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in patients of the main group, as well as the absence in the overwhelming majority cases of its adequate secretory changes, which is statistically significant against the women of the comparison group. In patients, both the main group and the comparison groups, there is a decrease in the ratio of the volume of the yellow body and ovarian volume and the decrease in the thickness of the wall of the yellow body, respectively, against the control group women, which is an ultrasound sign of inferiority of the yellow body and lack of luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, women in the main group have a statistically significant reduction in the rates against the women in the comparison group. In women of the main group, a large percentage of varicose veins of the small pelvis are found in the absence of organic changes in the uterus and adnexies (73.3%) in the presence of infertility of obscure genesis.Conclusions. Ultrasound study in combination with color Doppler of patients with ovaricovaricocele is a highly informative method of research, because it allows to perform topical diagnosis, to determine the morphological character of the lesion, to differentiate the type of pathological process and to identify the concomitant pathology of the pelvic organs. The conducted study suggests that ovaricovaricocele should be considered not only as an accompanying symptomatic changes in diseases of the female genitals, but also as one of the causes of ovarian dysfunction with delay or termination of growth of the follicles, change in their size, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the ovaries, which leads to a violation hormonal homeostasis and manifested by reproductive disorders. In the perspective of further research it is necessary to consider a complex analysis of the morphological and functional characteristics of the internal genital organs, which will establish the presence of a certain functional and organic gynecological pathology and will enable to diagnose the initial and minimal course of the pathological process of the pelvic organs, finally verify the final diagnosis and appoint pathogenetic treatment.
 
 

Effects of radiation therapy on the meibomian glands and dry eye in patients with ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

BackgroundRadiation therapy (RT) is the treatment of choice in patients with low-grade ocular adenexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (OAML) and many of them experience post-RT dry eye with varying severity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate ocular effects of RT on meibomian glands and dry eye by directly visualizing structural changes. Secondly, we focused on the comparison of two groups of patients according to tumor location and radiation technique.MethodsSixty-four eyes with OAML of conjunctiva, orbit, lacrimal gland, or lacrimal sac were grouped into conjunctival lymphoma and “orbital-type” lymphoma (i.e., orbit, lacrimal gland, and lacrimal sac). Subjects were investigated for morphological changes in meibomian glands by meiboscore grading system. Radiation technique was examined and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer’s test, tear film break-up time (TBUT), slit lamp examination of corneal surface and lid margin abnormality were conducted before and after RT.ResultsThe increase in meiboscore was statistically significant over time after RT in both groups (P < 0.001). The extent of increase in meiboscore was significantly greater in the “orbital-type” lymphoma group than in the conjunctival lymphoma group (P < 0.001). The changes in OSDI, TBUT, corneal fluorescein staining score and lid margin abnormality score after RT were significantly different across two groups (P = 0.042, 0.001, 0.035 and 0.001, respectively). Schirmer’s value decreased after RT in both groups. Dry eye symptoms were most severe right after RT in both groups, but a gradual resolution was noted in most patients with conjunctival lymphoma, whereas symptoms persisted in “orbital-type” lymphoma patients. The OSDI score and corneal fluorescein staining score were positively correlated with meiboscore in “orbital-type” patients at post-RT 6 months (r = 0.43, P = 0.04; r = 0.39, P = 0.03, respectively).ConclusionsPatients with OAML had different degrees of morphological changes in meibomian glands according to tumor location and radiation technique. “Orbital-type” lymphoma patients are more likely to experience severe injury to meibomian glands, which eventually leads to persistent dry eye. Patients with “orbital-type” lymphoma should be well informed of post-RT damage on meibomian glands and persistent dry eye.

Pathological changes in the cerebellum of patients with multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease-a stereological study.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are synucleinopathies characterized by aggregation of α-synuclein in brain cells. Recent studies have shown that morphological changes in terms of cerebral nerve cell loss and increase in glia cell numbers, the degree of brain atrophy and molecular and epidemiological findings are more severe in MSA than PD. In the present study, we performed a stereological comparison of cerebellar volumes, granule and Purkinje cells in 13 patients diagnosed with MSA [8 MSA-P (striatonigral subtype) and 5 MSA-C (olivopontocerebellar subtype)], 12 PD patients, and 15 age-matched control subjects. Only brains from MSA-C patients showed a reduction in the total number of Purkinje cells (anterior lobe) whereas both MSA-P and MSA-C patients had reduced Purkinje cell volumes (perikaryons and nuclei volume). The cerebellum of both diseases showed a reduction in the white matter volume compared to controls. The number of granule cells was unaffected in both diseases. Analyses of cell type-specific mRNA expression supported our structural data. This study of the cerebellum is in line with previous findings in the cerebrum and demonstrates that the degree of morphological changes is more pronounced in MSA-C than MSA-P and PD. Further, our results support an explicit involvement of cerebellar Purkinje cells and white matter connectivity in MSA-C>MSA-P and points to the potential importance of white matter alterations in PD pathology.

Clinical-morphological study of lung diseases in basic treatment with the use of antioxidants of different origin and without

Annotation. The purpose of the work is to analyze contemporary views on the morphological changes of lung tissue in inflammatory disease in the clinical and experimental conditions and results of correction by using the antioxidants. The analysis is based in a review if foreign articles for 2014-2019, using the scientometric databases PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. According to the latest data from WHO and WORLD HEALTH RANKINGS 5-year mortality rate of such disease as COPD typically ranges from 40% to 70%, depending on disease severity, while the 2-year mortality rate for people with severe COPD is about 50%. We know that almost 90% of COPD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries such as Ukraine. Thereby mortality rate from lung tissue diseases in Ukraine is 11.11%. These diseases often accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress. The last can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, dynamic changes and mitophagy impairment, which leads to increase the number of superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide etc., inflammatory responses and cellular senescence. They all play important roles in the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Many studies in vitro approved the role of antioxidants in the decreasing of the degree of morphological changes: inflammatory cells infiltration and alveolar edema, permeability and inflammation. In vivo disease development is mainly related to the many conditions, but closely to its severity and possible of combination with other diseases. Thereby treatment of such diseases by using e.g. leaves extract of different herbs can be prescribe to ameliorate the level of reactive oxygen species and decrease the possible cell injure made by anti-inflammatory medicines.

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF NEPHRON TUBULES AT THE EARLY AND LATE STAGES OF THE CHRONIC OPIOID EFFECT

The aim of the study is the examination of the nephron tubules morphological changes at the early and late stages of the experimental chronic opioid effect. Varying degrees of the morphological changes of proximal convoluted tubules, loops of Henle and distal convoluted tubules under chronic nalbuphine effect in the dynamics have been detected. The materials of the study – kidneys of 56 sexually mature male-rats. The experimental animals received daily intramuscular nalbuphine injections for 98 days. From the first to the fourteenth day of the experiment the dose of nalbuphine was 0,212 mg/kg. Every next two weeks nalbuphine injections were done in increasing doses. For histological investigation was used commonly agreed method. The colouring was performed using hematoxylin and eosin as well as azan by Heidenhain's method. Varying degrees of morphological changes of proximal convoluted tubules, loops of Henle and distal convoluted tubules under continuous nalbuphine injection in the dynamics have been detected. The most vivid alterative changes can be observed in proximal convoluted tubules both: at the early and late stages of the experiment. At the early stages as of the 14th day of the experiment signs of granular dystrophy appear, as of the 28th day – necrotic changes, progressing further at the late stages of the experiment. The loops of Henle undergo sporadic destructive changes at the early stages and at the beginning of the late stage of the experiment. Distal convoluted tubules have been necrotic altered only at the late stages of the experiment.