Reticulin Research Articles

The potent effect of silymarin combination with Praziquantel or mirazid for Schistosoma mansoni treatment in infected male swiss albino mice.

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of silymarin combination in the therapeutic plane of schistosomiasis with praziquantel or mirazid to enhance the liver and reduce fibrosis. Mice were divided into 2 main groups, the 1st uninfected group served as control and the 2nd group infected subcutaneously with 60 cercaria of S. mansoni per each. The infected group was subdivided into 5 subgroups, the 1st kept untreated, the 2nd and 3rd treated at the 7th week of infection with (600 mg/kg) of PZQ orally for 3 consecutive days, while the 3rd treated also orally with (150 mg/kg) of silymarin daily for 11 weeks. The 4th and 5th groups treated orally at the 7th week of infection with 600 mg/kg of MZ for 3 consecutive days, while the 5th group treated orally also with 150 mg/kg of silymarin daily for 11weeks. IgG determination showed high level in the untreated infected group. Furthermore, the infected groups treated with PZQ and PZQ with silymarin displayed the lower levels than treated with MZ. Additionally, the untreated infected group showed severe pathological changes as hyaline degeneration, inflammation, presence of worm burdens in dilated portal veins, granulomas as well as depositions of collagenous and reticular fibers indicated intense fibrosis. Treatment with PZQ alone resulted in reduction of pathological signs and decreasing of granulomas. Combination with silymarin to PZQ therapy revealed more improvement for liver besides to lowering of granulomas areas and volumes and decreasing of fibrosis. Whereas, treatment with MZ was less effective than PZQ to reduce granulomas areas, volumes and fibrosis. Although, combination of silymarin to MZ treatment resulted in more curative signs and reduction of granulomas areas, volumes and fibrosis. Furthermore, the present study concluded that PZQ still the more effective drug of schistosomiasis treatment than MZ. The silymarin is very useful in schistosomiasis treatment when combined with PZQ or MZ due to its anti-fibrotic effect.

Effects of hyaluronic acid-collagen nanofibers on early wound healing in vocal cord trauma.

Vocal cord scarring is the most crucial obstacle in voice quality after surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA)-collagen nanofibers on the healing of vocal cords after surgical trauma. Right vocal cords of 12 New Zealand white rabbits were traumatized, and the experimental group was received 1.08mg/75ml topical HA-collagen nanofiber (Gelfix® spray) for 3days. Three animals in each group were sacrificed on the 7th day, and the remaining of the animals were sacrificed on the 21st day. The laryngeal specimens in the experimental and control groups were examined histopathologically. The 7th-day H&E staining evaluation revealed pink, dense, and thin collagen fibers. Besides, the collagen content was scattered and irregular in the experimental group. The 21st-day assessment showed that the collagen bundles in the granulation tissue were almost with the same formation in both of the groups. Masson Trichrome staining on the 7th day of the study showed that the collagen fiber bundles were less frequent in the control group than the experimental group. The 7th-day Van Gieson staining analysis showed that the pattern of reticular fibers was more regular with the parallel formation in the experimental group than the control group. HA-collagen nanofiber can be used in diseases that impair voice quality due to the thickening of the lamina propria layer in the vocal cord and impaired viscoelasticity due to fibrosis after tissue trauma.

Blunt injury of liver: mechanical response of porcine liver in experimental impact test

Objective. The liver is frequently injured in blunt abdominal trauma caused by road traffic accidents. The testing of safety performance of vehicles, e.g. belt usage, head support, seat shape, or air bag shape, material, pressure and reaction, could lead to reduction of the injury seriousness. Current trends in safety testing include development of accurate computational human body models (HBMs) based on the anatomical, morphological, and mechanical behavior of tissues under high strain. Approach. The aim of this study was to describe the internal pressure changes within porcine liver, the severity of liver injury and the relation between the porcine liver microstructure and rupture propagation in an experimental impact test. Porcine liver specimens (n = 24) were uniformly compressed using a drop tower technique and four impact heights (200, 300, 400 and 500 mm; corresponding velocities: 1.72, 2.17, 2.54 and 2.88 m s−1). The changes in intravascular pressure were measured via catheters placed in portal vein and caudate vena cava. The induced injuries were analyzed on the macroscopic level according to AAST grade and AIS severity. Rupture propagation with respect to liver microstructure was analyzed using stereological methods. Main results. Macroscopic ruptures affected mostly the interface between connective tissue surrounding big vessels and liver parenchyma. Histological analysis revealed that the ruptures avoided reticular fibers and interlobular septa made of connective tissue on the microscopic level. Significance. The present findings can be used for evaluation of HBMs of liver behavior in impact situations.

Histological Study on the Fibrous Architecture of the Adrenal Gland During Postnatal Development in Buffalo

The study was conducted on the adrenal glands of 29 buffaloes ranging from day old to one year of age. The adrenal gland was fully differentiated into cortex and medulla in the day old buffalo calf and was completely surrounded by a dense fibrous capsule at this stage. The capsule consisted of outer layer of loose connective tissue and inner layer of thick collagen fibres. The connective tissue trabeculae made up of collagen and reticular fibres arose from the inner aspect of capsule and infiltrated the cortical parenchyma of the gland. The reticular fibres dominated in the inner aspect of the capsule and the proportion of reticular fibres was more in the zona glomerulosa and outer zone of medulla, however, elastic fibres were not observed in any part of the gland up to one year of age. The average thickness of the capsule increased with progression of age which was due to increase in the density of collagen fibres especially in the inner zone of capsule.

Macroscopic, Histomorphological and Histochemical Studies on the Kidneys of Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris)

Background: Kidneys, the paired organ which essentially plays for excreting nitrogenous wastes, excessive water, inorganic salts and toxic substances produced during the process of body metabolism. Maintenance of osmotic regulation and homeostatic fluid balance of the body has also be performed by kidneys. Each of the kidneys filtrate carried to cloaca by respective ureter from where the urine leaves the body. The present macroscopic, histomorphological and histochemical studies undertaken on the Kidneys of Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) is nothing but the attempt to widen our thrust area for that bird which is nonexistent as on documentation.Methods: The present studies were carried upon 12 pairs of in-vitro kidney samples in Guinea fowl. Gross morphology and morphometrical observations were carried on fresh specimens. Histological studies were carried on fixed samples those were processed for dehydration, clearing, embedding into paraffin and sections of 5-6 μ thickness were obtained. Different staining procedure as to Haematoxylin and Eosin, Silver orcein, Aniline blue and Weigert’s staining methods were employed for different histological components. The histochemical and histoenzymic studies were also accomplished with Periodic acid Schiff‘s (PAS), Alcian blue methods (pH-2.5) and Gomori’s cobalt method for Alkaline phosphatase and Acid phosphatase. The Succinic dehydrogenase enzyme was also estimated on cryostat sections.Result: The observations on kidneys of Guinea fowl were accomplished after macroscopic, histomorphological and histochemical means. This reddish-brown colored paired organ of kidneys was retroperitoneally placed in synsacral fossa and had incomplete division of three parts. The wrapping material of capsule was the dense connective tissue. The outer cortex and inner medulla had different parts of nephrons. Two types of nephrons viz. mammalian type (with Henle loop) and reptilian type (without Henle loop) were observed. Collagen, elastic and reticular fibers were there in different components of the kidney. Histochemically it has determined the secretion of neutral as well as acidic mucopolysaccharide substances. PAS activity was observed at mesangial cells and basement membrane of DCT. The Alkaline phosphatase showed the positive activity in capsule, brush border of proximal and distal convoluted tubules. The Acid phosphatases were showing intense activity in parietal and visceral layer of renal corpuscles, lumen and basement membrane of PCT. The intense activity of Succinic dehydrogenase showed at PCT, DCT, collecting tubule whereas renal corpuscles showed feeble activity.

Obstruction of the formation of granulation tissue leads to delayed wound healing after scald burn injury in mice.

BackgroundDelayed wound healing remains a common but challenging problem in patients with acute or chronic wound following accidental scald burn injury. However, the systematic and detailed evaluation of the scald burn injury, including second-degree deep scald (SDDS) and third-degree scald (TDS), is still unclear. The present study aims to analyze the wound-healing speed, the formation of granulation tissue, and the healing quality after cutaneous damage.MethodsIn order to assess SDDS and TDS, the models of SDDS and TDS were established using a scald instrument in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, an excisional wound was administered on the dorsal surface in mice (Cut group). The wound-healing rate was first analyzed at days 0, 3, 5, 7, 15 and 27, with the Cut group as a control. Then, on the full-thickness wounds, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Masson staining, Sirius red staining, Victoria blue staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine re-epithelialization, the formation of granulation tissue, vascularization, inflammatory infiltration and the healing quality at different time points in the Cut, SDDS and TDS groups.ResultsThe presented data revealed that the wound-healing rate was higher in the Cut group, when compared with the SDDS and TDS groups. H&E staining showed that re-epithelialization, formation of granulation tissue and inflammatory infiltration were greater in the Cut group, when compared with the SDDS and TDS groups. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor A, transforming growth factor-β and α-smooth muscle actin reached preferential peak in the Cut group, when compared with other groups. In addition, Masson staining, Sirius red staining, Victoria blue staining, Gordon-Sweets staining and stress analysis indicated that the ratio of collagen I to III, reticular fibers, failure stress, Young’s modulus and failure length in the SDDS group were similar to those in the normal group, suggesting that healing quality was better in the SDDS group, when compared with the Cut and TDS groups.ConclusionOverall, the investigators first administered a comprehensive analysis in the Cut, SDDS and TDS groups through in vivo experiments, which further proved that the obstacle of the formation of granulation tissue leads to delayed wound healing after scald burn injury in mice.

Theoretical analysis of unstable segments of electrostatic spinning charged jet

The basic mechanism of electrospinning is the rapid whipping of charged liquid jets, undergoing a chaotic “whip” process, and eventually the formation of disordered reticular fibers is continuously deposited on the receiving device. Firstly, the physical model of jet whipping is studied, which is to be established the physical model of solvent evaporation on the surface of the jet. The Jeffreys model and the Voigt model are used to describe the viscoelastic model of the unstable generating end and the end, and the unstable dynamic model is constructed. Finally, the coupling control equation is obtained, which has certain theoretical guiding significance for the development of electrospinning process.

Histological and micrometrical exploration of corpus Luteum in cyclic Nellore sheep

Ovaries from twenty two apparently healthy, non-pregnant and cyclic Nellore sheep was taken with the aim to explore histological and micrometrical aspects of the corpus luteum in ovary of adult Nellore sheep. The sections were cut at 5-6µ thick and histological procedures were carried out. From capsule, various trabeculae descend into the substance of corpus luteum. Thickness of the trabeculae which descends from the capsule was almost equal in thickness to that of capsule at the periphery and tapers towards the centre. The capsule mainly comprised of collagen and reticular fibres. The occurrence of two fully developed corpora lutea in the same ovary was also observed. On the basis of shape and the size, three basic types of lutein cells were observed: large (16.38-28.17µm), small (7.95-27.06µm) and spindle shaped (15.73-29.57µm) cells. Moderate PAS reaction was seen in Capsule, Trabeculae and mild reaction was seen in luteal cells of corpus luteum.

Histometrical Changes in the Thyroid Gland of Chabro Chicken Reared during Summer and Winter Seasons

Background: Chabro is a strain of poultry birds especially designed for backyard farming and is more adoptive to climatic variations in the tropics. The thyroid gland plays an important role in controlling basal metabolic rate. The histoarchitectural changes of the gland in association with seasonal changes has not been studied so far in Chabro. The present study describes the season related variations in the histometry of thyroid gland.Methods: Micrometrical studies were conducted on thyroid gland of eight to ten weeks old 24 apparently healthy Chabro chickens procured from Poultry Farm, DUVASU, Mathura after approval of CPCSEA. For this study the chickens were divided into two groups consist of 12 chickens in each group reared in summer and winter seasons.Result: Histologically, the thyroid gland was composed of stroma and parenchyma. The capsule had outer thick adipose and inner thin fibrous layers. The follicles were filled with colloid produced by the follicular cells. The percentage of small follicles was more followed by medium and large follicles. The follicles were lined by simple squamous epithelium in summer and cuboidal epithelial cells in winter. All micrometrical parameters, amount of reticular fibers, percentage of large and active follicles were higher in winter.

Spatiotemporal histological changes observed in mouse subcutaneous tissues during the foreign body reaction to silicone.

We investigated spatiotemporal changes in host tissues during foreign body reactions. Silicone tube was subcutaneously embedded into ICR mice, and tissue surrounding silicone (TSS) was observed at 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 43, and 70 days (D) postsurgery. The thin layer (TL) and loose connective tissues (LCTs) (inside and outside the TSS) developed until D21 and densified afterward. Neutrophils infiltrated the TSS until D14 and formed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the TL during D7-21. In the LCTs, mast cell counts increased until D21, and macrophage numbers peaked at D14. Several macrophages showed LYVE-1 expression, supporting a tissue-remodeling role. Developmental indices of collagen fibers (CFs) and reticular fibers (RFs) increased during D2-21. NETs, but not neutrophils, were detected after D28. Mast cell numbers peaked at D43 and were maintained until D70. Myofibroblasts consistently localized to the TL from D14. During D21-28, the area of connective tissue (CNT), and CFs and RFs decreased and increased, respectively, and both remained constant during D28-70. The CF density remained constant from D21 and increased at D70. Thus, TSS showed two phases: inflammation and CNT development (D2-21), and inflammation convergence and CNT stabilization (D28-70). These results provide insights into foreign body reactions in clinical cases.

COMPLEX BIOSTIMULATION OF INTRAPLEURAL ADHESIOGENESIS IN THORACAL SURGERY

The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the use of platelet enriched plasma in the complex treatment of chest trauma and chronic pleural empyema.Materials and methods. The work was performed on 450 male rats, simulated with chest trauma (n=180) and chronic pleural empyema (n=270). In the experimental groups, biostimulation of adhesiogenesis as an intrapleural injection of 1 ml of platelet-enriched plasma was carried out; in the comparison group; the animals with pleural empyema were injected with 1 ml of doxycycline solution; in the negative control groups, the treatment was not carried out at all. Withdrawal from the experiment took place on the 10th, 20th, 30th days. The samples of intrapleural adhesions were fixed in 10% formalin, followed by histological tracing and preparation of micropreparations, staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The morphometric study included determination of the volume fraction (VF) of collagen and reticular fibers; fibrin; inflammatory cells; blood-stream (%).Results. An intrapleural administration of platelet-rich plasma is an effective way to stabilize the rib cage in chest injuries, and to eliminate residual cavities in chronic pleural empyema. When assessing the severity of the adhesions in chest trauma, it was found out that adhesions are most often visualized at the sites of rib fractures (from 13.3 to 40%). In pleural empyema, during the entire process of observation, the VF of collagen fibers forming adhesions was higher in the group with biological stimulation of adhesiogenesis than in the NCpe group and in the CG. In the PRP group, already at the initial stages of the experiment, this indicator was significantly lower than in the NC and CG (p<0.05).Conclusion. Based on the data obtained, the effectiveness of the use of platelet-enriched plasma in thoracic surgery for the biological potentiation of adhesiogenesis has been proved in experimental chest injuries and chronic pleural empyema.

A digital image analysis study on the disintegration kinetics of reticular fibers in the ethylene glycol-induced rat liver tissue.

Ethylene glycol (EG), the raw material of polyethylenterephthalate, which is the most consumed plastic in the world, has low toxicity, but its metabolites are toxic. EG metabolites can cause acidosis, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis in the liver. This study aimed to investigate the effect of EG on rat liver and to determine the quantitative values of the disintegration of reticular fibers (RF) in the liver with the dose duration and to investigate the changes by digital image analysis (DIA). For this purpose, Wistar albino rats were divided into control, and five different daily experimental groups. The control group received saline, and the experimental groups received EG. At the end of experiments, liver tissues of all euthanized rats were removed, and sections were taken, and RF was shown by silver staining. It was observed that the RF fragments in the experimental groups were less than the control group. DIA of RF fragments was then performed with Olympus cellSensDimension 1.15 software and number, area, and ROI% values of the fragments were determined. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between control and all experimental groups. RF fragments showed first-order disintegration kinetics, mean disintegration rate constant, and half-time values were 0.1 day-1 and 7 days, respectively. Consequently, the digital image analysis approach can be a useful tool for the biologist, pathologist, fibrosis-cirrhosis specialist, and computer scientist to understand the effects of toxic chemicals in the liver and analyze reticular fiber disintegration.

Distribution of spleen connective tissue fibers in diabetic and vitamin C treated diabetic rats

ABSTRACT We investigated the distribution of connective tissue fibers in diabetic and vitamin C treated diabetic rat spleen. Rats were divided into three groups: group A, control; group B, diabetic; group C, vitamin C treated diabetic. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. Vitamin C was administered intragastrically for 21 days. Spleen tissues were examined by light microscopy after staining with Masson’s trichrome, Gomori silver impregnation and van Gieson. In group B, we found accumulation of collagen fibers in the trabeculae, in the capsule and around the central artery and splenic sinusoids. Splenic cord thickening due to fibrosis was observed. Reticular fibers accumulated principally in the white and red pulps of the spleen and focal reticular fiber thickening was observed in the dense fiber areas. Partial elastic fiber rupture was observed among the fibers of the elastic lamina of the arteries in the hilum. By contrast, the distribution of collagen fibers in group C was similar to group A. Collagen fiber accumulation was decreased in group C compared to group B. We found little reticular fiber thickening in group C and elastic fibers maintained their integrity and were better organized than in group B. Our findings suggest that appropriate doses of vitamin C may exert beneficial effects on the structure of the connective tissue fibers in the diabetic spleen.

MORPHOLOGY OF THE CAECUM IN LABORATORY ANIMALS IN HEALTH: SPECIES COMPARISON

In recent decades, the prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases has increased thus posing the immediate, both therapeutic and surgical treatment. It brings forth a problem of searching new and improving existing approaches and techniques for correcting the above-mentioned diseases. Preclinical studies in this area are conducted exclusively on laboratory animals and peculiarities of the morphological features of their organs are of great importance when comparing with the human morphology. The methodology used in the study included histological, morphometric and statistical techniques; biopsy samples of caecum taken from 5 rabbits were investigated. We assessed the correctness of the trait distribution by each of the variations, the mean values for each trait studied, standard errors and standard deviations. The significance of the difference of values between independent micrometric values in the normal trait distribution was determined by Student's criterion. The paper describes the main morphological characteristics of the caecum in rabbits and compared the findings obtained with similar structures of the human caecum. The caecum of rabbits, as of humans, has four layers: mucous, submucosal, muscular and serous. The mucous membrane consists of the epithelial layer located on the basement membrane and the muscular plate and contains cellular elements. The submucosa is composed of loose fibrous connective tissue, which contains collagen and reticular fibres, elements of diffuse lymphoid tissue, blood vessels, and nerve endings. The muscular and serous membranes are quite similar to the human caecum. Thus, the optic light microscopy has demonstrated the morphology of the caecum in rabbits is similar to that in the human caecum.

Histological, Micrometrical and Histochemical Studies on the Testes of Large White Yorkshire Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

The study has been conducted on the testes of 10 adult Large White Yorkshire pig (1.5-2) years of age. The testis was surrounded by a capsule made up of dense irregular connective tissue comprising three layers viz., outer visceral layer of tunica vaginalis, middle tunica albugenia and inner tunica vasculosa. The connective tissue trabeculae were extended from the capsule and divided the parenchyma of the testis into number of lobules and consisted of collagen, elastic and reticular fibers along with rete testis and blood vessels. The Periodic Acid–Schiff shows strong affinity in basement membrane of seminiferous tubules and tunica albuginea with a moderate activity in Leydig cells. The Alcian blue shows strong affinity in basement membrane of seminiferous tubule and weak activity was observed in tunica albuginea and interstitial tissue. The different histomorphometrical parameters with regard to thickness of testicular capsule, diameter and height of seminiferous tubules were found to be higher in the left testicle.

Morphological characterization of postembryonic development of blood–spleen barrier in duck

The spleen is the largest peripheral lymphoid organ and an important site of immune response, in which the blood–spleen barrier (BSB) plays a significant role to resist various pathogens. The BSB structure of duck spleen is different from that of chicken and mammals. However, no information about the development of BSB after the postembryonic age has been reported in ducks. The current study observed the spleen of 1, 7, 14, 21, 35, and 60-day-old ducks by light and electron microscopy to analyze the cellular structural development. The results showed that the spleen index was continuously increased from 1 to 14-day-old ducks. During their early age, the spleen of ducks showed no definite zone of white and red pulp, but the area of the white pulp was large compared to that of the red pulp. The diameter of the ellipsoid was constantly increased in up to 35-day-old duck spleen, while the periellipsoidal lymphatic sheath (PELS) and periarterial lymphatic sheath continuously developed after 1 D. The reticular fibers developed with age; their branching reached the ellipsoidal wall to show a developed framework in the BSB of 14-day-old ducks. After 7 D, the endothelial cells of the sheathed capillary showed a typical cuboidal shape; between these cells, the gaps increased as age advanced, while the thickness of the basement membrane and collagen fibers increased in 35-day-old ducks. The mechanical filtration function of BSB by intravenous injection showed a 1-layer ring of carbon particles restricted in the white pulp in 1-day-old duck spleen; however, in 14 to 60 D, these particles were restricted in the ellipsoid and PELS, forming 2-layer rings of carbon particles. Collectively, the cellular features of the duck BSB developed up to 35 D of postembryonic age to perform their immune function.

Evaluation of myopic cornea lenticules. A histochemical and clinical correlation

In this work, we have analyzed the main clinical and corneal histological parameters that may be associated to the spherical equivalent (SE), age and gender of individuals with myopic refractive errors. For this purpose, 108 cornea stroma lenticules were obtained from patients subjected to ReLEx-SMILE myopia correction. Histological analyses were carried out and histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify key histological components of the cornea stroma, including mature collagen fibers, reticular and elastic fibers, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, type-V collagen and several crystallins. Clinical and histological data were analyzed to determine their association with SE, age and gender. Results showed a significant correlation between the age range of the patients and the expression of crystallins CRY-α-A, CRY-λ1 and type-V collagen and between CRY-λ1 and corneal thickness, spherical diopters (D) and SE, although correlation between CRY-λ1 and SE was non-significant when age was controlled. Comparison of cases with low myopia and high/moderate myopia found statistical differences for D and lenticule thickness and diameter. The binary logistic regression analysis allowed us to construct a model using two clinical parameters (D and lenticule thickness). Parameters showing significant correlation with the age were the corneal radius, keratometry reading (K), OZ, CRY-α-A and type-V collagen, whereas SE, lenticule thickness, OZ, CRY-λ1 and type-V collagen showed statistically significant differences between the youngest and the oldest patients. A binary logistic regression analysis model was generated including 3 variables (D, cornea radius and OZ). No gender differences were found. The specific clinical and histological modifications found to be associated to the SE and age could be useful for a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the genesis or progression of myopia and could establish the basement for future therapeutic options.

SOX4 activates CXCL12 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells to modulate endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis in vivo.

The overexpression of SOX4 in various kinds of cancer cells was associated with poor prognosis for patients. The role of SOX4 in angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment modulation was recently documented in breast cancer but remains unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In our study, the clinical relevance of SOX4 overexpression in HCC and its role in the tumor microenvironment were investigated. The overexpression of SOX4 (SOX4high) in tumor lesions was associated with higher microvessel density (P = 0.012), tumor thrombosis formation (P = 0.012), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), and an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in HCC patients (P = 0.048). Endogenous SOX4 knockout in Hep3B cells by the CRISPR/cas9 system reduced the expression of CXCL12, which, in turn, attenuated chemotaxis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, tube formation in vitro, reduced tumor growth, reticular fiber production, and angiogenesis in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Treatment with an antagonist targeting CXCR4 (AMD3100), a receptor of CXCL12, inhibited chemotaxis and tube formation in endothelial cells in vitro. The CXCL12 promoter was activated by ectopic expression of a Flag-tagged SOX4 plasmid, endogenous SOX4 knockdown abolished promoter activity of CXCL12 as shown by luciferase assays, and an association with the CXCL12 promoter was identified via chromatin immunoprecipitation in HCC cells. In conclusion, SOX4 modulates the CXCL12 promoter in HCC cells. The secretory CXCL12, in turn, modulates CXCR4 in endothelial cells, reticular fibers to regulate the tumor microenvironment and modulate neovascularization, which might contribute to the distant metastasis of tumors.

Clinicopathological analysis of 16 cases of pyrrolizidine alkaloids-associated hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome

Objective: To observe the histopathological manifestations of liver biopsy in patients with hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) induced by pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA). Methods: Patients diagnosed with PA-HSOS from 2012 to 2017 were selected, and the general conditions, liver function indexes, medication history, liver biopsy time, histopathological slides of liver biopsy, and follow-up data of clinical prognosis after 6 months of onset were collected. Clinical staging with clinical data was used to observe the histopathological manifestations of patients at different clinical stages. Wilcoxon rank-sum test, unpaired t-test and univariate linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 16 cases were collected. Alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase was 59.25 U/L and 25.50 U/L, 108 U/L and 45 U/L, respectively, after 6 months of onset and follow-up, and the differences were statistically significant. Moreover, total bile acids and albumin was 35 μmol/L and 36.15 μmol/L, and 32.45 g/L and 31 g/L, respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant. PA-HSOS pathological development process was divided into early, middle and late stages. In the early stage, the central lobular sinusoidal endothelium integrity was impaired and the entry of erythrocytes had interspersed thin reticular fibers and perisinusoidal space. In the middle stage (hemorrhagic zone), erythrocytes, reticular fibers and collagen fibers were lysed, densely collapsed and deposited. The cavity of the bloodstream was hyperemic and dilated, and the cavity was covered with sinus endothelial cells. The hepatic plate regenerated around the hemorrhagic zone and some of the hepatic sinuses were decompensated. In the late stage, deposited collagen in the hemorrhagic zone had formed a large fibrous scar, and most of the dilated cavity in the bloodstream was covered with vascular endothelium. The marginal zone hepatic cells were regenerated in two rows and gradually inserted into the fibrous septum. Different hepatic lobular lesions obtained from the same patients liver biopsy tissues were changed at different stages. Hepatic lobule injury proportion with severe internal bleeding in liver biopsy tissue had no relation with the prognosis of patients. Conclusion: In the early stage of PA-HSOS, erythrocytes in the central zone of lobules enter the perisinusoidal space through the damaged sinus endothelium, which is manifested as hepatic plate hemorrhagic necrosis. In the middle and late stage, liver plate regeneration and vascular remodeling occurred, so most of the patients' clinical course was self-limited. Pathological staging and liver biopsy time have an apparent correlation, but the prognosis of patients cannot be judged based on the extent of hemorrhage and injury of biopsy samples.

Reticulin staining pattern in the differential diagnosis of benign parathyroid lesions.

A reticulin staining pattern (RSP) can be used for the differential diagnosis of endocrine gland lesions, as in the adrenal and hypophysis glands. We aimed to use RSP for the differential diagnosis of parathyroid gland lesions. In this study, we evaluated 97 parathyroid lesions in 85 patients, as well as 29 normal parathyroid glands. All sections were stained with a silver impregnation-based kit for the reticulin stain. The RSPs were classified as short thick fiber-, anastomosing- and nodular/alveolar-pattern. The dominant pattern was accepted as being greater than 50% in each section. Short thick fibers and anastomosing and nodular RSPs were seen in adenomas, but there was no alveolar pattern. Although nodular/alveolar patterns were seen in focal areas in hyperplasia, they never became the dominant pattern. Nodular dominant RSPs were seen in adenomas; however, nodular RSPs were not seen in hyperplasia in a dominant pattern (p = 0.049). While short thick fibers were not seen in normal glands, they could be seen in adenomas (p < 0.001) and in hyperplasia (p < 0.001). RSPs can be used in the differential diagnosis of parathyroid lesions. While short thick reticular fibers support adenomas and hyperplasia rather than normal tissue, a nodular dominant pattern supports adenomas rather than hyperplasia.