Tegument Tissues Research Articles

Infrared thermography as valuable tool for gynoid lipodystrophy (cellulite) diagnosis.

Cellulite is a morphological alteration of the tegument tissue, directly interfering in self-esteem with etiology and pathophysiology far from being a consensus. Although the visual diagnosis of cellulitis is well known, it does not represent the real pathological condition of the subcutaneous tissue. The aim of the study was to investigate the hypothesis that the more heterogeneous tissue pattern analyzed by infrared thermography, the more severe is the cellulite grade. Forty female participants were selected and 60 thighs were analyzed by clinical anamnesis and infrared thermography. Classical visual analysis was correlated to the tissue heterogeneity measured by thermography. R Spearman's correlation between visual evaluation and thermography was 0.92. Phototype presented a negative significant correlation of 0.67 with classical visual analysis. In the present study, we presented a simple method based on infrared thermography that can be adopted in any esthetics office with a correlation of 0.92 with the visual classic evaluation, but, besides, may be very helpful to the clinician to decide which treatment will be adopted, i.e., an aggressive and inflammatory approach such as the radiofrequency of shockwave therapy or an anti-inflammatory approach such as photobiomodulation, depending on the inflammatory status of cellulite.

First report of Artystone trysibia (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) in Caquetaia spectabilis (Cichliformes: Cichlidae).

The present study provides the first record of an isopod parasite (Artystone trysibia) on Caquetaia spectabilis, a cichlid from the eastern Amazon collected in the State of Amapá, northern Brazil. In May 2018, specimens of C. spectabilis were collected in the lower Jari River, and 33.3% were parasitized by A. trysibia on the tegument tissue between pelvic fins. No hemorrhage or injury signals were observed in the tegument of the host. This study also expanded the distribution of A. trysibia to the eastern Amazon.

The «Propeller»–technique in plastic surgery of the extensive wounds of distal leg and the foot

Objective. To increase the efficacy of plastic surgery in treatment of the extensive soft tissue defects, applying “sparing” resection of the lower third of the shin and foot for consequences of mechanical and/or thermal trauma or infectious–necrotic processes. 
 Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of the “Propeller”–technique application for the elevation of the skin islet flaps on sural neurovascular pedicle in 11 patients, who underwent surgery between 2014 and 2017. The task for investigation was to eliminate the shin and foot defects, developed due to large–scale tissue damage. The Group 1 was organized for patients with the mine–blast trauma and the coal mine occupational injuries (2 patients followed in each category). Management of purulent–necrotic wounds (Group 2) was required in cases of amputation and resection of the foot due to either osteomyelitis (3 patients followed) or frostbites (4 patients followed). 
 Results. All the patients had an adequate vascular supply of the affected limbs, even in 3 patients from the Group II, who had only one artery preserved. In all cases a secondary surgical debridement, necrectomy and the soft tissue defect repair were performed during the same operation. 
 Conclusions. Using of the tegument tissues mobilization complex “Propeller”– technique is an effective instrument for sealing of deep complex defects of different etiology, localized in distal part of the lower extremity.

Leaf and stem anatomy in eight Hypericum species (Clusiaceae)

Abstract - Foliar micromorphology, epicuticular wax morphology and anatomical features of leaves and stem, particularly secondary xylem, were examined with light microscopy, general and histochemical staining and scanning electron microscopy in eight Hypericum species. Outer tegument tissue and type of secondary xylem are determining characteristics. Secondary xylem is ring-porous in H. perforatum, H. perfoliatum, H. tetrapterum, H. triquetrifolium, H. androsaemum and H. hircinum. In H. aegypticum and H. pubescens xylem is diffuse-porous, which is considered to be a more primitive type. These characteristics may be considered an additional criterion for species identification.

Morphology and histology of the adult Paramphistomum gracile Fischoeder, 1901.

In the present study, we evaluated the histological morphology of the adult Paramphistomum (P.) gracile. Adult flukes with bodies 5~15 mm in length and 2~7 mm in width were subjected to histological analysis. Longitudinal and transversal serial-sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined. The body surface and longitudinal section of P. gracile were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy. In this species, the anterior sucker and posterior sucker (acetabulum) were present on an anterior and posterior part of the body, respectively. The major folds were located in the areas of the anterior sucker, genital canal, and posterior sucker. The fluke membrane was spineless at the tegument surface and in the tegument tissue. Histological data showed structural-systematic characteristics of the digestive tract, reproductive tract, excretory tract, copulatory organs, connective tissues, and muscle tissues. We attempted to elucidate the histological characteristics of P. gracile that might increase the knowledge and understanding of rumen fluke morphology.

The unusual tegumental tissues of the Lunaria annua (Brassicaceae) seed: A developmental study using light and electron microscopy

With light, fluorescence, transmission electron, and environmental scanning electron microscopy we studied the development of the Lunaria annua L. (Brassicaceae) seeds in order to reveal basic anatomical information about the unusual tissues of these seeds. In particular the seed tegument tissues possess complex morphological aspects that are relevant to the biology and ecology of this plant. A sclerenchymatic tissue as the innermost layer of the teguments apparently offers robust protection for the embryo, yet is organized to be flexible. This tissue likely controls the passage of water from the tegumental layers towards the embryo. We report here the presence of tannins in the pre-sclerenchymatic layer of the unripe seed. The inner tegument also houses a spongy tissue with wide intercellular spaces. This tissue could impart buoyancy to the seeds, which possibly might be required for water transport. The structural features could indicate that Lunaria may have evolved in a Mediterranean environment, which is characterized by a long dry season, but with a large amount of rainfall concentrated in short periods. Probably, not only the typical enlarged and flattened fruits of Lunaria can easily float and be dispersed away from the mother plant, but also the seeds have this dispersal peculiarity after release from the silicules.

AChE and EROD activities in two echinoderms, Holothuria leucospilota and Holoturia atra (Holothuroidea), in a coral reef (Reunion Island, South-western Indian Ocean)

AChE and EROD activities were investigated in two holothurian species, Holothuria leucospilota and Holoturia atra, from a tropical coral reef. These organisms were collected from 3 back-reef stations, where temperature and salinity were homogeneous. The activity levels of both AChE and EROD varied significantly between the two species, but were in the range of values determined in other echinoderm species. AChE activity levels were higher in the longitudinal muscle than in the tentacle tegument. Among the several tissues tested, the digestive tract wall exhibited higher EROD activity levels. Sex did not influence AChE and EROD activity levels in both species. Animal biomass and EROD activity levels were only correlated in the tegument tissue of H. atra, and we hypothesize a possible influence of age. EROD activity did not show intraspecific variability. A significant relationship was found between AChE activity and Cuvierian tubules time of expulsion in Holothuria leucospilota. Individuals collected at the southern site presented both lower AChE activity levels and Cuvierian tubules time of expulsion, indicating possible neural disturbance. More information on holothurians biology and physiology is needed to further assess biomarkers in these key species. This study is the first of its kind performed in the coastal waters of Reunion Island and data obtained represent reference values.

Air drying and colour characteristics of chestnuts pre-submitted to osmotic dehydration with sodium chloride

Air drying kinetics of chestnuts ( Castanea sativa Mill .) submitted previously to osmotic dehydration with sodium chloride solutions (22%, w/w, 25 °C, 8 h) were experimentally determined. Drying experiments were carried out at 45, 55 and 65 °C during 32 h. Before osmotic dehydration operation, shell and tegument tissue were carefully removed in all samples. Rough external surface was maintained (peeled samples) or also removed (cut chestnuts) in different tests in order to evaluate the effect of the presence of this layer in the mass transfer rate. A diffusional model involving shrinkage was employed to simulate the drying kinetics of the all studied systems and values of the effective coefficient of diffusion of water were obtained. These coefficients were successfully correlated with temperature by means of an exponential equation and were employed to evaluate the additional mass transfer resistances due to the presence of layers and by the acquisition of osmotic solute in cut and peeled samples. The experimental determination of local salt and moisture contents during drying showed the existence of a drying front for water that moves along from surface to the centre of the sample and that salt accumulates near surface but also achieve the centre during the osmotic dehydration. Additionally, the analyses of the surface colour of air dried samples indicated that osmotic dehydration with salt keeps the characteristics observed for non-treated cut samples and deteriorates the colour quality in the case of peeled samples.

Isolation and characterization of glycosaminoglycans from Schistosoma mansoni

1. 1. Tegumental tissues of paired adult Schistosoma mansoni were removed by treatment with Triton X-100 and recovered by centrifugation. The chloroform-methanol insoluble residues of this isolated tegumental fraction and of the denuded carcasses were analysed for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and sialic acid contents. 2. 2. Treatment with GAG-specific enzymes followed by electrophoretic analysis showed that both the carcass and tegument contained heparin and/or heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. All these except hyaluronic acid were present in the tegumental fraction. 3. 3. Based on uronic acid content, about 73% of the total GAG was in the tegumental membrane, 15% in the tegumental matrix and the remaining 12% was in the carcass. 4. 4. The presence of heparin-like polysaccharide may prevent entrapment of the schistosome by the hosts' blood-clotting process.