Thymus Research Articles

Rare Thymoma With Solitary Liver Metastasis

ABSTRACT Thymomas are rare, malignant, epithelial tumors of the thymus gland. Extrathoracic metastasis of thymoma is exceedingly rare, particularly when isolated to the liver. We report an 89-year-old man who presented with urinary retention. Exploratory computed tomography imaging revealed a heterogeneous mass in the aortopulmonary window and a 1.9 cm lesion in the left hepatic lobe. Results from magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography-computed tomography, and histopathological analysis of biopsy samples collectively supported a diagnosis of metastatic type B2 thymoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the oldest patient to be diagnosed with metastatic type B2 thymoma. Metastatic thymoma is difficult to identify, and patients with mediastinal mass identified after any presentation should be evaluated for malignant spread.

Corrosion Inhibition Behaviour of Calf Thymus Gland DNA on Mild Steel in 10% Sulphamic Acid

Corrosion Inhibition Behaviour of Calf Thymus Gland DNA on Mild Steel in 10% Sulphamic Acid

Significant CSF Pleocytosis Associated with Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Meningoencephalitis in Metastatic Squamous Cell Thymic Cancer

Significant CSF Pleocytosis Associated with Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Meningoencephalitis in Metastatic Squamous Cell Thymic Cancer

Microsurgical assessment of thymus vascular anatomy

BackgroundThe thymus is pivotal for immune system development by facilitating T-cell maturation. Current treatments for congenital athymia typically involve avascular transplantation of allogeneic thymic tissue. However, vascularizing an infant thymus for transplantation could offer improved outcomes, necessitating a detailed understanding of its vascular anatomy. MethodBetween June and November 2022, we conducted a feasibility study at our tertiary care university hospital, examining seven thymus glands that were surgically removed and discarded during corrective surgeries for congenital heart disease in patients aged 16 days to 17 months. ResultsAngiographic analysis revealed distinct vascular pathways in infant thymic lobes, with arteries averaging 0.5 mm and veins 0.8 mm in diameter, both showing adequate perfusion with Belzer solution. ConclusionThese findings provide critical insights into the vascular anatomy of the infant thymus, underscoring its potential for microvascular revascularization and transplantation.

Effects of shallot (Allium ascalonicum) powder supplementation on growth, intestinal morphology, immune stimulation, and intestinal bacteria in broiler chickens.

Antimicrobial resistance in poultry farms is a significant global public health concern that has led farmers to explore alternative antibiotics, such as prebiotics in poultry production. This study aimed to examine the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic shallot extract (ESE) and the effects of adding shallot powder (SP) to broiler feed on broiler growth, immune response to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccination, and gastrointestinal tract bacteria. We determined the antimicrobial effects of ESE against Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EOH) and Lactobacillus acidophilus TISTR 2365 (L2365) using the agar well diffusion method. We used a complete randomized design to assign 120 1-day-old Arbor Acre chicks to six groups with four replicates of five broiler chickens over 42 days. The treatment groups were as follows: T1-basal diet (B) + NDV vaccination (positive control), T2-B (negative control), T3-B + 2 g SP per kg of feed, T4-B + 2 g SP per kg of feed + NDV, T5-B + 4 g SP per kg of feed, and T6-B + 4 g SP per kg of feed + NDV. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of ESE on EOH and L2365 were 62.50 and 125.00 mg/mL, respectively. The body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio in the 4 g SP of T5 and T6 groups were significantly improved compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). The immune organ (IO) and thymus gland weights in the T4 group were significantly greater than those observed in the positive and negative control groups (p < 0.05). The IO weights of the bursae of Fabricius and spleen tended to be greater in the T4 group than in the other groups. T5 group broilers had the highest ratio of villus height to crypt depth. The humoral immunity titers against NDV vaccination were improved in the SP-supplemented groups compared with the non-supplemented groups (p > 0.05). SP supplementation reduced the levels of coliform (p < 0.05) and E. coli in the broiler intestine by adding 4 g of SP per kg of feed. However, L2365 was more tolerant to ESE in vitro and tended to increase in line with increased SP levels. ESE showed strong antimicrobial activity to reduce harmful bacteria, and SP supplementation may exhibit prebiotic effects to increase broiler chicken growth, immunity, and microbial balance.

I Dentification Immunohistological Changes in the Thymus Gland of Male and Female Rats With Indocrine Glands Disorder

Endocrine disorders is the result of a hormone imbalance, a condition characterized by a gland producing too much or too little of a hormone. This imbalance can be caused by:Issues with the endocrines feedback system−its main job is to keep hormones in the body perfectly balanced but it can malfunction and cause an imbalance a genetic disorder or infection or disease or injury to an an endocrine gland.The study amied to know the changes that occur in the thymus gland as a result of endocrine disorders in order to explain and analyze them accurately,as well as an immunological comparison between males and females.Twenty−four male and female rats Rattus norvegicus were divided into three groups of eight rats each : The first group (G1) received normal saline for 21 dayꓼ The second group male(G2), rats were given 6 mg / kg metoclopramide by intraperitoneal injection for hyperprolactinemia induction for 21 daysꓼ The third group femals (G3)was given metoclopramide 6 mg / kg intraperitoneally to induce hyperprolactinemic rats.After the end of experimental [21 days ], Measure prolactin hormone, and the thymus gland was removed, processed and examine for histomorphological changes. The result of the study revealed that is a significant (p&lt;0.05) in prolactin and( WBC) in the two hyperprolactinemia group when compared with the control group.And when compared a group of hyperprolactinemia the males and agroup hyperprolactin females.Note a significant difference(increase)in the male group compared to the female group.And the resuit of the study showed asignificant decrease(p&lt;0.05) in weight and size the thymus gland in hyperprolactinemia male and female group compared with the control group.The histologicale study in male and female laboratory rats of the two hyperprolactinemia group also showed clear histological changes compared to the negative control group,reprsented the cortex area increased compared with the medulla area ,where the cortex−to−medulla ratio was about 3:1 .The limited numbers of epithelial cells were observed in the medulla area where the increase in lymphocyte numbers was significantly observed.Also, Hassall‘s corpuscles were not observed in the medulla.AS note the limited deposition or almost absence of collagen fibre in the medulla area.The study concluded endocrine disruption has a significant and noticeable effect on the size and weight of the thymus gland on the one hand and a histological effect on the other hand.

Analysis of CD3, CD68, CD163 and CK-19 expression in thymuses of neonatal children during infectious diseases

Objective: to identify the features of expression of immunohistochemical markers CD3, CD68, CD163 and CK-19 in thymus cells of neonatal children with enlarged thymus who died from infectious diseases. Material and methods. Autopsy material of children of early and late neonatal period (n=33) who died in the hospitals of Saratov city served as the material of the study. The causes of death of children were pneumonia (n=17), sepsis (n=16). Morphologic material was divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (comparison) — children whose thymus gland mass corresponded to the age norm (n=19); Group 2 (study group) — children whose thymus mass exceeded the age norm (n=14). The expression of the following markers was evaluated in the study: CD3, CD68, CD163 and CK-19. Results. As a result of the study, it was found that with increasing thymus mass in its cortical substance the proportion of CD3+ cells increase 2.7 times (p=0.009), the proportion of CD68+ cells increase almost threefold (p=0.009) CD163+ cells decreases by 10% (p=0.005), and CK-19 positive cells do not form a network. Conclusion. Increased thymus mass in children of early neonatal period with infectious diseases is accompanied by disturbances in the processes of migration and differentiation of lymphocytes.

Detection of Thymoma Disease Using mRMR Feature Selection and Transformer Models

Background: Thymoma is a tumor that originates in the thymus gland, a part of the human body located behind the breastbone. It is a malignant disease that is rare in children but more common in adults and usually does not spread outside the thymus. The exact cause of thymic disease is not known, but it is thought to be more common in people infected with the EBV virus at an early age. Various surgical methods are used in clinical settings to treat thymoma. Expert opinion is very important in the diagnosis of the disease. Recently, next-generation technologies have become increasingly important in disease detection. Today’s early detection systems already use transformer models that are open to technological advances. Methods: What makes this study different is the use of transformer models instead of traditional deep learning models. The data used in this study were obtained from patients undergoing treatment at Fırat University, Department of Thoracic Surgery. The dataset consisted of two types of classes: thymoma disease images and non-thymoma disease images. The proposed approach consists of preprocessing, model training, feature extraction, feature set fusion between models, efficient feature selection, and classification. In the preprocessing step, unnecessary regions of the images were cropped, and the region of interest (ROI) technique was applied. Four types of transformer models (Deit3, Maxvit, Swin, and ViT) were used for model training. As a result of the training of the models, the feature sets obtained from the best three models were merged between the models (Deit3 and Swin, Deit3 and ViT, Deit3 and ViT, Swin and ViT, and Deit3 and Swin and ViT). The combined feature set of the model (Deit3 and ViT) that gave the best performance with fewer features was analyzed using the mRMR feature selection method. The SVM method was used in the classification process. Results: With the mRMR feature selection method, 100% overall accuracy was achieved with feature sets containing fewer features. The cross-validation technique was used to verify the overall accuracy of the proposed approach and 99.22% overall accuracy was achieved in the analysis with this technique. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the added value of the proposed approach in the detection of thymoma.

PSV-6 Effect of maternal undernutrition on gene expression related to immune system in spleen of Japanese Black (Wagyu) fetuses

Abstract Underdevelopment in the fetal period increases the risk of disease in the neonatal period, and there are concerns about the effects on later growth and fattening. Previous studies have indicated that poor nutrition during gestation affects not only the development of skeletal muscle and liver, but also the formation of the thymus gland and spleen, which are involved in immunity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal undernutrition on gene expression related to the immunity of the spleen. Multiparous Wagyu cattle (n = 12) were randomly assigned to two nutrition groups: the control group (CON: 120% of Japanese feeding standard for beef cattle; n = 6) and the maternal undernutrition group (MUN: 60% of Japanese feeding standard for beef cattle; n = 6) from conception to d 260 of gestation. Fetuses (n = 12) were harvested from the maternal cows and fetal spleens were collected. Total RNA was extracted from each spleen to synthesize cDNA. The quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was carried out to investigate the expression of 17 target genes [CD4, CD8a, CD8b, CD19, CD21, CD79a, CD205, interferon (IFN) -γ, NFk-β, toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, interleukin (IL) 2, IL4, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL18, and IFI16) related to the immune system. Ribosomal protein S18 was used as an internal control. The specificity of PCR products was confirmed by analyzing the dissociation curves. Data were analyzed by student t-test or Welch’s t-test after the Smirnov-Grubbs test and F-test to remove outliers and compare variances. The expression of CD8a (P &amp;lt; 0.1) and CD8b (P &amp;lt; 0.1) related to Cytotoxic T cell tended to be less in MUN than in CON (Figure 1). Other immunological cell marker genes expression (CD4, CD19, CD21, CD79a, CD205) did not show any significant differences between CON and MUN (P &amp;gt; 0.11). In genes related to immunological mechanisms (IFN-γ, NFk-β, TLR4, IL2, IL4, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL18, and IFI16), the expression of NFk-β was lless in MUN than in CON (P &amp;lt; 0.05). NFk-β was reported to regulate more than 400 genes including immune function. In addition, the expression of IL10 was less in MUN than in CON (P &amp;lt; 0.05). The cytokine of IL-10 has functions to suppress over-activated cytotoxic immunity by CD8+ T cell. These results might suggest that maternal undernutrition induces cytotoxic immune deactivation through NFk-β expression decline in the fetal spleen.

Cardiovascular disease in thymic cancer patients.

Cancer patients may have increased risk for adverse cardiac events, but our understanding of cardiovascular risk in thymic cancer patients is not clear. We sought to characterize baseline cardiometabolic risk factors before thymic cancer diagnosis and the potential association between cancer treatment and subsequent cardiac events. This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating patients with thymic cancer from 2003 to 2020 compared to age- and sex-matched controls without cancer. Baseline cardiovascular risk factors, cancer characteristics, and incidence of cardiac events were collected from the health information exchange. Multivariable regression was used to examine the impact of cardiovascular risk factors and cancer therapies. We compared 296 patients with pathology-confirmed thymic cancer to 2,960 noncancer controls. Prior to cancer diagnosis, thymic cancer patients (TCPs) had lower prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus and similar rates of obesity, tobacco use, and pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to controls. After diagnosis, high-risk TCPs (>2 cardiovascular risk factors or pre-existing CVD) had higher risk for cardiac events (HR 3.73, 95% CI 2.88-4.83, p < 0.001). In the first 3 years after diagnosis, TCPs had higher incidence of cardiac events (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.01-1.87, p = 0.042). High-risk TCPs who received radiotherapy or chemotherapy had higher risk of cardiac events (HR 4.99, 95% CI 2.30-10.81, p < 0.001; HR 6.24, 95% CI 2.84-13.72, p < 0.001). Compared to noncancer controls, TCPs experienced more cardiac events when adjusted for risk factors. Patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy had higher incidence of cardiac events.

Surgical outcomes of patients with locally advanced thymic epithelial tumor undergoing induction therapy followed by surgery: a narrative review.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), including thymomas and thymic cancers, are relatively rare malignancies originating from the thymus. Although complete surgical resection is the cornerstone of treatment for these tumors, the optimal management strategy for locally advanced cases remains uncertain. Neoadjuvant therapies, with their potential to improve the likelihood of complete resection, are promising, particularly in marginally operable cases. However, the current evidence supporting this approach is lacking. This review of the existing literature on the efficacy of induction therapy followed by surgical resection for stage III or IV locally advanced TETs aimed to provide an up-to-date perspective and highlighting directions for future clinical research. PubMed was searched using the keywords "surgery," "survival", "thymoma", "thymic cancer", and "induction therapy". Relevant articles including case series, retrospective studies, prospective studies, and review articles were reviewed and selected for this comprehensive narrative review. This review included primarily revealed retrospective studies and a limited number of prospective phase II trials on induction therapy followed by surgery for stage III or IV locally advanced TETs. No randomized phase III studies were identified, indicating that a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits of induction therapy on overall survival (OS) has not yet been conducted. Induction therapies for both invasive thymoma and thymic cancer included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and chemoradiotherapy, with anthracycline-based combination chemotherapies being the primary option. For exclusively invasive thymomas, the median rate of complete surgical resection and the 5-year OS rate were reported as 76% and 85%, respectively. Literature focusing on induction therapy for TETs, which includes both thymoma and thymic cancers, indicates that the rates of complete resection and 5-year OS are 76% and 70%, respectively. Our narrative review of retrospective and prospective studies highlighted promising long-term OS rates in patients with advanced TETs who underwent induction therapy followed by surgical resection. These findings support this multimodal treatment strategy in selected patients with stage III and IV TETs.

A report on five cases of cholesterol granulomas in the thymus

BackgroundCholesterol granuloma (CG) is a benign entity characterized by the presence of cholesterol crystals and foreign body giant cells. This condition can be attributed to cholesterol crystals that are deposited in the tissues and react with foreign body giant cells, resulting in granuloma formation. Lesions commonly develop in the otolaryngeal region, such as the middle ear. However, crystals rarely form in the thymus, accounting for 1% of all mediastinal tumors. Herein, we present five cases of mediastinal CG.Case presentationThe patients were aged 49–61 (mean, 55.4) years. Among them, three were men and two women. One patient had fever, and four patients were asymptomatic. The patients’ lesions were detected during follow-up of other diseases or medical examinations showing the presence of abnormal chest shadows. The patients did not have a history of trauma or surgery. All lesions were located within the thymus gland. Three patients presented with multifocal lesions and two with a single lesion. Four patients had contrast effect on computed tomography scan. Four patients had abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation (mean maximum standardized uptake value, 4.67) on positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Four patients underwent complete surgical resection. The size of the resected lesions ranged from 1.8 to 5.1 (mean, 3.24) cm. Histologically, all patients presented with small nodules with cholesterol clefts and foreign body giant cells and histiocyte infiltration within the thymic tissue. The postoperative course was excellent. None of the patients who underwent complete resection presented with recurrence. Moreover, the patient who underwent partial resection did not have lesion enlargement.ConclusionsCG in the thymus is clinically challenging to differentiate from malignant lesions, and histologic diagnosis via surgical resection is required.

The contribution of rural/urban residence to incidence and survival in thymoma and thymic carcinoma, a retrospective cohort study of the SEER 2000–2020 database

ObjectiveRural-urban healthcare disparities have been demonstrated throughout the United States, particularly in acquiring oncologic care. In this study, we aim to discern the role of rural-urban health disparities in thymic cancer incidence and uncover potential survival disparities. MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 17-State database was queried for all cases of thymoma (ICD-O-3/3 codes: 8580–8585) and thymic carcinoma (8586) located in the thymus (primary site code C37.9) diagnosed between 2000 and 2020. Residence was established using SEER Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. Incidence trend modeling for rural versus urban patients was completed using Joinpoint Regression Software. Chi-square, Kaplan-Meier with log-rank testing, and Cox proportional hazards was completed using SPSS, with significance set to p <0.05. ResultsJoinpoint analysis revealed a significant growth in incidence in the urban population compared to a stagnant incidence among the rural population. Disease specific survival was higher among urban patients on univariate modeling (p = 0.010), and confirmed on multivariate analysis, whereby rural living conferred an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.263 (95 % CI 1.045–1.527; p = 0.016) in comparison to urban patients. ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate differences between thymic cancer incidence and outcomes in patients living in urban versus rural environments and demonstrate an important disparity.

Challenges to Contraceptive Counseling With Isotretinoin Treatment and Future Directions for Dermatologists

Accutane, also known as isotretinoin, is an oral systemic retinoid utilized in the treatment of severe, treatment-resistant acne. Isotretinoin is a pregnancy category X drug, meaning that studies have documented congenital defects in pregnant patients on isotretinoin. Known abnormalities include ear abnormalities, facial dysmorphia, cleft palate, CNS abnormalities, thymus gland abnormalities, and parathyroid hormone deficiencies. With teratogenicity well-documented with isotretinoin use, the iPLEDGE system was created to educate prescribers, pharmacists, and patients about the risks of isotretinoin use. Utilizing iPLEDGE, individuals of child bearing potential (ICBP) are required to document two negative pregnancy tests before the initiation of isotretinoin therapy with two documented forms of birth control. We conducted a literature review utilizing the terms: accutane, isotretinoin, contraception, and birth control. We found that amongst multiple articles, the most popular primary contraceptive methods in iPLEDGE were abstinence (47% of users) and combined oral contraceptives (31% of users). Individuals have attributed their lack of contraceptive use to fear of birth control health impacts and belief in the equivalent effectiveness of non-accepted methods (e.g. withdrawal and natural family planning. Despite the establishment of iPLEDGE to systematically reinforce counseling requirements, the incidence of isotretinoin-exposed pregnancies continues to persist with approximately 100-200 pregnancies annually. Given these findings, it is clear that counseling is tantamount to dispelling misconceptions regarding contraception and optimizing rates of patient compliance. Despite this importance, counseling remains a large issue for dermatologists. Only half of board-certified dermatology residents surveyed in 2023 felt comfortable providing counseling on adverse effects of combined oral contraceptives (COCs), and only 38.8% felt comfortable providing counseling directions for COCs. Solutions for this include quickly accessing a referral to primary care or OB/GYN and potentially new avenues that are more easily accessible such as the progestin-only oral contraceptive pill that was recently approved for over the counter use by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Thymus assessments at birth in echocardiography: a preliminary cohort study

BackgroundEchocardiography is a tool used in neonatal period to screen for congenital heart defects and to assess the function of the cardiovascular system. It enables obtaining a three-vessel view (3VV) to show how the superior vena cava, the aorta and the pulmonary trunk relate to each other. A 3VV also provides a view of the thymus gland.MethodsIt is a preliminary study. Using the thymus measurements obtained in echocardiography of neonates delivered in one healthcare centre, a total of 1,331 thymus records were collected and statistically analysed. The study was conducted on group of 321 preterm neonates and 1,010 full-term neonates. The superior mediastinal view (three-vessel view, 3VV) was chosen for thymus measurements, with the parallel vascular system, including the superior vena cava, the aorta and the pulmonary trunk, with visible branching to the right and left pulmonary artery. Thymus width, depth and thymic 3VV index were measured. Thymic 3VV index (TI 3VV) is defined as a product of multipling the width and the depth of the thymus in three-vessel view projection.ResultsBased on a statistical analysis, a correlation was found of 3VV thymus dimensions and thymic 3VV index with body weight, gestational age and body surface area (BSA). These measurements led to the important finding that the TI 3VV value depends on thymus width and depth, more prominently the latter. The 3VV measurement of thymus depth alone can serve as a screening tool to assess the size of the gland.ConclusionsInclusion of thymic measurements in neonatal echocardiography protocol can be used as a screening tool to assess the size of thymus gland.

Combination of pericardial celomic cyst and thymus cyst

The combination of the pericardial celomic cyst and the thymus cyst represent a rare group of diseases. Clinical diagnosis of the pericardial and thymus gland formations is complex, as the patient’s symptoms may be non-specific, associated with concomitant pathology. Although a diagnostic examination often begins with chest X-rays, it may not be informative and requires CT and MRI of the thorax to visualize the entire pericardium and thymus. Brief information on the etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases is given; clinical statistics on the frequency of occurrence of thymus cysts and pericardial cysts in different age groups are used as an example. The results of observation and analysis of literary sources have established that thoracoscopic removal of the thymus cyst and tumors is a priority in terms of effective diagnosis and is justified as minimally invasive and efficient surgical treatment in this combination of pathologies.

Original Empirical Research Protective Effects of Succinic Acid upon Exposure to the Low-Frequency Alternating Magnetic Field Determined in the Experiment

Introduction. The need to simulate the oxidative stress by an experiment of exposure to the low-frequency alternating magnetic field is induced by the persistent increase of the electromagnetic load on the endothermic organisms caused by the annual deterioration of the electromagnetic state of the environment. The low-frequency alternating magnetic field starts a chain of biochemical reactions in the laboratory animals, which alter the homeostasis against the increased intensity of free-radical oxidation (peroxidation) of biomembrane lipids. The preparations containing succinic acid have the antioxidant, antihypoxant, actoprotective and stress-protective effects, tested through various kind of modelling, however, the absence of data on the efficacy of succinic acid under the exposure to the alternating magnetic field has become the reason for the present experiment. The aim of the research is to determine the protective effects of succinic acid upon exposure of the laboratory rats to the low-frequency alternating magnetic field.Materials and Methods. The objects of the research were 90 white outbred male rats weighing 200–250 g, divided into three groups: group 1 — intact, the animals were in standard vivarium conditions and were not exposed to any effect; group 2 — control, the rats were exposed to the low frequency alternating magnetic field (LF-AMF) for 21 days daily per 3 hours, preceded by daily intraperitoneal administration to animals of the 0.9% sodium chloride solution at a dose of 1 ml / kg straight before them being exposed to LF-AMF; group 3 — experimental, the rats were daily intraperitoneally administered the succinic acid at a dose of 100 mg / kg (1 ml / kg) for 21 days prior to being exposed to LF-AMF. The exposure to the low-frequency alternating magnetic field was created by the Helmholtz coils (of diameter 1 m) powered by the alternating current source with a frequency of 50 Hz, with a magnetic field induction of 0.4 mT, whereas the cages with animals were placed in the centre of the device. The actoprotective effect of succinic acid was checked on the 7th, 14th and 21st days from the beginning of the experiment by duration of swimming of rats in water. The antioxidant effect — by concentration of diene conjugates, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, ceruloplasmin, vitamin E in the blood plasma of rats measured according to the commonly accepted methods. The stress-protective effect was determined by the masses of the adrenal glands, thymus gland, spleen and the number of erosive defects on the suRussian Federationace of the gastric mucosa.Results. The experimental data has confirmed the actoprotective effect of succinic acid — the duration of swimming of the rats in the experimental group increased by 25–37% compared to the control one. The antioxidant effect of succinic acid under magnetic induction has been manifested in a decreased concentration of lipid peroxidation products against increased level of ceruloplasmin in the blood of rats in the experimental group compared to the animals in the control group. Administration of the succinic acid into the peritoneum of rats in the experimental group under exposure to the low frequency alternating magnetic field has prevented involution of the thymus gland by 45% (7th day), 56% (14th day), 71% (21th day) and the spleen by 52%, 58% and 66% respectively, alongside, the number of erosive and ulcerative defects on the suRussian Federationace of the gastric mucosa has decreased by 2.5–4 times compared to the animals in the control group.Discussion and Conclusion. The protective effects of succinic acid upon exposure to the low-frequency alternating magnetic field have been confirmed that include the stress-protective, actoprotective and antioxidant effects of the exogenous succinate. The ability of succinic acid to prevent the negative changes in the internal organs caused by the magnetic loads is proved by the statistically significant excess of the mass coefficients of the thymus gland and spleen in the experimental group, compared to the control one, along with the fewer erosive defects on the suRussian Federationace of the gastric mucosa. Succinic acid reduces the intensity of lipid peroxidation processes upon the magnetic exposure due to reducing the concentration of lipid peroxidation products and increasing the level of ceruloplasmin in the blood of animals.

Morphology and histology of the thymus gland in dromedary camel with particular reference to thymic Hassall's corpuscles

Morphology and histology of the thymus gland in dromedary camel with particular reference to thymic Hassall's corpuscles

Thymus gland and thymic dysfunctions in children

The thymus is the organ that has gained significant awareness in the last two centuries, being considered the main donor of cells for the lymphatic system, much like the bone marrow is the donor of cells for the cardiovascular system. Currently, knowledge regarding the thymus gland has considerably improved. Thymic dysfunctions encompass congenital and acquired conditions, which manifest through organ hypoplasia or hyperplasia, as well as formations/tumors of the anterior mediastinum.

Radiation and Chemo-Sensitizing Effects of DNA-PK Inhibitors Are Proportional in Tumors and Normal Tissues.

Inhibitors of DNA-dependent protein kinase (PRKDC; DNA-PK) sensitize cancers to radiotherapy and DNA-damaging chemotherapies, with candidates in clinical trials. However, the degree to which DNA-PK inhibitors also sensitize normal tissues remains poorly characterized. In this study, we compare tumor growth control and normal tissue sensitization following DNA-PK inhibitors in combination with radiation and etoposide. FaDu tumor xenografts implanted in mice were treated with 10 to 15 Gy irradiation ± 3 to 100 mg/kg AZD7648. A dose-dependent increase in time to tumor volume doubling following AZD7648 was proportional to an increase in toxicity scores of the overlying skin. Similar effects were seen in the intestinal jejunum, tongue, and FaDu tumor xenografts of mice assessed for proliferation rates at 3.5 days after treatment with etoposide or 5 Gy whole body irradiation ± DNA-PK inhibitors AZD7648 or peposertib (M3814). Additional organs were examined for sensitivity to DNA-PK inhibitor activity in ATM-deficient mice, where DNA-PK activity is indicated by surrogate marker γH2AX. Inhibition was observed in the heart, brain, pancreas, thymus, tongue, and salivary glands of ATM-deficient mice treated with the DNA-PK inhibitors relative to radiation alone. Similar reductions are also seen in ATM-deficient FaDu tumor xenografts where both pDNA-PK and γH2AX staining could be performed. DNA-PK inhibitor-mediated sensitization to radiation and DNA-damaging chemotherapy are not only limited to tumor tissues, but also extends to normal tissues sustaining DNA damage. These data are useful for interpretation of the sensitizing effects of DNA damage repair inhibitors, where a therapeutic index showing greater cell-killing effects on cancer cells is crucial for optimal clinical translation.