Connective tissue responses to calcium hydroxide-based root canal medicaments

Aim: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the tissue inflammatory response induced by calcium hydroxide pastes, with or without paramonochlorophenol and camphor. Methodology: Isogenic BALB/c mice were inoculated into the subcutaneous tissue with either 0.1 mL of a suspension of Calen, Calen with camphorated paramonochlorophenol, Calen with paramonochlorophenol, Calasept paste or phosphate-buffered saline (control). After 6, 12 and 24 h and 2, 3, 5, 7 and 15 days, three animals in each group were sacrificed and the excised lesions processed for histopathological evaluation of the inflammatory response. Events monitored and graded included the assessment of vascular congestion, oedema, haemorrhage, inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis and tissue repair. Results: The pastes induced an inflammatory response at every observation period, although the intensity, duration and extension of inflammation varied. Calen paste always produced an initial short-term inflammatory response whilst the other pastes produced extended reactions. All pastes allowed repair to take place by the end of the experimental period, although the speed of this process varied between the materials. Calen presented the best biocompatibility; the phenolic compound caused greater tissue response, which was even more severe in the absence of camphor. Calasept paste was damaging and the repair process slower. Conclusions: All calcium hydroxide formulations caused an inflammatory response. The severity and longevity of the responses varied between pastes as a result of the various antiseptic agents. Although irritating, repair was apparent with all formulations.

Influence of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) on the course of experimental systemic lupus erythematosus in F1 (NZBxW) mice

The course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, is markedly affected by hormones such as estrogen and prolactin. It is well known that heavy exposure to sunlight has deleterious effects on SLE, triggering episodes of the disease. Classical explanations for this occurrence suggest that UV radiation damages DNA, which becomes immunogenic, or induces exposure of the Ro antigen in keratinocytes. In recent years, it has been shown that vitamin D3 has important effects on the immune system. Thus, we proposed an alternative hypothesis, suggesting that UV radiation, by promoting vitamin D3 synthesis, could be a factor aggravating the course of SLE after exposure to sunlight. To test this hypothesis, we injected F1(NZBxW) mice, which are prone to developing SLE, with vitamin D3, and we demonstrated a worsening of the histopathological findings in the kidney. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Hidrocistoma écrino e apócrino na pálpebra - Casuística na Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu- São Paulo

Background - Hidrocystomas ecrine and apocrine may be observed in the eyelids. Objective - The purpose of this study was to observe the occurrence of eyelid hidrocystoma (eccrine or apocrine), as well as the relation between clinical and histopathological diagnosis. Patients and Methods - 42 patients were selected, with a total of 52 lesions, attended between January 1990 to April 1999, at the Botucatu Medical School, with diagnosis of hidrocystoma confirmed by histopathology diagnosis. Result - Hidrocystoma occurred in 0.07% of patients undergoing lesion removal during this period. Eccrine and the apocrine hidrocystoma were frequently observed in female patients, aged over 40 years. The clinical picture ranged from about 1 to 5 years. The lesions were mainly located in the lower eyelid and presented as a single lesion. The clinical diagnosis agreed with the histopathological diagnosis in 67.31% of the apocrine hidrocystomas, and 9.62% of the eccrine hidrocystomas. Conclusions - Apocrine hidrocystoma was the most frequently observed eyelid hidrocystoma. The correlation between clinical and histopathological diagnosis was higher for apocrine hidrocystomas.

Estudo comparativo dos métodos de ultra-sonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética no estadiamento e invasão das estruturas adjacentes por tumores renais.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography (US), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance imaging (MR) were compared for the staging of renal tumors. The differences between these imaging techniques were also studied for their ability to detect adenopathies, vascular invasion, distant intra-abdominal metastases, and particularly adjacent organ invasion. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with solid or complex renal masses were prospectively studied using US, CT, and MR. Differences between the results obtained were studied using the COCHRAN G test and the McNEMAR test. The sensitivity and specificity of each diagnostic technique were compared against a gold standard of the surgical and histopathological findings. RESULTS: The following sensitivities were obtained: For the detection of adenopathy, US 63.6%, CT and MR 90.9%. For vascular invasion, US 42.8%, CT and MR 85.7%. For the adjacent organ invasion, US 28.5%, CT 85.7%, and MR 71.4%. Some of the criteria that suggest invasion of adjacent structures include: the envelopment of the adjacent structures by the tumor, tumor extension into the adjacent structures with an irregular appearance, and alterations in shape, size, and density of adjacent structures. Loss of fat planes between the tumor and adjacent structures is not a sign of tumor invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found in the detection capacity of US in relation to CT and MR, which were similar. All three techniques were highly sensitive and specific only in the detection of distant abdominal metastases. In addition to the accuracy of these diagnostic modalities for the detection and staging of tumors, invasiveness, risks and cost should be considered in relation to relative costs and benefits.

Gelatinous polyethylene in the treatment of the anophthalmic cavity

PURPOSE: Gelatinous polyethylene (GP) has been used as an orbital implant to evaluate volume maintenance and tissue reaction in the anophthalmic socket in a rabbit model. METHODS: Twenty-eight Norfolk white rabbits underwent unilateral evisceration with placement of 2ml GP (GP group - 16 animals) or 2ml 0.9% sodium chloride solution (Control group - 12 animals). Animal behavior, postoperative tissue response and socket conditions were evaluated. The animals were sacrificed at 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after the surgery and the bulbs were enucleated; volume maintenance and histopathological evaluation were done in the enucleated bulbs. The results were submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS: All animals showed normal behavior. The orbital volume maintenance was better in the GP group. Histopathology in the GP animals showed mild tissue inflammation throughout the evaluation period and a thin pseudocapsule formation surrounding the orbital implant material. CONCLUSION: The clinical findings, good orbital volume maintenance and mild inflammatory tissue response make GP a good choice to replace the lack of volume in anophthalmic socket reconstruction.

Hepatic bleeding induced by streptokinase and heparin in a patient with acute myocardial infarction

Although rare, major bleeding is the most important side effect of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (Levine et al., 1995). Spontaneous hepatic bleeding in normal liver after thrombolytic administration has rarely been reported in literature. To our knowledge, there are only three cases of hepatic bleeding related to thrombolytic therapy in AMI. In these, the used drugs were anisolylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) (Garcia-Jiménez et al., 1997; Fox et al., 1991) and rt-PA (Garcia-Jiménez et al., 1997). We report a case of hepatic bleeding after streptokinase followed by units over 60 minutes). The next day, the patient developed third-degree atrioventricular block and a temporary pacemaker was inserted. Twenty-seven hours after streptokinase infusion, the patient complained of refractory chest pain that was interpreted as post-myocardial infarction angina; clotting screen was normal and intravenous heparin was started (80 U/kg followed by 18 U/kg/hour). After four hours of heparin administration, the patient presented abdominal pain and distension, and his blood pressure and hematocrit level dropped. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed free fluid in the peritoneal cavity (about 3,000 mL). A laparotomy disclosed blood in the abdominal cavity with bleeding from the right lateral hepatic segment, which was removed. The remaining abdominal viscera were normal and there was no other evidence of hemorrhage. The partial liver resection presented subcapsular hemorrhage with small parenchymal hemorrhage. Histopathological examination also revealed focal areas of ischemic centrilobular necrosis. The patient died of multiple organ system failure 21 days after admission. Copyright © 2002 By PJD Publications Limited.

Alterações hematológicas e histopatológicas em pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 (Osteichthyes, Characidae), tratado com sulfato de cobre (CuSo4)

This paper evaluated the haematological and glycaemic parameters in Piaractus mesopotamicus (Osteichthyes, Characidae) infected with Monogenea Anacanthorus penilabiatus Boeger, Husak & Martins, 1995 (Dactylogyridae) after treatment with 0.50 mg/L and 1.00 mg/L of copper sulphate (CuSO4). The efficacy of the CuSO4 was observed in the first day after administration but not after eight, fifteen or thirty days. The histopathological analyses showed hyperplasia of the epithelium and circulatory changes in the gills. In the first day after treatment significant changes (P<0.05) in the total count of erythrocyte, leucocyte, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were observed. The fishes treated with 0.50 mg/L showed decrease in the haemoglobin levels and in the percentage of neutrophils (P<0.05). The dose of 1.00 mg/L provoked increase of glycaemia but reduction in the lymphocytes percentage when compared with 0.50 mg/L in the 8th day. Fifteen days after 1.00 mg/L treatment, values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and special granulocitic cells (S.G.C.) percentage decreased. Nevertheless, increase of total leucocyte number was observed. Thirty days after treatment with 0.50 mg/L showed increased S.G.C. and treatment with 1.00 mg/L showed increased lymphocyte.

Papilomavírus humano (HPV) em lesões benignas e malignas de mucosa oral pelos métodos de imuno-histoquímica e hibridização in situ

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Malignant transformation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: Case report

We report a case of a pleomorphic xantoastrocytoma which manifested itself as a cystic isodense lesion in the right fronto-temporal lobe in a 26 year-old woman. It appeared as a soft yellow tumor with cystic cavities on surgery. Five months after this surgery, the patient was submitted to a new operation, which revealed a friable tumor, easily differentiated from the normal parenchyma, with cystic components. The histopathological examination demonstrated pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with malignant transformation. Histologically, the tumor at first procedure was composed of pleomorphic astrocytes with multinucleated and foamy cells. A rare case of malignant transformation in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is presented, discussed and illustrated in this paper.

Comparative experimental infection of Lacazia loboi in BALB/c and B10.A mice

Both hind foot pads of BALB/c and B10.A mice strains, were inoculated with a fungal suspension of Lacazia loboi obtained from a Jorge Lobo's disease patient. The suspension had 9 × 105 cells/ml and its viability index was 45%. The animals were sacrificed at different time periods varying from 24 h to 18 months after inoculation. The BALB/c mice developed an extensive granulomatous infiltrate, similar to the disease in humans, that progressively evolved. The number of fungal elements also increased as the disease progressed, and after the seventh month of inoculation, macroscopic changes of the foot pads were evident. Although the B10.A mice developed an exuberant granulomatous infiltrate, macroscopic changes were not detected. The number of fungal cells in the infected tissues increased in number, but they were lower then the numbers found in the BALB/c strain. The viability indexes were also lower for the B10.A strain. Considering the histopathological findings, the presence of macroscopic changes and the great amount of fungal cells in the infected tissues, the authors concluded that the BALB/c mice strain was more susceptible to L. loboi infection than the B10.A strain.

Morphometric study by image analysis of Ag-stained nucleoli in thyroids bearing proliferating lesions

The Ag-NOR staining technique and image analysis were used to evaluate morphological parameters (area, perimeter and axis ratio) in nucleoli from normal thyroids and from thyroids bearing proliferating lesions (carcinomas, adenomas and hyperplasias). Regions with normal appearance located close to adenomatous and carcinomatous regions, in the thyroid of every patient, were also analyzed for comparison with the respective pathological regions and with normal thyroids. Statistical analysis of data for the nucleolar area and perimeter allowed the separation of adenomas and carcinomas from hyperplasias and normal tissue but not the two components in each of these two groups. However, if we look at the numbers, a sequence of increasing nucleolar mean areas in the order: normal, hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma may be observed, indicating the sequence of increasing rRNA requirements in these different kinds of cells. The axis ratio that denotes the nucleolar shape (round or oblong) did not show significant differences among tissues, suggesting that shape is not important in the characterization of these pathologies. Differences in nucleolar areas and perimeter between normal and affected regions from each patient were statistically significant for adenomas and carcinomas. When these normal regions were compared with the normal thyroids, significant differences were not obtained in the three evaluated parameters. The observations and their importance for histopathological diagnosis are discussed.

Intraepithelial alterations in the Guinea pig lateral prostate at different ages after estradiol treatment

The prostate is an accessory gland of the mammal reproductive system with great volume and high functional importance. Many works infer that, in addition to the androgenic ones, the estrogen can be associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic cancer, but no conclusive evidence exists on the role of estrogen in normal prostatic and neoplastic tissue. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of chronic administration of estradiol benzoate on the lateral prostate of guinea pigs in the pre-pubescent, pubescent, post-pubescent and adult phases, with emphasis on the modifications provoked by this hormone on the glandular epithelium. The analyses of the estradiol-treated and control groups were investigated using histological procedures and transmission electron microscopy. The histopathological analysis of the lateral prostate in the treated group revealed areas where epithelial dysplasia was observed, assuming at some places a pattern of epithelial stratification characteristic of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. After ultrastructural analysis, the following were observed: enlargement of the internal membranes, heterogeneity in the cellular types, hypertrophy of the basal cells and apparent decrease of cytoplasmic organelles in some cells of the prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Still, a loss of cellular polarity was observed, along with nuclei of various forms, sizes and heights - as well as irregular chromatin distribution patterns. Such alterations were found mainly in pubescent, post-pubescent and adult animals subject to the chronic administration of estradiol. These findings reinforce the already existent data in understanding the role of estrogen in the etiology of prostatic diseases.

Fluorescence spectroscopy for tongue carcinoma detection: Study in an animal model

Fluorescence diagnosis of malignant lesions has been showed as an attractive optical technique due especially to its real-time response and a more objective and quantitative evaluation. Even though the oral cavity allows a direct examination many lesions are diagnosed when it is already in advanced stage, compromising the patient prognosis. In this study, the fluorescence spectroscopy was used to the detection of chemically induced carcinoma at the lateral border of the tongue in a hamster model. Two excitations wavelengths in visible region were applied: 442 and 532 nm. All the spectra results were analyzed comparing with the histopathological diagnosis. The better results were achieved with the 442 nm laser excitation. The spectra from carcinoma showed new emission bands and these were used to determined different ratios for a quantitative analysis. Using the 625-645 nm fluorescence range under 442 nm excitation (A3 coefficient) the percentage of false negative was of 9.1%, however the false positive percentage was of 18.5%. The 532 nm excitation provided a better normal tissue detection compared to 442 nm excitation. The ideal clinical condition is probably the use of multiple wavelengths excitation for a broader tissue fluorescence investigation.

Toxoplasma gondii: Detection by mouse bioassay, histopathology, and polymerase chain reaction in tissues from experimentally infected pigs

In the present study, we evaluated three techniques, mouse bioassay, histopathology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Toxoplasma gondii infection in tissues from experimentally infected pigs. Twelve mixed breed pigs, seronegative for T. gondii using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), were used. Ten pigs were infected with 4 × 104 VEG strain oocysts, and two were maintained as uninfected controls. Animals were killed 60 days pos infection. Muscle (heart, tongue, diaphragm, and masseter) and brain samples were collected to investigate the presence of T. gondii tissue cysts by the different assay methods. For the bioassay, samples of brain (50 g) and pool of muscle samples (12.5 g of tongue, masseter, diaphragm, and heart) were used. PCR was performed using Tox4 and Tox5 primers which amplified a 529 bp fragment. The DNA extraction and PCR were performed three times, and all tissue samples were tested individually (brain, tongue, masseter, diaphragm, and heart). For histopathology, fragments of tissues were fixed in 10% of buffered formal saline and stained with HE. Histopathological results were all negative. PCR showed 25/150 (16.6%) positive samples, being 17/120 (14.1%) and 8/30 (26.6%) from muscle, and brain tissues, respectively. Tissue cysts of T. gondii were identified by mouse bioassay in 54/98 (55.1%) samples, being 31/48 (64.6%) from muscle samples, and 23/50 (46.0%) from brain samples. Toxoplasma gondii isolation in muscle samples by mouse bioassay was higher than in PCR (P < 0.01). Results indicate that DNA from pig tissues interfered with 529-bp-PCR sensitivity, and mouse bioassay was better than PCR in detecting T. gondii in tissues from pigs. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mensuração de hormônios andrógenos, estrógeno, fosfatase ácida prostática (PAP) e antígeno prostático específico (PSA) em cães adultos com próstata normal e hiperplásica

Prostatic diseases have been a common problem in middle age and older intact male dogs. Among these, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) is the most frequent, age-related and hormonal-dependent condition of human and canine prostate. Blood samples were collected from 37 male intact dogs, tree years old dogs or more to determine androgens, estrogen, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) according to histopathological aspects. Low levels of estrogen and high levels of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were founded in dogs with BHP, respectively. Seric and urinary PAP levels were high in dogs with hyperplasia.