Jornal de Citologia e Histologia

Soriatane (Acitretin) drug is a synthetic vitamin A analogue and the main metabolite of etretinate. It is considered to be the latest medicine prescribed to psoriasis patients. However, it is not used frequently because of its side-effect profile. Little is known about the Acitretin intestinal toxicity, so the objective of this study is evaluation of soriatane adverse events in daily practice treatment on the duodenum enterocytes of male rats. Two groups each of 10 Wistar male rats (5-6 weeks old), one of them is the treated group and the other is the control group. The drug was dissolved immediately in distilled water before administration, and given to treated rats by gastric intubation in the morning (0.2 mg/kg/day for 12 months), while the control group received only distilled water. A significant reduction in number and height of villi with increased mucosal thickness. Damage in the duodenum tissues with villi fusion, distortion flattened epithelial cells; intense lamina propria and edema were observed. The ultra-structure alterations were indicated by Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial atrophy with cristiolysis. Proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear deformity and increased number of liposomes were also noted. It may concluded that Soriatane led to irreversible ultra- structural alterations in rat enterocytes after 12 months treatment and precautions should be taken in prescribing acitretin to patients.

Aims and objective:This study aims at evaluating the patients of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), by comparing radiological and cyto-histopathological findings to determine the importance of histopathology in the diagnosis of DPLD.

Materials and methods:Seventy patients with chief complaints of dyspnoea & cough and bilateral diffuse shadows on chest radiography were selected. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and bronchoscopy was done for further assessment.

Results:Out of70 patients, 44 were finally diagnosed on the basis of bronchoscopic findings, as usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) 24 cases (54.5%) and as non UIP in 20 cases (45.5%). Two cases of UIP additionally suffered from bronchogenic carcinoma.

Conclusion:A combination of clinical, radiological, cytological and histological findings is necessary to evaluate the cases of DPLD and transbronchial needle biopsy (TBNB) gives a definitive edge over other diagnostic measures.

The contribution of B lymphocytes and their products to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system is still not fully understood. Beside their role as precursors of antibody-secreting cells, B cells participate in the regulation of T cell activation through their antigen-presenting capacity, the production of cytokines and chemokines and the formation of ectopic germinal centers in intermeningeal spaces. This article reviews the current knowledge on B cells within the cerebrospinal fluid in inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system. Here, we will focus on two prototypical inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system: multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune-mediated inflammatory disease, and infection-triggered inflammation in Lyme neuroborreliosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of sex steroid deficiency on the mucosa of rat tongue as well as the influence of Tibolone.

Methods: The tongue mucosa of ovariectomized rats (OVX) was compared to sham-operated rats by histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The same evaluation was also performed after hormone replacement therapy.

Results: The OVX animals demonstrated significant degenerative changes of tongue mucosa such as reduced thickness of epithelium with an irregular, significantly thinner keratinized surface. Partial disappearance of lingual papilla with irregular epithelial ridges were also noted. At ultrastructural level there were wide intercellular spaces, swollen and/or degenerated mitochondria, irregular dense nuclei, dilated perinuclear cisternae, cytoplasmic vacuolization and decreased tonofillament aggregations. The results from immunohistochemistry showed the possibility that the turnover period was prolonged in OVX rats. The degenerative changes of tongue mucosa were inhibited after administration of Tibolone.

Conclusions: The overall results suggest that sex steroids have a specific role in the maintenance of normal tongue mucosa, and its deficiency deteriorates tongue mucosa ultrastructure and histology. Tibolone has a mild estrogenic action and has a good supportive effect on tongue structure.