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Analysis of morphological changes of the peritoneal membrane is an essential part of animal studies when investigating molecular mechanisms involved in the development of peritoneal fibrosis or testing the effects of potential therapeutic agents. Current methods, such as histology and immunohistochemistry, require time consuming sample processing and analysis and result in limited spatial information. In this paper we present a new method to evaluate structural and chemical changes in an animal model of peritoneal fibrosis that is based on hyperspectral imaging and a model of light transport. The method is able to distinguish between healthy and diseased subjects based on morphological as well as physiological parameters such as blood and scattering parameters. Furthermore, it enables evaluation of changes, such as degree of inflammation and fibrosis, that are closely related to histological findings.

Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle play a critical role in the incidence of colon carcinoma. In order to investigate the effects of high-fat mixed-lipid (HFML) diet in conjunction with long-term swimming, the antioxidant capacity of skeletal and cardiac muscles were observed in rats with 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinoma. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one control group and four cancer groups: sedentary and swimming groups fed low fat corn oil diet and sedentary and swimming groups, fed aHFMLdiet. After 6monthsofswimming, rats were sacrificed and the blood, cardiac and soleus muscle were taken for analysis. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose concentrations were measured and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase as well as levels of malondial-dehyde and glutathione were determined.

Objective We investigated whether the recipient’s complement system function, kidney graft endothelial ultrastructural injury, and microRNA (miRNA) expression before transplantation may be associated with the risk of posttransplant de novothrombotic microangiopathy (TMA).Methods Complement system function assessment, histological and ultrastructural examination of preimplantation and kidney graft biopsies, and microRNA assessment were performed on kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with de novoTMA.Results On the basis of the clinical course, histological findings, and miRNA patterns, the following two de novoTMA phenotypes were observed: a self-limiting disease that was localized to the kidney graft and a systemic disease that progressed to graft failure without timely treatment. Decreased alternative complement pathway activity and ultrastructural endothelial injury before transplantation were confirmed in all five KTRs and four of five KTRs, respectively, but they did not correlate with de novoTMA severity.Conclusions Alternative complement pathway abnormalities in KTRs and endothelial ultrastructural injury on preimplantation biopsy might be associated with de novoposttransplant TMA, although they did not predict posttransplant TMA severity (localized vs.systemic). The specific miRNA expression patterns in preimplantation kidney graft biopsies demonstrated a borderline statistically significant difference and might provide more accurate information on posttransplant TMA severity.