Search

Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic disorder mostly presented in the form of small intestine enteropathy caused by gluten and related prolamins intake, from cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye. The diagnosis of CD is currently based on clinical presentation, pathohistological evaluation of the small intestine biopsies and positive serology. The aim of our study was to investigate histological abnormalities in the villous architecture of the duodenal bulb and postbulb segment in patients diagnosed with CD and in those biopsies sent for examination but the diagnosis was not confirmed. Morphometric analysis was performed on 35 duodenal samples obtained from patients with the initial clinical diagnosis of CD while some patients had dyspepsia as a primary diagnosis. The obtained data of villus width measured in the bulbar and postbulbar part of the duodenum were found to be statistically significantly different (p = 0.0226). The width of the duodenal villi in the bulbar part was significantly thicker than the one in the postbulbar part, while the value of the villous height at the examined places was not statistically significant. Also, none of the cases in this study showed any extensive abnormalities in villous architecture. Besides pathohistological examination which remains the gold standard in diagnosing, morphometric analysis may also be helpful in the detection of the latent forms of this entity. Having in mind that the chronic persistence of this disease may indicate various systemic dysfunction, long-term follow-up of these patients is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscles comprise around 40% of total body weight, and they are essential for locomotion and body posture. Under experimental conditions, mild damage occurring due to excessive reactive oxygen species production could be mimicked with acute exposure of rats to carbon-tetrachloride. The aim of the present study was to evaluate morphometric changes occurring in rat biceps muscle 24 h after the injection of carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4). Biceps muscle tissue samples, obtained from control and CCl4-damaged groups, stained with hematoxylin and eosin were used to measure muscle fiber area (MFA), muscle fiber perimeter (B), muscle fiber circularity (MFC) and muscle fiber roundness (MFR). The obtained data were compared using Students t-test for two independent samples. Morphometric analysis revealed that the parameters such as MFA, B and MFC were statistically significantly altered (increased) in the group exposed to CCl4. At the same time, the MFR remained almost identical to that of the control group. The obtained results are in agreement with gross microscopic analysis and follow the tissue edema pattern. These data could be useful in future studies that are following changes in the skeletal muscles after CCl4 application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the pathohistological examination of tonsillar tissue, chronic tonsillitis can be classified as chronic hypertrophic tonsillitis (CHT) and recurrent tonsillitis (RT). CD68 is a glycoprotein ubiquitously expressed on the cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, as well as on the dendritic cells. Macrophages and dendritic cells are major initiators, effectors, and regulators of immune response in the palatine tonsil. The aim of this paper was to examine microanatomical distribution of CD68-immunopositive cells and to determine their numerical areal density in morphological compartments of palatine tonsils with CHT and RT, in order to show the possible differences in antigen-presentation potential between these two pathological conditions. As a material we used tonsils taken after tonsillectomy, from patients of both sexes, aged 10-29 years: six tonsils with RT and nine tonsils with CHT. The quantification of CD68- immunopositive cells by "ImageJ" software was performed on 5 µm thick serial paraffin tissue slices, which were stained immunohistochemically, by using monoclonal anti-CD68 antibody. The results of morphometrical analysis showed presence of CD68-immunopositive cells in all morphological compartments of tonsils with RT and CHT, being higher in number in RT compared with CHT. Statistically significant difference in numerical areal density of the CD68- immunopositive cells was found in the germinal centers of lymphoid follicles (RT > CHT), and interfollicular lymphoid tissue (CHT > RT). The difference in the number of CD68-immunopositive cells might imply the different mechanisms involved in the infiltration of tonsillar tissue with CD68-immunopositive cells, as well as the different antigen-presenting potential in these two conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadaveric kidney transplantation is on the constant rise due to decreased mortality of younger individuals. In these transplantations, it is of great importance to determine not only the age limit of recipients, but also the status of donors. This investigation included 30 tissue samples of human cadaveric kidneys (both genders, aged 20-85). Tissue samples were stained with Mallory's trichrome stain and analyzed by a light microscope. Images were analyzed using ImageJ software. As a result of cluster analysis, 743 glomeruli were classified into 3 groups by morphometric characteristics and into 3 age groups (I with average age of 29, II with 44, III with average of 71 years old). By morphometric characteristics, there were 114 sclerotic glomeruli with the significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) smallest area and cellularity, and the highest connective tissue percentage in the first group. There were 430 morphologically normal glomeruli with the greatest number of cells/area unit in the second group (p ≤ 0.0001). In the third group, there were 199 hypertrophic glomeruli with the greatest area, significantly large cellularity and connective tissue area (p ≤ 0.0001). Out of 114 sclerotic glomeruli, the smallest number belonged to I age group (p ≤ 0.0001). There were 430 morphologically normal glomeruli in total. Most of them were in II age group (p ≤ 0.0001). Most of 199 hypertrophic glomeruli were in III age group vs. other two (p ≤ 0.0001), as well as in II vs. I (p ≤ 0.0001). Morphometric analysis of morphologically normal glomeruli should be of the greatest importance for transplantation, and not only the assessment of their total number and number of detected manifestly sclerotic glomeruli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature data suggest that with advancing age there occurs a functional decline in the gonadotropic cells, while the data concerning structural changes in these cells are rather scarce. The aim of this paper was to detect and quantify the changes in human gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary in male cadavers of different ages using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. The material in this study consisted of adenohypophyseal tissue from 14 male cadavers of different ages, starting from the fourth decade of life. Adenohypophyseal tissue sections were routinely histologically processed and stained with immunohistochemical monoclonal anti-LH antibody to detect gonadotropic LH cells. Digital images of the visual fields of immunohistochemically processed adenohypophyseal sections were then morphometrically analyzed using the Image J system. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical software package. The results of the morphometrical analysis showed that volume density of LH cells did not change significantly with advancing age, while their area, perimeter and Feret's diameter increased statistically significantly. Nuclear morphometric parameters did not change significantly, while the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of LH cells decreased with ageing, with a statistically significant decline observed in cases aged over 70 years. Based on the obtained results the conclusion may be drawn that the density of LH cells does not change significantly with ageing, but that they undergo hypertrophy in order to maintain normal hormonal secretion. Long-lasting hypertrophy of these cells ultimately leads to their functional decline, which reaches statistical significance after 70 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancers denote malignant epithelial tumors showing complete hormonal independence with negative HER2 expression. Histologically, in most cases these are high-grade tumors, showing fields of central necrosis, lymphocytic infiltration, and fibrosis. The aim of the study was to examine morphometric parameters related to nuclear size depending on the type of carcinoma, as well as tumor proliferation. The entire research was conducted at the Center for Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, Clinical Center Niš. Sixty-four biopsy samples of triple-negative breast cancers were analysed, including 40 ductal, 6 lobular, 6 medullary, 4 ductulolobular, 4 metaplastic, 2 adenoid cystic and 2 apocrine carcinomas. The morphometric analysis was performed in the software package "ImageJ" version 1.52a. The statistical analysis of data was done in the software package SPSS 15.0. By comparing the values of the studied morphometric parameters, statistically significantly higher parameter values for Area, Perim and Feret were found in the group of medullary carcinomas, as well as the parameters for Integrated Optical Density. The value of integrated optical density was also very high in the ductal carcinoma group, but with no statistically significant differences due to high standard deviation. Metaplastic carcinoma showed the highest proliferative activity. Numerous similar studies have been trying to identify a specific marker of these carcinomas, which is still a challenge due to its aggressiveness. These are high-grade tumors with a broad spectrum of polymorphisms, usually with an overlapping morphological presentation, therefore, additional analyses are required in order to set adequate diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipofuscin has been known as an "age pigment". The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of lipofuscin accumulation in cerebellum Purkinje cells during the process of aging, as well as the Purkinje cell volume density. The cerebellar tissue samples taken from cadavers were divided into four age groups. Stained tissue samples were analyzed for lipofuscin distribution patterns. Morphometric analysis included the quantification of Purkinje cell volume density. Purkinje cells of neocerebellum predominantly did not contain lipofuscin inclusions, or only discrete diffusely distributed lipofuscin granules were present after the age of 50. Even after 70 years of age, not many cells contained lipofuscin. Besides, no significant changes in the volume density of Purkinje cells were observed. Physiological changes in the elderly associated with cerebellum function impairment may be related to the increased lipofuscinogenesis in Purkinje cells after the age of 50, but especially after the age of 70 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]