Cesar Alexandre Fabrega Carvalho

Epithelial-stromal interactions in salivary glands of rats exposed to chronic passive smoking

OBJECTIVES Cigarette smoke leads to precancerous and cancerous lesions in the mouth even when the exposure is passive. The salivary glands are amongst the tissues exposed to the smoke but it is unclear whether or not passive cigarette exposure is related to detectable changes in these tissues. The objective of this study was to observe the tissue architecture of the parotid and submandibular glands in rats after passive cigarette exposure and to measure any changes that occurred. DESIGN Twenty Wistar rats were divided into 10 non-smoking animals and 10 animals exposed to cigarette smoke. After 6 months of smoke exposure samples were collected from both exposed and unexposed salivary glands for histological examination under both transmitted and polarized light microscopy. RESULTS Changes in the glands of exposed animals included involution of the cytoplasm and nucleus of the acinar cells and the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate. There was an abnormal accumulation of type I collagen in the stroma and an enlarged interacinar space filled with extracellular matrix. CONCLUSION Passive smoking led to substantial structural changes in the salivary glands which could significantly affect function.

Morphometric and ultrastructure features of the ventral prostate of rats (Rattus norvegicus) submitted to long-term nicotine treatment

The harmful effects of nicotine on male genital system fertility have been reported in experimental and clinical studies. However, its effects on prostatic cells and glandular pathogenesis remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyse the histological, histochemical and ultrastructural alterations, in addition to stereology, of the ventral lobe of the prostate of rats, submitted to chronic nicotine administration, as well as to establish the relationship between these changes and prostate diseases. Twelve male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into two experimental groups: group I (nicotine) and group II (control). Samples of the ventral prostate were collected, processed and submitted to histological analysis, acid phosphatase histochemistry and ultrastructural analysis by transmission and scanning electron microscopies. The results showed that in the nicotine group, the secretory epithelial cells of the ventral lobe of the prostate were atrophied, and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia occurred and reduced the expression of acid phosphatase. The disorganisation of organelles involved in the glandular secretory process, accompanied by biomembrane destructuring, was also observed. In conclusion, nicotine causes drastic alterations in the secretory epithelium of the ventral prostate, compromising its function. Furthermore, nicotine also induces premalignant lesions in the prostate gland, thus representing a risk factor in the development of prostate diseases.

Experimental alcoholism and pathogenesis of prostatic diseases in UChB rats

Previous studies have shown that long‐term alcohol treatment has negative effects on prostatic stromal—epithelial interaction. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural alterations that occur in the prostatic stroma and epithelium of rats submitted to chronic alcohol ingestion and alcohol abstinence, as well as to establish the relationship between these changes and prostatic diseases. Thirty male rats (10 Wistar and 20 UChB rats) were divided into three experimental groups: the control group received tap water, the alcoholic group received ethanol diluted to 10° G.L. for 150 days, and the abstinent group received the same liquid diet as the alcoholic group up to 120 days of treatment and only tap water for 30 days thereafter. At the end of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the ventral lobe of the prostate was removed and processed for histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses. In addition, plasma testosterone levels were measured. The results showed prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, infolding of the epithelium towards the stroma, stromal hypertrophy and the presence of inflammatory cells in alcoholic animals. In the abstinent group, alterations were noted mainly in the stromal area. In conclusion, ethanol triggers alterations in prostatic epithelial and stromal compartments, affecting the stromal microenvironment and predisposing the organ to pathological processes.

Subcutaneous Immunotherapy Improves the Symptomatology of Allergic Rhinitis

Introduction The relevance of allergic rhinitis is unquestionable. This condition affects peoples quality of life and its incidence has increased over the last years. Objective Thus, this study aims to analyze the effectiveness of subcutaneous injectable immunotherapy in cases of nasal itching, sneeze, rhinorrhea and nasal congestion in allergic rhinitis patients. Methods In the present study, the same researcher analyzed the records of 281 patients. Furthermore, the researchers identified allergens through puncture cutaneous tests using standardized extracts containing acari, fungi, pet hair, flower pollen, and feathers. Then, the patients underwent treatment with subcutaneous specific immunotherapy, using four vaccine vials for desensitization, associated with environmental hygiene. The authors analyzed conditions of nasal itching, sneeze, rhinorrhea, and nasal congestion throughout the treatment, and assigned them with a score ranging from zero (0), meaning absence of these symptoms to three (3), for severe cases. The symptoms were statistically compared in the beginning, during, and after treatment. Results In this study, authors analyzed the cases distribution according to age and the evolution of symptomatology according to the scores, comparing all phases of treatment. The average score for the entire population studied was 2.08 before treatment and 0.44 at the end. These results represent an overall improvement of ∼79% in symptomatology of allergic rhinitis in the studied population. Conclusion The subcutaneous immunotherapy as treatment of allergic rhinitis led to a reduction in all symptoms studied, improving the quality of life of patients, proving itself as an important therapeutic tool for these pathological conditions.

Morphological alterations in the prostate stroma of rats submitted to chronic nicotine treatment.

The stroma plays a fundamental role in the function of different glandular systems. In the prostate, the stroma is responsible for the development and maintenance of the differentiated state of the epithelium. Nicotine induces tobacco dependence and promotes morphological alterations in the epithelial compartment. However, its effects on the prostate stroma are unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphology of the stromal microenvironment in the ventral prostate lobe of rats submitted to chronic nicotine administration. Twenty rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into two groups: 10 animals received subcutaneous nicotine and 10 animals received physiological saline by the same route. After treatment, samples were collected from the ventral prostate lobe, processed and submitted to histology, histochemistry, and ultrastructural analysis by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The level of circulating testosterone was also analyzed. The results showed a significant increase in the density of type I collagen (56.3% to 85.9%, P < 0.01) and a decrease in the density of type III collagen (43.7% to 14.1%, P < 0.01). In addition, there was a qualitative increase in elastic fibers and in the number of smooth muscle cells with a secretory phenotype. Circulating testosterone levels were significantly reduced (898.3 to 363.1 ng/mL, P < 0.01). The results showed that nicotine modifies different components of the prostate stroma, suggesting that this drug is a risk factor for morphofunctional alterations in the prostate gland. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2012.

A Different Origin of the Right Gastro-omental Artery

La arteria gastro-omental es una de las ramas de la arteria hepatica comun. Las alteraciones en el desarrollo embrionario de las arterias ventrales pueden causar variaciones marcadas. Se observo una variante rara de la arteria gastro-omental derecha durante la diseccion de un cadaver de un hombre de 50 anos de edad. La presencia de esta variante no se ha informado en la literatura especializada. Este caso de origen diferente de la arteria gastro-omental se describe detalladamente con el fin de proporcionar informacion que pueda contribuir a la cirugia abdominal superior.