ABSTRACT
placenta previa [PP] is an obstetric complication that can affect maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence is rising due to cesarean sections. There is no quantitative data of placenta in PP. In this study, quantitative parameters of placenta in cases with PP in comparison with normally implanted controls were investigated. In this quasi experimental study, placentas from pregnancies with PP and normally implanted controls [n=10] were obtained from women who underwent cesarean section. Three full-thickness columns of each placenta were sampled using systematic uniform random sampling [SURS]. Columns were cut into slices and slices were sectioned with 4 microm thickness. SURS selected sections were stained by Masson's trichrome. Stereological analysis was done on 8-10 SURS microscopic microm fields of each section. Absolute volume and volume density of chorionic villi, inter-villous space, syncytiotrophoblast, fibrin and blood vessels in chorionic villi were estimated in both groups. Statistical analysis was done using Mann Whitney-U test and significant level was set at p<0.05. There was a significant reduction in total volume and volume density of fibrin deposits on the surface of chorionic villi [p<0.05], and a significant increment in total volume and volume density of chorionic villous blood vessels in PP group in comparison with C group [p<0.05]. Results showed that impairment in situation of implantation in PP can cause significant changes in the structure of placenta. These changes probably can be influential on the evolution and survival of fetus
ABSTRACT
Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by environmental and genetic factors. It leads to destruction of tooth supporting tissues and may cause tooth loss. Cytokine TNF-alpha plays a role in the development of inflammatory lesions and development and progression of the chronic periodontitis disease. Some polymorphisms of this gene are accompanied with change in expression level. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between TNF-alpha -308 G>A [rs1800629] polymorphism and chronic periodontitis. In this case-control study, 100 patients with chronic periodontitis and 100 normal subjects, referring to the clinic of Zahedan Dental School, were evaluated. Venous blood samples of participants were taken. DNA was extracted using salting-out technique and gene polymorphism was studied at this position using specific primers by T-ARMS PCR method. To investigate the frequency of genotypes and alleles in both groups, chi[2] test was employed and p<0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. The frequencies of AA, GA, and GG genotypes in the patient and control groups were, 1%, 8%, and 91%, and 0%, 16%, and 85%. The frequencies of A and G allele in patient and control groups were 5% and 95%, and 7.9% and 92.1% respectively. There was no significant difference in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles between the groups. The present study indicates that there is no association between TNF-alpha [-308 G>A] polymorphism and chronic periodontitis in this population
ABSTRACT
The adverse effects of periodontitis on dental pulp have long been argued. The purpose of this study was to investigate stereological indices of dental pulp in patients with advanced periodontitis compared with healthy people. In this case-control study, 15 single-rooted permanent teeth of patients with advanced periodontal diseases and that of people with healthy periodontium, as control group, were investigated. All teeth were intact, and without filling and decay. After tissue processing, longitudinal serial sections of the tooth were prepared and stained by Masson's trichrome. A grid containing organized points superimposed on the images of each section randomly. Then, the points hit with each subject were counted. The volume of pulp and its components in both groups were estimated, using Cavalieri's principle. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test. The significance level was considered as p<0.05. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of inflammation and calcification intensity [p<0.05]. Microscopic evaluations of tissue sections showed significant increase in predentin thickness in periodontitis group than control group [p<0.05]. In addition, statistically significant reduction was observed in periodontitis group with respect to pulp absolute volume, volume density, odontoblastic layer absolute volume, collagen fibers absolute volume, and absolute pulp blood vessels volume, compared with control group [p<0.05]. Results showed periodontal disease affects stereological parameters of pulp. Because of reduction of pulp volume and narrowing of root canal, precise diagnostic and therapeutic considerations are recommended during treatment of those teeth
ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause changes in the placenta. In this study, quantitative changes of placenta were investigated using stereological methods. In this case-control study, 10 placentas from systemic lupus erythematosus pregnancy [antinuclear antibody>10], and 10 placentas from normal uncomplicated pregnancy were obtained from Imam Ali Hospital. Volume of placentas was estimated using Cavalieri's principle. 3 full-thickness columns of each placenta were taken using systematic uniform random sampling [SURS]. After fixation in modified Lillie's solution, they were cut into 5 mm slices. 5-7 sections selected from each slice using SURS and stained by Masson's trichrome. Then stereological analyses were done on 8-10 SURS fields of each section. Placental volume, absolute volume and volume density of chorionic villi, intervillous space, syncytiotrophoblast, fibrin and blood vessels in chorionic villi were estimated in both groups. The Mann Whitney-U test was employed to determine statistically significant differences between the means. Significant level was set at p<0.05. Total volume and volume density of fibrin and total volume and volume density of blood vessels significantly increased in SLE group in comparison with control group [p<0.01]. Volume density of syncytiotrophoblast increased 50% in SLE group in comparison with control group, this increase was statistically significant [p<0.01]. Results showed that systemic lupus erythematosus disease can cause significant changes in the structure of placenta that may be influential on the evolution and survival of fetus
ABSTRACT
Opiate abuse is a matter of serious concern in adolescent men. The primary drugs used in the treatment of opiate addiction are methadone and buprenorphine. This study was undertaken to determine the quantitative and qualitative changes in rat testes after methadone and buprenorphine administration. In this experimental study, 15 male Wistar rats, each weighing 250 +/- 15 g, were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups [n = 5]. The first group received an intraperitoneal dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day methadone and the second group received an intraperitoneal dose of 30 mg/kg/day buprenorphine for 15 days each. The third group [control] received normal saline injections. After the last injection dose, the rats were sacrificed and their testes were removed, weighed, and fixed in modified Lillie's solution, and embedded in 3.5% agar, after which 1-mm slices perpendicular to the long axis of the testes were prepared using a tissue slicer. Then, on the basis of Cavaleri's principle, the testis volume was calculated by point-counting method. For histological analysis, systematic random samples of each testis were selected, processed, and stained by hematoxylin and eosin [H and E] and periodic acid schiff [PAS] methods. The results obtained for the 3 groups were compared using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. P < 0.05 was considered as the level of significance. Stereological analysis of rat testes showed no significant effect of methadone and buprenorphine administration on the testis volume [P > 0.05]. However, microscopic studies of rat tissues in the methadone-administered group showed atrophic seminiferous tubules, reduction of sperm stem cells, destruction of Sertoli cells, irregularities in the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules, cellular degeneration of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, and significantly fewer spermatozoids than in the control group. Furthermore, in the methadone-administered group, the germinal cells of seminiferous tubules were damaged and extensively detached from the basement membrane and the vessels of the interstitial tissue were congested. Microscopic studies of the buprenorphine-administered group showed no significant changes in the basement membrane, seminiferous tubules, Sertoli cells, interstitial tissue, and sperms. Buprenorphine is more suitable for treating opiate addiction in males since it does not affect normal testicular structure and function
Subject(s)
Male , Animals, Laboratory , Methadone , Buprenorphine , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Tamarindus indica Linn was used as a traditional medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus in human and experimental animals. This study investigated effects of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica seeds [AETIS] against STZ-induced damages in pancreatic islands by means of stereological methods. sixty matured normoglycemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200- 250 gr, were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups [n=10]. Control, STZ-induced diabetic; by intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/Kg streptozotocin, Treated control group [TC]; received AETIS at a dose of 200mg/kg/day, and AETIS treated diabetic groups [TD1-3]; received respectively AETIS at the dose of 50, 100,and 200 mg/kg/day by gavage from one week after induction of diabetes by STZ. After 8 weeks of experiment, stereological estimation of volume density and total volume of islets and beta cells, volume weighted mean islets volume, mass of beta cells, islets, and pancreas and total number of islets were done. Volume density and total volume of islets, volume weighted mean islets volume, volume density islets/pancreas, volume density beta cells/islet, mass of islets and pancreas of treated diabetic groups [TD1-3] were significantly higher than untreated diabetic group [P<0.001], and in TD3 group these values were comparable to controls. Although total volume and mass of beta cells in TD1-3 were significantly higher than D group but they were significantly lower than control group [P<0.05]. Total number of islets, pancreas wet weight and volume did not show any significant changes between control and experimental groups [P>0.05]. Results suggested that AETIS partially restores pancreatic beta cells and repairs STZ- induced damages in rats