Protective effect of fish liver oil and propolis on anticonvulsant drugs-induced osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a major health problem and its prevalence increases the risk of bone fracture. It is classified into primary [postmenopausal or age related] and secondary [related to chronic diseases, drug therapy, or life style]. There is accumulating evidence that patients on antiepileptic drugs [AEDs] are at an increasing risk of developing osteoporosis. The present study aimed at investigating the protective effect of dietary natural products, fish liver oil, and propolis on osteoporosis caused by anticonvulsant drugs. A total of 105 albino rats were used, divided into seven groups of 15 rats each. Group 1 was used as a control group. In group 2, rats were injected intraperitoneally with pilocarpine [300 mg/kg body weight]. The pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats in the other five groups were orally treated with valproate [400 mg/kg body weight], a combination of valproate and fish liver oil [0.4 ml/kg body weight/day], a combination of valproate and propolis [50 mg/kg body weight/ day], fish liver oil, and propolis, respectively. At the end of the experiment [6 months treatment], animals were sacrificed, femur shafts were extracted, decalcified, and processed into paraffin blocks for histopathological and image analysis and morphometric studies. Rats treated with the antiepileptic valproate alone showed a decrease in the thickness of shaft cortical bone, with a marked decrease in the number of osteocytes, increase in Haversian canals, and decrease in bone trabeculae, disruption of normal architecture, and widening of bone marrow spaces compared with the control group. Treatment with the dietary natural products, fish liver oil, and propolis along with the AED valproate might improve histopathological changes and morphometric parameters in bone associated with AED-induced osteoporosis

Image analysis assessment of fibrosis from liver biopsy of chronic hepatitis patients

Liver fibrosis results from chronic inflammation of the hepatic parenchyma. Progressive accumulation of fibrous tissue eventually leads to cirrhosis and its complications. The severity of liver fibrosis defines the stage of chronic hepatitis and carries with it important clinical implications. Histological scoring systems such as Ishak provide descriptive evaluation of the liver tissue mainly in terms of architectural changes without measuring the amount of fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the theoretical advantage of image analysis morphometry for providing truly quantitative data with respect to the amount of fibrous tissue. A Lieca Qwin 500 image analyzer with a damaged area morphometry software was used applying the interactive method to measure the fibrous tissue area on the basis of different colors of hepatocytes and fibers following staining with Masson's trichrome stain. Forty-three patients [38 men and five women] were recruited into the study with a mean age of 45.5 years [range 15-58 years]. Of them, 40 had chronic viral hepatitis and three had chronic nonviral hepatitis. Morphometric measurements of fibrosis obtained with the image analyzer were highly correlated with results obtained using the Ishak method. The correlation was found to be statistically significant using the chi2-test [P<0.0001]. Quantitative image analysis for estimation of the percentage area of liver fibrosis is a simple and accurate method for evaluating fibrous tissue in patients with chronic hepatitis, aiding therapeutic approaches

Vitamin C and E antagonistic effect for tamoxifen-induced rat liver damage: a histopathological, histochemical and ultrastructural studies

Tamoxifen is widely used to treat oestrogen dependent carcinoma of the breast. Previous long term studies have shown that oral administration of tamoxifen induces hepatoproliferative lesions and hepatocellular tumors in rats. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on liver of rats and the possible protective effects of vitamin C and/ or vitamin E in amelioration of these effects. A total of 70 adult female albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into seven groups. Each group contained 10 rats. The rats of the first group were kept as control. Animals of the second group were daily dosed orally with tamoxifen 20 mg/ kg b. w. by stomach tube for two weeks. The third group was given vitamin C at dose level of 0.01 g/ 100 g b w by stomach tube, 15 min before daily administration of tamoxifen. The fourth group was given vitamin E at dose level of 100 mg/ kg b.w, 15 min prior to daily administration of tamoxifen throughout the whole period. The fifth group was given combination of the two vitamins [vitamin C and vitamin E] at dose level of 0.01 g/ 100 gb.w. and 100 mg/ kg b.w. respectively, 15 min before daily administration of tamoxifen for two weeks. Each of the remaining two groups was daily given vitamin C [0.01 g/ 100 g b.w.] and/ or vitamin E [100 mg/ kg b.w.] only for two weeks. Paraffin sections were used for the histopathological study. For the histochemical investigations, sections were stained to demonstrate DNA, mucopolysaccharides and protein content. Histopathological effects of tamoxifen were demonstrated in liver as vacuolar degeneration, fatty changes and hydropic degeneration. Signs of degeneration in the form of karyolysis and karyorrhexis were also seen. Moderate dilatation of blood sinusoids, some dysplastic cells and chromalin clumping could be observed. Quantitative DNA image analysis [Lecia image] showed a decrease in DNA content [hypoploidy] in liver of rats treated with tamoxifen only. Tamoxifen induced histochemical changes consisted of marked diminution of protein and mucopolysaccharides content. No histopathological, histochemical and ultra structural changes could be noticed in rats treated with vitamin C and, or vitamin E only. The treatment of rats with vitamin C and/ or vitamin E prior to tamoxifen resulted in amelioration of the histopathological changes of liver as well as histochemical and ultrastructural changes

Post-mortem estimation of thyroid hormones in blood and vitreous humor combined with the histopathological examination of the thyroid gland

In forensic medicine, the study of thyroid function and disease is important in cases of sudden death. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possibility of diagnosing post-mortem thyroid hormonal abnormalities and to compare the thyroid hormone levels [both in blood and vitreous humor] with the histopathological appearance of the thyroid gland. Thirty forensic autopsy cases of both sexes were included in this study. Thyroid hormones [T3 and T4] were analyzed in the femoral blood as well as in the vitreous humor of both eyes for every case in addition to the histopathological examination of both thyroid lobes. Serum T4 was found to be a better indicator than serum T3 for assessing the thyroid status and was matching better than serum T3 with the histopathological pattern. The serum T3 was positively correlated to the serum T4. The serum and vitreous T3 and T 4 levels were positively correlated to each other. The postmortem estimation of the thyroid hormones was helpful in the diagnosis of sudden unexpected death. Measurements of post-mortem T3 and T4 in serum were better indicators than vitreous T3 and T4 and, serum T4 is more valuable than serum T3 for the assessment of the thyroid status. Postmortem T3 and T4 levels in serum and vitreous are moderately comparable to the postmortem histopathological appearances

Antioxidative effects of melatonin in protection against renal tubular damage caused by fumonisin [histological, histochemical and electronmicroscopical studies]

Melatonin is the chief secretory product of the pineal gland and has a very potent antioxidant activity. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the mycotoxin fumonisin on renal tubular damage and protective role of melatonin to reduce this effect. A total of 48 female albino rats weighing [100-140 g] were used in this study. The animals were divided into six groups, each group contained 8 rats. The first group served as control. The animals of the second group were fed ration contaminated with fumonisin [100 mg/kg diet]. The third group of rats were fed ration contaminated with fumonisin [200 mg/ kg diet]. The fourth group was given daily interperitoneal injection of 10 mg/ kg melatonin and fed ration contaminated with fumonism [100 mg/ Kg diet]. The fifth group was given daily interperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg melatonin and fed ration contaminated with fumonisin [200 mg/kg diet]. The sixth group was given melatonin only at a dose level of 10 mg /kg. The rats were treated for one month Histological effects in kidney were demonstrated in the form of vacuolar degeneration in tubular epithelial cells with degenerated and pyknotic nuclei in animals fed ration contaminated with fumonisin [100 mg/kg diet], markedly degenerated tubules and glomerular degeneration were noticed in group of rats treated with fumonisin [200 mg/kg diet]. Histochemical results showed marked diminution of protein content, mucopolysaccharides and increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. Quantitative DNA image analysis [Leica image] showed that the kidney contained 12.15% aneuploid cells in the group of rats fed fumonisine at dose level of 200 mg/kg diet. No pathological, histochemical or ultrastructural changes could be noticed in rats treated with melatonin only. Ultrastructural changes were observed in animals fed ration contaminated with fumonisin in the form of shrinkage and degeneration of nuclei. The mitochondria were condensed, fragmented and variable in size and shape. The endoplasmic reticulum was fragmented. The treatment of rats with melatonin along with fumonisin resulted in an improvement in histolgical picture as well as histochemical parameters and ultrastructural changes