Stromal characterization and comparison of odontogenic cysts and odontogenic tumors using picrosirius red stain and polarizing microscopy: A retrospective and histochemical study.

INTRODUCTION: Odontogenic lesions represent a range of conditions, the features of which probably depend on the stage of induction towards tooth formation reached prior to neoplastic or hamartomatous proliferation. It has been also suggested that inductive changes may allow progression from one type of odontogenic tumor to another. The epithelium also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of these lesions; even stroma is likely to play an equally important role in the pathogenesis and biological behavior. So, this study was performed to investigate, compare, and correlate different types of collagen fibers in odontogenic cysts and odontogenic tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty each pre‑diagnosed odontogenic cysts and tumors were histochemically analyzed using a special stain (Picrosirius red stain) and polarizing microscopy. RESULTS: Seven cases (99%) of inflammatory cysts exhibited predominantly greenish‑yellow birefringence indicating procollagen, intermediate, or pathologic collagen fibers suggestive of loosely packed collagen fibers. Predominant yellowish‑orange birefringence exhibited by 21 cases (99%) of developmental cysts was comparable to the yellowish‑orange and orangish‑red to red birefringence exhibited by odontogenic tumors suggesting tightly packed fibers. CONCLUSIONS: The Picrosirius red stain in conjunction with polarizing microscopy serves as a specific and sensitive tool in characterizing collagen fibers in odontogenic cysts and odontogenic tumor.

Paracetamol induced fi xed drug eruption: a case report.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a type of drug-induced skin reaction pattern that characteristically recurs at the same skin or mucosal site. Paracetamol is one of the common drugs prescribed as analgesic–antipyretic agent in all age group of patients. FDE is a well-reported, but uncommon side-effect of paracetamol, usually the classic, pigmenting type most commonly found in children and adolescents. We present a case of 52 years old male patient who developed FDE over the glans penis following paracetamol use.

Elevated amniotic fluid amino acid levels in fetuses with gastroschisis

Our objective was to measure maternal plasma and amniotic fluid amino acid concentrations in pregnant women diagnosed as having fetuses with gastroschisis in the second trimester of pregnancy. Twenty-one pregnant women who had fetuses with gastroschisis detected by ultrasonography (gastroschisis group) in the second trimester and 32 women who had abnormal triple screenings indicating an increased risk for Down syndrome but had healthy fetuses (control group) were enrolled in the study. Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis, and maternal plasma samples were taken simultaneously. The chromosomal analysis of the study and control groups was normal. Levels of free amino acids and non-essential amino acids were measured in plasma and amniotic fluid samples using EZ:fast kits (EZ:fast GC/FID free (physiological) amino acid kit) by gas chromatography (Focus GC AI 3000 Thermo Finnigan analyzer). The mean levels of essential amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine) and non-essential amino acids (alanine, glycine, proline, and tyrosine) in amniotic fluid were found to be significantly higher in fetuses with gastroschisis than in the control group (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation between maternal plasma and amniotic fluid concentrations of essential and nonessential amino acids was found only in the gastroschisis group (P < 0.05). The detection of significantly higher amino acid concentrations in the amniotic fluid of fetuses with a gastroschisis defect than in healthy fetuses suggests the occurrence of amino acid malabsorption or of amino acid leakage from the fetus into amniotic fluid.

The role of hypo-osmotic swelling test in recurrent abortions.

The role of male factors in abortions has not been studied extensively. We undertook this study to determine if there was any relationship between hypo-osmotic swelling test score and recurrent abortions. This was a cross-sectional case control study conducted at the semen analysis laboratory at a tertiary level referral centre. The male partners of 25 patients who had three or more first trimester abortions of unknown etiology were chosen as cases. Controls were 26 unmarried volunteers with unknown fertility potential to represent the entire population. The conventional seminal parameters were studied according to WHO guidelines. The HOS test score were obtained by the method advocated by Jayendran et al. There were no statistically significant differences in mean sperm count, percentage motility and morphology among the cases and controls. We found a low hypo-osmotic swelling test score among the cases [55.7 +/- 1.197 (SEM)] than the controls [69.3 +/- 1.143 (SEM)] which was statistically significant [P < 0.001]. The normal spermatozoal membrane is the prerequisite for the specialized cell-to-cell communications and cell-to-cell binding. In spite of apparently normal semen analysis, subtle membrane defects in the spermatozoa, which could be the cause of defective membrane functions in the embryo effecting miscarriages, can be elucidated by the hypo-osmotic swelling test.

Effect of verapamil on gastric acid secretion and ulceration by pyloric-ligation and aspirin in albino rats.

Verapamil at doses 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (ip) and 40 mg/kg, orally reduced incidence of ulceration by Pyloric-ligation. Similarly verapamil inhibited aspirin-induced ulceration at a dose 40 mg/kg, orally and ip. Effect of verapamil on gastric acid secretion was also studied. At low dose it increased acid secretion significantly (5 mg/kg, ip) and at high dose (40 mg kg, ip and orally) it significantly decreased volume of secretion. This indicates that reduction of acid secretion contributes little to the antiulcer activity of verapamil because antiulcer effect was seen even at doses which did not decrease acid secretion.