The effect of chronic toxicity of pethidine on the spinal cord: an experimental model in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of chronic spinal analgesia with pethidine in a rabbit model. We introduced epidural catheters in twenty New Zealand white rabbits, divided into two groups, and we administered 0.5 mg/kg pethidine or the same volume of normal saline through the catheters, for three consecutive days. Throughout the experiment, the animals were evaluated in terms of neurological status using the Tarlov score. After the rabbit's euthanasia, 4 µm sections of spinal cord stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin were analyzed by a pathologist blinded to the study for neurohistopathological changes. The results were statistically analyzed with Prism 5 software for Windows. No significant differences were noticed between the two groups in as far as body temperature (p=0.295) and weight (p=0.139) were concerned. In the group of animals, which received epidural pethidine, nine rabbits showed histological changes suggestive for neurotoxicity at the lumbar level of the spinal cord. These findings were significantly different compared with the control group which received only saline (no microscopic lesions revealed; p=0.0006). When combining the data from both groups or using the pethidine group alone, there was a significant correlation between the presence of neurological injury (Tarlov score) and the presence of the histopathological lesions in the spinal cord (r=-0.709, p=0.0002 and r=-0.635, p=0.013, respectively). Based on our findings, the chronic epidural administration of pethidine in rabbits induces moderate to severe histological changes on the spinal cord, but further investigations are needed to make a definitive statement about the histological effect of pethidine on the neurological tissue.

Histological findings in the Wistar rat cornea following UVB irradiation.

The acute clinical effect of UVR on the eye is photokeratitis, which is an inflammatory state that might be regarded as the sunburn of the eye. In this study, we used a rat model to assess the histological injuries induced in the intact rat cornea following its exposure to UVB radiation. A total of 15 two-months-old female Wistar rats were purchased from the Animal Facility of "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The rats were fed ad libitum and kept under standard conditions with a 12 hours light/dark cycle. The rats were randomly divided into five groups, including control group (no UVB exposure), group II (a single exposure to a dose of 45 mJ UVB/cm(2) for 47 seconds), group III (a single exposure to 90 mJ UVB/cm(2) for one minute and 57 seconds), group IV (a single exposure to 180 mJ UVB/cm(2) for three minutes and 57 seconds), and group V (a single exposure to 360 mJ UVB/cm(2)² for five minutes and 26 seconds). After 24 hours of recovery, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The rat eyes were extracted, harvested and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The eye samples were then processed through paraffin technique for further histological examination. We found that, following the UVB exposure, the cornea showed significant inflammatory responses (infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes), hemorrhage and gross damages such as superficial and deep ulcerous keratitis and epithelial exfoliation. The severity of these findings was associated with the increase of UVB radiation intensity and exposure period.

The influence of hexestrol diacetate on gametogene function in male rabbit.

The research was performed on 24 male sexually mature domestic rabbits, divided in two equal batches. The rabbits from the first batch were administered 0.5 mg/kg of body weight hexestrol diacetate intramuscularly twice a week for four consecutive weeks. Batch 2 was used for control. The testicular tissue samples obtained after orchidectomy were processed in order to obtain histological samples, stained using the Goldner's trichrome method. Examination of histological sections from the control batch showed that a natural aspect of seminal tubule epithelium, without reported injuries, even discrete. In the experimental batch were recorded a number of changes to all categories of the seminal cells. The severity and extent of damages varied greatly from one seminal tube to another and even from one part to another of the same seminal tube. These changes were the appearance of apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, vacuolar degenerescence of spermatocytes and spermatides, syncitialisation of spermatides, areas of necrosis accompanied by severe disruption of the seminiferous epithelium. In some areas, the lesions were so severe that the affected area of the cells forms "basal area". If lesions in the "adluminal area" affects only temporarily gametogenetic function the lesions in the "basal area" are irreversible as there are named "reserve cells" which is the starting point of spermatogenesis. Highlighted issue raised on the opportunity use of hexestrol diacetate in therapy or animal production stimulation as it gametogenetic function in males while their risk transfer to humans through consumption of foods of animal origin.

The utility of histopathologic examination in appreciation of mandibular osteoporotic status.

The study was performed on 14 female patients aged between 54 and 83 years, presented for insertion of mandibular implants and diagnosed with systemic osteoporosis on DXA. Radiological examination showed no striking maxillar bone rarefactions or changes in the mandibular cortex form that allows the diagnosis of osteoporosis at the jaw. To obtain informations on the health status of mandibular bone in these patients, we considered it appropriate to do histopathological investigations on fragments of bone harvested from implant insertion area. To this end, fragments of bone harvested when performing the new alveolus were fixed in Stieve mixture, decalcified with trichloroacetic acid and included in paraffin. Five-micrometer thick sections were stained with Goldner's Trichrome method and examined microscopically. Histopathology revealed changes of different intensity in the organic and vascular components of the mandibular bone, in all patients studied, with differences from case to case. Thus, confirming that patients with systemic osteoporosis diagnosed by DXA at the femoral neck and/or the vertebrae have histological changes in the mandibular bone, but the extent of damage is different. Providing detailed information about organic component and bone vascularization, crucial components in the early stages of osseointegration, histopathology is more useful for assessing mandibular osteoporotic status, compared with methods of investigation that aim only the mineral component, mineralization being the final stage of osseointegration. Highlighting mandibular osteoporotic early lesions by histopathological examination allows a patient-specific therapeutic approach and could be an accurate method of assessment for required osseointegration period, depending on the degree of impairment.

Histological evidence for inoculative action of immature Linguatula serrata in lymph nodes of intermediate host.

The histopathological examination of 11 mesenteric lymph nodes from adult sheep infected with immature stages of Linguatula serrata revealed acute and chronic lesions with the presence of bacterial colonies and yeast cells. Bacteria were mainly present in acute, hemorrhagic, or necrotic lesions while yeast cells were seen mostly in the structure of chronic granulomas.

A comparative study of some Veronica species.

UNLABELLED: We have tried to establish some criteria to avoid the substitution of Veronica officinalis (common speedwell) with other species of Veronica genus, especially Veronica chamaedrys (germander speedwell) which is widely spread and has no therapeutic action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have studied the differential histological, anatomical and phytochemical characters of these two species. A rapid method for the identification of the two species is the TLC for flavonoids and phenyl-propanic compounds. We have done also a HPLC study, which has permitted the detection of acteoside in Veronica chamaedrys and isoacteoside in Veronica officinalis. In order to confirm the supposed hypocholesterolaemic effect of Veronica officinalis (used in ethno-pharmacy as a hypocholesterolaemic agent) we have done a two step experiment for these two Veronica species. RESULTS: Veronica officinalis in the diet showed no significant effect on the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum of the cholesterol free diet animals. Veronica officinalis had also a lowering effect on triglycerides and cholesterol level in the serum of high cholesterol diet animals. CONCLUSIONS: A rapid method based on morpho-anatomical and chemical features has been developed in order to avoid substitution of Veronica officinalis with Veronica chamaedrys. For Veronica officinalis we have proved a hypocholesterolaemic effect in high cholesterol diet animals.

Porcine circovirus type 2 and associated diseases in Romania--short communication.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been demonstrated to be the causal agent for postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). This report describes the first detection of PCV2 and associated diseases in a Romanian swine herd located in Transylvania. The clinical signs, pathological and histopathological changes observed in affected pigs were similar to those previously described for PDNS and PMWS. Polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation were used for the detection of PCV2 nucleic acids from tissues and serum samples. Complete PCV2 genomes of both PMWS and PDNS cases were sequenced and analysed, and by comparing them with each other no genomic differences could be detected. The sequence analysis showed that the Romanian PCV2 was closely related to PCV2 identified in France and in Hungary.

A Raman spectroscopic study of the diclofenac sodium-beta-cyclodextrin interaction.

The inclusion complex of diclofenac sodium (DCFNa) and beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) was prepared and analyzed by using Raman and SERS spectroscopy. The interaction between DCFNa and betaCD molecules was evidenced by monitoring the change in the peak positions and the widths of some guest molecule bands relative to those observed in the spectra of the free compound and 1:1 DCFNa-betaCD physical mixture. Raman data have shown that the interaction between the guest and host molecules in the 1:1 DCFNa-betaCD complex is maintained both through the dichlorophenyl ring and the phenylacetate group. SER spectra revealed that depending on the pH value of the solution different isomeric forms of the 1:1 guest-host complex are preferentially adsorbed on the silver surface via the nonbonding electrons of the oxygen atom. The orientation of the adsorbed species with respect to the metal surface was also elucidated.

Lipophilicity characterization by reversed-phase liquid chromatography of some furan derivatives.

Lipophilicity is one of the properties which influences the partition of a substance in biological media. The present study reports on the chromatographic behaviour of a newly synthesised series of furan derivatives by RP-HPLC and RP-TLC, with methanol-water and acetonitrile-water as mobile phases, in order to establish if the linear relationships between the retention parameters (log k, R(M)) and the concentration of organic modifier in the mobile phase, phi, allows the extrapolation procedure. Good correlations between the retention parameters were obtained by RP-HPLC and RP-TLC, and the concentration of organic modifier (methanol, acetonitrile) in the mobile phase was established for the studied furan derivatives. However, for the discussed compounds, acetonitrile has a lower sensitivity to changes in the structures. A good correspondence was obtained between the extrapolated parameters for the methanol-water mobile phase when using RP-HPLC and RP-TLC. However, stronger interactions occur in RP-TLC between the compounds and the residual silanol groups than in RP-HPLC.