Disoriented collagen fibers and disorganized, fibrotic orbicularis oris muscle fiber with mitochondrial myopathy in non-syndromic cleft lip.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore and compare the histopathology of upper cleft lip tissue in order to identify the abnormalities and orientation of muscle and collagen fibers in patients affected with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL±P) and normal controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight fresh lip tissues of consented patients with NSCL±P and two controls were fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome (MT), and modified Gomori trichrome techniques. The images were captured and examined using imaging cellSens software (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) and Mirax Scan (Carl Zeiss, Germany). The H&E stained tissues were analysed for muscle fiber size using image processing program (imageJ, USA). Histopathological appearance of epidermal and dermal layers including collagen orientation, as well as muscle fibers abnormalities were observed. RESULTS: Tissues stained with H&E exhibit pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, epidermal and sebaceous glands hyperplasia. Morphometric analysis of muscle fibers showed the diameter was between 6.912 and 10.246 µm. Collagen fibers were densely packed in cleft tissue, but muscle fibers were sparse in MT stain. Modified Gomori trichrome stain revealed hypoplastic muscle with fibrosis, including ragged red fibers. CONCLUSION: Disoriented collagen fibers, significant sparse and disorganized orbicularis oris muscle fibers with classical myopathic appearances proved that cleft tissue had abnormal histology findings. These findings further support the mechanism of collagen and muscle fibers during embryonic development that causing cleft formation.

Analysis of volatile compounds of Malaysian Tualang (Koompassia excelsa) honey using gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

The constituents of honey's volatile compounds depend on the nectar source and differ depending on the place of origin. To date, the volatile constituents of Tualang honey have never been investigated. The objective of this study was to analyze the volatile compounds in local Malaysian Tualang honey. A continuous extraction of Tualang honey using five organic solvents was carried out starting from non-polar to polar solvents and the extracted samples were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Overall, 35 volatile compounds were detected. Hydrocarbons constitute 58.5% of the composition of Tualang honey. Other classes of chemical compounds detected included acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, terpenes, furans and a miscellaneous group. Methanol yielded the highest number of extracted compounds such as acids and 5-(Hydroxymethyl) furfural (HMF). This is the first study to describe the volatile compounds in Tualang honey. The use of a simple one tube, stepwise, non-thermal liquid-liquid extraction of honey is a advantageous as it prevents sample loss. Further research to test the clinical benefits of these volatile compounds is recommended.