Exploring bacterial flora in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a microbiological study

The oral cavity contains a unique and diverse microflora. While most of these organisms exhibit commensalism, shifts in bacterial community dynamics cause pathological changes within the oral cavity and at distant sites. We assessed the microbial flora using cultured saliva and oral swabs from subjects with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy controls. Microbial samples were collected from the carcinoma site, contralateral healthy mucosa, and saliva of the study group and samples were collected from healthy mucosa and saliva of controls. Samples were stored on ice and transported to the laboratory for culture. The median number of colony forming units (CFU)/ml at carcinoma sites was significantly greater than at the contralateral healthy mucosa. Similarly, in saliva of carcinoma subjects, the median number of CFU/ml was significantly greater than in saliva of control subjects.

Morphine stimulates platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β signalling in mesangial cells in vitro and transgenic sickle mouse kidney in vivo

BACKGROUND

Pain and renal dysfunction occur in sickle cell disease. Morphine used to treat pain also co-activates platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), which can adversely affect renal disease. We examined the influence of morphine in mesangial cells in vitro and in mouse kidneys in vivo.

METHODS

> Mouse mesangial cells treated with 1 μM morphine in vitro or kidneys of transgenic homozygous or hemizygous sickle or control mice (n=3 for each), treated with morphine (0.75, 1.4, 2.14, 2.8, 3.6, and 4.3 mg kg(-1) day(-1) in two divided doses during the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth weeks, respectively), were used. Western blotting, bromylated deoxy uridine incorporation-based cell proliferation assay, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent microscopy, and blood/urine chemistry were used to analyse signalling, cell proliferation, opioid receptor (OP) expression, and renal function.

RESULTS

Morphine stimulated phosphorylation of PDGFR-β and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) to the same extent as induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and promoted a two-fold increase in mesangial cell proliferation. The PDGFR-β inhibitor, AG1296, OP antagonists, and silencing of μ- and κ-OP abrogated morphine-induced MAPK/ERK phosphorylation and proliferation by ~100%. Morphine treatment of transgenic mice resulted in phosphorylation of PDGFR-β, MAPK/ERK, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in the kidneys. Morphine inhibited micturition and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) clearance and increased BUN and urinary protein in sickle mice.

CONCLUSION

Morphine stimulates mitogenic signalling leading to mesangial cell proliferation and promotes renal dysfunction in sickle mice.

Congenital granular cell lesion in newborn mandible

Congenital granular cell lesion (CGCL) is a rare non-neoplastic lesion found in newborns also known as Neumann's tumor. This benign lesion occurs predominantly in females mostly as a single mass. The histogenesis and natural history of the lesion remains obscure. It arises from the mucosa of the gingiva, either from the maxillary or mandibular alveolar ridge. The lesion is more common in the maxillary alveolar ridge than the mandibular.The present report describes a case of congenital granular cell lesion in an eight-day-old female child who was born with a mass on the anterior mandibular alveolar ridge. The mass was protruding from her mouth and compromised feeding. A clinical diagnosis of teratoma was suggested. Histologically, cells of this lesion are identical to granular cell tumor (neuroectodermal type) and show intense diastase-resistant Periodic Acid Schiff positivity. Immunohistochemically, cells are positive for vimentin but negative for S-100 and desmin, thus suggesting that CGCL is possibly derived from primitive gingival mesenchymal cells rather than having schwannian origin.

Cytomorphology of pleomorphic fibroma of skin: A diagnostic enigma

Pleomorphic fibroma (PF) is a benign, polypoid, or dome-shaped cutaneous neoplasm with cytologically atypical fibrohistiocytic cells. We describe the cytomorphological features of PF retrospectively with histopathological diagnosis in a 38-year-old male who presented with 3 × 1.5 cm swelling in the soft tissues of the thigh for 6 months. This lesion is benign despite the presence of pleomorphic or bizarre cells. We review the differential diagnosis of PF with other mesenchymal tumors. To the best of our knowledge, cytomorphological features on fine needle aspiration cytology of this tumor are not yet documented in literature.

Modeling of grid cell activity demonstrates in vivo entorhinal 'look-ahead' properties

Recent in vivo data show ensemble activity in medial entorhinal neurons that demonstrates 'look-ahead' activity, decoding spatially to reward locations ahead of a rat deliberating at a choice point while performing a cued, appetitive T-Maze task. To model this experiment's look-ahead results, we adapted previous work that produced a model where scans along equally probable directions activated place cells, associated reward cells, grid cells, and persistent spiking cells along those trajectories. Such look-ahead activity may be a function of animals performing scans to reduce ambiguity while making decisions. In our updated model, look-ahead scans at the choice point can activate goal-associated reward and place cells, which indicate the direction the virtual rat should turn at the choice point. Hebbian associations between stimulus and reward cell layers are learned during training trials, and the reward and place layers are then used during testing to retrieve goal-associated cells based on cue presentation. This system creates representations of location and associated reward information based on only two inputs of heading and speed information which activate grid cell and place cell layers. We present spatial and temporal decoding of grid cell ensembles as rats are tested with perfect and imperfect stimuli. Here, the virtual rat reliably learns goal locations through training sessions and performs both biased and unbiased look-ahead scans at the choice point. Spatial and temporal decoding of simulated medial entorhinal activity indicates that ensembles are representing forward reward locations when the animal deliberates at the choice point, emulating in vivo results.

Cytopathology of parasitic dermatitis in dogs

Out of 44 cases of dermatitis in dogs, 11 cases of parasitic origin were analyzed by cytopathology. Histopathologic examination of punch biopsies was also done for correlation with cytologic findings. Sarcoptic dermatitis was recorded in six cases, wherein, besides sarcoptic mites, neutrophils, macrophages, and plasma cells and keratinizing epithelial cells were also seen. Hematology revealed a relative neutrophilia and mild eosinophilia. Four cases of severe and generalized demodicosis complicated with bacteria and/or Malassezia sp. infection were also recorded. Histopathologically numerous Demodex sp. mites in varying stage of maturation were found damaging the hair follicles along with associated pathological changes and foreign body granulomas in one case. In addition, flea allergy dermatitis was also observed in one dog. In nutshell, cytology was found to be unequivocally effective in diagnosing parasitic dermatitis.

Self-energy on the low- to high-energy electronic structure of correlated metal SrVO3

The correlated electronic structure of SrVO(3) has been investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy using in situ prepared thin films. Pronounced features of band renormalization have been observed: a sharp kink ∼60 meV below the Fermi level (E(F)) and a broad so-called "high-energy kink" ∼0.3 eV below E(F) as in the high-T(c) cuprates, although SrVO(3) does not show magnetic fluctuations. We have deduced the self-energy in a wide energy range by applying the Kramers-Kronig relation to the observed spectra. The obtained self-energy clearly shows a large energy scale of ∼0.7 eV, which is attributed to electron-electron interaction and gives rise to the ∼0.3 eV kink in the band dispersion as well as the incoherent peak ∼1.5 eV below E(F). The present analysis enables us to obtain a consistent picture for both the incoherent spectra and the band renormalization.

Primary isolated extramedullary plasmacytoma of mesentry: a rare case report

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is an uncommon entity that most commonly involves nasopharynx and upper repository tract. Involvement of GIT occurs in approximate 10% of cases. According to WHO plasma cell tumors have been classified into two main groups: Multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma. Plasmacytoma includes solitary plasmacytoma of bone and solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma. EMP can be either primary without evidence of bone marrow involvement or may occur simultaneously with multiple myeloma representing extramedullary spread of the disease. It may occur in association with multiple myeloma and it may precede, accompany or follow the onset of multiple myeloma. Diagnosis of primary EMP requires the exclusion of associated multiple myeloma as shown by negative Bence Jones Proteins in urine, normal serum electrophoresis, normal bone marrow biopsy, normal skeletal survey and normal calcium levels. Here we present a case of 55-year male who came to Nephrology Department for urinary tract infection and pain abdomen. Patient was referred to Radiology for ultrasonography which revealed bilateral renal parenchymal disease with a well-defined mass in the mesentry which was further confirmed on computed tomography. Patient was surgically operated and diagnosis of primary EMP of mesentry was made on histopathological examination. Only three cases have been reported so far in the literature.

Anaesthesia for Robotic Gynaecological Surgery

Robotic surgery is gaining widespread popularity due to advantages such as reduced blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and better visualisation of fine structures. Robots are being used in urological, cardiac, thoracic, orthopaedic, gynaecological and general surgery. Robotic surgery received US Food and Drug Administration approval for use in gynaecological surgery in 2005.

The various gynaecological robotic operations being performed are myomectomy, total and supracervical hysterectomy, ovarian cystectomy, sacral colpopexy, tubal reanastomosis, lymph node dissection, surgery of retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy, Moskowitz procedure and endometriosis surgery.

The anaesthetic considerations include difficult access to the patient intraoperatively, steep Trendelenburg position, long surgical duration and the impact of pneumoperitoneum. We highlight the complications encountered in these surgeries and methods to prevent these complications.

Robotic gynaecological surgery can be safely performed after considering the physiological effects of the steep Trendelenburg position and of pneumoperitoneum. The benefits of the surgical procedure should be weighed against the risks in patients with underlying cardiorespiratory problems.

Pathological alterations in natural cases of Capillaria hepatica infection alone and in concurrence with Cysticercus fasciolaris in Bandicota bengalensis

The present study reports the natural occurrence and pathomorphological alterations of Capillaria hepatica infection alone and in concurrence with Cysticercus fasciolaris infection in the liver of Bandicota bengalensis. Out of the eighteen mature male B. bengalensis autopsied, livers of eight rats (44.4 %) were found infected with parasites comprising two (11.1 %) rats infected with C. hepatica alone, four (22.2 %) infected with C. fasciolaris alone and two (11.1 %) infected with C. hepatica in concurrence with C. fasciolaris. Gross lesions comprising of pale cystic areas or streaks on the surface of liver in rats revealed the presence of eggs of C. hepatica scattered in the parenchyma of the liver. Histologically, granulomatous reaction around the eggs, adult worms and dead components of parasites were observed.