Dominant neurologic symptomatology in intravascular large B-cell lymphoma

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare variant of extranodal large B-cell lymphoma and it is characterized by selective intravascular proliferation of malignant cells. Typical features of the disease include aggressive behavior, rapid and frequently fatal course. Clinical picture is non-specific and heterogeneous, depending on the affected organ. It is not uncommon that this unique type of lymphoma is diagnosed post mortem. Herein, we report two cases of IVLBCL with neurologic symptomatology. In our clinical study patient 1 was an 80-year-old male with mixed paraparesis of lower extremities and difficulties with sphincter control. Patient 2 (56-year-old male) had vision malfunction, mental status changes and defect in phatic and motor functions. In both cases definite diagnosis was established by histological examination of necroptic material. We propose to include IVLBCL in differential diagnostic considerations in patients presenting with gradually impairing neurological status and spinal cord damage of unknown etiology (Fig. 2, Ref. 9).

Metabolic effects of subchronic peripheral oxytocin administration in lean and obese zucker rats

Increasing evidence indicates a role of oxytocin in controlling energy metabolism. The aim of his study was to investigate oxytocin effects on obese phenotype in leptin-resistant Zucker fatty rats, focusing on glucose and lipid metabolism. Zucker fatty rats and their lean controls were treated with oxytocin (3.6 μg/100g body weight/day) by osmotic minipumps implanted subcutaneously for 2 weeks. Two-hours intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed in fasting rats. Oxytocin decreased food intake in both phenotypes while body weight gain reduced only in obese animals. In obese rats oxytocin impaired hepatic insulin extraction and enhanced liver triglyceride accumulation. Moreover, in the skeletal muscle of lean rats oxytocin treatment downregulated insulin signal transduction by decreasing of insulin receptor substrate 1 protein level and stimulating of its serine phosphorylation. Concurrently, the gene expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue was downregulated by oxytocin. In obese rats, oxytocin reduced adipocyte size and normalised mRNA levels of both fatty acid binding protein 4 and fatty acid synthase but attenuated gene expression of glucose transporter 4. The present study in Zucker fatty rats demonstrated ambivalent effects of oxytocin treatment with predominantly negative impact on skeletal muscle insulin pathway in lean animals.

Iron and its relation to glycoconjugates in human globus pallidus

Iron and eosinophilic, argyrophilic spheroid structures of glycoconjugates are observed in the pallido-nigral system of human and nonhuman primates. In the present study, we map the localization and distribution of ferritin and hemosiderin and their relation to neutral and acidic (sulphated and carboxylated) glycoconjugates in human globus pallidus. We investigated tissues of human globus pallidus without any motor abnormalities and psychiatric symptoms. Acidic (Alcian blue, AB pH 2.5) and neutral glycoconjugates (PAS reaction) showed spheroid deposits with the size of 5-15 µm. Staining reaction utilizing AB (pH 1.0) displays sulphated fibers and highly sulphated (AB pH 0.5) glycoconjugates round deposits. AF/AB pH 2.5 for separating sulphated from carboxylated glycoconjugates revealed the presence of both sulphated and carboxylated glycoconjugates. Perls' and Turnbull's positive reaction showed the presence of Fe(III) and Fe(II) (hemosiderin) and Ag-NOR reaction showed ferric phosphate (ferritin) deposits. Scanning electron microscope with microanalysis revealed the iron in glycoconjugates globular deposits. We suppose the presence of glycoconjugates in the samples is the result of elimination and inactivation of iron as inductor of reactive oxygen species. They can be a useful neuroprotective agent in CNS degradation (Tab. 2, Fig. 7, Ref. 44).

The normal human newborns thymus

The thymic microenvironment constitutes a unique cell environment composed of thymic epithelial cells, myoid cells, and bone marrow-derived accessory cells for the differentiation, maturation and selection of T lymphocytes. The histological feature of thymus is markedly dependent on the age of individual and on various negative stimuli. Our study group consisted of fourteen newborns whose thymuses were removed during surgery performed for various congenital heart defects. We used a palette of seven monoclonal antibodies for exact localization of different cells creating the thymic microenvironment (cytokeratin AE1/AE3, desmin, actin, S100 protein, CD68, CD20, and CD45RO) as well as three monoclonal antibodies against proteins regulating the process of apoptosis (bcl2 oncoprotein, p53 protein, and survivin). We described and microphotographically illustrated the localization of thymic cytokeratin AE1/AE3-positive epithelial cells (subcapsular part of the cortex and medulla, especially Hassall's corpuscles), dendritic cells (medulla, often inside the Hassall's corpuscles), thymic myoid cells (medulla, often in close contact with Hassall's corpuscles), macrophages (mostly cortex, but also medulla and inside the Hassall's corpuscles), B lymphocytes (thymic medulla) and CD45RO-positive T lymphocytes (mostly thymic cortex). We found p53-positive thymic epithelial cell nuclei in subcapsular part of cortex and in outer epithelial cell layer of Hassall's corpuscles (very similar to the basal layer of epidermis). Bcl2 positive lymphocytes were mostly localized in thymic medulla, especially nearby Hassall's corpuscles. The thymuses were mostly survivin-negative with exception of round cells in border between cortex and connective tissue septa (probably migrating progenitor cells) (Tab. 1, Fig. 14, Ref. 66).

Iron accumulation in human spleen in autoimmune thrombocytopenia and hereditary spherocytosis

BACKGROUND

Although the iron is an essential element for the physiological functions of cells, tissues and organs, it is also an important inductor of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three groups of human spleen with autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP), hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and reference samples stained by haematoxylin and eosin, Perls' reaction for nonheme Fe(III) iron and Alcian blue for glycoconjugates detection were studied.

RESULTS

Positive Perls' reaction in both AITP and HS groups was seen. Higher positivity in the HS than in AITP group was observed. HS group showed a higher amount of acidic glycoconjugates deposits than AITP group. Iron overload in HS and AITP leads to overproduction of ROS.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that acidic glycoconjugates deposits are involved in antioxidant defence by elimination and restriction of iron as a ROS inducer (Fig. 4, Ref. 19).

Thymic Hassall's bodies of children with congenital heart defects

The development of the thymus and heart are closely related while in both, the neural crest cells play an important role. In our preliminary study, the thymic microscopic structures of the infant's thymuses with the congenital heart defects were observed. The study was conducted on 36 specimens of newborn thymuses removed due to surgery for cardiovascular malformations. Standard formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue technique was used. Five-microm-thick sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the microscopic examination was focused on the structure of Hassall's bodies. The Hassall's bodies showed considerable variations in size as well as in quantity. In most cases, the Hassall's bodies were large with the heterogeneous amorphous material enclosed in cystic dilatations. This type of Hassall's bodies is typical for adult thymuses. The most conspicuous changes (huge Hassall's bodies with the cystic dilatation filled up with cell detritus) were observed in patients with ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot. Small-sized Hassall's bodies corresponding with infant age, were observed in cases with pulmonary valve atresia, atrial septal defect and in some cases of transposition of great arteries. We assume that the changes of microenvironment of the thymic medulla are associated with disrupted migration of the neural crest cells which are essential in the normogenesis of both heart and thymus (Tab. 1, Fig. 12, Ref. 33).

Cosmetic perfumes vs. human pheromones (natural chemical scents) of the human female and male in signalling and performing context of their sexual behaviour

Scent communication in man is undoubtedly of importance, although it is unconscious, rather than active, as compared to subhuman primates. Besides human sexual life it also affects a number of further characteristics of human life and its infrastructure including the mother-child relationship, creation of the odour basis of the family with the possibility to identify the family members solely by their odour as well as other parameters investigated thus far. Pheromones have effect upon the selection of a suitable partner of the opposite sex (or of the same sex in homosexual partners). The formation of specifically significant responses during communication between the two sexes, first of all in sexual life and its manifestations, may also be influenced by pheromone-based perfumes or classical cosmetic perfumes, as far as they are selected and used appropriately. The situation is much easier if the partners are of the olfactory type where for both partners the mutual olfactory parameters are the most attractive for their sexual life and its parameters, which significantly contributes to the quality of their overall coexistence (Ref. 29).