Testicular Histopathology and Spermatogenesis in Mice with Scrotal Heat Stress

Chronic heat stress-induced testicular damage and function therefore adversely affect their reproduction. Some research shows that heat stress has a negative effect on histopathological features of testicular tissue structure and spermatogenesis. An animal model was used to evaluate the effect of heat stress on testicular histology changes and spermatogenesis. The mouse model of heat stress was established by submerged in a pre-warmed incubator. The testes’ tissue was fixed and stained with hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) for quantitative analysis of histopathological alterations and spermatogenesis according to Johnson scoring system. Mice exposed to heat stress exhibited degenerated and disorganized features of spermatogenic epithelium and reduced spermatogenic cells. Heat stress exposure shows a significantly reduced Johnson score compared to the control condition. The percentage of high Johnsen score points was decreased in heat-stress exposure mice, while the ratio of low Johnsen score points was gradually increased. This chapter describes a mouse model for studying the male reproductive system and applies the Johnsen scores system to assess testicular histopathology in the seminiferous tubule cross-section. Collectively, this chapter indicated a negative impact of heat stress on mouse spermatogenesis as well as the human reproductive system

Detailed investigation of factors affecting the synthesis of SiO2@Au for the enhancement of Raman spectroscopy

The reaction time, temperature, ratio of precursors, and concentration of sodium citrate are known as the main factors that affect the direct synthesis process of SiO2@Au based on the chemical reaction of HAuCl4 and sodium citrate. Hence, we investigated, in detail, and observed that these factors played a crucial role in determining the shape and size of synthesized nanoparticles. The significant enhancement of the SERS signal corresponding to the fabrication conditions is an existing challenge. Our study results show that the optimal reaction conditions for the fabrication of SiO2@Au are a 1:21 ratio of HAuCl4 to sodium citrate, with an initial concentration of sodium citrate of 4.2 mM, and a reaction time lasting longer than 6 h at a temperature of 80 degrees C. Under optimal conditions, our synthesis process result is SiO2@Au nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 350 nm. In particular, the considerable enhancement of Raman intensities of SiO2@Au compared to SiO2 particles was examined.Web of Science1217art. no. 308

Deficient Mismatch Repair Proteins in Gastric Mixed Neuroendocrine Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasm: A Rare Case Report

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) is a rare type of gastric carcinoma with controversial diagnosis and treatment. Recent data implies that deficiency mismatch repair proteins inducing microsatellite instability are considered one of the potential drivers of this disease. Hence, we report a stomach MiNEN with MMR protein loss. An admitted 60-year-old woman complained of epigastric pain. The pathological analysis of the gastro-endoscopic biopsy specimen revealed gastric adenocarcinoma. The radiological staging was cT3N1M0; therefore, she received D2 distal gastrectomy. Suspecting neuroendocrine component admix with adenocarcinoma part on the resected specimen microscopy, applying biomarkers including AE 1/3, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A to confirm the diagnosis of MiNEN. The neuroendocrine part was classified as neuroendocrine tumor grade 2 with Ki 67 at 16.5%. To further understand the molecular characterization of this disease, we evaluated mismatch protein expression by staining MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 antibodies. Interestingly, both components lost MLH1 and PMS2 proteins. Her radical surgery followed oxaliplatin/capecitabine adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient is still well after eight cycles of chemotherapy. dMMR gastric MiNENs and dMMR gastric cancer share many clinical and genetic characteristics. Further studies are necessary to survey the role of dMMR in the prognosis and treatment of this entity

HER2<em>^Ile655Val</em> Polymorphism and Risk of Breast Cancer

HER2 plays a vital role in the development and progression of several types of human cancer, so the HER2 becomes one of major targets for HER2-positive breast cancer treatment. Several reports have shown that the HER2 oncogene expression relates to clinicopathological factors in cancer patients. HER2Ile655Val single nucleotide polymorphism associates with malignant tumors, including prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, osteosarcoma, gastric cancer, uterine cervical carcinoma, fibroadenoma, and breast cancer. To understand the precise association, this chapter was described to estimate the association between HER2Ile655Val single nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility to breast cancer. Our findings suggest that the Val allele in HER2 codon 655 single nucleotide polymorphism is strongly associated with the risk of breast cancer. HER2Ile655Val single nucleotide polymorphism might also be a susceptibility factor that favors early-onset breast cancer

A decentralized localization scheme for swarm robotics based on coordinate geometry and distributed gradient descent

In this paper, a decentralized localization scheme using coordinate geometry and distributed gradient descent (DGD) algorithm is presented. Coordinate geometry is proposed to provide a rough estimation of robots’ location instead of the traditional trigonometry approach, which suffers from flip and discontinuous flex ambiguity. Then, these estimations will be used as initial values for DGD algorithm to determine robots’ real position. Evaluated results on real mobile robots show an average mean error of 2.56 cm, which is closed to the minimum achievable accuracy of the testing platform (2 cm). For a team of eight robots, the total average run time of the proposed scheme is 66.7 seconds. Finally, its application in swarm robotics is verified by experimenting with a self-assembly algorithm named DASH

Osteochondral Regeneration Ability of Uncultured Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Scaffold

Objectives: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and bone marrow mononuclear cells are potential scaffolds and cell sources for osteochondral regeneration. The main aim of this paper is to examine the effects of PRF scaffolds and autologous uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells on osteochondral regeneration in rabbit knees. Materials and Methods: Three different types of PRF scaffolds were generated from peripheral blood (Ch-PRF and L-PRF) and bone marrow combined with uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMM-PRF). The histological characteristics of these scaffolds were assessed via hematoxylin–eosin staining, PicroSirius red staining, and immunohistochemical staining. Osteochondral defects with a diameter of 3 mm and depth of 3 mm were created on the trochlear groove of the rabbit’s femur. Different PRF scaffolds were then applied to treat the defects. A group of rabbits with induced osteochondral defects that were not treated with any scaffold was used as a control. Osteochondral tissue regeneration was assessed after 2, 4, and 6 weeks by macroscopy (using the Internal Cartilage Repair Society score, X-ray) and microscopy (hematoxylin—eosin stain, safranin O stain, toluidine stain, and Wakitani histological scale, immunohistochemistry), in addition to gene expression analysis of osteochondral markers. Results: Ch-PRF had a heterogeneous fibrin network structure and cellular population; L-PRF and BMM-PRF had a homogeneous structure with a uniform distribution of the fibrin network. Ch-PRF and L-PRF contained a population of CD45-positive leukocytes embedded in the fibrin network, while mononuclear cells in the BMM-PRF scaffold were positive for the pluripotent stem cell-specific antibody Oct-4. In comparison to the untreated group, the rabbits that were given the autologous graft displayed significantly improved healing of the articular cartilage tissue and of the subchondral bone. Regeneration was gradually observed after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of PRF scaffold treatment, which was particularly evident in the BMM-PRF group. Conclusions: The combination of biomaterials with autologous platelet-rich fibrin and uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells promoted osteochondral regeneration in a rabbit model more than platelet-rich fibrin material alone. Our results indicate that autologous platelet-rich fibrin scaffolds combined with uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells applied in healing osteochondral lesions may represent a suitable treatment in addition to stem cell and biomaterial therapy

Non-cardia early gastric cancer in Central Vietnam: noticeable uncommon background mucosa and results of endoscopic submucosal dissection

Background and study aims: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of malignancy-related death in Vietnam, with increasing incidence of non-cardia early gastric cancer (N-EGC). Data on accurate diagnosis of EGC and treatment by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Vietnam are very sparse. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of N-EGC and evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of ESD in Central Vietnam. Patients and methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with N-EGC detected by magnified chromoendoscopy from December 2013 to August, 2018 in Central Vietnam. Selected cases of N-EGC received standardized ESD technique and have been following up carefully as in protocol. Results: Among 606 GC patients, 46 had N-GEC and underwent ESD. The depth of invasion was pT1a in 33 (71.7 %), pT1b1 in 10 (21.7 %), and pT1b2 in three cases (6.6 %). Mild chronic atrophic gastritis, most being C2 (63 %), and gastritis-like EGC that did not appear malignant was the predominant type. ESD achieved a 97.8 % en bloc resection rate; the mean procedure time was 76 ± 22 minutes (range 24–155), and mean endoscopic tumor size was 23 ± 5 mm (range 13–52) and ESD sample size was 28 ± 7 mm (range 16.5–60). Complications consisted of two patients with bleeding and one with a minor perforation, all of which were successfully managed by endoscopy. The longest and the mean follow-up times were 84 and 64 months, respectively, with no recurrence. Conclusions: A significant proportion patients with N-EGC have a background mucosa of mild chronic atrophic gastritis. Our results 7 years after starting ESD demonstrate early promising outcomes with the procedure

The value of visual inspection with acetic acid and Pap smear in cervical cancer screening program in low resource settings – A population-based study

This study aims to determine the diagnostic values of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and Pap smear in a cervical cancer screening program at a community level in Vietnam. A cross-sectional analysis was obtained, including 1034 women of reproductive age from Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam from 09/2012 to 09/2013. Samples were taken from cervixes for Pap smear testing, followed by visual inspection with acetic acid. Subjects with abnormal VIA and/or positive cytology results were invited for colposcopy and biopsy. Histologic confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) served as gold standards for diagnostic values analysis. Abnormal VIA results were recorded in 87 cases (7.7%). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of VIA for CIN2+ were 88.8%, 43.8%, 63.4%, 51.2% and 83.3%, respectively. Diagnostic values of Pap smear were 58.0%, 85.2%, 69.9%, 83.3% and 61.3% for its sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV, respectively. VIA yielded high sensitivity but its accuracy is still limited in pre-cancerous lesions during cervical cancer screening. The Pap smear has acceptable sensitivity and specificity, but its false-negative rate is still high. We recommend a combination of different tests to increase the efficiency of screening in our community. Keywords: VIA, Pap smear, Cervical cancer screenin