The therapeutic effect of mineral water from spring 3 in Baile Tusnad in experimental alcoholic liver disease in rats – an electron microscopic study

The aim of this study was to investigate by transmission electron microscopy the changes occurring in rat hepatocytes following administration of ethyl alcohol for 70 days, as well as to evaluate the effect of mineral water from spring 3 in Baile Tusnad balneoclimatic resort administered for 30 days after completion of ethyl alcohol administration. After 70 days of ethyl alcohol administration, lipid loading in hepatocytes and a reduction of the rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum was found to be much more abundant and in some hepatocytes that contained high lipid amounts, mitochondria had rarefied matrix and cristae. At 30 days from completion of ethyl alcohol administration, the rats that drank tap water showed progressively decreasing lipid loading. Also, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum was less abundant, while the rough endoplasmic reticulum was more abundant than on day 70 of the experiment. The rats that drank mineral water from spring 3 compared to those that drank tap water over the last 30 days of the experiment had lower hepatocyte lipid loading and the rough endoplasmic reticulum was much more abundant. These ultrastructural differences in the degree of lipid loading and the ratio between the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum are due to the beneficial effect of mineral water from spring 3 in Baile Tusnad

Structural Features of the Cardia Gastric Region in Domestic Rabbits

The knowledge of normal microscopical peculiarities of the digestive system in mammals is essential, but information regarding certain structures is still scarce in numerous species. Our study aims to highlight the normal morphological features of the cardia region in domestic rabbits, as regards the overall appearance, structure, and dimensions of the gastric pits, including a description of the cells located in gastric glands. The cardia region of five domestic rabbits underwent tissue sampling, followed by fixation in 10% buffered formalin, paraffin embedding, and later sectioned at 5 µm in thickness. Eventually, the samples were stained by Goldner’s trichrome method. The microscopical examination has revealed the presence of gastric pits and glands in the entire cardia region of the rabbit, with a different morphological appearance from one zone to another. Gastric pits have the smallest depth immediately after the oesophagogastric junction, which gradually increases and decreases afterwards as it approaches the fundic zone. The gastric glands contain basically four cell types in various proportions, including serous cells, mucous cells, parietal cells, and chief cells. Other peculiarities of the gastric mucosa in the cardia region in rabbits include a thick mucosa with a loose and prominent lamina propria, and an ill-defined muscularis mucosae that is not organized in distinct layers as in other species. The detailed microanatomical structure of the cardia region of the stomach is necessary for understanding the digestion processes in rabbits, species used as a model in diverse fields of research including the pathology of the digestive system

Histochemical Evaluation of Mucin-Secreting Cell Activity in the Stomach of the Wistar Rat

Mucin plays a very important role in the physiological function of the stomach in all species, but the representation of mucin-secreting cells differs from species to species. The aim of this study was to highlight these cells in the stomach of the Wistar rat. For histological investigations, fragments of the stomach from the three main regions (cardiac, fundic and pyloric) were harvested from four Wistar rats and further stained with PAS and Alcian blue methods. The histochemical results showed the presence of mucin-secreting cells in the examined tissues. An intense PAS positive reaction was found in the surface epithelium cells of the gastric mucosa and in the cells lining the gastric crypts in all the three segments. In the deep glandular structures, the cells of the cardiac and fundic glands are PAS negative, while those of the pyloric glands are all PAS positive. For Alcian blue reaction, the cells lining the gastric mucosa and the crypts in the three regions of the stomach were negative. In the glands, the cells of the cardiac and fundic glands were Alcian negative while in the pyloric glands, a limited number of cells arranged in the deep third of the glands showed a weak positive Alcian reaction. In conclusion, the vast majority of glandular cells in the rat's stomach do not synthesize acidic mucins, except for cells in the deep part of the pyloric glands, which synthesize small amounts of such mucins

THE GLASSWARE FROM MĂLĂIEȘTI ROMAN FORT AND BATH

Excavations at Mălăiești Roman Fort and bath (Romania, Prahova County) undertaken in 1930, 1954, 1985, and 2011-2019 revealed a small roman fortification and its baths, between 101-118 AD. This paper will attempt to show the significance of the glassware finds through a social-cultural analysis resulting from the way the finds were distributed within the site. Our study describes the glassware fragments found during recent excavations and offers an analysis in the context of the manufacturing processes, spatial distribution, and the circumstances of their discovery as well as the chemical analysis of the typical samples. As an end result, we were able to determine their chronological, morphological, and typological properties

Morphometric Features and Microanatomy of the Lingual Filiform Papillae in the Wistar Rat

The mammalian tongue plays a fundamental role in various physiological and behavioral activities. Significant morphological variations have been recorded in the tongue of several species. This study aims to obtain detailed histological and morphometric information about the filiform papillae on the surface of rat tongue. The tongues of five 10-month-old Wistar rats were utilized, which were later examined with a stereo-microscope. Fragments from the three regions of the tongue were collected for histological investigations. The tongue of the Wistar rat has an intensely keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, with the highest degree of keratinized epithelium covering the filiform papillae. The filiform papillae differ in density, with the highest density recorded on the posterior part of the lingual body and the lowest density on the protuberance. The shortest filiform papillae were observed on the apex of the tongue and the tallest on the anterior part of the lingual body. Interestingly, the orientation of the filiform papillae on the lingual protuberance was inclined posteroanteriorly, in the opposite way as compared to the papillae from all the other regions of the tongue. Histologically, a difference was recorded in the structure of the covering epithelium of the anterior vs. the posterior face of the filiform papillae

Comparative Testing of Two Ligature-Induced Periodontitis Models in Rats: A Clinical, Histological and Biochemical Study

Experimental animal models for studying the mechanisms of periodontitis and its links are a better alternative to in vitro studies. The aim of this study is to compare two ligature induced periodontitis models and validate the best one for further use in research. An experimental study was performed on male Wistar rats that were divided into three groups: Test 1 (n = 10), incisor ligated, Test 2 (n = 10), molar ligated, and Control (n = 10). The animals were clinically evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the experiment by recording body weight, gingival bleeding index, tooth mobility score, changes in color, and consistency of gingival tissue. Two blood samples were obtained for each animal at baseline and at the end of the experiment. The hematological parameters Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 α), high sensitive C Reactive Protein (hsCRP), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured. Seven days after the induction of periodontitis, the animals were sacrificed, and samples were prepared for histological evaluation. The results of this research demonstrated that the association between clinical, histological, and biochemical parameters initiate a periodontal pathology in the molar induced model in rats while the incisor experimental model initiates only a moderate and incomplete periodontal inflammation, mainly due to mechanical irritation

The Treatment with Interleukin 17 Inhibitors and Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) are medicines used to treat dermatological and rheumatic diseases They belong to a class of medicines called biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). This class of drugs has had a major impact on the therapy of autoimmune diseases, being much safer and more effective than treatment with small molecules. At the same time, they have highly beneficial effects on skin and joint changes, and their efficacy has been extensively monitored and demonstrated in numerous clinical trials. More and more such drugs are still being discovered today to ensure the best possible treatment of these patients, but more frequently and relatively constantly three agents are used. Two of them (Secukinumab and Ixekizumab) inhibit IL-17A directly, and the third, Brodamulab, inhibits the IL-17A receptor. Although they are extremely effective in the treatment of these diseases, sometimes their administration has been associated with paradoxical effects, i.e., there is an exacerbation of the inflammatory process. Tough, clinical trials of IL-17i have described cases of exacerbation or even onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, after administration of these drugs in patients previously diagnosed with psoriasis (PS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The pathophysiological mechanism of action is not well understood at present. One explanation would be that this hyperreactive inflammatory process would be triggered by Interferon 1 derived from dendritic plasma cells. Even though there are many reports in the recent literature about the role of IL17i in the onset of IBD, conclusions of studies do not converge. Some of them show an increased incidence of IBD in patients treated with IL17i, while some others affirm their safety of them. In the near future we will surely have more data emerging from ongoing meta-analyses regarding safety of use IL17i in patients who are at risk of developing IBD. Clinical and paraclinical evaluation (inflammatory intestinal markers) are carefully advised before recommending treatment with IL-17i and after initiation of treatment, and prospective surveillance by clinical and biomarkers of patients treated with IL-17i is absolutely essential to capture the onset of IBD

Curcumin-Loaded Microspheres Are Effective in Preventing Oxidative Stress and Intestinal Inflammatory Abnormalities in Experimental Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

Curcumin’s role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been proven by numerous studies, but its preventive administration, with the aim of reducing the remission episodes that are characteristic of this disease, must be further investigated. This study investigates the effects of a novel curcumin-loaded polymeric microparticulate oral-drug-delivery system for colon targeting (Col-CUR-MPs) in an experimental model of UC. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were divided into five groups (n = 8), which were treated daily by oral gavage for seven days with a 2% aqueous solution of carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMCNa) (healthy and disease control), free curcumin powder (reference), Col-CUR-MPs (test) and prednisolone (reference) prior to UC induction by the intrarectal administration of acetic acid (AA), followed by animal sacrification and blood and colonic samples’ collection on the eighth day. Col-CUR-MPs exhibited an important preventive effect in the severity degree of oxidative stress that resulted following AA intrarectal administration, which was proved by the highest catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and the lowest nitrites/nitrates (NOx), total oxidative status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels. Biochemical parameter analysis was supported by histopathological assessment, confirming the significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this novel colon-specific delivery system in AA-induced rat models of UC. Thus, this study offers encouraging perspectives regarding the preventive administration of curcumin in the form of a drug delivery system for colon targeting