Morphological and histochemical observations of the red jungle fowl tongue Gallus gallus

Morphological and histochemical study of the tongue of ten adult red jungle fowl (RJF), Gallus gallus were carried out at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The tongue was triangular with a wide dorsal and ventrolateral surface with median groove at the rostral part. Between the body and the roots appears a transverse row of the lingual conical papillae which was directed backwards. Behind the laryngeal cleft, there was a single row of pharyngeal papillae. The lingual mucosa showed parakeratinization, while there was a clearly recognizable keratinized band on the ventrolateral surface and the conical papillae. The cell cytoplasm of the medial group (MG) of the anterior lingual glands and the posterior glands contained large amounts of mucin compared with the lateral group (LG). The mucin of the lingual glands contained vicinal diol groups. Moreover, the sulphate containing glycoconjugates indicated in the MG and the posterior glands with a strong acid mucin reaction. Meanwhile, the LG of the anterior lingual glands exhibited carboxylated mucin with weak acid mucin reaction. In conclusion, the differences in the arrangement of the lingual and pharyngeal papillae in the RJF than that in other birds particularly domestic chicken may reflects the changes which occurred for the latter during domestication. The contents of mucins in the medial and lateral groups of the anterior lingual gland were varied, however, no differences histochemistry between the medial group and the posterior lingual gland were observed.Key words: Lingual salivary glands, mucin reaction, red jungle, tongue

Activities of amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin of pancreas and small intestinal contents in the red jungle fowl and broiler breed

The digestive enzyme activities of the pancreas and small intestinal segments were examined in two breeds of chickens that differ in growth rate over the period of 1 day (1-d) to 4-months (120-d) of age. The total body weight (BW) of the red jungle fowl (RJF) increased slowly during the experiment, in contrast to the commercial broiler chicken (CBC) which showed markedly increase (P < 0.05) over the same experiment. The pancreas weight (g/100 g BW) was greater (P < 0.05) in the RJF during the experiment, with the exception of 1-day old group. There was significantly higher (P < 0.05) pancreatic enzyme activity (unit/g) and (unit/100 g) BW for the CBC, particularly at 10-days. However, there were no differences between the breeds at (20 to 56 days) for amylase and (120 days) for chymotrypsin. The enzyme activity (unit/g) for all intestinal segments increased with age. The CBC attained a maximal value on 10 days for jejunal and ileal trypsin, and duodenal, jejunal and ileal chymotrypsin. Activities (unit/100 g BW) showed decrease with age for both breeds. The CBC had a relatively greater value (P < 0.05) at 1 day, except for the jejunal trypsin and the chymotrypsin. Thereafter, the relative activities were higher for the RJF until the end of the experiment. Although significant differences in the digestive enzyme activities were obtained between the two breeds, these differences were generally associated with differences in body weight. The effects of selection affected the development rate of the synthesis of these enzymes according to the body requirements and biological function and this may affect the digestion and finally the growth rate.Keywords: Pancreatic enzyme, small intestine, amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsi

Morphological study of pancreatic duct in red jungle fowl

Morphological and histochemical study of the pancreas and pancreatic ducts of ten adult red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) were carried out by means of light microscopy. The bulk of the pancreas consists of a dorsal, ventral, third and small splenic lobe. Three pancreatic ducts were recognized as they join the proximal end of the ascending duodenum. The exocrine units were composed of main pancreatic tissues, while the endocrine units were observed frequently in the third and splenic lobes. A single layer of pyramidal cells with acidophilic zymogen granules and small centro-acinar cells were formed in the exocrine acinus. The intercalated duct was lined by flattened epithelium which changed to cuboidal in the intralobular duct, while the interlobular and main pancreatic ducts were lined by simple columnar epithelium. Three types of cells were detected within the surface epithelium: principal, light and basal cells. These cells possess short luminal projections with a fuzzy surface coat. Apical neutral and sulfomucin reaction indicated involvement of these epithelial with secretion. Neither goblet cells nor ductal glands were found in the pancreatic ducts. Secretion of both neutral and sulfated materials by the epithelial lining the pancreatic ducts, suggesting that they are acting not only to facilitate thetransport of the pancreatic juice, but also as a protective barrier to protect the gland from autodigestion.Key words: Red jungle, morphological study, pancreatic duct, histochemical, mucin

Vitamin D and IL28B genotyping as predictors for antiviral therapy: a retrospective study in Egyptian HCV genotype 4a

Purpose: To evaluate the role of pre-treatment vitamin D serum level and interleukin28B (IL28B) (rs 12979860) polymorphism in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 4a patients treated with pegylated interferon α2-A and ribavirin (peg IFN+RBV) as predictors of response.Methods: A retrospective study of clinical and pathological data and stored blood samples of 150 naïve chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 4a patients, treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks. Follow-up to detect sustained virological response (SVR) was carried out. Based on SVR, two groups were studied; group 1 consisted of 75 responder patients to pegylated IFN + RBV therapy while group 2 comprised of 75 non-responder patients to standard hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. Vitamin D serum levels were assessed using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR for HCV RNA ), and IL28B gene polymorphism by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Polymerase Cchain Reaction (RFLP-PCR).Results: Pretreatment vitamin D level was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of vitamin D level for prediction of SVR at a cutoff value of 29.75 ng/ml were 100 and 96 %, respectively, with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.995 (p < 0.001). A significant difference was detected between baseline vitamin D level for early versus advanced fibrosis stage (p = 0.01) in group 1.Conclusion: Pretreatment vitamin D serum level (at a cutoff value of 29.75 ng/ml), IL28B gene polymorphism and quantitative HCV RNA are independent trait predictors of SVR.Keywords: Vitamin D, Interleukin 28B, Chronic hepatitis C, Sustained virological response (SVR), Antiviral, Genotypin

A systematic review and meta-analysis of heart rate variability in COPD

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with disruption in autonomic nervous control of the heart rhythm. We present here quantitative evidence of the reduction in HRV measures as well as the challenges to clinical application of HRV in COPD clinics. Method: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we search in June 2022 Medline and Embase databases for studies reporting HRV in COPD patients using relevant medical subject headings (MeSH) terms. The quality of included studies was assessed using the modified version of the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Descriptive data were extracted, while standardized mean difference was computed for changes in HRV due to COPD. Leave-one-out sensitivity test was performed to assess exaggerated effect size and funnel plots to assess publication bias. Results: The databases search yielded 512 studies, of which we included 27 that met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies (73%) had a low risk of bias and included a total of 839 COPD patients. Although there were high between-studies heterogeneity, HRV time and frequency domains were significantly reduced in COPD patients compared with controls. Sensitivity test showed no exaggerated effect sizes and the funnel plot showed general low publication bias. Conclusion: COPD is associated with autonomic nervous dysfunction as measured by HRV. Both sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac modulation were decreased, but there is still a predominance of sympathetic activity. There is high variability in the HRV measurement methodology, which affects clinical applicability

Association between proton pump inhibitor therapy and clostridium difficile infection: a contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Introduction Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) acid-suppression therapy is associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Methods Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from 1990 to January 2012 for analytical studies that reported an adjusted effect estimate of the association between PPI use and CDI. We performed random-effect meta-analyses. We used the GRADE framework to interpret the findings. Results We identified 47 eligible citations (37 case-control and 14 cohort studies) with corresponding 51 effect estimates. The pooled OR was 1.65, 95% CI (1.47, 1.85), I2 = 89.9%, with evidence of publication bias suggested by a contour funnel plot. A novel regression based method was used to adjust for publication bias and resulted in an adjusted pooled OR of 1.51 (95% CI, 1.26–1.83). In a speculative analysis that assumes that this association is based on causality, and based on published baseline CDI incidence, the risk of CDI would be very low in the general population taking PPIs with an estimated NNH of 3925 at 1 year. Conclusions In this rigorously conducted systemic review and meta-analysis, we found very low quality evidence (GRADE class) for an association between PPI use and CDI that does not support a cause-effect relationship

Mature autologous dendritic cell vaccines in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase I pilot study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Background: Overall therapeutic outcomes of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are poor. The dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy has been developed as a new strategy for the treatment of lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and immunologic responses in use in mature, antigen-pulsed autologous DC vaccine in NSCLC patients. Methods: Five HLA-A2 patients with inoperable stage III or IV NSCLC were selected to receive two doses of 5 x 107 DC cells administered subcutaneous and intravenously two times at two week intervals. The immunologic response, safety and tolerability to the vaccine were evaluated by the lymphoproliferation assay and clinical and laboratorial evolution, respectively. Results: The dose of the vaccine has shown to be safe and well tolerated. The lymphoproliferation assay showed an improvement in the specific immune response after the immunization, with a significant response after the second dose (p = 0.005). This response was not long lasting and a tendency to reduction two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine was observed. Two patients had a survival almost twice greater than the expected average and were the only ones that expressed HER-2 and CEA together. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, the results on the immune response, safety and tolerability, combined with the results of other studies, are encouraging to the conduction of a large clinical trial with multiples doses in patients with early lung cancer who underwent surgical treatment.30Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Department of Radiology of the Hospital Estadual Sumare UNICAMPSCOGConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [401327/05-1

A systematic review and meta-analysis of bone metabolism in prostate adenocarcinoma

<p/> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoporosis could be associated with the hormone therapy for metastatic prostate carcinoma (PCa) and with PCa <it>per se</it>. The objective of this review is to determine the incidence of bone loss and osteoporosis in patients with PCa who are or are not treated with hormone therapy (ADT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Medline, Embase, Cancerlit, and American Society of Clinical Oncology Abstract databases were searched for published studies on prostate cancer and bone metabolism. The outcomes assessed were: fracture, osteoporosis and osteopenia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-two articles (116,911 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. PCa patients under ADT had a higher risk of osteoporosis (RR, 1.30; <it>p </it>< 0.00001) and a higher risk of fractures (RR, 1.17; <it>p </it>< 0.00001) as compared to patients not under ADT. The total bone mineral density was lower in patients under ADT when compared with patients not under ADT (<it>p </it>= 0.031) but it was similar to bone mineral density found in healthy controls (<it>p </it>= 0.895). The time of androgen deprivation therapy correlated negatively with lumbar spine and total hip bone mineral density (Spearman's rho = -0.490 and -0.773; <it>p </it>= 0.028 and 0.001, respectively) and with total hip <it>t </it>score (Spearman's rho = -0.900; <it>p </it>= 0.037).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found consistent evidence that the use of androgen deprivation therapy in patients with PCa reduces bone mineral density, increasing the risk of fractures in these patients.</p

Sensitivity is not an intrinsic property of a diagnostic test: empirical evidence from histological diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to provide empirical evidence of how spectrum effects can affect the sensitivity of histological assessment of <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>infection, which may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in prevalence estimates across populations with expectedly similar prevalence.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional evaluation of dyspeptic subjects undergoing upper digestive endoscopy, including collection of biopsy specimens from the greater curvature of the antrum for assessment of <it>H. pylori </it>infection by histopathological study and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), from Portugal (n = 106) and Mozambique (n = 102) following the same standardized protocol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the Portuguese sample the prevalence of infection was 95.3% by histological assessment and 98.1% by PCR. In the Mozambican sample the prevalence was 63.7% and 93.1%, respectively. Among those classified as infected by PCR, the sensitivity of histological assessment was 96.2% among the Portuguese and 66.3% among the Mozambican. Among those testing positive by both methods, 5.0% of the Portuguese and 20.6% of the Mozambican had mild density of colonization.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study shows a lower sensitivity of histological assessment of <it>H. pylori </it>infection in Mozambican dyspeptic patients compared to the Portuguese, which may be explained by differences in the density of colonization, and may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in prevalence estimates across African settings.</p