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Morphological Findings (morphological + finding)
Selected AbstractsUltrastructure of sperm ,tail stump' defect in wild boarANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2009M. L. Fischman Summary Sperm ,tail stump' defect was found in ejaculates of a wild boar maintained in captivity. It was in good physical condition, the testes and genital tract were found to be of normal size and consistency. There was no evidence of macroscopic abnormalities at the clinical analysis and at necropsy. The volume and concentration of the semen samples obtained by electroejaculation were lower than normal. The slides examined contained a high level of abnormal spermatozoa (52.7%). The most frequent morphological finding was a droplet-like form attached to the base of the head or a very short stump. The non-stumped spermatozoa had no normal tail but a shortened one. Analysing the histological structure with light microscopy, no ring of spermatozoa was observed lining the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and the characteristically cellular structure was not conserved. The ultrastructural examination evidenced a disorganisation of the normal tubular structure of the flagellum, with lost of regular pattern of the axial bundle of fibrils and the mitochondrial helix. The origin of this abnormality is unknown. [source] Assessing spatial probabilistic distributional differences in the common space between schizophrenics and normal controls based on a novel automated probabilistic pattern analysis methodINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMAGING SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5-6 2008Bang-Bon Koo Abstract Because of the complex nature of the human brain, a full understanding of its various group specific variation factors such as volume, shape, and location related to age, gender, ethnic, and disease might be provided in both structural and functional neuroimaging studies. To serve this purpose, a novel approach for characterizing the group variability information using group specific labeled probabilistic maps was introduced in this article. An automatic labeling technique was applied to encode group specific probabilistic information for each region of interests (ROIs) covering the overall cortical region and a probabilistic pattern analytic method was proposed to assess the difference in the spatial extent between 70 schizophrenics and 70 controls in the common space. From our proposed method, we found major differences in 17 ROIs that had shown large variation in schizophrenics. Most of these ROIs were in the frontal and the temporal lobe and only three ROIs were in the parietal and the occipital lobe. The ROIs highlighted through our proposed method could be connected with previous morphological findings on schizophrenia and it also might be considered in functional analysis. As a result, our method could provide intuitive information on group difference relevant to the overall anatomical variability in the substructural level. Thus, it could be used as a prompting system to search and examine the regions of the brain that are worthy of further precise analysis by various sub-cortical region based group studies in assessing specific patterns related to diseases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 18, 310,324, 2008 [source] Dermoscopic observation of Bowen's diseaseJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 5 2004L Bugatti ABSTRACT Background, In the literature no specific dermoscopic criteria have been described for the diagnosis of Bowen's disease (BD). Objective/aim, To assess the morphological findings of BD seen under dermoscopic observation. Methods, Clinical and dermoscopic images of 14 patients affected by BD with various amount of pigmentation were obtained by means of Heine Dermaphot. Dermoscopic images were analysed by experienced observers applying the modified pattern analysis. Results, The most frequently occurring dermoscopic features were found to be: multicomponent pattern (100%); atypical vascular structures (86.6%); absence of pigmented network (64.3%) or presence of pseudo-network (35.7%); irregular diffuse pigmentation or blotches of pigment (64.2%); irregularly distributed dots and globules (64.2%); focal/multifocal hypopigmentation (78.5%), scaly surface (64.2%) and haemorrages (26.6%). Conclusions, Dermoscopically, BD is mainly characterized by a multicomponent global pattern associated with a prominent vascular pattern (mainly dotted vessels) and a scaly surface. Although no specific dermoscopic criteria can be given for BD, epiluminescence can be a valuable aid in the diagnosis of such a mimicker lesion. [source] QUANTITATIVE SENSORY TESTING AND SWEAT FUNCTION IN FRIEDREICH'S ATAXIA.JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2000CORRELATION WITH CUTANEOUS INNERVATION To evaluate small fiber function in Friedreich's Ataxia (FA), we performed in 7 patients pin-prick, thermal thresholds, and sweat test. All tests were performed in four different sites: hand dorsum, anterior thigh, lateral distal leg, and foot dorsum. The same subjects underwent 3 mm punch skin biopsy from fingertip, anterior thigh, and lateral distal leg. We used a thin needle mounted on a calibrated nylon wire for the pin-prick test, and a Medoc 2001 TSA system for thermal threshold assessment. Sweat test was performed using a silicon mold after stimulation with pilocarpine by iontophoresis. Skin specimens, cut into 100-,m-thick sections, were double-stained using primary antibodies specific for collagen and nervous fibers and secondary antibodies labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorophores. Tridimensional digitized images were obtained from z-series of 2-,m-thick optical sections acquired with a confocal microscope. We found in all patients in the more distal sites definite signs of functional impairment of the small fibers. These data correlated with the skin innervation morphological findings that showed, in the same sites, a sensible loss of small fibers regarding both the epidermal free endings and the subepidermal neural plexus. Less severe morphological abnormalities were found in the proximal sites. The large fiber neuropathy in FA is well documented. Our data show a length-dependent involvement of small fibers in the pathological process. [source] Morphology and classification of larval scoli of Saturniinae and Hemileucinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002R. DEML The larval scoli of 15 species of Saturniidae (Saturniinae and Hemileucinae) were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of morphological findings from surface views and inside views of the scoli, the classification of scoli previously used in the literature has been altered in several points. Two scolus types are united, a new one (blunt-bristly scolus) is proposed, and another one is subdivided. From these morphological data, an improved character set with new state descriptions is derived; it is of potential interest for the systematics and phylogeny of Saturniidae. Morphologie und Klassifizierung der Scoli von Raupen der Saturniinae und Hemileucinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) Die Scoli der Raupen von 15 Arten der Saturniidae (Saturniinae und Hemileucinae) wurden mittels Rasterelektronenmikroskopie untersucht. Auf Grundlage der morphologischen Befunde anhand von Außen- und Innenansichten der Scoli wurde die bisher verwendete Scolus-Klassifikation, welche aus der Literatur bekannt ist, in mehrerlei Hinsicht verändert. Zwei Scolustypen wurden zusammengefaßt, ein neuer Typus (Stumpfborstenscolus) aufgestellt und ein weiterer wurde unterteilt. Basierend auf den vorgelegten morphologischen Daten wird ein verbesserter Satz von Merkmalen zusammen mit Beschreibungen deren verschiedener Ableitungsstatus vorgestellt, der von potentiellem Interesse für die Systematik und Phylogenie der Saturniiden ist. [source] Morphological changes in mouse embryos cryopreserved by different techniquesMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 4 2007A.R.S. Coutinho Abstract Cryopreservation of mammalian embryos is an important tool for the application of reproductive biotechnologies. Subjective evaluation to determine embryo viability is often used. The determination of the best cryopreservation protocol depends on morphological and molecular analysis of cellular injuries. The main objective of this study was to compare two methods of cryopreservation by assessing morphological alterations of frozen embryos using light, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscope. Fresh (control), slow frozen, and vitrified mouse embryos were composed. To evaluate the viability of the embryos, the cell membrane integrity was assessed using Hoechst33342 and propidium iodide (H/PI) staining. Morphological analyses using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were performed to test different techniques (in situ, paraffin, and historesin) by both light and fluorescence microscopy. Transmission electron microscope was used to detect ultrastructural alterations in Spurr- and Araldite-embedded samples. H/PI staining detected more membrane permeability in the vitrification (69.8%) than in the slow freezing (48.4%) or control (13.8%) groups (P < 0.001). Historesin-embedded samples showed to be more suitable for morphological analyses because cellular structures were better identified. Nuclear evaluation in historesin sections showed the induction of pycnosis in slow freezing and vitrification groups. Cytoplasm evaluation revealed a condensation and an increase in eosinophilic intensity (indicating apoptosis) in the slow freezing group, and weakly eosinophilic structures and degenerated cells (indicating oncosis) in the vitrification group (P < 0.05). Ultrastructural analyses confirmed HE morphological findings. It was concluded that both cryopreservation techniques resulted in oncosis and apoptosis injuries. However, vitrification caused more severe cellular alterations and reduced embryonic viability compared to slow freezing. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differential diagnosis of mastoid hypocellularity in human skeletal remainsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Stefan Flohr Abstract Mastoid hypocellularity is frequently used as an indicator of chronic otits media in paleopathological investigations. The condition can be caused by a poor development of air cells during infancy and early childhood (primary hypocellularity) or by obliteration of air cells with bone during later life (secondary hypocellularity). We performed a macroscopic, radiographic, and microscopic study of pneumatization patterns in 151 mastoid processes of individuals from an early-medieval cemetery in Germany, with emphasis on the architecture of the nonpneumatized portion of hypocellular mastoid processes. Two types of primary mastoid hypocellularity were distinguished. The first was characterized by a poorly defined boundary between the pneumatized portion and the nonpneumatized portion and a trabecular thickening in the spongy bone of the latter. The second showed a well-defined boundary between the pneumatized portion and the nonpneumatized portion and normal spongy bone architecture in the latter. The key feature for the diagnosis of secondary hypocellularity was the recognition of the walls of former air cells. Our observations closely match the histopathological findings by Wittmaack (Wittmaack: Über die normale und die pathologische Pneumatisation des Schläfenbeins. Jena: Gustav Fischer [1918]), who developed a concept of the normal pneumatization process of the temporal bone and the pathogenesis of aberrant pneumatization. We agree with Wittmaack's view that two types of primary mastoid hypocellularity can be distinguished morphologically. Regarding the pathogenesis of these types, we, however, conclude that Wittmaack's concept needs to be revised and updated. Further studies are required to establish the relationship between morphological findings in cases of mastoid hypocellularity and the health status of individuals. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Computerized analysis of cytochemical reactions for dehydrogenases and oxygraphic studies as methods to evaluate the function of the mitochondrial sheath in rat spermatozoaANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2001M. Piasecka Cytochemical reactions for mitochondrial NADH-dependent dehydrogenases (diaphorase/NADH which is related to flavoprotein), NAD-dependent dehydrogenases (isocitrate, malate) and succinate dehydrogenase were carried out in rat spermatozoa. In addition to a morphological evaluation, the intensity of the reactions was assessed using a computer image analysing system (Quantimet 600 S). The intensity of the reactions was examined in sperm midpieces by measuring integrated optical density (IOD) and mean optical density (MOD). The activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes was also analysed using the polarographic method. In the population of spermatozoa studied, all whole spermatozoa midpieces were completely filled with formazans, the product of the cytochemical reaction. These morphological findings corresponded to the values obtained for IOD and MOD for the given enzymes. In the oxygraphic studies, the spermatozoa demonstrated consumption of oxygen in the presence of substrates for I, II and IV complexes and their mitochondria revealed normal integrity and sensitivity to the substrates and inhibitors. However, the oxygraphic studies revealed differences between the sperm and somatic cells. These differences concerned the stimulation of pyruvate oxidation by malate, the lack of an effect of malonic acid on phenazine methosulphate (an acceptor of electrons) oxidation and the lack of an effect of cytochrome c on ascorbate oxidation. The cytochemical method, together with densitometric measurements, enables: (1) the reaction intensity to be determined objectively; (2) subtle and dramatic differences in reaction intensity to be revealed between spermatozoa that do not differ under morphological evaluation of the intensity; (3) possible defects within the mitochondrial sheath to be located and assessed in a large number of spermatozoa. This method can be used as a screening method alongside the routine morphological examination of spermatozoa. On the other hand, the oxygraphic method in the inner membrane of mitochondria can reveal functional changes which are related to the action of respiratory chain complexes and display characteristic features of mitochondria energy metabolism. The methods used are complementary and allow the complex evaluation of mitochondria in spermatozoa. Both methods can be used in experimental and clinical studies. [source] Involvement of Clusterin and the Aggresome in Abnormal Protein Deposits in Myofibrillar Myopathies and Inclusion Body MyositisBRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2005I. Ferrer Myofibrillar myopathies (MM) are characterized morphologically by the presence of non-hyaline structures corresponding to foci of dissolution of myofibrils, and hyaline lesions composed of aggregates of compacted and degraded myofibrillar elements. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is characterized by the presence of rimmed vacuoles, eosinophilic inclusions in the cytoplasm, rare intranuclear inclusions, and by the accumulation of several abnormal proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated impaired proteasomal expression and activity in MM and IBM, thus accounting, in part, for the abnormal protein accumulation in these diseases. The present study examines other factors involved in protein aggregation in MM and IBM. Clusterin is a multiple-function protein which participates in A,-amyloid, PrPres and ,-synuclein aggregation in Alzheimer disease, prionopathies and ,-synucleinopathies, respectively. ,-Tubulin is present in the centrosome and is an intracellular marker of the aggresome. Moderate or strong clusterin immunoreactivity has been found in association with abnormal protein deposits, as revealed by immunohistochemistry, single and double-labeling immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, in MM and IBM, and in target structures in denervation atrophy. ,-Tubulin has also been observed in association with abnormal protein deposits in MM, IBM, and in target fibers in denervation atrophy. These morphological findings are accompanied by increased expression of clusterin and ,-tubulin in muscle homogenates of MM and IBM cases, as revealed by gel electrophoresis and Western blots. Together, these observations demonstrate involvement of clusterin in protein aggregates, and increased expression of aggresome markers in association with abnormal protein inclusions in MM and IBM and in targets, as crucial events related with the pathogenesis of abnormal protein accumulation and degradation in these muscular diseases. [source] | |||||||||||||