Histopathological changes in retinas and F-ERG features of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with ozone

AIM： To study the histopathological changes in the retina and flash electroretinogram （F-ERG） features of ozone-treated streptozotocin （STZ）-induced diabetic rats. METHODS： Seventy male Sprague Dawley rats were grouped as follows： blank group （GB, n=10）, model control group （GM, n=18）, ozone group （GOs, n=19）, and oxygen group （GO2, n=18）. The model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Ozone or oxygen enteroclysm was given twice per week for 4wk. F-ERG and histopathological examinations were performed one month after treatment. RESULTS： Under dark adaption, as compared to GB, the other groups each had differential decreases in the a-wave amplitudes （P〈0.05）; the latencies were delayed in GM, GO2, and GO3 rats （P〈0.05）. Similar results were observed under light adaption, with the exception that the a-wave of the amplitudes （F=0.28, P〉0.05）. There were significant differences in the apoptosis index among the groups （P〈0.05）. Under ozone treatment, apoptosis was decreased in GO3 as compared to GM and GO2 . CONCLUSION： Ozone administration alleviates nerve damage and reduces pathology and apoptosis in the retinas of diabetic rats.

Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid induced sperm abnormalities and histopathological changes in mice

Objective: To explore the genotoxic potential and histopathological changes induced in liver, kidney, testis, brain and heart after using the antibiotic drug amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(4:1).Methods: The study included chromosomal aberration analysis in bone-marrow and mouse spermatocytes, induction of sperm morphological abnormalities and histopathological changes in different body organs. The drug was administrated orally at a dose of81 mg/kg body weight twice daily(Total = 162 mg/kg/day) for various periods of time equivalent to 625 mg/men(twice daily).Results: The results revealed non-significant chromosomal aberrations induced after treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(AC) in both bone marrow and mouse spermatocytes after 7 and 10 days treatment. On the other hand, statistically significant percentages of sperm morphological abnormalities were recorded. Such percentage reached 8.10 ± 0.55, 9.86 ± 0.63 and 12.12 ± 0.58 at the three time intervals tested(7, 14 and 35 days after the 1 st treatment respectively)(treatment performed for 5 successive days) compared with 2.78 ± 0.48 for the control. The results also revealed histopathological changes in different body organs after AC treatment which increased with the prolongation of the period of therapy. Congestion of central vain, liver hemorrhage and hydropic changes in hepatocytes were noticed in the liver. Degenerative changes were found in kidney glomerulus and tubules while testis showed atrophy of seminiferous tubules, and reduction of spermatogenesis. AC also induced neurotoxicity and altered brain neurotransmitter levels. Hemorrhage in the myocardium, disruption of cardiac muscle fibers and pyknotic nuclei in cardiomyocytes were recorded as side effects of AC in heart tissue.Conclusions: The results concluded that AC treatment induced sperm morphological abnormalities and histopathological changes in different body organs. Clinicians must be aware of such results while describing the drug.

Histopathological Changes in the Epidermis of the Air Breathing Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis Exposed to Sublethal Concentration of Mercuric Chloride

Histopathological alterations induced by the sublethal concentration of (0.03 ppm) mercuric chloride solution on the epidermis of the fresh-water catfish Heteropneuates fossilis have been studied. It induces slow but significant histopathological changes in the various cellular components of the epidermis. It induces vacuolization, necrosis and pycnosis of the nuclei of the epithelial cells which subsequently shed. Loosening of epithelial cells of the outermost and middle layers following degeneration of the intercellular material and widened intercellular spaces is another important alteration. Prolonged mercury treatment also causes a gradual decrease in staining intensity for sulphated glycosaminoglycans in the outer border of the most superficial layer epithelial cells. The glandular elements (club cells and mucocytes) also get affected, showing cyclic degeneration followed by regeneration.

Protective Effects of Qingshen Compound on Experimental Masugi Nephritis Model in Rats

To study protective effects of Qingshen Compound on experimental anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody （AGBM-Ab） nephritis model in rats,an experimental Masugi nephritis model was established in Sprague-Dawley（SD） rats by a single-dose injection of prepared rabbit anti-rat glomerular basement membrane（GBM） serum into sublingual vein and then effects of Qingshen Compound on urine volume,urinary protein level,blood urea nitrogen （BUN）,creatinine （Cr）,albumin （Alb）,triglycerides （TG）,cholesterol （CHO） and histopathological changes were investigated.After successive daily three-dosage oral administration to rat groups （9.4,4.7,2.3 g·kg-1） for 8 weeks,Qingshen Compound was proved effective on increasing urine volume and Alb content,and decreasing levels of urinary protein,BUN,Cr and TG.Furthermore,high and middle dosages （9.4,4.7 g·kg-1） could improve histopathological healing of the model.In summary,Qingshen Compound has shown protective effects on experimental Masugi nephritis model in rats.

It is time to update the ARDS definition: It starts with COVID-19-induced respiratory failure

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may rapidly worsen respiratory failure,thereby leading to death.COVID-19-induced respiratory failure exhibits some atypical characteristics,silent hypoxemia,and high lung compliance.Some histopathological changes associated with COVID-19-induced respiratory failure differ from those of classic acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).However,compared with classical ARDS,COVID-19-induced respi-ratory failure has a similar timing of onset,clinical syndromes,radiological profile,and mortality rate in the intensive care unit(ICU).Respiratory failure induced by COVID-19 is a type of ARDS and is currently underdiag-nosed.This condition stretches the definition of classic ARDS;therefore,an updated definition is warranted.