Journal of Cytology & Histology

Background: Hydatid cyst (HD) is a major zoonotic infection common in Morocco. The musculoskeletal involvement is rare.
Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of pathology at Ibn Sina teaching Hospital in Rabat, Morocco. It compiled 6 cases of primary HD of the soft tissues.
Result: The age of the patients ranged from 25 to 70 years. The HD was found in the psoas muscle (4 cases) and in the thigh (2 patients). The average size of the cysts was 12 cm. All patients undergone surgical treatment and chemotherapy using albendazole. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Recurrence was observed in one patient.
Discussion: HD is a parasitic disease commonly involving lungs and the liver. The soft tissue’s involvement is rare (0.5 to 4.7%). The imaging methods used for diagnosis and evaluation of HD are ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst is confirmed by histology which shows three layers of hydatid cyst. The inner germinal one, the middle laminated layer and the pericyst associated to a surrounding host reaction. The excision of the cyst is the gold standard treatment.
Conclusion: HD should be considered in intramuscular cystic mass. The present study emphasized the importance of its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses.

Introduction: Skeletal muscles and peripheral nerves are affected in long term diabetes. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice): is a well-known plant used in traditional medicine for its pharmacological value. However, excess consumption of Liquorice can lead to hypertension. Hence, deglycyrrhizinated liquorice extract (DGL) is used to avoid the hypertensive side effects of the glycyrrhizin in whole liquorice. Furthermore, fermentation of Liquorice can produce extra amounts of amylase and lipase alongside a spectrum of flavonoids naturally occurring in liquorice. 
Aim of the study: To investigate the role of the newly innovated fermented deglycyrrhizinized liquorice (FDGL) on the histological structure of gastrocnemius muscle and sciatic nerve in experimentally induced diabetes in rats. 
Materials and methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups. Group I (control), group II (diabetic group): induction of diabetes was done by STZ injection. Rats were sacrificed after four weeks. Group III (diabetic and FDGL treated group): diabetic rats were left for two weeks, and then they were treated with FDGL for further two weeks. Gastrocnemius muscles and sciatic nerves were collected and processed for proper light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphometric and statistical studies were also performed.
Results: Histological examination of the rats of group II showed structural changes of the gastrocnemius muscle, including focal areas of muscle disruption, loss of continuity of myofibrils and significant increase of collagen fibers in the endomysium. The sciatic nerve showed significant thickening of the myelin sheath with entrapment of the axons which appeared disrupted. Group III (diabetic and FDGL treated) showed relative restoration of the normal histological structure of both of gastrocnemius muscles and sciatic nerves.
Conclusion: The data obtained from this study revealed that FDGL ameliorated the hazardous effect of diabetes mellitus on the structure of both gastrocnemius muscle and sciatic nerve of rats.