Transposição e anastomose uretral pré-púbica em um cão macho com estenose extensa da uretra intrapélvica / Prepubic urethral transposition in a male dog with extensive stenosis of the pelvic urethra

We report the use of a new surgical technique in a male dog affected by extensive stenosis of intrapelvic urethra through a antepubic urethral deviation, as an alternative to prepubic urethrostomy and ablation of the external genitalia. The technique consisted initially of orchiectomy, followed by retroumbilical celiotomy, transverse section of the penis in the pre-scrotal region and transposition of this towards the abdominal cavity by making anastomosis to the prostatic urethra. The dog was evaluated clinically and by urethrography retrograde positive contrast for up to four years after the procedure without any clinical signs, changes in urine stream or stenosis image. It is concluded that the pre-pubic urethral transposition is a viable alternative treatment for this dog affected by extensive stenosis of the membranous urethra.(AU)

Increasing the efficiency of lipid-conjugated antibodies incorporation into the membrane of antigen presenting B cells

We have introduced some modifications in the technique called "cell decoration" in order to increase the amount of lipid-conjugated antibodies which can be incorporated into the membrane of B cells. As shown by FACS anlysis, we have obtained an approximately 4-fold increment in the amount of specific antibodies incroporated into the cell membrane. The procedure, which consists of successive changes of the medium that contains the lipid-conjugated antibodies, avoided changes on parameters that interfere with cell viability. The proposed modification resulted in an approximately 2-fold enhancement of the ability of decorated B cells to act as antigen presenting cells for specific T hybridomas