Primary oral and nasal transmissible venereal tumor in a mix-breed dog

Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a coitally transmitted tumor of dogs with widespread distribution. The present study describes the occurrence of the primary oral and nasal TVT in a 10-year-old, female, mix-breed dog. The case was presented with a history of anorexia, inability to swallow and dyspnea. Clinical examinations revealed the emaciation, muzzle deformity due to the presence of a friable, fleshy, cauliflower-like mass in the oral cavity and submandibular lymphadenopathy. TVT was diagnosed based on histopathological findings. The dog was discharged with therapeutic intervention with vincristine. Unfortunately, the case died before readmission because of the progressive worsening of the general condition. Our findings highlight the need for considering TVT for the differential diagnosis of the extragenital masses in dogs.

[Association between G-2548A leptin gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk]

Leptin is an adipokine made by fat cells and plays a key role in proliferation, cell survival, migration and immune response. Several studies have suggested that individuals with high serum leptin concentrations would increase the risk of breast cancer. G -2548A polymorphism in the leptin gene is located in the promoter region and is associated with the change of leptin serum level. In this study, the association between G -2548A polymorphism in leptin gene and breast cancer susceptibility was investigated. This case-control study was done on 374 Iranian women. This study was performed from March 2013 to February 2013. Blood samples from 203 women with breast cancer and 171 age [ +/- 5]- matched healthy women were collected. Breast cancer patients were selected from Namazi Hospital in Shiraz city. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. The G -2548A polymorphism of leptin gene was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] method. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 18. Logistic regression analysis was used for association of breast cancer susceptibility and G -2548A polymorphism of leptin gene. The A allele frequency was 60% in control group and 72% in breast cancer patients. There was a significant association between A allele in -2548 position of leptin gene and breast cancer susceptibility [OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.4, P<0.001]. In the recessive effect of the A allele [comparison between AA vs. AG+GG], AA genotype in - 2548 region of leptin promoter sequence was significantly increased the risk of breast cancer [OR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.5-3.4, P<0.001]. It is concluded that A allele in the -2548 promoter region of leptin gene may act as a recessive allele and increase the breast cancer risk