ABSTRACT
Improvements in veterinary medicine have resulted in a significant benefit in the life of pets in the last 20 years, and increased pet life expectancy led to an increased prevalence of canine neoplasia. Cancer epidemiology and spatial analysis tools, although well developed for human oncology research, is just beginning to be explored in veterinary oncology. São Paulo city, capital of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is divided into five regions: North, South, East, West and downtown. The Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (HOVET-SVMAS-USP), is located in the West region of São Paulo, Brazil, and admits cases of small and large animals. Canine mammary tumors are so numerous that they are not routinely treated at the HOVET. The aim of this work was to perform a cartographic study to describe the spatial distribution of prevalent cases of neoplasms in dogs from the HOVET. Of the 3,620 cases seen in 2002 and 2003, 380 cases (10.5%) were of dogs affected with benign and malignant neoplasms. No statistical difference was found for the 380 addresses distributed among the five regions of the city. These results showed that the HOVET receives canine patients from all regions of São Paulo and there is a homogeneous spatial distribution of neoplasms. Authors encourage additional broader studies, involving several veterinary hospitals, clinics or laboratories in order to obtain more accurate data on distribution of canine neoplasms in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Avanços na medicina veterinária resultaram em benefícios significativos na vida de animais de estimação nos últimos 20 anos, e o aumento da expectativa de vida para animais levou a uma maior prevalência de neoplasias em cães. A Epidemiologia do Câncer e as ferramentas de análise espacial, embora bem desenvolvidas na pesquisa oncológica humana, estão começando a serem exploradas na Oncologia Veterinária. A cidade de São Paulo, capital do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, é dividida em cinco regiões: Norte, Sul, Leste, Oeste e centro. O Hospital Veterinário da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo (HOVET-SVMAS-USP) está localizado na região Oeste de São Paulo, Brasil, e admite casos de pequenos e grandes animais. Tumores mamários caninos são tão numerosos que não são tratados na rotina do HOVET. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo cartográfico para descrever a distribuição espacial dos casos prevalentes de neoplasias em cães a partir do HOVET. Dos 3.620 casos atendidos em 2002 e 2003, 380 (10,5%) casos eram de cães acometidos por tumores benignos e malignos. Não foi encontrada diferença estatística entre a distribuição dos 380 endereços entre as cinco regiões da cidade. Os resultados mostraram que o HOVET atende pacientes caninos de todas as regiões de São Paulo e que há uma distribuição espacial homogênea das neoplasias. Os autores incentivam estudos mais amplos, envolvendo vários hospitais veterinários, clínicas e laboratórios, a fim de obter dados mais precisos sobre a distribuição das neoplasias caninas em São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Demography/statistics & numerical data , Neoplasms/veterinary , Topography, Medical , Brazil , Hospitals, Animal , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng) roots have been indicated for the treatment of several diseases. Our studies have shown that P. paniculata roots present antineoplastic effects and cancer chemopreventive activity in a mouse hepatocarcinogenesis model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Brazilian ginseng on corneal angiogenesis in mice. We first conducted a toxicological study employing 250, 500, or 1000mg/kg/day of the methanolic extract of P. paniculata roots by gavage to BALB/c mice. Animals did not lose weight during the treatment nor presented histopathological alterations. The effect of this root on angiogenesis in the cornea of BALB/c mice was then assessed. Male mice were treated, by gavage, once a day, with doses of 250, 500, or 1000mg/kg of methanolic extract of P. paniculata powdered root for 10 days; filtered water was used as control. Corneal cauterization was accomplished by the contact of a silver nitrate crystal on the central area of the cornea, in the 5th day of treatment with P. paniculata, which continued thereafter; the animals were euthanized on the 6th day after cauterization. Newly formed blood vessels were filled with India ink, and the corneas were routinely processed. Blood vessels were quantified in an image analysis system. A smaller total area of neovascularization in the mouse cornea was observed in animals treated with 1000mg/kg of the methanolic extract of P. paniculata. These results indicate an antiangiogenic effect of this extract. The mechanisms of this antiangiogenic activity of P. paniculata should be further investigated.
