Clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of feline chronic gingivostomatitis.

Objectives This study presents the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of 26 cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCG). Methods Oral mucosal biopsies, blood and swabs were collected from cats presenting with oral lesions. The tissue sections were submitted for histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis for feline calicivirus (FCV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The swabs were subjected to PCR analysis for FCV, and blood for FeLV and FIV. Results The main clinical findings were dysphagia (88.2%), halitosis (76.5%), sialorrhea (47.1%), weight loss (41.2%), intense oral discomfort (35.3%), oral hemorrhage (17.6%), and lackluster and fragile coat (11.8%). Gross inspection revealed bilateral lesions across the palatoglossal fold to the lateral tongue base. The lesions were diffuse, proliferative, intensely red and friable, and bled easily upon examination in 80.8% of cases. In 23.1% of cases, the lesions were multifocal to coalescent, at times forming multiple vesicles on a reddened, edematous palatoglossal fold. Microscopic examination showed that 15.4% of lesions had moderate (grade 2) and 84.6% had severe (grade 3) inflammation. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of FeLV antigens in the epithelium and the inflammatory infiltrate of 30.8% of the cats with FCG. FCV antigens were not detected in the FCG lesions. Conclusions and relevance The FCG cases analyzed could not be correlated with FCV. It is possible that FeLV plays a role as a causal agent of lesions in cases where the presence of the virus has been confirmed by immunohistochemistry in epithelial samples.

Mesenchymal stem cells and nanofibers as scaffolds for the regeneration of thyroid cartilage.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study has been to establish an alternative approach in the form of regeneration of the thyroid cartilage. STUDY DESIGN: Four 1-month old pigs (Sus scrofa) were used (divided into 3 groups) and submitted to general anesthetic to perform cervictomy with exposure of the thyroid cartilage in a total of 12 (twelve) samples. METHOD: A resection of 4.0 cm(2) of cartilage was carried out in the right upper region and in the left upper and lower left region of the cartilage, where a scaffold with or without stem cells was implanted. In the left lower region, no biomaterial was implanted and the defect was left open (lesion control [L]). RESULTS: The average extension of the cartilaginous neoformation of L group was 136.3 µm (± 9.6) and 387.7 µm (± 43.2) in the scaffold (SCA) group, presenting a significant statistical difference (P < 0.01). The analysis carried out on the lesion site sections of the cartilage of the larynx of the animals from the SCA group + mesenchymal stem cells (SCA+MSC) showed an average of the extension of neocartilage of 825.4 µm (± 122.1), showing a more extensive area of neocartilage when compared to the other groups. These results demonstrated a high significantly statistical difference (P < 0.001) when compared with the L and SCA groups. CONCLUSION: In 100% of the cases for which SCA+MSCs were used, a significant success in the cartilage growth and closing of the lesion in the thyroid cartilage was obtained compared to the other two groups for which MSCs were not used. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Laparoscopic versus open splenectomy in dogs

In the last few years, the use of laparoscopy in veterinary medicine has expanded and consequently so was the need for studies that establish the advantages, disadvantages and possible complications of each procedure. The purpose of the current study was to describe a laparoscopic splenectomy technique and the alterations due to this access, and compare it to the open procedure in dogs. A total of 15 healthy female mongrel dogs were used, with mean weight of 17.4±2.5kg. The animals were distributed into three groups: Group IA of open splenectomy (laparotomy) using double ligation of the vessels of the splenic hilum with poliglicolic acid, Group IB of open splenectomy (laparotomy) with bipolar electrocoagulation of the splenic hilum, and Group II of laparoscopic access with bipolar electrocoagulation of the splenic hilum. Operative time, blood loss, size of incisions, complications during and after surgery were evaluated. Other parameters included pain scores, white blood cell (WBC) counts and postoperative serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose and cortisol. No differences were found in the evaluation of parameters between both open splenectomy techniques employed. Laparoscopic access presented significant differences (p<0,05) when compared with open surgery: Longer operative time, smaller abdominal access, decrease in blood loss, lower concentrations of CRP, higher levels of CK and ALP, and lower scores in the pain scale. Laparoscopic surgery showed fewer complications of the surgical wound. No significant differences were observed between groups in the postoperative temperature, WBC, ALT, cortisol and glucose concentrations. In conclusion, the laparoscopic technique is useful for splenectomy in dogs, being advantageous in terms of blood loss, surgical stress and surgical wounds. However, it expends more operative time and causes transitory...

Nos últimos anos, a utilização da laparoscopia em Medicina Veterinária vem expandindo e, conseqüentemente, a necessidade de pesquisas que determinem as vantagens, desvantagens e possíveis complicações de cada procedimento. Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever uma técnica de esplenectomia laparoscópica, assim como as alterações decorrentes deste acesso, e compará-la ao procedimento convencional em cães. Foram utilizadas 15 cadelas hígidas, sem raça definida, com peso médio de 17,4 ±2,5kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em três grupos: Grupo IA de acesso convencional (por laparotomia) utilizando ligadura com ácido poliglicólico no selamento vascular do hilo esplênico, Grupo IB de acesso convencional (por laparotomia) com eletrocoagulador bipolar do hilo esplênico, e Grupo II de acesso laparoscópico com eletrocoagulador bipolar para selamento vascular dos ramos esplênicos. Estes grupos foram avaliados em relação ao tempo cirúrgico, à perda de sangue, ao tamanho das incisões e às complicações durante e após a cirurgia. Também foram comparadas as avaliações da escala de dor e as alterações no leucograma e nas concentrações séricas da alanina aminotransferase (ALT), da fosfatase alcalina (FA), da creatina quinase (CK), da proteína C-reativa (CRP), da glicose e do cortisol no pós-operatório. Os acessos convencionais não diferiram entre si nos parâmetros avaliados. O acesso laparoscópico apresentou diferenças significativas (p<0,05) quando comparado ao convencional: maior tempo cirúrgico, menor acesso abdominal, diminuição na perda de sangue, menores concentrações de CRP, maiores níveis de CK e FA, além de pontuação menor na escala de dor. A cirurgia laparoscópica apresentou menor número de complicações das feridas cirúrgicas. A ALT, o cortisol, a glicemia, o leucograma e a temperatura retal pós-operatórias não diferiram significativamente entre os acessos convencional e laparoscópico. Conclui-se que a cirurgia laparoscópica é viável para...