Serological prevalence of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in dogs diagnosed with suspected meningoencephalitis in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in a population of dogs with a diagnosis of suspected inflammatory meningoencephalitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of three referral centres were reviewed from 2008 to 2016 to identify a cohort of dogs diagnosed and treated for suspected inflammatory meningoencephalitis after testing for evidence of exposure to these pathogens. RESULTS: In our sample of 400 dogs the prevalence for exposure (IgG>1:50) to Toxoplasma gondii was 8/201 (3∙98%). Active infection (IgG titre >1:400 or/and an IgM titre >1:64 and/or positive PCR in CSF) was suspected in 1/400 (0∙25%). The prevalence for exposure [Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) titre >1:50] and active infection (IFA titres ≥⃒1:400 and/or positive PCR in CSF) with Neospora caninum were 14/201 (6∙96%) and 9/400 (2∙25%), respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In view of the low prevalence of protozoan infections, the risk associated with starting immunosuppressive medication in dogs with evidence of inflammatory meningitis or encephalitis in the UK appears low.

Effects of gestational exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate and mineral oil on testis development of the Mongolian gerbil.

Phthalate esters are endocrine disrupters that can affect the development of the testis in a species-specific manner. However, their interference in the male gonads of the Mongolian gerbil is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether gestational exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) interferes with the development of the gerbil testis during the first six weeks of life. Males were evaluated at 1, 7, 14, 28, 35 and 42 days of age in an untreated (control) group or groups exposed from 8 to 23 days gestation to DBP (100mgkg-1day-1 in mineral oil) or vehicle by maternal gavage. DBP exposure impaired cell proliferation within the seminiferous cords at birth, but increased proliferation at the end of the first week, when higher testosterone concentrations were observed. The vehicle (mineral oil) reduced the total number of gonocytes and attenuated the decrease in testosterone concentrations at 7 days. The vehicle also altered gonocyte relocation at 14 days and increased oestrogen concentrations at 28 days by approximately 112%. In summary, both DBP and oil interfered in gonadal development and testosterone plasma concentrations in the first week of postnatal life. However, the changes observed at the beginning of puberty were not seen after exposure to DBP, indicating a more harmful effect of mineral oil in this period.

Traditional preparations of kava (Piper methysticum) inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies indicate there is low incidence of colon cancer in the South Pacific islands, including Fiji, West Samoa, and Vanuatu. Cancer incidence has been shown to be inversely associated with kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst.) ingestion. Hypothesis/Purpose: Kava prepared traditionally will inhibit the growth of human cancer cells. This investigation entails preparation and analysis of kava extracts and study of the growth inhibitory activity of the extracts, alone and combined with hibiscus. STUDY DESIGN: We will prepare kava as in Micronesia - as a water extract, high in particulate content, alone or combined with sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus L.) - and examine the components and growth inhibitory activity. METHODS: We obtained ground kava prepared in the traditional way from lateral roots and sea hibiscus mucilage and sap from different sources in Micronesia, and prepared water extracts (unfiltered, as well as filtered, since in traditional use the kava beverage contains a high particulate content) and partitions. We used the MTT assay to determine the growth inhibitory activity of the preparations on colon and breast cancer cells and nonmalignant intestinal epithelial cells. LC-MS analysis was used to examine the components of the kava and sea hibiscus extracts and partitions. RESULTS: Traditional preparations of kava inhibit the growth of breast and colon cancer cells. Among the kava preparations, the order of decreasing activity was Fiji(2), Fiji(1), Hawaii; the unfiltered preparations from Fiji were more active than the filtered. Phytochemical analysis indicated that filtering reduced most kavalactone and chalcone content. For example, for Fiji(2), the ratio of dihydromethysticin in filtered/unfiltered kava was 0.01. Thus, for the extracts from Fiji, growth inhibitory activity correlates with the content of these compounds. Unfiltered and filtered kava from Fiji(1) were more active on malignant than nonmalignant intestinal epithelial cells. Since kava is prepared in Micronesia by squeezing the extract through sea hibiscus bark, we assayed the growth inhibitory activity of combinations of kava and sea hibiscus sap and found that sea hibiscus enhanced the growth inhibitory effect of kava. CONCLUSION: Our results show that traditional kava, alone or combined with sea hibiscus, displays activity against human cancer cells and indicate it will be worthwhile to develop and further analyze these preparations to prevent and treat colon and other cancers. Our findings suggest it is important to examine the activity of plants in the form that people consume them.

Presumptive caudal cerebellar artery infarct in a dog: clinical and MRI findings.

Clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a caudal cerebellar artery infarct are reported for the first time in a dog. Clinical signs were characterised by a peracute, non-progressive, right-sided central vestibular syndrome with paradoxical right-sided head tilt. Magnetic resonance images were consistent with a territorial, non-haemorrhagic, ischaemic lesion affecting the caudo-ventral part of the right cerebellar hemisphere, mainly involving the right paramedian lobe, the ansiform lobe and the caudal cerebellar peduncle. Bloodwork results were suggestive of an underlying hypercoagulable state, although the concomitant presence of a histologically confirmed mammary gland adenocarcinoma could have also been related to the cerebellar vascular obstruction through metastatic emboli formation. Posterior-inferior cerebellar artery infarction is the human equivalent of caudal cerebellar artery infarct in dogs.

Angiostrongylus vasorum causing meningitis and detection of parasite larvae in the cerebrospinal fluid of a pug dog.

This case report describes the presence of Angiostrongylus vasorum larvae in cerebrospinal fluid in an 11-month-old pug dog and the relative magnetic resonance images compatible with a focal meningitis. Clinical signs were compatible with a cerebellar lesion, and diagnosis was confirmed by parasitological analysis on faecal and endotracheal lavage samples. Treatment with fenbendazole and prednisolone resulted in a complete resolution of the clinical signs in two months time. A vasorum infection should be considered a possible aetiology of intracranial inflammation in dogs.

Dolor abdominal recurrente-déficit adquirido de C1-inhibidor / Recurrent abdominal pain-acquired deficit of C1-inhibitor

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Giant cell osteosarcoma in the calvarium of a cat.

Feline primary osteosarcomas involving the skull are extremely rare. When they occur, orbit, mandible, and maxilla are the most common sites. Microscopically, scattered multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are not an uncommon occurrence in osteosarcoma (OSC), but they are generally in low number. Only in a rare variant, the giant cell-rich OSC, are MGCs the prevalent cell type. Although osteoclast and osteoblast origin have been postulated in human and veterinary literature, the origin of MGCs in osteosarcomas is poorly understood. This report describes a giant cell-rich OSC in the calvarium of a 13-year-old spayed female shorthair cat. The animal exhibited a range of neurologic signs, including left circling, compulsive gait, lack of proprioception, and bilateral absence of menace reaction, with indication of left forebrain involvement. Gross lesions were characterized by a multilobate, spherical mass located in the left calvarium, compressing the left forebrain. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by scattered nests of MGCs separated by small bundles of pleomorphic, fusate to polygonal cells. Between spindle cells, osteoid was very sparse and arranged in thin strands. Immunohistochemical stains for vimentin were positive, with no detectable cellular staining for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, or Class II major histocompatibility complex. Ultrastructurally, MGCs contained profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum; no lysosomes were observed. The origin of MGCs in osteosarcoma remains obscure, and our results confirm their ambiguous identity.

[Immediate post-operative period in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy in the ICU]. / Postoperatorio inmediato en pacientes sometidos a tiroidectomía total en UCI.

Patients subject to total thyrodectomy are not usually treated after surgery in the ICU. After analyzing a series of 45 patients which were admitted in our unit and evaluating the possible complications that could arise in the postoperative of thyroid surgery, we justified their admission at least during the first few hours after immediate surgery. The patients admitted benefit from continuous haemodynamic surveillance, monitorization of calcemia, evaluation of surgical wound and bleeding, supplied by nursing staff to enable the early detection of the possible complications of this type of surgery.

Postoperatorio inmediato en pacientes sometidos a tiroidectomía total en UCI / Immediate post-operative period in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy in the ICU

Los pacientes sometidos a tiroidectomía total habitualmente tras la cirugía no pasan el postoperatorio inmediato en UCI. En nuestro estudio, tras analizar una serie de cuarenta y cinco casos que ingresaron en nuestra unidad y valorar las posibles complicaciones que se pueden producir en el postoperatorio de la cirugía tiroidea, se justifica el ingreso del paciente al menos en las primeras horas del postoperatorio inmediato. Los pacientes ingresados se benefician de la vigilancia continua (hemodinámica, monitorización de calcemia, valoración de herida quirúrgica y sangrado, etc.) prestada por el personal de enfermería, de tal forma que la detección de las posibles complicaciones se realiza precozmente (AU)

Patients subject to total thyrodectomy are not usually treated after surgery in the ICU. After analyzing a series of 45 patients which were admitted in our unit and evaluating the possible complications that could arise in the postoperative of thyroid surgery, we justified their admission at least during the first few hours after immediate surgery. The patients admitted benefit from continuous haemodynamic surveillance, monitorization of calcemia, evaluation of surgical wound and bleeding, supplied by nursing staff to enable the early detection of the possible complications of this type of surgery (AU)

[Thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: long-term evolution and predictive factors]. / Timectomía en la miastenia gravis: evolución a largo plazo y factores pronósticos.

INTRODUCTION: Thymectomy is a surgical procedure which is generally accepted for treatment of myasthenia gravis. OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term evolution of 217 myasthenic patients who had had thymectomies in the Hospital Clinico Quirurgico Hermanos Ameijeiras in La Habana, Cuba. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We determined the stage of evolution of 217 patients, followed-up periodically, with an average observation time of 83.4 months and an interval of between 5 and 155 months. We also studied the frequency of remission and the influence of a group of variables on this, as well as the mortality and its causes. RESULTS: The clinical state of the patients was: remission 77 (35.4%); pharmacological remission 45 (20.7%); significant improvement 70 (32.2%); the same or worse 5 (2.3%); deaths 11 (5%), and unknown 9 (4.1%). The cases with thymomas had a more unsatisfactory course than the other patients, with fewer remissions and greater mortality. Over the first five years of the evolution of the disease, there was a 30% rate of remission; after five years this rose to 35-40% and after ten years reached 47%. The age of the patient, duration of symptoms, histology of the thymus, age of onset of the disease and duration of follow-up did not have any significant effect (p < 0.05) on the long-term evolution of the thymectomy, in contrast to the gravity of the condition according to Osserman's scale. CONCLUSION: The results of thymectomy, in our study were good and similar to the results reported in the international literature.

Timectomía en la miastenia gravis: evolución a largo plazo y factores pronósticos / thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: long-term evolution and predictive factors

Introduction. Thymectomy is a surgical procedure which is generally accepted for treatment of myasthenia gravis. Objective. To describe the long-term evolution of 217 myasthenic patients who had had thymectomies in the Hospital Clinico Quirurgico Hermanos Ameijeiras in La Habana, Cuba. Patients and methods. We determined the stage of evolution of 217 patients, followed-up periodically, with an average observation time of 83.4 months and an interval of between 5 and 155 months. We also studied the frequency of remission and the influence of a group of variables on this, as well as the mortality and its causes. Results. The clinical state of the patients was: remission 77 (35.4%); pharmacological remission 45 (20.7%); significant improvement 70 (32.2%); the same or worse 5 (2.3%); deaths 11 (5%), and unknown 9 (4.1%). The cases with thymomas had a more unsatisfactory course than the other patients, with fewer remissions and greater mortality. Over the first five years of the evolution of the disease, there was a 30% rate of remission; after five years this rose to 35-40% and after ten years reached 47%. The age of the patient, duration of symptoms, histology of the thymus, age of onset of the disease and duration of follow-up did not have any significant effect (p< 0.05) on the long-term evolution of the thymectomy, in contrast to the gravity of the condition according to Osserman’s scale. Conclusion. The results of thymectomy, in our study were good and similar to the results reported in the international literature (AU)

Introducción. La timectomía es un procedimiento quirúrgico ampliamente aceptado en el tratamiento de la miastenia gravis. Objetivo. Describir la evolución a largo plazo de 217 pacientes miasténicos a quienes se efectuó timectomía en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras de La Habana, Cuba. Pacientes y métodos. Se determinó el estado evolutivo de 217 pacientes, seguidos periódicamente, con un tiempo de observación promedio de 83,4 meses y un intervalo de entre 15 y 155 meses. Asimismo, se estudió la frecuencia de remisión y la influencia de un grupo de variables sobre ella, así como la mortalidad y sus causas. Resultados. El estado clínico de los pacientes fue: remisión 77 (35,4%); remisión farmacológica 45 (20,7%); mejoría significativa 70 (32,2%); igual o peor 5 (2,3%); fallecidos 11 (5%), y desconocido 9 (4,1%). Los casos con timoma evolucionaron menos favorablemente que el resto de los pacientes, pues pudo observarse una menor frecuencia de remisiones y una mayor mortalidad. En los primeros cinco años de evolución la frecuencia de remisiones fue del 30%; después de los cinco años aumentó hasta un 35-40%, y después de diez años alcanzó un 47%. La edad del paciente, la duración de los síntomas, la histología del timo, la edad de debut de la enfermedad y el tiempo de seguimiento no tuvieron una influencia significativa (p< 0,05) sobre la evolución a largo plazo de la timectomía, a diferencia de la gravedad de la enfermedad de acuerdo con la escala de Osserman. Conclusión. Los resultados de la timectomía en nuestro estudio fueron favorables y similares a los publicados internacionalmente (AU)

[Infiltrating transitional carcinoma of the bladder (I). Comparison of 2 groups treated with preoperative radiotherapy (long-term protocol and short-term protocol) + radical cystectomy versus radical cystectomy only. Analysis of local recurrence and metastasis]. / Carcinoma transicional infiltrante de vejiga. (1a parte). Comparación de 2 grupos tratados con radioterapia preoperatoria (pauta larga y pauta corta) + cistectomía radical con otro manejado con cistectomía radical solo. Análisis de recidiva local y metástasis.

We analyze our experience in 175 patients with transitional bladder cancer for whom radical cystectomy was indicated. Patients were divided into three groups: one group was managed with radical cystectomy only and the other two with pre-operative radiotherapy: long-term approach and short-term approach. No significant differences have been observed when comparing current survival rate and disease-free intervals of all three groups. It can be deduced from our series that, by the scarce number of local recurrences observed, there is no other measure to be added to surgery directed to improve the tumour's local management. Most metastasis were diagnosed within 18 months after cystectomy. 58.4% patients presented bone dissemination. The risk of distant dissemination increases with the extent of vesical wall invasion, degree of anaplasia and presence of positive glands. The gland stage is not necessary for the metastasis to be present. Death's ratio with distant dissemination is significantly lower in the group managed Without pre-operative radiotherapy than in the others. Of the 11 patients where no tumour was observed in the cystectomy piece, 2 developed metastasis, indicating that this was already present before bladder extraction. Management of patients with infiltrating++ bladder cancer is complex, but no efforts should be spared to advise the most appropriate approach for each particular case. Chemotherapy plays an unquestionable role among the procedures we have to control, since most patients' deaths happen within two years after local-regional treatment of the primitive tumour and nearly all of them as a consequence of metastasis. Cytostatic agents are the only effective therapy for distant dissemination. We believe that every patient with a cancer extended to the perivesical fat or with dissemination to regional glands, whichever the stage, should be treated with chemotherapy after extirpation of the bladder, and starting as early as the patient's general status would allow it.

[Giant tumor thrombus in the renal vein. Diagnostic accuracy of CAT]. / Trombo tumoral gigante en la vena renal. Exactitud diagnóstica del TAC.

A clinical case of a clear-cells renal tumour, located in the left kidney, with occupation of renal vein by a 7.7 cm thick tumoral thrombus, not affecting the cava vein lumen is presented. CAT and selective left renal venography were the exploratory means which provided the diagnosis. In the study of renal vein affectation by tumoral thrombus, the CAT accuracy can be equal to that of venography, the latter being indicated in dubious cases.