Comparative histological analysis of the alae nasi in French bulldogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and unaffected non-brachycephalic dogs.

BACKGROUND: Brachycephalic dogs are characterised by a short and flat nose. This cranial conformation is associated with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, a respiratory syndrome primarily characterised by stenotic nares, a hyperplastic soft palate and a hypoplastic trachea, among other malformations, with secondary abnormalities resulting in upper airway obstruction METHODS: In this study, we aimed to characterise and compare the histological features of tissue samples harvested from the alae nasi of French bulldogs and non-brachycephalic dogs. Samples from the alae nasi of 11 French bulldogs and 13 non-brachycephalic dogs were collected. Four-µm-thick, paraffin-embedded sections were obtained from each tissue sample and mounted on glass slides, followed by staining with haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and toluidine blue for histological examination. RESULTS: The only variation observed between the samples obtained from French bulldogs and those obtained from non-brachycephalic dogs concerned the presence of cartilage in the specimens. Cartilage was absent in 10 of 11 French bulldogs but present in nine of 13 non-brachycephalic dogs; this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS: The findings of this study need further validation in future prospective studies. It would be useful to examine the entire nostril wing, to include additional brachycephalic breeds, a larger number of subjects spanning a wider age range and degree of stenotic nares severity, a larger tissue sample, and a broadening of the control group to include dolichocephalic and mesaticephalic dogs. CONCLUSION: This study found an absence of cartilage in French bulldog nare specimens compared to those from non-brachycephalic dogs. This absence of cartilage may contribute to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, although histological examination of the entire wing of the nostrils is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Case Report: Intramedullary Intervertebral Disk Extrusion in a Cat: Clinical, Computed Tomographic, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Outcome Findings.

Background: Intramedullary disk extrusions has rarely been described in veterinary medicine, more especially in cats, with only two cases are reported in the veterinary literature. Diagnosis may be difficult, even though clinical presentation and imaging studies, such as MRI or CT, can present specific features. Treatment and prognosis are not clearly described. Case presentation: A 10-year-old domestic shorthair female cat was evaluated for a 12 h-history of peracute-onset of paraparesis with flaccid tail and urinary and fecal incontinence. The patellar reflexes were normal, the pelvic flexor reflexes were decreased (more markedly on the right limb) and the perianal reflex was absent. The tail was flaccid, without nociception. Abdominal palpation revealed a small urinary bladder, easily expressed. Manipulation of the lumbar vertebral column elicited marked pain. Neurological examination was consistent with a L7-caudal segments lesion. A lumbosacral MRI and CT evaluations were performed and revealed a focal intramedullary hemorrhagic lesion, with an associated vertical linear tract communicating with the L5-L6 intervertebral disk space, and a suspected intramedullary focus of mineralization. These imaging findings were highly suggestive of an L5-L6 intramedullary disk extrusion. A dorsal L5-L6 laminectomy confirmed the presence of intramedullary degenerative nucleus pulposus fragments, which were surgically removed. Rapid and progressive neurological improvement was observed post-surgery. At the 1-year follow-up, right plantigrade stance and mild paraparesis were still noticed, but jumps and voluntary tail movements were observed. Occasional urinary and fecal incontinence episodes remained. Conclusions: This is the first feline case report of an intramedullary disk herniation with long-term follow-up available. Clinical description, CT and High-Field MRI findings, surgical procedure and histological results are reported, and help describing the characteristics of this rare non-compressive category of peracute intervertebral disk extrusion. Surgical management may be considered in feline cases of intramedullary disk herniation and may be associated with a good outcome.

Feline progressive histiocytosis: a retrospective investigation of 26 cases and preliminary study of Ki67 as a prognostic marker.

Feline progressive histiocytosis (FPH) is an uncommon and infrequently reported cutaneous histiocytic proliferative disorder, whose clinical presentation is solitary or multiple cutaneous nodules and papules, with late-course internal metastasis. We describe herein the clinical, epidemiologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of this entity, and document the outcome of FPH based on a retrospective study of 26 cases. Female and male cats were affected equally. Lesions were evident either as solitary (16 of 26 cases) or multiple (10 of 26 cases) nonpruritic and alopecic nodules or plaques, preferentially located on the legs and extremities (73%). Follow-up was complete for 19 cats, and ranged from 41 to 1,449 d. Nine died of FPH with a median overall survival of 96 d (range: 41-238 d). The disease recurred in 14 cats after surgical excision of the nodules, and the median disease-free survival was 175 d (range: 21-1,449 d). Five of the 26 cats were alive at the end of the study, and 4 had no progression of the disease. Histologically, lesions were characterized by poorly circumscribed, unencapsulated histiocytic infiltration of dermis and subcutis. Epitheliotropism was observed in 11 (42%) cats. Atypical histiocytes diffusely and consistently expressed MHC II, CD18, and Iba1. Statistically significant higher E-cadherin expression was observed in epitheliotropic cases compared to non-epitheliotropic cases. A negative correlation between overall survival and proliferation index was evident, thus suggesting Ki67 as a promising prognostic marker.

Feline intestinal mast cell tumours: clinicopathological characterisation and KIT mutation analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Feline intestinal mast cell tumours (FIMCTs) are rare and reportedly characterised by poor differentiation, aggressive biological behaviour and lack of reliable therapeutic aids. KIT proto-oncogene-activating mutations have never been investigated in these tumours. This study describes the main clinicopathological and microscopic features observed in 17 FIMCTs. METHODS: Tumour degree of differentiation, proliferative activity, Kit protein expression and KIT mutations were evaluated and correlated with survival to assess their prognostic relevance. RESULTS: Ten tumours were located in the small intestine, two in the ileocaecocolic junction, and five in the large intestine. Survival times ranged from 3-538 days. Fifteen tumours were evaluated histologically, and there were six well-differentiated, six moderately differentiated and three poorly differentiated FIMCTs. The last showed a medium-to-large deposition of collagen tissue (P <0.001), and significantly higher mitotic and Ki67 indexes compared with more differentiated tumours (P = 0.011). On survival analysis, tumour degree of differentiation (P <0.001) and a mitotic index >2 (P = 0.022) were significantly associated with decreased survival times. Twelve cases showed Kit protein immunoexpression. The Kit pattern was membranous in five cases (33.3%), focal paranuclear in five (33.3%) and diffuse cytoplasmic in two (13.3%). Cytoplasmic Kit patterns were associated with a lesser differentiation (P = 0.015). Mutation analysis was successfully performed on 12 primary tumours and four lymph node metastases; however, no encoding mutation was detected. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Contrary to reports in the literature, FIMCTs seem to have an extremely variable biological behaviour. We propose a classification based on tumour degree of differentiation and proliferative activity. These findings need to be confirmed in larger series, and exploration of further genomic regions of KIT is warranted to clarify its role in the development and progression of these neoplasms.

Multiple progressive piloleiomyomas in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo): a case report.

A 2.5-year-old ovariectomized female ferret developed multiple progressive linear and raised nodules on the skin. The first lesions occurred on the tail, which was then amputated. Over the following 3 years, additional lesions appeared in the vicinity of the scar and then further rostrally on the flanks and thorax. Histological and immunohistochemical investigation led to a diagnosis of multiple piloleiomyomas. The unique characteristics of this ferret disease are described and compared with those of multiple piloleiomyomas in humans and with those of other cutaneous smooth muscle cell tumours reported in the veterinary literature.

A KIT-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

A 1.5-year-old, neutered, male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented with sudden lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea. Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed an intra-abdominal mass. An explorative laparotomy was performed. A neoplasm, located in the ileum wall, was submitted for histopathologic examination. The tumor consisted of weakly eosinophilic spindle cells arranged in a compact pattern with haphazardly interlacing bundles. Neoplastic cells labeled positively for KIT (cluster of differentiation 117, stem cell factor receptor) and vimentin. Based on histologic and immunohistologic results, this tumor was diagnosed as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Results suggest that this ferret tumor shares strong similarities with the canine and human counterparts.

Lábio duplo: relato de caso / Double lip: case report

Apresenta um caso clínico de lábio duplo superior no qual o paciente se queixava de comprometimento estético. O diagnóstico dessa lesão é simples, bem como o tratamento cirúrgico, que tem por objetivo uma melhora estética e funcional. No caso apresentado, a exérese foi realizada sob anestesia local

Emergências e urgências médicas. Como proceder? / Medical emergercy and urgency. How to proceed?

Neste trabalho os autores tentam passar uma visäo simples e prática, de como agir frente as mais comuns emergências médicas que podem ocorrer no consultório odontológico. Os sinais e sintomas dessas enfermidades säo apresentados de maneira simples, mas podem ajudar os cirurgiöes dentistas na determinaçäo do diagnóstico presuntivo e na escolha da terapêutica adequada a ser seguida