Metachronous breast carcinoma (second malignancy), following "cure" from colorectal carcinoma.

Metachronous or synchronous breast carcinoma following or co-existing with colorectal carcinoma are well recognised clinicopathological entities, and the risk of developing both possibly underlines the similarities in carcinogenesis pathways for these carcinomas. We present a 60-year-old housewife with a history of a treated primary colon carcinoma (Duke's C) 15 years previously. Six months ago, during the follow-up care a small sub-areolar lesion was determined in a mammogram. A lumpectomy was performed under local anaesthesia, which revealed an infiltrating ductal carcinoma (6 mm in greatest diameter). Immuno-histochemical assays for oestrogen and progesterone receptors and c-erb B2 ongoprotein were performed. Axillary lymphadenectomy showed 1/11 positive node. She received adjuvant radiotherapy and hormone manipulation. To date, seven months later she is disease free. The aim of this report is to emphasise the risk of metachronous second malignancy of breast or colorectal carcinoma following colorectal carcinomas. A second primary colonic malignancy following breast primary carcinoma is more frequent than inverse clinical form.

Abattoir condemnation due to parasitic infections and its economic implications in the region of Trikala, Greece.

The prevalence of parasitic infections responsible for the condemnation of carcasses and viscera during meat inspection, and their economic implication, was estimated in a year long abattoir survey of 10 277 slaughtered farm animals in the region of Trikala, Greece. The organs examined for the presence of parasitic lesions during meat inspection were: liver and lungs of all animals, rumen of cattle, small intestine of lambs and kids, and muscles of cattle and swine. The parasitic lesions observed in the lungs of cattle, sheep and goats were caused only by hydatid cysts. No hydatid cysts were observed in the lungs of swine. The parasitic lesions observed in the liver of cattle, sheep and goats were as a result of hydatid cysts and flukes of Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, while those of swine were due to milk spots only. Moniezia sp. proglottids were found in the small intestine of lambs only. The prevalence of parasites responsible for the condemnation of marketable organs was low (0.26%). Parasites were responsible for 22% of the total of condemned organs, and their annual cost was 99, 00 GDR (approximately 292 Euros). The parasites most contributing to marketable organ condemnation were hydatid cysts (26%) and D. dendriticum flukes (26%).

Seasonal patterns of strongyle infections in grazing sheep under the traditional production system in the region of Trikala, Greece.

Ten 4-month-old female sheep of the Karagouniko dairy breed were used to monitor the seasonal fluctuations of strongyle infections in sheep during the first year of grazing under the traditional production system in the region of Trikala, Greece, where control of nematodes is currently based exclusively on the frequent use of anthelmintics which might contribute to the appearance of anthelmintic resistance. The sheep grazed communal pasture plots and did not receive any anthelmintic treatment during the entire study period. Faecal egg counts (epg), plasma pepsinogen levels, blood values, and genera of parasitic strongyles recovered from coprocultures were recorded monthly. Mean epg for strongyle-type eggs were significantly higher during summer. Mean plasma pepsinogen levels were significantly higher during spring and summer. The genera of parasitic strongyles recovered from the faecal cultures were Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, and Chabertia. The percentages of larvae for Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Cooperia, and Oesophagostomum were significantly higher during winter. The percentages of larvae for Trichostrongylus were significantly higher during summer. During summer, levels of RBC, HGB, and HCT were depressed and levels of MCV, MCH, and MCHC were elevated. Mean epg for strongyle-type eggs had a significant inverse correlation with RBC, HGB, HCT, and positive correlation with MCH, MCHC, and percentages of eosinophils in differential leucocyte counts. The seasonal pattern of infection observed in the present study indicates that it is possible to decrease the number of treatments to one per year, thus, reducing the possibility for the appearance of anthelmintic resistance.