Surgical treatment of middle ear cholesteatoma using an oral approach in 2 dogs.

Middle ear cholesteatoma is caused by the formation of epidermoid cysts that result in distention and enlargement of the tympanic bulla with subsequent destruction of surrounding tissues. We report treatment of middle ear cholesteatoma in 2 dogs, via an oral surgical approach. Abnormal tympanic bulla contents and the wall compressing the pharynx were successfully removed in both cases. Computed tomography imaging, surgical findings, and histopathology results were consistent with middle ear cholesteatoma in both cases. The outcomes in both cases suggest that an oral surgical approach may be an alternative treatment for middle ear cholesteatoma in dogs. Key clinical message: Despite the limited number of cases described herein, our report indicates that the direct oral approach for canine cholesteatoma may be and alternative approach.

Traitement chirurgical du cholestéatome de l'oreille moyenne par approche orale chez deux chiens. Le cholestéatome de l'oreille moyenne est causé par la formation de kystes épidermoïdes qui entraînent une distension et l'élargissement de la bulle tympanique avec destruction subséquente des tissus environnants. Nous rapportons le traitement d'un cholestéatome de l'oreille moyenne chez deux chiens, via une chirurgie par approche buccale. Le contenu anormal de la bulle tympanique et la paroi comprimant le pharynx ont été enlevés avec succès dans les deux cas. L'imagerie par tomodensitométrie, les résultats chirurgicaux et les résultats histopathologiques étaient compatibles avec un cholestéatome de l'oreille moyenne dans les deux cas. Les résultats dans les deux cas suggèrent qu'une approche chirurgicale orale peut être un traitement alternatif pour le cholestéatome de l'oreille moyenne chez le chien.Message clinique clé :Malgré le nombre limité de cas décrits ici, notre rapport indique que l'approche orale directe pour le cholestéatome canin peut être une approche alternative.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Nimustine Treatment of 11 Cases of Canine Histiocytic Sarcoma.

The objective of this retrospective study was to report treatment outcomes in dogs with histiocytic sarcoma (HS) that were treated with nimustine (ACNU). This study evaluated data from 11 dogs including 5 with macroscopic tumors that were treated in the primary setting and 6 that underwent aggressive local therapy while being treated in the adjuvant setting. The median ACNU starting dose was 25 mg/m2 (range, 20-30 mg/m2; 3- to 5-wk intervals, 1-8 administrations). The median overall survival in the primary and adjuvant settings was 120 days (median progression-free survival [PFS], 63 days) and 400 days (median PFS, 212 days), respectively. Neutropenia was observed in eight cases (grade 1, n = 1; grade 2, n = 2; grade 3, n = 2; grade 4, n = 3) with nadir neutrophil count at 1 wk after ACNU administration. Mild gastrointestinal toxicity (grade 1-2) was observed in three cases. ACNU was well tolerated and showed a similar outcome to that seen for lomustine, which is a drug commonly used to treat canine HS, in terms of overall survival and PFS in the current study population. Further investigations will need to be undertaken to definitively determine if ACNU is an appropriate alternative to lomustine for the treatment of HS.

Long-term management and postmortem examination in a diabetic cat with acromegaly treated with two courses of radiation therapy.

A 12-year-old, castrated male cat with diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with acromegaly and examined with magnetic resonance imaging (enlarged pituitary gland, 8 mm); serum hormone concentrations were measured. After the first course of radiation therapy (4 Gy, 12 fractions), insulin administration was not required from day 420 after diagnosis. Enlarged pituitary tumor (8 mm) recurred, and insulin dosage amount of the cat was increased on day 1,065. The second course of radiation therapy (6 Gy, 4 fractions) was performed on day 1,201 and insulin administration was again discontinued. However, the cat died from lymphoma on day 1,397. Postmortem examination revealed pituitary adenoma. Most tumor cells were positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and growth hormone immunohistochemistry. The pancreatic islet cells revealed diffuse hyperplasia. We achieved long-term successful management of an acromegalic cat with two courses of RT. However, a protocol for a second course of RT for feline recurrent pituitary tumor should be further discussed.

Pituitary size alteration and adverse effects of radiation therapy performed in 9 dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism.

The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic and/or adverse effects of radiation therapy (RT) against pituitary tumors in dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism, as monitored by frequent post-RT detailed MRI examinations, clinical signs, and changes in hormone concentrations. Nine dogs with an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary mass diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) underwent RT for 4weeks (total of 48Gy in 4-Gy fractions). Pituitary height/brain area (P/B) value, clinical signs, basal plasma ACTH concentrations, serum cortisol concentrations (pre- and post-ACTH stimulation test) and adverse effects of RT were evaluated before and post-RT. The P/B value was significantly lower in all nine dogs post-RT. One dog lacking any neurological signs demonstrated no change in clinical signs pre and post-RT. Out of 8 dogs which exhibited neurological signs pre-RT, half of them demonstrated complete resolution of their signs, whereas the other half showed transient resolution. In all animals with recurrence of neurological signs, pituitary tumor regrowth was not observed; however, MRI revealed moderate to severe pituitary hemorrhage. Late adverse effect (bilateral otitis media) was observed in three of nine dogs post-RT. RT did not induce any significant changes in the dogs' basal plasma ACTH concentration and pre- and post-ACTH serum cortisol concentrations. In conclusion, RT is effective to reduce pituitary size and the mass effect, but does not appear to affect blood hormone concentrations, necessitating additional medical treatment against hypercortisolism. Periodic MRI imaging post-RT enables early detection of adverse effects of RT.

Evaluation of outcomes and radiation complications in 65 cats with nasal tumours treated with palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy.

Feline nasal tumours (NTs) are locally invasive and occasionally metastasise to distant sites. Although palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT) is used, its efficacy and long-term complications have not been adequately evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HRT in treating feline malignant NTs, including monitoring improvement in clinical signs, acute and late complications, and prognosis. The medical records of 65 cats with malignant NTs treated with HRT were included. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model were used to evaluate factors that influenced OS and PFS. Clinical signs improved in 86.2% of cats following radiotherapy. Acute complications were observed in 58.5% of cats but were manageable and acceptable. Among late complications, cataract was most frequently observed (20.5%), and atrophy of the entire eyeball and osteochondroma at the irradiation site were each observed in two cats. The median OS and PFS in 65 cats were 432 days and 229 days, respectively. No significant difference between OS of cats with nasal lymphoma and that of cats with other tumours was observed. Despite some limitations due to the retrospective nature of the study, palliative HRT for feline NTs can be considered a useful treatment option because of the high incidence of improvement and more favourable prognosis, although it may be preferable not to use the hypofractionated regimen in young cats with lymphoma that are expected to survive for a long period.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in a young dog.

A 25-month-old Chihuahua dog with no clinical signs was evaluated for high serum liver enzymes. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a mass in the left hepatic medial lobe. The histological diagnosis reached using resected tissues was hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To the authors' knowledge, this is the youngest dog diagnosed with HCC.

Carcinome hépatocellulaire chez un jeune chien. Un chien Chihuahua âgé de 25 mois qui ne présentait aucun signe clinique de maladie a été évalué pour des enzymes hépatiques sériques élevés. L'échographie et la tomodensitométrie ont révélé une masse dans le lobe hépatique médial gauche. Le diagnostic histologique obtenu à partir de tissus reséqués a été le carcinome hépatocellulaire (CHC). À la connaissance des auteurs, il s'agit du plus jeune chien diagnostiqué avec le CHC.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Imatinib-associated tumour response in a dog with a non-resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumour harbouring a c-kit exon 11 deletion mutation.

A 10-year-old female Miniature Dachshund with a non-resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumour was treated with imatinib. The neoplastic cells had a deletion mutation (c.1667_1672del) within exon 11 of the c-kit gene, which resulted in deletion of three amino acids and insertion of one amino acid (p.Trp556_Val558delinsPhe) in the juxtamembrane domain of KIT. Following treatment with imatinib, the dog achieved partial remission on Day 21 with a continuous decrease in tumour size until Day 67 of treatment. Although no additional decrease in size was observed after Day 67 of treatment, the tumour remained stable in size as of Day 140 of treatment. The c-kit mutation found in the tumour cells appears to be a mutation driving oncogenesis, as evidenced by the partial remission elicited by imatinib in this dog.

Group IVA phospholipase A2 regulates testosterone biosynthesis by murine Leydig cells and is required for timely sexual maturation.

In the present paper, we report that PLA2G4A (Group IVA phospholipase A2) is important in the development and function of rodent testes. Interstitial cells of rat testes had high PLA2 (phospholipase A2) activity that was very sensitive to the PLA2G4A-preferential inhibitor AACOCF3 (arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone). PLA2G4A protein was expressed primarily in the interstitial cells of wild-type mouse testes throughout maturation. Although Pla2g4a knockout (Pla2g4a-/-) male mice are fertile, their sexual maturation was delayed, as indicated by cauda epididymal sperm count and seminal vesicle development. Delayed function of Pla2g4a-/- mice testes was associated with histological abnormalities including disorganized architecture, swollen appearance and fewer interstitial cells. Basal secretion of testosterone was attenuated significantly and steroidogenic response to hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) treatment was reduced in Pla2g4a-/- mice compared with their Pla2g4a+/+ littermates during the sexual maturation period. Chemical inhibition of PLA2G4A activity by AACOCF3 or pyrrophenone significantly reduced hCG-stimulated testosterone production in cultured rat interstitial cells. AACOCF3 inhibited forskolin- and cAMP analogue-stimulated testosterone production. These results provide the first evidence that PLA2G4A plays a role in male testes physiology and development. These results may have implications for the potential clinical use of PLA2G4A inhibitors.

Estudo prospectivo de casos de conjuntivite viral aguda na cidade de Säo Paulo: caracterizaçäo do enterovírus 70 (conjuntivite hemorrágica aguda) / Prospective study of cases of acute viral conjunctivitis in the city of Säo Paulo

Noventa e oito pacientes portadores de conjuntivite viral aguda que procuraram a Clínica de Oftalmologia da Escola Paulista de Medicina no período de fevereiro de 1983 a fevereiro de 1984 foram avaliados clínica e laboratorialmente. De acordo com o exame oftalmológico, os pacientes foram classificados como portadores de ceratoconjuntivite epidêmica, febre faringoconjuntival, conjuntivite folicular aguda inespecífica e conjuntivite hemorrágica aguda. Amostras pareadas de soro obtidas na fase aguda e na convalescença do processo infeccioso foram avaliados quanto à presença de anticorpos contra adenovírus e enterovírus 70 pelas técnicas de fixaçäo de complemento e neutralizaçäo, respectivamente. Observou-se diagnóstico sorológico positivo para adenovírus e enterovírus 70 em 5% e 51% dos casos, respectivamente, enquanto que em 44% dos casos näo houve conversäo sorológica para ambos os tipos de vírus. Casos esporádicos foram diagnosticados até 9 meses antes da epidemia. Os pacientes apresentaram quadro clínico semelhante ao de outras epidemias, com hemorragia subconjuntival, ceratite e linfadenopatia