Computed tomographic appearance of canine thyroid tumours.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the computed tomography features of canine thyroid tumours. METHODS Retrospective study of records of dogs with a thyroid tumour and neck computed tomography. Neck computed tomographies were evaluated for tumour characteristics. Thoracic radiographs and computed tomographies were evaluated for lung nodules. RESULTS: Of 19 identified cases, 17 were carcinomas and 2 were adenomas; 12 had mineralisation, 16 had heterogeneous attenuation and 16 were unilateral. Tumours were located from the temporomandibular joint to C5. Sixteen had well-defined margins postcontrast. Tumours were ovoid and mean volume was 57·4 cm(3) . By computed tomography, eight had definitive or possible invasion into surrounding structures; all eight were histopathologically invasive carcinomas. Five histopathologically non-invasive tumours and two adenomas had no computed tomography invasion into surrounding structures. Four had complete palpable mobility (two adenomas and two histopathologically invasive carcinomas); one had computed tomography evidence of possible invasion. The sensitivity of palpable mass mobility to determine histopathological invasion was 71% with 0% specificity. The sensitivity of computed tomography invasion to determine histopathological invasion was 70% with 100% specificity. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Computed tomography scans revealed several common features. Palpable mass mobility was not definitive for lack of histopathological invasion. Computed tomography invasion was specific but not very sensitive for histopathological invasion.

Gene expression profiling demonstrates differential expression of osteopontin in follicular thyroid carcinomas compared to normal thyroid tissue in dogs.

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is an aggressive tumour in dogs with little known about its molecular pathogenesis. The overall goal of this study was to examine FTC and normal thyroid tissue gene expression. Microarray analysis was performed on a pilot group of five FTC-affected dogs and four healthy dogs, and then osteopontin validated with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of thyroid tissue from non-invasive FTC, invasive FTC and healthy dogs. On microarray analysis, 489 transcripts were differentially expressed between FTC and normal thyroid: 242 transcripts were down-regulated and 247 were up-regulated. Osteopontin expression was markedly increased in tumour tissue compared to normal thyroid tissue. Quantitative PCR and IHC confirmed differential expression of osteopontin in both tumour types (invasive and non-invasive) compared to normal thyroid tissue. There is justification for further investigation of osteopontin as a potential molecular marker for screening and monitoring of canine FTC.

Perfil dos cães sororreagentes para aglutininas anti-Leptospira interrogans em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 2001/2002 / Serological profile of seropositive dogs to anti-Leptospira interrogans agglutinins in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2001-2002

The serological profile of seropositive dogs according to anti-Leptospira agglutinins was checked in Belo Horizonte including variables such as race, sex, age and whether the dog had an owner or not. The dogs were captured by the Zoonosis Control Center in nine neighborhoods around the city and were separated in two categories - with owners or captured on the streets. The prevalence of anti-Leptospira agglutinins was evaluated in 3,417 blood samples using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) from September 2001 to September 2002. It was found that 13.1 percent of the dogs had seropositive results with the most reactive serovars being Canicola (7.0 percent), Ballum (6.1 percent), Pyrogenes (3.2 percent) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (2.9 percent). The prevalence of other serovars was less than 1.0 percent. Greater prevalence was found in male, crossbred dogs, without owners. There were no significant results due to age in 95 percent (P=0.808) of the cases. According to the results, more research should be done in order to isolate and classify the serovars in positive dogs, especially Ballum and Pyrogenes, which will suggest their inclusion in the commercial vaccines against leptospira used in dogs in this city

Prevalência de aglutininas anti-Leptospira interrogans em cães de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 2001 a 2002 / Prevalence of anti-Leptospira interrogans agglutinins in dogs from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2001 - 2002

Avaliou-se a prevalência de aglutininas anti-Leptospira interrogans nos cães recolhidos pelo Centro de Controle de Zoonoses nas nove regionais administrativas de Belo Horizonte, em diferentes épocas do ano. As áreas de prevalência de cães reagentes foram correlacionadas às áreas de saneamento ambiental, usando recursos georreferenciamento. As amostras de sangue dos 3417 cães, coletadas no período de setembro de 2001 a setembro de 2002, foram processadas pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica, encontrando-se 13,1 por cento de positividade. As sorovariedades Canicola, Ballum, Pyrogenes e Icterohaemorrhagiae foram as mais prevalentes. As mais altas prevalências ocorreram nas regionais Centro-Sul (22,5 por cento), Leste (19,1 por cento) e Nordeste (13,2 por cento). A menor prevalência foi observada na Regional Pampulha (8,2 por cento). Os meses com maior percentual de cães reagentes foram dezembro/2001 e janeiro/2002, período de maior precipitação pluvial e temperaturas médias mais elevadas. As áreas de maior risco coincidiram com as regiões de vilas, favelas e bairros da periferia onde existia deficiência de saneamento ambiental.

[Dilatation tracheotomy after Ciglia--its use in an internal-medicine intensive care unit]. / Dilatationstracheotomie nach Ciaglia--Einsatz auf einer internistischen Intensivstation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Since the first description of percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy (DTT), it has become an alternative method of equal value to surgical tracheostomy. This study collected the experience with DTT in a medical intensive care unit (ICU), with special reference to early and late complications and their management, outcome, and changes in ventilation parameters and blood gases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 1994 and April 1998, 74 DTTs were performed on 71 patients (52 men, 19 women; mean age 61.8 [30-80]) years. The admission or main diagnoses were cardiovascular disease in 34 patients, pulmonary disease in 21, the remainder having had a variety of conditions. RESULTS: The procedure caused complications in 21 procedures (28%): 10 cases of stomal bleeding (13.5% of total number of procedures), 2 of intratracheal bleeding (2.7%), 2 of severe tracheal injury (2.7%) and mediastinal emphysema in 1 (1.3%). None required intervention because of these complications. 38 patients were discharged from hospital. Cause of death in the other 33 was unrelated to the DTT. One patient developed tracheomalacia as a late complication. Ventilatory parameters and blood gases 12 hours post-DTT were the same as before the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Ciaglia's method of dilatation tracheostomy is a safe procedure also in the context of a medical ICU, if the indications are correct and the procedure performed by experienced personnel. Compared with surgical tracheostomy it significantly reduces the burden on the patient as well as requiring fewer personnel and less equipment.

Therapy of severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Zero-mortality under very-low-dose insulin application.

OBJECTIVE: Despite modern concepts in therapy by low-dose insulin application and better care in intensive care units (ICUs), there still is a mortality of 5-10% for severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The aim of this study was to develop a therapy concept to reduce complications and mortality in DKA. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: From 1986 to 1997, 114 consecutive patients (mean [range]; age 34 [11-74] years) with type 1 diabetes suffering from severe DKA were treated on ICUs and investigated in a retrospective and prospective study. The following are the criteria for admission onto ICUs: < 7.20 pH level, > 300 mg/dl blood glucose, less than -12 mmol/l base excess, or < 300 mg/dl blood glucose plus severe symptoms (i.e., coma). We treated patients according to the following concepts: very-low-dose insulin application by a basal insulin infusion of 1 U/h (0.5-4.0 U/h i.v.), maximal decrease of blood glucose level by 50 mg. dl-1. h-1, slow-motion reequilibration by fluid substitution of 1,000 ml/h (Ringer-Lactate, NaCl 0.9% or half-electrolyte fluids) in the first 4 h, potassium replacement and heparin (500-1,000 U/h i.v.). RESULTS: When patients were admitted to ICU, we found the following parameters: mean (range); 609.0 (86.0-1,428.0) mg/dl blood glucose level; 7.13 (6.53-7.36) pH level; and -19.7 (-41.2 to -7.0) mmol/l base excess. After 12 h of treatment, we reached the following parameters: mean values; 251 mg/dl blood glucose level, 7.31 pH level, and -9.37 mmol/l base excess level. All patients survived without any lasting deficiencies or fatal complications. CONCLUSIONS: Very-low-dose insulin application and slow-motion reequilibration plus monitored substitution of electrolytes are the basic strategies in the treatment of severe DKA. In our view, small doses of infused insulin are the main reason for the safe results of this therapy program.