TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE URETHRA IN FOUR FEMALE DOGS: ITS URETHROGRAPHIC APPEARANCE

ansitional cell urethral carcinoma in four female dogs is reported. Lesion distribution in the proximal two thirds of the urethra and the radiographic appearance with retrograde positive contrast urethrography were similar in each dog. The normally smooth longitudinal urethral striations were replaced by multiple small, poorly marginated intraluminal masses that resulted in a generalized moth-eaten appearance. Extension of contrast medium into the periurethral tissues also occurred. Retrograde urethrography, a simple diagnostic technic, aided in establishing a differential diagnosis in dogs that had urine retention and stranguria.     

Squamous cell carcinoma associated with a periorbital mass in a veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

This report describes a squamous cell carcinoma in a 1-year-old female veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus). The lesion developed as a small (1 by 1 mm) left periocular discoloration of a scale never involving the eye. The mass was first diagnosed as an abscess, increased in size (4 by 8 by 3 mm), and recurred after two surgical resections combined with antibiotic therapy. Poor nutritional condition and egg production by the chameleon complicated management of this condition. The mass was removed surgically a third time at which point histopathologic evaluation revealed a locally invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Bacterial culture of the mass isolated a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ceftazidime was administered at 20 mg/kg IM every 48 h for 20 days. The animal died 3 months later from complications during an ovariohysterectomy for pregnancy toxemia and oviduct inertia. Necropsy showed no local recurrence or metastasis of the tumor.     

Partial orbital rim resection, mesh skin expansion, and second intention healing combined with enucleation or exenteration for extensive periocular tumors in horses

Ocular and periorbital sarcoids and squamous cell carcinoma are common in equine practice. Extensive involvement of periorbital tissues often necessitates removal of the globe if the function of the eyelids can not be maintained with tumor removal alone. This report describes a modification of the standard enucleation or exenteration technique for cases in which there is insufficient skin to achieve primary closure following complete surgical excision. The caudal portion of the dorsal orbital rim is protuberant; partial excision with an osteotome facilitates skin closure by decreasing the size of the wound. Mesh expansion of skin via multiple rows or parallel stab incisions can also be used as an adjunct to facilitate closure. Four horses underwent enucleation or exenteration using the orbital rim resection and mesh skin expansion techniques for extensive periocular tumors that were unresponsive to prior treatments. Follow-up intervals ranged from 6 to 42 months and no horses had tumor regrowth.     

Renal cell carcinoma with bone metaplasia in a horse

A case of renal tubular carcinoma with bone metaplasia is reported in a 20-year-old male, mixed breed horse having a history of weight loss and hematuria. This report includes the clinical signs, macroscopic and microscopic lesions, and the immunohistochemical findings of this neoplasm.     

Photodynamic therapy response in cats with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma as a function of fluence

The response of advanced stage cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) following treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been poor. It was the aim of this pilot study to determine whether an increase in the delivered fluence (i.e. energy density) would improve the duration of tumour remission in cats with advanced-stage SCC. Tumours were treated with aluminium phthalocyanine tetrasulphonate (AlPcS₄) PDT at a fluence of either 100 J cm⁻² or 200 J cm⁻² and tumour response was evaluated at regular intervals. Those feline tumours treated with a fluence of 100 J cm⁻² ( n = 8) had a significantly shorter median remission duration (69 days; range 0–619 days) than those feline tumours treated with 200 J cm⁻² ( n = 6; 522 days; range 151–1057 days). It is our conclusion that a fluence of 200 J cm⁻² is well tolerated and more effective when treating cats with advanced stage cutaneous SCC.     

Dihydroartemisinin enhances radiotherapy efficiency in H22 cell tumor-bearing mice by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

AIM To study the effect of dihydroartemisinin （DHA） on the radiotherapy efficiency in hepatocellular carcinoma H22 cell tumor-bearing mice and the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （AKT） signaling pathway in this process. METHODS A model of H22 cell tumor-bearing mice was established. The mice was divided into model group， single radiotherapy group， 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） group， and low-， medium- and high-dose DHA groups. The body weight and tumor volume in each group were measured every other day. At the end of administration， blood was collected from the tail of the mice and the animals were killed by neck removal immediately. The synergistic effect of DHA on radiotherapy was determined， and tumor growth inhibitory rate was calculated. The degree of lymphocyte transformation and natural killer （NK） cell activity were measured by MTT， the serum levels of interleukin-2 （IL-2） and IL-4 were measured by ELISA， and the protein levels of PI3K， AKT and p-AKT were determined by Western blot. RESULTS The H22 cell tumor-bearing mouse model was successfully constructed. Compared with model group， the TGT₃ （tumor growth time to reach 3 times of volume） of single radiotherapy group was remarkably increased （P<0.05）， while tumor weight， lymphocyte transformation degree， NK cell activity， IL-2 and IL-4 levels， PI3K protein level and AKT phosphorylation level were remarkably decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with single radiotherapy group， TGT₃， EF （enhancement factor）， tumor inhibitory rate， lymphocyte transformation degree， NK cell activity， IL-2 level and IL-4 level were increased with the increase in DHA dose （P<0.05）， and the PI3K protein level and AKT phosphorylation level were decreased （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION DHA may enhance the immunity of tumor-bearing mice by inhibiting the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway， thereby enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy.     

Gastric Neoplasia in Horses

Background: Gastric neoplasia of horses is incompletely described.
Objective: Provide history, clinical signs, and clinicopathological and pathological findings associated with gastric neoplasia in horses.
Animals: Twenty-four horses with gastric neoplasia.
Methods: Retrospective study. History, clinical signs, and clinicopathological and pathologic findings in horses diagnosed histologically with gastric neoplasia were reviewed.
Results: Horses ranged in age from 9 to 25 years (median 18 years at presentation). There was no apparent breed or sex predisposition. The most common presenting complaints were inappetance (17/24), weight loss (14/24), lethargy (7/24), hypersalivation (7/24), colic (5/24), and fever (5/24). The most consistent clinical signs were tachypnea (10/19), decreased borborygmi (8/19), and low body weight (7/17). Useful diagnostic tests included rectal examination, routine blood analysis, gastroscopy, abdominocentesis, and transabdominal ultrasound examination. Anemia was the most common hematologic abnormality encountered (7/19), and hypercalcemia of malignancy was seen in 4/16 horses. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common tumor identified (19/24), and was most often (14/19) found as a single ulcerated, necrotic mass in the nonglandular portion of the stomach. Other gastric neoplasms encountered were leiomyoma (n=2), mesothelioma (n=1), adenocarcinoma (n=1), and lymphoma (n=1). Metastatic neoplasia was found in 18/23 horses. The median time from onset of clinical signs to death was 4 weeks, and all horses died or were euthanized because of gastric neoplasia.
Conclusions: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common primary gastric neoplasia in horses. The survival time after diagnosis of gastric neoplasia in horses is short.     

原发性胆囊癌的早期诊断及处理原则

目的探讨原发性胆囊癌的早期诊断及处理原则。方法对我院2001年7月至2008年7月年间收治的36例原发性胆囊癌患者的临床资料及手术治疗情况进行回顾性分析。结果胆囊结石与胆囊癌的发病之间有着密切的关系,80.6%（29/36）胆囊癌患者合并有胆囊结石;首发症状以腹痛最为常见,共19例（52.8%）,其次为黄疸14例（38.9%）。B超、CT及MR诊断准确率分别为52.9%、57.1%及52.9%;36例均行手术治疗,术前确诊率仅为58.3%（21/36）。结论原发性胆囊癌早期诊断非常困难,CT诊断准确率较高。提高对原发性胆囊癌发病的认识,加强对高危人群的定期监测随访,联合运用B超和CT检查有助于本病的早期诊断,改善预后。     

The use of quantitative PCR to detect Felis catus papillomavirus type 2 DNA from a high proportion of queens and their kittens

Squamous cell carcinomas are common feline skin cancers that have been associated with infection with Felis catus papillomavirus type 2 (FcaPV-2). Currently, little is known about the epidemiology of FcaPV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to develop a real-time PCR assay to quantify FcaPV-2 DNA in plucked hairs and skin swabs from 11 healthy breeding queens and their kittens. Samples were taken prior to kittening and then 2, 7 and 28 days after kittening to determine the age at which the kittens were first exposed to the virus. FcaPV-2 DNA was amplified from all of the queens and from 91% of the kittens at 2 days of age. There was a wide range in the quantity of FcaPV-2 DNA detected, from 1 to 92,520 copies per swab, and from 0.01 to 234 copies per copy of reference gene DNA in the hair plucks. The quantity of FcaPV-2 DNA detected in samples collected from the kittens was strongly correlated to that of their respective queens and the mean viral DNA load was similar for cats within a household but varied significantly between households. This is the first time that quantitative PCR has been used to detect FcaPV-2 DNA and the results suggest that the virus is ubiquitous but there is a wide variation of viral DNA loads. Kittens appear to be exposed to FcaPV-2 early in life, presumably from direct contact with their queen. These results are important when determining if FcaPV-2 infection of cats is preventable.     

Metastatic cancer of unknown primary in 21 dogs

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe clinical features, treatment and outcome of 21 dogs with metastatic cancer of unknown primary (MCUP), a biopsy‐proven malignancy being diagnosed at a metastatic stage, in which the anatomical origin of the primary tumour cannot be detected. All dogs underwent total‐body computed tomography. Signalment, type and duration of clinical signs, metastasis site, pathology results, treatment and outcome were recorded. Carcinoma was the most common diagnosis (57.1%), followed by sarcoma, melanoma and mast cell tumour. The median number of disease sites per dog was 2, with bones, lymph nodes, lungs and spleen being the most frequent metastatic locations. The median survival for all dogs was 30 days. Overall, a primary site was not identified in 20 (95.2%) dogs. MCUP encompasses a variety of different pathologic entities and harbours a poor prognosis.