Cytology and the cell block method in diagnostic characterization of canine lymphadenopathy and in the immunophenotyping of nodal lymphoma

Minimally invasive techniques used to evaluate canine peripheral lymphadenopathy (PLN), including fine needle aspiration biopsy with cytological evaluation (FNAB‐C) and flow cytometry (FC), have benefits and limitations. The cell block (CB) method is an alternate processing technique in which fine needle aspirate biopsy samples are concentrated, fixed, and embedded in paraffin for routine histological processing/staining. Utilizing three observers, we determined the diagnostic value of the CB in evaluating canine PLN across six categories (non‐diagnostic, reactive, inflammatory/infectious, probable lymphoma and lymphoma, metastatic neoplasia) and correlated findings to immunophenotypic and clonal antigen receptor rearrangement results in canine nodal lymphoma. Eighty‐five paired FNAB‐C and CB samples were evaluated from canine patients presenting to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Oncology or Internal Medicine services. Diagnostic quality samples were obtained in 55/85 (65%) CB and 81/85 (95%) FNAB‐C samples, respectively, and nodal pathology impacted CB diagnostic yield. Overall percent agreement between diagnostic‐quality FNAB‐C and CB samples was 86%, but increased to 95% if the categories of lymphoma and probable lymphoma were combined. There was 100% agreement for both the diagnoses of metastatic neoplasia and reactive lymph nodes and 92% agreement for the diagnosis of lymphoma/probable lymphoma. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), CB samples correctly immunophenotyped 22/23 (96%) cases of B‐cell lymphoma, but only 1/6 (17%) cases of T‐cell lymphoma. IHC was not completed on nine cases of lymphoproliferative disease because of insufficient cellularity. When the CB method (CBM) yielded diagnostic quality samples there was good to excellent agreement with FNAB‐C samples and CB samples were suitable for some IHC tests.     

Relation between age, body weight, and medial retropharyngeal lymph node size in apparently healthy dogs.

The aims of this study were to determine the size of the medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes in apparently healthy dogs using ultrasonography and to investigate relationships between body weight (1.8-59 kg), age (1.0-15 years), and medial retropharyngeal lymph node sizes (width, height, and length). The sample population consisted of 100 apparently healthy, volunteered, adult dogs. The data were normally distributed, thus mean, SD, and Pearson's correlation were used. Repeatability of ultrasound measures was assessed as the percentage of differences between duplicate measures that were within 2 SDs of the differences: all measures were at least 93% repeatable (differences typically were < or = 0.25 cm and always < 1 cm). No difference between sexes was observed. The medial retropharyngeal lymph node increased in size with increased body weight (r = 0.46 to 0.59) and decreased in size with increased age (r = -0.30 to -0.50). Although statistically significant, the actual variation is not likely clinically important due to the small range of sizes, measurement error, and various combinations of age and body weight. Therefore, regardless of body weight or age, the average width is 1.0 cm, height is 0.5 cm, and length is 2.5 cm and maximum width is 2 cm, height is 1 cm, and length is 5 cm. Based on the maximal difference between duplicate measures (with some exception), any change > or = 0.4 cm with width or height, or > or = 1.0 cm in length, in a follow up measurement probably represents a true biological change rather than measurement error.     

Morphometrical approach for predicting regional lymph node micrometastatic load in canine mast cell tumours: preliminary results

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs) have a variable biologic behaviour, and accurate staging is necessary to dictate therapy and predict outcome. Regional lymph node (RLN) involvement is a relevant prognostic factor. While obvious lymph node (LN) metastases are relatively easy to be diagnosed, micrometastatic disease recognition is challenging. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the number of mast cells (MCs) in the LNs of clinically healthy dogs ( n = 4, group 1), dogs with inflammatory diseases ( n = 31, group 2) and dogs with cutaneous MCT ( n = 27, group 3), including animals with no RLN metastases (subgroup 3.1), those with occasional MCs in RLNs (3.2) and those with obvious RLN metastasis (3.3). MCs also were morphometrically evaluated for the following nuclear parameters: mean nuclear area (MNA), mean nuclear perimeter (MNP), largest to smallest diameter length (LS ratio), mean nuclear form factor and coefficient of variation of nuclear area. The average percentages of MCs were 0.0 and 0.01 in groups 1 and 2, respectively, and 0.07, 2.4 and 47.1 in subgroup 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3. MNA and MNP were significantly higher in subgroup 3.3 than in group 2 ( P < 0.05). MNA and MNP in subgroup 3.2 suggested the presence of neoplastic MCs; this prediction of micrometastatic load correlated with outcome. Analysis of preliminary results shows that nuclear morphometry is useful to detect micrometastatic disease in RLN of dogs bearing cutaneous MCTs.     

The role of sentinel lymph node mapping in small animal veterinary medicine: A comparison with current approaches in human medicine

The relevance of regional lymph node (LN) assessment to quantify the metastatic spread of cancer is well recognized in veterinary oncology. Evaluation of LNs is critical for tumour staging. However, sampling the correct LN may not be possible without sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping. Methods for diagnostic imaging and intraoperative detection of SLNs are well established in human medicine, in particular, the combination of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative application of blue dyes. Nevertheless, alternative imaging techniques are available and have gained increasing interest. Successful implementation of these techniques in dogs have been reported in both clinical and experimental studies. This review aims to provide an overview of SLN mapping techniques in human and veterinary medicine.     

The sonographic evaluation of lymph nodes

Ultrasound can be used to detect and evaluate both normal and abnormal lymph nodes, as well as aid in biopsy sampling procedures, an important part of staging procedures in cancer patients. Several parameters can be evaluated using ultrasound; lymph node size, margins, echogenicity, echopattern (echotexture), acoustic transmission, presence and distribution of vascular flow, and vascular flow indices. The most diagnostically helpful include the short/long axis ratio of the lymph node, the pattern of distribution of the blood vessels within the lymph node, and to some extent the resistive and pulsatility indices. This review discusses the use of ultrasound for detecting, evaluating, and sampling peripheral, abdominal and thoracic lymph nodes in small animals.     

花生荚果发育过程中子叶贮藏细胞的形态变化及其与油分和蛋白质积累的关系

花生荚果发育过程中,子叶贮藏细胞的形态和结构皆发生一系列明显的变化。果针入土0-30天,子叶贮藏细胞不断形成分化,体积变化较小,细胞中脂体和蛋白体形成少,而造粉体则形成较多,并大量积累淀粉粒。果针入土30-45天,子叶贮藏细胞迅速生长,脂体、蛋白体大量形成和增大,充满整个细胞。而淀粉粒形成少。果针入土45-68天,子叶细胞生长减慢,脂体则进一步发育,蛋白体持续形成和增大,60天以后蛋白体趋于解体,间质充挤于脂体间隙。未期,子叶细胞停止膨大,并可能因失水而体积略有减小。结果表明,花生子叶细胞的生长发育,是种仁和荚果形态发育的基础;种仁油分和蛋白质的积累则是其体内脂体和蛋白体不断形成和发育的结果。     

Rooting ability of Leucaena leucocephala stem cuttings

Single-node leafy and leafless cuttings harvested from one-year-old, 1.3 to 1.5 m tall Leucaena leucocephala seedlings were successfully rooted in a non-mist propagator which is suitable for use in the rural tropics. Cuttings with a leaf attached rooted more successfully than those without a leaf (71% and 39% respectively) and clones differed significantly (43% to 71%). There was also a clear pattern in rooting ability of cuttings collected sequentially down the main stem. Cuttings rooted most successfully when taken from node five to 13, counting from the apex; this was the region where internodes were longest (64 to 109 mm) of moderate diameter (2.9 to 5.5 mm) and all cuttings had a leaf attached. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

有限元法在材料力学中的应用

有限元法在工程技术的领域得到了广泛的应用,它是一种利用固体理论基础的数值分析方法,本文主要探讨有限元法在材料力学中的应用。     

节点式渗灌温室黄瓜适宜灌水控制下限的研究

以温室栽培小区节点式渗灌灌溉试验的方法,研究黄瓜生育前期和后期不同灌水控制下限对黄瓜田间耗水量、作物产量以及水分利用效率的影响,灌水控制上限为田间持水率,计划湿润层的湿润比为0.7。结果表明,灌水控制下限土壤水吸力值与灌水量、黄瓜产量和水分利用效率的数量关系可用二元二次方程表达;黄瓜前、后2个生育期灌水控制下限土壤水吸力值分别为20 kPa及35 kPa时,可实现节水、高产和高效的同步提高。     

不同灌水条件下地下渗灌试验研究

地下渗灌是一种理想滴灌方式,由于关键技术没有很好解决,至今发展面积很小。针对这一问题,提出本试验研究。该试验是在实验室内的一个50cm×30cm×60cm的有机玻璃槽中进行,所用的土都是黏壤土。试验采用地下节点渗灌的方法。对试验所得的数据进行分析,得出地下渗灌的湿润锋运移基本规律、土壤含水率的分布规律,并在不同灌水量条件下对湿润锋的影响等进行了初步探讨。