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.     

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.     

Chronic alcohol intake-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition contri-butes to hepatic fibrogenesis in mice

AIM：To evaluate the effect of chronic alcohol intake on the histopathological changes of the liver and to determine the contribution of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to hepatic fibrogenesis. METHODS：Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups as following: the mice in control group was given (ig) water; the mice in low-dose alcohol group (2.0 g·kg -1·d -1) and high-dose alcohol group (4.0 g·kg -1·d -1) were given (ig) alcohol for 5 months. Alcohol-induced histopathological changes of the liver or development of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated using the histological methods with HE and Masson trichrome staining. The apoptosis of the liver was detected by TUNEL fluorometric staining (counterstained with DAPI). The activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was measured by an automated biochemical analyzer. The expression of fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin in the hepatic tissues was detected by immunofluorescence examination. The protein levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA, FSP-1, transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS：Compared with control, the activity of serum ALT and AST, and apoptotic index of liver tissues were increased in the mice treated with alcohol for 5 months. The histopathological changes of the livers in the mice of low-dose alcohol group included steatosis and mild liver fibrosis, while severe liver fibrosis was observed in the high-dose alcohol-treated mice. Chronic alcohol consumption induced the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and the decreases in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the livers. It also reduced E-cadherin expression and increased α-SMA expression. FSP-1 immunostaining and albumn immunostaining positive cells were co-localized in the hepatocytes of low-dose alcohol group, but only FSP-1 positive hepatocytes were observed in high-dose alcohol group. Chronic alcohol consumption decreased E-cadherin expression and increased α-SMA, FSP-1, TGF-β 1 and HIF-1α expression in a dose-dependent manner, but the HIF-1α expression was not altered between the 2 alcohol-treated groups. CONCLUSION：Chronic alcohol intake induces the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Some fibroblasts derive from hepatocytes in liver fibrosis via EMT. The underlying mechanism is associated with the changes of the redox state, and increased TGF-β 1 generation and HIF-1α expression.     

The expression of calretinin and cytokeratins in canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA) represent two epithelium‐derived neoplasms that affect the oral cavity of dogs. The expression of cytokeratins (CKs) and calretinin has been previously established in the canine tooth bud and odontogenic tumours. The aim of this study was to characterize the CK and calretinin expression profile of OSCC in comparison to CAA and canine tooth bud tissues. Samples from 15 OSCC and 15 CAA cases, as well as 6 tooth buds and 2 normal gingival tissues were examined. OSCC CK expression was consistent with the CK expression profile of CAA and canine tooth bud tissue. Calretinin was positively expressed in 10 of 15 OSCC cases, with 5 cases demonstrating high staining intensity. Only 2 of 15 CAA cases demonstrated mild‐moderate staining intensity. The statistically significant difference in staining pattern and intensity of calretinin in OSCC and CAA can help distinguish between these two tumour types.     

Cortisol does not affect hepatic α- and β-adrenoceptor properties in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Distribution and function of hepatic - and -adrenoceptors were examined in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) injected with slow release hydrogenated coconut oil implants alone (sham) or containing cortisol. - and -Adrenoceptors were assayed on purified hepatic membranes 10–14 days post-implantation using ³H-prazosin () and ³H-CGP (). At 10–14 days, plasma cortisol values were significantly elevated to approximately 220 compared with 35.0 ng ml^-1 in cortisol implanted vs. sham trout. No significant differences were found between any of the experimental groups for either the affinity (K_d) or maximal number of binding sites (B_max) for either receptor type. Epinephrine significantly stimulated glucose release from hepatocytes isolated from sham injected trout, but not from cortisol-treated fish. Epinephrine-induced glucose release was blocked by both - and -antagonists. These studies do not support the hypothesis that rainbow trout exposed to chronic cortisol alter properties of hepatic adrenoceptors.     

风柜斗草提取物通过调控脂质代谢改善小鼠肝脂质沉积症

旨在探究风柜斗草提取物(Sarcopyramis napalensis Wall extract,SNE)对蛋氨酸胆碱缺乏(MCD)饮食诱导的肝脏脂质沉积的作用与机制。本研究将60只雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为6组,每组10只,设置MCS组(MCD饲料的对照饲料组)、MCS+风柜斗草提取物组(400 mg·(kg·bw)^-1)、MCD组、MCD+风柜斗草提取物低、中、高剂量组(100、200、400 mg·(kg·bw)^-1),造模及药物干预6周。进行肝组织切片HE染色、天狼猩红染色,检测血清碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT),肝组织谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力水平及丙二醛(MDA)含量以评估肝脂质沉积、肝纤维化以及肝抗氧化情况。使用Western blot技术检测腺苷酸激活蛋白激酶(AMPK)蛋白的激活情况,使用qRT-PCR技术检测固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1C (SREBP-1c)、肝型脂肪酸结合蛋白(L-FABP)、脂肪酸转运蛋白-3(FATP-3)、脂肪酸转运蛋白-4(FATP-4)、细胞间黏附分子-l (ICAM-1)、血管细胞黏附分子-l (VCAM-1)、基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂-2(TIMP-2) mRNA表达水平,同时采用LC-MS/MS技术进行肝组织非靶向脂质组学分析。结果表明,给予200、400 mg·(kg·bw)^-1剂量的风柜斗草提取物时均可显著改善MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠肝脂肪变性,减少炎症簇以及肝纤维化程度。给予风柜斗草提取物100、200、400 mg·(kg·bw)^-1时均可显著降低MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠血清中ALT和AKP的活力以及肝组织中MDA的含量,显著提高小鼠肝中GSH-Px的活力。Western blot及qRT-PCR检测结果显示,风柜斗草提取物显著激活MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠肝组织AMPK;显著抑制MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠肝组织SREBP-1c、L-FABP、FATP-3、FATP-4、ICAM-1、VCAM-1、MMP-2、TIMP-2的mRNA表达水平。肝脂质组学检测结果显示,风柜斗草提取物显著降低MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠肝中甘油三酯(TG)、磷脂酰甘油(PG)以及神经酰胺(Cer)的相对含量;显著提高鞘磷脂(SM)以及辅酶Q9相对含量。结果提示,风柜斗草提取物可通过AMPK/SREBP-1c途径抑制TG合成,以及通过抑制FATP与L-FABP表达来减少肝对脂肪酸的摄取,从而改善MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠肝脂肪变性;通过提高MCD饲料饲喂的小鼠肝组织中SM和辅酶Q9相对含量以及降低Cer相对含量,改善肝细胞氧化应激损伤情况,进而改善MCD饮食诱导的小鼠肝炎症和纤维化,最终达到改善肝脂质沉积症的作用。