Adherence as a Prerequisite for Infection of the Bovine Mammary Gland by Bacteria

Using a simple in vitro test it was demonstrated that staphylococci, Streptococcus agalactiae, and micrococci, the species of bacteria which are commonly isolated from udder infections, adhered to mammary gland epithelial cells readily and in large numbers. Some strains of organisms which are associated with sporadic outbreaks or occur less commonly, like Str. dysgalactiae and Str. uberis, adhered moderately. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Corynebacterium pyogenes, C. bovis, Str. bovis, and Str. faecalis, species which are isolated occasionally, adhered poorly. From these studies, it appears that selective adherence of bacteria to the epithelial cells is a factor contributing to the ability of organisms to infect the mammary gland and may, therefore, be considered an important stage in the pathogenesis of bovine mastitis.     

Fine-needle biopsy of external ear canal masses in the cat: cytologic results and histologic correlations in 27 cases

BACKGROUND: The cytologic diagnosis of ear canal tumors is difficult or impossible by swab alone because cell exfoliation may be poor and neoplastic cells may be masked by associated inflammation. Fine-needle biopsy (FNB) can be used to obtain a higher yield of cells for diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and diagnostic value of FNB and cytologic examination in providing an accurate diagnosis of masses growing in the external ear canal of cats. METHODS: Cytologic specimens from masses in the external ear canal, taken under inhaled, general anesthesia, were classified into 4 groups: 1) ceruminous gland hyperplasia or adenoma, 2) ceruminous gland adenocarcinoma, 3) inflammatory polyps, and 4) other neoplastic and non-neoplastic masses. Cytopathologic diagnoses were compared with the final histopathologic diagnoses, and indices of diagnostic test accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic-odds ratios) were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-seven masses (from 25 cats, including 2 cats affected bilaterally) were included in the study. The results showed good correspondence between cytologic and histologic diagnoses with an overall agreement index (kappa) of .74, a diagnostic odds ratio of 22, and 100% (27/27) agreement in the diagnosis of inflammatory polyps versus neoplasia (both benign and malignant). CONCLUSIONS: FNB cytopathology of external ear masses in the cat was sufficiently accurate for distinguishing inflammatory polyps from neoplasia. For differentiation of benign proliferation and malignant neoplasia, however, histopathologic confirmation is recommended.     

Three cases of prolapse of the nictitans gland in cats

We report three cases of adult cats showing a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. Three different breeds were affected: Burmese, Persian and Domestic Short-haired. In all cases, the disorder occurred spontaneously, without any other ocular sign. Surgical replacement of the gland was performed using the Morgan pocket technique. Good esthetic results were obtained, and no recurrence occurred.     

Cyclopedic protein expression analysis of cultured canine mammary gland adenocarcinoma cells from six tumours

We characterised cultured canine mammary gland adenocarcinoma cells by exhaustive step protein expression analysis to identify factors associated with tumour progression or metastasis of canine mammary gland tumour. Cultured adenocarcinoma cells derived from a total of 3 primary and 3 metastatic lesions from 3 dogs (CHMp/m, CIPp/m and CNMp/m, where CHM, CIP, and CNM indicate the 3 animals) were used in this study. The expression of 24 proteins reported to be related to tumourigenesis or malignancy of human breast cancers were examined by Western blot analysis using 24 antibodies. The expression of sialyl Lewis X [sLe(x)] was only observed in CHMm cells, which were derived from pleural effusion. This expression was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The levels of some factors, such as 14-3-3sigma, cyclinD1 and Rb, differed among cells or between the primary and metastatic cells in the pair. Though the difference in their expression was not consistent within the cells from primary and metastatic origin, this characterisation should provide useful information for further molecular analysis of these cultured cells. Since some of the factors, such as sLe(x), 14-3-3sigma, cyclinD1 and Rb, showed different levels of expression in the pair, these cultured cells might be meaningful tools for clarification of distant metastasis in canine mammary gland tumours.     

microRNA在调节乳腺发育和乳腺免疫功能中的作用

miRNAs分子是除了激素之外对乳腺发育以及乳腺免疫功能进行调控的重要分子,综述了miRNAs在乳腺发育以及乳腺免疫中的最新研究进展。     

小鼠乳腺组织中β防御素1基因的克隆及其在妊娠期和泌乳期乳腺中的表达变化

β-防御素具有广谱的抗菌活性,并且是宿主固有免疫的重要参与者。为研究β-防御素1(β-defensin 1,Defb1)基因在不同泌乳时期的表达变化,以小鼠第4对乳腺组织为研究对象,用半定量RT-PCR法测定了小鼠妊娠期、泌乳期乳腺中Defb1基因的表达。结果表明,妊娠期Defb1的表达量呈上升趋势,且差异显著(P<0.05),而泌乳期却恰恰相反,随着泌乳的进行,Defb1的表达量逐渐降低,在泌乳18d时达到最低。     

中华蟾蜍蝌蚪变态过程中甲状腺的组织学变化

【目的】研究中华蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)蝌蚪在不同发育阶段甲状腺的组织学变化。【方法】以处于变态高峰前后5期（28,33,38,42,46期）的中华蟾蜍蝌蚪为试验材料,用Motic BA300光学显微镜对各个发育时期蝌蚪的甲状腺进行组织学观察,测定蝌蚪的全长、体质量和肝质量等形态指标,并分析这些形态指标与甲状腺直径、滤泡平均直径及最大直径的线性相关性。【结果】在28期时,中华蟾蜍蝌蚪甲状腺出现但无分泌甲状腺激素的功能;33期时,甲状腺具备了分泌甲状腺激素的能力;此后甲状腺进一步发育,在蝌蚪前肢展开期甲状腺活性达到最强;至尾完全吸收期,甲状腺机能减弱。蝌蚪全长、体质量及肝质量与甲状腺直径及滤泡直径呈正线性相关。【结论】具有分泌机能的甲状腺出现的发育时期,与两栖动物变态类型相关;分泌高峰期出现的发育时期与幼体持续时间密切相关。中华蟾蜍蝌蚪的全长可以直观地反映其甲状腺的机能活性。     

不同产丝量家蚕品系后部丝腺的蛋白质组学分析

家蚕幼虫后部丝腺是合成和分泌丝素蛋白的重要器官。为从蛋白质水平探究不同家蚕品系产丝量差异的原因,应用蛋白质组学研究方法,选取3个产丝量有较大差异的家蚕品系Ndx、大造和21-872为材料,通过双向电泳和基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)技术对各品系5龄第5天幼虫后部丝腺表达的差异蛋白进行鉴定,查找与丝蛋白合成相关的蛋白质。结果表明,茧丝突变品系Ndx后部丝腺的蛋白质表达水平与普通丝量品系大造和高丝量品系21-872有差异,差异表达蛋白种类主要为应激反应相关蛋白、能量相关蛋白、蛋白质合成相关蛋白和一些酶类,其中核糖体磷酸化蛋白P0和P2、蛋白质二硫化物异构酶、丝素轻链蛋白Fib-L以及丝素蛋白P25等在Ndx后部丝腺的含量明显低于其它2个品系。推测在茧丝突变品系Ndx的后部丝腺中,上述蛋白质表达量的变化可能是导致其不能正常吐丝结茧的原因。     

Cytologically atypical anal sac adenocarcinoma in a dog

A 10-year-old intact female Shetland Sheepdog with tenesmus had a subcutaneous mass at the left ventral aspect of the anus. On cytologic examination, 2 types of cells were observed. Most of the cells were oval to polygonal and had elliptical or elongate nuclei and a moderate amount of pale to basophilic cytoplasm. The remaining cells had round to oval nuclei and pale to basophilic cytoplasm. Cells of both types were loosely adhered to each other and were arranged in rosette-like structures. Both neoplastic cell types had fine homogenous chromatin and either a small indistinct nucleolus or no visible nucleolus. Mild anisokaryosis and anisocytosis were observed. Histologically, the mass consists of glandular structures formed by cuboidal cells admixed with bundles of spindle cells. Eosinophilic PAS- and Alcian blue-positive secretory material was found in the center of some glandular structures. Both neoplastic cell types had positive staining with paradoxical concanavalin A and expressed cytokeratin, but not vimentin, S-100, α-smooth muscle actin, or desmin. Based on location and histologic and immunohistochemical features, the final diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the apocrine gland of the anal sac, which should be included as a cytologic differential diagnosis when spindle cells and typical epithelial cells are observed in masses in the region of the anal sac of dogs.