Anatomical classification of feline congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts based on CT angiography: A SVSTS and VIRIES multi-institutional study in 231 cats.

The prevalence of anatomical-based subtypes of feline congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS) has not been completely elucidated. The goal of this study was to use CT angiography to create an anatomical-based nomenclature system for feline congenital EHPSS. Additionally, subjective portal perfusion scores were generated to determine if intrinsic portal vein development was associated with different shunt conformations or patient age at the time of CT. The SVSTS and VIRIES list services were used to recruit cases. Data collected included patient DOB, gender, breed, weight, CT date, and reported diagnosis. Shunts were classified based upon (1) the shunt portal vessel(s) of origin, (2) the shunt systemic vessel(s) of insertion, and (3) any substantial portal vessels contributing to the shunt. Additionally, hepatic portal perfusion was subjectively scored between 1 (poor/none) and 5 (good/normal) based on the caliber of the intrahepatic PVs. A total of 264 CT scans were submitted from 29 institutions. Due to exclusion criteria, 33 (13%) were removed, leaving 231 CT scans to be included. Twenty-five different EHPSS anatomies were identified with five classifications accounting for 78% of all shunts (LGP [53%], LGC-post [11%], LCG [7%], LGC-pre [4%], and PC [4%]). Shunt origin involved the left gastric vein in 75% of the described classifications. Significant differences were identified among the five most common shunt types with respect to age at the time of CT scan (P = .002), breed (P < .001), and subjective portal perfusion score (P < .001). This refined anatomical classification system for feline EHPSS may enable improved understanding, treatment comparisons, and outcome prediction for cats with these anomalies.

Diagnostic quality of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates samples from the canine liver and spleen is not significantly affected by using 22-, 23-, and 25-gauge needles.

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates (FNA) of the liver and spleen for cytological analysis are a commonly performed procedure in canine veterinary practice. Based on our review of the literature, this is the first published study investigating whether needle size affects the diagnostic quality of hepatic and splenic samples. The aim of this prospective analytical study was to compare the diagnostic quality of ultrasound-guided FNA cytological samples of canine liver and spleen based on cellularity, blood contamination, and overall cell preservation between three different needle sizes (22-, 23-, and 25-gauge). A total of 282 splenic aspirates from 94 dogs and 348 hepatic aspirates from 116 dogs were enrolled in the study and examined by two board-certified veterinary clinical pathologists. In this study, no significant differences in diagnostic quality were identified between different needle gauge sizes when sampling canine liver and spleen. Blood contamination was higher using 22-gauge needles compared with 25-gauge needles (P = 0.024) when sampling the liver.

Incidence and risk factors for acute kidney injury associated to surgery for congenital heart disease / Incidencia y factores de riesgo de falla renal aguda asociados a la corrección quirúrgica de cardiopatías congénitas

Abstract Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease and it has a great impact on patient´s prognosis. Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the incidence and risk factors for AKI in children undergoing cardiac surgery and its impact on mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and total hospital length of stay. Methods: This was a historical cohort study of children 0 - 18 years of age who underwent cardiac surgery between 2012 and 2014. We used the Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 (RACHS) scale to evaluate risk of the surgery. AKI was defined in accordance to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Results: A total of 485 patients were included. AKI occurred in 89 (18.3%) patients during the study period. Risk factors for AKI were age < 2 years, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time > 120 min and RACHS score > 3. AKI increased the mortality risk (OR: 5.82, 95% CI: 2.24-15.10) and the time in mechanical ventilation and ICU stay from 1 to 5 days and 6 to 12 days, respectively. Conclusions: Risk factors for AKI are younger age, higher RACHS score, and time of CPB greater than 120 minutes. AKI increases mortality, days on MV and ICU stay. In the present study AKIN scale allowed us to classify the severity of AKI and it correlated with prognosis after cardiac surgery.

Resumen Introducción: La insuficiencia renal aguda (IRA) ocurre frecuentemente después de las cirugías de cardiopatías congénitas e impacta el pronóstico del paciente. Objetivo: Determinar incidencia y factores de riesgo para IRA en niños sometidos a cirugía de cardiopatía congénita y su impacto en mortalidad, duración de ventilación mecánica, tiempo de hospitalización total y en Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). Métodos: Cohorte histórica de niños entre cero y 18 años sometidos a cirugía cardiaca entre 2012 y 2014. El riesgo de la cirugía fue calculado mediante la escala Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 (RACHS). La falla renal fue establecida de acuerdo a la escala de Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN). Resultados: Se incluyeron 485 pacientes. 89 pacientes (18.3%) desarrollaron IRA durante el postquirúrgico. Los factores de riesgo para IRA fueron edad < 2 años, tiempo de bypass cardiopulmonar > 120 minutos y escala de RACHS > 3. La ocurrencia de IRA aumento el tiempo de ventilación mecánica de 1 a 5 días, la estancia en UCI de 6 a 12 días y el riesgo de mortalidad (OR: 5.82, 95% IC: 2.24-15.10). Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo para IRA fueron menor edad, mayor escala de RACHS y de tiempo de bypass. La ocurrencia de IRA aumentó la mortalidad, días en ventilación mecánica y estancia en UCI. En el presente estudio la escala de AKIN permitió clasificar la severidad de AKI y se correlaciono con el pronóstico después de cirugía de cardiopatía congénita.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency hidden in allegedly normal variants.

INTRODUCTION: Rare variants of Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD) have been described by the Spanish registry of patients with AATD. The great majority of these rare variants are Mmalton alleles and many recent case series of them have been identified in the Canary Islands. The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of Mmalton mutations in a Canarian population previously studied for the most common deficient alleles, namely PI*S (S) and PI*Z (Z), with PI*M (M) being the normal variant. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 648 patients with allergic asthma was carried out. Mmalton mutation of the SERPINA1 gene was assayed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Of the 648 patients, 3 (0.46%) were carriers of a Mmalton allele. All of them had low levels of AAT (53.9 mg/dL, 90 mg/dL, and 61 mg/dL, respectively) and were asymptomatic, showing normal lung function, radiological images, and levels of hepatic transaminases. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although the most frequent AATD genotypes are Z and S alleles, it is important to consider other rare variants, particularly when low AAT serum levels are observed. Although individuals with the Mmalton mutation usually have a heterogenous clinical presentation and very low levels of AAT, all the patients in this study were asymptomatic.

Low biopsy volume in ureteroscopy does not affect tumor biopsy grading in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Urothelial carcinomas (UC) from the upper urinary tract represent 7%-10% of all kidney malignancies. With current ureteroscopic (URS) techniques, small tissue samples are usually the only available histopathologic material for evaluation, representing a diagnostic challenge. Precision in diagnosis is essential for treatment decision making. There has been much debate as to whether tumor grade and stage found on biopsy agree with final pathology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether URS biopsy volume affects tumor grading and staging agreement between biopsy and nephroureterectomy (NU) specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 137 URS biopsies in 81 patients with suspected upper urinary tract UC performed from April 2002 to April 2011. Of those, 54 patients had both the URS biopsy and NU performed at our institution and were available for review. Biopsy dimensions were recorded to calculate estimated ellipsoid volume, and 2 urological pathologists independently evaluated histologic grade (ISUP/WHO 2004), (based on pleomorphism and mitosis) and depth of invasion. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate URS biopsy and NU specimen grade and stage concordance. In addition, univariable and multivariable analyses was performed to assess the effect of biopsy volume on agreement. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients studied, low grade and high grade UC biopsy were found in 8 (15%) and 46 (85%), URS biopsies, respectively. Regarding biopsy stage, 51 (94%), 1 (2%), and 2 (4%) were stage Ta, T1, T2, respectively. Grade concordance was 92.6%, (95% CI: 82.4%-98.0%). Stage concordance was 43% (95% CI: 28.7%-55.9%). Multivariable analysis showed biopsy volume did not affect tumor assessment of grade (P = 0.81) or stage (P = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Histologic grade assigned on the URS biopsy sample accurately predicts histologic grade in the resected specimen (92.6%), even when the biopsy volume is small. Grading in URS biopsies provides sufficient information for clinical decision making that is independent of sample volume.

Processing radical prostatectomies: an alternate-slice method is comparable with total embedding.

Receipt of radical prostatectomy specimens in the histopathology laboratory is quite common in academic centers and community hospitals. Despite numerous processing protocols, there is not an accepted standard method of processing. There are potential disadvantages of total sampling of the prostate; however, other alternatives have not been proven to show significant advantages. We present a partial sampling method (alternate slice) and compare its results to the total embedding method. Consecutive radical prostatectomy specimens were selected to compare both histologic sampling methods. The primary method of sampling was total embedding. Subsequently, alternate slice sections from the anterior, middle, and posterior thirds of the gland were reviewed. Seminal vesicle, bladder neck, and margins were similarly evaluated in both methods. Total sampling resulted in an average of 30 blocks compared with 18 in the alternate slice method. Gleason correlation was 87.5%; extraprostatic extension correlation was 97.9%. There was complete correlation in margin status and perineural invasion. Pathologic staging correlation was 97.9%. In summary, this alternate slice method compares very favorably with the total embedding method.

[Intrathoracic gossypiboma interpreted as bronchogenic carcinoma. Another false positive with positron emission tomography]. / Textiloma intratorácico interpretado como carcinoma broncogénico. Otro falso positivo de la tomografía por emisión de positrones.

Gossypibomas from inflammatory reactions to textile foreign bodies are a rare postoperative complication and are easily confused with neoplastic processes because of their diversity of symptoms and radiographic signs. Positron emission tomography (PET) is seldom used to diagnose gossypibomas and PET findings can result in false positives for a diagnosis of neoplastic disease. We describe the case of a 56-year-old man in whom PET findings showed an intrathoracic mass suggesting a tumor. The final diagnosis was gossypiboma, identified 23 years after pneumothorax surgery.

Surgical bone marrow aspiration in Aotus lemurinus griseimembra.

Aotus lemurinus griseimembra are highly susceptible to infection by human malaria parasites and reproduce some of its clinical manifestations, including anemia. We developed a new surgical technique to obtain bone marrow samples from Aotus by surgical aspiration of the femur. First, we determined that the femur offered advantages over other bones, primarily due to lower fracture vulnerability. We tested a surgical technique using 20 G IV catheters in formaldehyde-preserved animals, then conducted the procedure on 27 live animals. This technique provided easy, quick surgical access to adequate volumes of bone marrow and was safe for almost all animals: only one died; another developed nervous impairment of the lower limb. Adequate cell samples were obtained in all animals and allowed cytological studies. This procedure offers a useful tool for bone marrow research in Aotus and helps overcome current limitations of such research in human where these studies are limited by ethical and technical issues.

Mecanismos de generación de anemia en malaria / Generation mechanisms of anemia in malaria

La malaria es una enfermedad infecciosa de transmisión vectorial, que compromete enormemente la salud y el desarrollo socioeconómico de comunidades localizadas en regiones tropicales y subtropicales de todo el mundo. Se estima que globalmente, se registran cerca de 500 millones de casos clínicos cada año, los cuales son producidos por 4 especies diferentes de Plasmodium, siendo las más prevalentes las infecciones por P. falciparum y el P. vivax. Las manifestaciones clínicas de la malaria son bastantes pleomórficas y se pueden extender desde episodios febriles de corta duración, si el diagnóstico es oportuno y el tratamiento efectivo, hasta complicaciones sistémicas severas y muerte. Parte muy importante de la morbi-mortalidad está asociada con el desarrollo de anemia, una de las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes y uno de los mayores obstáculos para el desarrollo de las áreas endémicas por el compromiso que produce en el rendimiento escolar de los niños y en la productividad de los adultos. La fisiopatología de la anemia no se conoce completamente, pero se acepta que es producida por múltiples mecanismos que incluyen la destrucción de eritrocitos infectados y no infectados, la eritro-fagocitosis y un freno potencial de la eritropoyesis. La anemia aumenta significativamente la severidad y por consiguiente la mortalidad de la enfermedad y su tratamiento no siempre está dirigido a solucionar la causa de la misma. Este artículo discute los mecanismos involucrados en la producción de anemia en la malaria conocidos hasta el momento, el tratamiento y las implicaciones potenciales de vacunas dirigidas a prevenir esta complicación