Age-related changes in the articular cartilage of the stifle joint in non-working and working German Shepherd dogs.

The aims of this study were to define age-related histological changes in the articular cartilage of the stifle joint in non-chondrodystrophic dogs and to determine whether physical activity has a positive impact on preservation of cartilage structure during ageing. Twenty-eight German shepherd dogs were included in the study. These dogs had no evidence of joint inflammation as defined by clinical assessment, radiology and synovial fluid analysis (specifically absence of synovial fluid serum amyloid A). The dogs were grouped as young working (n » 4), young non-working (n » 5), aged working (n » 13) and aged non-working (n » 6) animals. Gross changes in the stifle joints were recorded and biopsy samples of femoral and tibial articular cartilage were evaluated for thickness; chondrocyte number, density, surface area and morphology; isogenous group morphology; tidemark integrity; subchondral bone structure; presence of proteoglycans/ glycosaminoglycans; and expression of type I, II and X collagens. The major age-related changes, not related to type of physical activity, included elevated chondrocyte density and thinning of tibial cartilage and increased chondrocyte surface area in the superficial and intermediate zone of the femoral cartilage. There was also expression of type X collagen in the femoral and tibial calcified and non-calcified cartilage; however, type X collagen was not detected in the superficial zone of old working dogs. Therefore, ageing, with or without physical activity, leads to slight cartilage degeneration, while physical activity modulates the synthesis of type X collagen in the superficial cartilage zone, partially preserving the structure of hyaline cartilage.

[Amputation of the lower eyelid in the therapy of eyelid tumors].

In carefully selected cases of tumors of the lower eyelid (tumors which destroy more than 40% of the eyelid margin and are not higher then 3 mm, in old patients in bad general condition and in the cases of multiple microrecurrences of a tumor) authors suggest simple excision of a tumor without reconstruction of a eyelid. It is an effective method of treatment of the tumor with good functional effects and acceptable cosmetic results.

[Internal herniation through a mesenteric defect after Roux-en-Y anastomosis]. / Hernie interne à travers une brèche mésentérique sur une anse en Y montée selon Roux.

We report a case of entire of small bowel necrosis due to internal herniation through a mesenteric rent around the Roux-en-Y anastomosis. For prevention of internal herniation around the Roux-en-Y limb, secure closing of the mesenteric is recommended. Nevertheless, the consequences of a mesenteric closing defect are rarely reported. Necrosis of the entire small has never been described yet.

[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome revealed by sigmoid perforation]. / Syndrome d'Ehlers-Danlos révélé par une perforation sigmoïdienne.

We report a case of colonic perforation revealing Ehlers -Danlos syndrome type IV in a male adult. This syndrome is a heritable disorder of collagen synthesis. Its prognosis is severe resulting in vascular rupture or bowel perforation. In his surgical strategy, the surgeon has to cope with the recurrent feature of the colonic perforation. In order to prevent other perforations, a therapeutic scheme has been set up according to literature.

Isolated choroidal metastasis from primary adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus: a case report.

We present a case of a 41-year-old male patient who, 1 year after transhiatal esophagectomy and transmediastinal gastroplasty for an adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus, presented with an isolated metastasis in the choroids of the left eye. Because of pains caused by secondary glaucoma, enucleation of the left eyeball had to be performed as the treatment of choice. At 1 year after surgery of the eye, the secondaries in both adrenal glands were revealed. Despite the applied chemotherapy, the patient died with signs of generalized disease 3 years after the initial surgery.

[Pilomatrixoma as a problem in ophthalmic surgery]. / Pilomatrikom kao oftalmohirurski problem.

Pilomatricoma, relatively rare benign tumour of the hair matrix cells, is usually misdiagnosed preoperatively. This result in unnecessary extensive surgery. In order to improve diagnosis and treatment of pilomatricoma, authors discuss their ten years experience (28 cases) with this tumour.

[Should keratoacanthoma be treated surgically?]. / Treba li keratoakantom leciti hirurski?

Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing cutaneous neoplasia of adult persons that may regress spontaneously. It is believed to arise from the hair follicles. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish keratoacantoma from squamous cell carcinoma either clinically or histologically. During ten years period (1992-2001) we were treating 18 patients with keratoacanthoma of the skin. We discuss here our experience with this tumor, and we conclude that early, complete excision is the treatment of choice for it.

[Surgical treatment of lesions of the lacrimal caruncle]. / Hirursko lecenje lezija karunkule lakrimalis.

Each lesion which produces a prolong change of the volume of the caruncle necessitates surgical treatment, removal of the caruncle. Caruncular lesions are uncommon. During 15 years on the Institute for eye diseases in Belgrade authors have treated 121 caruncular lesions. Here they present their way of surgical treatment of the caruncle and point out some problems connect with this procedure.

[Semi-exenteration of the orbit in therapy of malignant conjunctival tumors]. / Semiegzenteracija orbite u terapiji malignih tumora konjunktive.

Authors present their experience in treatment of the conjunctival maliganncies by semiexenteration of the orbit. They discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of this procedure. They suggest the use of semiexenteration in stead of exenteration whenever it is possible.

Predictors of survival in malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva: a clinico-pathological and follow-up study.

The study comprised 61 patients with histologically diagnosed malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva (MMC) who were treated and followed up in the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, over a period of 24 years (1970-1993). Data on 15 clinical and 10 histopathological characteristics of MMC were related to the outcome of the disease. Tumour thickness on the histological section was the most important single predictor of survival in MMC. Other predictors of survival in MMC were the number of mitoses, the histologically assessed degree of tumour pigmentation and the intensity of inflammation at the tumour site. The variables entered into the model comprised as much as 85.3% of all predictors of survival in MMC.

An epidemiological investigation of the first outbreak of rhinosporidiosis in Europe.

Until January 1992 rhinosporidiosis was unknown in the Balkans. The outbreak which took place at that time in northern Serbia (Yugoslavia) affected 17 people over a period of less than two years. The number of patients in this epidemic exceeded the total number of autochthonous cases of rhinosporidiosis ever recorded in Europe. The male-to-female ratio was 10:7 and, except for a middle-aged man, all patients were in the age range 6-16 years. Preponderance of ocular (12) over nasal (5) localization of the disease in this epidemic indicates that the real number of cases may be much higher. The only experience all patients had in common was that they spent their holiday preceding the onset of symptoms bathing in the same accumulation of stagnant water (the Silver Lake). A case-control study showed that the odds of being exposed to that particular environment by chance were extremely remote.