Adjuvant electrochemotherapy after debulking in canine bone osteosarcoma infiltration.

Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer considered rare to humans, but common in dogs. Dogs and humans share genetic homology and environmental risk factors. Improving the treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs could also be relevant to improve procedures in humans. Traditional treatments of osteosarcoma involve surgery and chemotherapy. Such treatments are commonly aggressive and not possible for many patients. Electrochemotherapy emerges as a minimally invasive, effective, and safe treatment alternative. Electrochemotherapy combines applications of high-intensity electric fields during short periods with anti-cancer drugs to improve its medicine cytotoxicity. Analyzing the electric field distribution, as well as electric current density, are essential to electrochemotherapy success. This paper brings the first case of a canine osteosarcoma treatment performed with bleomycin and electrochemotherapy. We performed in silico studies with finite element method software to observe the electric field distribution. In silico experiments help to verify possibilities and limitations of treating bone destruction and macro or micro tumor infiltrations around the primary tumor mass. Results show that both needle or plate electrodes are feasible to remove the tumor even with invasion into the bone. Plate electrodes perform well in treating micro infiltrations when associated with conductive gel and direct contact between electrode and bone (without soft tissues). Needle electrodes are effective in treating tumor infiltration on external cortical bone. Multiple applications are needed to cover all cranium layers with sufficient electric field intensity. Electrochemotherapy protocol with needle or plate electrodes does not present sufficient electric current density capable of affecting brain tissue, even in cases of bone destruction.

Effects of ascorbic acid on in vitro culture of bovine preantral follicles.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding ascorbic acid to the media for in vitro culture of cattle ovarian fragments and to determine their effects on growth activation and viability of early-stage follicles. The ovarian cortex was divided into small fragments; one fragment was immediately fixed (control) and the other fragments were cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented or not with various doses of ascorbic acid. Ovarian tissue was processed for histology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemical demonstration of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Compared with control fragments, the percentage of primordial follicles was reduced (p < 0.05) and the percentage of growing follicles had increased (p < 0.05) in cultured cortical fragments, independent of the tested medium or incubation time. Furthermore, compared with control tissue, culture of ovarian cortex for 8 days reduced the percentages of healthy, viable follicles (p < 0.05), but not when cultures were supplemented with 25, 50 or 100 µg/ml of ascorbic acid. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analysis of 8 day cultured ovarian cortical fragments, however, showed the integrity and viability of follicles only when fragments were cultured in presence of 50 µg/ml of ascorbic acid. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that addition of ascorbic acid to MEM at a concentration of 50 µg/ml not only stimulates the activation of 8 day in vitro cultured cattle primordial follicles and subsequent growth of activated follicles, but also safeguards the viability of these early-stage follicles.

Manejo da caquexia paraneoplásica em cães e gatos / Management of paraneoplastic cachexia in dogs and cats / Manejo de la caquexia paraneoplásica en perros y gatos

A caquexia paraneoplásica é uma síndrome complexa, que resulta na perda progressiva de peso, mesmo com ingestão aparentemente adequada de nutrientes. Essa síndrome procede de alterações no metabolismo de carboidratos, proteínas e lipídios, diminuindo a qualidade de vida do animal, afetando a resposta ao tratamento da neoplasia e reduzindo o tempo de sobrevida. As alterações metabólicas associadas com essa caquexia afetam uma grande porcentagem dos animais com neoplasias, mesmo antes das manifestações clínicas da perda de peso. As terapias nutricionais indicadas para animais com caquexia paraneoplásica incluem carboidratos solúveis, fibras, gordura e ácidos graxos ômega 3. Quando não for possível a alimentação via oral pode-se realizar a nutrição enteral com tubo nasogástrico, gastrostomia ou jejunostomia. Desse modo o objetivo do presente trabalho é revisar as alterações metabólicas que ocorrem em pacientes com neoplasia, orientar a escolha de uma terapia nutricional ideal e de fluidoterapia adequada para esses pacientes.

The paraneoplastic cachexia is a complex syndrome of progressive weight loss even in the face of adequate nutritional intake. This symdrome results of alterations in carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism, decreasing the animals life quality and decreasing response to treatment, reducing survival time. The metabolic alterations associated with cancer cachexia affect a large percentage of animals with cancer even before any clinical signs of weight loss. The nutritional therapy indicate for animals with cachexia paraneoplastic include soluble carbohydrate, fiber, fat and ω-3 fatty acids. When oral feeding is not possible, nasogastric, gastrotomy, and jejunostomy tube feeding are viable options. The purpose of this article is to review what is known about the metabolic alterations that occur with cancer, orient the selection of ideal nutritional therapy and fluidtherapy adequate for these patients.

La caquexia paraneoplásica es un síndrome complejo, que resulta en la pérdida progresiva de peso, mismo con ingestión aparentemente adecuada de nutrientes. Ese síndrome procede de alteraciones en el metabolismo de carbohidratos, proteínas y lípidos, reduciendo la calidad de vida del animal, afectando la respuesta al tratamiento de la neoplasia y reduciendo el tiempo de supervivencia. Las alteraciones metabólicas asociadas con esa caquexia afectan un gran porcentaje de los animales con neoplasias, mismo antes de las manifestaciones clínicas de la pérdida de peso. Las terapias nutricionales recomendadas para animales con caquexia paraneoplásica incluyen carbohidratos solubles, fibras, grasas y ácidos grasos omega 3. Cuando no sea posible la alimentación vía oral se puede realizar la nutrición enteral con tubo nasogástrico, gastrostomía o yeyunostomía. El objetivo de esta investigación es revisar las alteraciones metabólicas que ocurren en pacientes con neoplasia, orientar la elección de una terapia nutricional ideal y fluidoterapia adecuada para esos pacientes.

Aortic body tumors in dogs from Northern Paraná, Brazil / Tumores do corpo aórtico em cães do Norte do Paraná, Brasil

This article describes the occurrence of aortic body tumors in four dogs from Southern Brazil. All dogs were males, more than 9 year of age; most of these were from the Boxer breed of dogs. The animals had large neoplastic growths at the base of the heart, which demonstrated histologic characteristics consistent with that of aortic body tumor. By immunohistochemistry, tissue sections from all dogs reacted positively to neuron specific enolase. These cases might represent the first description of this tumor in dogs from Brazil, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

Este artigo descreve a occorência de tumores do corpo aórtico em quatro cães provenientes do Sul do Brasil. Todos os cães eram machos com mais de 9 anos de idade; a maioria deles era da raça Boxer. Os animais tiveram crescimentos neoplásticos grandes na base do coração, os quais demonstraram característicias histológicas consistentes com o tumor aórtico. Através da imunohistoquímica, cortes de tecidos de todos os animais eram positivos para enolase neuronal especifica. Esses casos provavalmente representam à primeira descrição desse tumor em cães do Brasil, os quias foram confirmados por imunoistoquímica.

Avaliação e manejo da dor em cães e gatos com câncer - Revisão / Evaluación y manejo del dolor en perros y gatos con cáncer - Revisión / Pain assessment and management in dogs and cats with cancer - Review

O manejo da dor é uma parte essencial no protocolo de tratamento do câncer em cães e gatos. Deve ser individualizado e as medicações devem ser selecionadas para cada situação. A farmacoterapia analgésica baseia-se no guia desenvolvido pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), conhecido como escada analgésica. Há diversos fármacos que podem ser utilizados com essa finalidade, como antiinflamatórios não-esteroidais, opióides e fármacos adjuvantes (corticosteróides, antidepressivos tricíclicos, anticonvulsivantes, anestésicos locais, anti-histamínicos e neurolépticos). Tratamentos médicos alternativos devem promover um alívio adicional da dor e podem ser usados. É necessária uma avaliação constante da dor nesses pacientes e da resposta aos protocolos analgésicos para o sucesso no alívio da dor, promovendo melhor qualidade de vida aos animais com câncer. O objetivo do presente trabalho é revisar os métodos de avaliação e tratamento da dor em pacientes oncológicos, e conscientizar o clínico de que é importante aliviar o sofrimento e melhorar a qualidade de vida dessespacientes.

Pain management is an essential part of any cancer treatment protocol for dogs and cats. It should be individualized and medication should be selected for each situation. The analgesic pharmacotherapy should be based on the guidelines developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), namely as analgesic ladder. There are many drugs that can be used for this purpose, as: non steroidal antiinflamatories, opioids and adjuvant drugs (corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, local anesthetics, antihistamines and neuroleptics). Alternative medical therapies should provide additional pain relief. Continuous assessment of pain and its response to analgesic protocols are necessary for successful cancer pain management and improvig animals’ life quality. The aim of this study is to review the assessment and the treatment of pain in oncologic patients, as well as making veterinarians aware that it is important alleviate suffering and improve their quality of life.

El manejo del dolor es una parte esencial del protocolo de tratamiento del cáncer en perros y gatos. Deben ser individualizados y las medicaciones deben ser seleccionadas para cada situación. La farmacoterapia analgésica se basa en el guía desarrollado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), conocido como la escalera analgésica. Hay muchos fármacos que pueden ser utilizados con esta finalidad, como antiinflamatorios no esteroídicos, opioides y fármacos adjuvantes (corticosteroides, antidepresivos tricíclicos, anticonvulsivantes, anestésicos locales, antihistamínicos y neurolépticos). Tratamientos médicos alternativos deben proporcionar una mejora del dolor y pueden ser utilizados. Es necesario una evaluación continua del dolor y de la respuesta a los protocolos analgésicos para el suceso en el alivio del dolor, haciendo con que exista un incremento y mejora en la calidad de vida de los pacientes cancerosos. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar los métodos de evaluación y terapia del dolor de los pacientes oncológicos, y concientizar el clínico que es importante el alivio del sufrimiento y la mejoría de la calidad de vida de esos pacientes.

Estudo retrospectivo de linfoma canino no período de 1990 - 2004 na região norte do Paraná / Retrospective study of canine lymphoma in period 1990 - 2004, north region the of Paraná

O linfoma canino é a principal neoplasia de origem hemolinfática. Foram analisados 186 casos de linfoma diagnosticados entre 1990 a 2004. Observou-se que cães machos apresentaram uma ocorrência maior (58,6%) do que em fêmeas (41,4%). A idade média dos animais acometidos foi de 5,9 anos. As maiores ocorrências do linfoma foram observadas em cães sem raça definida (40,3 %), Pastor Alemão (8,6%), Rottweiler (8,1%) e Boxer (7,0%). Quanto à classificação anatômica e estadiamento clínico, a maior ocorrência foi a da forma multicêntrica(68,8%) e os estádios III (37,1%) e IV (43,5%), respectivamente.

Canine malignant lymphoma (CML) is a common lymphoid tumor.Canine lymphomas from 1990 to 2004 (n=186) were analyzed onepidemiological aspects. The occurrence of CML in males ( 58,6%)was greater than in females (41,4%). The middle age of affected dogs was 5,9 years. The most common breeds in this study were mixedbreed (40,3%), German Sheepdog (8,6%), Rottweiler (8,1%) and Boxer (7,0%). For the anatomical classification and the clinical stagingof CML, the most common were multicentric form (68,8%) andstage III (37,1%) and IV (43,5%), respectively.

Linfoma canino de células T: aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e morfológicos de 38 casos / Canine T - cell lymphoma: a morphological, epidemiologic and clinical study of 38 cases

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a ocorrência e aspectos clínicos,morfológicos e imunoistoquímicos de linfomas caninos de células T.Foram avaliados 71 cães com linfoma, dos quais 38 foram classificadosimunoistoquimicamente como células T. Conforme a classificação daWorking Formulation e Kiel 18 foram classificados como grauintermediário de malignidade, 15 de alta malignidade e 5 de baixamalignidade. O padrão de proliferação linfomatoso foi difuso emtodos os animais (38). O linfoma de células T foi mais comum emcães de raça definida (24/38), como Boxer, Cocker Spaniel Inglês eRottweiler. A ocorrência de linfoma T em machos (21/38) foi maiordo que em fêmeas e a idade média foi de 5,8 anos (1-13 anos). Quantoà classificação anatômica e estadiamento clínico do linfoma de célulasT, a forma multicêntrica (29/38) foi a mais comum e os estádios IV (15/38) e III (14/38), respectivamente.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incident and clinical,morphological and immunological aspects of canine T-celllymphomas. From 71 canine lymphomas, 38 were classified byimmunohistochemistry as T-cell lymphomas. According to theWorking Formulation and Kiel classification, 18 were classified asintermediate-grade, 15 as high-grade and 5 as low-grade. The patternof lymphomatous proliferation was diffuse in all 38 animals. T-celllymphoma was more common in defined breeds (24/38), such asBoxers, English Cockers and Rottweilers. The occurrence of T-celllymphoma in males (21/38) was greater than in females and themedian age was 5.8 years (1 to 13 years). For the anatomical classificationand the clinical staging of T-cell lymphomas, the most common weremulticentric form (29/38) and stage IV (15/38) and III (14/38), respectively.