Exploring Canine Mammary Cancer through Liquid Biopsy: Proteomic Profiling of Small Extracellular Vesicles.

(Background). Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) have emerged as an important model for understanding pathophysiological aspects of human disease. Liquid biopsy (LB), which relies on blood-borne biomarkers and offers minimal invasiveness, holds promise for reflecting the disease status of patients. Small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) and their protein cargo have recently gained attention as potential tools for disease screening and monitoring. (Objectives). This study aimed to isolate SEVs from canine patients and analyze their proteomic profile to assess their diagnostic and prognostic potential. (Methods). Plasma samples were collected from female dogs grouped into CMT (malignant and benign), healthy controls, relapse, and remission groups. SEVs were isolated and characterized using ultracentrifugation (UC), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Proteomic analysis of circulating SEVs was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). (Results). While no significant differences were observed in the concentration and size of exosomes among the studied groups, proteomic profiling revealed important variations. Mass spectrometry identified exclusive proteins that could serve as potential biomarkers for mammary cancer. These included Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain (ITIH2 and ITI4), phosphopyruvate hydratase or alpha enolase (ENO1), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), actin (ACTB), transthyretin (TTR), beta-2-glycoprotein 1 (APOH) and gelsolin (GSN) found in female dogs with malignant tumors. Additionally, vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP), also known as group-specific component (GC), was identified as a protein present during remission. (Conclusions). The results underscore the potential of proteins found in SEVs as valuable biomarkers in CMTs. Despite the lack of differences in vesicle concentration and size between the groups, the analysis of protein content revealed promising markers with potential applications in CMT diagnosis and monitoring. These findings suggest a novel approach in the development of more precise and effective diagnostic tools for this challenging clinical condition.

Systemic oxalosis in a free-ranging green turtle (Chelonia mydas).

A female juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas), found alive in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was weak, dehydrated and cachectic, with a healed fracture in the caudal portion of the carapace. Despite supportive treatment, the animal died after 9 days. At necropsy the main lesions were pallor of visceral organs, arthritis and deposits of whitish granular material in the wall of large arteries and the trachea. Histopathological analysis revealed mild to severe deposition of crystals, consistent with calcium oxalate, in both kidneys and the spleen, heart, small intestine, pancreas, thymus and salt gland, as well as bacterial meningitis, septic arthritis, spirorchidiasis and a fibropapilloma on the nictitating membrane. The main pathological findings were suggestive of septic shock, mainly due to the bacterial meningitis and septic arthritis, with systemic oxalosis and spirorchidiasis as contributing lesions. Although renal oxalosis has been described in green turtles as an incidental finding, presumably due to ingestion of oxalate-containing plants, this turtle had an unusual systemic deposition of oxalate crystals.

Molecular identification and histological aspects of Renicola sloanei (Digenea: Renicolidae) in Puffinus puffinus (Procellariiformes): a first record.

Renicolids are parasites that inhabit the renal tubules and ureters of molluscivorous and piscivorous birds. Puffinus puffinus is a migratory seabird that was identified as the definitive host of Renicola spp. Studies focusing on the renicolid species and the resulting renal lesions are valuable for their association with causes of stranding in seabirds. The aim of this study was to identify the renicolid trematodes and evaluate the histological findings in two P. puffinus stranded on the coast of Paraná state, Brazil. The parasites were evaluated by histologic, ultrastructural and molecular assays, while tissue changes were analyzed by histologic methods. The morphological and morphometrical characteristics of the parasites, along with polymerase chain reaction and sequencing assays (ribosomal and mitochondrial regions), identified the species as Renicola sloanei. The results also suggest that this helminth can be the adult form of Cercaria pythionike. The dilation of collecting ducts was the main histological finding in the kidneys. In conclusion, R. sloanei was identified, and for the first time, P. puffinus was described as a host of this digenean inducing mild renal changes.

Molecular identification and histological aspects of Renicola sloanei (Digenea: Renicolidae) in Puffinus puffinus (Procellariiformes): a first record / Identificação molecular e aspectos histológicos de Renicola sloanei (Digenea: Renicolidae) em Puffinus puffinus (Procellariiformes): primeiros registros

Abstract Renicolids are parasites that inhabit the renal tubules and ureters of molluscivorous and piscivorous birds. Puffinus puffinus is a migratory seabird that was identified as the definitive host of Renicola spp. Studies focusing on the renicolid species and the resulting renal lesions are valuable for their association with causes of stranding in seabirds. The aim of this study was to identify the renicolid trematodes and evaluate the histological findings in two P. puffinus stranded on the coast of Paraná state, Brazil. The parasites were evaluated by histologic, ultrastructural and molecular assays, while tissue changes were analyzed by histologic methods. The morphological and morphometrical characteristics of the parasites, along with polymerase chain reaction and sequencing assays (ribosomal and mitochondrial regions), identified the species as Renicola sloanei. The results also suggest that this helminth can be the adult form of Cercaria pythionike. The dilation of collecting ducts was the main histological finding in the kidneys. In conclusion, R. sloanei was identified, and for the first time, P. puffinus was described as a host of this digenean inducing mild renal changes.

Resumo Renicolídeos são parasitos que habitam túbulos renais e ureteres de aves que se alimentam de moluscos e peixes. Puffinus puffinus, ave marinha migratória, foi registrada como hospedeiro definitivo de Renicola spp. Estudos relacionados com as espécies de renicolídeos e as lesões renais resultantes são importantes para o entendimento das causas de óbito de aves marinhas. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os trematódeos renicolídeos e avaliar os achados histológicos em dois P. puffinus encalhados no litoral do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Os parasitos foram avaliados por ensaios histológicos, ultraestruturais e moleculares, enquanto as alterações teciduais foram analisadas por métodos histológicos. As características morfológicas e morfométricas dos parasitos, juntamente com a reação em cadeia da polimerase e sequenciamento (regiões ribossomal e mitocondrial), identificaram a espécie como Renicola sloanei. Os resultados também sugerem que este helminto pode ser a forma adulta de Cercaria pythionike. A dilatação dos ductos coletores foi o principal achado histológico renal. Em conclusão, R. sloanei foi identificado, e pela primeira vez P. puffinus foi descrito como hospedeiro deste digenético induzindo alterações renais discretas.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis-associated dermatitis and lymphadenitis in a dog.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an endemic disease of humans from Latin America that is caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii, with most cases of PCM in domestic animals being associated with P. brasiliensis. This study presents the clinical, cytological, mycological, serological, and molecular findings associated with P. brasiliensis in a dog from Southern Brazil. Fine needle biopsies were collected from the skin and several lymph nodes of a 5-year-old female Labrador dog that had enlargement of most superficial lymph nodes. Cytology of the skin and lymph nodes revealed pyogranulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis associated with fine-necked, budding fungal structures consistent with the Paracoccidioides genus of organisms; mycological culture derived from the lymph node aspirate demonstrated similar budding structures. Serological assays using exoantigens obtained from the fungal culture demonstrated that the fungal organisms derived from the lymph node were antigenically similar to P. brasiliensis by immunodiffusion and Western blot. A PCR assay, using the fungal culture as input, amplified a partial segment of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 regions of P. brasiliensis; direct sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the PCR product as P. brasiliensis. The combined cytological, mycological, serological, and molecular findings confirmed a diagnosis of fungal dermatitis and lymphadenitis due to P. brasiliensis in this dog. This case represents the third description of clinical PCM in dogs and the first confirmation of mycotic dermatitis associated with P. brasiliensis in this species. The participation of dogs in the possible dissemination of PCM is reviewed, and it is proposed that dogs are probable accidental hosts in the epidemiological cycle associated with P. brasiliensis.

Ceratocone: resultados visuais, complicações e qualidade de vida após ceratoplastia penetrante realizada por médico residente / Keratoconus: visual results, complications and life quality after penetrating keratoplasty performed by a resident physician

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados visuais, incidência de complicações e qualidade de vida, utilizando-se o teste VF-14, dos pacientes submetidos à ceratoplastia penetrante por ceratocone na Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife (PE). MÉTODOS: Quarenta e três pacientes submetidos à ceratoplastia penetrante por ceratocone foram avaliados por meio do teste VF-14. O tempo mínimo de seguimento foi de 18 meses. A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 29,5 ± 9,8 anos. Foram coletadas dos prontuários informações sobre os pacientes e seus respectivos exames oftalmológicos. Foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson para análise de correlação entre variáveis quantitativas. Aceitou-se r > 0,8 como indicativo de forte correlação. RESULTADOS: No último seguimento, 71,7 por cento dos pacientes tinham acuidade visual com correção (AVCC) maior ou igual a 0,5. Entre as complicações mais encontradas no pós-operatório estavam glaucoma (26,1 por cento) e rejeição do enxerto (17,4 por cento). A pontuação final média do VF-14 foi 78,7. As melhores pontuações obtidas foram para atividades como dirigir durante o dia (100) e ler letras grandes (94), ao passo que as piores pontuações foram para ler letras pequenas (79,8) e dirigir à noite (78,1). A correlação entre as pontuações obtidas e a AV pós-transplante foi fraca (r = 0,46). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados visuais foram bons, uma vez que 71,7 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram AVCC 0,5 no pós-operatório. Houve fraca correlação entre a AV pós-transplante e a pontuação média do VF-14. A incidência de complicações foi baixa, sendo a mais freqüente o glaucoma.

Associação do complemento C3 e C4 com as alterações fundoscópicas na artrite reumatóide / Fundoscopic and laboratorial findings in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is there association?

Com o objetivo de avaliar a associação das frações do complemento C3 e C4 com a acuidade visual, a biomicroscopia, a tonometria de aplanação e a fundoscopia foram estudados, prospectivamente, na Fundação Altino Ventura, no período de março a setembro de 2004, 48 voluntários portadores de artrite reumatóide, provenientes do Serviço de Reumatologia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE. Entre os voluntários com idade de 26 a 64 anos - média de 44,6± 4,3 anos - 46(95,8por cento) eram do gênero feminino, 2 (4,2por cento) do masculino. Quarenta (83,4por cento) faziam uso de prednisona e/ou cloroquina, e/ou cloroquina e/ou metotrexato. Os pacientes foram submetidos a exame oftalmológico de acuidade visual, com melhor correção ópitica AVCC, biomicroscopia, tonometria de aplanação de Goldmam e fundoscopia com lentes de 28 e 78 diaptrias e dosagem sérica das frações C3 e C4 do complemento. Foi aplicado o teste exato de Fisher para verificação da possível associação entre frequências. Aceitou-se p<0,05 para rejeição da hipótese de nulidade. foram encontradas alterações fundoscópicas em 18 pacientes (37,5por cento). Destes, dez (20.8por cento) apresentavam alterações que podem ser atribuídas à a AR ; estreitamento arteriolar, oclusões venosas e vasculite retiniana. Dois (4,2por cento) pacientes apresentavam altos títulos do complemento C3 e ambos estavam em uso de medicamentos. Houve associação significante entre a presença de altos títulos do complemento C3 e presenca de alteracoes fundoscopicas em portadores de AR (p=0,04). A presença de altos níveis do complemento sérico C3 e de alterações fundoscópicas em portadores de AR representa um alerta aos oftalmologistas e reumatologistas da importância de exames oftalmológicos periódicos em pacientes com tal quadro laboratorial