Neutering is associated with developing hemangiosarcoma in dogs in the Veterinary Medical Database: An age and time-period matched case-control study (1964-2003).

The hypothesis that neutered dogs in the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB) are at increased risk for developing hemangiosarcoma (HSA) was tested. Dogs (n = 5736) were diagnosed with HSA from a population of 2 106 324 dogs in the VMDB from 1964 to 2003. A case-control design matched on age and time period was created for general, cardiac, and splenic HSAs. A logistic regression analysis was performed including breed. Spayed females had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.59 for splenic, 1.47 for cardiac, and 1.72 for HSA in general. Castrated males had an OR of 1.26 for splenic and 1.14 for HSA in general compared to intact males. Controlled for historical time period and patient age, VMDB data support that neutering is associated with development of splenic HSA and HSA in general in both male and female dogs, but not cardiac HSA with an apparently lower than previously described magnitude of association. Key clinical message: This case-control design confirms an association between neutering and development of HSA and splenic HSA, but not cardiac HSA, in both male and female dogs. By controlling for time period at diagnosis, the bias of recent early neuter practices is eliminated, suggesting early neuter is not a principal driver of this effect.

La stérilisation est associée avec le développement d'hémangiosarcome chez les chiens dans le Veterinary Medical Database : une étude cas-témoin jumelant l'âge et la période de temps (1964­2003). L'hypothèse dans le Veterinary Medical Database (VNDB) selon laquelle les chiens stérilisés sont plus à risque de développer un hémangiosarcome (HSA) a été testée. Des chiens (n = 5736) ont été diagnostiqués avec un HSA à partir d'une population de 2 106 324 chiens dans le VMDB de 1964 à 2003. Un design cas-témoin apparié sur l'âge et la période de temps fut créé pour des HSAs en général, cardiaques et spléniques. Une analyse de régression logistique fut effectuée incluant la race. Les femelles stérilisées avaient un ratio de cotes (OR) de 1,59 pour un HSA splénique, de 1,47 pour HSA cardiaque et de 1,72 pour un HSA en général. Les mâles castrés avaient un OR de 1,26 pour les HSA splénique et de 1,14 pour les HSA généraux comparativement aux mâles entiers. En contrôlant pour la période de temps et l'âge du patient, les données du VMDB soutiennent le fait que la stérilisation est associée avec le développement de HSA splénique et d'HSA en général autant chez les chiens que chez les chiennes, mais pas les HSA cardiaques avec un degré d'association moindre que décrit antérieurement.Message clinique clé :Cette étude cas-témoin confirme une association entre la stérilisation et le développement d'HSA et d'HSA splénique, mais pas d'HSA cardiaque, autant chez le mâle que chez la femelle. En contrôlant pour la période de temps au moment du diagnostic, le biais pour la pratique récente de stérilisation tôt dans la vie de l'animal est éliminé, ce qui suggère que la stérilisation hâtive n'est pas un déterminant principal de cet effet.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Differential Modulation of Transcription Factors and Cytoskeletal Proteins in Prostate Carcinoma Cells by a Bacterial Lactone.

The present study tested the effect of a bacterial lactone N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-homoserine lactone (C12-HSL) on the cytoskeletal and transcriptional genes and proteins in prostate adenocarcinoma (PA) cells (DU145 and LNCaP) and prostate small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) PC3 cells including their cellular viability and apoptosis. Our data indicate that cell migration and colony formation were affected in the presence of C12-HSL. C12-HSL induced apoptosis and altered viability of both PA and SCNC cells in a concentration dependent manner as measured by fluorescence and chemiluminescence assays. Compared to PCa cells, noncancerous prostate epithelial cells (RWPE1) were resistant to modification by C12-HSL. Further, the viability of PC3 cells in 3D matrix was suppressed by C12-HSL treatment as detected using calcein AM fluorescence in situ. C12-HSL treatment induced cytoskeletal associated protein expression of vinculin and RhoC, which may have implications in cancer cell motility, adhesion, and metastasis. IQGAP protein expression was reduced in DU145 and RWPE1 cells in the presence of C12-HSL. C12-HSL decreased STAT3 phosphorylation in DU145 cells but increased STAT1 protein phosphorylation in PC3 and LNCaP cells. Overall, these studies indicate that C12-HSL can trigger changes in transcription factors and cytoskeletal proteins and thereby modulate growth and migration properties of PCa cells.

Use of an electronic brachytherapy surface applicator to treat an epiglottal fibrosarcoma in a dog.

Presented is the case of an epiglottal fibrosarcoma in a dog. The location of the mass resulted in challenges in the delivery of adequate dose to the tumor, and herein we describe the treatment using an electronic brachytherapy source. The treatment consisted of four Gy fractions, twice daily for a total of 10 fractions (40 Gy total). Visual reevaluation two weeks after treatment supported adequate spatial dose delivery, and the patient was reportedly improved six weeks after treatment. We demonstrate that plesiotherapy using an electronic brachytherapy device is feasible and may be useful in the treatment of carefully selected veterinary tumors.

The impact of oral versus inhaled glucocorticoids on allergen specific IgE testing in experimentally asthmatic cats.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are palliative for allergic asthma, but allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which relies on identification of allergens, represents a potentially curative treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine if oral or inhaled GCs would interfere with identification of sensitizing allergens. The hypothesis was that oral but not inhaled GCs would interfere with accurate allergen-specific IgE identification determined by skin and serum testing in experimentally asthmatic cats. Asthma was induced in 18 cats using Bermuda grass allergen (BGA). Cats (n=6/group) were randomized to receive oral GCs (10mg prednisolone q 24 h), inhaled GCs (600 µg budesonide q 24 h) or placebo (q 24 h PO) for one month. Intradermal skin testing (IDST) and serum BGA-specific IgE were measured prior to, during and after treatment. A paired t test was used to compare groups pre- and post-treatment (P<0.05 significant). IDST reactivity was eliminated in 4/6, 3/6, and 1/6 cats receiving oral GCs, inhaled GCs, and placebo respectively. Two weeks after stopping treatment, IDST was again positive in all cats. Serum IgE reactivity to BGA was not significantly diminished by any treatment. In conclusion, a two-week withdrawal from GCs is adequate for IDST, but may not be necessary for serum IgE testing.

Renal graft rejection after allogeneic peripheral-blood stem cell transplantation.

A 28-year-old woman underwent peripheral-blood stem cell transplantation from her HLA-identical sister for cytogenetic progression of Fanconi anemia. She had received a living-related renal allograft from her father 2 years previously. Nine days after peripheral-blood stem cell transplantation, she developed acute renal failure secondary to acute rejection. Severe microangiopathic hemolysis developed, and cyclosporine therapy was discontinued. Renal biopsy showed humoral rejection and thrombotic microangiopathy. Despite daily plasmapheresis and immunosuppression, she remained dialysis dependent. The renal graft was removed, with rapid resolution of microangiopathic hemolysis. At no stage was there evidence of acute graft-versus-host disease. We speculate that the engrafting third-party hematopoiesis produced acute renal allograft rejection with secondary microangiopathic hemolysis through a graft-versus-graft mechanism.