CDX2 prognostic value in stage II/III resected colon cancer is related to CMS classification.

BACKGROUND: Caudal-type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) is involved in colon cancer (CC) oncogenesis and has been proposed as a prognostic biomarker in patients with stage II or III CC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed CDX2 expression in a series of 469 CC typed for the new international consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification, and we confirmed results in a series of 90 CC. RESULTS: Here, we show that lack of CDX2 expression is only present in the mesenchymal subgroup (CMS4) and in MSI-immune tumors (CMS1) and not in CMS2 and CMS3 colon cancer. Although CDX2 expression was a globally independent prognostic factor, loss of CDX2 expression is not associated with a worse prognosis in the CMS1 group, but is highly prognostic in CMS4 patients for both relapse free and overall survival. Similarly, lack of CDX2 expression was a bad prognostic factor in MSS patients, but not in MSI. CONCLUSIONS: Our work suggests that combination of the consensual CMS classification and lack of CDX2 expression could be a useful marker to identify CMS4/CDX2-negative patients with a very poor prognosis.

Expression of pEGFR and pAKT as response-predictive biomarkers for RAS wild-type patients to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in metastatic colorectal cancers.

BACKGROUND: RAS wild-type (RASw/t) tumours have been associated with better outcomes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAb). We investigated the expression of EGFR downstream proteins under their active phosphorylated forms as potential markers in response to these patients. METHODS: One-hundred tumour samples were collected from patients with mCRC refractory to FOLFOX and/or FOLFIRI and treated by a combination of chemotherapy with anti-EGFR mAb. The outcomes were measured on response evaluation criteria in solid tumour (RECIST), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). All samples were assessed for RAS and BRAF mutations, and the key phosphorylated proteins of EGFR downstream signalling were quantitatively analysed using the BioPlex Protein array. RESULTS: Among the 60 RASw/t patients, 45.0% achieved a complete or partial response when treated with anti-EGFR mAb. Expression of pAKT, pERK1/2 and pMEK1 was significantly lower in RASw/t patients (P=0.0246; P=0.004; P=0.0110, respectively). The response rate was significantly higher for RASw/t patients who express pEGFR and pAKT (P=0.0258; P=0.0277, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of pEGFR and pAKT may predict the response rate in RASw/t patients treated with anti-EGFR mAb. On the basis of our results, we hypothesise that the association of anti-EGFR mAb and anti-AKT therapies could be of interest.

Timpanismo ruminal crônico secundário à hipoplasia de pregas de omaso em dois bovinos / Chronic ruminal bloat secondary to omasal laminae hypoplasia in two cattle

Um novilho normando e outro charolês apresentando distensão abdominal, diarreia intermitente e timpanismo ruminal crônico, que iniciaram após desmame, foram enviados para necropsia. Observou-se ausência de pregas omasais associada à hipoplasia do órgão, assim como redução de tamanho das papilas ruminais e reticulares. Com base nas lesões e histórico, conclui-se que o timpanismo ruminal foi ocasionado pela falha no desenvolvimento do omaso...

Two emaciated juvenile steers, one Normande and one Charolaise breed with abdominal distension, intermittent diarrhea and chronic ruminal bloat that had begun at weaning were necropsied. Absence of the omasal laminae with omasal hypoplasia were found together with loss of ruminal papillae and reticular folds. Based on the lesions and history we concluded that the ruminal bloat was due to a development failure of the omasum...

Doença granulomatosa sistêmica em bovinos no estado de Santa Catarina associada ao pastoreio de ervilhaca peluda (Vicia villosa) / Systemic granulomatous disease in cattle in Santa Catarina, Brazil, associated with grazing of vetch (Vicia villosa)

Spontaneous intoxication in three dairy cows grazing pasture contaminated with Vicia villosa in two different farms was reported. Hyperthermia, skin alopecia and pruritus were the main clinical signs. Macroscopically, gray to white up to 5cm nodules were detected, especially in kidney and lymph nodes, which correspond to mild to severe multifocal granulomatous infiltrate. This is the first report of systemic granulomatous disease due to consumption of hairy vetch in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Mammomonogamus laryngeus (Railliet, 1899) infection in buffaloes in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Parasites of the genus Mammomonogamus affect the respiratory tract of domestic animals. The present study was carried out to determine the presence of Mammomonogamus laryngeus infection and to analyze its lesions in infected buffaloes in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between April and November 1999. The infection rate was 30.5%. In 32 infected buffaloes, the worm pairs collected per animal did not exceed 20. The microscopic diagnosis showed intense polypoid to intramucosal proliferation at the entrance to the pharynx, to which the parasites had adhered, with foci of multifocal hydropic degeneration of the epithelium or individual degeneration of epithelial cells with mild intraepithelial inflammatory infiltrate. The submucosa revealed intense lymphocyte infiltrate extending into the salivary glands. The submucosa also showed formation of structures that resemble lymphoid follicles.

Senecio spp poisoning in cattle in southern Brazil.

Epidemiological, clinical, necropsy and histopathological data were accumulated during the study of 15 outbreaks of Senecio spp poisoning in cattle occurring during the last 3 y in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Morbidity averaged 17% and mortality was virtually 100%. The peak mortality occurred during spring and early summer. The most constant clinical signs included anorexia, depression, tenesmus often followed by rectal prolapse, and rough hair coat. Affected animals remained apart from the rest of the herd, lost weight, presented ascites, and had signs of digestive and neurological disturbances. Icterus, photodermatitis, polydipsia, and dependent subcutaneous edema were occasionally noticed. Two main clinical courses could be distinguished. In the protracted form, progressive weight loss terminated with death within many weeks or months. Alternatively, an acute or subacute course led to death in a few days. In both forms, necropsy and histopathological findings included diffuse fibrosis of the liver, hepatomegalocytosis, and biliary hyperplasia. Extrahepatic lesions included gastrointestinal and mesenteric edema, distension, edema and adenomatoid hyperplasia of the gallbladder, and spongy degeneration of the cerebral white matter. S brasiliensis and S oxyphyllus were the species involved in the field outbreaks.

Seneciose em bovinos / Seneciosis in cattle

Säo apresentados dados epidemiológicos, clínicos, de necropsia e histopatológicos acumulados durante o estudo de 15 surtos espontâneos de intoxicaçöes por Senecio spp (maria-mole) em bovinos, ocorridos nos últimos três anos no Rio Grande do Sul. A morbidade média foi de 17% e a mortalidade de, praticamente, 100%. O pico das mortes ocorreu durante os meses de primavera e início do veräo. Devido ao caráter crônico da intoxicaçäo, casos esporádicos ocorreram ao longo do ano.

Intoxicaçäo crônica por cobre em ovinos / Chronic coopper poisoning in sheep

Säo descritos dois surtos de intoxicaçäo crônica por cobre em ovinos no Rio Grande do Sul, causando a morte de pelo menos 21 animais. O s sinais clínicos incluíam depressäo, anorexia, icterícia e homoglobinúria; as mortes ocorrem 4 a 6 dias apòs o início dos sintomas. As lesöes mais consistentes vistas na necrópsia foram icterícia, fígado amarelo ou alaranjado, rins escuros e tumefeitos. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pelos altos níveis de cobre encontrados na raçäo e em fragmentos de fígado e rim dos animais afetados