ABSTRACT
A captive female capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) of unknown age discharged a bloody mass from the vaginal region. A histopathology examination revealed the mass to be a reproductive leiomyosarcoma, and an ovariohysterectomy was performed. The histopathology examination confirmed that the excised tissue was a uterine leiomyosarcoma. The purpose of this report is to describe clinical history and histopathological diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma in capybaras. This report is novel because it describes the first diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma in a capybara. Since clinical data about capybaras are rare, this case report will help to diagnosis and treat reproductive diseases of this species.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy in humans and dogs. Several differentially expressed molecules have been studied and reported in human hepatocellular carcinoma and non-neoplastic liver lesions. However, studies on the features of canine hepatocellular carcinoma are limited, especially related to the differential characteristics of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. @*Objectives@#The study's objective was 1) to examine and evaluate the expression of arginase-1, P-glycoprotein, and cytokeratin 19 in canine liver tissues and 2) to investigate the differential features of hepatocellular carcinomas, liver tissue with non-neoplastic lesions, and paracancerous liver tissues in dogs. @*Methods@#The expression levels of three markers underwent immunohistochemical analysis in 40 non-neoplastic liver tissues, 32 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and 11 paracancerous liver tissues. Scoring of each marker was performed semi-quantitatively. @*Results@#Arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein were significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with hepatic tissues with non-neoplastic diseases (p < 0.001). Expression levels of arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein were also significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma than in paracancerous liver tissues (arginase-1, p = 0.0195; P-glycoprotein, p = 0.047). Few cytokeratin 19-positive hepatocytes were detected and only in one hepatocellular carcinoma and one cirrhotic liver sample. @*Conclusions@#The results of this study suggest that downregulation of arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein is a feature of canine hepatocellular carcinoma; thus, those markers are potential candidates for use in differentiating hepatocellular carcinomas from non-neoplastic liver lesions in dogs.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy in humans and dogs. Several differentially expressed molecules have been studied and reported in human hepatocellular carcinoma and non-neoplastic liver lesions. However, studies on the features of canine hepatocellular carcinoma are limited, especially related to the differential characteristics of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. @*Objectives@#The study's objective was 1) to examine and evaluate the expression of arginase-1, P-glycoprotein, and cytokeratin 19 in canine liver tissues and 2) to investigate the differential features of hepatocellular carcinomas, liver tissue with non-neoplastic lesions, and paracancerous liver tissues in dogs. @*Methods@#The expression levels of three markers underwent immunohistochemical analysis in 40 non-neoplastic liver tissues, 32 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and 11 paracancerous liver tissues. Scoring of each marker was performed semi-quantitatively. @*Results@#Arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein were significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with hepatic tissues with non-neoplastic diseases (p < 0.001). Expression levels of arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein were also significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma than in paracancerous liver tissues (arginase-1, p = 0.0195; P-glycoprotein, p = 0.047). Few cytokeratin 19-positive hepatocytes were detected and only in one hepatocellular carcinoma and one cirrhotic liver sample. @*Conclusions@#The results of this study suggest that downregulation of arginase-1 and P-glycoprotein is a feature of canine hepatocellular carcinoma; thus, those markers are potential candidates for use in differentiating hepatocellular carcinomas from non-neoplastic liver lesions in dogs.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The present study assessed the prevalence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, this study examined risk factors that affect PIM use. METHOD: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using Korean National Health Insurance claims database of 2009. PIM use in Parkinson's disease patients aged 65 years or older was examined based on 2012 Beers Criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for PIM use. RESULTS: Among 5,277 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, 88.9% of patients used PIM(s) at least once. The average number of PIM items used per patient was 4.2. PIM use ratio, the proportion of total amount of PIMs to all medications per patient, was 12.6%. Frequently used PIM therapeutic classes were benzodiazepines (32.7%), first-generation antihistamines (19.2%), and prokinetics (17.5%). Individual PIMs most commonly used included chlorpheniramine (11.4%), levosulpiride (10.9%), diazepam (9.0%), and alprazolam (7.6%). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.16), medical aid (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.21), and long-term facilities (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.22-2.65) were shown to be risk factors associated with PIM use. Of particular, wide variation in PIM use was associated with the types of healthcare facility. CONCLUSION: The PIM prevalence was very high in elderly Parkinson's disease patients. Nationally effective and systematic efforts to identify and prevent PIM use should be made to ensure patient safety and to improve quality of care in the elderly.