Lipogranulomas and pigment granulomas in livers of dogs with portosystemic shunt.

Lipogranulomas are lesions found in histopathological liver examination in humans and in various animal species, including dogs, especially those with portosystemic shunts. They consist of macrophages and other inflammatory cells, and sometimes they contain iron salts (pigment granuloma). This study aimed at determining the number of granulomas and cellular composition of lipogranulomas in dogs with the congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and to identify factors associated with their development. 44 archival liver samples from dogs with portosystemic shunt were stained using HE, Perl's method and - in randomly-selected cases - immunohistochemically against CD56, CD20 and CD3 (DAKO). A reduction in the size of the liver was observed in all dogs during laparotomy, and the diameter of the vessel circumventing the liver was also measured (in 24 dogs). Lipogranulomas were found in 52.3% of samples; iron salts were present in 47.8% of them; 72% of cells in lipogranulomas were macrophages. In lipogranulomas both types of lymphocytes - T and B - were seen. The presence of lipogranulomas in liver samples in dogs was connected with fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and was correlated with the age of animals and with the diameter of the abnormal vessel circumventing the liver. Their formation appears to be triggered by severe ischemia and shortage of nutrient supply.

Landscape heterogeneity correlates with bee and pollen diversity while size and specialization degree explain species-specific responses of wild bees to the environment.

Access to adequate pollen sources in agricultural landscapes is critical for the nutrition and development of bees. The type and quantity of pollen available to bees and may be determined by local plant diversity, land-use intensity and landscape structure but different bee species likely respond differently to these parameters. Identifying community and specific responses is therefore imperative to understand pollinator population dynamics in agricultural landscapes. We sampled bees in 36 plots along a land-use gradient at 4 sites in Belgium and Germany over two years. We collected 1821 bees from 100 bee species and constructed a pollen foraging network with 36 common wild bee species based on pollen metabarcoding. We investigated differences in community responses and species-specific responses to environmental variables. Landscape heterogeneity positively correlated with bee species richness, diversity and functional richness, and significantly explained bee community composition per plot. Bee collected pollen diversity correlated with bee species diversity. Furthermore, landscape heterogeneity positively correlated with bee collected pollen diversity when pooling abundant bee species, while it did not correlate with pollen diversity of the most abundant generalists. Land-use intensity and local plant diversity had no significant effect on bee diversity. Larger bees showed negative responses to increasing land-use intensity and bees with more specialized diets showed positive correlations with landscape heterogeneity. Our study goes beyond mere floral diversity and provides new insight into the responses of wild bee communities to landscape structure and regional pollen availability, as well as the interplay between bee abundance and pollen foraging traits. Our results highlight the importance of determining species-specific nutritional needs and considering landscape level structure in pollinator conservation programs.

Critical links between biodiversity and health in wild bee conservation.

Wild bee populations are declining due to human activities, such as land use change, which strongly affect the composition and diversity of available plants and food sources. The chemical composition of food (i.e., nutrition) in turn determines the health, resilience, and fitness of bees. For pollinators, however, the term 'health' is recent and is subject to debate, as is the interaction between nutrition and wild bee health. We define bee health as a multidimensional concept in a novel integrative framework linking bee biological traits (physiology, stoichiometry, and disease) and environmental factors (floral diversity and nutritional landscapes). Linking information on tolerated nutritional niches and health in different bee species will allow us to better predict their distribution and responses to environmental change, and thus support wild pollinator conservation.

Morphometric and cytological disturbances of pancreatic islets evoked by congenital portosystemic shunt in dogs.

In 46 dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) histopathological examination of the pancreas, including measuring of the islet area, was performed, and the results were compared with those obtained in 6 control dogs without cPSS. Pancreatic islets were found in 43 (94%) dogs with cPSS and in all control animals. Mean area of the pancreatic islets was significantly lower in cPSS patients (median of 2219.4 µm2, interquartile range [IQR] from 1559.0 to 3146.2 µm2, range from 485.4 to 10333.4 µm2) than in control dogs (median of 8705.5 µm2, IQR from 8284.4 to 9329.2 µm2, range from 7689.9 to 9624.2 µm2) (p⟨0.001). The area of pancreatic islets was weakly, but significantly, positively correlated with the body weight of dogs (r=0.32, p=0.026), but not with the age or sex. Vacuoles were found in the cytoplasm of pancreatic islet cells in 37 (87%) dogs with cPSS and in none of the control animals (p⟨0.001). Their presence was not linked to the sex, breed, age or body weight. Extracellular homogenous eosinophilic masses were present in pancreatic islets in 5 (12%) cPSS patients and in none of control animals. Connective tissue hyperplasia was found in pancreatic islets of 4 (9%) dogs with cPSS and in none of the control dogs. These results indicate that cPSS severely affects the pancreas, as shown by significantly reduced area of the islets, and the presence of eosinophilic masses in the pancreas and/or intracellular vacuoles.

Epidemiological features of Morel's disease in goats.

Morel's disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius was diagnosed for the first time in Poland in October 2006 in a goat flock. A second infected flock was found two months later. The course of the disease in both flocks was observed for 15-17 months. Clinical manifestation was confined to abscesses located near major superficial lymph nodes, mostly: superficial cervical, subiliac, parotid and mandibular. At necropsy no other lesions were found. The incubation period was estimated at 3 weeks. Clinical signs were seen both in young and adult goats and up to 7 abscesses in one animal were noted. Abscesses tended to persist for 1 to 5 months, then rupture and heal completely. The initial high in-flock point prevalence in both flocks (93.6% and 84.4%) dropped to approximately 10-30% during next 3-4 months. Until the end of the observation period the in-flock point prevalence remained at this level and only single abscesses were observed, mainly in young animals. No influence of the concurrent caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection on the clinical course of Morel's disease was noticed. It is to be concluded that the clinical course of Morel's disease in a goat flock resembles caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). However, in Morel's disease abscesses occur more frequently in young goats and are located near, not inside, the lymph nodes, as in the case with CLA. Also, the incubation period of Morel's disease seems to be shorter (3 weeks versus 2-6 months in CLA).

Thrombocytopenia as a characteristic trait in the Polish ogar dog.

The study was undertaken to ascertain if the normal thrombocyte count in Polish ogar dog differs from normal values in other dog breeds. The reason for this study was constatation that during routine blood analysis in healthy Polish ogar dogs, thrombocytopenia, not related to the clinical state of the animals, was frequently encountered. The study was carried out on 38 Polish ogar dogs. The control group consisted of 80 dogs of various breeds. All the animals were clinically healthy. A full hematological analysis was performed. The mean platelet value in all dog breeds without the Polish ogar dogs was 344.4 +/- 6.85, while the mean number of platelets in the Polish ogar dogs amounted to 167 +/- 11.6 G/l. The limited genetic material used to rebuild the Polish ogar breed after its drastic decline during the Second World War could be the reason for various, including hematological, abnormalities that with time became a normal characteristic traits for this breed.

Veterinary pathology in Europe in the light of the congresses of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology in the last decade.

This paper presents the main trends in the activity of European veterinary pathologists in the context of their oral presentations (plenary lectures and short presentations) and posters provided during annual meetings of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology (ESVP), in the decade 1997-2006. It was found that the issue that was most often brought up in the meetings was organ pathology (566 presentations). Infectious and parasitical diseases were only slightly less frequent (548 presentations). Oncology was another common issue (404 presentations). During this decade, 52 plenary lectures were presented, 765 oral presentations and 1 072 posters. Altogether, 1 889 presentations were made, which is between 127 and 238 per year. Research by Polish scientists accounted for 3.16% of all presentations. Additionally, the subject matter discussed at the annual meetings is analysed, and the trends in the development of veterinary diagnostic pathology and broad pathology education are indicated. It is shown that veterinary pathology enhances knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine by fulfilling a cognitive and diagnostic role.

Electrochemical response of oligonucleotides on carbon paste electrode.

Electrochemical response of synthetic oligonucleotides with different DNA bases sequences was investigated to find relationships between a chain composition and a signal. All DNA mononucleotides present electroactivity at a carbon paste electrode yielding anodic peaks at potentials: 1.00 (GMP), 1.28 (AMP), 1.47 (TMP) and 1.53 V (CMP). Also 15-mer homooligonucleotides show respective anodic peaks. Electrochemical response of 15- and 19-mer oligonucleotides consisting of all four DNA bases in different amounts was determined by the composition of oligonucleotide chain. When the contribution of different bases in oligonucleotide was balanced two anodic peaks were obtained that can be attributed to guanine and adenine moieties. Thymine residue is shown as a separate peak in voltammogram when its content in oligonucleotide chain is close to 50% of the total number of bases. Cytosine also yields a peak at its significant contribution in oligonucleotide chain and both pyrimidinic moieties produce catalytic waves easier when one of them is dominating or when only one pyrimidine derivative is present in a chain. Guanine is the easiest oxidized base and it produces a peak even at its minimal contribution (one guanine residue in 19-mer oligonucleotide). Guanine peak potential is dependent on oligonucleotide concentration and oligonucleotide composition. The lowest oligonucleotide concentration detected by guanine peak was 12.5 nM whereas detected by thymine peak was 90 nM.

Tumors of the urogenital system in dogs and cats. Retrospective review of 138 cases.

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and localization of different tumors in the urogenital system in dogs and cats in relation to sex, age and breed of animals. The study was performed on tumors or tissue specimens from tumors of the urinary and genital system obtained during surgery from dogs and cats submitted to the Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Clinical Sciences Agricultural University of Warsaw from 1998 to 2005. Most tumors of the urogenital system recognized in the present study derived from dogs (94.20%, 130 cases), and only a few cases were obtained from cats (5.79%). Occurrence and localization of urogenital system tumors in present review is similar to findings reported by other authors. Testicular tumors in males, ovarian lesions in females and urinary bladder tumors in both sexes were most commonly recognized. Older dogs were most often affected, animals with nonmalignant tumors were a bit younger than those with malignant lesions. Any obvious breed predilections were found, but terriers were at increased risk for development of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and mixed breed and German shepherd for development of testicular neoplasms.

Enzymatic membranes for determination of some disaccharides by means of an oxygen electrode.

Membranes for determination of maltose, lactose and sucrose with the use of an oxygen electrode are described. They were obtained by immobilization of glucose oxidase with suitable disaccharide hydrolase in gelatin or albumin. For the sucrose determination mutarotase was also used. The membranes contained one, two or three enzymes working in sequence. The enzyme composition of the membranes influenced the linear range slightly and the value of electrode response considerably. The electrode response of the maltose membranes was also affected by the immobilization material. The measurements with the use of enzymatic membranes were very sensitive to temperature and, to some degree, the pH of the sample. Stability of the membranes was differentiated. The albumin membranes for sucrose determination generated almost the same signal after 1 month of frequent use, whereas the gelatin membranes for lactose determination lost about 85% of the initial activity after 1 week of operation. The electrode response of both the gelatin and albumin maltose membranes decreased in the same time by about 50%.

DNA sensor for o-dianisidine.

o-Dianisidine (3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine) is applied in the production of some dyes and also used in analytical tests. However, this compound is anticipated to be a human carcinogen. An analytical strategy utilizing square wave voltammetry for the determination of o-dianisidine is presented. An electrochemical system was consisted of three electrodes: carbon paste working electrode, platinum wire counter electrode and silver-silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrode. However, square wave voltammograms of direct measurements of o-dianisidine were found to be hardly reproducible, exhibiting few peaks due to some labile short-lived intermediates with the only exception of a quite stable peak at +0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Quantitative determination of o-dianisidine gave satisfactory results only when the carbon paste working electrode was replaced by deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) electrode obtained by immobilization of double-stranded (ds) DNA on carbon electrode. Square wave voltammogram of DNA showed two peaks attributed to adenine and guanine and the latter was used as analytical signal. After interaction with o-dianisidine, guanine oxidation peak was reduced to the extent related to the concentration of the analyte. Initial reduction of guanine peak took place already at the concentration of o-dianisidine equal to 0.4 microM; high concentrations (above 100 microM) of the analyte quenched completely a guanine response. The presented electrochemical system enables a specific detection of o-dianisidine by the presence of an oxidation peak at +0.7 V and its quantitative determination by measuring a reduction of guanine peak by means of a DNA sensor.

Neuroendocrine component of different types of the pulmonary carcinoma.

One hundred and seventy lung tumors were examined: 155 squamous cell carcinoma, 12 adenocarcinomas and 3 mixed adenosquamous carcinoma. In electron microscopic examination the neuroendocrine cells were found: in 31 cases of squamous carcinoma, in 9 cases of adenocarcinoma, and 1 case of mixed adenosquamous carcinoma.

Application of electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry in lung cancer diagnosis.

Using bronchofiberoscopy the biopsies of '50 small cell carcinomas of the lung (SCLC) were diagnosed. The material was studied by immunocytochemical methods for cytokeratins and in routine transmission electron microscopy. The presence of bundles of cytokeratins was specific for squamous epithelium, in all histological subtypes of small cell carcinomas. The number and distribution of cytokeratins were described. In whole material we found the neuroendocrine cells in which polymorphic neuroendocrine granules were present.

Estrogen receptors in canine mammary gland tumours.

The aim of the present study was to establish the relationship between estrogen receptor expression in neoplastic parenchymal cells and the type of canine mammary gland tumour. The research material included mammary gland tumours obtained from 66 dogs. Paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies and LSAB/Peroxidase/Universal Kit. The estrogen receptor expression was observed in nuclei of neoplastic cells in about 59% of the cases and in the cytoplasm in about 89% of the cases. In about 20% of the cases the expression in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm was extremely weak. No correlation was found between the expression of estrogen receptors and the value of mitotic indexes in the neoplasms investigated.

Contribution of muscle cell to formation of the capsule around Trichinella spiralis larva. Ultrastructural studies.

In electron microscopic studies on structure of the capsule surrounding Trichinella spiralis larva the techniques have been employed which permit demonstration of proteoglycans and collagen fibers at various stages of their formation, i.e. fixation in tannic acid and staining reaction with ruthenium red. The muscle cell has been demonstrated to produce both collagen fibers and glycoproteins plus proteoglycans. The products formed inner part of the capsule, separated from the outer part by the basement membrane. The outer part of the capsule contained collagen fibers and matrix, synthesized by the interstitial tissue cells, by fibroblasts and vascular endothelium cells in particular.

[The role of the nucleus in the mechanism of transformation of muscle after infection by Trichinella spiralis larvae. III. Morphometric analysis of the functional transformation of the muscle cell nucleus after infection]. / Rola jadra komórki miesniowej w mechanizmie jej transformacji po zarazeniu larwami Trichinella spiralis. III. Analiza morfometryczna przemian morfologicznych i czynnosciowych jader komórek miesniowych w przebiegu zarazenia.

Morphometric investigations (using the convergence analysis method) of geometric parameters of nuclei and nucleoli of transformed muscle cells were carried in mice 15 days, 30 days and 6 month after infection with T. spiralis larvae. The analysis showed the largest increase of investigated the parameters of 15th day after the infection. The results of morphometric analysis are in agreement with the morphologic, ultrastructural and histochemical observations (published in I and II part) as for as functional changes of muscle cells in various stages of trichinellosis are concerned.

[The role of the muscle cell nucleus in the mechanism of its transformation after infection by Trichinella spiralis larvae. II. Histochemical features of the functional transformation of the muscle cell nucleus in the course of infection]. / Rola jadra komórki miesniowej w mechanizmie jej transformacji po zarazeniu larwami trichinella spiralis. II. Wykladniki histochemiczne przemian czynnosciowych jadra komórki miesniowej w przebiegu zarazenia.

The activation of muscle cell nucleus in the course of T. spiralis infection, established using morphological methods (part I), has been confirmed in histochemical (histones, RNP) and histoenzymatic (RN-aze) investigations. The activity of the cell nucleus increased from the 5th day after infection up to the complete encapsulation of the larva (30th day) however it remained at a weak stable level in later stages of infection.

Electrochemical detection of foodborne pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila by DNA hybridization biosensor.

The paper describes an electrochemical DNA biosensor used for the detection of Aeromonas hydrophila. This opportunistic pathogen is recognized as an emerging foodborne hazard and is associated with a variety of virulence factors including production of cytotoxic enterotoxin aerolysin. The genosensor recognition layer was prepared using mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) consisting of thiolated single-stranded DNA probe (ssDNA) and diluent molecules--mercaptoalcohol: mercaptoethanol (MCE) or mercaptohexanol (MCH) or mercaptononanol (MCN). The voltammetric examination of double-layer capacitance of biosensor recognition interface supported by chronocoulometric quantitation of DNA present on the electrode surface showed that mixed ssDNA and MCH monolayer revealed the lowest defectiveness. Its double-layer capacitance equaled 4.0 µF cm(-2) and ssDNA probe surface coverage reached 8.5×10(11) molecules cm(-2) of gold electrode surface. Chronocoulometric quantitation of DNA and square wave voltammetry (SWV) measurements of electroactive indicator, methylene blue (MB) were performed to investigate the influence of hybridization reaction time, concentration of target DNA fragments, and presence of non-complementary DNA on the electrochemical response of genosensor recognition interface. The biosensor enabled distinction between the DNA samples isolated from A. hydrophila (present at the concentration of 2.5 µg cm(-3)) and other microbial DNA.