Canine low-grade intra-orbital myxosarcoma: case report.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate important clinical, morphological, histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical characteristics in order to establish the diagnosis and prognosis of a low-grade intra-orbital myxosarcoma. ANIMAL STUDIED: A mongrel dog presented a 2-year history of a neoplastic mass behind the right eye. RESULTS: The neoplasm presented a mesenchymal spindle and stellate cell proliferation with an abundant myxoid matrix, moderate anisocariosis, and a low mitotic index. It stained positive for vimentin, moderately positive for periodic acid-Schiff, and negative for Gomori trichrome stain and α-smooth muscle actin. CONCLUSIONS: One year following surgical excision, the patient remains disease free. The histological findings established a diagnosis of a rare canine intra-orbital low-grade myxosarcoma.

The Epistemic Revolution Induced by Microbiome Studies: An Interdisciplinary View.

Many separate fields and practices nowadays consider microbes as part of their legitimate focus. Therefore, microbiome studies may act as unexpected unifying forces across very different disciplines. Here, we summarize how microbiomes appear as novel major biological players, offer new artistic frontiers, new uses from medicine to laws, and inspire novel ontologies. We identify several convergent emerging themes across ecosystem studies, microbial and evolutionary ecology, arts, medicine, forensic analyses, law and philosophy of science, as well as some outstanding issues raised by microbiome studies across these disciplines and practices. An 'epistemic revolution induced by microbiome studies' seems to be ongoing, characterized by four features: (i) an ecologization of pre-existing concepts within disciplines, (ii) a growing interest in systemic analyses of the investigated or represented phenomena and a greater focus on interactions as their root causes, (iii) the intent to use openly multi-scalar interaction networks as an explanatory framework to investigate phenomena to acknowledge the causal effects of microbiomes, (iv) a reconceptualization of the usual definitions of which individuals are worth considering as an explanans or as an explanandum by a given field, which result in a fifth strong trend, namely (v) a de-anthropocentrification of our perception of the world.

Prognostic significance of tissue and serum HER2 and MUC1 in canine mammary cancer.

The aim of our study was to compare serum levels and protein tissue of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 proto-oncogene (HER2) and mucin 1 (MUC1) using an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in canine mammary carcinomas and investigate how the 2 markers correlate with dogs with metastasis and without metastasis to a regional lymph node. Forty-eight female dogs were selected, including 14 with non-metastatic cancer, 14 with lymph node metastasis, and 20 healthy animals. Serum samples were collected from all the animals and tissues from 28 dogs with malignant mammary tumor with or without metastasis for evaluated HER2 and MUC1 expression. Tissue sample were evaluated for MUC1 and HER2 immunoexpression by IHC. The results showed measurable serum levels of MUC1 and HER2 in all groups. While serum MUC1 levels were significantly higher in animals with metastasis than the other 2 groups, no increase was observed in HER2 serum levels. The MUC1 IHC results showed that only membrane immunostaining was significantly different between the groups. Statistically, there was an association between immunostaining and the serum HER2 levels. Our results indicate that serum concentrations of HER2 and the IHC staining pattern for HER2 in primary tumor do not correlate with the presence of regional metastasis. However, increased concentrations of MUC1 in the serum of dogs with mammary cancer are associated with the presence of metastasis to regional lymph nodes. A membrane pattern of IHC staining for MUC1 in the primary tumor suggests that metastases to regional lymph node are present.

Versican expression in myoepithelial cells from carcinomas in canine mixed mammary tumors.

The matrix of canine mixed mammary tumors (CMMTs) consists of proliferating spindle cells of possible myoepithelial origin, as well as myxomatous tissue, cartilage matrix and/or bone. Among the multiple components of this tumor extracellular matrix, versican probably plays a prominent role due to its importance in tumor progression, cell proliferation and differentiation. However, there are few data related to a possible association between versican expression and the state of myoepithelial cell differentiation in CMMTs. Using immunohistochemistry and histochemistry, the objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of versican, sulfated proteoglycans and mucopolysaccharides in myoepithelial cells at different stages of differentiation and to explore a potential relationship with p63 and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression. A significant difference in versican expression was observed among the different stages of myoepithelial cell differentiation with an inverse correlation between versican and p63/SMA expression. These results suggest that at an early stage of proliferation, myoepithelial cells acquire a phenotype consistent with a role in chondrogenesis. Moreover, myoepithelial cells showed an affinity for safranin and periodic acid-Schiff staining at different stages of proliferation supporting the myoepithelial origin of spindle cells from CMMTs.

[Nutritional status of patients with breast cancer attended in the Mastology Service of Belo Horizonte's Hospital das Clínicas in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / Avaliação nutricional de pacientes com câncer de mama atendidas no Serviço de Mastologia do Hospital das Clínicas, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil.

The scope of this article is to evaluate the nutritional status, body composition and tumor characteristics of 31 patients with breast cancer attended at the Mastology Service of Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Dietary data were obtained from the 24-hour dietary recall in the pre-operative state and analyzed by the DietWin Professional 2008 Nutrition Software. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The tumor characterization data were collected from medical records. The mean age of patients was 50.75 ± 14.34 years. Excess body weight was found in 58% and waist circumference greater than 80 cm in 64.5% of patients Excessive consumption of oils and sugars was observed in 90.3% and 83.8%, respectively. Most had low intakes of calcium and vitamins B6, B12 and A. The predominant diagnosis was type II histological grade invasive ductal carcinoma in stage II or III. The prevalence of overweight and inadequate dietary intake demonstrate the need for individualized nutritional guidance and monitoring to improve the prognosis and quality of the life of patients.

Combination therapy with carboplatin and thalidomide suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in 4T1 murine breast cancer model.

Carboplatin, efficient cytostatics for cancer therapy, could induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of vascular endothelium in several tumor cell lines and xenograft models. It has been suggested that the antitumor effect of chemotherapy could be increased by combining it with an antiangiogenesis agent in anticancer strategy. The present study explored the potential to increase the antitumor effect of carboplatin by combining it with thalidomide in mouse 4T1 breast cancer models, and the underlining mechanism was investigated. The systemic administration of carboplatin and thalidomide significantly decreased tumor growth through increased tumor cell apoptosis compared with either control group. Collectively, these findings suggest that combined treatment has shown synergistic suppression in tumor progression according to the analysis. Furthermore, also was observed reduction in number of lung metastases as compared to isolated treatments and increased survival of the animals. The present study may be important in future exploration of the potential application of the combined approach in the treatment of breast cancer.

Myeloid metaplasia in canine mixed mammary tumors: occurrence and characterization.

BACKGROUND: Mixed tumors are among the most frequent mammary neoplasms in female dogs. Some of these tumors present bone marrow associated with the newly formed osseous tissue, characteristic of myeloid metaplasia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of these lesions in a series of mixed tumors, and determine its histomorphological characteristics. ANIMALS AND METHODS: In total, 384 canine mammary mixed tumors from 289 animals have been reviewed. The lesions were classified according to the presence of osseous metaplasia associated with myeloid metaplasia or extramedullary hematopoiesis. Myeloid metaplasia characterization was determined from the morphological characteristics and organization of the cells and adjacent tissues. Cytoplasmic staining for CD31 and Factor VIII were used as a criterion to confirm the presence of blood vessels and megakaryocytes, respectively. RESULTS: The 384 cases included 206 benign and 178 carcinomas in mixed tumors. Osseous metaplasia was present in 16.1% and calcified areas exclusively in 3.1% lesions. Among all osseous metaplasia, 33.9% presented some type of extramedullary hematopoiesis, of which 71.4% were classified as myeloid metaplasia and 28.6% as extramedullary hematopoiesis. Myeloid metaplasia cases consisted of 67% benign mixed tumors and 33% carcinomas in mixed tumors. CD31 and Factor VIII expression occurred in all myeloid metaplasia, confirming the presence of blood capillaries and megakaryocytes. Myeloid metaplasia was observed in 24% of mixed tumors containing osseous metaplasia and in 4% of all mixed tumors analyzed. CONCLUSION: Despite the low frequency of this lesion, additional studies are needed to understand the implications of myeloid metaplasia in canine mammary mixed tumors.

Avaliação nutricional de pacientes com câncer de mama atendidas no Serviço de Mastologia do Hospital das Clínicas, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil / Nutritional status of patients with breast cancer attended in the Mastology Service of Belo Horizonte's Hospital das Clínicas in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o perfil nutricional, a composição corporal e as características tumorais de 31 pacientes com câncer de mama atendidas pelo Serviço de Mastologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Os dados da dieta foram coletados usando-se o recordatório de 24 horas no momento pré-cirúrgico e analisados pelo Software de Nutrição DietWin Profissional 2008. A composição corporal foi avaliada por análise de impedância bioelétrica. A caracterização tumoral foi realizada através da avaliação dos dados obtidos no prontuário de cada paciente. A idade média foi de 50,75 ± 14,3 anos. Foi observado excesso de peso corporal em 58% das pacientes e circunferência da cintura maior que 80 cm em 64,5%. Consumo excessivo de alimentos pertencentes aos grupos dos óleos e dos açúcares foi verificado em 90,3% e 83,8%, respectivamente. A maioria das pacientes apresentou baixo consumo de cálcio e de vitaminas B6, B12 e A. O diagnóstico predominante foi de carcinoma ductal invasivo, de grau histológico tipo II em estadio II ou III. A prevalência do excesso de peso e a inadequação do consumo alimentar demonstram a necessidade de orientação e acompanhamento nutricional individualizado, visando melhorar o prognóstico e a qualidade de vida da paciente.

The scope of this article is to evaluate the nutritional status, body composition and tumor characteristics of 31 patients with breast cancer attended at the Mastology Service of Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Dietary data were obtained from the 24-hour dietary recall in the pre-operative state and analyzed by the DietWin Professional 2008 Nutrition Software. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The tumor characterization data were collected from medical records. The mean age of patients was 50.75 ± 14.34 years. Excess body weight was found in 58% and waist circumference greater than 80 cm in 64.5% of patients Excessive consumption of oils and sugars was observed in 90.3% and 83.8%, respectively. Most had low intakes of calcium and vitamins B6, B12 and A. The predominant diagnosis was type II histological grade invasive ductal carcinoma in stage II or III. The prevalence of overweight and inadequate dietary intake demonstrate the need for individualized nutritional guidance and monitoring to improve the prognosis and quality of the life of patients.