Utility of Spleen and Liver Cytology in Staging of Canine Mast Cell Tumors.

Abdominal ultrasound with spleen and liver cytology is part of routine staging for canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). However, such tests are associated with increased morbidity and cost. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine if spleen cytology was predictive of liver cytology in canine MCTs and if any patient or tumor variables were associated with spleen and/or liver metastasis. Records of dogs with MCTs and cytology of spleen and liver were reviewed. Two hundred five patients were included. Overall, 22 (10.7%) patients had metastasis, with 21 (10.2%) and 13 (6.3%) having spleen and liver metastasis, respectively, and 12 (5.9%) having both. For patients with a positive (or negative) spleen cytology, the odds ratio of having a positive (or negative) liver cytology was 233.49. However, a negative spleen cytology had a higher predictive value (0.99) than a positive cytology (0.54). Finally, the presence of local and systemic signs and tumor size were associated with spleen, liver, and/or spleen or liver metastasis. These results suggest that spleen cytology is predictive of liver cytology in staging of canine MCTs, and increasing tumor size and presence of local or systemic signs are associated with an increased risk of visceral metastasis.

The sexual and reproductive health of female psychiatric inpatients: An area needing more attention?

OBJECTIVE: Trauma-informed care and physical (including sexual and reproductive) health screening is standard in Western Australian mental health settings. We sought to determine the rates of reported sexual trauma and domestic violence (DV), the rates of sexual and reproductive health screening, and associations between sexual trauma and reproductive health screening in a sample of women of child-bearing age (WOCBA), that is, 18-49 years, admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit (IPU). METHODS: A retrospective study on 12 months of admissions to an outer metropolitan IPU (2017-2018), using descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Review of 160 admissions demonstrated high rates of reported sexual trauma (49.4%) and DV (38.8%). Rates of screening for pregnancy (56.9%) and sexually-transmitted infection risk (18.8%) were low. 5 out of 25 (20.0%) patients prescribed a mood stabiliser had documented discussions regarding reproductive risks of their medication. An overall lack of effect (p > .6) was found between sexual trauma history and reproductive health screening. CONCLUSIONS: WOCBA admitted to an IPU are vulnerable to having experienced sexual trauma and DV, with low rates of documented reproductive health screening despite existing clinical guidelines.

Plasma cytokeratin-18 concentrations as noninvasive biomarker of early gastrointestinal toxicosis in dogs receiving toceranib.

BACKGROUND: No biomarkers for the early detection of gastrointestinal (GI) toxicosis secondary to antineoplastic treatment are recognized in veterinary medicine. Toceranib causes GI toxicosis in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: To assess if changes in plasma cytokeratin 18 (CK18) concentration, measured in dogs being treated with toceranib phosphate, can predict the onset of GI toxicosis. We hypothesize that an increase in CK18 concentrations will be detected before the development of GI toxicosis in dogs treated with toceranib phosphate. ANIMALS: Twenty healthy client-owned dogs and 25 client-owned dogs with surgically excised mast cell tumor (MCT). METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Dogs were treated with toceranib (2.75 mg/kg PO q48h). Plasma was collected weekly for 4 weeks. Plasma CK18 concentration was measured on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. vascular endothelial growth factor was measured on days 0 and 28. RESULTS: Mean plasma CK18 concentration on day 0 in dogs with MCT was not significantly different than healthy controls (313.5 ± 592.8 pg/mL, 119.7 ± 76.9 pg/mL, mean ± SD P = 0.27). Mean plasma CK18 concentration decreased by 98.69 pg/mL from day 0 to day 28 (P < 0.001). Plasma CK18 concentration was not a significant predictor of the development of signs of GI toxicosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Plasma CK18 concentration was not a clinically useful biomarker for the early detection of GI toxicosis secondary to toceranib administration in dogs with MCTs.