Canine Cutaneous Plasmacytosis: 21 Cases (2005-2015).

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous plasmacytosis (CP) is a syndrome of multiple cutaneous plasma cell tumors, in the absence of multiple myeloma. Although rare in both humans and dogs, treatment recommendations are usually extrapolated from multiple myeloma protocols. To date, no case series of CP have been described in the veterinary literature. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical presentation, determine treatment response rates and duration, and report overall survival of dogs with CP. ANIMALS: Twenty-one client-owned dogs with CP. METHODS: Medical records of 21 dogs with CP were reviewed. Diagnosis was based on histopathologic evaluation of at least 1 representative cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion in dogs with ≥3 lesions. Dogs with suspicion of multiple myeloma were excluded. RESULTS: The most commonly affected breeds were the golden (5/21) and Labrador retriever (3/21). Fourteen of 21 dogs had >10 lesions, with some having >100. Lesions commonly were described as round, raised, pink-to-red, and variably alopecic or ulcerated. The most commonly used drug protocol was combined melphalan and prednisone, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 73.7% (14/19 dogs). Single-agent lomustine was associated with a similar ORR of 71.4% (5/7 dogs). For all treatments combined, the median progression-free interval after the first treatment was 153 days. The median survival time from the first treatment was 542 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Alkylating agents were effective in inducing remission of CP; corticosteroids, melphalan, and lomustine were the most commonly used drugs. Survival times were similar to those reported in dogs with multiple myeloma treated with alkylating agents.

Evaluation of changes in serum chemistry in association with feed withdrawal or high dose oral gavage with dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced gut leakage in broiler chickens.

Dextran sodium sulfate ( DSS: ) has been shown to be effective at inducing enteric inflammation in broiler chickens, resulting in increased leakage of orally administered fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran to circulation. In a previous study, 2 doses of DSS (0.45 g/dose) administered as oral gavage resulted in increased mucosal permeability. The main objective of the present study was to compare serum turbidity in control and DSS treated birds plus with feed restriction ( FR: ), and evaluate the associated serum chemistry. Three independent experiments were conducted with different combinations of treatment groups. In Experiment 1, control full-fed ( CON: ) and DSS full-fed ( FFD: ) with n = 15 birds/group were evaluated, Experiment 2 had groups (n = 15/group) CON, FFD, feed restriction ( FRS: for 34 h), and DSS with feed restriction ( FRD: ), and Experiment 3 (n = 15/group) had CON, FFD, and FRS (29 h FRS). All DSS treated birds received one or 2 doses of DSS by oral gavage (0.45 g/dose/bird). Results showed that, compared to CON group, there was an increase (P < 0.05) in serum turbidity in FFD birds, even though the difference between FRS and FRD was not apparent (P > 0.05). Administration of DSS did not result in increase of serum enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH: ), nonetheless, the FFD showed lower (P < 0.05) LDH level compared to CON in Experiment 2. Among the various serum chemistry parameters evaluated triglycerides had the highest positive correlation (r2 = 0.85; P < 0.05) with serum turbidity. DSS administration resulted in decreased serum protein levels, especially albumin. These results suggest that oral gavage with DSS in broiler chicks could result in changes to serum chemistry parameters which could be developed as potential marker/s for gut leakage.

Microbial activity and diversity during extreme freeze-thaw cycles in periglacial soils, 5400 m elevation, Cordillera Vilcanota, Perú.

High-elevation periglacial soils are among the most extreme soil systems on Earth and may be good analogs for the polar regions of Mars where oligotrophic mineral soils abut with polar ice caps. Here we report on preliminary studies carried out during an expedition to an area where recent glacial retreat has exposed porous mineral soils to extreme, daily freeze-thaw cycles and high UV fluxes. We used in situ methods to show that inorganic nitrogen (NO(3) (-) and NH(4) (+)) was being actively cycled even during a period when diurnal soil temperatures (5 cm depth) ranged from -12 to 27 degrees C and when sub-zero, soil cooling rates reached 1.8 degrees C h(-1) (the most rapid soil cooling rates recorded to date). Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses of microbial phylotypes present at our highest sites (5410 m above sea level) showed the presence of nitrifying bacteria of the genus Nitrospira and newly discovered nitrite-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria. These soils were overwhelmingly dominated (>70% of phylotypes) by photosynthetic bacteria that were related to novel cyanobacteria previously found almost exclusively in other plant-free, high-elevation soils. We also demonstrated that soils from our highest sites had higher potential for mineralizing glutamate and higher microbial biomass than lower elevation soils that had been more recently covered by ice. Overall, our findings indicate that a diverse and robustly functioning microbial ecosystem is present in these previously unstudied high-elevation soils.

Climate change as the dominant control on glacial-interglacial variations in C3 and C4 plant abundance.

Although C4 plant expansions have been recognized in the late Miocene, identification of the underlying causes is complicated by the uncertainties associated with estimates of ancient precipitation, temperature, and partial pressure of atmospheric carbon dioxide (PCO2). Here we report the carbon isotopic compositions of leaf wax n-alkanes in lake sediment cores from two sites in Mesoamerica that have experienced contrasting moisture variations since the last glacial maximum. Opposite isotopic trends obtained from these two sites indicate that regional climate exerts a strong control on the relative abundance of C3 and C4 plants and that in the absence of favorable moisture and temperature conditions, low PCO2 alone is insufficient to drive an expansion of C4 plants.

Oral tacrolimus treatment of severe colitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of oral tacrolimus as an induction agent in steroid-refractory severe colitis. STUDY DESIGN: Open-label, multicenter trial of oral tacrolimus in patients with severe colitis. Patients not responding to conventional therapy received tacrolimus, 0.1 mg/kg/dose given twice a day, and the dosage was adjusted to achieve blood levels between 10 and 15 ng/mL. Response was defined as improvement in a number of clinical parameters (including abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and cessation of transfusions). Patients who responded by 14 days continued to receive tacrolimus, and 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine was added as a steroid-sparing agent 4 to 6 weeks after the tacrolimus was instituted. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were enrolled in the study. One patient elected to withdraw after 48 hours. Of the 13 remaining, 9 (69%) responded and were discharged. Tacrolimus was continued for 2 to 3 months in the responders, except for 1 patient who was given tacrolimus for 11 months. After 1 year of follow-up, only 5 (38%) patients were receiving maintenance therapy; the other 4 responders had undergone colectomy. CONCLUSION: Although tacrolimus is effective induction therapy for severe ulcerative or Crohn's colitis, fewer than 50% of patients treated will successfully achieve a long-term remission.

Mesh diagram analysis: developing a norm for Puerto Rican Americans.

Cephalometric radiography is an important diagnostic aid in orthodontics. Mesh analysis is a proportionate cephalometric method of graphically assessing disharmonies of the craniofacial complex. Original norms for this analysis were created from a white, European American sample. Norms for black Americans of African descent were developed in another study. The purposes of this investigation were: (1) to develop a standard mesh diagram from a Puerto Rican American population; (2) to compare the diagram with previously established data from the white sample; (3) to develop linear and angular means for the Legan, Burstone, Ricketts, DiPaolo, and Steiner analyses for a Puerto Rican American population; and (4) to assess the use of a panel for selecting esthetically pleasing faces. The subjects in the study had no previous orthodontic treatment, had Class I occlusion with 6 mm or less of crowding per dental arch, and had two parents and two sets of grandparents who were were born in Puerto Rico. Sixty-nine patients met the study criteria, and 50 of those patients (20 males and 30 females) were selected as having esthetically pleasing faces by the panel. Male and female norm diagrams were created and these were compared with those developed previously. Linear and angular measurements were also compared. Significant differences between the ethnic groups were found in the dentoalveolar region. Similarities were noticed in the upper face height and anterior cranial base length. The panel selection results showed no agreement within the sexes, occupations, or ethnic groups.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with gastric polyps in Menkes disease.

We describe two infants with Menkes disease who had serious gastrointestinal bleeding from solitary gastric polyps. Hemorrhage in one patient was acute and proved fatal. Histopathologic examinations showed submucosal vascular ectasia with mucosal hyperplasia, edema, and ulceration. Gastric polyps may represent an underappreciated clinical abnormality in Menkes disease.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

This review outlines the present knowledge of American cutaneous leishmaniasis, a disease which, owing to the increase in international travel, is being seen with increasing frequency in Europe and North America. A knowledge of this disease is of particular importance to the military medical officer as in recent years approximately one-hundred and fifty cases of leishmaniasis have been seen in British troops who have served in Belize. Leishmania braziliensis sp. have been isolated from a number of these cases. Organisms of this complex had not previously been recorded in Belize and the Army Medical Services are therefore in a unique position to study this disease, as well as having a responsibility to ensure its correct management.