Urothelial carcinoma in a mule.

Equine bladder neoplasms are rare. This report aimed to describe the clinical signs and treatment of urothelial carcinoma (UC) in a mule. Cystoscopy of a 20-year-old female mule with a one-week history of hematuria and anemia revealed vascular congestion in the mucosa and an intraluminal, pedunculated mass in the dorsal bladder region. Histopathological examination revealed UC. Initial therapy consisted of four weekly cystoscopic guided injections of fluorouracil. At the fourth chemotherapy session, a paler and more friable tumor mass was observed. Consequently, we opted to surgically remove it during cystoscopy. Following mass excision, patient comfort, gross appearance of urine, and the hematocrit returned to normal. Repeat cystoscopy examinations revealed no gross appearance of tumor recurrence 18 months after treatment. Bladder neoplasms clinically resemble urolithiasis and cystitis and should be considered a differential diagnosis in cases of anemia and hematuria.

Parâmetros citológicos e bioquímicos do líquido cefalorraquidiano coletado de bovinos sadios em dois momentos, com intervalo de 96 horas / Cerebrospinal fluid cytological and biochemical values of healthy cattle in two sampling times with an interval of 96 hours

A análise do líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) é uma importante ferramenta no diagnóstico das doenças neurológicas dos bovinos. A coleta do LCR em diferentes momentos facilita o monitoramento do quadro clínico e/ou a avaliação da eficácia de tratamentos estabelecidos. Todavia, os efeitos de coletas consecutivas sobre os parâmetros citológicos e bioquímicos do LCR de bovinos saudáveis ainda não foram analisados. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar potenciais diferenças citológicas e bioquímicas no LCR de bovinos sadios, obtidos em dois momentos, com intervalo de 96 horas. O LCR foi submetido à análise citológica e à determinação do teor de proteína total. Na segunda coleta, verificou-se aumento significativo da celularidade, porém ainda dentro do intervalo de referência para a espécie, diminuição de linfócitos e elevação de células mononucleares em relação à primeira coleta. No entanto, os números de hemácias (/µL), células nucleadas (/µL), neutrófilos (%), eosinófilos (%) e a concentração da proteína total (mg/dL) continuaram dentro dos valores de referência 96 horas após a realização da primeira punção. Conclui-se que os procedimentos de coleta de LCR consecutivos não provocaram inflamação local detectável 96 horas após a primeira punção, o que sugere que, quando necessário, coletas de LCR seriadas, por si só, não interfeririam nos resultados do exame.(AU)

The analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for the diagnosis of neurological diseases in cattle. However, the effect of consecutive collections on the cytological and biochemical parameters of the CSF has not been evaluated yet. The objective of the present study was to evaluate potential differences on the cytological and biochemical analysis of CSF obtained from healthy cattle at two sampling times with 96 hours of interval in between. Total and differential cell counts, and total protein concentration were analyzed in the CSF. Increased cellularity and significant reduction of lymphocyte and elevated numbers of mononuclear cells were observed on the second collection. However, erythrocyte count (/µl), total leukocyte count (/µl), neutrophils (%), eosinophils (%) and total protein concentration (mg/dl) remained within the reference range 96 hours after the completion of the first puncture. In conclusion, consecutive CSF collections cause no detectable local inflammation 96 hours after the first puncture suggesting that repeated collections do not interfere in the CSF results.(AU)

Retrospective study of Bovine herpesvirus 5 meningoencephalitis in cattle from São Paulo State, Brazil / Estudo retrospectivo de meningoencefalite por herpesvírus bovino-5 em bovinos do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Meningoencephalitis caused by Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) is an important neurological disease that affects Brazilian cattle herds. The present study investigated the presence of BoHV-5 DNA in cattle diagnosed with meningoencephalitis at Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista from 1980 to 2009. The records obtained from the Large Animal Internal Medicine Service and the Animal Pathology Service were reviewed to identify clinical and epidemiological data from cattle with neurological signs. Excluding rabies cases, we found 115 cases of cattle with neurological signs that had been necropsied. Non-suppurative meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in 28 animals of the 115 initially selected based on histopathological examination of brain tissues. Of these 28 animals, 15 (54%) were positive for BoHV-5 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) brain samples. PCR target was 159-bp fragment from the BoHV-5 glycoprotein C gene. The oldest case identified in the present study was from 1988. PCR was a good tool for the diagnosis of BoHV-5 DNA extracted from FFPE tissues, allowing retrospective studies of samples stored for more than 20 years.(AU)

A meningoencefalite por herpesvírus bovino-5 (BoHV-5) é uma doença neurológica importante no rebanho bovino brasileiro. Este estudo tem por objetivo verificar a presença do DNA de BoHV-5 em bovinos diagnosticados com meningoencefalite na Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade Estadual Paulista, entre os anos de 1980 e 2009. Foram revisados os arquivos do Serviço de Clínica de Grandes Animais e da Patologia Animal em busca dos dados clínicos e epidemiológicos de bovinos com sinais neurológicos. Excluídos os casos de raiva, foram encontrados 115 casos de bovinos com sinais neurológicos, que foram necropsiados. O exame histopatológico realizado nos tecidos encefálicos desses animais constatou lesões de meningoencefalite não supurativa em 28 animais. Destes, em 15 (54%) casos foi identificada a presença do DNA de BoHV-5 por meio de PCR realizada em amostras de tecido encefálico fixadas em formalina e incluídas em parafina (FFPE). O alvo da PCR foi um fragmento de 159 pb do gene da glicoproteína C do BoHV-5. O caso mais antigo identificado neste estudo foi de 1988. A PCR apresentou-se como boa ferramenta para o diagnóstico do DNA de BoHV-5 extraído de tecidos FFPE, possibilitando estudos retrospectivos e diagnóstico de amostras com mais de 20 anos de armazenamento.(AU)

Leptin levels, beta-cell function, and insulin sensitivity in families with congenital and acquired generalized lipoatropic diabetes.

Lipoatropic diabetes (LD) designates a group of syndromes characterized by diabetes mellitus with marked insulin resistance and either a localized or generalized absence of adipose tissue. In this study, we evaluated plasma leptin levels in subjects with congenital generalized lipoatropic diabetes (CGLD, n = 11) or acquired generalized lipoatropic diabetes (AGLD, n = 11), and assessed correlations between leptin levels and estimations of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Leptin levels were 0.86 +/- 0.32, 1.76 +/- 0.78, and 6.9 +/- 4.4 ng/mL in subjects with CGLD, AGLD, and controls (n = 19), respectively (ANOVA P < 0.0001). Specific insulin levels were 154 +/- 172, 177 +/- 137 and 43 +/- 22 pmol/L, respectively (P < 0.0001). Insulin sensitivity was significantly decreased in both groups with LD (P < 0.0001), whereas HOMA beta-cell function was not significantly different when compared with controls. Leptin levels were significantly correlated with body mass index, insulin levels, and HOMA beta-cell function, and inversely correlated with insulin sensitivity in control subjects but not in subjects with generalized LD. In conclusion, decreased leptin levels were observed in subjects with generalized LD, with a trend towards lower levels in the acquired than in the congenital form (P = 0.06). The temporal relationship between the decrease in leptin levels and the development of lipoatrophy should be investigated in at-risk young relatives of subjects with the acquired forms to assess the usefulness of leptin levels as a marker of lipoatrophy.

[Usefulness of electromagnetic fields in the treatment of hip avascular necrosis: a prospective study of 30 cases]. / Utilidad de los campos electromagnéticos en el tratamiento de la necrosis avascular de cadera: estudio prospectivo de 30 casos.

A series is here reported of 30 hips from 21 patients with the diagnosis of avascular necrosis in different stages (Ficat 0 = 1, I = 4, II = 13, III = 10, IV = 2). Patients underwent external electro-stimulation by means of a electromagnetic field generator, and results were evaluated by NMR at three-month intervals. Lesions were categorized by NMR: < 25%, 25%-50%, and > 50% of involved head volume. The grading of lesions yielded the following distribution: grade 1 = 12, grade 2 = 10, and grade 3 = 7. Results were categorized in "clinical success", "NMR success" and "combined success" when symptoms decreased or disappeared, the lesion stabilized by NMR, or both, respectively. Overall, the corresponding figures were 80%, 76.6%, and 63.3%, and were remarkably influenced by the NMR grading of the lesion.