Evaluation of mean gray values of a cat with chronic renal failure: case report / [Avaliação dos valores médios de cinza em um gato com insuficiência renal crônica: relato de caso]

In this case, a 12-year-old female domestic cat with chronic renal failure (CRF), which had lived longer than the mean survival time for cats with that condition, was monitored to evaluate the effects of treatment and mean gray value (MGV) changes. The cat has lived for nearly four years since the diagnosis. Probiotics have been used as an additional, classical supportive therapy since the beginning of treatment. The temporal changes in renal MGV were statistically evaluated in the last year of the four-year period. The cat had a comfortable existence and good body condition all her life and probiotic therapy may have had a positive influence post-CRF diagnosis. Ultrasonography (US) examination is a commonly used tool for monitoring the CRF situation, but it is not particularly sensitive. Therefore, MGV may be more useful for the quantitative evaluation of the extent of renal failure. Also, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for a long-term clinical evaluation of MGV in a cat with CRF. The aim of this case report was the evaluation of the relationship between MGV and clinical and biochemical changes in a cat with chronic renal failure.(AU)

No presente caso, uma gata doméstica de 12 anos com insuficiência renal crônica (IRC), que viveu mais do que o tempo médio de sobrevivência para gatos nessa condição, foi monitorada para avaliar os efeitos do tratamento e as alterações do valor cinza médio (MGV). A gata viveu quase quatro anos desde o diagnóstico. Os probióticos têm sido usados como uma terapia de suporte clássica adicional desde o início do tratamento. As alterações temporais do MGV renal foram avaliadas estatisticamente no último ano do período de quatro anos. A gata teve uma existência confortável e boas condições corporais durante toda a vida e a terapia com probióticos pode ter tido uma influência positiva após o diagnóstico de IRC. O exame de ultrassonografia (US) é uma ferramenta comumente usada para monitorar a situação da IRC, mas não é particularmente sensível. Portanto, o MGV pode ser mais útil para a avaliação quantitativa da extensão da insuficiência renal. Além disso, até onde se sabe, este é o primeiro relatório de uma avaliação clínica de longo prazo de MGV em um gato com IRC. O objetivo deste relato de caso foi avaliar a relação entre o MGV e as alterações clínicas e bioquímicas em um gato com insuficiência renal crônica.(AU)

Effects of thiocolchicoside, a commonly used myorelaxant, on the acoustic reflex.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether thiocolchicoside, a commonly used myorelaxant, may impair the acoustic reflex. METHODS: Forty-two patients scheduled to receive thiocolchicoside treatment for different reasons were enrolled in the study. Acoustic reflex thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz were determined and analysed statistically pre-treatment and on the 5th day of treatment. RESULTS: Increases were observed in the mean acoustic reflex thresholds on the 5th day of treatment compared to pre-treatment, at all frequencies, except right contralateral thresholds at 500 and 2000 Hz. These increases were statistically significant for right ipsilateral thresholds at 2000 and 4000 Hz, left ipsilateral thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, and left contralateral thresholds at 2000 and 4000 Hz (p ≤ 0.05), but not at other frequencies (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Muscle relaxant drugs, especially those affecting the central nervous system, may weaken the stapedial muscle so that the ability of noise to cause acoustic trauma may become evident. For this reason, physicians should advise their patients to avoid loud noises when muscle relaxant therapy is prescribed.

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with scant epithelial components in an Angora cat.

CASE HISTORY: A 6-year-old, neutered, female Angora cat presented with a history of lethargy and anorexia for 2 months and a clinically palpable and gradually enlarging, solid mass in the abdominal cavity extending from the last costal arch to the pelvic cavity. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Examination of the cat revealed jaundice, dehydration and hypothermia. Haematological manifestations included lymphopenia and substantial decrease in haematocrit value. Biochemical analysis of the blood revealed hypoglycaemia, three-fold elevated blood urea nitrogen values, increased level of serum aspartate aminotransferase and increased total bilirubin while the creatinine level was normal. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen showed a disrupted and large hypoechoic area around the left kidney. The cat was anaesthetised and the left kidney was removed, but the cat died following surgery. PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: On post-mortem examination, the left kidney was markedly enlarged and both the cortical and medullary parenchyma were replaced by confluent, multilobulated, pale tan-white, firm nodular masses protruding above the capsular surface. Metastasis was not observed. Cytological examination revealed a population of spindle-shaped cells of variable size, with abundant coarse chromatin and occasionally prominent nucleoli. Initial sections of the kidney were indicative of undifferentiated sarcoma confirmed by immunohistochemistry revealing vimentin-positive and cytokeratin-negative results in all tumour tissues. Additional sections showed very small amounts of both cytokeratin-positive and vimentin-positive areas. DIAGNOSIS: Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC) with scant epithelial components originating from left kidney. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical and pathological features were similar to those of human SRCC, even though there was no evidence of metastases. Immunohistochemistry for vimentin and cytokeratin may be useful for definitive diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation, although staining of sections from several different parts of the tumour may be necessary. When a primary renal tumour is presented, SRCC should be considered as this diagnosis may influence treatment protocols and the clinical outcome.

Case report: nodular fasciitis of the parotid region.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the clinical and histopathological features of nodular fasciitis in the parotid region. CASE REPORT: A 24-year-old man presented with a palpable mass in the superior border of the parotid gland. The mass was firm and immobile, with a smooth surface. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed proliferating fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes among the blood cells. Although a superficial parotidectomy was initially planned, a total excision was performed, as the mass was observed to be located in the periphery of the parotid tissue. Nodular fasciitis was diagnosed, based on the results of immunohistochemical analysis. CONCLUSION: Nodular fasciitis very rarely occurs in the parotid region. These lesions grow quickly, and may be misdiagnosed as sarcoma. Trauma may play a role in their aetiology. Total excision is adequate as treatment.

Thyroglossal duct cysts: evaluation and treatment of 49 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients with a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) or fistula. METHODS: The records of 49 patients (9 female, 40 male; mean age: 23.16 +/- 1.13 years; range 6 to 56 years) operated on between January 1995 and July 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Patient's age, sex, duration of symptoms, clinical features, pre-operative diagnostic tests, treatment, histopathologic diagnosis, and post-operative complications were noted. All patients underwent the Sistrunk procedure. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (30.6%) were < or = 20 years old, while 3 (6.1%) patients were 40 years old at the time of operation. There was cyst formation in 26 patients (53.1%) and fistula formation in 23 patients (46.9%). The lesions of 41 patients (83.7%) were located in the midline, while the lesions of 8 patients (16.3%) were located in the paramedian neck (5 left side, 3 right side). The most common presenting symptoms were painless mass in the midline of the neck and recurrent suppuration of fistula formation. Neck ultrasonography (USG) was the most common pre-operative diagnostic procedure and was performed on all patients with cyst formations. There were no major complications postoperatively. There was recurrence in only one patient after the Sistrunk procedure. One patient was incidentally diagnosed with thyroid papillary carcinoma after histopathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: A TGDC is the most common congenital mass in the neck and is usually located midline. USG is suggested for a clinically suspected TGDC. The Sistrunk procedure is a safe and successful technique with low complication and recurrence rates. Even though carcinomas arising in TGDCs are uncommon, histopathological examination must be routinely performed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out malignancy.

Occurrence of ovine herpesvirus type-2 infection in sheep and cattle in Samsun Province, Turkey.

July 2004, a cow with clinical signs of ovine herpesvirus type-2 infection which is known as sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) was reported in Samsun Province in Turkey. Blood samples were collected from the suspected cow, 10 sheep housed with it, and from 150 healthy sheep and 29 healthy cattle randomly selected from different places in Samsun Province. Nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) was used to detect ovine herpesvirus type-2 (OvHV-2) DNA in the suspected cow and competitive- ELISA (c-ELISA) kits were used to detect antibodies against OvHV-2. The suspected cow was found to be n-PCR positive and c-ELISA negative. The serological results were as follows: All 10 (100%) of sheep housed with the suspected cow and 18 of 29 (62%) of the randomly selected cattle were found seropositive. All 150 randomly selected healthy sheep were seronegative. The overall percentage of seropositivity was 14.7% (28/190). OvHV-2 DNA was detected in the peripheral blood leucocyte (PBL) samples of the cow and of the 10 sheep housed with the suspected cow.