An approximate mathematical model binding the height and position of lumbar vertebrae in the canine spine.

The lumbosacral region of the spine is the most susceptible to pathology in large breed dogs. The most common pathologies of this segment include intervertebral disc disease, distortion of vertebrae, narrowing of the lumbosacral canal and congenital defects of the spine. The aim of this study is to develop a mathematical model describing the height of each lumbosacral vertebra in the dog in relation to the position of the vertebra. For the mathematical analysis we used the results of two measurements for each lumbar vertebra. The first measurement was made from the top of the spinous process to the center of the spinal cord. The second measure-ment was made from the center of the body of one vertebra to the center of the body of the next one. It is possible to determine an approximate mathematical model that would be uniform for the entire species and would connect the height of the lumbar vertebrae with their location for every breed of the domestic dog. Despite the considerable differences in the constitutional type (small, medium and large breeds), the morphology of the lumbosacral region of the spine exhibits similar proportions. Therefore, it is possible to assess an anomaly of this spinal region objectively. These findings suggest that it is possible to determine an approximate mathematical model that would be uniform for the entire species. The present study was carried out as part of a larger project. This particular work is a pilot study.

Morphometry and topography of the coronary ostia in the European bison.

BACKGROUND: Coronary vessels have been widely studied in many species of domestic and wild mammals. However, there are no available literature reports describing the morphology and morphometry of the coronary ostia of the European bison (Bison bonasus). The aim of this study was to measure the area of the coronary ostia and assess their localisation in the coronary sinuses of the aortic root in the European bison. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study material comprised 27 hearts from European bison of both sexes (16 males and 11 females), from 3 months to 26 years old, inhabiting the Bialowieza Forest (Bialowieza National Park, Poland). The animals were divided into two age groups: ≤ 5 years (group I) and > 5 years (group II). RESULTS: In all the studied European bison, the aortic valve consisted of three semilunar leaflets, left, right and septal. The ostia of both coronary arteries were located beneath the sinotubular junction. The dimensions of the left coronary ostium were larger than those of the right coronary ostium. They were longer by on average 4.5 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5-5.6 mm), they were wider by on average 1.6 mm (95% CI 1.0-2.2 mm) and they had a larger area by on average 31.6 mm2 (95% CI 22.7-40.5 mm2). This was evident both in young and in adult bison. After adjusting for age, there were no differences in the ostia dimensions between males and females. There were no differences in the structure of the left and right coronary arteries in nine animals. In the remaining 18 animals, there were variations in the morphology of the coronary ostia or additional ostia. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the anatomical similarity between the European bison and other ruminants, the results of this study can be applied to the other species including endangered ones.

Quality and quantity comparison study of corrosion casts of bovine testis made using two synthetic kits: Plastogen G and Batson no. 17.

BACKGROUND: Although corrosion casting has been implemented for almost five centuries, the choice of resin has a strong influence on the effectiveness of casting vessel formations. Our aim was to compare quality and quantity features of two groups of corrosion casts made using two kits: Plastogen G resin and Batson no. 17 resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty corrosion casts were made of testicular arterial vessels (15 made using Plastogen G and 15 made using Batson no. 17) and their shape, colour, fragility and flexibility were evaluated. The following parameters were measured: maximal width of corrosion cast of testis, maximal length of centripetal and centrifugal arteries, diameter of testicular artery and its terminal branches. Based on these measurements, five indexes were calculated (Iq1-Iq5). RESULTS: Generally both groups of corrosion casts demonstrated similar attributes. Only the rami tunicales minores displayed higher fragility and lower flexibility in the Plastogen G group than the Batson no. 17 group. The only observed quantitative difference was that Iq3 was significantly lower in the Plastogen G group (0.71 ± 0.01) than in Batson no. 17 group (0.79 ± 0.01; p = 0.0092). CONCLUSIONS: The two corrosion cast groups displayed similar qualitative and quantitative attributes. Batson no. 17 appears to be a good resin for three-dimensional visualisation of extra- and intratesticular arterial vessels.

Some chemotherapeutics-treated colon cancer cells display a specific phenotype being a combination of stem-like and senescent cell features.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death among cancer patients in the Northern countries. CRC can reappear a long time after treatment. Recent clinical studies demonstrated that, in response to chemotherapy, cancer cells may undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS), which typically results in growth arrest. Nonetheless, these senescent cells were reported to divide in an atypical manner and thus contribute to cancer re-growth. Therefore, we examined if SIPS escape may follow treatment with chemotherapeutics used clinically: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin (OXA) and irinotecan (IRINO). To mimic the therapeutic regimes we exposed human colon cancer HCT116 and SW480 cells to repeated cycles of drug treatment. The cells treated with 5-FU or IRINO exhibited several hallmarks of SIPS: growth arrest, increased size and granularity, polyploidization, augmented activity of the SA-ß-galactosidase, accumulation of P21 and CYCLIN D1 proteins, and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Moreover, re-population of the cancer cell cultures was delayed upon treatment with the senescence-inducing agents. At the same time, we detected a subpopulation of senescent colon cancer cells with features of stemness: elevated NANOG expression, exclusion of Hoechst 33342 (typical for side population) and increased CD24 expression. Additionally, rare, polyploid cells exhibited blastocyst-like morphology and produced progeny. In parallel, majority of chemotherapeutics-treated cells underwent mesenchymal to epithelial transition, as the percentage of CD44-positve cells was reduced, and levels of E-cadherin (epithelial marker) were elevated. Our study demonstrates that a subpopulation of chemotherapeutics-treated colon cancer cells display a specific phenotype being a combination of stem-like and senescent cell features. This may contribute to their resistance to chemotherapy and their ability to re-grow cancer after completion of therapeutic intervention.

Morphology of Coronary Ostia in Domestic Shorthair Cat.

Diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases due to changes in the coronary vascularization need a detailed knowledge on the morphology and possible variations of the aortic valves and coronary ostia. This study was performed to clarify details on morphology of these structures in domestic cats. The tricuspid aortic valve was examined in 65 domestic shorthair cats. The location of coronary ostia was determined either inferior to (26 and 20%, left and right coronary ostium - LCO and RCO), at (65 and 66%) or superior to the intercommissural line (9 and 14%). In 13 cats (20%), accessory ostia were found either for left, right or both coronary arteries (LCA and RCA). Their position varied between specimens. They were located beyond the main ostium, at its edge, or inside just below the edge. In one cat, no main trunk of the LCA was found. In one cat, two accessory ostia next to the RCO were observed. Coronary ostia in cats show anatomical variants and morphological anomalies. This study provides basic data useful for, for example, angiography performed for diagnosis of cardiac diseases and as a basis for surgical interventions.

Morphological studies on the harderian gland in the ostrich (Struthio camelus domesticus) on the embryonic and post-natal period.

The present investigation was performed on 50 ostriches from 28th day of incubation until the 7th month of life. The morphological (morphometric, histological, histometric and histochemical) studies were conducted. Tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, methyl green-pyronin Y, periodic acid-Schiff, alcian blue pH 2.5, aldehyde fuchsin and Hale's dialyzed iron studies. The Harderian gland becomes macroscopically visible on the 28th day of incubation. It is situated in the ventronasal angle of the orbit near inter-orbital septum, between medial rectus muscle, pyramidal and ventral oblique muscles. The Harderian gland of ostrich is a tubulo-acinar gland. The acini were composed of tall conical cells which formed a small lumen and were surrounded by myoepithelial cells. These cells had a granular basophilic, vacuolated cytoplasm. Each of the lobes has a system of complex branching ducts - tertiary, secondary and primary. In the III of research group (3rd week of life), the presence of few plasma cells was demonstrated, which were located within acini and tertiary and secondary ducts, whereas the biggest concentration of plasma cells was observed in group IV of research tissue (4th month of life). The dark cells were observed first time in main ducts 72 h after hatching of nestlings (group II). The morphometric and histometric studies showed that the most intensive growth of Harderian gland occurred between the third week and the seventh month of birds' life. The histochemical study indicated the presence of neutral and acidic mucins, glycoproteins and carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharides.

Morphometric analysis of occipital bone in the domestic cat in comparison with selected skull size parameters and with special regard to skull morphotype.

The aim of this study was to elaborate criteria defining the morphotype and to perform a morphological and morphometric analysis of the squamous part of the occipital bone and of the foramen magnum in the European cat. The study material comprised 50 corpses of European cats of both sexes and of bodyweight from 1.35 to 7.7 kg, aged from 1 year to 17 years. The study material underwent detailed preparation and morphometries of the skull, squamous part of the occipital bone and the foramen magnum were performed. The skull index (IC) data obtained indicate that the European cat represents a mesaticephalic morphotype. In the morphometrical analysis of the foramen magnum the following were included: the foramen magnum index (IFM), the occipital index (IOF), and the index of the squamous part of the occipital bone (ISO). In the morphology of the squamous part of the occipital bone two categories were distinguished: the first was characterized by a form close to an isosceles triangle with its base directed to the bottom. In none of the specimens studied was a dorsal notch in the form of a "keyhole" observed, nor was there any other deformation in the foramen magnum, which takes the form of a slightly crosswise elongated regular oval. The results of this study indicate that in the European cat the foramen magnum is free from any pathology and its shape, in the individual development, is conservative.