Real world evidence of adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2 positive early breast cancer.

Adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer reduces recurrence and mortality, and has been the standard treatment since 2006. The objective was to analyze health outcomes in the real world. Observational, retrospective study of patients with HER2+ breast cancer, stages I-III, treated with adjuvant trastuzumab in the past 15 years in only one center and for the first time in Spain. Survival was analyzed according to the number of cycles and cardiotoxicity. Two hundred and seventy-five HER2positive patients (18.60%) out of 1479 received adjuvant (73%) or neoadjuvant/adjuvant (26%) trastuzumab, concomitantly (90%) or sequentially (10%) with chemotherapy. The probability of overall and disease-free survival (OS and DFS) at 5 years was 0.93 (95% CI 0.89-0.96), and 0.88 (95% CI 0.83-0.92). The number of cases with a significant and asymptomatic decrease in ventricular ejection fraction and heart failure were 54 (19.64%) and 12 (4.36%), respectively. Sixty-eight patients (24.70%) received 16 or fewer cycles, especially those older than 65 (OR 0.371, 95% CI 0.152-0.903; p = 0.029) and with cardiotoxicity (OR 15.02, 95% CI 7.437-30.335; p < 0.001). The risk of cardiotoxicity was associated with having received radiotherapy (OR 0.0362, 95% CI 0.139-0.938; p = 0.037). Arterial hypertension (HR 0.361, 95% CI 0.151-0.863, p = 0.022), neoadjuvant treatment (HR 0.314, 95% CI 0.132-0.750, p = 0.009) and cardiotoxicity (HR 2.755, 95% CI 1.235-6.143, p = 0.013) maintained significant association with OS. Only neoadjuvant treatment maintained a significant association with DFS (HR 0.437, 95% CI 0.213-0.899, p = 0.024). The effectiveness of neoadjuvant and adjuvant trastuzumab can be considered comparable to those of clinical trials. In the real world, factors such as age, hypertension, radiotherapy, neoadjuvant treatment, and cardiotoxicity should be taken into consideration to optimize outcomes.

Impact of intestinal dysbiosis-related drugs on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical practice.

PURPOSE: Intestinal dysbiosis has emerged as a biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). It can be caused by antibiotics, although it may also result from the use of other drugs that have been studied to a lesser extent. The objective of our study was to analyze the association between the use of potentially dysbiosis-related drugs and survival in patients treated with ICIs in the clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study was conducted. Clinicopathological variables were collected and the concomitant use of drugs was analyzed. A descriptive analysis of variables and overall survival, estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, was performed, and association with various independent variables was assessed using Cox regression. RESULTS: We included 253 patients, mainly with non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma. The most commonly used drugs were acid reducers, prescribed to 55.3% of patients, followed by corticosteroids (37.9%), anxiolytic drugs (35.6%), and antibiotics (20.5%). The use of acid reducers (9 vs. 18 months, P < .0001), antibiotics (7 vs. 15 months, P < .017), anxiolytic drugs (8 vs. 16 months, P < .015), and corticosteroids (6 vs. 19 months, P < .00001) was associated with poorer overall survival. Furthermore, the greater the number of drugs used concomitantly with ICIs, the higher the risk of death (1 drug: hazard ratio, 1.88; CI 95%, 1.07-3.30; 4 drugs: hazard ratio, 4.19; CI9 5%, 1.77-9.92; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Response to ICIs may be influenced by the use of drugs that lead to intestinal dysbiosis. Although a confirmatory prospective controlled study is required, our findings should be taken into account when analyzing ICI efficacy.

Th1/Th2 balance in the liver and hepatic lymph nodes of vaccinated and unvaccinated sheep during acute stages of infection with Fasciola hepatica.

The expression of IFNγ and IL4 was quantified using q-PCR in the liver and hepatic lymph nodes (HLN) of sheep during early stages of infection with Fasciola hepatica (1, 3, 9 and 18days post-infection, dpi). A group of animals (Group 1) were vaccinated with Fasciola hepatica recombinant cathepsin L1 (FhCL1) in montanide 70 VG prior to infection, a second group (group 2) was used as infected control and a third (group 3) was used as uninfected control. To study vaccine efficacy three additional groups were sacrificed 19 weeks post-infection (group 4 immunized with CL1, group 5 with the adjuvant and group 6 was used as infected control). The vaccinated group did not show significant fluke reduction compared to the adjuvant group and infected control group. IL4 expression was observed to increase at 9 dpi and was further elevated at 18 dpi in the liver and HLN of vaccinated and infected control groups compared to the uninfected group. IFNγ expression exhibited different dynamics in the liver and HLN compared to IL4; thus, in the liver this cytokine increased at 9 dpi in the vaccinated and at 18 dpi in vaccinated and infected control groups, while in the HLN it decreased gradually and significantly from 1 dpi onwards. These results suggest that a marked Th2 polarization is present from 9 dpi in HLN and from 18 dpi in the liver. The increase of IFNγ in the liver may correspond with tissue damage response with granuloma formation. The FhCL1 vaccine did not alter the Th1/Th2 balance when compared to unvaccinated and infected sheep. The study of IFNγ and IL4 in the various tissue compartments in sheep could facilitate selection of new adjuvants inducing a strong Th1 response for a more rationale vaccine formulation.

Apoptosis of peritoneal leucocytes during early stages of Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep.

Several immunomodulatory properties have been described in Fasciola hepatica infections. Apoptosis has been shown to be an effective mechanism to avoid the immune response in helminth infections. The aim of the present work was to study apoptosis in peritoneal leucocytes of sheep experimentally infected with F. hepatica during the early stages of infection. Five groups (n=5) of sheep were used. Groups 2-5 were orally infected with 200 metacercariae (mc) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 9 and 18days post-infection (dpi), respectively. Group 1 was used as the uninfected control (UC). Apoptosis was detected using three different methods 1) immunocytochemistry (ICC) with a polyclonal antibody anti-active caspase-3; 2) an annexin V flow cytometry assay using the Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI); and 3) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The differential leucocyte count revealed that the majority of peritoneal granulocytes were eosinophils, which increased significantly at 9 and 18 dpi with respect to the uninfected controls. The ICC study revealed that the percentage of caspase-3+ apoptotic peritoneal leucocytes increased significantly from 3 dpi onwards with respect to the uninfected controls. The flow cytometry annexin V assay detected a very significant (P<0.001) increase of apoptotic peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes, which remained higher than in the UC until 18 dpi. Transmission electron microscopy studies also confirmed the presence of apoptosis in peritoneal eosinophils at 18 dpi. This is the first report of apoptosis induced by F. hepatica in the peritoneal leucocytes of sheep in vivo. The results of this work suggest the importance of apoptosis induction for the survival of the juvenile parasites in the peritoneal migratory stages of infection.

Fasciola hepatica induces eosinophil apoptosis in the migratory and biliary stages of infection in sheep.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the number of apoptotic eosinophils in the livers of sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica during the migratory and biliary stages of infection. Four groups (n=5) of sheep were used; groups 1-3 were orally infected with 200 metacercariae (mc) and sacrificed at 8 and 28 days post-infection (dpi), and 17 weeks post-infection (wpi), respectively. Group 4 was used as an uninfected control. Apoptosis was detected using immunohistochemistry with a polyclonal antibody against anti-active caspase-3, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Eosinophils were identified using the Hansel stain in serial sections for caspase-3, and by ultrastructural features using TEM. At 8 and 28 dpi, numerous caspase-3(+) eosinophils were mainly found at the periphery of acute hepatic necrotic foci. The percentage of caspase -3(+) apoptotic eosinophils in the periphery of necrotic foci was high (46.1-53.9) at 8 and 28 dpi, respectively, and decreased in granulomas found at 28 dpi (6%). Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of apoptotic eosinophils in hepatic lesions at 8 and 28 dpi. At 17 wpi, apoptotic eosinophils were detected in the infiltrate surrounding some enlarged bile ducts containing adult flukes. This is the first report of apoptosis induced by F. hepatica in sheep and the first study reporting apoptosis in eosinophils in hepatic inflammatory infiltrates in vivo. The high number of apoptotic eosinophils in acute necrotic tracts during the migratory and biliary stages of infection suggests that eosinophil apoptosis may play a role in F. hepatica survival during different stages of infection.

Characterization of thymus atrophy in calves with subclinical BVD challenged with BHV-1.

Since the thymus is a target organ for the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), our experiment aimed to understand its relationship with the immunosuppressive effect by studying the consequences of a previous infection with BVDV on the thymus of calves challenged with bovine herpesvirus 1.1 (BHV-1). For this purpose, 12 animals were inoculated intranasally with non-cytopathic BVDV-1; 12 days later, 10 of them were coinfected intranasally with BHV-1. These animals were euthanized in batches of two at 0, 1, 2, 4, 7 or 14 dpi with BHV-1. Another 10 calves were inoculated solely with BHV-1 and euthanized in batches of two at 1, 2, 4, 7 or 14 dpi with BHV-1; two uninoculated calves were used as negative controls. Thymus samples from these animals were processed for viral detection and histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies focused on BVDV/BHV-1 antigens, cortex:medulla ratio, apoptosis (TUNEL and caspase-3), collagen deposition, and factor VIII endothelial detection. Our study revealed the immunohistochemical presence of BVDV antigen in all animals in the BVDV-infected group, unlike BHV-1 detection, which was observed in animals in both infection groups only by molecular techniques. BVDV-preinfected animals showed severe atrophic changes associated with reduced cortex:medulla ratio, higher presence of cortical apoptosis, and increased collagen deposition and vascularization. However, calves solely infected with BHV-1 did not show atrophic changes. These findings could affect not only the numbers of circulating and local mature T cells but also the T cell-mediated immunity, which seems to be impaired during infections with this virus, thus favoring pathogenic effects during secondary infections.

Role of thymic epithelial cells in lymphoid depletion after experimental infection with the noncytopathogenic BVDV1 strain 7443.

Thymic epithelial cells could play an important role in lymphoid depletion during bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined proliferation of lymphocytes, expression of cytokeratins by thymic epithelial cells, and ultrastructural features at sequential time points after experimental infection of colostrum-deprived calves with the noncytopathogenic BVDV1 strain 7443. Ten clinically healthy Friesian calves were used. Eight were inoculated with the virus, and 2 were used as uninfected controls. Calves were sedated and euthanized in batches between 3 and 14 days postinoculation. At necropsy, thymus samples were collected for structural, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study. Thymic lymphoid depletion was accompanied by a decrease in lymphocyte proliferation and immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes in thymic epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural results reflect a disturbance of the thymic epithelial cell network, which may explain the decrease in lymphocyte proliferation by defective thymocyte-epithelial cell interactions.

Pathology of African swine fever: the role of monocyte-macrophage.

African swine fever (ASF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease with different clinical and lesional changes depending of virulence of strains/isolates and immunological status of pigs. In acute and subacute forms of ASF, severe vascular changes are present, with hemorrhages in different organs (mainly melena, epistaxis, erythema, renal petechiaes and diffuse hemorrhages in lymph nodes), pulmonary edema, disseminate intravascular coagulation and thrombocytopenia. Lymphopenia and monocytopenia are developed during acute and subacute ASF. Lymphopenia is associated with lymphoid depletion in primary and secondary lymphoid organs, which is caused by apoptosis. All these lesions are not related to viral replication in endothelial cells or lymphocytes. Monocytes-macrophages show viral replication and cytophatic effect, including hemadsorption. The more significant changes in these cells are increased number and secretory activation (increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines) in targets organs. Proinflammatory activation is the initial cause of clinical and lesional pictures in ASF, including fever and changes in levels of acute phase proteins. Levels of IFN-ß and -γ are increased from initial phase of acute ASF. Anti-inflammatory response, represented by increased level of IL-10, is observed also, although in the final phase of acute ASF only.

Early and late peritoneal and hepatic changes in goats immunized with recombinant cathepsin L1 and infected with Fasciola hepatica.

The aim of the present study was to study peritoneal and hepatic changes during early [7-9 days postinfection (dpi)] and late [15 weeks postinfection (wpi)] infection of goats immunized with recombinant F. hepatica pro cathepsin L1 (rCL1) in Quil A and challenged with Fasciola hepatica. Despite finding no significant reduction in fluke burdens between the control and immunized group, at 15 dpi the rCL1-vaccinated group showed significantly higher weight gain and reduced severity of hepatic lesions compared with the control group that received only Quil A. In the rCL1-vaccinated group, two of three goats sacrificed at 7-9 dpi had little hepatic damage and had a higher percentage of peritoneal eosinophils and elevated induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in peritoneal cells than the goats from the control group. Moreover, while these two goats showed a heavy infiltration of eosinophils surrounding migrating flukes, the remaining animals examined at 7-9 dpi had no inflammatory infiltration surrounding migrating flukes. Two out of seven goats in the rCL1-vaccinated group had low fluke burdens and little hepatic damage at 15 wpi, suggesting an effective protective response in some of the vaccinated goats. This protective response did not correlate with peripheral eosinophilia or with serum titres of anti-rCL1 immunoglobulin (Ig) G. The results of the present work suggest that an eosinophil-mediated immune response plays a crucial role in the early effective host response against F. hepatica in goats. Adjuvants designed to increase cell-mediated immunity should be tested in future vaccine trials against F. hepatica.

Virus distribution and role of thymic macrophages during experimental infection with noncytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1.

Thymic depletion, presence of viral antigen, and changes in distribution and cytokine production of thymic macrophages were investigated in calves experimentally infected with a noncytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea virus type (BVDV) 1 strain. Ten clinically healthy colostrum-deprived calves were used. Eight calves were inoculated with the virus and two were used as uninfected controls. Calves were sedated and euthanized in batches between 3 and 14 days postinoculation. At necropsy, thymus samples were collected for structural, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling). From 6 days postinoculation, the thymic cortex was multifocally depleted with increased frequency of pyknosis and karyorrhexis, suggestive of apoptosis and confirmed by the TUNEL technique. Although the onset of lymphoid depletion was coincident with the detection of viral antigen by immunohistochemistry, the number of infected lymphocytes was very low through the experiment. There was an increase in number of macrophages in cortex and medulla, accompanied by ultrastructural changes indicative of phagocyte activation, and a decrease in cells expressing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-1α. These results suggest that the increase in number of these cells could be related to phagocytosis of cell debris and apoptotic lymphocytes. Furthermore, the results imply that, in contrast to the situation with classical swine fever virus, the lymphocyte apoptosis resulting from bovine viral diarrhea virus infection is not mediated by TNF-α or interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) production by virus-infected macrophages. This is the first study that describes this decrease in the number of thymic cells expressing TNF-α and IL-1α in cattle experimentally infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1.

Concurrent pulmonary adenocarcinoma and silicate pneumoconiosis in a red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa).

An adult red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) presented with concurrent pulmonary carcinoma and severe silicosis. The animal was submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Córdoba (Spain) because of respiratory signs, and it died during clinical examination. At postmortem examination, numerous firm, whitish to yellowish nodules involving the lungs, mainly the right lobe, were found. The histopathologic study revealed numerous peribronchiolar large granulomatous lesions composed of macrophages, which showed abundant cytoplasm containing numerous birefringent crystals identified as silicates by transmission electron microscopy. An epithelial neoplasm showing papillary, acinar, and solid patterns occupied large areas of the pulmonary parenchyma. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were consistent with a pulmonary carcinoma. Small tumor nests were often located close to the granulomatous lesions. This is the first report of concurrent pneumoconiosis and pulmonary carcinoma in a nonhuman species.

[Analysis of the effectiveness of an antiemetic protocol used in an oncology division]. / Análisis de la efectividad de un protocolo de antiemesis implantado en la Unidad de Oncología.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effectiveness of an antiemetic protocol in patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. METHOD: Prospective study in patients with solid tumours receiving chemotherapy in an oncology day hospital between January 2006 and 2007. We conducted a literature review and an evaluation of the recommendations of different clinical practice guidelines. The emetogenic potential was calculated according to the Hesketh level (HL), and the antiemetic premedication was determined for each regimen. We evaluated the effectiveness of an antiemetic protocol by using a survey as a method for measuring emetic episodes and nausea in the acute and delayed phases. RESULTS: 172 patients completed the survey. 13.4% vomited in the acute phase and 16.9% in the delayed phase; the median number of times was 2 (1-8) and 1 (1-5) for each respective phase. With treatment regimens classed as HL 4-5, 18.5% experienced vomiting in the acute phase and 20.2% in the delayed phase, with 46% experiencing nausea in the acute phase and 38.4% in the delayed phase. Control of vomiting in patients with treatment regimens classed as HL 1-3 was 100% in acute phase and 91.7% in the delayed phase; nausea was reported by 27% in the acute phase and 31% in the delayed phase. The factors that contributed the most to the presence of vomiting and nausea were the emetogenic potential of the treatment regimen (p<0.05), vomiting in the previous cycle (p<0.05) and age younger than 50 years (p<0.002). DISCUSSION: The proposed antiemetic protocol is effective for controlling vomiting in chemotherapy regimens with an HL of 1-3. For highly emetogenic regimens, the antiemetic protocol is also effective, but protection is not complete. This protocol seems less effective for controlling nausea, although this is a subjective symptom which is difficult to assess and not routinely measured in clinical trials.

[Treatment with cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer patients who do not express the epidermal growth factor receptor]. / Tratamiento con cetuximab en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal metastásico que no expresan el receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the response to cetuximab, in terms of time passed until disease progression and overall survival, in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in which the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is undetectable. METHOD: Nine EGFR-negative patients (confirmed by an immunohistochemistry study), who were being treated with cetuximab, were selected. Variables collected: demographic data, diagnosis, previous treatments, time since first metastasis to start of treatment with cetuximab, adverse events and tumour markers. The response was monitored using tumour markers and disease progression. Well-being was assessed using the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) or that of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). RESULTS: 22% men (2/9) with a median age of 48 (31-63). The median time from being diagnosed with the metastatic disease to the start of treatment with cetuximab was 19 months (12-48). All patients had failed an irinotecan-based regime, 77.77% (7/9) had also failed one which included oxaliplatin. The median number of cycles with cetuximab was 14 (6-32). The main adverse event was the appearance of an acneiform rash in 100% of the cases. The median time until disease progression was 7 months (3-16) and 10.2 months (4-24) for overall survival. The results for well-being showed a KPS of between 80-100% and an ECOG of < 2. The results obtained in the present study for overall survival and time until disease progression are higher than those in the pivotal study (10.2 compared to 8.6 months and 7 compared to 4.1 months respectively). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained, the use of assessing the EGFR expression (by the immunohistochemistry technique at least), as a means of predicting response to treatment with cetuximab may be questioned. This suggests that selecting patients using the routine assessment of this receptor is inappropriate, since it excludes patients who may potentially benefit from the treatment. However, more clinical trials are required in this area in order to confirm these conclusions.

Atoxoplasma spp. infection in captive canaries (Serinus canaria).

Clinical signs, histopathological and ultrastructural findings associated with Atoxoplasma spp. natural infection in captive canaries (Serinus canaria) are described. Intracytoplasmic Atoxoplasma-like protozoa were found in the liver and lung. In the liver, protozoa were found in hepatocytes and Kupffer's cells and were associated with granulomatous hepatitis and a marked bile duct hyperplasia. An usual finding was the presence of infected mononuclear cells adhered to the endothelium of the blood vessels in lung. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrastructural examination of reprocessed paraffin-embedded tissues.

An immunohistochemical study of the tonsils in pigs with acute African swine fever virus infection.

An immunohistochemical study of the tonsils was carried out to gain further insight in the pathogenesis of acute African swine fever (ASF). Twenty-one pigs were inoculated by intramuscular route with a highly virulent isolate of ASF virus and painlessly killed at 1-7dpi. Viral antigen was highly distributed in the tonsil from 3 to 4dpi and an increase in the number of monocyte-macrophages was very evident at the same days post inoculation. This phenomenon was observed together with an increase of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (Tumour necrosis factor alpha and Interleukin-1 alpha) and the apoptosis of lymphocytes studied by the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) technique and haemorrhages. With these results, we can conclude that the tonsil is suffering similar lesions than those observed in other lymphoid organs in acute African swine fever, even when the route of inoculation is the intramuscular and not oral-nasal.

BSE infection in bovine PrP transgenic mice leads to hyperphosphorylation of tau-protein.

We observed the changes in the central nervous system (CNS) of transgenic mice expressing bovine prion protein (Bo-PrP) as a contribution to our knowledge of the pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The main result was the detection of hyperphosphorylated tau. This protein was detected for the first time, using immunohistochemical techniques, in the neurons and glial cells of mice experimentally infected with BSE. The results highlighted the involvement of tau protein in the pathogenesis of BSE and the close link between hyperphosphorylated tau deposits and prion protein. Ultrastructural examination revealed a novel arrangement of intraneuronal tau deposits not hitherto reported.

African swine fever and classical swine fever: a review of the pathogenesis.

This paper describes major pathogenetic mechanisms of African and Classical Swine Fever virus infections. The interactions between both viruses and the monocyte-macrophage-system result in the release of mediator molecules, which are important for the further progression of the diseases. The causes of the thrombocytopenia and the mechanisms of the haemorrhages, which are characteristic in both infections, are described. Apoptotic cell death is regarded as the predominant cause of lymphopenia in both virus infections.

Classical Swine Fever: pathology of bone marrow.

Twenty pigs were inoculated with a virulent isolate (Quillota strain) of classical swine fever (CSF) virus to determine the chronological development of lesions in bone marrow. Histopathologic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical (detection of viral antigen gp55, myeloid-histiocyte antigen, CD3 antigen, and FVIII-rag), and morphometric techniques were employed. Viral antigen was detected from 2 days postinfection (dpi) in stromal and haematopoitic cells, and severe atrophy related to apoptosis of haematopoitic cells was observed. Megakaryocytes (MKs) did not show significant changes in number, but there were important qualitative changes including 1) increased numbers of cloud-nuclei MKs, microMKs, apoptotic MKs, and atypical nucleated MKs and 2) decreased number of typical nucleated MKs. Morphometric study of these cells showed a decrease in cytoplasmic area. MK infection was detected from 2 dpi, but in a small percentage of cells. Myeloid cells showed quantitative changes, with an increase in granulocyte numbers. Apoptosis of lymphocytes and viral infection of erythroblasts were also observed. The main changes in stroma were depletion of T lymphocytes in the middle phase of the experiment and macrophages. Viral infection was also observed in these cells. MK lesions suggest dysmegakaryocytopoiesis, which would aggravate the thrombocytopenia already present and could be responsible for it. Granulocyte changes would lead to the appearance of circulating immature forms, whereas lymphocyte apoptosis in bone marrow would contribute to lymphopenia.

Pathology of AA amyloidosis in domestic sheep and goats.

We describe the main pathologic changes in small ruminants affected by AA amyloidosis, together with the partial sequence of the protein involved. Twenty-one sheep and one goat were selected for presenting macroscopic kidney lesions compatible with systemic amyloidosis. Available tissue samples were studied by histologic, immunopathologic, and ultrastructural means. Renal lesions were characterized grossly by pale cortical surfaces with scattered, miliary, whitish-yellow foci and on cut cortical surfaces by straight, whitish-yellow striations. Gangrenous pneumonia was observed in 16 out of 21 affected sheep (76.2%), although other chronic inflammations were also observed. Amyloid was detected in all grossly affected kidneys using Congo red staining, lesions being most remarkable in glomeruli, affecting 95.5% of animals studied. Congophilic deposits were also observed in intertubular interstitium (68.2%) and medulla (57.1%). All amyloid-affected animals presented proximal convoluted tubule lesions, mostly characterized by an increase in diameter and by hyaline granular degeneration that were responsible for the macroscopic appearance of the kidney. Histologically, amyloid was also seen in blood vessels, spleen, liver, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, and adrenal glands. All amyloid deposits demonstrated greenish-yellow birefringence with polarized light, and the antisera prepared against goat amyloid extracts specifically reacted with birefringent congophilic deposits of both sheep and goats. Ultrastructurally, these deposits were formed by masses of straight, nonbranching fibrils located predominantly in the basement membranes of glomerular capillaries and in the mesangium. Partial sequence of the protein in sheep and goats indicated a high degree of homology with the previously reported sequence of sheep Serum Amyloid A.

Apoptosis of thymocytes related to cytokine expression in experimental classical swine fever.

Atrophy of the thymic cortex and loss of thymocytes were studied in 32 pigs inoculated with the virulent strain "Alfort" of classical swine fever (CSF) virus and killed at intervals from 2 to 15 days after infection. Immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, ELISA and TUNEL methods were used. The results suggested that direct action of CSF virus on thymocytes played no more than a minor role. The massive lymphoid depletion observed in the thymus, may, however, have been associated with the numerical increase in monocytes-macrophages in this organ, and their secretory activation, leading to synthesis and release of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1alpha and C1q complement component as main chemical mediators, and IL-1beta and IL-6 as minor mediators. These cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha) may have played a role in the apoptosis of thymocytes, demonstrated by TUNEL and ultrastructural methods. The pathogenetic mechanism outlined may contribute to the lymphoid depletion observed in others organs in CSF and may explain the lymphopenia characteristic of the disease.