Adenosquamous carcinoma of the oesophagus in a dog.

A six-year-old mixed-breed male dog weighing 7.0 kg was presented with chronic vomiting and regurgitation. Endoscopic examination revealed prominent oesophageal dilation in the thoracic region, multiple small greyish-white nodules over the oesophageal lumen and cauliflower-like masses in the caudal oesophagus. Histopathological studies revealed a characteristic pattern of coexisting elements of infiltrating adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-cytokeratin AE1 + AE3 was positive in both types of neoplastic cells. Neoplastic glandular cells stained positively for cytokeratin 8 while neoplastic squamous cells stained positively for cytokeratin 5/6. On the basis of these findings, the dog was diagnosed with oesophageal adenosquamous carcinoma. The case history and findings suggest that the malignancy might have developed from Barrett's oesophagus following irritation of the oesophageal mucosa due to chronic vomiting and regurgitation.

PARVB overexpression increases cell migration capability and defines high risk for endophytic growth and metastasis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is highly diverse, even in its early stages. This cancer is classified into three subtypes (superficial, exophytic, and endophytic) based on macroscopic appearance. Of these subtypes, the endophytic tumours have the worst prognosis because of their invasiveness and higher frequency of metastasis. METHODS: To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the endophytic subtype and to identify biomarkers, we performed a comprehensive gene expression microarray analysis of clinical biopsy samples and also confirmed the clinical relevance of differential gene expression. RESULTS: Expression of the parvin-beta (PARVB) gene and its encoded protein was significantly upregulated in endophytic-type TSCC. PARVB is known to play a critical role in actin reorganization and focal adhesions. Knockdown of PARVB expression in vitro caused apparent decreases in cell migration and wound healing, implying that PARVB has a crucial role in cell motility. Moreover, metastasis-free survival was significantly lower in patients with higher tumour expression of PARVB. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that PARVB overexpression is a candidate biomarker for endophytic tumours and metastasis. This protein may be a clinically useful target for adjuvant TSCC therapy.

Clinical outcomes of second-look arthroscopic evaluation after anterior cruciate ligament augmentation: comparison with single- and double-bundle reconstruction.

We report the clinical outcome and findings at second-look arthroscopy of 216 patients (mean age 25 years (11 to 58)) who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction or augmentation. There were 73 single-bundle ACL augmentations (44 female, 29 male), 82 double-bundle ACL reconstructions (35 female, 47 male), and 61 single-bundle ACL reconstructions (34 female, 27 male). In 94 of the 216 patients, proprioceptive function of the knee was evaluated before and 12 months after surgery using the threshold to detect passive motion test. Second-look arthroscopy showed significantly better synovial coverage of the graft in the augmentation group (good: 60 (82%), fair: 10 (14%), poor: 3 (4%)) than in the other groups (p = 0.039). The mean side-to-side difference measured with a KT-2000 arthrometer was 0.4 mm (-3.3 to 2.9) in the augmentation group, 0.9 mm (-3.2 to 3.5) in the double-bundle group, and 1.3 mm (-2.7 to 3.9) in the single-bundle group: the result differed significantly between the augmentation and single-bundle groups (p = 0 .013). No significant difference in the Lysholm score or pivot-shift test was seen between the three groups (p = 0.09 and 0.65, respectively). In patients with good synovial coverage, three of the four measurements used revealed significant improvement in proprioceptive function (p = 0.177, 0.020, 0.034, and 0.026). We conclude that ACL augmentation is a reasonable treatment option for patients with favourable ACL remnants.

Diagnostic performance of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography combined with ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration cytology for identifying axillary lymph node status in patients with breast cancer.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in combination with ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (US-guided FNAC) for the preoperative diagnosis of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 318 patients with breast cancer were recruited retrospectively. Some of the cases that underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were included. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET/CT were calculated. We assessed the relationship between the combined results for US-guided FNAC with FDG-PET/CT and the pathological ALN status. RESULTS: A total of 271 patients underwent FDG-PET/CT. Of these patients, 41 underwent US-guided FNAC. The sensitivity and the specificity of FDG-PET/CT for the cases without NAC were 18.5%, 97.1%, respectively. The sensitivity in cases with NAC was 68.2%. As a whole, the sensitivity was 40.8%. ALN metastasis was detected using US-guided FNAC in a case with a negative FDG uptake in the ALN. The T stage was T2 in the case and the FDG uptake at the primary site was poor. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET/CT has a good specificity for ALN metastasis, although its sensitivity is limited, especially in early-stage cases. In cases with a negative FDG uptake in the ALN, US-guided FNAC may play a role in the detection of lymph node metastasis when the primary tumor size is large and the FDG uptake in the primary tumor is low.

Sesamin suppresses activation of microglia and p44/42 MAPK pathway, which confers neuroprotection in rat intracerebral hemorrhage.

Thrombin plays important roles in the pathology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The recruitment of activated microglia, accompanied by thrombin-induced phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, contributes to ICH-associated neuron loss. Here we investigated the possibility that sesamin, a lignan of sesame seed oil, is a natural candidate as an inhibitor of microglial activation and MAPK pathways under ICH insults. Sesamin (30-100 µM) suppressed thrombin-induced nitric oxide (NO) production by primary-cultured rat microglia via inhibition of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein expression, independently of the antioxidative effect. Sesamin selectively inhibited p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation in the MAPK family (p38 and p44/42) involved in iNOS protein expression in primary-cultured rat microglia. An in vivo rat ICH model was prepared by intrastriatal injection of 0.20U collagenase type IV unilaterally. ICH evoked the phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK, microglial proliferation with morphological change into the activated ameboid form, and neuron loss. The phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK was inhibited by intracerebroventricular administration of 30-nmol sesamin. Sesamin prevented ICH-induced increase of microglial cells in the perihematomal area. Notably, ramified microglia, the resting morphology, were observed in brain sections of the animals administrated sesamin. Sesamin furthermore achieved neuroprotection in the perihematomal area but not in the hematomal center. These results suggest that sesamin is a promising natural product as a novel therapeutic strategy based on the regulation of microglial activities accompanied by the activated p44/42 MAPK pathway in ICH.

A case of cystadenocarcinoma of the ectopic salivary gland: comparison of pre-operative ultrasound, CT and MR images with the pathological specimen.

Cystadenocarcinoma is a rare salivary gland tumour. Only a few case studies have provided pre-operative images of these tumours. This report demonstrates the case of a 28-year-old male with cystadenocarcinoma arising from an ectopic salivary gland with lymph node metastasis in the right upper neck. Ultrasound including Doppler images showed two masses with scant vascular flow. One was a hyperechoic mass enclosed within a low echoic cystic lesion and the other was a solid hypoechoic mass. Contrast enhancement CT scans demonstrated a ring enhanced mass and weakly homogeneous enhanced masses in the right upper neck. Dynamic studies showed increased enhancement in delayed phase CT that was the same as that in other malignant salivary gland tumours. Moderate to slightly high signal intensity was seen on T(1) weighted MR images and axial T(2) weighted MR images showed one heterogeneous mass in a high signal lesion and a moderate to high signal intensity mass. The authors discuss the pre-operative findings of ultrasound with Doppler imaging of this neoplasm, and CT findings including dynamic study images and MRI, comparing the findings with the post-operative pathological features of the tumour.

Two cases of diverticulitis in patients with Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome is rare and associated with physical anomalies and mental retardation. It is a disease resulting from a gene deletion of chromosome 7. The main concurrent medical conditions typically associated with Williams syndrome are heart defects such as supravalvular aortic stenosis, mental retardation, and unusual physical characteristics. It is also associated with colon diverticulosis and diverticulitis. In the present article, we report on 2 cases of diverticulitis in patients with Williams syndrome, in whom surgery was performed. In many cases of diverticulitis in patients with Williams syndrome, surgical treatment is indicated. It is important to take diverticulitis into consideration when examining a patient with Williams syndrome presenting with abdominal pain and consider surgical treatment if necessary.

Disease control using low-dose-rate brachytherapy is unaffected by comorbid severity in oral cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome and complications of low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) for oral cancer according to comorbidity. METHODS: The records of a total of 180 patients who received LDR-BT for T1-2N0M0 oral cancers between January 2005 and December 2007 were analysed. The comorbidities of the patients were retrospectively graded according to the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27, and the relationships between the comorbidity grades and survival, disease control and the incidence of complications were analysed. RESULTS: The 2 year overall survival rates of patients with no comorbidity, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 comorbidity were 87%, 85%, 76% and 65%, respectively, and the reduction in the survival rate according to comorbid severity was significant in a univariate analysis (p = 0.032) but not in a multivariate analysis including other clinical factors. Cause-specific survival, locoregional control and local control were not related to the comorbidity grade, or any other clinical factors. Grade 2 or 3 complications developed in 27% of the patients. The incidence of complications was unrelated to the comorbidity grade. CONCLUSION: The disease control of oral cancer and the incidence of complications after LDR-BT were not related to comorbid severity. LDR-BT is a useful and safe treatment for patients regardless of the presence of severe comorbidity.

Brachytherapy for tongue cancer in the very elderly is an alternative to external beam radiation.

BACKGROUND: The result of curative treatment for very elderly patients with tongue carcinoma has not been reported to date. We retrospectively reviewed the results of brachytherapy in 125 the patients aged over 75 years. METHODS: The results of brachytherapy in 125 patients, 75 years old or older, with Stage I or II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were reviewed. The 125 cases consisted of 31 Stage I and 94 Stage II cases; 67 patients were under 80 years old and 58 were over 80 years old. All patients were treated using low-dose-rate brachytherapy ((198)Au/(222)Rn: 59 cases; (192)Ir: 38 cases; (226)Ra/(137)Cs: 28 cases). RESULTS: None of the patients stopped treatment during the course of brachytherapy. The 3 year and 5 year control rates of the primary lesions were both 86%. Post-brachytherapy neck node metastasis was diagnosed in 43 cases and radical neck dissection was performed for 24 cases (21 of the 24 cases were under 80 years old). As a result, the 7 year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate for patients aged under 80 years old was 70% and 41% for those over 80 years old (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The brachytherapy for elderly patients with tongue cancer was safe, and the control of the primary lesion was almost the same as in younger patients. However, modalities available to treat neck node metastasis are limited. More conservative surgical approaches combined with post-operative irradiation may be advocated for neck node metastasis for elderly patients with tongue cancer.

A case of fulminant amebic colitis with multiple large intestinal perforations.

Amebic colitis normally causes mucous and bloody diarrhea stool as predominant symptoms, thus leading to a course of chronic colitis. However, though rare, there exists a fulminating type that causes intestinal perforations due to wide necrosis of the large intestine. We encountered a case of fulminant amebic colitis that lead to death due to multiple large intestinal perforations. The patient was a 72-year-old female. The patient was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. She continued to have a fever of over 38 degrees C and increased left abdominal pain. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed free gas on the abdominal side of the kidney. Therefore, gastrointestinal perforations were diagnosed and surgery was performed. In surgery, many perforated parts were observed from the appendix to the descending colon, and subtotal colectomy was performed. However, sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred, and the patient died on the eighth postoperative day.

Multiple (18)F-FDG, PET-CT for postoperative monitoring of breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) may be useful in the post-treatment follow-up of breast cancer patients. PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT (PET-CT) for postoperative monitoring of breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine PET-CT studies performed on 55 female postoperative breast cancer patients (median age 56 years, range 36-86 years) were analyzed. The median interval between the PET-CT studies was 6 months (range 1-15 months). In order to determine the usefulness of serial PET-CT examinations in the postoperative follow-up of breast cancer patients, the PET-CT findings were compared with the physical findings, findings obtained by other imaging modalities, and the (18)F-FDG-PET (PET) findings. RESULTS: The PET findings were negative in 4 metastatic bone lesions with a positive bone scan. The PET findings were also negative in 6 of 9 osteogenic bone metastases and one of 64 osteolytic bone lesions. There were 5 cases with false-positive of PET, which were determined to be areas of soft-tissue hyperactivity. All false-positive/-negative findings were corrected by the addition of CT. CONCLUSION: The results of this study lend support to the clinical role of PET-CT in the postoperative follow-up/monitoring of breast cancer patients.

Method to reconstruct exoplanetary spectrum.

We present a method for spectroscopic observations of exoplanets. Coronagraphic image of a star-planet system and its objective spectra are observed simultaneously. Stellar image and objective spectrum without coronagraphic suppression are also obtained as reference. By convolution of the coronagraphic image with the reference stellar spectrum, pseudo-objective spectra are synthesized. The difference between the observed and the synthesized pseudospectra reveals the distinctive features of planetary spectrum. We carry out laboratory demonstration of the proposed technique and show that the planetary spectrum is reconstructed.

Morphological and immunohistochemical studies of spontaneous mammary tumours in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).

Mammary tumours from 12 domestic Siberian hamsters (11 females, 1 male) were examined. Histopathology revealed three subtypes: simple adenoma, tubulopapillary carcinoma, and complex carcinoma. In five cases of malignant mammary tumour, focal infiltration into the surrounding fibrous connective tissue was present; however, no invasion of either lymphatics or blood vessels was observed. Apocrine secretion from neoplastic luminal epithelial cells was prominent in all tumours. Expression of oestrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptor, and androgen receptor was evaluated immunohistochemically in neoplastic epithelial cells. Ten of the 12 tumours were positive for androgen receptor and all were negative for progesterone receptor. Five tumours expressed oestrogen receptor alpha.

Spontaneous tumors in domestic hamsters.

A total of 90 tumors from 85 domestic hamsters (70 Djungarian hamsters and 15 Syrian hamsters) were examined by histology. In the Djungarian hamsters, 64 neoplastic and 11 non-neoplastic lesions were identified, whereas 14 Syrian hamsters showed neoplastic disease, and one showed non-neoplastic disease. The Djungarian hamsters showed a high prevalence of neoplastic disease, similarly to laboratory Djungarian hamsters. In the Djungarian hamsters, almost all tumors were integumental, whereas hematopoietic tumors were the most common type in the Syrian hamsters. The most common integumental tumors in the Djungarian hamsters were mammary tumors, atypical fibromas and papillomas, and a spectrum of integumental tumors that have not been reported in laboratory Djungarian hamsters were identified. Most mammary tumors occurred in the females, whereas all atypical fibromas were observed in the males. In the Syrian hamsters, plasmacytomas and lymphomas were the most common tumors. The small number of Syrian hamsters in this study may reflect the low prevalence of spontaneous tumors seen in laboratory Syrian hamsters. The mean age of the affected hamsters was 19.8 months, which is relatively advanced. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study of tumors in domestic hamsters.

Anomalous arterial supply to the gallbladder from the superior mesenteric artery: angiography and computed tomography findings in two cases.

The arterial supply of the gallbladder usually arises from the right hepatic artery. Other origins include the left, proper, and common hepatic arteries. We report cases of the cystic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery and arising from the dorsal pancreatic artery originating in turn from the superior mesenteric artery, as demonstrated by angiography and computed tomography.

Renal collecting duct carcinoma in a dog.

An 8-year-old, male, mongrel dog developed severe cough and anorexia and died within 3 months. Autopsy revealed an invasive grayish-white mass in the right kidney and multiple nodules in the lungs, thoracic wall, and spleen. Histologically, the renal mass and the other nodules were mainly composed of papillotubular structures lined by oval-to-polygonal pleomorphic cells. The cells were reactive with DBA, PNA, and UEA-1 lectins and positive for vimentin but negative for CD10 and high molecular weight cytokeratin. Because of its histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical similarities with human collecting duct carcinoma (CDC), a diagnosis of renal collecting duct carcinoma with pulmonary, thoracic, and splenic metastases was established. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of CDC in animals.

Spontaneous osteosarcoma in a rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus).

A 6-year-old male cross-breed rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented with lameness and severe swelling from the right shoulder to brachium. On 16-detector helical computed tomography images of the amputated right forelimb after being fixed in formalin, evident proliferative and destructive lesions of bone were observed. On histologic examination, the tumor was composed of proliferating neoplastic cells that resembled histiocytes, with abundant osteoid production. A large number of multinucleated giant cells were found throughout. This case was diagnosed as osteosarcoma by clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings. This is a rare case report of osteosarcoma in a rabbit consistent with canine predilection sites.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma with smooth muscle and glandular differentiation of the feline uterus.

The intra-abdominal tumor developing in the uterus and lung of a domestic Shorthair cat was examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. The tumor showed a proliferation of both endometrial stromal and smooth muscle cells accompanied by prominent vasculature. There were well-differentiated endometrial glands, and tubuli made up a monolayer of eosinophilic cuboidal epithelium. Immunohistochemically, the spindle-shaped cells and half of the stromal-like cells reacted to caldesmon and desmin antibodies. The neoplastic epithelium expressed AE1/AE3 cytokeratin. Feline endometrial stromal tumor has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported previously and has smooth muscle and glandular components that are a unique variant to the human counterpart.

Tail root osteosarcoma in a chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus).

An 8-year-old chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus) showed a mass on the tail root. Histologically, the excised mass showed proliferation of spindle-to-polyhedral cells and abundant multinucleated giant cells, with the production of neoplastic osteoid. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and weakly positive for osteocalcin. Osteoid was also positive for osteocalcin. This tumor was diagnosed as a giant cell-type osteosarcoma. This is the first case report of osteosarcoma in a chipmunk.