[Relationships between body composition and hematological parameters in long-living patients with coronary artery disease.]

The study objective to investigate hematological parameters and determine the relationships between these indicators and body composition in centenarians with coronary artery disease. This work is a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 239 patients over 90 years old hospitalized with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease; most of them (67,8%) were women. The age of the patients ranged from 90 to 106 years, averaging 92,8 (±2,5) years. Body composition was analyzed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Anemia was detected in 108 (45,2%) patients, while a significant direct correlation was found between the hemoglobin level and all indicators of bone mineral density (p=0,004-0,00002). Patients with osteoporosis had lower levels of hemoglobin (p=0,002) and blood iron (p=0,02). Direct correlations were established between the hemoglobin level and lean tissue mass (p=0,06-0,003). Patients with obesity had higher levels of hemoglobin (p=0,007), erythrocytes (p=0,03), leukocytes (p=0,04), lymphocytes (p=0,01) and monocytes (p=0,05). A direct correlation was registered between the platelets count and fat tissue mass (p=0,04-0,00006) along with an inverse correlation between platelets and lean tissue (p=0,001-0,0004). The study results indicate significant relationships between the parameters of body composition and hematological indicators.

Preliminary results of blood growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) measurement in cats: future aspects of GDF-9 on stage of the cycle and spaying history.

Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9), an oocyte-derived member of the TGF-ß superfamily, plays an essential role in regulation of follicular development. This study aimed to determine the cyclic changes in serum GDF-9 concentration, compare its levels before and after ovariohysterectomy (OHE), and investigate its potential as a tool in ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) diagnosis in cats. GDF-9 measurements were performed on 50 cats referred for routine OHE. The stage of the estrous cycle was determined by vaginal cytology and measurement of serum estradiol and progesterone levels was carried out to detect the cyclic changes in circulating GDF-9. One week after OHE, serum samples were collected again from 30 cats to reveal differences in GDF-9 levels. GDF-9 levels in the follicular phase were significantly higher than those in the interestrus (p⟨0.05). The postoperative analysis could be performed. GDF-9 levels slightly decreased one week after OHE (p=0.053). In conclusion, blood GDF-9 levels change during the estrous cycle, and may decrease with age in cats. However, further studies are needed to reveal the efficiency of GDF-9 in ORS diagnosis.

The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of curcumin on feline mammary gland tumor cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Feline mammary gland tumors (FMGTs) are the third most diagnosed tumors in cats. Feline mammary gland tumors have aggressive biological behavior and poor response to both surgical and medical treatments, thus, new therapeutic approaches are essential to improve. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol component exhibiting anti-cancer effects and induces apoptosis through different mechanisms especially in human breast cancer. However, there is no study investigating the effects of CUR on FMGTs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of CUR on primary cell lines from FMGT tissue samples of two cases classified as carcinoma-simple, tubular type (grade III). METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of CUR was determined by water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 (WST-1) assay. Annexin V, cell cycle, and acridine orange (AO) analyses were performed to determine the apoptotic effect of CUR. RESULTS: Our results showed that CUR had an anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest (G0/G1) on FMGT cells. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this is the first study that shows the effects of CUR on FMGTs. However, further molecular studies are required to compare the effects of CUR on different histopathological phenotypes and to determine the further molecular mechanisms including the potential apoptotic and cellular pathways affected by CUR.

Uterine leiomyoma in a spayed poodle bitch: a case report.

A 16-year-old, spayed, female poodle dog was presented for evaluation of tenesmus, with the ability to attract male dogs and a willingness to mate. The dog had undergone an ovariohysterectomy when it was 7 years old. Haematological and serum biochemistry analyses demonstrated leucocytosis and a mild uraemia. A vaginal smear was predominantly made up of superficial cells, accounting for at least 80% of the cells. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneous multicystic mass at the caudal abdomen and two masses with anechoic areas adjacent to the caudal pole of each kidney. A midline exploratory laparotomy identified a uterine mass and residual ovaries that were surgically excised. Histopathological examination of the mass demonstrated that it was a leiomyoma. The left ovary had a cystic structure and the right ovary had a papillary cystic adenoma. Seven months after the surgery, the owner reported that the dog was clinically normal. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a uterine leiomyoma after an incomplete ovariohysterectomy in the dog.