The effect of naltrexone as a carboplatin chemotherapy-associated drug on the immune response, quality of life and survival of dogs with mammary carcinoma.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a carboplatin chemotherapy-associated drug in female dogs with mammary carcinoma in benign mixed tumors (MC-BMT) after mastectomy and to assess its association with quality of life and survival rates. Sixty female dogs were included in this study, all of which had histopathological diagnosis of MC-BMT and were divided into three groups: G1 (control), consisting of animals submitted only to mastectomy with or without regional metastasis; G2, composed of treated animals that did not present with metastasis; and G3, treated dogs that presented with metastasis. G2 and G3 were also subdivided according to the treatment administered: chemotherapy alone (MC-BMT(-) C/MC-BMT(+) C) or LDN and chemotherapy (MC-BMT(-) C+LDN/MC-BMT(+) C+LDN). All animals were subjected to clinical evaluation, mastectomy, peripheral blood lymphocyte immunophenotyping, beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin quantification, and evaluation of survival rates and quality of life scores. The results showed higher serum concentrations of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin, fewer chemotherapy-related side effects, and better quality of life and survival rates in the LDN-treated groups than in LDN-untreated groups (P < 0.05). Evaluation of clinical and pathological parameters indicated a significant association between the use of LDN and both prolonged survival and enhanced quality of life. These results indicate that LDN is a viable chemotherapy-associated treatment in female dogs with MC-BMT, maintaining their quality of life and prolonging survival rates.

Understanding of the immunological heterogeneity of canine mammary carcinomas to provide immunophenotypic features of circulating leukocytes as clinically relevant prognostic biomarkers.

We have evaluated the phenotypic features of peripheral blood leukocytes as putative novel biomarkers with prognostic values to monitor canine mammary carcinomas. Female dogs were categorized into distinct groups, referred as mammary carcinoma in benign mixed tumor-MC-BMT and mammary carcinoma-MC. Our findings demonstrate that decreased percentage of B-cells along with increased frequency of NK-cells, CD8(+)T-cells, and CD8(+)CD5(Low+)T-cells beside higher T/B-cells and lower CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio were the hallmarks of MC-BMT. Despite the lower expression of MHCI and MHCII, the lymphocytes from MC-BMT and MC displayed higher migration potential as suggested by enhanced frequency of CD18(+) events. Although increased levels of macrophage-like cells/(CD14(+)CD16(+)) and decreased levels of MHCII expression were a common phenotypic feature in mammary carcinoma, down-regulation of MHCI was selectively observed in MC. Decreased frequency of CD4(+) T-cells with increased levels of CD8(+) T-cells and lower CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-cell ratio were relevant biomarkers of MC-BTM(-). Although decreased expression of MHCI by monocytes was observed in MC-BTM regardless of the presence of lymph node metastasis, this phenotypic feature was restricted to MC free of metastasis. The CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-cells ratio lower than 1.8 was elected as a valid parameter with outstanding performance to predict survival in MC-BMT. On the other hand, the MHCI expression by monocytes higher than 10(2) MFI showed good value to estimate worse outcome in MC. These results should help to improve our understanding of the immunological heterogeneity of canine mammary carcinomas and provide tools for the determination of cut-off scores of clinically relevant immonophenotypic prognostic biomarkers.

Colopexia e deferentopexia associadas à omentopexia no tratamento da hérnia perineal em cães: um estudo de trinta casos / Colopexy and deferentopexy associated with omentopexy in the treatment of perineal hernia in dogs: Study of thirty cases

Diversas técnicas cirúrgicas têm sido propostas para correção da hérnia perineal em cães e, independentemente do método utilizado, o risco cirúrgico relacionado ao estado clínico e à idade do animal deve ser sempre considerado. O comprometimento do trato urinário e/ou digestório é frequente, e o paciente geriátrico pode apresentar problemas múltiplos que afetam consideravelmente sua tolerância à anestesia, à cirurgia e a infecções. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se avaliar o emprego da colopexia e da deferentopexia associadas à omentopexia como terapêutica cirúrgica alternativa em 30 cães idosos, comprometidos sistemicamente, portadores de hérnia perineal e anomalia retal concomitante. A análise dos casos permitiu verificar que a associação de procedimentos possibilitou a inspeção e avaliação dos órgãos abdominais, particularmente os implicados como conteúdo herniário; a restauração do formato linear do colo distal, reduzindo seu diâmetro e favorecendo o retorno à função normal; fixação eficaz e segura no reposicionamento cranial da próstata e bexiga, evitando posteriores deslocamentos caudais; e satisfatória reparação tecidual e oclusão do defeito no diafragma pélvico. Dessa forma, concluiu-se que a técnica cirúrgica proposta tem significativo valor terapêutico quando empregada em portadores de hérnia perineal e saculação retal concomitante.

Several surgical techniques have been proposed for perineal hernia correction in dogs and regardless of the used method the surgical risk related to clinical status and animal age should always be considered, since the involvement of the urinary tract and/or digestive tract is frequent and the geriatric patient can present multiple problems that significantly affect their tolerance to anesthesia, surgery and infections. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the use of colopexy and deferentopexy associated with omentopexy as surgical alternative in 30 elderly dogs, systemically compromised, which had perineal hernia and concomitant rectal anomaly. The cases analysis showed that the proposed surgical technique allowed the inspection and evaluation of abdominal organs, particularly those with hernial content involved; the distal colon linear format restoration, reducing its diameter and encouraging a normal function return, effective setting and secure cranial prostate and urinary bladder repositioning, avoiding further caudal displacement; satisfactory tissue repair and defect occlusion of the pelvic diaphragm. Thus, it was concluded that the proposed procedure has therapeutic value for dogs with perineal hernia and concomitant rectal sacculation.

Prolapso uretral em cães: relato de casos / Urethral prolapse in the male dog: cases report / Prolapso uretral en perros: relato de casos

Anomalias da uretra canina são de baixa incidência, e podem ter causas congênitas ou adquiridas. O prolapso uretral em cães é uma afecção de fisiopatologia ainda não completamente elucidada. Acomete animais machos e jovens, sendo frequentemente observada em raças braquicefálicas, e seu diagnóstico é fundamentado pela visualização da mucosa uretral protrusa. Apesar da possibilidade de redução do prolapso através de manobras cirúrgicas menos traumáticas, o tratamento mais efetivo para esta afecção é a técnica de ressecção e anastomose do prolapso uretral. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo relatar a ocorrência de dois casos clínicos de prolapso uretral em cães assistidos no Setor de Cirurgia de Pequenos Animais do Hospital da Universidade Federal da Bahia, e avaliar a técnica utilizada como procedimento para a resolução do prolapso. Os resultados revelaram que a referida técnica é de fácil execução e eficácia comprovada, não sendo observadas recidivas em nenhum dos dois casos estudados.

Abnormalities of the canine urethra have low incidence, and may have congenital or acquired causes. Urethral prolapse in the male dog can be described as an unknown physiopathological affection. It has been observed in males and young animals, frequently in braquicefalic breeds, and its diagnosis is based on the visualization of the prolapsed urethral mucosa. Despite the possibility of reduction by the use of less traumatic surgical techniques, the most effective treatment for this affection is the technique of resection and anastomosis of the urethral prolapse. The aim of this paper was to report the occurrence of two urethral prolapse clinical cases in dogs, from Small Animal Surgery Sector of the Veterinary Hospital (Institution), and to analyze the technique applied as a procedure to resolute the prolapse. The results revealed that the referred technique has easy execution and prove efficacy, without recurrence in both studied cases.

Anomalías de la uretra canina son de baja incidencia, y pueden tener causas congénitas o adquiridas. El prolapso uretral en perros es una afección de fisiopatología aún no completamente elucidada. Acomete animales machos y hembras, siendo frecuentemente observada en razas braquiocefálicas, y su diagnóstico se confirma por la visualización de la mucosa uretral desplazada. A pesar de la posibilidad de reducción del prolapso, a través de maniobras quirúrgicas menos traumáticas, el tratamiento más efectivo para esta afección es la técnica de resección y anastomosis del prolapso uretral. Esta investigación tuvo como objeto relatar la ocurrencia de dos casos clínicos de prolapso uretral en perros atendidos en el Sector de Cirugía de Pequeños Animales de un hospital da Universidade Federal da Bahia, y evaluar la técnica utilizada como procedimiento para la resolución del prolapso. Los resultados revelaron que la referida técnica es de fácil ejecución y de eficacia comprobada, no siendo observadas recidivas en ningún de los dos casos estudiados.