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Abdominal ultrasonographical and computed tomography examinations of a 12-year-old neutered female toy poodle revealed a protruding mass, approximately 2 cm in diameter, at the apex of the bladder. The mass was firm and haemorrhagic with a homogeneously brownish–yellow cut surface. Microscopically, it was unencapsulated and located in the muscle layer with invasion of the extra-muscular layer. It was composed of spindloid to oval neoplastic cells that formed irregular clefts and diffuse sheets that dissected bundles of collagen. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 antigens, but negative for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, factor VIII-related antigen, CD31, CD34, Prox-1, S100, desmin, α-smooth muscle actin and MyoD1. Negative immunolabelling for laminin antigen supported the absence of evidence of a basal lamina on ultrastructural examination. Based on these findings, this tumour was identified as a lymphangiosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of lymphangiosarcoma arising from the bladder in a dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year-old neutered female Shiba dog exhibited laboured breathing for 1 month. Computed tomography of the thoracic cavity revealed multiple nodules (2–5 mm diameter) in the lungs. Grossly, the lungs were firm and normal in shape. The nodules were grey–white in colour. Microscopically, the nodules were non-encapsulated and exhibited an irregular shape. They were composed of polygonal or spindle cells with indistinct cell borders arranged in sheets. The cells had large, round, hyperchromatic nuclei and abundant pale eosinophilic cytoplasm with no atypia. Intrapulmonary arterial emboli and infiltration into the bronchioles were observed. Immunohistochemically, the cells were positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and α -smooth muscle actin. Ultrastructurally, the cells displayed cytoplasmic processes, desmosomes and intermediate filaments. These findings led to a diagnosis of diffuse pulmonary meningotheliomatosis with sarcomatous transformation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of diffuse pulmonary meningotheliomatosis in a dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A 13-year-old neutered female mixed-breed dog with a clinical history of emaciation, inappetence and vomiting for 2 months was presented. Blood tests showed marked leucocytosis with increased neutrophil and basophil count, mild thrombocytosis and anaemia. Seven days after the initial visit, the dog died and was submitted for necropsy examination. Grossly, the bone marrow was red in colour and hepatomegaly and splenomegaly with discolouration were observed. A bone marrow smear showed an increased proportion of basophilic lineage cells. Histologically, the bone marrow showed high cellular density and numerous basophilic lineage cells with a round or segmented nucleus. The cytoplasm contained basophilic granules exhibiting metachromasia on toluidine blue staining. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic basophils were diffusely positive for vimentin and myeloperoxidase, but negative for CD3, BLA36, CD163, CD204 and c-kit. The immunohistochemical features of neoplastic basophils that had invaded the liver and spleen were similar to those of the basophils in the bone marrow. Based on the clinicopathological and histopathological findings, chronic basophilic leukaemia was diagnosed. The present case study provides insights into the pathological features of chronic basophilic leukaemia in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A 21-year-old neutered female domestic shorthaired cat was presented with a history of inappetence, vomiting and haematuria. The cat was humanely destroyed at the owner's request and a necropsy examination was performed. A 0.8 × 0.5 × 0.5 cm mass was located in the left lobe of the pancreas. The mass was gelatinous in nature and the external and cut surfaces were pale yellow in colour. Microscopically, the mass was non-capsulated and comprised an accumulation of extracellular stromal mucin containing suspended neoplastic columnar epithelial cells forming tubular structures. Immunohistochemically, these cells diffusely expressed cytokeratin (CK) AE1/AE3, CK7 and carcinoembryonic antigen and were partially positive for CK19 and trypsin, but negative for vimentin. The tumour was diagnosed as a colloid carcinoma. The clinical presentation in this case was caused by chronic renal failure complicated by secondary renal hyperparathyroidism and associated metastatic calcinosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of colloid carcinoma arising from the pancreas in a cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A 25-year-old female mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) died after exhibiting weakness and recumbency with serosanguineous ascites. Gross findings included haemoperitoneum and multifocal to diffuse serosal thickening with petechiae and ecchymoses throughout the peritoneum. The uterus was covered entirely with large blood clots and was adherent to the ovaries and pelvic wall. Microscopical and immunohistochemical examination revealed extra- and intra-uterine growth of ectopic endometrial tissue with marked fibrosis. The ectopic endometrial tissues predominantly consisted of stromal cells expressing CD10 and progesterone receptor and variably-sized glands lined by the epithelium with occasional slight expression of oestrogen receptor α. A diagnosis of endometriosis was made. This is the first report of naturally occurring endometriosis in a mandrill. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: An adult swan goose (Anser cygnoides) kept in a zoological garden had gross hepatic enlargement with extensive ill-defined white foci. Microscopically, the hepatic lesions were composed of a mixture of adipocytes and myeloid cells. The goose was also affected with systemic amyloidosis and there were areas of osseous metaplasia associated with deposition of amyloid within the liver. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of substituting docetaxel for paclitaxel in women who experienced a paclitaxel-associated hypersensitivity reaction while undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian and endometrial cancer. Patients and Methods: Reviewing a comprehensive data file, we identified all epithelial ovarian cancer and primary endometrial cancer patients who experienced a documented significant hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel and were subsequently treated with docetaxel at our university hospital from March 2004 to August 2008. Results: We identified a total of 11 patients who met inclusion criteria of hypersensitivity reaction after paclitaxel injection. Ten cases were noted as mild reactions, and one case presented severe reaction of anaphylaxis; all patients showed cutaneous manifestations, and 3 patients complained of transient palpitation (27.3%). Nine cases (81.8%) were arising in 36 ovarian cancer patients (25%), and 2 were arising in 22 endometrial cancer patients (9.1%). The mean number of cycles hypersensitivity reaction appeared was 1.6 cycles. Two cases discontinued further therapy with taxanes. Nine of 11 cases rechallenged with docetaxel for the replacement of paclitaxel within 3 days after hypersensitivity reaction appeared, and 8 of them well tolerated docetaxel without any reactions. One of them showed cross-reaction to docetaxel and discontinued therapy with taxanes. All residual 8 patients completed due course of taxane-based chemotherapy. Conclusion: The use of docetaxel is a reasonable approach for continuing taxane-based chemotherapy in patients with a paclitaxel hypersensitivity reaction. Mild hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel could be the predicting sign for replacement with docetaxel, and early rechallenging with docetaxel is suggested for subsequent successful infusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In humans, mutations in the gene for the breast cancer susceptibility protein BRCA2 affect its interactions with the recombinase RAD51 and are associated with an increased risk of cancer. This interaction occurs through a series of eight BRC repeat sequences in BRCA2. A mammalian two-hybrid assay using individual BRC repeats demonstrated that BRC6 did not bind to RADS1, whereas there was strong (BRC1, 2 and 4), intermediate (BRC8), or weak (BRC3, 5 and 7) binding of other BRC repeats to RAD51. In serial deletion mutation experiments, binding strengths were increased when the C-terminal BRC repeat was removed from BRCI-8, BRC1-5 and BRC1-3. These results may provide an insight into the effects of missense or truncation mutations in BRCA2 in canine tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have studied the surface structures of single crystalline - FeSi2 substrate and their influence on homoepitaxial growth. After heat-treatment in ultra-high vacuum above 750 °C, where the native oxide layer (SiOx) on the substrate was removed, characteristic structures depending on the surface orientation were formed on the substrate. On the - FeSi2 (100) substrate, the round shaped dip structures with conical elevation appeared after heat treatment above 800 °C. The composition of the dip structures was partially Fe-rich as compared with nominal - FeSi2 composition (Si/Fe=2). These characteristic structures significantly affected the crystalline quality. They remained in the epitaxial layer after thin film growth. We also achieved homoepitaxial - FeSi2 films on - FeSi2 (111) substrate at the growth temperature of 700 °C and 800 °C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]