Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor in the Upper Eyelid in a Dog

Background: Schwannomas are benign neurogenic tumours of peripheral nerves. They originate from Schwann cells, which form the neural sheath.Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are most commonly found on the head and neck regions of both dogs and people. Schwannomas are rarely observed in ophthalmic areas. When they occur, ocular Schwannomas are usually located in the orbit, uveal tract and conjunctiva. The occurrence of uveal schwannoma, a subset of PNST has been well documented in the veterinary literature. This is the first report of a palpebral PNST in the dog. The lip-to-lid flap is a feasible technique to reconstruct the upper eyelid following wide surgical removal of a tumor in the dog.Case: A 9-year-old, spayed female mixed-breed dog was referred for evaluation of a large mass involving the right upper eyelid for a duration of approximately one month. The inspection revealed sero-sanguinolent discharge and an oval-shaped mass occupying more than 70% of the right upper eyelid. The dog was alert and the ophthalmic and general physical examination did not revealed abnormalities. Ocular ultrasonography did not show significant findings. A fine-needle aspirate of the palpebral tumor was not elucidative, even so, a presumptive diagnosis of eyelid neoplasia was considered most likely. Excision of the entire mass with a 2 cm margin was performed. The third eyelid and dorso-medial bulbar conjunctiva were also removed. Upper eyelid reconstruction was performed based on a similar technique previously described in cats (lip-to-lid flap). As a result, neoplastic spindle cells exhibited immunoreactivity for S100 and intense cytoplasmic staining for vimentin, supporting the diagnosis of schwannoma. Fifteen days later, the margins of the subdermal pattern flap were healed and skin sutures were removed. On the last follow-up, 9 months post-surgery, the dog was visual, and the flap was well incorporated and covered the ocular surface. Ten months later, another large mass arising from the right inferior palpebral conjunctiva was observed. Once ultrasound revealed orbital invasion exenteration combined with orbitectomy were performed, and the defect was covered with an auricular axial pattern flap. Although the second tumor had the same histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the first mass additional staining for Ki67 was used to investigate the biological behavior of both masses.Discussion: Reported eyelid neoplasms in dogs include adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the meibomian glands, melanomas, fibroma, fibrosarcoma, histiocytoma, mastocytoma, lipomas, papillomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. To the author´s knowledge, however, this is the first case description of a PNST affecting the eyelid in a dog. The histologic distinction between PNSTs and other spindle cell tumors, including myxosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, and melanoma can be challenging and requires immunohistochemical stainin. S100 is an acidic protein that identifies various nervous tissue cells, including Schwann cells, and the majority of canine PNSTs diffusely express this molecule. As in the case presented here, neoplastic cells of different ocular and adnexal structures were also positive for S100 and vimentin in all PNSTs previously reported in the veterinary literature. This is the first report of PNST affecting the eyelid in a dog. The lip-to-lid flap is a feasible technique to reconstruct the upper eyelid following wide surgical removal of a tumor in dogs. However, the authors suggest radical surgery combining orbitectomy, exenteration and a miocutaneous flap if PNST is diagnosed in the eyelids of dogs. They also caution once recurrence is possible and can be more aggressive.Keywords: lip-to-lid transposition, S100, vimentin, desmin, Ki67, dog

Peripheral nerve sheath tumor in the upper eyelid in a dog

Background: Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are most commonly found on the head and neck regions of both dogs and people. Schwannomas are rarely observed in ophthalmic areas. When they occur, ocular Schwannomas are usually located in the orbit, uveal tract and conjunctiva. The occurrence of uveal schwannoma, a subset of PNST has been well documented in the veterinary literature. PNST has never been observed in the eyelids of dogs. Therefore, the present report aimed to describe the surgical treatment and outcome of a PNST located in the upper eyelid of a dog. Case: A 9-year-old, spayed female mixed-breed dog was referred for evaluation of a large mass involving the right upper eyelid for a duration of approximately one month. The inspection revealed sero-sanguinolent discharge and an oval-shaped mass occupying more than 70% of the right upper eyelid. A presumptive diagnosis of eyelid neoplasia was considered most likely. Excision of the entire mass with a 2 cm margin was performed. The third eyelid and dorso-medial bulbar conjunctiva were also removed. Upper eyelid reconstruction was performed based on a similar technique previously described in cats (lip-to-lid flap). As a result, neoplastic spindle cells exhibited immunoreactivity for S100 and intense cytoplasmic staining for vimentin, supporting the diagnosis of schwannoma. Fifteen days later, the margins of the subdermal pattern flap were healed and skin sutures were removed. On the last follow-up, 9 months post-surgery, the dog was visual, and the flap was well incorporated and covered the ocular surface. Ten months later, another large mass arising from the right inferior palpebral conjunctiva was observed. Once ultrasound revealed orbital invasion exenteration combined with orbitectomy were performed, and the defect was covered with an auricular axial pattern flap. The second tumor had the same histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the first mass. Both tumors expressed Ki67; however, the PI in the second mass was higher (7.9%) than the first (3.4%). Discussion: Reported eyelid neoplasms in dogs include adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the meibomian glands, melanomas, fibroma, fibrosarcoma, histiocytoma, mastocytoma, lipomas, papillomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. To the author’s knowledge, however, this is the first case description of a PNST affecting the eyelid in a dog. The histologic distinction between PNSTs and other spindle cell tumors, including myxosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, and melanoma can be challenging and requires immunohistochemical stainin. S100 is an acidic protein that identifies various nervous tissue cells, including Schwann cells, and the majority of canine PNSTs diffusely express this molecule. As in the case presented here, neoplastic cells of different ocular and adnexal structures were also positive for S100 and vimentin in all PNSTs previously reported in the veterinary literature. This is the first report of PNST affecting the eyelid in a dog. The lip-to-lid flap is a feasible technique to reconstruct the upper eyelid following wide surgical removal of a tumor in dogs. However, the authors suggest radical surgery combining orbitectomy, exenteration and a miocutaneous flap if PNST is diagnosed in the eyelids of dogs. They also caution once recurrence is possible and can be more aggressive

Hifocus Helix™ Electrode Insertion: Surgical Approach.

Cochlear implants have been used for almost 30 years as a device for the rehabilitation of individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss. One of the important aspects of cochlear implantation is the type of electrode selected and proper insertion of the electrode array in scala tympani to minimize cochlear damage. The HiFocus Helix™ electrode is a precurved design aimed at placing the electrode contacts close to the spiral ganglion cells in the modiolus. The prescribed insertion techniques are intended to minimize the likelihood of damage to the basilar membrane or lateral wall of the cochlea. To describe the first insertion of a HiFocus Helix™ electrode in Brazil exposing surgical particularities and device details in a patient with profound hearing loss, due to Mondini's dysplasia. No problems were encountered during the surgical procedure. The patient experienced improvement in hearing thresholds and speech perception. The HiFocus Helix™ electrode proved easy to insert and provided expected hearing benefits for the patient. This manuscript indicates that the HiResolution™ Bionic Ear System with HiFocus Helix™ electrode comprise a cochlear implant system that is practical and beneficial for the treatment of severe-to-profound hearing loss.830

Hepatic encephalopathy secondary to poisoning by Tephrosia cinerea in sheep

In the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, Tephrosia cinerea causes periacinar hepatic fibrosis in sheep with severe ascites and, occasionally, nervous signs. Sixteen sheep from six outbreaks of T. cinerea poisoning were studied. All sheep had histologic lesion of periacinar fibrosis and six showed, in the brain, vacuolization (spongy degeneration) of the white matter and junction between grey and white matter and presence of Alzheimer type II astrocytes in the grey matter. The disease was produced experimentally in two sheep, that presented porto-sistemic shunts and similar histologic lesions as those observed in the spontaneous cases. Immunohistochemistry revealed weak labelling with anti-GFAP antibodies suggesting a degenerative alteration of astrocytes with accumulation of dense bodies and reduction of the GFAP. There was strong labelling with anti-S100 antibodies suggesting cellular reactivity with proliferation of mitochondria and endoplasmatic reticulum. Such alterations are characteristic of the effects caused by ammonia on the astrocytes. It is concluded that in poisoning by T. cinerea nervous signs due to hepatic encephalopathy occur in some sheep

Bryophilous Agaricomycetes (Fungi, Basidiomycota): A Review to Brazil

Bryophilous fungi have at least one stage of its life cycle linked to Bryophytes. There are few studies in relation to their taxonomy and ecology all around the world, including Brazil. The Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota) have gained prominence worldwide and contained several species of economic interest. Based on a bibliographic review and discussion about identification methods and experimental models on this association a species list of bryophilous/Agaricomycetes found in Brazil was elaborated. In the works found among the techniques used to identify effective fungi/Bryophytes associations it can be cited: phylogenetics analysis, optical and electron microscopy, and cultivation experiments. In Brazil, four orders of Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota), belonging to Agaricales, Boletales, Hymenochaetales, and Polyporales, with 33 species were found associated to Bryophytes in the literature. Information of the worldwide distribution of Brazilian muscicolous species and application of these groups were realized associating edibility, toxicity, and others. It was noted that in this country there is a scarcity of scientific knowledge of this subject, that needs to be better understood in terms of ecology and taxonomy

Genome-wide association between single nucleotide polymorphisms with beef fatty acid profile in Nellore cattle using the single step procedure

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Saturated fatty acids can be detrimental to human health and have received considerable attention in recent years. Several studies using taurine breeds showed the existence of genetic variability and thus the possibility of genetic improvement of the fatty acid profile in beef. This study identified the regions of the genome associated with saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and n-6 to n-3 ratios in the Longissimus thoracis of Nellore finished in feedlot, using the single-step method.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud The results showed that 115 windows explain more than 1 % of the additive genetic variance for the 22 studied fatty acids. Thirty-one genomic regions that explain more than 1 % of the additive genetic variance were observed for total saturated fatty acids, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0 and C18:0. Nineteen genomic regions, distributed in sixteen different chromosomes accounted for more than 1 % of the additive genetic variance for the monounsaturated fatty acids, such as the sum of monounsaturated fatty acids, C14:1 cis-9, C18:1 trans-11, C18:1 cis-9, and C18:1 trans-9. Forty genomic regions explained more than 1 % of the additive variance for the polyunsaturated fatty acids group, which are related to the total polyunsaturated fatty acids, C20:4 n-6, C18:2 cis-9 cis12 n-6, C18:3 n-3, C18:3 n-6, C22:6 n-3 and C20:3 n-6 cis-8 cis-11 cis-14. Twenty-one genomic regions accounted for more than 1 % of the genetic variance for the group of omega-3, omega-6 and the n-6:n-3 ratio.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The identification of such regions and the respective candidate genes, such as ELOVL5, ESSRG, PCYT1A and genes of the ABC group (ABC5, ABC6 and ABC10), should contribute to form a genetic basis of the fatty acid profile of Nellore (Bos indicus) beef, contributing to better selection of the traits associated with improving human health.MVA Lemos, (FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São\ud Paulo). HLJ Chiaia, MP Berton, FLB Feitosa received scholarships from the\ud Coordination Office for Advancement of University-level Personnel (CAPES;\ud Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) in conjunction\ud with the Postgraduate Program on Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculdade\ud de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV,\ud UNESP). F Baldi (FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São\ud Paulo grant #2011/21241-0). Lucia G. Albuquerque (FAPESP, Fundação de\ud Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo grant #2009/16118-5)