RETINAL DEGENERATION IN A PIT BULL DOG: ELECTRORETINOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

Electroretinogram (ERG) is a non-invasive electrophysiologic test widely used in both human and veterinary ophthalmology to evaluate retinal function. Case report: due to recent cases of severe visual impairment in Pit Bull dogs in our clinic, we decided to evaluate the retinal function by full-field ERG in a 5-month-old male Pit Bull dog whose owner have noticed visual impairment since 40 days of age. Under general anesthesia, the dog was submitted to full-field ERG testing, according to ISCEV (International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision) standard protocol. ERG recordings were obtained in one eye after 30 minutes of dark adaptation from a fully dilated pupil, using a monopolar contact lens electrode. Non-detectable scotopic and photopic responses were found, confirming the devastating effect of the retinal degeneration. Conclusion: ERG was able to quantify the severity of retinal degeneration on retinal function. We believe that heredogram study of these animals may be helpful to better understand this new retinal condition affecting Pit Bull dogs.O eletrorretinograma (ERG) consiste em exame objetivo, não invasivo, capaz de avaliar a função retiniana tanto na oftalmologia humana como na veterinária. Caso Clínico: com o recente surgimento em São Paulo, de cães da raça Pit Bull apresentando déficit visual severo, optou-se por realizar ERG de campo total em um filhote macho, 5 meses de idade, com baixa de visão desde os 40 dias de idade, com intuito de avaliar sua função retiniana. O animal, sob anestesia geral, foi submetido ao ERG, segundo o protocolo padrão da ISCEV (International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision). Em um dos olhos foi adaptado eletrodo de lente de contato monopolar, após adaptação ao escuro por 30 minutos e dilatação completa da pupila. As respostas escotópicas e fotópicas mostraram-se não detectáveis, confirmando o efeito devastador da degeneração na função retiniana. Comentários conclusivos: o Erg foi capaz de detectar a severidade da degeneração retiniana e acredita-se que o estudo do heredograma destes animais possibilitará melhor compreensão desta nova doença

Mucin pattern reflects the origin of the adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus: a retrospective clinical and laboratorial study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mucin immunoexpression in adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's esophagus (BE) may indicate the carcinogenesis pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate resected specimens of adenocarcinoma in BE for the pattern of mucins and to correlate to the histologic classification.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Specimens were retrospectively collected from thirteen patients who underwent esophageal resection due to adenocarcinoma in BE. Sections were scored for the grade of intestinal metaplasia. The tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry for MUC2 and MUC5AC antibodies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eleven patients were men. The mean age was 61 years old (varied from 40 to 75 years old). The tumor size had a mean of 4.7 ± 2.3 cm, and the extension of BE had a mean of 7.7 ± 1.5 cm. Specialized epithelium with intestinal metaplasia was present in all adjacent mucosas. Immunohistochemistry for MUC2 showed immunoreactivity in goblet cells, while MUC5AC was extensively expressed in the columnar gastric cells, localizing to the surface epithelium and extending to a variable degree into the glandular structures in BE. Tumors were classified according to the mucins in gastric type in 7/13 (MUC5AC positive) and intestinal type in 4/13 (MUC2 positive). Two tumors did not express MUC2 or MUC5AC proteins. The pattern of mucin predominantly expressed in the adjacent epithelium was associated to the mucin expression profile in the tumors, p = 0.047.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Barrett's esophagus adenocarcinoma shows either gastric or intestinal type pattern of mucin expression. The two types of tumors developed in Barrett's esophagus may reflect the original cell type involved in the malignant transformation.</p