Osteopatia hipertrófica secundária a osteossarcoma condroblástico extraesquelético em um cão

Background: hypertrophic osteopathy is a periosteum disturb characterized by diffuse new bone formation which leads to significant thickening and deformity of members. Secondary in nature, it usually follows large pulmonary lesions such as abscesses and neoplasms. Extraskeletal osteosarcomas are rare and extremely malignant mesenchymal neoplasms. They comprise approximately 1% of all domestic animals’ osteosarcomas and develop in the absence of a primary bone lesion. The aim of this paper was to describe a case of hypertrophic osteopathy, involving joints and upper limbs bones including ilium, secondary to a mediastinal chondroblastic osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastasis.Case: A 10-year-old spayed female mixed breed dog, weighing 9 kg, was presented with painful limbs, lameness, hind limbs swelling and a four-month history of weight loss. Radiographic examination revealed bilateral and asymmetric periosteal reactions on diaphyseal and/or epiphyseal areas of all proximal phalanges; metacarpal, metatarsal, carpal and tarsal bones; radius; ulna; tibia; fibula; humerus; femur and right ilium. An increased soft tissue radiopacity was noted on the lateral side of the right knee joint. Thoracic radiographies and ultrasonography suggested the presence of a 5-cm neoplasm or abscess in the left caudal lung lobe. At necropsy, the lobe showed a firm and solid, oval white mass measuring 5.2 x 2.9 cm. Another mass was found in the caudal mediastinum, near the diaphragm, with same color and more irregular aspect, measuring 3.3 cm of diameter. Intense periosteal new-bone formation was seen in the entire length of the four limbs bones, characterized by thickening of the bone surface and formation of irregular trabeculae perpendicular to the cortex. Significant swelling and thickening of the joint capsule was noted in the right knee. There was no microbial growth on aerobic or anaerobic cultures from the masses samples sent to culture. Histopathological examination showed areas of chondroid differentiation, osteoidtissue formation and cell morphology suggestive of chondroblastic osteosarcoma in mediastinal region, with invasion and involvement of the diaphragm and lungs. The analyzed bone fragment had large foci of tissue compaction, peritrabecular bleeding and mineralization of osteoid tissue, permeated by plasma cells and typical lymphocytes.Discussion: Although hypertrophic osteopathy is often characterized as a disease which affects the diaphysis of distal long bones, this case presented a proximal progression of the disease. There was an unusual involvement of joints and ilium, which reinforces the importance of radiographic evaluation of these regions. Further studies on the pathogenesis of the syndrome are required, as its exact mechanisms remain obscure. It is suggested that the term hypertrophic osteoarthropathy should not be consider a misnomer since joint involvement is not exclusive of human form of the disease. Mediastinal masses are important cause of hypertrophic osteopathy. However, this is the first paper the authors are aware of that reports the occurrence of hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to mediastinal osteosarcoma. Finally, although rare, extra skeletal osteosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intrathoracic masses in dogs with hypertrophic osteopathy. Timely diagnosis of hypertrophic osteopathy, whose signs of lameness and painful limbs draw the owner’s attention, may favor the diagnosis of severe concomitant diseases

Microvessel density evaluation as a prognostic factor in canine and feline soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas are mesenchymal origin neoplasms collectively classified according to histological characteristics and biological behaviour similiarities. Various neoplasms are included in this major group, as fibrosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, peripheral nerve sheath tumor, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomiosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, synovial cell sarcoma and undifferentiated sarcoma. The microvessel density measure has been applied to investigate tumor angiogenesis in many neoplasms. The objectives of this study were to evaluate de microvessel density in canine and feline soft tissue sarcomas and compare the general vessel measurement area and intense vascular areas hot spot. Those data were compared to usually applied prognostic factors like mitotic index, necroses presence and amount and cellular differentiation. Soft tissue sarcomas were collected in Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico da Universidade Federal de Pelotas from 1978 to 2008 among canine and feline necropsies and biopsies. In a total of 1668 neoplasms cases during this period, 100 were soft tissue sarcomas, 87 canine and 13 feline. Sex prevalence was not observed in the analyzed species. The major prevalence in canine were hemangiosarcomas (n=34) and fibrosarcomas (n=20), being the mongrel dogs (n=35) most. The large breeds presented major frequence (n=22), followed by medium size (n=16) and small sized breeds (n=9). . In feline population, there were not accentuated prevalence, exciding hemangiosarcomas (n=4) and fibrosarcomas (n=4). In those 100 cases, 39 paraffin blocks were obtained, being 36 canine and 3 feline, mostly mongrel specimens, with 9,21(±2,99) medium age. The general vascular and hot spot areas were significantly correlated (r2=0,98; p<0,01). The mitotic index between areas were in those areas (r2=0,95, p<0,01). Hemangiosarcomas presented major vascular media in the techniques, followed by muscular sarcomas and fibrosarcomas (p<0,05). The microvessel density in soft tissue sarcomas do not present correlation to other prognostic factor usually applied. Hot spot areas can be utilized to determine the vascular degree and mitotic index in soft tissue sarcomas.Os sarcomas de tecidos moles são neoplasmas de origem mesenquimal classificados coletivamente devido a características histológicas e comportamento biológico similares. Vários neoplasmas estão incluídos neste grande grupo, como fibrossarcoma, hemangiossarcoma, tumor de bainha de nervo periférico, mixossarcoma, lipossarcoma, leiomiossarcoma, rabdomiossarcoma, histiocitoma fibroso maligno, sarcoma sinovial e sarcoma indiferenciado. A mensuração da densidade vascular tem sido utilizada para investigar a angiogênese tumoral em diferentes neoplasmas. Este estudo teve como objetivo a determinação da microdensidade vascular de sarcomas de tecidos moles caninos e felinos através da comparação entre a mensuração geral vascular e áreas de intensa proliferação hot spot. Estes dados foram comparados a fatores prognósticos usualmente empregados, como índice mitótico, presença e quantidade de necrose e diferenciação celular. Os sarcomas de tecidos moles foram resgatados dos arquivos do Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico da Universidade Federal de Pelotas entre 1978 a 2008 dentre necropsias e biópsias caninas e felinas. Num total de 1668 neoplasmas deste período, 100 eram sarcomas de tecidos moles, sendo 87 caninos e 13 felinos. Não se observou prevalência de sexo nas espécies analisadas. Em caninos, a maior prevalência foi de hemangiossarcomas (n=34) e fibrossarcomas (n=20), sendo os sem raça definida (n=35) os mais acometidos. Os animais de porte grande apresentaram maior freqüência (n=22), seguidos pelos de porte médio (n=16) e de porte pequeno (n=9). Em felinos não houve uma prevalência acentuada, destacando-se os hemangiossarcomas (n=4) e fibrossarcomas (n=4). Destes 100, obtiveram-se blocos de 39 casos, sendo 36 caninos e 3 felinos, em sua maioria sem raça definida nas duas espécies, com idade média observada foi de 9,21(±2,99 anos). A mensuração vascular geral e de áreas hot spot apresentaram correlação significativa (r2=0,98; p<0,01). O índice mitótico nas duas áreas observadas foram significativas (r2=0,95, p<0,01). Os hemangiossarcomas apresentaram maior média vascular nas duas técnicas, seguidos pelos sarcomas musculares e fibrossarcomas (p<0,05). Houve diferença entre os hemangiossarcomas e os fibrossarcomas, e os sarcomas musculares não diferiram desses (p<0,05). A microdensidade vascular em sarcomas de tecidos moles não apresentou correlação com outros fatores empregados usualmente. A visualização de campos hot spot pode ser utilizada para determinar o grau vascular e índice mitótico

O despertar do fenômeno bullying nas instituições de ensino superior brasileiras

Quando o tema bullying é descrito e discutido pelos de meios de comunicação, geralmente se associa à ideia de que é um fenômeno de contínua agressão psicológica e/ou física a crianças e adolescentes. Todavia, o bullying ocorre em diversos níveis sociais, econômicos e etários, inclusive com jovens em instituições de ensino superior. Somam-se a isso, as interações entre três segmentos - os acadêmicos, os docentes e os agentes universitários – os quais convivem com e sofrem por causa do bullying, independente do papel que exerçam no local de trabalho ou estudo. Tal fenômeno já foi identificado em diversas instituições de ensino e trabalho de vários países, causando, em suma, depressão, sociofobia, ansiedade, perda de autoestima, doenças psicosomáticas e demais patologias nas vítimas. Dada à caracterização desse problema, é necessário atentar para possíveis casos que, convenientemente, não são percebidos por falta de ferramentas para o seu diagnóstico, devendo com isso implantar políticas pedagógicas para se banir esses comportamentos excludentes e discriminatórios. Este artigo ressalta os aspectos principais do bullying, desde os seus agentes, os ambientes onde ocorrem e até os problemas causados pela falta de controle adequado devido ao desconhecimento desse fenômeno. Palavras-chave: Bullying. Instituições de Ensino Superior. Vitimização. Estresse Social. The arising of bullying in Brazilian Higher Education InstitutionsWhen bullying is described and discussed by the media, there is a general association to the idea that it is a phenomenon of constant psychological and/or physical aggression against children and adolescents. However, bullying occurs in various social, economic and age groups, including young people in higher education institutions. In addition to this, the interactions between three segments, the academics, professors and university staff who live with and suffer because of bullying, regardless of their role at the place of work or study. This phenomenon has been identified in various educational and work institutions in several countries causing, in short, depression, social phobia, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, psychosomatic illnesses and other pathologies to the victims. Given the characterization of this problem, one must pay attention to the possible cases that conveniently, are not perceived due to the lack of tools for its diagnosis, and with it, implement educational policies to banish these exclusionary and discriminatory behaviors. This article highlights the key aspects of bullying, from its agents, environments where it occurs, to the problems caused by a lack of control due to the ignorance of this phenomenon. Keywords: Bullying. Higher Education Institutions. Victimization. Social Stress.  

Conventional vs. Advanced Echocardiographic Parameters for Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Healthy Dogs

Background: Volume replacement is considered an essential component in the treatment of critically ill patients, but excess fluid administration can be as harmful as the lack of fluid therapy. Therefore, the volume replacement is only beneficial in patients deemed to be fluid responsive, that is, when the individual has an increase in their stroke volume after administration of a volume challenge. This study aim to assess whether conventional and advanced echocardiographic parameters for assessing left ventricular systolic function are able to predict fluid responsiveness in healthy spontaneously breathing dogs. The hypothesis was that some of these parameters would differ between responsive and non-responsive animals and could be used as a complementary measure for assessment of fluid responsiveness.Materials, Methods &amp; Results: A prospective study was carried out in which 22 client-owned healthy dogs over 1 year of age that presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for elective neutering procedure were included. All dogs underwent conventional and advanced echocardiographic examination to obtain the left ventricular internal diameter in diastole normalized (LVIDDn), left ventricular internal diameter in systole normalized (LVIDSn), ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (SF) according to the Teischholz methodology, global longitudinal strain (GLS) and tissue motion annular displacement (TMAD). There parameters were evaluated before and after administration of a volume challenge with 10 mL/kg lactate ringer intravenously for 20 min. Based on the variation in aortic velocity integral time, 31.82% of dogs were considered responsive and 68.18% were non-responsive to the volume challenge. For advanced echocardiography, TMAD indexed by body weight (mm/kg) &gt; 0.89 (P = 0.004) and body surface area (mm/m2) &gt;18.9 (P = 0.004) after volume challenge had the best area under the curve values (both 0.895) and smaller gray zone intervals (0.52 - 0.81 and 14.89 - 17.88) for the identification of responsive dogs. Although, TMAD (mm/kg and mm/m2) before volume challenge was also higher in the responsive dogs (P = 0.041 and P = 0.029). As for conventional echocardiography, the LVIDDn &lt; 1.39 (P = 0.003) before volume challenge had the best area under the curve value (0.866) and the smallest gray zone interval (1.4 - 1.57) for the identification of responsive dogs. The GLS and the TMAD in milimeters (mm), percentage (%) and indexed by cubic root of weight (mm/∛kg) did not differ between the responsive and non-responsive dogs before and after volume challenge.Discussion: TMAD indexed by body weight (mm/kg) and body surface area (mm/m2) before and after volume challenge and the LVIDDn before volume challenge may be useful measures to complement the assessment of fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing dogs. This is the first study to use TMAD as a predictive parameter for fluid responsiveness in healthy, spontaneously breathing, dogs. Even it is an advanced echocardiographic technique, TMAD has advantages interms of execution time and the fact that it is less dependence on image quality or operator experience. It is possible that in the future such variables may form a useful part of the evaluation of fluid responsiveness in dogs. However, more studies are needed to better understand the applicability of these techniques, especially in dogs with hemodynamic changes. Keywords: canine, global longitudinal strain, stroke volume, tissue motion annular displacement, TMAD, VTI

Conventional vs. Advanced Echocardiographic Parameters for Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Healthy Dogs

Background: Volume replacement is considered an essential component in the treatment of critically ill patients, but excess fluid administration can be as harmful as the lack of fluid therapy. Therefore, the volume replacement is only beneficial in patients deemed to be fluid responsive, that is, when the individual has an increase in their stroke volume after administration of a volume challenge. This study aim to assess whether conventional and advanced echocardiographic parameters for assessing left ventricular systolic function are able to predict fluid responsiveness in healthy spontaneously breathing dogs. The hypothesis was that some of these parameters would differ between responsive and non-responsive animals and could be used as a complementary measure for assessment of fluid responsiveness.Materials, Methods &amp; Results: A prospective study was carried out in which 22 client-owned healthy dogs over 1 year of age that presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for elective neutering procedure were included. All dogs underwent conventional and advanced echocardiographic examination to obtain the left ventricular internal diameter in diastole normalized (LVIDDn), left ventricular internal diameter in systole normalized (LVIDSn), ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (SF) according to the Teischholz methodology, global longitudinal strain (GLS) and tissue motion annular displacement (TMAD). There parameters were evaluated before and after administration of a volume challenge with 10 mL/kg lactate ringer intravenously for 20 min. Based on the variation in aortic velocity integral time, 31.82% of dogs were considered responsive and 68.18% were non-responsive to the volume challenge. For advanced echocardiography, TMAD indexed by body weight (mm/kg) &gt; 0.89 (P = 0.004) and body surface area (mm/m2) &gt;18.9 (P = 0.004) after volume challenge had the best area under the curve values (both 0.895) and smaller gray zone intervals (0.52 - 0.81 and 14.89 - 17.88) for the identification of responsive dogs. Although, TMAD (mm/kg and mm/m2) before volume challenge was also higher in the responsive dogs (P = 0.041 and P = 0.029). As for conventional echocardiography, the LVIDDn &lt; 1.39 (P = 0.003) before volume challenge had the best area under the curve value (0.866) and the smallest gray zone interval (1.4 - 1.57) for the identification of responsive dogs. The GLS and the TMAD in milimeters (mm), percentage (%) and indexed by cubic root of weight (mm/∛kg) did not differ between the responsive and non-responsive dogs before and after volume challenge.Discussion: TMAD indexed by body weight (mm/kg) and body surface area (mm/m2) before and after volume challenge and the LVIDDn before volume challenge may be useful measures to complement the assessment of fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing dogs. This is the first study to use TMAD as a predictive parameter for fluid responsiveness in healthy, spontaneously breathing, dogs. Even it is an advanced echocardiographic technique, TMAD has advantages interms of execution time and the fact that it is less dependence on image quality or operator experience. It is possible that in the future such variables may form a useful part of the evaluation of fluid responsiveness in dogs. However, more studies are needed to better understand the applicability of these techniques, especially in dogs with hemodynamic changes. Keywords: canine, global longitudinal strain, stroke volume, tissue motion annular displacement, TMAD, VTI