Bleaching melanin in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded melanoma specimens using visible light: a pilot study

In fluorescence microscopy, light radiation can be used to bleach fluorescent molecules in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, in order to increase the ratio between signal of interest and background autofluorescence. We tested if the same principle can be exploited in bright field microscopy to bleach pigmented melanoma FFPE sections together with cell morphology maintenance. After dewaxing and rehydration, serial FFPE sections of a feline diffuse iris melanoma, a canine dermal melanoma, a gray horse dermal melanoma and a swine cutaneous melanoma were irradiated with visible light for I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days, prior to Hematoxylin & Eosin staining. Complete bleaching was obtained after 1-day treatment in feline and swine melanomas, while 2 and 3 days were required in canine and equine neoplasms, respectively. In all treated samples, cell morphology was maintained. Photo-induced bleaching combined with immunohistochemistry was tested after a 3-day photo-treatment using five different markers. According to the literature, in all samples neoplastic cells stained positive for vimentin, S100 and PNL2, while negative for FVIII and pancytokeratin. in conclusion, visible light can be effectively exploited to bleach pigmented melanoma FFPE sections prior to perform routine histochemical and immunohistochemical stains

LINEE GUIDA NAZIONALI PER LE AUTOPSIE A SCOPO FORENSE IN MEDICINA VETERINARIA

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LINEE GUIDA NAZIONALI PER LE AUTOPSIE A SCOPO FORENSE IN MEDICINA VETERINARIA

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Canine Distemper Outbreaks in Wild Carnivores in Northern Italy

Canine distemper (CD) is a fatal, highly contagious disease of wild and domestic carnivores. In the Alpine territory, several outbreaks have occurred in the past few decades within wild populations. This study investigated the presence of canine distemper virus (CDV) infections in wild carnivores in Lombardy, relating to the different circulating genotypes. From 2018 to 2020, foxes, badgers, and martens collected during passive surveillance were subjected to necropsy and histological examination, showing classical signs and microscopic lesions related to CDV. Pools of viscera from each animal were analysed by molecular methods and immunoelectron microscopy. Total prevalences of 39.7%, 52.6%, and 14.3% were recorded in foxes, badgers, and stone martens, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequences obtained belonged to the European 1 lineage and were divided into two different clades (a and b) according to the geographical conformation of alpine valleys included in the study. Clade a was related to the European outbreaks originating from Germany in 2006–2010, while clade b was closely related to the CDV sequences originating from northeastern Italy during the 2011–2018 epidemic wave. Our results suggest that CDV is currently well adapted to wild carnivores, mostly circulating with subclinical manifestations and without severe impact on the dynamics of these populations

LINEE GUIDA NAZIONALI PER LE AUTOPSIE A SCOPO FORENSE IN MEDICINA VETERINARIA

\u201c9 prefazione Prefazione Verso la fine degli anni 80, in un piccolo paese dell\u2019entroterra siculo, tre guardiacaccia volontari vennero arrestati con l\u2019accusa di avere cacciato di notte \u201cfariannu\u201d, cio\ue8 usando potenti torce elet-triche per abbagliare la preda e ucciderla, cosa assolutamente proibita. Nel portabagagli dell\u2019au-to dei tre venne ritrovato un coniglio morto; i guardiacaccia si giustificarono sostenendo di averlo preso di giorno, legittimamente, ma non vennero creduti. L\u2019indomani, nel corso del processo per direttissima, il loro difensore sollev\uf2 una brillante questione preliminare: non \ue8 possibile stabilire l\u2019ora esatta della morte del coniglio; occorrerebbe un esame necroscopico. Chiese quindi un\u2019au-topsia sulla cadavere dell\u2019animale: se l\u2019esame avesse determinato che il coniglio era stato ucciso di mattina, gli arrestati sarebbero stati scagionati; se, invece, avesse collocato l\u2019evento letale in orario notturno, sarebbe stata raggiunta la prova della loro colpevolezza. Il vicepretore onorario, accogliendo la richiesta del difensore, dispose l\u2019accertamento tecnico, nominando perito il veteri-nario del paese. Quest\u2019ultimo, del tutto impreparato all\u2019originale incarico ricevuto, non fu capace di rispondere al quesito con la conseguenza che, permanendo un ragionevole dubbio, i guardia-caccia vennero assolti.* Oggi le cose sarebbero andate diversamente: l\u2019incarico sarebbe stato conferito a un esperto in scienze[\u2026]\u201d Passi di: \u201cLinee guida nazionali per le autopsie a scopo forense in medicina veterinaria\u201d. Apple Books

Linee guida nazionali per le autopsie a scopo forense in medicina veterinaria

“9 prefazione Prefazione Verso la fine degli anni 80, in un piccolo paese dell’entroterra siculo, tre guardiacaccia volontari vennero arrestati con l’accusa di avere cacciato di notte “fariannu”, cioè usando potenti torce elet-triche per abbagliare la preda e ucciderla, cosa assolutamente proibita. Nel portabagagli dell’au-to dei tre venne ritrovato un coniglio morto; i guardiacaccia si giustificarono sostenendo di averlo preso di giorno, legittimamente, ma non vennero creduti. L’indomani, nel corso del processo per direttissima, il loro difensore sollevò una brillante questione preliminare: non è possibile stabilire l’ora esatta della morte del coniglio; occorrerebbe un esame necroscopico. Chiese quindi un’au-topsia sulla cadavere dell’animale: se l’esame avesse determinato che il coniglio era stato ucciso di mattina, gli arrestati sarebbero stati scagionati; se, invece, avesse collocato l’evento letale in orario notturno, sarebbe stata raggiunta la prova della loro colpevolezza. Il vicepretore onorario, accogliendo la richiesta del difensore, dispose l’accertamento tecnico, nominando perito il veteri-nario del paese. Quest’ultimo, del tutto impreparato all’originale incarico ricevuto, non fu capace di rispondere al quesito con la conseguenza che, permanendo un ragionevole dubbio, i guardia-caccia vennero assolti.* Oggi le cose sarebbero andate diversamente: l’incarico sarebbe stato conferito a un esperto in scienze[…]” Passi di: “Linee guida nazionali per le autopsie a scopo forense in medicina veterinaria”. Apple Books

Linee guida nazionali per le autopsie a scopo forense in medicina veterinaria

Vedi Prefazione nel testo

Linee guida nazionali per le autopsie a scopo forense in medicina veterinaria

Vedi Prefazione nel testo

The Italian Network of Laboratories for Veterinary Oncology (NILOV) 2.0: Improving Knowledge on Canine Tumours

Advances in tumour research are crucial, and comparative oncology can improve the knowledge in several ways. Dogs are not only models of specific naturally occurring tumours but can also be sentinels of environmental exposures to carcinogens, as they share the same environment with their owners. The purpose of this work was to describe the data collected by The Italian Network of Laboratories for Veterinary Oncology in the first 9 years of activity (2013-2021) and to evaluate their potential epidemiological significance. Frequencies of tumour topographies and main morphologies in dogs were described, analysed and compared, calculating age-adjusted proportional morbidity ratios and considering several risk factors (breed, sex, period and region of residence). These observations allowed us to highlight differences not only in morphology and topography of some tumours but also to formulate hypotheses on the potential role of some risk factors, e.g., neutering/spaying or geographical location. In our opinion, the results of this case series confirm the importance of initiating and consolidating animal cancer registration initiatives that would facilitate the possibility of conducting multicentric collaborative studies to deepen the knowledge of the epidemiology of tumours in dogs from a comparative perspective

The Italian law on body donation: A position paper of the Italian College of Anatomists

In Italy, recent legislation (Law No. 10/2020) has tuned regulations concerning the donation of one's postmortem body and tissues for study, training, and scientific research purposes. This study discusses several specific issues to optimise the applicability and effectiveness of such an important, novel regulatory setting. Some of these unsolved issues may involve the grantees of teaching and training activities, the role of academic anatomical institutes, the role of family members in the donation process, the universal time limit indicated for any donation, the handling of corpses, and the limited body donation and its subordination to the donation of organs and tissues. Critical issues arise concerning the learners, the type of training and teaching activities that can be planned, the position of academic anatomy institutes, the role of family members in the donation process, the time frame of the donation process, the eligibility of partial donation, or the simultaneous donation of organs and tissues to patients awaiting transplantation. In particular, a universal time limit for donations (i.e., one year) makes it impossible to plan the long-term use of specific body parts, which could be effectively preserved for the advanced teaching and training of medical students and surgeons. The abovementioned conditions lead to the limited use of corpses, thus resulting in the inefficiency of the whole system of body donation. Overall, the donors' scope for the donation of their body could be best honoured by a more flexible and tuneable approach that can be used on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, it is deemed necessary to closely monitor the events scheduled for corpses in public nonacademic institutions or private enterprises. This paper presents useful insights from Italian anatomists with the hope of providing inspiration for drafting the regulations. In conclusion, this paper focuses on the critical issues derived from the recently introduced Italian law on the donation and use of the body after death and provides suggestions to lawmakers for future implementations