Contribuição para o estudo da Tanatologia Veterinária

Dissertação de Mestrado em Medicina Legal, área de especialização em Tanatologia Forense, apresentada ao Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar da Universidade do PortoA peritagem em assuntos que estejam intimamente relacionados com a actividade médico veterinária está definida no Código Deontológico Médico Veterinário.O exame pós-morte entra nesta definição e cada vez assume mais importância.Os clínicos veterinários e patologistas são muitas vezes chamados para examinar animais que foram encontrados mortos sem sinais premonitórios. Em animais de interesse pecuário e cavalos, existem alguns trabalhos sobre morte súbita, mas, em cães e gatos, tanto quanto conhecemos apenas existe um estudo publicado. As causas de morte súbita e morte violenta foram revistas usando os registos do laboratório de Histologia e Anatomia Patológica da Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, durante um período de dois anos. Foram incluídos neste estudo 277 animais, dos quais 72 morreram de morte súbita de causas naturais e 41 tiveram morte violenta. As principais causas de morte inesperada são descritas para as diferentes espécies, e faz-se uma sistematização das lesões mortais em casos de morte de causa externa

Clinicopathological significance of caspase-3 and Ki-67 expression in canine mammary gland tumours

Fifty canine mammary gland tumours (CMGT) (18 benign and 32 malignant) were studied by immunohistochemical detection of active caspase-3 and Ki-67 antigens in order to determine their association with several clinicopathological parameters. The percentage of caspase-3 positive cells was significantly higher in benign tumours as compared to their malignant counterparts (P ≤ 0.001). In the group of malignant tumours there was no significant association between active caspase-3 and the clinicopathological variables considered. The percentage of Ki- 67 positive cells was significantly higher in malignant tumours compared to the benign ones (P ≤ 0.001). In the group of malignant tumours, Ki-67 expression showed a statistically significant association with tumour size (P = 0.025), histological type (P = 0.010), mitotic grade (P ≤ 0.001), nuclear grade (P = 0.025), differentiation grade (P = 0.004), histological grade of malignancy (P = 0.002), and presence of metastases in regional lymph nodes (P = 0.025). Furthermore, this study revealed a negative correlation between the percentages of active caspase-3 and Ki-67 (r = –0.39; P = 0.04). Thus, our results suggest a loss of balance between cell death and cell division in CMGT. Key words: Apoptosis, caspase-3, K

The diagnostic challenges of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), also known as sheep pulmonary adenomatosis and jaagsiekte, is a contagious pulmonary tumor of sheep, characterized by neoplastic proliferation of type II pneumocyte and club cells. OPA is induced by the oncogenic activity of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) of exogenous jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). This disease is associated with significant economic losses in numerous sheep raising countries. The onset of suggestive clinical signs is often late, making difficult the early diagnosis of the disease and timely implementation of control measures on the affected farms. Further, the lack of diagnostic tests that can be performed routinely by veterinary clinicians to accurately assess infected animals (e.g., serological or others) means that the true prevalence at flock level is not known. Imaging diagnostic methods (e.g., ultrasound, X-ray and computed tomography) can be used to support the clinical diagnosis, even in pre-clinical stages in affected flocks. The diagnosis must be confirmed by PCR of nasal excretions or immunohistochemistry and PCR of tumor lesions. No vaccine for OPA has yet been developed. Thus, in this work, we review the main methods of diagnosis of OPA in order to support the clinician in the identification of the disease, avoid underdiagnosis and allow the implementation of suitable measures to prevent and control its spread.This work was funded by 0687_OVISPID_2_E Interreg España-Portugal (EU) Poctepinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A comparative approach of tumor associated inflammation in mammary cancer between humans and dogs

Infiltrating cells of the immune system are widely accepted to be generic constituents of tumor microenvironment. It has been well established that the development of mammary cancer, both in humans and dogs, is associated with alterations in numbers and functions of immune cells at the sites of tumor progression. These tumor infiltrating immune cells seems to exhibit exclusive phenotypic and functional characteristics and mammary cancer cells can take advantage of signaling molecules released by them. Cancer related inflammation has an important role in mammary carcinogenesis, contributing to the acquisition of core hallmark capabilities that allow cancer cells to survive, proliferate, and disseminate. Indeed, recent studies in human breast cancer and in canine mammary tumors have identified a growing list of signaling molecules released by inflammatory cells that serve as effectors of their tumor-promoting actions. These include the COX-2, the tumor growth factor EGF, the angiogenic growth factor VEGF, other proangiogenic factors and a large variety of chemokines and cytokines that amplify the inflammatory state. This review describes the intertwined signaling pathways shared by Tlymphocytic/macrophage infiltrates and important tissue biomarkers in both human and dog mammary carcinogenesis.The work was supported partially by the Strategic Research project Pest-OE/AGR/UI0772/2011 and the Research Project UID/AGR/04033/2013, by a Ph.D. scholarship SFRH/BD/ 78771/2011 financed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and in part by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), SFB F4606-B28, to Erika Jensen Jarolim

CONHECENDO AEDES AEGYPTI E AEDES ALBOPICTUS, OS MOSQUITOS DOS VÁRIOS VÍRUS

As enfermidades transmitidas pelos mosquitos Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus, principalmente a dengue, ainda se apresentam como um desafio para a saúde pública. Outras doenças importantes como Chikungunya, Zika e Febre Amarela são causadas por vírus distintos, porém, dispersadas pelos mesmos mosquitos. As estratégias utilizadas pelos sistemas de saúde na identificação e combate a essas doenças ainda são, até agora, insuficientes, já que é necessário trabalhar através do diagnóstico local e de estratégias de controle de vetor que possibilitem o protagonismo da sociedade na melhora da qualidade da saúde. Este projeto de extensão tem como objetivo implantar nas escolas públicas do ensino fundamental de Foz do Iguaçu, uma plataforma de conscientização infantil a partir de encontros semanais, onde por meio de didáticas lúdicas se abordam diversos aspectos da promoção da saúde e prevenção da doença. Um dos focos do trabalho aponta ao conhecimento do ciclo de vida do mosquito e sua relação com a problemática ambiental. Ao final dos encontros, as crianças compartilham os conhecimentos adquiridos com os colegas de outras salas e da comunidade. Desta forma, consideramos que os estudantes participantes se convertem em cidadãos ativos no cuidado da saúde individual e coletiva

Dextrin hydrogel loaded with a macroporous Bonelike® scaffold and dental pulp stem cells for critical-sized defect repair

Regeneration of severe bone defects remains a challenge. A formulation of synthetic glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite bone substitute, Bonelike® Poro (BL®P), 250500 µm-diameter, with a dextrin-based hydrogel (HG), further loaded with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) with osteogenic differentiation ability, was tested for the management of critical-sized defects in an ovine model. Morphology, calcium release, and mechanical strength of HG + BL®P were analyzed. Then, BL®P, HG + BL®P, and 106 hDPSCs-loaded HG + BL®P were implanted in ovine critical-sized 14 mm-diameter calvaria defects. Bone samples were collected after 3 and 6 weeks for histological and micro-CT analysis. BL®P exhibits a suitable porous size for cell ingrowth, from the nm (>200 nm) to the µm (5 µm) range. The addition of BL®P granules to the HG resulted in increased compressive elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength. The mildly acidic nature of the HG contributed to a faster dissolution of granules. In vivo results confirmed the HG suitability as a carrier, providing better defect filling, easy handling, and injectability of BL®P without compromising new bone formation nor biocompatibility. The HG + BL®P formulations can successfully regenerate critical-sized defects; however, addition of hDPSCs did not significantly enhance new bone formation under these conditions. Granular BL®P provides an effective alternative to autologous grafts. The HG acts as a biocompatible carrier of granular bone substitutes and cells, conferring injectability and cohesivity.Alexandra Machado and Isabel Pereira were supported by the grants SFRH/BD/132000/2017 and UMINHO/BI/131/2018 respectively, from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal. The authors acknowledge the funding from FEDER and NORTE 2020 through the project no. 003262 titled “iBONE therapies: advanced solutions for bone regeneration”. This study was supported by FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. The participation of Isabel Pires, Justina Prada, Luís Maltez and José Eduardo Pereira was funded by the projects UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020 supported by FCT. The participation of Rui Alvites, Ana Catarina Sousa, Mariana Branquinho, Ana Rita Caseiro, Sílvia Santos Pedrosa and Ana Colette Maurício was funded by Projects PEst-OE/AGR/UI0211/2011, UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020. Mariana Vieira Branquinho (SFRH/BD/146172/2019) and Ana Catarina Sousa (SFRH/BD/146689/2019) acknowledge FCT, for financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combined use of chitosan and olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem/stromal cells to promote peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo

Peripheral nerve injury remains a clinical challenge with severe physiological and functional consequences. Despite the existence of multiple possible therapeutic approaches, until now, there is no consensus regarding the advantages of each option or the best methodology in promoting nerve regeneration. Regenerative medicine is a promise to overcome this medical limitation, and in this work, chitosan nerve guide conduits and olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem/stromal cells were applied in different therapeutic combinations to promote regeneration in sciatic nerves after neurotmesis injury. Over 20 weeks, the intervened animals were subjected to a regular functional assessment (determination of motor performance, nociception, and sciatic indexes), and after this period, they were evaluated kinematically and the sciatic nerves and cranial tibial muscles were evaluated stereologically and histomorphometrically, respectively. The results obtained allowed confirming the beneficial effects of using these therapeutic approaches. The use of chitosan NGCs and cells resulted in better motor performance, better sciatic indexes, and lower gait dysfunction after 20 weeks. The use of only NGGs demonstrated better nociceptive recoveries. The stereological evaluation of the sciatic nerve revealed identical values in the different parameters for all therapeutic groups. In the muscle histomorphometric evaluation, the groups treated with NGCs and cells showed results close to those of the group that received traditional sutures, the one with the best final values. The therapeutic combinations studied show promising outcomes and should be the target of new future works to overcome some irregularities found in the results and establish the combination of nerve guidance conduits and olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem/stromal cells as viable options in the treatment of peripheral nerves after injury.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio