No abstract

The result of the reaction of free radicals with biomolecules is the formation of substances with the potential of inducing oxidative damage, a condition known as oxidative stress. There are voluminous literature data reporting the association, both as a cause and as a consequence, between different diseases and oxidative stress. In this study, 144 female dogs with mammary neoplasia were analyzed. The animals were submitted to clinical evaluation for disease staging, hematological evaluation, serum biochemistry (renal and hepatic function tests), and dosage of the oxidative damage biomarker, malondialdehyde (MDA), at the time of its approach and 30 days after treatment. A control group of 100 healthy animals was also submitted to determination of serum MDA levels. The mean age of the animals affected by mammary neoplasms was 9.88±2.95 (4 to 14) years, while in healthy animals it was 2.31±1.90 years (1 to 6). Of the 144 animals, 113 (78.9%) had malignant neoplasms, and 15, 21, 46, 17 and 14 animals were in clinical stage I, II, III, IV and V respectively and the carcinoma in a mixed tumor was the most frequent histological pattern in this group (26%). Thirty-one animals were diagnosed with benign neoplasms and mammary adenoma was the most frequent histological pattern in 15 animals (51.61%). Hematological changes in the preoperative period were observed in 44 (38.9%) and 12 (38.7%) animals with malignant and benign neoplasias, respectively, and there was a positive correlation between anemia and higher levels of MDA (P=0.0008) for animals with malignant tumors. Regarding serum biochemical parameters, the most frequent alterations in animals with malignant neoplasms were elevated ALT levels in 12 animals (10.6%), creatinine in 10 animals (8.84%) and urea in eight animals (7.07%). Females with benign neoplasms presented less occurrence of changes in these parameters. In the group of healthy animals (control), the mean serum MDA values were 12.08±4.18, whereas in the pre-treatment group, mean MDA was 24.80±5.74 for bitches with benign neoplasms and 32.27±10.24 for bitches with malignant tumors. A significant increase (P<0.001) in MDA levels was observed in animals with malignant mammary neoplasms when compared to healthy animals and with benign tumors. In addition, a significant reduction (P<0.001) was observed 30 days after treatment in MDA levels (27.37±7.86) in animals with malignant tumors. In conclusion, our results indicate an association between MDA seric levels and mammary neoplasms in dogs. The results suggest that this factor can be used as a biomarker of oxidative stress with a potential impact in the prognostic of mammary tumors, since significantly higher levels of MDA were detected especially in dogs carrying malignant tumors and presenting anemia.

Heartworm disease (Dirofilaria spp) is zoonosis transmitted by hematophagous mosquitoes. It has a larval phase, microfilaremia, and an adult phase. The infestation with the adult form is typically manifested by the presence of worms in the cardiac chambers, which can cause right congestive heart failure and caudal vena cava syndrome. We describe a case in which microfilaremia was confirmed by rapid ELISA and direct parazitologic examination in an asymptomatic dog in Maringá, PR, region with no previous reports of canine dirofilariasis. Echo Doppler Cardiography showed no evidence of adult form in cardiac chambers of the dog. The patient was treated with subcutaneous administration of ivermectin (50 µg/kg) three times with an interval of 60 days between doses, and doxycycline (10 mg/kg day) for 30 days, along with the third dose of ivermectin. A repellent collar based on imidacloprid was prescribed for continuous use. Sixty day after beginning the treatment, the patient was reevaluated, and blood samples were negative for the presence of microfilariae. Heartworm disease can remain silent in dogs, and it may be emerging in the region. The ubiquitous presence of vectors is a cause for concern and could contribute to disease spreading in the region of North Paraná, Brazil.

O Mieloma Múltiplo (MM) é uma neoplasia de plasmócitos com origem na medula óssea, sendo de rara ocorrência. Na forma não-secretora não há identificação de gamopatia monoclonal sérica e da proteinúria de Bence-Jones, tornando o diagnóstico mais desafiador. Relata-se um caso de MM não-secretor, em cão da raça Shih Tzu, com histórico de hiporexia e emagrecimento progressivo sem demais manifestações clínicas. Foram encontrados em exames complementares achados inespecíficos iniciais de cardio, hepato e esplenomegalia, além de anemia. Também foram descartadas doenças infecciosas endêmicas. Por meio de radiografia de membros e coluna vertebral, foram evidenciadas lesões líticas ósseas disseminadas, sugerindo MM. Encaminhou-se o paciente para mielograma, na qual foi identificada plasmocitose reativa (>10%). Na eletroforese de proteínas séricas, obteve-se valores normais; e não houve detecção da proteinúria de Bence-Jones. Também foi identificada hipercalcemia. Por meio dos achados descritos acima, foi definido o diagnóstico em MM não-secretor. Instituiu-se o tratamento com Melfalano associado à prednisolona, com melhora do quadro clínico e ausência de efeitos colaterais por 120 dias. Concluiu-se que o MM não-secretor, embora raro, deve ser adicionado à lista de diagnósticos diferenciais em situações de sinais clínicos inespecíficos associados a distúrbios osteomedular. Bem como, o protocolo quimioterápico descrito mostrou-se eficaz como abordagem terapêutica.

Malignant hypercalcemia is a paraneoplastic syndrome. It has been detected in several types of malignant tumors in dogs, such as lymphomas, and also in mammary neoplasms, without the exact determination of the mechanisms involved in its occurrence as well as its incidence. In this study, 100 bitches with mammary malignant neoplasia, diagnosed by histopathological analysis, were submitted to clinical evaluation for disease staging, hematological evaluation, serum biochemistry, including renal function tests, hepatic and total calcium serum levels and ionized fraction. These parameters were analyzed at the time of the initial attendance and 30 days after the treatment. The most frequent histological pattern was carcinoma in mixed tumors (26%). In 52% of the diseased dogs, hypercalcemia was observed by means of ionized calcium dosing, which was not verified by means of total calcium dosing, where only 4% presented hypercalcemia. No correlation was found between hypercalcemia and the histological pattern of the neoplasms. However, the correlation was verified between hypercalcemia and more advanced stages of the disease, mainly from stage III, suggesting that the detection of hypercalcemia may be correlated with worse prognosis, showing the importance of the research concerning the presence of paraneoplastic syndromes in bitches with mammary neoplasms.

________________________________________________________________________________ ResumoA acalasia cricofaríngea é uma doença que gera diminuição do relaxamento da musculatura esofágica. Como consequência, ocorre a interrupção da passagem do bolo alimentar da orofaringe através do esfíncter esofágico cranial. Relata-se o caso de um cão Golden Retriever que, após anamnese e avaliação clínica, foi diagnosticado através de radiografia contrastada como portador de acalasia cricofaríngea. O tratamento foi cirúrgico, através de técnica de miectomia cricofaríngea, onde retirou-se o músculo cricofaringeano. Observou-se resultado favorável na correção cirúrgica. O paciente foi acompanhado durante seis meses após o procedimento e garantiu-se que não houve recidiva de sinais clínicos. AbstractCricopharyngeal achalasia is a disorder that causes decrease in the muscle relaxation of the esophageal musculature. As consequence, the food bolus has its passage interrupted at the oropharynx, through the cranial esophagus sphincter. This work reports the case of a Golden Retriever dog, which after anamnesis and clinical evaluation, was diagnosed through contrast radiography with Cricopharyngeal Achalasia. The treatment consisted in surgery, using the cricopharyngeal myectomy technique. The results of the surgery were favorable, and the patient was monitored for six months after the procedure, ensuring that there was no recurrence of clinical signs.