Due to the importance of presurgical, noninvasive, and accurate diagnostic tools in mammary carcinoma characterization, this prospective secondary observational cohort study was designed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of B-mode, Doppler, contrast enhancement ultrasonography, or acoustic radiation force impulse-elastography in identifying mammary carcinomas types with high degree of malignancy. A total of 246 mammary carcinomas from 141 female dogs were analyzed using B-mode, Doppler, contrast enhancement ultrasonography, and acoustic radiation force impulse ultrasonography prior to their histopathological classification according to types (simple, complex, or special) and grade (I, II, or III). Qualitative and quantitative variables were compared between carcinoma types and grades by Fisher's or analysis of variance. Diagnostic performance was estimated by receiver-operating characteristic analysis, using histopathological classification as a reference. Deformability (acoustic radiation force impulse) had a diagnostic specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 12% in identifying special carcinomas. A width:length ratio greater than 0.53 can be suggestive of special carcinoma, with 80% sensitivity and 76% specificity. Contrast wash-in and peak enhancement times lower than 7.5 and 13.5 s, respectively, were indicative of complex carcinoma at 62% sensitivity and 60% specificity. Contrast wash-in, peak enhancement, and wash-out times greater than 6.5, 12.5, and 64.5 s, respectively; were indicative of grade II and III carcinoma at 68% sensitivity and 62% specificity. In conclusion, B-mode ultrasonography, contrast enhancement ultrasonography, and acoustic radiation force impulse-elastography enabled the identification of some of the characteristics of high-grade mammary carcinoma types and grades in female dogs with limited accuracy. The findings from this study may contribute to oncology research and clinical management canine patients.

RESUMO:A cistite idiopática felina (CIF) é a causa mais comum de doença do trato urinário inferior felino (DTUIF), enquanto a cistite bacteriana é diagnosticada somente em 1% a 3% dos casos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar gatos com apresentação ou histórico de sinais de doença do trato urinário inferior (SDTUI), considerando aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e laboratoriais. Cinco gatos sadios e 45 gatos com SDTUI foram avaliados no período de março de 2011 a outubro de 2012, por meio de histórico, exame físico, ultrassonografia abdominal e exames laboratoriais (hematológico, urinálise, bioquímica sérica e urinária e urocultura). Os diagnósticos dos gatos com SDTUI incluíram CIF não obstrutiva, CIF obstrutiva e cistite bacteriana. Não houve diferença significativa quanto à densidade, pH e qualidade do sedimento urinário entre as diferentes categorias etiológicas de DTUIF. A hematúria foi maior em gatos com SDTUI, e a piúria foi associada principalmente com cistite bacteriana. Adicionalmente, outros achados sugerem que raças específicas, idade, gênero e castração não estão associados com as manifestações de SDTUI em felinos. Palavras-chave: gato; cistite; trato urinário inferior felino EPIDEMIOLOGIC, CLINIC AND LABORATORIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISEASE CATS WITH LOWER URINARY TRACT SIGNSABSTRACT: Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is the most common cause of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), whereas bacterial cystitis is diagnosed only in 1% to 3% of the cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate cats with presentation or history of lower urinary tract signs disease (LUTSD), considering epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects. From March 2011 to October 2012, 45 cats presenting LUTSD and five health cats were evaluated regarding to the history, physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography and laboratorial analyses (CBC, urinalysis, clinical chemistry and urine culture). For the 45 cats presenting LUTSD, the diagnosis included nonobstructive FIC, obstructive FIC, and bacterial cystitis. There were no significant differences in the urine specific gravity, pH and quality of the urine sediment between al FLUTD categories. The hematuria was higher in cats with LUTSD, and piuria was associated mainly to bacterial cystitis. Additionally, other findings suggest that features as breed, age, gender, and neutering were not associated with LUTSD presentation in felines.

Throughout pregnancy, maternal hemodynamic adaptation is needed to ensure proper uterine perfusion and fetal development. When the uteroplacental vascular system is formed, starting with reduced resistance to uterine arterial flow, this results in decreased total vascular resistance, an activation of neuroendocrine vasoactive peptides, an increase in circulating blood and changes in the cardiovascular system morphophysiology to respond to the increasing demands of uterine perfusion. There has been considerable study of hemodynamic adaptation in pregnant women and this assessment has become a diagnostic tool for fatal obstetric disorders. However, in bitches the available information in this regard is limited; therefore a parallel was drawn between other species of animals and women, in order to subsidize the paucity of information about this process and facilitate the understanding of maternal-fetal hemodynamic adaptation in pregnant bitches. This review and literature analysis aimed\ to discuss morphophysiological cardiovascular adaptations during pregnancy and the possible disorders that can affect this process in pregnant female dogs.

This study set out to determine normal values for acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of the superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon, accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon and suspensory ligament in horses. Twenty-four horses were submitted to conventional sonographic assessment and elastography imaging (quantitative ARFI method) of distal forelimb tendons and ligaments at nine anatomical regions. Elastograms depicted tendons and ligaments in orange to red tones consistent with greater stiffness. Shear wave velocity was higher in the longitudinal compared to the cross-sectional plane but did not differ significantly between the left and right forelimbs. The suspensory ligament was stiffer compared to remaining structures in the cross-sectional plane. Ligaments were stiffer than tendons and the deep digital flexor tendon was stiffer than the superficial digital flexor tendon in the longitudinal plane. Target structures were stiffer in male compared to female horses and stiffness tended to increase with age. ARFI elastography proved to be a feasible and reproducible imaging modality for assessment of distal forelimb tendons and ligaments in horses. Qualitative features derived from stiffness quantification in these structures can be applied to horses with musculoskeletal disorders, as well as to other animal species.

Herramientas ultrasonográfi cas usadas en la evaluación del bazo en caninos: Revisión de literaturaFerramentas ultrassonográfi cas para avaliação do baço em cães: Revisão da literatura AbstractThe spleen is one of the most susceptible organs to primary tumours, metastasis, and a wide range of diseases of the hematopoietic system. Therefore, detailed assessment of the spleen is of great importance in veterinary medicine, especially in dogs, due to their economic and sentimental value, and as an experimental model in human medicine. Considering the recent advances in diagnostic imaging in companion animals, this review aims to describe the applicability of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography (qualitative and quantitative), Doppler, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for evaluating the spleen in dogs. The ARFI elastography is a recent ultrasound method that can provide reference values and aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of splenic abnormalities routinely encountered in veterinary practice. Conventional ultrasonography of the spleen combined with haemodynamic analysis by Doppler and contrast enhanced ultrasonography is an important tool in diagnosis and triage. Maronezi MC et al. Ultrasonography of dog spleen: A review ResumenEl bazo es uno de los órganos más propensos a desarrollar tumores, tanto primarios como metastásicos, y varias enfermedades que afectan el sistema hematopoyético. Es por eso que la evaluación clínica del mismo es de gran importancia en medicina veterinaria, principalmente en perros, debido a su valor económico, afectivo, y como modelo experimental en medicina humana. Considerando los recientes avances en imagenología diagnóstica, esta revisión tiene como objetivo describir el examen ecográfi co del bazo en perros, utilizando la técnica de elastografía por impulso de fuerza de radiación acústica (ARFI) cuantitativa y cualitativa, Doppler y ultrasonido contrastado. La elastografía ARFI es un método reciente que puede proveer información básica sobre la conformación normal del órgano y, en un futuro próximo, ayudar en el diagnóstico de las enfermedades esplénicas. De modo similar, la ecografía convencional, Doppler y el ultrasonido contrastado son importantes herramientas en el diagnóstico y en el triaje.Palabras clave: bazo canino, Doppler, elastografía, modo-B, ultrasonografía contrastada. ResumoO baço é um dos órgãos mais propensos a desenvolver tumores primários, metastáticos e afecções do sistema hematopoiético. Por isso, realizar uma avalição apurada neste órgão é de suma importância em medicina veterinária, particularmente em cães, devido à importância econômica, afetiva e de similaridade científi ca com o homem. Considerando os recentes avanços em diagnóstico por imagem, esta revisão visou descrever a aplicabilidade das novas técnicas ultrassonográfi cas para avaliação esplênica de caninos, utilizando a elastografi a por impulso de força de radiação acústica (ARFI) qualitativa e quantitativa, Doppler e ultrassonografi a por contraste com microbolhas. A elastogra...

ResumoAs neoplasias com origem no canal medular são infrequentes na clínica veterinária de pequenos animais, porém quando presentes podem causar sinais neurológicos importantes. Anatomicamente estas neoplasias podem ser classificadas em extradural, intradural-extramedular e medular. As neoplasias extradurais estão localizadas fora da dura-máter, porém podem causar compressão da medula. Os condromas são neoplasias benignas, caracterizadas pela formação de tecido cartilaginoso sendo rara a sua localização no canal medular tanto em medicina humana como na medicina veterinária. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever um caso de condroma extradural lombar em cão em que a descompressão cirúrgica e retirada da massa permitiu a resolução dos sinais clínicos de paralisia com retorno da função dos membros pélvicos do paciente. Palavras-chave: Condroma, hemilaminectomia, neoplasias extradurais AbstractNeoplasms originating in the spinal canal are uncommon in small animal veterinary clinic, but when present can cause significant neurological signs. Anatomically, these neoplasms can be classified as extradural, intradural-extramedullary and medullary. Extradural neoplasms are located outside the dura mater, but they can cause compression of the spinal cord. The chondromas are benign neoplasms characterized by the formation of cartilage and is rarely located in the spinal canal in both human and veterinary medicine. We describe a case of lumbar extradural chondroma in a dog that surgical decompression and removal of the mass allowed the resolution of clinical signs of paralysis with return of function of the hind limbs of the patient.

The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene encodes a protein associated with DNA damage repair and maintenance of genomic integrity. In women, ATM transcript and protein downregulation have been reported in sporadic breast carcinomas, and the absence of ATM protein expression has been associated with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate ATM gene and protein expression in canine mammary tumors and their association with clinical outcome. ATM gene and protein expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in normal mammary gland samples (n = 10), benign mammary tumors (n = 11), nonmetastatic mammary carcinomas (n = 19), and metastatic mammary carcinomas (n = 11). Lower ATM transcript levels were detected in benign mammary tumors and carcinomas compared with normal mammary glands (P = .011). Similarly, lower ATM protein expression was observed in benign tumors (P = .0003), nonmetastatic mammary carcinomas (P < .0001), and the primary sites of metastatic carcinomas (P < .0001) compared with normal mammary glands. No significant differences in ATM gene or protein levels were detected among benign tumors and nonmetastatic and metastatic mammary carcinomas (P > .05). The levels of ATM gene or protein expression were not significantly associated with clinical and pathological features or with survival. Similar to human breast cancer, the data in this study suggest that ATM gene and protein downregulation is involved in canine mammary gland tumorigenesis.

Contents The aim of this study was to evaluate the stiffness of foetal lungs, liver, kidneys and placentomes by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in ovine and to correlate obtained findings with foetal development. Twenty‐four ewes were included, and tissue stiffness of foetal lung, liver, kidney and placentome was measured beginning with 10th gestational week by qualitative–quantitative ARFI elastography. A total of 33 healthy lambs were born. Qualitative elastographic analysis permitted to classify maternal and foetal tissues elasticity in decreasing order as follows: placentome, kidney, liver and lung. Regarding quantitative ARFI elastography data, shear wave velocity (SWV) of foetal lung and liver varied. The lung SWV decreased gradually from the 16th to the 21st gestational week (R2 = 0.80; p < 0.001), while liver SWV increased gradually from the 14th to 21st gestational week (R2 = 0.80; p < 0.001). In contrast, the kidneys and placentomes SWV's remained constant through gestation (p = 0.076; and 0.34). ARFI elastography was shown feasible for evaluation of maternal and foetal tissues stiffness in the ovine model. It can be used to demonstrate pulmonary and hepatic stiffness modifications during foetal development.