Sentinel node detection in cervical cancer with Tc-99m-phytate

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification using radioisotopic lymphatic mapping with technetium-99 m-labeled phytate in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for treatment of early cervical cancer.Methods. Between July 2001 and February 2003, 56 patients with cervical cancer 1160 stage I (it 53) or stage 11 (it 3) underwent sentinel lymph node detection with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (Te-99m-labeled phytate injected into the uterine cervix, at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, at a dose of 55-74 MBq in a volume of 0.8 ml) and intratoperative lymphatic mapping with a handheld gamma probe, Radical hysterectomy was aborted in three cases because parametrial invasion was found intraoperatively and we performed only sentinel node resection. The remaining 53 patients underwent radical hysterectomy with complete pelvic lymphadenectomy, Sentinel nodes were detected using a handheld gamma-probe and removed for pathological assessment during the abdominal radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.Results. One or more sentinel nodes were detected in 52 out of 56 eligible patients (92.8%). A total of 120 SLNs were detected by lymphoscintigraphy (mean 2.27 nodes per patient) and intraoperatively by gamma probe, Forty-four percent of SLNs were found in the external iliac area, 39% in the obturator region, 8.3% in interiliae region, and 6.7),) in the common iliac area. Unilateral sentinel nodes were found in thirty-one patients (59%). The remaining 21 patients (4100 had bilateral sentinel nodes, Microscopic nodal metastases were confirmed in 17 (32%) cases. In 10 of these patients, only SLNs had metastases. The 98 sentinel node.,, that were negative on hematoxylin and eosin were submitted to cytokeratin immunohistochemical analysis. Five (5.1%) micrometastases were identified with this technique. The sensitivity of the sentinel node was 82.3% (CI 95% - 56.6-96.2) and the negative predictive value was 92.1% (CI 95% 78.6 98.3) the accuracy of sentinel node in predicting the lymph node status was 94.2%,Conclusion. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative lymphatic mapping with Tc-99-labeled phytate are effective in identifying sentinel nodes in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and to select women in whom lymph node dissection call be avoided. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anatomopathological analysis of sentinel and nonsentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer: Hematoxylin-eosin versus immunohistochemistry

The authors compare the detection of metastases in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs) using hematoxvlin-eosin (HE) staining versus immunohistochemistry (IHC). Thirty-six patients with breast carcinoma undergo exeresis of the primary tumor and of 50 SLNs and 491 NSLNs. Sentinel lymph nodes are sectioned into transverse slices of 2- to 3-mm thickness, and a cytologic smear and a frozen section were obtained from each slice. The slices are completely cut into serial sections at 100-mu m intervals. Two consecutive 4-mu m-thick sections are then obtained from each level and were prepared for HE staining and IHC. Nonsentinel lymph nodes are evaluated similarly to SLNs. The authors obtain 4076 SLN sections and 32 012 NSLN sections, fora total of 36 088 sections. A comparison of HE staining versus IHC based on the total number of sections shows a sensitivity of 93.8%, a negative predictive value of 98.9%, and an accuracy of 99.1 %. The values obtained by HE staining are similar to those obtained by IHC.

Sentinel node mapping in a pregnant woman with cervical cancer: a case report

The possibility of reducing morbidity associated with surgical dissection while maintaining accurate tumor staging is one of the greatest advantages of the sentinel node approach in surgical oncology. The sentinel node mapping has already proven to be useful in melanoma, breast cancer, and vulvar cancer. We report the first case of sentinel node detection by technetium-labeled radiocolloid in a pregnant woman with cervical cancer. The histologic analysis of the operative specimen showed a poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma with metastasis in the sentinel node and a neoplasic embolus in a blood vessel of the placental bed. The lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node detection are feasible during pregnancy.

Nose-to-nose transmission of Salmonella Typhimurium between weaned pigs

Little attention has been paid to the possibility of transmission of Salmonella in intensive pig production systems through alternate methods, such as airborne or direct nose-to-nose contact. This experimental study tested the hypothesis of nose-to-nose transmission of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium (Trial I) and Agona (Trial II) in weaned pigs using stainless steel/ glass isolation cabinets. In each trial, cabinet 1 (control pigs) and cabinet 2 (sentinel pigs) were connected directly to the fan unit. Cabinet 3 (seeded pigs) was not directly linked to the fan, but was arranged to receive a constant unidirectional airflow from cabinet 2 (sentinel pigs) through a 10 cm diameter hole, which also allowed nose-to-nose contact between pigs housed in these two cabinets. Air was taken out of the system through ducts connecting cabinets 1 and 3 to the exhauster. Therefore, direct contact among seeded and sentinel pigs was allowed but possible aerial transference of contaminated particles between those cabinets was prevented. The system was opened 21 days post-inoculation and tissue samples were collected for bacteriological analysis. The recovery of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium from sentinel pigs corroborates the hypothesis of nose-to-nose transmission of that pathogen in pigs. However, serovar-related differences might exist regarding the nose-to-nose transmissibility of Salmonella in pigs, since Salmonella Agona was not detected in sentinel pigs (Trial II). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Maize-Dwelling insects omnivory in Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) egg masses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Experimental airborne transmission of Salmonella Agona and Salmonella Typhimurium in weaned pigs

This study tested the hypothesis of airborne transmission of Salmonella Agona (Trial I) and Salmonella Typhimurium (Trial II) in weaned pigs. The trials were performed using stainless-steel/glass isolation cabinets connected by air ducts to permit an unidirectional airflow from cabinet 1 (two control pigs) to cabinet 3 (two sentinel pigs), passing through cabinet 2 (two inoculated pigs). Air samples, pooled faecal samples from the floor and rectal swabs were collected daily and assessed by culture and PCR. A fumigation chamber and rubber gloves coupled to the cabinets allowed sampling without opening the system. Trials I and II lasted 15 and 19 days respectively. The recovery of S. Agona and S. Typhimurium and detection of scroconversion in sentinel pigs indicate that airborne Salmonella transmission in weaned pigs over short distances is possible. Further studies on the role of aerosols in the epidemiology of Salmonella in intensive pig production should be performed.

Protection levels of vaccinated pigeons (Columba livia) against a highly pathogenic newcastle disease virus strain

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Experimental infection of Newcastle disease virus in pigeons (Columba livia): Humoral antibody response, contact transmission and viral genome shedding

The aim of this study was to evaluate the humoral antibody response, the genome viral excretion and the contact transmission of pathogenic chicken origin Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from experimentally infected pigeons (Columba livia) to in-contact pigeon. The antibody response to infection was assessed by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and the genome viral excretion was detected by RT-PCR. Viral strain induced high antibody levels, both in inoculated and in sentinel birds. The pathogenic viral strain for chickens was unable to produce clinical signs of the disease in experimentally infected pigeons, although it induced the Immoral antibody response and produced NDV genome shedding. NDV genome was detected intermittently throughout the experimental period, from 5 days post-infection (dpi) to 24 dpi. Therefore, viral genome shedding occurred for 20 days. The viral genome was detected in all birds, between I I and 13 dpi. Furthermore, the high infectivity of the virus was confirmed, as all non-inoculated sentinel pigeons showed antibody levels as high as those of inoculated birds. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

First Identification of Culex flavivirus (Flaviviridae) in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Malignant mammary tumor in female dogs: environmental contaminants

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Detection and molecular analysis of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum from dogs with neurological disorders

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are related Apicomplexa parasites responsible for systemic diseases in many species of animals, including dogs. Methods: This study aimed to determine the occurrence of T. gondii and N. caninum infections in 50 dogs with neurological signs that were admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Estadual Paulista, City of Botucatu, Brazil. All animals were screened for antibodies using an immunofluorescent antibody test for both parasites. Tissues of positive animals were bioassayed in mice (T. gondii) and gerbils (N. caninum), and DNA was analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples for T. gondii by PCR were typed using restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR for 11 markers: SAG1, SAG2 (5'-3'-SAG2 and alt.SAG2), SAG3, Btub, GRA6, L358, c22-8, c29-6, PK1 and Apico, and CS3 marker for virulence analysis. Results: Specific antibodies were detected in 11/50 (22%; 95% confidence interval (CI95%), 12.8-35.3%) animals for T. gondii and 7/50 (14%; CI95%, 7.02-26.3%) for N. caninum. In the bioassay and PCR, 7/11 (63.6%; CI95%, 34.9-84.8%) samples were positive for T. gondii and 3/7 (42.9%; CI95% I, 15.7-75.5%) samples were positive for N. caninum. Three different genotypes were identified, but only 1 was unique. Conclusions: These data confirm the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum in dogs from Brazil, indicating the importance of this host as a sentinel of T. gondii for human beings, and the genotypic variation of this parasite in Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. infection in captive crab-eating foxes, Cerdocyon thous (Carnivora, Canidae) from Brazil

The zoonoses toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis are important worldwide and also affect wild animals. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of Leishmania spp. and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 52 serum samples from captive crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) kept in 17 zoos in São Paulo State, Brazil. Modified agglutination test (MAT, for toxoplasmosis) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, for toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis) were employed with heterologous anti-dog immunoglobulin. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 19.2% animals, with an almost perfect concordance (kappa = 0.86; standard error = 9.31%; CI95% = 68.25-104.76%; P < 0.0001) and a strong correlation coefficient (rs = 0.87; P < 0.0001), which allows the use of heterologous anti-dog immunoglobulin to perform IFAT for toxoplasmosis in crab-eating foxes. No sample was positive for Leishmania spp. Toxoplasmosis infection occurs in wild animals from the studied Brazilian zoos, which indicates a probable environmental contamination, highlighting the importance of appropriate zoo management and the action of the parasite as a sentinel to human infection. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oxidative stress in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi) exposed to diesel oil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Esterase inhibition in tadpoles of Scinax fuscovarius (Anura, Hylidae) as a biomarker for exposure to organophosphate pesticides

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)