Daniel Guimarães Gerardi

Reactivity of p53 protein in canine transmissible venereal tumor

The expression of p53 protein was evaluated in canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT), as following: natural occurrence (n=8); resistant to chemotherapy (n=4); and allogeneic transplanted in progression (n=8), stable (n=8), and regression (n=8)stages. The collected specimens were submitted to GM1 immunohistochemical reaction. Results showed a mean percentage of immunomarked cells around 18.6% in CTVT of natural occurrence, 23.8% in CTVT resistant to chemotherapy, 22.9% in allogeneic transplanted CTVT in both progression and stable stages, and 35.8% in transplanted CTVT in regression stage. The results suggest that there is a functional abnormality in p53 gene and its products in the studied tumors; although, it is not possible to correlate the percentage of cells marked by p53 and a prognosis.

Immunohistochemical expression of B and T-lymphocytes and TGF-β in experimentally transplanted canine venereal tumor

The tumor/host relationship may have a determining role in the progression or remission of a tumor. Greater infiltration of leukocytes into tumors has been associated with a better prognosis, although controversy regarding whether these cells have a central role in antitumor immunity still exists. Canine transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is an experimentally transplantable type of tumor that has been used as an experimental model for the tumor/host relationship. The aim of this study was to evaluate the infiltration of T-lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8) and B lymphocytes (CD79-α) and the expression of the cytokine TGF-β in TVT, by means of immunohistochemistry (ABC method). The experimental tumors were composed of puppies that developed TVT after transplantation, in the progression (n=8) (Group 1a), latency (n=8) (Group 1b) and regression (n=8) (Group 1c) phases of the tumor. CD3+ T-lymphocytes predominated in the progression and regression phases, in relation to the latency phase. CD4+ and 1CD8+ T-lymphocytes were predominant in the progression phase, and with lower expression in the regression phase. The greatest quantities of B-lymphocytes were in the regression phase, with restricted expression in the progression phase. TGF-β was expressed equally in the phases of the transplanted TVT.

Uso da fluoxetina no tratamento da tricotilomania felina

Feline psycogenic alopecia occurs when cats lick their hair compulsively. Stress situations play a role in this disturbance, due to changes in neurohormone mechanisms. The introduction of a new animal or baby in the household can also be associated. Besides behavioral changes towards the animal, the use of anxiolytics is suggested to treat the disease. Fluoxetine was used in the treatment of 5 domestic cats with psycogenic alopecia, showing showing inhibition of licking attitude, with repilation within two to three months of use.