Kayoko Yonemaru

Mutations in the small heterodimer partner gene increase morbidity risk in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients

Mutations in the small heterodimer partner gene (NR0B2; alias SHP) are associated with high birth weight and mild obesity in Japanese children. SHP mutations may also be associated with later obesity and insulin resistance syndrome that induces diabetes. To investigate this possibility, the prevalence of SHP mutations in Japanese with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus and the functional properties of the mutant proteins were evaluated. Direct sequencing of two exons and flanking sequences of SHP in 805 diabetic patients and 752 non‐diabetic controls identified 15 different mutations in 44 subjects, including 6 novel mutations. Functional analyses of the mutant proteins revealed significantly reduced activity of nine of the mutations. Mutations with reduced activity were found in 19 patients (2.4%) in the diabetic group and in 6 subjects (0.8%) in the control group. The frequency difference between DM and control subjects adjusted for sex and age was statistically significant (P=0.029, odds ratio 2.67, 95% CI 1.05–6.81, 1−β=0.91). We conclude that SHP mutations associated with mild obesity in childhood increase susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in later life in Japanese.

GALLBLADDER ADENOCARCINOMAS IN TWO CAPTIVE AFRICAN LIONS (PANTHERA LEO)

Abstract Gallbladder adenocarcinomas in two captive African lions (Panthera leo), an 18-yr-old male and a 17-yr-old female, are described in this report. Grossly, both lions had hemoperitoneum with thickened and sclerotic gallbladder walls. Histopathologically, the males tumor was well differentiated and the females was poorly differentiated with multinucleate giant cells. Both tumors were highly invasive and involved the gallbladder serosa. The male also had a tumor in the liver, and the females tumor had disseminated to the serosal surfaces of abdominal organs. In both cases, neoplastic cell cytoplasm stained diffusely for cytokeratin AE-1/AE-3 and cytokeratin 7 and granularly for lysozyme on immunohistochemical staining.

Proventricular adenocarcinoma in a Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) and a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus); identification of origin by mucin histochemistry

Cases of proventricular neoplasm in a Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) and a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) were observed. Microscopically, the neoplastic cells formed branching tubules or acini in both cases. Galactose oxidase-Schiff (GOS) staining revealed that the cytoplasm of the normal surface epithelium and surface mucosubstances of the proventriculus adjacent to the neoplasm were positive in both cases. The neoplastic cells in both cases were also classified as GOS-positive. Therefore, the two proventricular neoplasms in this report were diagnosed as proventricular adenocarcinoma that arose from the proventricular surface epithelium. This study suggests that the mucosubstances, which the neoplastic cells produced, were a useful index for identifying the origin of the neoplastic cells in the birds.

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Features of Atypical Epithelial Tumours of the Gland of the Third Eyelid in Seven Dogs

This report documents the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of atypical epithelial tumours of the gland of the third eyelid (GTE) in seven dogs. Cases 1 and 2 were diagnosed as myoepithelioma, comprising of compressive proliferations of interlacing bundles of neoplastic spindle cells expressing cytokeratin 14, p63, calponin and α-smooth muscle actin. Cases 3, 4 and 5 were diagnosed as complex carcinomas comprising of atypical glandular cells expressing cytokeratin 8/18, together with spindle-shaped or round neoplastic cells expressing cytokeratin 14, p63, calponin and α-smooth muscle actin. Cases 6 and 7 were diagnosed as basal cell adenocarcinomas (BCACs) comprising of a mixed proliferation of glandular and basal-type cells expressing cytokeratin 14 and p63. Therefore, in addition to glandular components, these tumours may include neoplastic cells with a myoepithelial or basal cell phenotype. Hence, there is diversity in the features of epithelial neoplasia of the GTE in dogs, similar to tumours in human salivary and lacrimal glands.

Mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumor with a concurrent interstitial cell tumor in a ferret.

A 5-year-old male ferret presented with an enlarged canalicular testis in the left inguinal region. Microscopically, the enlarged testis consisted of a diffuse intimately admixed proliferation of c-kit-positive germ cell-like and Wilms tumor-1 protein-positive Sertoli cell-like components, but no Call-Exner body was detected. In addition, the compact proliferation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-intense positive interstitial cells was identified in a separate peripheral area of the mass. Based on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumor with a concurrent interstitial cell tumor.

Lingual ganglioneuroma in a dog

A mass was found at the base of the dorsum linguae of a male 11-year-old Labrador retriever. The tumor comprised of ganglion cells and Schwannian cells with Verocay bodies. The ganglion cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase, S-100, nerve growth factor receptor, and beta III tubulin. The Schwannian cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase, S-100, nerve growth factor receptor, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The lingual mass was diagnosed as a ganglioneuroma. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of a lingual ganglioneuroma in a dog.