Tadeusz Rotkiewicz

Morphology and immunophenotype of canine cutaneous histiocytic tumours with particular emphasis on diagnostic application

This study evaluated the morphology and immunohistochemistry of 85 canine cutaneous histiocytic tumours. The tumours were classified morphologically as either canine cutaneous histiocytomas (71 tumours) or canine cutaneous histiocytic sarcomas (14 tumours). The immunohistochemical analysis was conducted on paraffin sections using an antibody panel (against MHCII, CD18, CD79αcy, CD3 and E-cadherin). Histochemical staining with toluidine blue and Gomori silver impregnation was also performed. A follow-up was conducted via surveys. The histiocytic origin of the tumour cells was confirmed in 65 of the canine cutaneous histiocytomas and in 4 of the canine cutaneous histiocytic sarcomas. The tumours that had been misdiagnosed as canine cutaneous histiocytomas included plasmacytomas, epitheliotropic T-cell lymphomas and undetermined entities. The tumours misdiagnosed as canine cutaneous histiocytic sarcomas included plasmacytomas and non-epitheliotropic T-cell lymphomas, but the majority of them remained undetermined. The canine cutaneous histiocytomas showed MHCII, CD18 and E-cadherin expression, but in several of the tumours, the expression of CD18 or E-cadherin was confirmed in only a small percentage of the tumour cells. The regressing canine cutaneous histiocytomas showed increased T- and B-lymphocyte infiltration, a decreased mitotic index, transport of the MHCII molecules from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane and loss of E-cadherin expression in the tumour cells. The canine cutaneous histiocytic sarcomas showed both high morphological diversity and expression of MHCII and CD18. Two of the evaluated histiocytic sarcomas also showed expression of E-cadherin. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry, including analysis of MHCII, CD18 and the lymphocytic markers CD3 and CD79, should be performed for the diagnosis of canine cutaneous histiocytic tumours. The expression of E-cadherin in canine cutaneous histiocytic sarcomas suggests an origin of the tumour cells among Langerhans cells.

Extragonadal teratoma in a domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo domestica)

This is the first report of a primary, spontaneous and, most probably, congenital teratoma in a domestic turkey, localized in front of the left eyeball. The unique localization allowed surgical excision of the tumour. The histopathological examination revealed that the tumour included structures derived from all three germ cell layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm (e.g. cartilaginous, osseous, haematopoietic, fibrous, nervous, glandular, squamous epithelial and smooth muscle tissues). The presence of epithelial cells as well as smooth muscle cells was confirmed using anti-cytokeratin and anti-desmin antibodies, respectively. The proliferative activity of the tumour cells was confirmed using proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining. The other cases of teratoma in wild and domestic birds are reviewed briefly.

Effect of low-energy laser irradiation and antioxidant supplementation on cell apoptosis during skeletal muscle post-injury regeneration in pigs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-energy laser irradiation, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E supplementation on the apoptosis of macrophages and muscle precursor cells during skeletal muscle regeneration after bupivacaine-induced injury. The experiment was conducted on 75 gilts, divided into 5 experimental groups: I--control, II--low-energy laser irradiation, III--coenzyme Q10, IV--coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E, V--vitamin E. Muscle necrosis was induced by injection of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride. The animals were euthanized on subsequent days after injury. Samples were formalin fixed and processed routinely for histopathology. Apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL method. The obtained results indicate that low-energy laser irradiation has a beneficial effect on macrophages and muscle precursor cell activity during muscle post-injury regeneration and protects these cells against apoptosis. Vitamin E has a slightly lower protective effect, limited mainly to the macrophages. Coenzyme Q10 co-supplemented with vitamin E increases the activity of macrophages and muscle precursor cells, myotube and young muscle formation. Importantly, muscle precursor cells seem to be more sensitive to apoptosis than macrophages in the environment of regenerating damaged muscle.

Influence of long-term, high-dose dexamethasone administration on proliferation and apoptosis in porcine hepatocytes

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of long-term, high-dose dexamethasone administration on the liver, with particular emphasis on hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis, using a swine model. The study included 48 large, female Polish breed pigs aged 3months (weighing ca. 30kg) divided into groups I (control; n=24) and II (dexamethasone; n=24) that receiving intra-muscular injections of monosodium phosphate dexamethasone for 29days. The pigs were euthanized on days subsequent to the experiment. Immediately after the euthanasia, the pig livers were sampled, fixed, and processed routinely for histopathology, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry (for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Bcl-2, and caspase-3). Apoptosis was visualized by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL). Dexamethasone administration gradually caused hepatocyte glycogen degeneration and finally lipid degeneration, accompanied by sinusoid and central vein dilatation and nuclear chromatin condensation. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen index, mean number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions and proliferation index of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions were lower, while Bcl-2 expression was higher in group II compared with group I. The results from this study suggest that safe high-dose dexamethasone administration time is difficult to establish. Long-term, high-dose dexamethasone administration can cause pronounced morphological changes in hepatocytes by diminishing their transcriptional and proliferation activity but also protects them from apoptosis by potentially affecting Bcl-2 expression.

Safety of the long-term application of QuikClot Combat Gauze, ChitoGauze PRO and Celox Gauze in a femoral artery injury model in swine – a preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to examine the safety of the long-term application of QuikClot Combat Gauze, ChitoGauze PRO and Celox Gauze using a swine model. The study was conducted on nine pigs weighing approximately 30 kg, which were randomly divided into three groups. Under deep anesthesia, the pigs underwent complete transverse cutting of the femoral artery in the groin region. Hemostatic dressings were left in the wound for 24 hours. The animals were euthanized 24 hours after dressing application. In each group, macroscopic and microscopic severe changes and shock symptoms were observed in the lungs, liver, kidneys and heart. Fibrino-gaseous embolic material was found in the pulmonary artery of each group and in the lung vessels of the animals from the ChitoGauze PRO and Celox Gauze groups. In conclusion, the long-term application of the evaluated hemostatic dressings has the risk of coagulopathy and reaching the progressive stage of shock. The residues from the hemostatic dressings can ingress into the systemic circulation, thereby increasing the risk of embolus formation. Because of these harmful effects, the evaluated hemostatic dressings are not appropriate for long-term use. Future studies are needed on the consequences of the long-term application of these hemostatic agents.

Manifestation of Tumours in Domestic Animals in Warmia and Mazury (Poland) Between 2003 and 2011

Abstract Samples of tumours collected during necropsies or received from veterinary clinics, as well as biopsies were analysed. The analysis revealed 2259 tumours, including 1814 (80.30%) cases from dogs, followed by 295 (13.06%) cases from cats, 79 (3.50%) cases from horses, and 71 (3.14%) cases from exotic animals. Skin and subcutaneous tissue (45% of dogs and 48% of cats), and mammary gland (23% of dogs and 29% of cats) were the most common location of tumours. Malignant forms prevailed in dogs (59%), cats (66%), and horses (89%). The analysis revealed interesting facts concerning the middle age of dogs and cats with tumours present with a peak in nine-year-old dogs and 10-12-year-old cats.