Canine cutaneous melanocytic tumours: significance of β-catenin and survivin immunohistochemical expression.

Background: Recent investigations have highlighted the controversial role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in human cutaneous melanoma. Survivin has been proposed as a valid prognostic marker for invasive and metastatic melanomas and lymph node melanoma metastasis in human cutaneous melanoma and is a promising therapeutic target.

Hypothesis/objectives: Our aim was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of survivin and β-catenin in canine cutaneous melanocytic tumours, in order to understand their prognostic significance.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: immunohistochemical investigation of related molecules in canine cutaneous epithelial tumours.

Background: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multistep process, important in tumour invasion and metastasis, characterized by loss of epithelial markers, redistribution of β-catenin and gain of mesenchymal markers. HYPOSTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the immunohistochemical aberrant expression of cytokeratin, vimentin, survivin and heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72) in canine cutaneous epithelial tumours, to understand the association of expression of these molecules with features of malignancy and their role in the EMT phenotype.

Methods: Ten canine squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; one with lymph node metastasis), 30 canine hair follicle tumours (six pilomatricomas, eight infundibular keratinizing acanthomas, six trichoepitheliomas and 10 trichoblastomas) and five normal skin samples were investigated by immunohistochemistry using specific anti-vimentin, -cytokeratin, -survivin and -Hsp72 antibodies.

Intraoperative endobronchial tube displacement requiring unplanned extracorporeal circulation support.

We describe the adoption of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) as temporary pulmonary support in a patient operated on for a broncho-pleural fistula. Complex thoracic surgical procedures can require one-lung ventilation with double-lumen or selective bronchial tubes. Intraoperative tube displacement can cause severe desaturation and hypoxia, finally resulting in severe cerebral or multiorgan damages.

Intrapericardial lipoma: successful resection of a giant tumor without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cardiac lipomas are very rare neoplasms. We describe herein a case of giant intrapericardial extracavitary lipoma in a 67-year-old man who has been previously treated for prostate and kidney cancers. The patient underwent successful resection of the tumor through right anterolateral thoracotomy.