Clinicopathologic description of a cutaneous melanocytic tumor in a 1-year-old cat.

A feline cutaneous melanocytic tumor in a 1-year-old cat is reported. The cytologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical characteristics of the pediatric feline cutaneous melanocytoma are included. A solitary, black-colored nodule on the head was histologically diagnosed as the epithelioid type of melanocytoma.

Evaluation of anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic effects of cilostazol with PFA-100® and Multiplate® whole blood aggregometer in vitro, ex vivo and FeCl3-induced thrombosis models in vivo.

We evaluate the anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic effects of cilostazol using Multiplate® and PFA-100® in vitro and ex vivo with freshly isolated rat whole blood and in vivo venous and arterial thrombosis models in the same species, in an effort to assess the sensitivity of the whole blood aggregometer assays without potential issues of species differences. In vitro assay of anti-platelet effects of cilostazol against collagen-induced aggregation using Multiplate® produced a graded dose-dependent inhibition curve with IC50 value of 75.4 ± 2.

Black soybean extract can attenuate thrombosis through inhibition of collagen-induced platelet activation.

Many clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of soybean (Glycine max) on general cardiovascular health. Among a variety of soybeans, black soybean is known to display diverse biological activities superior to those of yellow and green soybeans, such as in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. However, few studies have been directed on the effect of black soybean on cardiovascular function.

Determination of spatial distribution of melamine-cyanuric acid crystals in rat kidney tissue by histology and imaging matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

After the outbreak of acute renal failure associated with melamine-contaminated pet food, many attempts have been made to uncover the mechanism underlying the renal toxicity caused by melamine and melamine-related compounds. Using rat models, we investigated the renal crystal formation following the ingestion of a melamine-cyanuric acid mixture (M+CA, 1:1) to gain insight into the M+CA-induced renal toxicity. M+CA did not induce toxicity in precision-cut kidney slices, suggesting that M+CA does not have a direct nephrotoxicity.

Expression levels of pituitary tumor transforming 1 and glutathione-S-transferase theta 3 are associated with the individual susceptibility to D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity.

Although drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is frequently observed, individual variation in the susceptibility to DILI is hard to predict. Intrinsic genetic variation is considered a key element for this variation but little is known about the identity of the genes associated with DILI. In this study, pre-biopsy method was applied to uncover the key genes for D-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury and a cause and effect study was conducted to elucidate the correlation between the expression of uncovered genes and GalN-induced hepatotoxicity.

Determination of the key innate genes related to individual variation in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity using a pre-biopsy procedure.

High inter-individual variation in chemical-induced liver injury is a frequent observation with many hepatotoxic chemicals, yet the mechanism underlying it remains poorly understood. Even with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), a well-known model hepatotoxicant, substantial individual variations are observed in the severity of liver injury. Using microarray, many attempts have been made to identify the key genes in CCl(4)-induced liver injury but mostly, they examined the gene expression of liver after CCl(4) exposure, unable to dissect out the complicating factors from pathological changes secondary to liver injury.

GCG-rich tea catechins are effective in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in hyperlipidemic rats.

The (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG) concentration in some tea beverages can account for as much as 50% of the total catechins, as a result of sterilization. The present study aims to examine the effects of GCG-rich tea catechins on hyperlipidemic rats and the mechanisms associated with regulating cholesterol metabolism in the liver. By performing heat epimerization of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), we manufactured a mixture of catechins that had a GCG content of approximately 50% (w/w).

Effect of dietary epigallocatechin-3-gallate on cytochrome P450 2E1-dependent alcoholic liver damage: enhancement of fatty acid oxidation.

This study was designed to determine whether dietary epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin polyphenol in green tea, can protect the liver from cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)-dependent alcoholic liver damage. Compared with an ethanol group, when EGCG was present in the ethanol diet, the formation of a fatty liver was significantly reduced and the serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were much lower. Ethanol treatment significantly elevated hepatic CYP2E1 expression while simultaneously reducing hepatic phospho-acetyl CoA carboxylase (p-ACC) and carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1 (CPT-1) levels.

Hypercalcemia and high parathyroid hormone-related peptide concentration in a dog with a complex mammary carcinoma.

A 10-year-old female Dachshund was presented with a history of mammary masses, slight lethargy, polyuria, and polydipsia. Physical examination findings included masses involving the first, second, and fourth mammary glands of the left side. The mandibular, axillary, and right popliteal lymph nodes were mildly enlarged.