Molecular cloning of canine Wilms' tumor 1 for immunohistochemical analysis in canine tissues.

Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) expression has been investigated in various human cancers as a target molecule for cancer immunotherapy. However, few studies have focused on WT1 expression in dogs. Firstly, cDNA of canine WT1 (cWT1) was molecularly cloned from normal canine kidney.

Bimodal immunoglobulin A gammopathy in a cat with feline myeloma-related disorders.

A 10-year-old female spayed mixed breed cat with a subcutaneous mass on the right hind limb was revealed with bimodal monoclonal gammopathy composed of IgA by immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation. Approximately 1 month after referral, the cat died due to renal failure. Postmortem immunohistopathologic evaluation of the subcutaneous mass revealed neoplastic cell proliferation of plasma cells and giant myeloma cells.

Expression of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase causes lomustine resistance in canine lymphoma cells.

The DNA repair protein O (6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) causes resistance to nitrosoureas in various human cancers. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between canine lymphomas and MGMT in vitro. Two of five canine lymphoma cell lines required higher concentrations of lomustine to inhibit cell growth by 50%, but their sensitivity to the drug increased when they were cultured with an MGMT inhibitor.

[Increased body mass index in young adults is associated with metabolic syndrome].

Objectives: Specific Health Examinations and Guidance (Tokutei kenko shinsa/Tokutei hoken shido) are provided for people over 40 years of age to reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In the present study, we evaluated the importance of weight control in people below 40 years of age.

Methods: Male subjects (n = 877), aged 30 years, without MetS, were examined.

Oncolytic reovirus in canine mast cell tumor.

The usage of reovirus has reached phase II and III clinical trials in human cancers. However, this is the first study to report the oncolytic effects of reovirus in veterinary oncology, focusing on canine mast cell tumor (MCT), the most common cutaneous tumor in dogs. As human and canine cancers share many similarities, we hypothesized that the oncolytic effects of reovirus can be exploited in canine cancers.

Establishment of five canine lymphoma cell lines and tumor formation in a xenotransplantation model.

Five novel, canine lymphoma cell lines (Ema, CLC, CLK, Nody-1 and UL-1) were established from dogs suffering from lymphoma and characterized in vitro and in vivo. All cell lines, except CLC, were characterized with T-cell phenotypes, by flow cytometric analysis and polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor rearrangement. Cell proliferation rates and transcriptional levels of MYC, PTEN, KIT and FLT3 varied between each cell line.

Ehrlichia canis infection in two dogs that emigrated from endemic areas.

Two dogs, emigrated from Zambia and China to Japan, were diagnosed with Ehrlichia canis infection. Both cases had thrombocytopenia, non-regenerative anemia, and hypergloblinemia with polyclonal gammopathy. Case 1 had ataxia of the hind limbs.

Development of high-grade B-cell lymphoma concurrent with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a dog.

Second malignancies are frequent complications in human patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, the clinical details and outcome of this phenomenon were unclear in their canine counterparts. Here, we report a dog with high-grade lymphoma concurrent with T-cell CLL.

Neutropenia associated with osteomyelitis due to Hepatozoon canis infection in a dog.

A 4-year-old, intact male Shiba dog was referred to Yamaguchi University Animal Medical Center, Yamaguchi, Japan, for the following complaints: anorexia, lethargy, intermittent fever, gingival bleeding and abdominal purpura. The dog presented with persistent neutropenia. Histopathological examination of a bone marrow sample revealed round to oval structures that resembled Hepatozoon micromerozoites and formed a "wheel-spoke" pattern.

Prekallikrein deficiency in a dog.

Prekallikrein (PK) deficiency is an uncommon disorder in dogs. In this report, we describe a case of a dog that was referred for neurological defects and had a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and normal prothrombin time (PT) with no hemostatic defects. By using human PK-deficient plasma, the dog was diagnosed to have PK deficiency.

Evaluation of the hemodynamic impact of continuous renal replacement therapy in healthy dogs.

We performed continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on clinically healthy dogs to evaluate the effects of CRRT on hemodynamics. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and central venous pressure of the dogs (n=6) were recorded during the procedure, which was performed under general anesthesia. Throughout the CRRT, heart rate and arterial blood pressure were stable.

Nafamostat mesilate is not appropriate as an anticoagulant during continuous renal replacement therapy in dogs.

We performed continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in clinically healthy dogs (n=7) to evaluate the utility of nafamostat mesilate (NM) as an anticoagulant. In 3 of the 7 dogs, CRRT had to be discontinued before the target duration due to coagulation in the extracorporeal circuit, into which NM was administered constantly at the rate of 2.0-6.

Aberrations of the FHIT gene and Fhit protein in canine lymphoma cell lines.

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a tumor-associated gene, and aberrant FHIT gene and protein expression have been described in many types of human tumors. Furthermore, it has been reported that FHIT gene inactivation is induced by hypermethylation of 5' CpG islands in the gene or by genomic deletion around the open reading frame (ORF). In this study, we explored the aberrations in the canine FHIT gene and Fhit protein expression and assessed the methylation status and genomic deletions by using 5 canine lymphoma cell lines.

Molecular cloning of the canine fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and Fhit protein expression in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene has been studied as a tumor-associated gene in humans. The aberrant FHIT gene and its protein expression have been reported in many types of human cancers. The present study explored the canine FHIT gene structure and its protein expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy dogs by RT-PCR, RACE and immunoblot analysis.

Application of polymerase chain reaction to analysis of antigen receptor rearrangements to support endoscopic diagnosis of canine alimentary lymphoma.

We evaluated the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor gene rearrangement analysis (PARR) of endoscopic biopsy specimens for diagnosis of canine alimentary lymphoma. Two endoscopic biopsy specimens were obtained from each lesion in 78 dogs with gastrointestinal symptoms. One specimen was histopathologically examined by a pathologist, and the other was analyzed by PARR.

Use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis for polymerase chain reaction of antigen receptor rearrangements in dogs.

PCR for antigen receptor gene rearrangement analysis (PARR) is a new diagnostic method for lymphoid neoplasia. In PARR using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues (PARR-FFPE), control DNA amplification was successful in only three of five samples. The formalin fixation times of the three samples were shorter than those of the others.

Superficial necrolytic dermatitis associated with extrapancreatic glucagonoma in a dog.

An 11-year-old Shih Tzu presented with crusting and erythema, mainly on the abdomen and the root of the tail. Based on histopathological findings, blood examinations and necropsy findings, the condition was diagnosed as superficial necrolytic dermatitis associated with a glucagon-secreting extrapancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. Gross necropsy revealed tumour invasion into the spleen, liver, adrenal glands and mesenteric lymph nodes.

A dog with myelodysplastic syndrome: chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

An eleven-year-old female pug was referred to Yamaguchi University Animal Hospital for evaluation of anemia and thrombocytopenia. The cytological examination of the peripheral blood showed some giant monocytic lineage blast cells. A few granulocytes and platelets had dysplastic features.

Detection of Borrelia garinii, Borrelia tanukii and Borrelia sp. closely related to Borrelia valaisiana in Ixodes ticks removed from dogs and cats in Japan.

Ticks removed from 1136 dogs and 134 cats all over Japan were examined for Borrelia infection by PCR and sequencing. The 5S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer of Borrelia was detected from two Ixodes persulcatus ticks from two dogs and two unidentified Ixodes spp. from another two dogs in Hokkaido, and two Ixodes granulatus ticks from two cats in Okinawa.

Cloning of the feline GADD45 cDNA and analysis of its mutation in feline lymphoma cell lines.

Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 45 (GADD45) plays an important role in suppressing multistep carcinogenesis. In this report, we describe the isolation of the complete wild-type feline GADD45 cDNA from feline tissues. Expression of feline GADD45 mRNA was detected in the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and testis.

Detection of DNA of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and Spiroplasma sp. in unfed ticks collected from vegetation in Japan.

DNA fragments of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', a feline heamobartonella pathogen, were detected from unfed Ixodes ovatus collected from vegetation in Hokkaido, Fukushima and Yamaguchi Prefectures, and unfed Haemaphysalis flava in Yamaguchi Prefecture. This finding suggests that ixodid tick is a possible vector of 'C. Mycoplasma haemominutum'.

Detection of rickettsial DNA in ixodid ticks recovered from dogs and cats in Japan.

DNA from ticks recovered from 1137 dogs and 133 cats from all over Japan were examined for Rickettsia infection by citrate synthase gene (gltA)-based PCR and partial nucleotide sequencing. A total of 91 dog tick samples and 18 cat tick samples showed a single band of the appropriate size in the nested PCR. Sequence analysis was successfully performed on 102 samples.

Experimental inoculation of beagle dogs with Ehrlichia species detected from Ixodes ovatus.

Three beagle dogs were inoculated with mice spleen/liver homogenate infected with Ehrlichia species detected from Ixodes ovatus (EIO) and one dog was used as a control. All three infected dogs did not show clinical signs of disease except for mild pyrexia throughout the 41-day study period. Splenomegaly was observed from Day 7 post-inoculation (p.