Primary Unilateral Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Kidney in a Dog

Primary small cell carcinomas are rare in domestic animals. A mass measuring 15 × 20 × 9 cm was detected in the left abdominal cavity of a 7.5-year-old female golden retriever. The cut surface of the excised mass showed a tumour replacing the left kidney. Microscopically, the mass was composed of polymorphic, small basophilic cells with a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio and round, oval or short slender fusiform nuclei with condensed or finely granular chromatin, absent or inconspicuous nucleoli, and scant, faintly eosinophilic cytoplasm with poorly defined cytoplasmic borders. Immunohistochemically, most of the neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for thyroid transcription factor 1 and CD56, moderately positive for vimentin and weakly or sparsely labelled for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, Wilms' tumour 1 protein, neuron-specific enolase, pan-cytokeratin (CK) AE1/AE3 and epithelial membrane antigen. The tumour cells were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, CK7, CK20, CD3, CD45 and CD99. These findings indicated a neuroendocrine origin of the tumour. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report of a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma originating as a primary tumour in the kidney of a dog.

Transistor in a tube: A route to three-dimensional bioelectronics

Advances in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture materials and techniques, which more accurately mimic in vivo systems to study biological phenomena, have fostered the development of organ and tissue models. While sophisticated 3D tissues can be generated, technology that can accurately assess the functionality of these complex models in a high-throughput and dynamic manner is not well adapted. Here, we present an organic bioelectronic device based on a conducting polymer scaffold integrated into an electrochemical transistor configuration. This platform supports the dual purpose of enabling 3D cell culture growth and real-time monitoring of the adhesion and growth of cells. We have adapted our system to a 3D tubular geometry facilitating free flow of nutrients, given its relevance in a variety of biological tissues (e.g., vascular, gastrointestinal, and kidney) and processes (e.g., blood flow). This biomimetic transistor in a tube does not require photolithography methods for preparation, allowing facile adaptation to the purpose. We demonstrate that epithelial and fibroblast cells grow readily and form tissue-like architectures within the conducting polymer scaffold that constitutes the channel of the transistor. The process of tissue formation inside the conducting polymer channel gradually modulates the transistor characteristics. Correlating the real-time changes in the steady-state characteristics of the transistor with the growth of the cultured tissue, we extract valuable insights regarding the transients of tissue formation. Our biomimetic platform enabling label-free, dynamic, and in situ measurements illustrates the potential for real-time monitoring of 3D cell culture and compatibility for use in long-term organ-on-chip platforms.

Mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis: review of three techniques

Mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis (MSDO) is an alternative strategy to correct mandibular transverse deficiencies and dental crowding. Only a limited number of practitioners have reported their clinical experience and potential complications of this procedure to widen the mandible in a large case series. This study involved retrospective analysis of 40 patients who underwent mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis. Three different types of distractor were used to widen the mandible: tooth-borne in 21 patients, bone-borne in 5 patients and hybrid (both bone and tooth-borne) in 14 patients. The distraction amount ranged from 7 to 11 mm (mean 7.31 mm). While 39 patients underwent successful mandibular symphyseal distraction, there was one failure. Most of the complications were experienced in bone-borne distractors, such as breakage of the distractor rod, gingival recession, secondary infection and ptosis of the chin. In the light of these findings, it is suggested that a lingually placed tooth-borne hyrax appliance is more suitable and reliable than the other distraction devices. Further larger studies are needed in order to better evaluate the effectiveness of bone-borne or hybrid devices.

Activation of the alternative complement pathway by water-insoluble glucans of streptococcus mutans: the relation between their chemical structures and activating potencies

Water insoluble, sticky glucan was synthesized by reacting glucosyltransferase obtained from the sulture filtrate of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176 on sucrose. This glucan (OMZ 176 glucan), that consisted of the backbone chains of consecutive alpha-1, 3 glucosidic linkages (65%) and the side chain of alpha-1, 6 glucosidic bonds (35%), showed an ability to activate the alternative pathway of the complment system in human serum. Water soluble glucans synthesized from the reaction of glycosyltransferases of S. mutans strain AHT, FA-I, and Ingbritt with sucrose, that have a high content of alpha-1,6 and a low content of alpha-1, 3 glucosidic linkages, were less effective to activate the complement system. Sephadex (G-25) and Dextran (T-2,000 and T-40), that consisted exclusively of alpha-1, 6 glucosidic linkages, did not significantly activate the complement system. Controlled Smith degradation products of OMZ 176 glucan, composed of the alpha-1, 3 linked glucose backbone chain alone, lost its activity. From these results it was concluded that both backbone chain of alpha-1, 3 glucose units and branched alpha-1, 6 glucose units were essential for the OMZ 176 glucan to activate the alternative pathway of the human complement system.