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C Benazzi

Publications and source records attributed to C Benazzi.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Mammary mucinous carcinoma in the cat.

Mucinous carcinoma of the mammary gland is a rare tumor characterized by excessive mucin production. In human and canine pathology, the diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma is based on the demonstration of an epithelial phenotype of mucus-producing cells and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-diastase positivity of the mucin. The histologic and immunohistologic characteristics of feline mucinous mammary carcinoma were examined. Of 656 cases of feline mammary neoplasms and dysplasias, 3.2% were found to be mucin-producing tumors. Cytokeratin 19 (16 cases positive, 4 heterogenous, and 1 negative) and vimentin (15 cases positive, 2 heterogenous, and 4 negative) expression were examined, and the mucin produced was alcian blue positive. PAS-diastase staining was variable (38.1%). Based on these findings, mucinous mammary carcinoma in the cat varies significantly from the human and canine varieties and alcian blue is the prominent stain in the diagnosis of feline mucinous carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed2005

Heterotopic kidney tissue in the lung of a free-living common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

A spontaneous case of renal heterotopia involving the lung parenchyma of a free-living, adult, female common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), which was found stranded alive on the North Adriatic Sea coast of Italy, is reported in this study. The lesion, slightly visible from the macroscopic point of view, had the histologic appearance of a "foreign tissue island," which was poorly demarcated from the surrounding pulmonary tissue. Within such an island, several regularly shaped and apparently mature kidney glomeruli and tubules could be observed, with no evidence of secondary tissue reaction. To the best of our knowledge, this should be the first description of heterotopic kidney tissue occurrence in the lung of any domestic or wild animal species.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

E-cadherin and beta-catenin reduction influence invasion but not proliferation and survival in canine malignant mammary tumors.

E-Cadherin and beta-catenin are known for their role in tumor invasion, but both proteins also exert an influence on tumor proliferation. This study, performed on canine mammary tumors, aimed to analyze the influence of E-cadherin (E-cad) and beta-catenin (beta-cat), immunohistochemically assessed singly and in combination (E-cad/beta-cat), on survival and their relationship with several proliferation indices (AgNOR index, MIB1 index, mitotic index). Immunohistochemistry was carried out on 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded specimens of canine mammary malignancies. The labeling was defined as preserved when prevalent on cell membranes of more than 75% of cells and reduced in other forms of expression (i.e., membranous less than 75%, cytoplasmic, and negative). E-cad, beta-cat, and E-cad/beta-cat were preserved respectively in 22, 12, and 11 out of 60 cases. Immunohistochemical expression of the two proteins in the same tumors was significantly correlated (P = 0.0001; R = 0.57). Survival analysis revealed no difference in outcome comparing the preserved versus reduced cases (E-cad, P = 0.31; beta-cat, P = 0.29; E-cad/beta-cat P = 0.36). Grouping cases for histologic invasiveness, the expression of E-cad or beta-cat and E-cad/beta-cat showed a progressive reduction that paralleled an increase in invasiveness from noninfiltrating to stage-II tumors (E-cad, P < 0.001; beta-cat, P < 0.05; E-cad/beta-cat, P < 0.05). No significant difference was obtained comparing mitotic index, MIB 1 index, and AgNOR index by analysis of variance between the cases grouped for preserved or reduced E-cad, beta-cat, and E-cad/beta-cat variables. In conclusion, reduced expression of E-cad, beta-cat, or E-cad/beta-cat was significantly associated with the progression from noninfiltrating to highly infiltrating tumors but not with proliferation or survival.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Sertoli cell tumour in a cat.

A Sertoli cell tumour occurred in a cryptorchid testis of a 1-year-old cat with no signs of feminization. The tumour showed intratubular growth without interstitial infiltration and the neoplastic cells appeared polymorphous and vacuolated. Mitotic figures were rare. The diagnosis was based on histopathological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features of the tumour cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

E-cadherin expression in canine mammary carcinomas with regional lymph node metastases.

E-cadherin (E-cad) is a cell adhesion molecule known for its tumour invasion-suppressor function. This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin in 19 cases of malignant mammary tumours of the dog and the relationship between E-cadherin expression in primary tumours and in regional lymph node metastases. E-cadherin expression is not always parallel in the primary tumour and in the lymph node metastasis. One year follow-up was available in 12 of 19 cases. Three different patterns of expression were revealed in the lymph node metastases compared with the primary tumour: downregulation when the protein expression was weaker in the metastasis than in the primary tumour; upregulation when E-cadherin was stronger in the lymph node than in the primary tumour, and a similarly intense expression when it was equal in the metastasis and in the tumour. The lymph node pattern revealed a prevalent upregulation or downregulation with respect to the primary tumour, whereas a similar expression of E-cadherin was encountered in less than 50% of cases.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Multiparametric survival analysis of histological stage and proliferative activity in feline mammary carcinomas.

Mammary tumours are among the most frequent malignant neoplasms in the cat and determination of prognosis on histological grounds alone can be unsatisfactory because it does not always correspond to the clinical behaviour of the neoplastic disease. The aim of this two-year post-mastectomy survival study is to relate the histological stage or invasiveness (the most commonly used histological parameter to grade malignancy) to several parameters assessing the proliferative activity-mitotic index, MIB1 index, and AgNOR index. Invasiveness was graded as local and vascular invasion whilst values of the parameters expressing proliferative activity, all quantified by image analysis, have been classified into low and high proliferative activity groups according to their median values, (0.719 for mitotic index, 12.11 for MIB1 index, and 3.19 for AgNOR index). For each group, mean survival (months+/-SD) was calculated. Histological stage (local invasion 21.83+/-7.83 months, blood vessels and/or lymphatics invasion 13.38+/-8.99,P<0.01), mitotic index (low 22.43+/-88.78, high 12.37+/-7.49,P<0.001), and AgNOR index (low 21.86+/-10.68, high 13.82+/-7.11,P<0.05) revealed a significant association with survival in univariate analysis and had an independent prognostic value in multiparametric survival test (P<0.001).

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Central nervous system cryptococcoma in a cat.

This report describes the gross, histopathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic findings in a 4-year-old cat with systemic Cryptococcus neoformans infection. A 1-cm diameter pontine mass, pinpoint lesions in the cerebellum and in the right kidney were the main macroscopic findings. A presumptive diagnosis of cerebral neoplasia with metastasis was formulated. Light microscopy revealed a huge number of yeasts surrounded by a pyogranulomatous inflammatory reaction in the cerebral parenchyma and, to a lesser extent, in the kidney, while the meninges were not involved. The positive mucicarmine stain that coloured the capsule of the yeasts was indicative of cryptococcal infection. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of C. neoformans var. grubii (C. neoformans serotype A). Electron microscopy revealed yeasts with a massive fibrillar capsule and lamellar cell wall free in the cerebral tissue and within macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Evaluating mitotic activity in canine and feline solid tumors: standardizing the parameter.

Three different methods for evaluating mitotic activity (mitotic count, mitoses/area, mitotic index) were applied to different types of canine and feline solid tumors to determine the method that is most objective and correlates best with other parameters of cell proliferation. Mitotic activity was evaluated on toluidine blue stained histological sections. Slides stained with histochemical (AgNOR proteins) and immunohistochemical (MIB1, PCNA) markers of cell proliferation were available for each case. Quantitation of mitotic activity and cell proliferation parameters was performed with an image analyzer. Mitotic activity assessment was compared with cell proliferation indices and its ability to discriminate tumors grouped on histologically based criteria including the histological type, malignant or benign characteristics, and grade. A significant correlation by linear regression analysis with other parameters assessing cell proliferation revealed that mitotic index correlated 1000% and mitoses/area and mitotic count correlated 40% of the time. In discriminating the proliferative activity of tumors grouped by histological criteria, mitotic index and mitotic count revealed 1000% concordance with the other parameters of cell proliferation, while mitoses/areas showed 80% concordance.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Blood and serous cysts in the atrioventricular valves of the bovine heart.

A survey of 30,907 slaughterhouse cattle (5,984 calves, 15,937 young adult, 8,986 cows) was carried out to determine the incidence of blood and serous cysts on atrioventricular valves. The cysts were classified by their content (blood/serous fluid), location (mitral/tricuspid valve), and size. Cyst wall samples were processed for histology, immunohistochemistry for factor VIII-related antigen, and transmission electron microscopy. The content of some cysts was studied by electrophoresis and biochemical and microbiologic methods. Older cows had a higher incidence (16.2%) than younger animals (11.5% in calves, 7.9% in steers, 6.4% in heifers), suggesting that the lesions may be acquired. Blood cysts were often present on both atrioventricular valves; serous cysts prevailed on the mitral valve. Cysts of both types were larger in older animals; serous cysts were larger than the blood cysts. Histologically, blood cysts contained fresh blood, and serous cysts were filled with a hyaline fluid devoid of cells, sterile, and biochemically similar to lymph. All the cysts were lined with endothelium, but a positive immunostaining for the factor VIII-related antigen was appreciable only in blood cysts. Ultrastructurally, the endothelium was composed of flat endothelial cells holding several cytoplasmic filaments, lying in blood cysts on a continuous and often laminated basal lamina with many cytoplasmic projections. The results support the hypothesis that cysts of the atrioventricular valves derive from the dilation of blood and lymphatic valvular vessels, do not regress with age, and are mainly the result of mechanical effects.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

Laminin expression in testicular tumours of the dog.

The expression of laminin was studied to determine the distribution pattern of basement membranes (BMs) in normal testes and in a series of 40 canine testicular tumours (seminomas, Leydig and Sertoli cell tumours). BM was always present around seminiferous tubules and blood vessels in normal testes and in seminomas and Sertoli cell tumours of the intratubular type without invasion. BM changes (fragmentation or loss, or both) were usually found in invasive neoplasms which retained their tubular structure; disruption or absence was observed in tumours, with a diffuse pattern. The BM was never expressed in Leydig cell tumours, except around vessels, irrespective of their histological growth pattern (cystic-vascular, pseudoadenomatous, diffuse). An attempt was made to relate the degree of BM modification to proliferative monoclonal antibodies and mitotic index. In parallel with the progressive loss of BM an increase in proliferative activity occurred, indicating that BM changes are additional useful prognostic indicators in testicular tumours of the dog.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in canine and feline mammary tumours.

Quantitation of immunohistochemical staining of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, clone PC10) by image analysis was performed on benign and malignant mammary tumours of dogs and cats. Scoring of the slides was carried out by image analysis to assess the percentage of labelled nuclei (expressed as a ratio of areas). Either the strongly labelled nuclei (SP-PCNA index), or all of the stained nuclei (TP-PCNA index) were counted as positive to determine the growth fraction and its correlation with the histopathological classification and nuclear grade (degree of nuclear differentiation, considered a morphological correlate of tumour aggressiveness). A significant difference in the values of PCNA indices was seen between benign and malignant growths (P < 0.0001, dog; P < 0.05, cat). Neither of the PCNA indices showed correlation with nuclear grade in dogs (P = 0.14 for SP-PCNA index and P = 0.31 for TP-PCNA index) or cats (P = 0.09 for SP-PCNA index and P = 0.07 for TP-PCNA index). A significant difference in the number of mitoses, expressed as mitotic index, was seen between benign and malignant growths in the dog (P < 0.01) but not in the cat (P = 0.078). Good correlation of mitotic index with nuclear grade was revealed in canine malignant growths (P < 0.05), but in feline malignant tumours such correlation (P < 0.05) was shown only when the values of intermediate plus typical forms were compared with the data for atypical forms. It is concluded that quantitation of PCNA-positive nuclear area by image analysis provides an objective method for assessing proliferative activity in benign and malignant mammary tumours of dogs and cats.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Proliferative activity assessed by anti-PCNA and Ki67 monoclonal antibodies in canine testicular tumours.

The recent availability of monoclonal antibodies raised against cell cycle nuclear antigens makes possible, by means of immunohistochemical techniques, an easy and quick method of evaluating tumour kinetic activity, in addition to older methods such as measurement of the mitotic index. Some of these antibodies can be used on formalin-fixed paraffin wax-embedded samples, thus allowing the use of archival material. In the present study the proliferative activity of testicular tumours of the dog (seminomas and Sertoli and Leydig cell tumours) was investigated with two monoclonal antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) clone PC10, and Ki67 clone MIB1. The former recognizes a formalin-resistant epitope of PCNA, and MIB1 the same antigen as Ki67 in formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded sections after incubation in a microwave oven. Three parameters of proliferative activity were considered: PCNA and Ki67 indices (percentage of nuclear area positive to PCNA and to Ki67), and mitotic index (number of mitoses per 1000 cells). The PCNA index and Ki67 index revealed a good correlation in linear regression analysis (P < 0.001) as did the mitotic index (P < 0.01). None of the parameters considered revealed a significant difference in proliferative activity of the three types of tumour (P > 0.05-Spearman test), but in both seminomas and Sertoli cell tumours the progression from tubular to diffuse pattern paralleled an increase in growth fraction. It is interesting that some seminomas of the diffuse type, often considered on histological grounds to be the most malignant, showed the highest values of the above-mentioned parameters.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Basement membrane components in mammary tumours of the dog and cat.

The distribution of the basement membrane (BM) components, laminin, type IV collagen and type VII collagen were studied immunohistochemically in benign and malignant growths of the mammary epithelium of the dog and cat. Intact BMs were found in benign growths, but in well-differentiated malignant tumours they were generally discontinuous, and missing in poorly differentiated carcinomas. An increase in the histological grade of atypia was accompanied by a more marked disruption or fading of BM. Monoclonal antibody (LH 7.2) proved useful in demonstrating type VII collagen in tumours in which massive proliferation of blood vessels made the evaluation of BM features with antibodies to laminin and type IV collagen difficult. Type VII collagen is present in BM of the mammary epithelium but not under the endothelium of blood vessels; it may therefore enhance the value of BM markers as aids in the study of neoplastic progression.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Giant cells in anaplastic mammary carcinoma of the dog and cat.

Four uncommon anaplastic mammary carcinomas containing numerous giant cells are described in three dogs and one cat. The giant cells of all cases were studied by means of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to detect epithelial (carcinoembryonic antigen and keratin) and mesenchymal (vimentin, lysozyme and S-100 protein) differentiation. Most of them proved to have an epithelial immunophenotype. Ultrastructurally, scattered bundles of tonofilaments but no lysosome-like bodies could be detected. One tumour had an additional, different type of giant cell, which had a benign multinucleated osteoclast-like appearance, gave positive staining for acid phosphatase, had a histiocytic-stromal immunohistochemical pattern, and was, ultrastructurally, multinucleate with irregular folds and no evidence of tonofilaments. In one case some giant cells had an epithelial immunophenotype and others a stromal immunophenotype, even though their histological and ultrastructural features were the same. In the least histologically differentiated tumour the giant cells presented a coexpression of intermediate filaments. This supported the theory that there might be a stem cell origin for most canine mammary tumours.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Clinical and pathological features of viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits and the European brown hare syndrome.

The authors review the clinical, macro- and microscopical features, and pathogenesis of viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) of rabbits and the European brown hare syndrome (EBHS). The two diseases share similar clinical and pathological manifestations involving an acute syndrome, sometimes accompanied by nervous and respiratory symptoms and epistaxis, and in all cases by severe hepatic damage and multifocal haemorrhages leading to fatal shock. The hepatic lesions (necrosis and inflammation) result from direct cytolytic and indirect microthrombotic effects of the causal agent. Endothelial lesions and a primary or secondary defect of coagulation factors are possible causes of the haemorrhagic syndrome. Typical lesions consist of necrotic hepatitis and congestion, haemorrhaging and oedema of the lungs and trachea. The histological and ultrastructural alterations of the liver are similar to those found in certain cases of acute fatal hepatitis in man. The high correlation between histologically typical hepatic findings and immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy is of diagnostic value. Both microscopic lesions and pathogenesis favour the unifying definition of "infectious necrotic hepatitis of Leporids" for the two disease entities.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of canine mammary mucinous carcinoma.

Mucinous carcinoma is a rare mammary tumour, characterized by intracellular and extracellular mucin. It is still uncertain whether the origin of the mucin is epithelial, myoepithelial or fibroblastic. Eleven canine cases originally classified as mucinous carcinomas were reassessed and compared with myoepithelial nests of mixed tumours. All samples were examined (1) histochemically by the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and PAS-diastase methods, and with alcian blue (pH 2.5 and pH 1.0), mucicarmine and Grimelius silver stain, and (2) immunohistochemically for cytokeratin 19, vimentin, alpha-actin and chromogranin A. This examination revealed that only five of the 11 tumours were genuine mucinous carcinomas. In these five tumours the mucus-secreting cells showed cytoplasmic cytokeratin 19 positivity; the mucus showed PAS-diastase and mucicarmine positivity, and alcianophilia which was stronger at pH 2.5 than at 1.0. The remaining six cases were re-classified as mixed tumours because both mucus and mucus-producing cells shared the following similarities with myoepithelial nests of mixed tumours: vimentin and alpha-actin cytoplasmic positivity, PAS negativity, alcianophilia both at pH 2.5 and 1.0, and mucicarmine positivity.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗