Biomedical subjects

W S Dernell

Publications and source records attributed to W S Dernell.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of radiography, nuclear scintigraphy, and histopathology for determining the proximal extent of distal radius osteosarcoma in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of radiography, nuclear scintigraphy, and histopathology for determining the proximal extent of distal radius osteosarcoma in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty client-owned dogs taken to Colorado State University with osteosarcoma of the distal radius. METHODS: Medical records of 20 dogs with confirmed osteosarcoma that underwent a limb-salvage procedure were reviewed. Measurements were performed directly from the lateral view of each radius, from both the scintigram and the radiograph, to determine the length of the radius and the distance from the proximal extent of the tumor to the distal radiographic or scintographic extent of the radius. The ratio of distal radial involvement to total radius length was calculated. A similar ratio was also determined using the macroslide, which included the entire portion of bone that was excised during the limb-salvage procedure. All 3 methods of measurement were compared. RESULTS: Nuclear scintigraphy significantly overestimated tumor length when compared with macroslide specimen measurements. Radiography also overestimated tumor length, but these results were not significantly different from macroslide specimen measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Both radiography and nuclear scintigraphy overestimate the extent of distal radius osteosarcoma in dogs when compared with histopathologic macroslides of the same lesions. Nuclear scintigraphy overestimated tumor extent to a larger degree than did radiography. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although radiography is a more accurate method of measurement of the extent of distal radius osteosarcoma, because nuclear scintigraphy overestimates tumor length to a greater degree, scintigraphy may provide a larger margin of safety for determining the site of proximal osteotomy during a limb-salvage procedure. However, caution should be taken when utilizing scintigraphy, because this method may overestimate length of radius involved to such an extent as to cause the surgeon to believe that a patient is not a suitable limb-salvage candidate.

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PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of acute pull-out strength between two-way and one-way transfixation pin insertion for external skeletal fixation in canine bone.

This study tested the hypothesis that two-way insertion of an external skeletal fixator transfixation pin would weaken the pin-bone interface. Smooth and partially threaded (end) transfixation pins were placed in tibiae of 32 cadavers by slow speed drilling or hand placement through a predrilled pilot hole. In one bone of each tibial pair, pins were inserted 2 cm beyond the distal cortex and retracted to a predetermined position (two-way). In the contralateral limb, the pins were inserted in one forward motion to the predetermined position (one-way). The peak force (Newtons) required to extract the pins (pull-out strength) axially at a rate of 1 mm/sec was determined by using a universal testing machine. A significant (p < .05) decrease in pull-out strength was found in pins placed by two-way insertion (674 +/- 410) as opposed to one-way insertion (766 +/- 432). The results of this in vitro study suggest that one-way insertion should be used clinically to decrease weakening of the pin-bone interface and prevent possible failure of external fixators. A significantly greater pull-out strength was found for threaded pins placed in the proximal diaphysis (1459 +/- 330 Newtons) compared to the distal metaphysis (873 +/- 297 Newtons).

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PubMedDate not supplied

Limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus: outcome in 17 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe function and identify factors that affect outcome in dogs undergoing limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma (OS) of the proximal humerus. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of dogs in which OS of the proximal humerus was treated with limb salvage surgery. ANIMALS: 17 client-owned dogs. METHODS: Records were analyzed for functional outcome, recurrence, metastasis, and survival. RESULTS: Outcome was good to excellent in 12% of dogs. Recurrence, metastasis, and survival were significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. Double plating of the distal allograft-host junction significantly reduced frequency of biomechanical failure. CONCLUSIONS: Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus did not result in acceptable function and was fraught with postoperative complications. Outcome was significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus in dogs cannot be recommended until improvement in functional outcome and reduction in postoperative complications can be achieved. The dependence of outcome on completeness of surgical margins supports aggressive en bloc resection and marking and evaluating surgical margins.

Amputation, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Slow release cisplatin combined with radiation for the treatment of canine nasal tumors.

Thirteen dogs with malignant tumors of the nasal cavity were treated with a combination of slow release cisplatin and megavoltage radiation. Radiation was delivered on a Monday through Friday schedule using a 6 MV linear accelerator. The median total dose was 49.5 Gy (range 49.5-56 Gy). Cisplatin was given using an open-cell polylactic acid polymer, impregnated with the drug and implanted intramuscularly at a distant site, as a slow release delivery system (OPLA-Pt [THM Biomedical, Inc]). The median dose used was 60 mg/m2 (range 60-100 mg/m2). When combined with radiation, this delivery system caused no systemic drug toxicity, and a local tissue reaction was seen in only two dogs. Acute side effects to normal tissue from radiation were not enhanced, as measured by subjective assessment. When compared to a group of historical controls that received radiation without OPLA-Pt, the dogs that received combined radiation and cisplatin had longer overall survival times, with a median of 580 days. The control group had a median survival of 325 days. Previously reported median survival times for comparable megavoltage radiation treatment range from 6 to 13 months. Some dogs in both groups also received adjubant chemotherapy but this did not influence survival time. By multivariate analysis, only the use of OPLA-Pt was found to significantly influence survival, with a p value of p = 0.023. Mega-voltage radiation and slow release cisplatin appears to be a well tolerated combination that may favorably affect survival of dogs with nasal tumors.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Multilobular osteochondrosarcoma in 39 dogs: 1979-1993.

Thirty-nine, older, large-breed dogs with multilobular osteochondrosarcoma (MLO) each presented primarily with a fixed mass involving the flat bones of the skull. Twenty-five dogs were treated with surgical resection alone, nine were treated with adjuvant therapy, and five were not treated. Forty-seven percent of dogs treated had local tumor recurrence, and 56% had metastasis. Median time to recurrence, median time to metastasis, and median survival time were 797, 542, and 797 days, respectively. Histological grade, surgical margins, and tumor location affected outcome. Long-term remission can be obtained with aggressive treatment of MLO, although it is locally invasive and moderately metastatic.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Extraskeletal osteosarcomas in dogs: 14 cases.

Fourteen dogs (11 females, three males) with extraskeletal osteosarcomas (EsOSAs) were identified. The median age was 11.5 years. The median body weight was 18 kg. The primary sites of the EsOSAs were the spleen (n=6), mammary gland (n=3), lung (n=2), and one each in the skin, axilla, and mesenteric root. The overall median survival time was 74 days. The only factor which was found to be prognostic for survival was the use of chemotherapy (p of 0.02). Cases which did not have chemotherapy were 3.62 times as likely to die a tumor-related death than cases which had chemotherapy.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Intermuscular lipomas of the thigh region in dogs: 11 cases.

Ten dogs with intermuscular lipomas in the thigh region were treated by surgical resection. The masses were located predominantly between the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles and involved the full length of the femur. These lipomas were not infiltrative but located deep between the fascial planes of the associated muscles. These tumors can appear similar to soft-tissue sarcomas in this location, but they can be differentiated by cytology and histology. Differentiation from an infiltrative lipoma is predominantly determined at the time of surgery. No tumors recurred in the median follow-up period of 17 months.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome following treatment of vertebral tumors in 20 dogs (1986-1995).

Twenty dogs with histopathologically confirmed primary (n=15) or metastatic (n=5) osteosarcoma (n=14) or fibrosarcoma (n=6) of the vertebral column were treated with surgery (n=4), radiation therapy and chemotherapy (n=6), surgery and chemotherapy (n=2), or surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (n=8). All dogs died due to their disease; 15 died due to local failure, and five died due to nonvertebral metastasis. Overall median survival time was 135 days, with a range of 15 to 600 days. Of the factors evaluated, only postoperative neurological status had a significant influence on outcome by multivariate analysis. This study supports the overall guarded prognosis for dogs with vertebral neoplasia. Better combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy remain to be defined for this difficult subset of animal cancer.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Adjuvant chemotherapy using cisplatin by subcutaneous administration.

BACKGROUND-MATERIALS: Based on previous polymer release experience, this study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity, efficacy and systemic absorption of cisplatin administered subcutaneously in dogs. METHODS-RESULTS-CONCLUSIONS: Fifty to 70 mg/m2 cisplatin was suspended in saline and injected subcutaneously in 6 dogs as an adjunct to their primary treatment for sarcoma. Gastrointestinal, bone marrow, renal or local tissue toxicity occurred following the first (dogs 1-3,5,6) and second (dogs 1 and 2) treatments. Low, yet measurable levels of platinum were present in serum through day 14 following injection in all dogs. Due to the toxicity seen, all further planned treatments were discontinued and adjuvant regimes were completed with intravenous carboplatin. Although slow systemic absorption of platinum can occur following subcutaneous administration, the degree of toxicity seen following this treatment would indicate that a drug delivery vehicle may be necessary if cisplatin is to be administered for sustained release and adsorption.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Intracavitary treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in dogs using cisplatin in a biodegradable polymer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy against local disease recurrence of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) in dogs using intracavitary cisplatin released from a polymer device (OPLA-Pt). MATERIALS AND METHODS: OPLA-Pt was placed into the wound following marginal (histologically incomplete) resection of STS in 30 dogs (32 tumors) with a median tumor diameter of 3 cm (range = 1-14 cm). Median cisplatin dose was 35.5 mg/m2 (body surface area) with a range of 5.3-133.3 mg/m2. RESULTS: The OPLA-Pt was removed from 9/32 (28%) sites due to local wound complication. Local recurrence occurred in 10/32 (31%) tumors. Higher tumor grade had a significant negative influence on local tumor recurrence (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of recurrence appeared to be similar using intracavitary cisplatin compared to previous reports of STS treated by marginal surgery followed by radiotherapy. The complication rate indicates the need for further refinement of the polymer/cisplatin system.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Status of the p53, Rb and MDM2 genes in canine osteosarcoma.

The key role of p53 and Rb alterations in human osteosarcoma is clear. For example, osteosarcoma is common in individuals inheriting mutant p53 or Rb genes. Osteosarcoma in dogs is similar to humans by histology, site, gender ratio and several other biological parameters. To study whether this similarity extends to the molecular level, 21 canine osteosarcomas were analyzed for alterations of p53, Rb and MDM2. MDM2 is a normal cell protein which antagonizes p53, amplification is seen in some human sarcomas. The gross structure of the p53, Rb and MDM2 genes was examined by Southern blotting. No deletions or rearrangements of the p53 or Rb genes were detected. The absence of gross gene alterations affecting these tumor suppressor genes is a significant difference between the disease in dogs and humans, since rearrangements or deletions of the p53 or Rb genes occur in 20-30 per cent of human osteosarcomas. The MDM2 gene appeared to be duplicated in one canine tumor but no cases of significant amplification were detected. Expression of normal Rb was detected in all cases. Mutations of the p53 gene were found in 38 percent of canine osteosarcomas. Analysis of mutations revealed a predominance of spontaneous mutation. These finding emphasize the key role that alterations of p53 have in the development of osteosarcoma in dogs and humans.

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