Combination Therapy with Reovirus and ATM Inhibitor Enhances Cell Death and Virus Replication in Canine Melanoma

Oncolytic virotherapy using reovirus is a promising new anti-cancer treatment with potential for use in humans and dogs. Because reovirus monotherapy shows limited efficacy in human and canine cancer patients, the clinical development of a combination therapy is necessary. To identify candidate components of such a combination, we screened a 285-compound drug library for those that enhanced reovirus cytotoxicity in a canine melanoma cell line. Here, we show that exposure to an inhibitor of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM) enhances the oncolytic potential of reovirus in five of six tested canine melanoma cell lines. Specifically, the ATM inhibitor potentiated reovirus replication in cancer cells along with promoting the lysosomal activity, resulting in an increased proportion of caspase-dependent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M compared to those observed with reovirus alone. Overall, our study suggests that the combination of reovirus and the ATM inhibitor may be an attractive option in cancer therapy.

Pancreatic Abscess in a cat due to Staphylococcus aureus infection

A 16-year-old spayed female American Shorthair cat was presented with lethargy, anorexia, and wamble. Physical and blood examination did not reveal any remarkable findings. Abdominal ultrasonography identified the presence of a localized anechoic structure with a thick wall in contact with the small intestine and adjacent to the liver. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the structure revealed fluid containing numerous cocci and neutrophils. Two days after antibiotic treatment, exploratory laparotomy was performed and the content of the structure was removed before multiple lavages. The pathological and bacteriological examination results supported a confirmatory diagnosis of pancreatic abscess due to Staphylococcus aureus infection, making this the first such report in a cat. The cat remained healthy thereafter with no disease recurrence.

Cryoscanning electron microscopy of loaded articular cartilage with special reference to the surface amorphous layer

The surface layer (i.e. the surface lamina) of articular cartilage, which is devoid of a collagen fibril network or cells, was investigated in the pig and human. It overlies the collagenous main part of the articular cartilage which contains chondrocytes and is thought to be important biomechanically. In order to examine morphological changes in this layer when under load, knee articular cartilage of the pig, along with the underlying subchondral bone, was compressed with a cylindrical indenter. The specimen was frozen by immersion in liquid nitrogen to maintain the loaded condition and was then freeze-fractured at the indented region. The fracture face was examined with a cryoscanning electron microscope. The surface layer was compressed beneath the indenter regardless of loading pressure or period and was expanded around the indenter to form a triangular bulge in cross section. The height of the bulge was related to the applied pressure and not to the loading period. Recovery of the cartilage from indentation was also examined. Immediately after removal of the indenter, the bulge of the surface layer moved back into the previously indented region. The region was covered by a thick surface layer after 2 s. The response of the surface layer to and recovery from indentation was largely instantaneous and elastic. Under heavy load conditions, the main part of the cartilage under the indenter was observed to have a striped pattern which was made up of bands of densely packed collagen fibrils with fibrillar networks remaining between them. These morphological findings agree well with previously reported biomechanical hypotheses and can be explained by the flow of interstitial fluid provoked by stress application.

Cryoscanning electron microscopic study of the surface amorphous layer of articular cartilage

In order to elucidate the structure near the articular surface, frozen unfixed hydrated articular cartilage with subchondral bone from the pig knee was examined using a cryoscanning electron microscope (cryo-SEM). This method is considered to reduce the introduction of artefacts due to fixation and drying. An amorphous layer, without a collagen-fibril network or chondrocytes, covered most of the surface of the cartilage. This layer was termed the surface amorphous layer. It showed various appearances, which were classified into 4 groups. The average thickness of the layer did not differ among the 8 anatomical regions from which the specimens were taken. The thickness of the layer was found to correlate with the type of appearance of the layer. The 4 appearances associated with thicknesses in descending order are: 'streaked', 'foliate', 'spotted', and 'vestigial'. The surface layer observed in the cryo-SEM was thicker than that observed by a conventional SEM. This difference may be attributable to dehydration of the specimen used in specimen preparation for the latter technique. The layer was also observed in articular cartilage taken from human and rabbit knees. The layer was found to be unstable and to have very variable features. Its thickness and appearance may be influenced by various factors such as dehydration, fluid absorption or mechanical stress.

[Evaluation of the performance of a negative extra-thoracic pressure ventilator (OKT-86)]

We evaluated the performance of a new negative extra-thoracic pressure ventilator (OKT-86, which was designed by the authors) applying it on ten patients with ASA Physical Status I (mean body weight: 54.4 +/- 12.1 kg) during anesthesia. Uneven distribution of negative extra-thoracic pressure was not observed within the chamber that a patient was wearing. Tidal volumes of more than 10ml.kg-1 were obtained at a respiratory rate of 10 or 16 breath.min-1 and a peak negative extra-thoracic pressure of -18 to -20 cmH2O. The values of delta FRC were 5.4 and 11.9 ml.kg-1 at continuous negative extra-thoracic pressure of -5 and -10 cmH2O, respectively, and these values were three times as those of the conventional cuirass ventilator. Consequently, sufficient tidal volumes and delta FRC were obtained using OKT-86.