A case-control study on diet and gastric cancer, carried out in selected areas of four regions of Spain (Aragon, Castile, Catalonia, and Galicia) in 1988 and 1989, included 354 cases of histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma and 354 controls matched by age, sex, and area of residence. Cases and controls were selected from 15 hospitals, representing most of the hospital facilities in the study areas. Usual diet was estimated by means of a dietary history questionnaire administered by interview. An increased risk of gastric cancer was observed for high consumption of exogenous nitrosamines (odds ratio = 2.1 for the highest quartile of consumption versus the lowest; p for linear trend = 0.007), nitrites, fat, and cholesterol. However, in a multivariate regression model, the effect of fat and cholesterol disappeared. An inverse association with the risk for gastric cancer was seen for high intake of fiber, vitamin C, folate, carotene, and nitrates. High consumption of vitamin C seemed to neutralize the increased risk related to simultaneous consumption of nitrosamines. For histologic type, the authors found no meaningful differences in the effect of most of the nutrients between intestinal and diffuse cancers. Their findings are consistent with previously reported results about the protective effect of fruit and vegetables and the increased risk associated with foods that are important sources of nitrites and preformed nitrosamines.

Our positive results are consistent with the results of recent studies; which conclude that there is a potential benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in resected gastric cancer.

An adult male channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) was presented with a history of weakness, dyspnea, and severe dilatation of the coelomic cavity, which was caused by accumulation of serohemorrhagic fluid. Radiographs revealed increased radiodensity and thickness of the descending aorta and a pectoral mass, and blood test results revealed anemia, hypocalcemia, hypoproteinemia, and hyperuricemia. On ultrasound examination, a hyperechoic enlarged soft tissue mass was found in the caudodorsal region of the coelom. The bird did not respond to supportive care and died. Postmortem examination revealed severe, bilateral nephromegaly due to multifocal to coalescing renal tubular adenomas (adenomatosis), which was complicated with renal gout and soft tissue mineralization. Relevant concurrent diseases included hepatic hemochromatosis, subcutaneous cestodiasis with cellulitis, and systemic amyloidosis. There are few documented cases of neoplasms in ramphastid birds and to our knowledge, this is the first report of a renal neoplasm in a channel-billed toucan.

An approximately 10-yr-old, captive-born female toco toucan ( Ramphastos toco ) was presented due to an acute onset of depression and apathy. On visual and physical examination, it showed an abnormal posture and dehydration, respectively. Serum biochemistry revealed hyperuricemia (39.4 mg/dl) and elevated glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT; 1,050 U/L). Radiographs demonstrated an enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. The bird died 7 days after presentation, despite treatment with enrofloxacin, allopurinol, a preparation of hepatorenal protectors, and complex B vitamins with dextrose. Necropsy revealed severe fibrinohemorrhagic pericarditis with a 15 mm long and 2.5 mm diameter, rigid foreign body in the pericardial exudate. Microscopically, this foreign body was of vegetal origin.

Blindness is an unusual symptom in the clinical course of cancer. When it appears it is necessary to differentiate between benign and malign causes. Brain metastases in bladder cancer are extremely rare. MRI is the best diagnostic option. We present a deaf-and-dumb male with subacute blindness, 12 months after the diagnosis of a metastatic bladder cancer. Computerised tomography scan and MRI revealed a mass into the pituitary gland and sella, probably of metastatic origin.