Some aspects of nasal disease in the cat

The aim of this study was to describe the radiographic signs of cats with chronic nasal disease and to assess the level of agreement between two independent observers in identifying these features. Nasal radiography of 85 cats were reviewed retrospectively by two independent observers. Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging were also performed in five and one cases respectively. Individual review was followed by consensual evaluation. The consensual radiological diagnosis was compared to the definitive diagnosis confirmed by histopathology. Seventy three cats were included in this part of the study, 55 (75%) cats had rhinitis and 18 (25%) had definitive diagnosis of neoplasia. The positive predictive values (PPV) were calculated for the diagnosis of each disease. The agreement between observers was also evaluated. The signs with higher PPV for nasal neoplasia were invasion of bony case (PPV=18.2%) and vomer destruction (PPV=86.6%). Generalized unilateral location of the lesion had a PPV of 46.7%, whereas both loss of turbinate detail and soft tissue opacity showed a PPV of 42.8%. When these signs occurred together in an animal with nasal neoplasia, the PPV reached 80%. Radiographic signs for rhinitis were more variable. The presence of a mixed pattern (PPV=84%), and nasal cavities within normal limits (PPV=18.2%) were the features frequently found. A high level of agreement between observers as to the final radiographic diagnosis (k=0.94). With regard to the specific features of nasal neoplasia and rhinitis, the agreement was very good in tumour cases; but in rhinitis was moderate, which confirms the variability of the rhinitis lesions. I summary, this study indicates a high degree of accuracy in the differentiation of radiographic features of neoplasia and chronic rhinitis in cats with chronic nasal disease

Influencia de los cuentos en comprensión lectora en estudiantes de cuarto grado de primaria

El propósito del estudio fue aplicar un programa de cuentos con valores con el fin de desarrollar habilidades de comprensión lectora en los estudiantes de cuarto grado de primaria del centro educativo 82004 Zulema Arce Santisteban y poder incrementar el nivel de comprensión lectora. En la indagación se empleo el diseño cuasi experimental en su modalidad pre y post-test. Con grupo control. La prueba de hipótesis X2 considerando un nivel de significación ?=0.05, encontramos que el X2 calculado> X2 critico (2gdl y ?=0.05) por lo cual se rechaza la hipótesis nula y se acepta la hipótesis de la investigación . Por lo tanto el programa de cuentos con valores ha incrementado significativamente en el grupo experimental en las dimensiones literal, inferencial y criterial. Los resultados encontrados en el pretest en las dimensiones en estudio nos demuestan que en el pretest el 53% de ambos grupos se ubican en el nivel inicio de las dimensiones literal, inferencial y criterial. En cambio en el post test el grupo experimental luego de la administración del programa de cuentos han avanzado en todas las dimensiones en estudio ubicándose en el nivel logrado el 50.1% en las dimensiones antes mencionadas. En contraste con el grupo control quien el 50.2% de estudiantes aún permanecen en el nivel inicio de las dimensiones literal, inferencial y criterial. Lo que significa que los cuentos con valores incrementan el nivel de comprensión lectora.Tesi

Lumbar vertebral canal stenosis due to marked bone overgrowth after routine hemilaminectomy in a dog

Bone overgrowth after decompressive surgery for lumbar stenosis resulting in recurrence of neurological signs has not been reported in veterinary literature. However, there are few cases described in human medicine. A 13-month-old entire female dog, a crossbreed between a Springer Spaniel and a Border Collie, weighing 24 kg, was referred with a 5-day history of progressive spastic paraplegia, indicative of a T3-L3 myelopathy. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a right-sided L2-L3 compressive extradural lesion, compatible with epidural haemorrhage, which was confirmed by histopathology. The lesion was approached via right-sided L2-L3 hemilaminectomy and was successfully removed. One-year postoperatively the dog re-presented with pelvic limb ataxia. MR and computed tomography (CT) images demonstrated excessive vertebral bone formation affecting the right articular processes, ventral aspect of the spinous process of L2-L3, and contiguous vertebral laminae, causing spinal cord compression. Revision surgery was performed, and histopathology revealed normal or reactive osseous tissue with a possible chondroid metaplasia and endochondral ossification, failing to identify a definitive reason for the bone overgrowth. Nine-month postoperatively, imaging studies showed a similar vertebral overgrowth, resulting in minimal spinal cord compression. The patient remained stable with mild proprioceptive ataxia up until the last follow-up 18 months post-revision surgery. This is the first report in the veterinary literature of bone overgrowth after lumbar hemilaminectomy which resulted in neurological deficits and required a revision decompressive surgery

Case report: Traumatic hemorrhagic cervical myelopathy in a dog

A 1.5-year-old female entire French bulldog was referred for neurological evaluation, further diagnostic tests, and treatment 24 h after a road traffic accident. Initial emergency treatment, diagnostic tests, and stabilization had been performed by the referring veterinarian. Neurological examination revealed severe spastic non-ambulatory tetraparesis and was consistent with a C1-5 myelopathy. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study revealed an irregular to elongated ovoid intramedullary lesion centered over the body of C2. The lesion showed marked signal heterogeneity with a central T2W and T2* hyperintense region, surrounded by a hypointense rim on both sequences. The lesion appeared heterogeneously T1W hypointense. The lesion was asymmetric (right-sided), affecting both white and gray matter. The C2-3 intervertebral disk appeared moderately degenerate with a Pfirrmann grade of 3. No evidence of vertebral fracture or luxation was found on radiographs or MRI of the vertebral column. Additional soft tissue abnormalities in the area of the right brachial plexus were suggestive of brachial plexus and muscle injury. A diagnosis of traumatic hemorrhagic myelopathy at the level of C2 and concurrent brachial plexus injury was formed. Conservative treatment was elected and consisted of physiotherapy, bladder care with an indwelling urinary catheter, repeated IV methadone based on pain scoring (0.2 mg/kg), oral meloxicam 0.1 mg/kg q24h, and oral gabapentin 10 mg/kg q8h. The dog was discharged after 4 days, with an indwelling urinary catheter and oral medication as described. The catheter was replaced two times by the referring veterinarian and finally removed after 10 days. Thereafter, voluntary urination was seen. During the 2 months after the road traffic accident, slow recovery of motor function was seen. The right thoracic limb recovery progressed more slowly than the left limb, also showing some lower motor neuron signs during follow-up. This was judged to be consistent with a right-sided brachial plexus injury. The dog was reported ambulatory with mild residual ataxia and residual monoparesis of the right thoracic limb at the last follow-up 3 months post-injury. This case report highlights the MRI-based diagnosis of traumatic hemorrhagic myelopathy in a dog. A fair short-term outcome was achieved with conservative treatment in this case

Resting state networks of the canine brain under sevoflurane anaesthesia

Resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI) has become an established technique in humans and reliably determines several resting state networks (RSNs) simultaneously. Limited data exist about RSN in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the RSNs in 10 healthy beagle dogs using a 3 tesla MRI scanner and subsequently perform group-level independent component analysis (ICA) to identify functionally connected brain networks. Rs-fMRI sequences were performed under steady state sevoflurane inhalation anaesthesia. Anaesthetic depth was titrated to the minimum level needed for immobilisation and mechanical ventilation of the patient. This required a sevoflurane MAC between 0.8 to 1.2. Group-level ICA dimensionality of 20 components revealed distributed sensory, motor and higher-order networks in the dogs’ brain. We identified in total 7 RSNs (default mode, primary and higher order visual, auditory, two putative motor-somatosensory and one putative somatosensory), which are common to other mammals including humans. Identified RSN are remarkably similar to those identified in awake dogs. This study proves the feasibility of rs-fMRI in anesthetized dogs and describes several RSNs, which may set the basis for investigating pathophysiological characteristics of various canine brain diseases

Case report: Surgical treatment and long-term successful outcome of a spinal intramedullary vascular malformation in a dog

A 3.5-year-old male intact Staffordshire terrier crossbreed dog was presented with a one-week history of progressive paraparesis with fecal and urinary incontinence. Neurological examination was consistent with a T3-L3 myelopathy. A magnetic resonance imaging study revealed the presence of a well-circumscribed hemorrhagic space-occupying lesion at the level of T12, suspected to be a vascular malformation, such as cavernoma or arteriovenous fistula, primary hematoma or hamartoma; less likely considerations included hemorrhagic inflammation or hemorrhagic primary or secondary neoplasia. A dorsal laminectomy, durotomy, and midline dorsal myelotomy were performed with a surgical microscope, and the vascular lesion was identified and removed. Histological examination of surgical samples yielded fibrin, hemorrhage, hematoidin pigment, and some neural tissue. Although a lining wall was visualized during surgery consistent with a vascular malformation, there was no histological confirmation of such a structure, hampering definitive classification of the lesion. There was no gross or histopathological evidence that would support a diagnosis of a hamartoma or benign neoplasia. The dog was paraplegic with intact nociception the day following surgery. Ambulation was recovered within 2 weeks. Progressive and complete recovery of neurological function was seen over the next 12 weeks. No recurrence of neurological dysfunction was seen over a 12-month follow-up period. Surgical treatment should be considered in dogs with spinal intramedullary vascular lesions which can have a successful long-term outcome

Clinical features and MRI characteristics of presumptive constrictive myelopathy in 27 pugs

Constrictive myelopathy has been described in pugs with paraparesis and is characterized by fibrous connective and granulation tissue within the dura mater causing spinal cord compression and focal gliosis. An association between constrictive myelopathy and caudal articular process (CAP) dysplasia is suspected; however, some studies have reported CAP dysplasia as an incidental finding. The imaging appearance of constrictive myelopathy is currently limited to a small number of cases. The aim of this multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study was to detail the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics and to correlate these with clinical signs of presumptive constrictive myelopathy in pugs. Medical databases from five veterinary referral hospitals were reviewed to identify pugs with pelvic limb ataxia and paresis, that had a complete record of signalment, neurological examination, and MRI of the thoracolumbar spinal cord. The exclusion criteria were pugs with other conditions, such as unequivocal subarachnoid diverticula, hemivertebrae causing vertebral canal stenosis, intervertebral disc extrusions/protrusions, and multifocal/diffuse lesions. Twenty‐seven pugs met the inclusion criteria. All cases were ambulatory with paraparesis and ataxia. Nearly 60% were incontinent. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a focal myelopathy in all cases showing one or more of the following lesions: CAP dysplasia (25/27), focal subarachnoid space irregular margination (26/27) with circumferential or dorsal contrast enhancement (10/12), and a symmetric V‐shaped ventral extradural lesion (23/27). This study describes specific MRI features of pugs with presumptive constrictive myelopathy, which authors hypothesize to be a consequence of chronic micro‐motion. Our results may help in diagnosing and subsequently treating this condition, which may warrant vertebral stabilization

Imaging features of discospondylitis in cats

ObjectivesThis study describes the imaging features of feline discospondylitis on MRI, comparing them to CT and radiographic findings where available.MethodsThe medical records of cats diagnosed with discospondylitis, presented to three referring institutions, were reviewed. MRI, CT and radiographic features were assessed by two of the authors independently.ResultsFourteen sites of discospondylitis were retrospectively identified in 13 cats. The L7–S1 intervertebral disc space (IVDS) was affected in 7/14 (50%) cases. Characteristic MRI features included a hyperintense nucleus pulposus signal on T2-weighted (T2W) imaging (n = 10/14 [71%]) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging (n = 11/13 [85%]), with contrast enhancement in all (n = 11/11); involvement of adjacent vertebral endplates (n = 11/14 [79%]) and hyperintense neighbouring soft tissue on T2W (n = 11/14 [79%]) and STIR (n = 10/13 [77%]), with contrast enhancement in all (n = 11/11); and the presence of spondylosis deformans (n = 10/14 [71%]). Other features included narrowed or collapsed IVDS (n = 8/14 [57%]), contrast enhancement of vertebral bodies (n = 5/11 [46%]), epidural space involvement (n = 5/14 [36%]), compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots (n = 5/14 [36%]), paraspinal abscessation (n = 3/14 [21%]) and meningeal signal intensity abnormalities with contrast enhancement (n = 5/6 [83%]). These latter findings may indicate secondary focal meningitis. Radiographs were available covering five sites (in four cats) and CT covering three sites (in two cats). The most common radiological features were collapse or narrowing of the affected IVDS (80%) and endplate erosion (60%). No changes suggestive of discospondylitis were identifiable on radiography or CT in two sites (one cat), despite being identifiable on MRI. Repeated radiography in one case did not reveal complete radiological resolution following 9 months of treatment.Conclusions and relevanceThe results of this study indicate consistent MRI features of feline discospondylitis that should be considered in the diagnosis of this condition

Hyperspectral imaging benchmark based on machine learning for intraoperative brain tumour detection

publishedVersio

Genomic Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, Including 28 Subphenotypes

publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Genomic Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, Including 28 Subphenotypes journaltitle: Cell articlelink: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.046 content_type: article copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Inc