Cenurosi cerebrale cronica: correlazione tra segni clinici e quadri in risonanza magnetica

Thirty sheep affected by chronic Coenurus Cerebralis were examined. Clinical evaluation, brain MRI and CSF cytological examination were performed. Poor correlation between clinical signs and location of the cyst was detected. Clinical signs seems to be related with the volume of the cyst in the skull. A threshold value of 33% of the volume of the skull was detected for cysts in the forebrain. A 40% of the volume of the caudal fossa seems to be the threshold value for cysts in the cerebellum. Most of clinical signs seem to depend on increased intracranial pressure. MRI was a useful procedure for the diagnosis of coenurosis. It allowed a precise location of the parasitic cyst, an essential information for the surgeon. The mortality after the surgical removal of the cyst was 20%. All the animals but one recovered rapidly from neurological symptoms. Clinical examination and brain MRI were performed during six months after the surgery. In the majority of the animals the brain returned rapidly on its own size and shape with a glial scar in the area of the surgery, in two sheep last a little poroencephalic cavity

A Canine Gait Analysis Protocol for Back Movement Assessment in German Shepherd Dogs

Objective-To design and test a motion analysis protocol for the gait analysis of adult German Shepherd (GS) dogs with a focus in the analyses of their back movements. Animals-Eight clinically healthy adult large-sized GS dogs (age, 4 +/- 1.3 years; weight, 38.8 +/- 4.2 kg). Procedures-A six-camera stereo-photogrammetric system and two force platforms were used for data acquisition. Experimental acquisition sessions consisted of static and gait trials. During gait trials, each dog walked along a 6 m long walkway at self-selected speed and a total of six gait cycles were recorded. Results-Grand mean and standard deviation of ground reaction forces of fore and hind limbs are reported. Spatial-temporal parameters averaged over gait cycles and subjects, their mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variance are analyzed. Joint kinematics for the hip, stifle and tarsal joints and their average range of motion (ROM) values, and their 95% Confidence Interval (CI) values of kinematics curves are reported. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-This study provides normative data of healthy GS dogs to form a preliminary basis in the analysis of the spatial-temporal parameters, kinematics and kinetics during quadrupedal stance posture and gait. Also, a new back movement protocol enabling a multi-segment back model is provided. Results show that the proposed gait analysis protocol may become a useful and objective tool for the evaluation of canine treatment with special focus on the back movement

Lamin A and the LINC complex act as potential tumor suppressors in Ewing Sarcoma

Lamin A, a main constituent of the nuclear lamina, is involved in mechanosignaling and cell migration through dynamic interactions with the LINC complex, formed by the nuclear envelope proteins SUN1, SUN2 and the nesprins. Here, we investigated lamin A role in Ewing Sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive bone tumor affecting children and young adults. In patients affected by EWS, we found a significant inverse correlation between LMNA gene expression and tumor aggressiveness. Accordingly, in experimental in vitro models, low lamin A expression correlated with enhanced cell migration and invasiveness and, in vivo, with an increased metastatic load. At the molecular level, this condition was linked to altered expression and anchorage of nuclear envelope proteins and increased nuclear retention of YAP/TAZ, a mechanosignaling effector. Conversely, overexpression of lamin A rescued LINC complex organization, thus reducing YAP/TAZ nuclear recruitment and preventing cell invasiveness. These effects were also obtained through modulation of lamin A maturation by a statin-based pharmacological treatment that further elicited a more differentiated phenotype in EWS cells. These results demonstrate that drugs inducing nuclear envelope remodeling could be exploited to improve therapeutic strategies for EWS

clinical evolution of cerebral coenurosis from invasive to chronic infection in sheep and a goat

This survey describes the evolution in vivo of Coenurus cerebralis in small ruminants. At presentation, neurological signs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) features were suggestive of multifocal or diffuse inflammatory reaction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) captured the transition between the invasive and quiescent phase of the infection, revealing the concurrent presence of meningitis and small cysts. During the quiescent phase, in all animals, neurological symptoms disappeared, and cerebrospinal fluid was unremarkable while cysts grew progressively. Subsequently, the onset of neurological symptoms coincided with MRI signs of diffuse or localized increase of intracranial pressure, as confirmed by direct intracranial pressure measuring. All the animals had an excellent post-surgical recovery. This is the first report describing the evolution of coenurosis in vivo. Sequential imaging allowed describing interesting such as the death of some coenuri and different parasite growth rate in the same host

La RM nella diagnostica della cenurosi cerebrale ovina

La cenurosi cerebrale è una malattia ad esito letale che colpisce prevalentemente gli ovini; è sostenuta dalla forma larvale (Coenurus cerebralis) della parassita Taenia multiceps. Il ciclo solitamente è di tipo rurale: l’infestione si trasmette dal cane alla pecora e viceversa. Fino ad oggi la diagnosi in vita si è basata sull’esame neurologico che, pur caratteristico, non è patognomonico. Dato che la terapia è esclusivamente chirurgica appare chiaro che, oggi, l’impiego della RM o della TAC costituiscono un ausilio essenziale per una adeguata pianificazione chirurgica oltreché per individuare cisti multiple. Scopo di questo lavoro è presentare gli aspetti clinici, in RM e chirurgici di due ovini affetti da cisti multiple di Coenurus cerebralis.</i

What is your diagnosis? Cerebrospinal fluid from a sheep

In May 2011, 2 Sarda breed sheep (ID569 and ID622) from a livestock facility in the province of Nuoro (Sardinia, Italy) affected with chronic coenurosis were presented to the Veterinary Clinical Laboratory of the University of Sassari. The animals were included in a study conducted to investigate potential alterations of the brain and skull in 24 sheep with chronic coenurosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI detected the presence of one cyst in the medial cerebral hemisphere of sheep ID569, and 2 cysts in the left cerebral hemisphere of sheep ID622. Definitive diagnosis of chronic coenurosis was made by macroscopic and morphologic identification of T multiceps cyst after surgical extraction. Both animals manifested depression, disorientation, and alterations of postural reactions. Sheep ID569 revealed bilateral menace deficit while sheep ID622 showed a unilateral menace deficit. Complete resolution of neurologic signs was observed in both sheep within 7 days after removal of cysts

A Canine Gait Analysis Protocol for the Analysis of the Back Movement: Assessment of Kinematic and Kinetic Variables in German Shepherd Dogs

Introduction and objectives Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) is a common disorder affecting large breed dogs and in particular German Shepherd (GS) dogs. Currently, the most common treatment is surgery, however surgical timing and techniques are still controversial [1]. In this regard, instrumented movement analysis is a powerful tool for improving the clinical intervention efficacy [2]. The majority of the gait analysis protocols proposed were devised to analyze hind limbs kinematics [3]. To authors' knowledge, only few studies focused on the movements of the back [4] and, a complete description throughout the entire gait cycle of the kinematic data variability is still lacking. Aim of the present study is twofold: (i) to present and validate a gait analysis protocol specifically designed for the evaluation of the back motion in both sagittal and horizontal planes; and (ii) to provide normative data of the spatio-temporal parameters, kinematics and kinetics quantities during quadrupedal stance posture and level gait in healthy GS dogs

What is your neurologic diagnosis?

A 1-year-old 15-kg (33-lb) female dwarf goat was evaluated because of a 1-month history of progressive neurologic disturbances. The goat lived in a rural environment with its dam and a few sheep and dogs. The owner had noticed neurologic signs 4 months earlier; at that time, the goat had received no treatment. Physical examination findings were considered normal. Because of repeated handling of the goat since birth, it was possible to perform a neurologic examination as though the goat were a small animal. Neurologic examination revealed that the goat had a depressed mental status, left head turn, wide-based stance, hypertonia, ataxia, hypermetria, and prolonged retention of food in the mouth. Postural reactions of all 4 limbs were diminished. Menace response was reduced bilaterally. Spinal reflexes were considered normal. Signs of pain were elicited during palpation of the cervical region of the vertebral column

Hydrated nucleus pulposus herniation in seven dogs

The clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, treatment and follow-up in seven dogs with hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion (HNPE) are reported. All dogs had tetraparesis or tetraplegia. T2-weighted MRI revealed extradural hyperintense homogeneous material compressing the cervical spinal cord. After conservative treatment (five dogs) or surgical decompression (two dogs), all dogs returned to ambulatory function within 1 month. Follow-up MRI in conservatively treated dogs revealed complete disappearance of the extruded material. Histopathological examination of surgical specimens confirmed that the retrieved material was extruded nucleus pulposus with evidence of early degeneration