Magnetic resonance imaging in canine idiopathic epilepsy: a mini-review.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an integral part of the diagnostic workup in canines with idiopathic epilepsy (IE). While highly sensitive and specific in identifying structural lesions, conventional MRI is unable to detect changes at the microscopic level. Utilizing more advanced neuroimaging techniques may provide further information on changes at the neuronal level in the brain of canines with IE, thus providing crucial information on the pathogenesis of canine epilepsy. Additionally, earlier detection of these changes may aid clinicians in the development of improved and targeted therapies. Advances in MRI techniques are being developed which can assess metabolic, cellular, architectural, and functional alterations; as well alterations in neuronal tissue mechanical properties, some of which are currently being applied in research on canine IE. This mini-review focuses on novel MRI techniques being utilized to better understand canine epilepsy, which include magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, perfusion-weighted imaging, voxel based morphometry, and functional MRI; as well as techniques applied in human medicine and their potential use in veterinary species.

Retrospective evaluation of hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis in dogs (2003-2014): 86 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize anaphylactic reactions in dogs, including clinical signs, severity, treatments, prognosis, and estimated incidence. To determine whether glucocorticoids influence clinical recovery and survival. DESIGN: Retrospective study between January 1, 2003 and April 28, 2014. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Eighty-six dogs treated for a type I hypersensitivity reaction. Nineteen dogs fulfilled the criteria for anaphylaxis, and 67 dogs had mild cutaneous reactions. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The estimated incidence was 0.04% for anaphylaxis and 0.15% for mild hypersensitivity reactions. The female:male ratio (2.3:1) was significantly higher (P = 0.032) compared to our source population (ratio of 1:1.158). Vaccines were the most frequent trigger for anaphylaxis (57.9%) and mild hypersensitivity reactions (28.4%). Seventy-four (86%) dogs had cutaneous signs, and 11 (57.9%) dogs with anaphylaxis had no cutaneous signs reported. Forty-two (48.8%) dogs received both an H1 antagonist and a glucocorticoid, 34 (39.5%) dogs received an H1 antagonist only, and 6 (6.9%) dogs received a glucocorticoid only. The majority of the dogs survived, and 1 was euthanized due to complications. Clinical signs associated with nonsurvival included respiratory signs (P = 0.006), particularly respiratory distress (P < 0.00001) and cyanosis (P < 0.00001), and circulatory shock (P = 0.005). The analysis of the interaction between etiology, clinical signs, treatment, and outcome did not show any association between pairs of variables. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, anaphylaxis had a relatively good prognosis, and cutaneous signs were not always present. Based on the present data, the use of glucocorticoids to treat mild type I hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis in dogs was not associated with clinical improvement or survival.

Case-based intensive veterinary radiology clerkship improves students' radiographic interpretation skills and overall course satisfaction scores.

The variability in diagnostic imaging caseload, increasing class sizes, high hospital workloads, and the progressive departure of veterinary radiologists from academia can lead to inconsistent and reduced teaching opportunities. This one group pretest, posttest study aimed to compare the learning outcomes of students enrolled in two veterinary radiology clerkship models. Our hypothesis was that the learning and satisfaction scores of students in a case-based veterinary radiology clerkship would be higher than those in a clinical veterinary radiology clerkship. During the spring and summer semesters of 2019, students were assigned to a clinical (CRC) or case-based (CBRC) radiology clerkship model, respectively. Prior to starting the clerkship and at the conclusion thereof, all students took identical radiographic interpretation quizzes. Four major areas of learning were assessed: knowledge base (KB), diagnostic test interpretation (DTI), problem prioritization and differential diagnosis (PPDDX), and critical thinking (CrT). A total of 41 of 48 (CRC) and 130 of 151 (CBRC) students enrolled in this study; 15 and 34, respectively, were off-shore students, while the remainder were in-house students. In-house students improved their scores with CRC and CBRC, but achieved better scores in the four areas with CBRC. Off-shore students only improved their scores with CBRC. In both groups, there was a negative effect of CRC on DTI. Course satisfaction score was 3.21 on CRC and 4.38 on CBRC (range 1-5). An intensive, case-based, discussion-focused veterinary radiology clerkship can improve students' radiographic interpretation skills and overall course satisfaction scores.