An extradural cyst in a French Bulldog.

CASE HISTORY: A 7-year-old, male neutered French Bulldog was referred to a specialist veterinary hospital for evaluation of progressive paraparesis of 6-months' duration. The owners reported both faecal and urinary incontinence at home. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog presented with ambulatory paraparesis and pelvic limb ataxia that was more pronounced in the right pelvic limb. The pelvic limb withdrawal response and sciatic myotatic response were reduced bilaterally. Postural reaction responses were delayed in both pelvic limbs, and this was more obvious in the right pelvic limb. The anal tone and perineal sensation were normal at the time of examination.An L4-S3 myelopathy was suspected. CT of the spine revealed a compressive, bilobed, extramedullary, cyst-like structure within the vertebral canal, between L7 and S3. Surgical removal of the cyst via a L7-S1 dorsal laminectomy was performed. Histopathological examination and additional immunohistochemistry of the excised structure indicated a probable ependymal cyst with a ciliated lining. The dog recovered well post-operatively, and at follow-up 3 weeks later had some improvement of his neurological signs. The paraparesis and pelvic limb ataxia had improved; however, the remaining neurological examination was similar to the pre-surgical examination. DIAGNOSIS: Extradural cyst. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Spinal cysts can contribute to clinical signs that resemble other common chronic spinal cord diseases, such as intervertebral disc disease. Therefore, this disease should be considered as a differential when dealing with cases of progressive paraparesis and pelvic limb ataxia. This case report may potentially provide opportunities in the future for further understanding of the pathogenesis, behaviour, outcomes and subclassification of spinal cysts in dogs.

Clinical and imaging experience with yttrium-90 microspheres in the management of unresectable liver tumours.

INTRODUCTION: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is emerging as a new therapeutic modality in recent years for management of non-resectable hepatic malignancies. Our experience in clinical application of this treatment is reported here. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From June 2004, patients whose liver tumours were no longer amenable for any conventional treatment with either chemotherapy or surgery were considered for yttrium-90 microspheres treatment after discussion at our multidisciplinary meeting. A pre-treatment planning was carried out with visceral angiography and technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA) for assessment of both tumour volume and extrahepatic shunting in addition to a baseline PET and CT scans, respectively. Two weeks later, a second visceral angiogram was performed to deliver the calculated dosage of microspheres into the arterial system supplying the tumour. Patients were then followed up with tumour markers, repeat PET and CT scans of abdomen at 6 weeks and 3 monthly thereafter. RESULT: Twenty-one patients (F=11, M=10; age range 40-75 years, mean=58 years) received yttrium-90 microspheres consisting of liver metastases from colorectal primary (n=10) and non-colorectal primaries (n=8), and primary liver tumours (n=3). One patient received 2 treatments. The mean administered activity of microspheres delivered was 1.9 GBq (range 1.2-2.5 GBq). Injection of microspheres had no immediate effect on either clinical haematology or liver function tests. At follow-up, 86% of patients showed decreased activity on PET scan at 6 weeks (p=0.01). The mean pre-treatment SUV was 12.2+/-3.7 and the mean post-treatment SUV was 9.3+/-3.7, indicating a significant improvement measured with PET activity. Only 13% showed a reduction in the size of tumour on CT scan. For patients with colorectal liver metastases, there was no significant reduction in CEA level (127+/-115 vs 75+/-72 micro/l, p=0.39). Complications were seen in 4 patients (19%) including radiation hepatitis (n=2), cholecystitis (n=1) and duodenal ulceration (n=1). All resolved without surgical intervention. Seven patients died at follow-up from progressive extrahepatic disease (33%). CONCLUSION: SIRT should be considered for patients with advanced liver cancer. It has a significant effect on liver disease in the absence of extrahepatic disease. PET imaging has an integral role in the assessment of patients treated with yttrium-90 SIR-Spheres.

A quantitative autoradiographic comparison of binding to glutamate receptor sub-types in hippocampus and forebrain regions of a food-storing and a non-food-storing bird.

In two species of birds, food-storing marsh tits, P. palustris, and non-storing blue tits, P. caeruleus, quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to localize NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-sensitive [3H]glutamate, [3H]MK801, and [3H]AMPA binding sites, in six regions of the forebrain: hippocampus and parahippocampus, hyperstriatum accessorium (vision) and ventrale (sensory integration), neostriatum (auditory), and lobus parolfactorius (basal ganglia). In both species high levels of labelling to both NMDA and AMPA receptors were observed throughout the forebrain. However, a marked difference in receptor labelling was apparent between the two species, with levels of binding to NMDA ion channel sites being significantly lower (20%) in both the hippocampus and parahippocampus, in food storers compared to non-food storers. The levels of binding to other forebrain regions were remarkably similar in the two species. No differences were seen in the binding to AMPA receptors in forebrain regions of either species.

Be, Li, and Na redistribution near a porcelain/Ni alloy interface shown by ion microprobe mass analysis.

During porcelainization the non-preoxidized alloy develops a Be-rich reaction zone in the interface which separates a Be-depleted alloy from a Li and (to a lesser extent Na) depleted region of the ceramic. Thus, Be diffuses to the interface through the alloy Be degrees leads to Be++ + 2 e- occurs at the interface; some of the electrons are electronically conducted to the porcelain-air interface where they are consumed as 2 e- + 1/2 O degrees 2 leads to O=, and the resulting negatively charged porcelain surface attracts Li+ (and Na+).

An unusual site of heterotopic calcification.

Heterotopic calcification may occur following paralysis from spinal cord injury, most commonly affecting the hips. This case demonstrates a bone scan on a T5 paraplegic patient showing an unusual site of heterotopic calcification in the paravertebral musculature in addition to the hip regions. Subsequent CT scanning confirmed the presence of calcification in the erector spinae musculature.

Age, geographic, and temporal distribution of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in cow-calf herds.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum from California cow-calf herds with respect to age, geographic region, temporal effects, and association with watery feces. ANIMALS: Cows and calves from 38 beef cow-calf operations. PROCEDURE: Fecal specimens were collected and examined for C parvum oocysts, using immunofluorescent microscopy. Associations between age, geographic region, month of collection, watery feces, and likelihood of shedding C parvum were evaluated. RESULTS: 3.9% of cattle were shedding C parvum oocysts. Prevalence of shedding among calves ranged from 0 to 13%, and was 0.6% among cattle > or = 12 months old. The odds of shedding C parvum among 2-month-old calves were 41 times greater than among cattle > 4 months old. The odds of shedding C parvum among cattle tested in May were 8.7 times greater than among cattle tested during June, July, or August. The odds of infected individuals having watery feces were 3 to 4 times greater than for noninfected individuals, but the etiologic fraction was only 8 to 9%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Substantial fecal shedding of C parvum by cow-calf herds was limited to calves 1 to 4 months old, with low prevalence detected in older animals. Risk of contamination of watersheds with C parvum was limited to those periods when young calves were in the herd. Although the odds of having watery feces were greater for animals infected with C parvum than for noninfected animals, the low etiologic fraction suggests that most calves with watery feces were not infected with C parvum.

The role of thallium scintigraphy in excluding malignancy in bone.

Scintigraphy with thallium-201 was performed on 22 patients in whom a solitary abnormality in bone was suspected of being malignant. In three patients, an additional lesion was subsequently identified. Preferential TI-201 uptake was found in 7 of 8 malignant lesions, but was absent in 16 of 17 abnormalities that proved to be benign. The use of TI-201 scanning is considered to offer high negative predictive value in the assessment of possible malignant change in bone.

Presence of Campylobacter inthe respiratory tract of broiler carcasses before and after commercial scalding.

Campylobacter could be detected in the thoraco-abdominal cavity of broiler carcasses even if they were carefully eviscerated by hand with no evidence of intestinal rupture or leakage. If Campylobacter is present in the air sacs, which are unavoidably torn during evisceration, it could contaminate the thoraco-abdominal cavity of the eviscerated carcass. This study was done to determine if Campylobacter contamination is present in the respiratory tract of broilers prior to evisceration. Whole carcass rinses and respiratory tract washes were done on broiler carcasses collected at a commercial processing plant just before and just after scalding. Samples were cultured for presence and numbers of Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, coliforms, and total aerobic bacteria. Campylobacter isolates were subtyped by sequencing the short variable region of the flaA gene. The same subtypes of Campylobacter were detected in whole carcass rinse samples as in respiratory tract wash samples from individual broilers. Furthermore, the same numbers and subtypes of Campylobacter were recovered from respiratory tracts of carcasses collected before scalding and those collected after scalding. However, respiratory tracts of carcasses after scalding had higher numbers of E. coli, coliforms, and total aerobic bacteria than those tested before scalding. Although some bacterial counts were higher in the respiratory tracts of carcasses after scalding, Campylobacter counts were not. It appears that Campylobacter is present in the respiratory tracts of broilers as they enter processing, and contamination may be due to airborne bacteria during production or transport.

Binding rate of rabies virus to alpha interferon primed mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Mouse neuroblastoma cells (MNA) were primed with 20 I.U. of alpha interferon (Mu IFN-alpha) prior to exposure to the Challenge Virus Standard strain of rabies virus (CVS). Saturation of CVS receptor sites occurred when 0.71 microgram of 3H-CVS protein bound to 20,000 MNA cells. After 180 min incubation time, the amount of viral protein attributed to specific binding was estimated to be 0.45 microgram. Mu IFN-alpha treatment of MAN cells did not increase the number of specific cell receptor sites to CVS but it did significantly increase the rate that CVS was able to bind to cell receptors. The amount of time required to reach saturation of MNA cell receptors to CVS decreased from 120 min in untreated cells to 30 min in Mu IFN-alpha primed MNA cells. Although treatment with Mu IFN-alpha increased the binding rate of rabies virus to MNA cells, the virus was unable to complete a productive infection 48 hrs after the Mu IFN-alpha was removed.

[Value of gentamycin concentration in aqueous humor of a rabbit's eye depending on the method of application. Summary of a doctoral thesis]. / Ocena stezen gentamycyny w cieczy wodnistej oka królika w zaleznosci od sposobu podania. Streszczenie pracy doktorskiej.

Pharmacokinetics of gentamycin in the primary and secondary rabbit's aqueous was examined by using a new experimental method of subconjunctival application (without breaking the continuity of the conjunctiva). It was established that after subconjunctival application one cannot obtain any therapeutical concentrations in the primary or secondary aqueous. Presented are conditions which have to be fulfilled to obtain a therapeutical concentration of gentamycin in the secondary aqueous.

[Traumatic avulsion of the optic nerve in the chiasm region]. / Urazowe wyrwanie nerwu wzrokowego w miejscu skrzyzowania nerwów wzrokowych.

Avulsion of the optic nerve in the chiasmal region is a very rare injury. The authors presented a case of such avulsion with concomitant temporal visual field defect in the other eye. The pathomechanism of this type of optic nerve injuries is discussed.

[Retinal detachment after accidental intra-vitreous Depo-Medrol injection. A case report]. / Odwarstwienie siatkówki spowodowane przypadkowym wstrzyknieciem Depo-Medrolu do ciala szklistego. Opis przypadku.

BACKGROUND: Accidental Depo-Medrol injection into vitreous cavity is a very rare complication and early retinal detachment, associated with it, has a very poor prognosis. METHODS: A case of a women, 34, treated on account of anterior uveitis, in whom during Depo-Medrol injection perforation of the eyeball was done is presented. The drug was injected into the vitreous and retinal detachment developed. The severe changes observed in the fundus of the eye are described. In the treatment vitrectomy, encirclement, radial buckling and endolaser were applied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Retinal attachment with good functional results was achieved, which indicates the importance of early surgical treatment in such cases. Vitrectomy allows to remove the noxious substance from the eye, to see and evaluate the retinal changes and to apply a proper treatment.

[Betadine for antisepsis of the conjunctival sac]. / Betadyna w antyseptyce worka spojówkowego.

12.5% solution of betadine is used for conjunctival sac antiseptics. To estimate effectiveness of betadine in 50 eyes, bacteriological examination was performed before and after local betadine application. Betadine is effective against Staphylococcus. Peptococcaceae were cultured after betadine application, in 3 cases.

[Comparison of clinical and ultrasonographic results in eyes with silicone oil]. / Porównanie wyników badan klinicznych i ultrasonograficznych w oczach z olejem sylikonowym.

20 eyes filled with silicone oil were examined clinically and with ultrasonography. Both examinations were performed by two independent groups of investigators. The results were compared according to the extent of retinal detachment and its features. The authors discussed the reasons of differences between the two methods. The common difficulties to interpret USG pictures of silicon oil filled eyes are discussed.

[Marshall syndrome--case report]. / Zespól Marshalla--opis przypadku.

A girl, 15, with Marshall syndrome, was hospitalized for retinal tear and detachment of the left eye. The results of ophthalmological examination and applied eye surgery have been described. The authors confirm the essential phenotypical overlap of Marshall and Stickler syndromes. This suggest that they are caused by variable expression of a differently mutated gene, probably the type II procollagen gene (COL2A1), known to play a part in the etiology of Stickler syndrome. This justifies the usage, by some authors, of the common name of Marshall-Stickler syndrome.

Impact of ART on pregnancies in California: an analysis of maternity outcomes and insights into the added burden of neonatal intensive care.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the occurrence of prematurity, low birth weight, multiple gestations, frequency of stillbirths and maternity care-associated variables including hospital stay and hospital charges of women conceiving using assisted reproductive technology (ART) or artificial insemination (AI) compared with women with a history of infertility who conceived naturally, and all other naturally conceived pregnancies in California at non-federal hospitals between 2009 and 2011. At a single center, infants born after ART/AI were compared with infants provided care in the normal nursery. STUDY DESIGN: Publically available inpatient data sets from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for years 2009-2011 using data from all California non-federal hospitals were used to determine the impact of ART on a variety of pregnancy-related outcomes and infant characteristics. Infant data from a single center was used to determine hospital charges for infants delivered over an 18-month period to compare the hospital and physician charges indexed to similar charges for infants admitted to the 'normal' newborn nursery. RESULT: Among ART/AI pregnancies, there was a 4-5-fold increase in stillbirths, compared with a 2-3-fold increase among women with infertility compared with other naturally conceiving women. ART/AI pregnancies underwent more cesarean sections (fourfold), and a near fourfold increase in the rate of preterm deliveries. Multiple gestations were increased 24-27-fold compared with naturally conceived pregnancies. Maternal hospital stay and hospital charges were increased among those undergoing ART/AI. Infant charges were increased multi-fold for singletons, twins and triplets delivered after ART/AI compared with naturally conceived infants. CONCLUSION: Multiple births, preterm births and a higher overall rate of fetal anomalies were found in California after ART/AI for 2009-2011. Cesarean section rates, longer length of maternal stay and hospital charges among women receiving ART/AI could be lowered if emphasis on elective single embryo transfers was a higher priority among providers. Charges for the care of infants delivered after ART/AI are substantially higher than among naturally conceived infants born late preterm or at term. Families seeking ART/AI need to be informed of the impact of these adverse pregnancy outcomes, including neonatal outcomes and charges for medical care for their infant(s), when considering ART/AI.

[Clinical results after implantation of a new segmental refractive multifocal intraocular lens]. / Klinische Ergebnisse nach Implantation einer neuen segmentalen refraktiven Multifokallinse.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was a clinical evaluation of an intraocular lens (IOL) with a segmental multifocal optic design and near addition of + 3.0 D as part of a CE approval study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a multicenter study the LENTIS Mplus LS-312 MF IOL (Oculentis) was implanted in 134 eyes of 79 patients with a mean age of 68 ± 12 years. The multifocality is achieved by implementation of a distance part and a segmented near sector. Three months after surgery, uncorrected and best corrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA and BCDVA, respectively), near visual acuity (UCNVA and BCNVA, respectively), contrast vision and patient satisfaction (questionnaire) were evaluated. RESULTS: The IOLs were implanted uneventfully either unilaterally or bilaterally and 3 months postoperatively (n = 86 eyes) the following mean visual acuities were obtained (logMAR): UCDVA = 0.05, BCDVA = - 0.01, UCNVA = 0.09 and BCNVA = 0.02. Contrast sensitivity (n = 25 eyes) was within normal limits. Of the 66 questioned patients 10.6% spontaneously reported halos and 3% glare. CONCLUSION: This new innovative multifocal IOL concept showed very good functional results as well as high patient satisfaction.