Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the cerebellopontine angle in a cat.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour is an uncommon tumour in cats. The current case report aims to present the diagnosis, treatment and histopathology of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour that developed in the cerebellopontine angle region of a cat. A 4-year-old 4.2-kg female calico cat was brought to the animal hospital with the complaints of loss of balance, leaning against the wall and behavioural changes. During the neurological examination, the patient was observed to have a right-sided head tilt accompanied by ipsilateral ventral strabismus. On magnetic resonance imaging scan, a mass was identified at the right cerebellopontine angle. The surgical removal of the mass was carried out using a caudo-tentorial approach. The histopathological analysis revealed the presence of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour. This case report contributes to the existing knowledge in the field presenting the characteristics of a malignant peripheral nerve tumour that was not associated with any nerve in the cerebellopontine angle in a cat.

Comparison of the effects of meloxicam and dexketoprofen on postoperative adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn surgical model.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 2 nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs of different chemical classes (meloxicam and dexketoprofen) on postoperative intraabdominal adhesion formation in a rat model. DESIGN: Experimental study (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Center for research and development. ANIMALS: Thirty female Wistar albino rats. INTERVENTIONS: The animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (10 rats per group) and received intramuscular injections of 0.5 mg/kg dexketoprofen (group 1), 0.5 mg/kg meloxicam (group 2), or 1 mL sterile saline solution (control; group 3) daily for 2 days. Laparotomy was performed, and 1 of the uterine horns was damaged via monopolar electrocautery, whereas an incision was made in the other horn using a scalpel and was sutured to promote adhesion formation. The surgeons were blinded to the treatment method. Drug administration was continued for 5 days. The animals were euthanized at 14 days after surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intraperitoneal macroscopic and microscopic adhesions were assessed using standard adhesion scoring systems. Macroscopic adhesion scores were similar among the 3 groups in each horn (p > .50). The total histologic score was significantly lower in the meloxicam group than in the control group (8.0 vs 15.5; p = .006). Dexketoprofen did not significantly affect the total histologic score (11.0 vs 15.5; p = .09) or individual items (i.e., inflammation, fibroblastic activity, foreign body reaction, collagen formation, and vascular proliferation) compared with the control group (p > .02). Meloxicam significantly inhibited inflammation and collagen formation compared with the control group (p < .02). Meloxicam was also significantly superior to dexketoprofen in reducing inflammation (p = .006). CONCLUSION: Although meloxicam did not affect clinical adhesion formation, it significantly decreased histologic scores compared with those of the control group. Therefore, meloxicam may be suitable in reducing postoperative intraabdominal adhesion formation.

Do state-trait anxiety and previous unpleasant dental experiences predict the need for sedation in women having third molar surgery?

The aim of this study was to examine the need for sedation in women who had or had not had a previous unpleasant dental experience, and to assess possible contributory factors. The sample size required was estimated at 312 subjects. Healthy women listed for the surgical removal of third molars were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their health, clinical and personal experience, past dental experience, result of the Indicator of Sedation Need (IOSN) scale, and of the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The participants were categorised before analysis by the nature of their previous dental experience. The number of participants who required sedation, their mean IOSN score, and the mean degree of state anxiety were significantly higher in the unpleasant experience group. The younger the patient at the time of the experience, the worse the state-anxiety (r=-0.25). The odds that sedation would be needed were 2.24 times higher in the same group. The final model correctly predicted the need for sedation in 75.3% of the cases. Healthy women having third molar surgery who had had a previous upsetting dental experience were more likely to need sedation and had worse state-anxiety than those who had not.

Different regional neuroinhibitory effects of adenosine on stimulus-induced patterns of bioelectric activity of rat hippocampal and neocortical tissues.

Adenosine is an inhibitory modulator of brain activity with neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties. To investigate the distribution of bioelectric activities under application of adenosine, rat hippocampal and neocortical slices were incubated with the voltage-sensitive dye RH795 and neuronal activity was monitored using a fast-imaging photodiode array combined with standard field potential recordings. The effects of adenosine (1-50 micromol/l) on the spatial distribution of stimulus-induced activities were studied in non-epileptiform as well as epileptiform conditions. Epileptiform activity was induced by omission of Mg(2+) from the bath medium. The adenosine's inhibitory effects on the amplitude and spatial extent of stimulus-induced bioelectric activity in the hippocampus were most prominent in strata radiatum and pyramidale in both control and epileptic mediums. Adenosine's inhibitory actions were different on various layers of neocortical tissues in non-epileptiform and epileptiform conditions. Layers II and III showed the most inhibition by application of adenosine in control slices. In epileptiform medium, however, adenosine exerts significant suppressive effects only in layer I of neocortical slices. The data demonstrate a region-specific modulatory potential of adenosine on neuronal network excitability in the hippocampus and neocortex. This may be important in local adenosine therapy in epilepsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease: 69 cases (1997-2005).

OBJECTIVE: To determine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in dogs with intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) and develop a classification scheme for IVDD in dogs based on MRI findings. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 69 dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records of dogs admitted because of thoracolumbar IVDD in which MRI of T9 through L7 had been performed were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 759 intervertebral disk spaces were examined. Of these, 342 (45.1%) were classified as having a normal MRI appearance; the remaining 417 (54.9%) had various types of IVDD. Disk degeneration was identified in 276 disk spaces in 56 dogs, bulging of the intervertebral disk was identified in 37 disk spaces in 24 dogs, disk protrusion was identified in 54 disk spaces in 32 dogs, and disk extrusion was identified in 50 disk spaces in 48 dogs. Cartilage endplate changes were identified in 35 vertebrae in 17 dogs, and increased signal intensity of the spinal cord was identified in 21 dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Four types of IVDD (disk degeneration, bulging of the intervertebral disk, disk protrusion, and disk extrusion) were identified on the basis of MRI findings in dogs with thoracolumbar IVDD. We recommend that a standardized nomenclature be adopted for the various types of thoracolumbar IVDD in dogs.

What is the most fearful intervention in ambulatory oral surgery? Analysis of an outpatient clinic.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of fear and anxiety in patients undergoing different types of minor oral surgery procedures by using conventional rating scales adjusted to the population characteristics. A demographic form and translated versions of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Dental Fear Survey (DFS) were completed by 500 patients having hard or soft tissue pathologies, third molar removal, implant placement, tooth extraction procedures and 200 non-clinical participants. MDAS and DFS were highly correlated (r = 0.79; P < 0.05). The structural properties of the MDAS were similar to the original, but the DFS required substantive changes to achieve comparable measurement properties. Anxiety levels decreased with age and were greater in females, those with higher education and following a previous unpleasant experience (P < 0.05 for all). The third molar group scored higher than most of the surgical categories in both questionnaires (P < 0.05 for each). DFS showed they tended to avoid surgical procedures and were more susceptible to environmental and chair-side effects (P<0.05 for all). Regarding oral surgery, third molar patients should be targeted to increase overall comfort of the treatment. Assessments should be adjusted to cultural differences.

Evaluation of bee venom and hyaluronic acid in the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model.

The aim of this study was to investigate bee venom and hyaluronic acid in the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model. Forty-five rabbits were used and they were randomly divided into three groups (BVI, BVII, and HA) and each group was divided to two subgroups to evaluate the radiologic, magnetic resonance imaging, histopathologic, and biochemical evaluation in post treatment second week (a) and twelfth week (b). Radiologically, a significant difference was observed in the HA group (P<0.05). The MRI evaluation of at any time in group BVI(b) was found to be different. No significant differences were seen between the groups, biochemically. Histopathologically, cellularity, and orthochromasia was evident with Safranin-O in the BVI(b) and BVII(a); adhesions were seen in the BVII(a) group and clustering of chondrocyte in the HA(b) group were found to be different. Consequently, intra-articular application of HA and BV for experimental model of osteoarthritis has no significant influence upon recovery after therapy.

Diagnostic accuracy of cone beam computed tomography and conventional multislice spiral tomography in sheep mandibular condyle fractures.

OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to compare diagnostic accuracy of cone beam CT (CBCT) and multislice CT in artificially created fractures of the sheep mandibular condyle. METHODS: 63 full-thickness sheep heads were used in this study. Two surgeons created the fractures, which were either displaced or non-displaced. CBCT images were acquired by the NewTom 3G CBCT scanner (NIM, Verona, Italy) and CT imaging was performed using the Toshiba Aquillon multislice CT scanner (Toshiba Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan). Two-dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions were evaluated by two observers who were asked to determine the presence or absence of fracture and displacement, the type of fracture, anatomical localization and type of displacement. The naked-eye inspection during surgery served as the gold standard. Inter- and intra-observer agreements were calculated with weighted kappa statistics. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were used to compare statistically the area under the curve (AUC) of both imaging modalities. RESULTS: kappa coefficients of intra- and interobserver agreement scores varied between 0.56 - 0.98, which were classified as moderate and excellent, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the imaging modalities, which were both sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of sheep condylar fractures. CONCLUSIONS: this study confirms that CBCT is similar to CT in the diagnosis of different types of experimentally created sheep condylar fractures and can provide a cost- and dose-effective diagnostic option.

Stabilisation with dorsal and ventral fixation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog.

This case study reports the outcome of dorsal and ventral stabilisation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog. A 2-year-old, male Pointer was admitted following a motor vehicle accident. Clinical examination revealed non-ambulatory tetraparesis, severe neck pain and upper motor neuron changes in all limbs. Deep pain response was present. Subluxation of C2/3 and fractures of the dorsal spinous process and lamina of C2 were observed on radiographs. Ventral stabilisation was performed with screws and bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate). For dorsal fixation of the fractures, screws and cerclage wire were used. The dog stood up independently after 1 month, was able to walk 1.5 months postoperatively and had recovered completely at 1 year following surgery. We conclude that combined stabilisation techniques are effective for this type of cervical fracture in which the dorsal, middle and ventral structures of the vertebra are severely disrupted.

Large central osteoma of the maxillary antrum.

The aim of this report is to describe a case presenting with complaints of orbital pain, altered facial sensation, nasal obstruction and unilateral spontaneous nose bleeding. Panoramic radiography and computerized tomography disclosed a large pedunculated heterogeneous mineral opacity with two impacted molar teeth invading the maxillary sinus. The patient was operated on under general anaesthesia. Microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed relatively dense, compact bone with sparse marrow tissue that was diagnosed as osteoma. Clinical characteristics and biological behaviour of this lesion were evaluated with special regard to the reliability of imaging modalities and surgical procedures.