Diagnosis and surgical management of an extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the brachial plexus in a Belgian shepherd dog.

An 11-year-old Belgian shepherd presented with progressive right thoracic limb lameness. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a brachial plexus neoplasm and cytology was suggestive of a sarcoma. The patient underwent forequarter amputation and hemilaminectomy of the fifth cervical to first thoracic vertebrae with nerve root transection. Histopathology confirmed extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Twelve months post-operatively, the dog was exercising normally, and computed tomography did not identify local recurrence or metastatic disease. This is the first recorded case of canine brachial plexus extraskeletal osteosarcoma.

Surgical techniques used in the management of intra-arachnoid diverticula in dogs across four referral centres and their immediate outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To report the surgical techniques being used to treat single focal spinal intra-arachnoid diverticula in dogs, their complications and immediate postoperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective multi-centre case series across four referral centres. RESULTS: Fifty-seven dogs were included in the study. The most common type of surgery was durectomy (28 dogs) followed by marsupialisation (11 dogs), durotomy alone (seven dogs), shunt placement (six dogs) and stabilisation (five dogs). A higher proportion of intra-arachnoid shunt dogs became unable to walk in the immediate postoperative period (24 hours postsurgery) (4/6, 66%) compared to all dogs five of 57, 9% (2/7 durotomy alone, 3/28 durectomy alone). Of the nine dogs with immediate postoperative deterioration, seven had improved, walking without assistance, by 3 to 5 weeks postoperatively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study does not identify an influence of surgical technique on short-term outcome. Dogs with a thoracolumbar intra-arachnoid diverticulum that undergo a shunt placement are likely to deteriorate neurologically in the immediate 24-hour postoperative period but appear to improve by 3 to 5 weeks after surgery. Further work is required to evaluate whether one surgical technique is superior for preventing or reducing long-term relapse.

A novel idiopathic superficial neocortical degeneration and atrophy in young adult dogs.

A diffuse, chronic, superficial neocortical degeneration that resulted in atrophy was detected in five 1 to 2-year-old-dogs. Presenting neurologic signs included ataxia, dysphagia, blindness, and mentation changes. Magnetic resonance imaging on brains from 2 dogs demonstrated severe bilateral cerebrocortical atrophy and enlarged lateral and third ventricles. Grossly, multifocal, bilaterally symmetrical, extensive areas of neocortical brownish discoloration associated with atrophy of gyri and sulcal widening were recorded in the dorsal and lateral cerebral hemispheres in 3 dogs. Microscopically, in all dogs there was subacute to chronic superficial neocortical degeneration affecting all cerebral lobes, ranging from loss of the molecular layer to less frequent larger and deeper cavitations of variable size. Clinical signs probably resulted from a combination of primary neocortical degeneration and secondary degeneration in the corticobulbar and corticospinal tracts. The distribution pattern of gross and histologic cerebrocortical lesions suggests that this is a novel degenerative canine cerebral disease.

PP134. l-Arginine supplementation induces the expression of genes related to antioxidant defense in cultures of human vascular endothelial cells: Protective role for preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, it has been proposed that supplementation with l-Arginine reduces the incidence of preeclampsia in high risk women, but the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effect need to be determined. In addition, a critical role of l-Arginine in endothelial cell survival during oxidative stress, and the participation of neutrophils in the induction of oxidative stress during preeclampsia have been suggested. OBJECTIVES: To address if supplementation with l-arginine provides antioxidant defense in human vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were isolated from umbilical cord veins obtained from healthy women underwent cesarean sections at term, with no evidence of hypertension disorders through the pregnancy. HUVECs were cultured in EndoGro media with LS supplement kit and 1% antibiotic with (n=10) or without 200uM l-Arginine (n=10). Confluent HUVECs were stimulated with neutrophils activated with 50umol/L arachidonic acid (1:16 ratio of neutrophil/cells). After incubation, cells were rinsed in PBS and harvested for RNA and protein extraction. Reverse transcription was performed using the RT(2) First Strand kit, and expression gene profiling was generated using the RT(2) Profiler PCR Array Human Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense that includes the expression profile of 84 genes related to the oxidative pathway. Expression results were analyzed with the RT(2) Profiler PCR Array Data Analysis Template v3.0 and two different lists of fold change in gene expression were generated: (1) HUVEC+neutrophils vs HUVEC+l-Arginine + neutrophils and (2) HUVEC vs HUVEC+neutrophils. Validation of the expression assays was performed using western blots or ELISAS for proteins expressed by selected genes. RESULTS: Fold up- or down gene regulation are shown in Table 1. Forty six genes involved in oxidative stress defense were significantly up-regulated in HUVECs supplemented with l-arginine when were exposed to neutrophils. Interestingly, almost the same genes were down-regulated in non-supplemented HUVECs after neutrophil exposure. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with l-Arginine upregulates the expression of genes related to antioxidant defense in primary cultures of endothelial cells. This finding provides a novel insight about the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective role of l-Arginine during preeclampsia.

Neurological, imaging and pathological features of a meningeal inflammatory pseudotumour in a Maltese terrier.

A five-year eight-month-old Maltese terrier was presented with a 3-week history of progressive paraparesis and pelvic limb ataxia. Neurological examination was consistent with a lesion involving the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. Myelogram and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spherical, intradural-extramedullary mass lesion at T13/L1. A dorsal laminectomy, durotomy and debulking of the mass were performed. Histopathologic examination revealed a highly cellular tissue, most likely of mesenchymal origin, infiltrated by many lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. The pathological diagnosis of an inflammatory pseudotumour was made. Postsurgical analgesia was achieved with opioids and 2 mg/kg carprofen twice daily for 5 days. When the histopathological diagnosis was made, a tapering course of 1 mg/kg prednisolone twice daily was prescribed, with dose reduction by approximately 50% every 4 to 6 weeks over a 4-month period. Magnetic resonance imaging was repeated at 22, 32 and 85 weeks postsurgery; no signs of regrowth could be detected and the patient recovered with residual mild paraparesis. Inflammatory pseudotumour has not been documented previously at this site in dogs and, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a focal mass lesion affecting the spinal cord. Surgical debulking and immunomodulatory therapy can be curative.

Comparison of cerebral cranium volumes between cavalier King Charles spaniels with Chiari-like malformation, small breed dogs and Labradors.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCSs) have a proportionately smaller caudal fossa compared with other small dogs and with Labradors. To evaluate if cerebellar herniation in CKCS correlates with caudal fossa volume. METHODS: In this retrospective study, three-dimensional images were created from magnetic resonance imaging brain series of 117 dogs (split into three groups: CKCS, Labradors and small breeds) from which the volumes of the fossae and brain parenchyma were calculated. These volumes were transformed into percentages of total cranial cavity and parenchyma volumes, respectively. The percentages were statistically compared among the groups. The percentage of herniated cerebellum in the CKCS was compared using linear regression with the caudal fossa and parenchyma percentages. RESULTS: Cavalier King Charles spaniels had a proportionately smaller caudal fossa compared with Labradors (P=0.002) but not to small breeds (P=0.103). Their caudal fossa parenchyma was proportionately the same volume as Labradors (P=0.976) but greater than small breeds (P=0.005). No relationship was found for the per cent of cerebellum herniated. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results support mesoderm insufficiency or craniosynostosis as the pathogenesis of Chiari-like malformation (CM) in CKCS. It presents evidence for overcrowding of the caudal fossa due to a mismatch of brain parenchyma and fossa volumes as to why CKCS and not other small dogs are affected.

'As long as the doctors know what they are doing': trust or ambivalence about patient information among elderly men with prostate cancer?

In recent years prostate cancer has become a significant health problem worldwide with considerable social and economic consequences. Prostate cancer tends to affect older men, and by the time they reach the age of 80, about half of all men will have a form of prostate cancer. This study explored the information and support needs of men aged 75 and over with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 men, to develop ideas and hypotheses to try to understand why older men do not seek information or use helplines to find out about their condition. From the data it appears that some older men do not understand how the treatment for prostate cancer will impact on their quality of life, and yet do not seek further information beyond that which is provided during consultations. Indeed there appears to be certain ambivalence about finding out more information about their condition - partly because of their beliefs about the normal ageing process and partly because of the trust they have in health professionals and their overall satisfaction with the care that they receive.

Association of spinal cord compression seen on magnetic resonance imaging with clinical outcome in 67 dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is an association between the degree of transverse spinal cord compression detected by magnetic resonance imaging following thoracolumbar Hansen type 1 intervertebral disc disease in dogs and their presenting and postsurgical neurological status. METHODS: Medical records of 67 dogs with surgically confirmed Hansen type 1 intervertebral disc disease (2000 to 2004) were reviewed to obtain the rate of onset of disease, duration of clinical signs and presurgical and postsurgical neurological grade. Percentage of spinal cord compression was determined on transverse T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Linear regression was used to examine the association between spinal cord compression and each of the above variables. Chi-squared tests were used to examine associations among postsurgical outcome and presurgical variables. RESULTS: Eighty-five per cent (57 of 67) of dogs were chondrodystrophoid. Mean spinal cord compression was 53 per cent (sd=219.7, range 14.3 to 84.9 per cent). There was no association between the degree of spinal cord compression and the neurological grade at presentation, rate of onset of disease, duration of clinical signs or postsurgical outcome, with no difference between chondrodystrophoid and non-chondrodystrophoid dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The degree of spinal cord compression documented with magnetic resonance imaging in dogs with thoracolumbar Hansen type 1 intervertebral disc disease was not associated with the severity of neurological signs and was not a prognostic indicator in this study.

Characteristics of magnetic resonance images of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in 11 dogs.

The characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging (mri) of the brains and spinal cords of 11 dogs with histologically confirmed granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (gme) were determined. The lesions were in the brain of eight of the dogs, in the brain and spinal cord of two, and in the spinal cord alone in one dog. A single lesion was present in four of the dogs and multiple lesions were found in six. In one dog with intracranial signs, no visible lesions could be detected on mri. No meningeal enhancement was detected in T1-weighted images post-contrast, or in fluid attenuation inversion recovery (flair) images, but there were histological lesions in the meninges in nine of the dogs. The T2-weighted images and flair sequences were characterised in all cases by hyperintensity, whereas the signal intensity of the lesions on T1-weighted images was variable. After the administration of paramagnetic contrast, some of the lesions showed no enhancement, but others showed marked patterns of enhancement. The lesions in 10 of the dogs were easily identifiable by mri and the images had several unifying characteristics, but they could not be considered disease-specific.

Brain and spinal cord haemorrhages associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in four dogs.

Multifocal haemorrhages associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection were observed in the central nervous system of four dogs with neurological signs including depression, seizures, spinal pain and paresis. In magnetic resonance images the majority of the lesions were isointense or slightly hyperintense in T1-weighted images, hyperintense in T2-weighted images and hypointense in T2*-weighted (gradient echo) images, compatible with haemorrhages more than seven days old. Lesions were found in the brain of three of the dogs and in the spinal cord of two. The cerebrospinal fluid contained high concentrations of protein and evidence of erythrophagia. All the dogs had coagulopathy and pulmonary haemorrhage of varying severity. A vasorum larvae were detected in the faeces of each of the dogs. Neural A vasorum was confirmed at postmortem examination in two dogs.

Characterization of carbons from olive cake by sorption of wastewater pollutants.

Studies has been conducted to compare the sorption properties between raw carbons made from olive cake and commercial activated carbons to remove aquatic pollutant such as heavy metal (HM), phenol (Ph), dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid-sodium salt detergent (DBSNa) and methylene blue dye (MB). Effect of acidic treatments by H2SO4, HCl and HNO3 on the sorption properties of olive cake carbon (OCC) were studied by mass titration, SEM photographs, sorption isotherms. It is found that acidic treatment changes the surface properties of OCC but do not enhance its sorption capacity. Compared to commercial activated carbons the OCC derivatives generally are equally able to uptake HM and Ph from solution but MB and DBSNa are not. This different behaviour is to attribute to manufacturing and activation treatments so as surface groups of the precursor sorbent material. For the heavy metals, chromium and silver were removed effectively but to small extent cadmium. This may be because of the various charge densities of metal elements tested. The results of the multiple experiments indicate that sorption of cadmium ions can be significantly improved by the presence of complexing agents sorbed from the carbon. An empirical mathematical form is proposed to correlate experimental data and to compare the performance of the different sorbent materials.

Treatment of a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc in a ferret.

A seven-month-old, male ferret had acute paraplegia and radiographs showed signs of disc prolapse between the second and third lumbar vertebrae (L2/3). Hemilaminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord. Histological examination revealed that the extradural material was consistent with annulus fibrosus and the L2/3 articular facets were enlarged as a result of bone remodelling. The ferret became ambulatory one month postoperatively. Five months postoperatively, the ferret had normal posture with mild proprioceptive deficits in the pelvic limbs, and fusion of the L2 and L3 vertebral bodies.

MRI findings in a dog with discospondylitis caused by Bordetella species.

A case of discospondylitis in a dog secondary to Bordetella species, diagnosed early with the assistance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is reported. The history and clinical signs were suggestive of possible discospondylitis. MRI identified changes and allowed a presumptive diagnosis of discospondylitis, which was subsequently confirmed by bacterial culture of biopsy material. Discospondylitis associated with Bordetella species infection has not, to the authors' knowledge, been previously reported in the dog.

Clinical and pathological observations in English cocker spaniels with primary metabolic vitamin E deficiency and retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy.

Fifteen English cocker spaniels with confirmed vitamin E deficiency were examined physically, ophthalmologically and neurologically. Eleven of them had clinical signs of neurological dysfunction which included ataxia, proprioceptive deficits, abnormal spinal reflexes and muscle weakness. In the two dogs examined histopathologically there was central neuronal fibre degeneration with prominent neuroaxonal dystrophy, particularly within the sensory relay nuclei of the brainstem, and one of the dogs had severe intestinal lipofuscinosis.

Results of magnetic resonance imaging in dogs with vestibular disorders: 85 cases (1996-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To determine results of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in dogs with vestibular disorders (VD) and correlate results of MR imaging with clinical findings. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 85 dogs. PROCEDURE: Information on signalment, clinical signs, and presumptive lesion location was obtained from the medical records, and MR images were reviewed. RESULTS: 27 dogs had peripheral VD, 37 had central VD, and 21 had paradoxical VD. Of the 27 dogs with peripheral VD, 11 (41%) had MR imaging abnormalities involving the ipsilateral tympanic bulla compatible with otitis media (6 also had abnormalities involving the petrous portion of the ipsilateral temporal bone compatible with otitis interna), 7 (26%) had MR imaging abnormalities compatible with middle ear neoplasia, 2(7%) had an ipsilateral cerebellopontine angle lesion, and 7 (26%) did not have MR imaging abnormalities. All dogs with central and paradoxical VD had abnormalities evident on MR images. Of the 37 dogs with central VD, 13 (35%) had an extra-axial lesion, 6 (16%) had an intra-axial lesion, and 18 (49%) had multiple intra-axial lesions. In 23 (62%) dogs with central VD, lesions on MR images corresponded with location suspected on the basis of clinical signs. Of the 21 dogs with paradoxical VD, 12 (57%) had an extra-axial lesion, 5 (24%) had an intra-axial lesion, and 4 (19%) had multiple intra-axial lesions. Location of lesions on MR images agreed with location suspected on the basis of clinical signs in 19 (90%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that MR imaging may be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of VD in dogs.

Dermatomyositis in five Shetland sheepdogs in the United Kingdom.

Five cases of dermatomyositis in four Shetland sheepdog puppies and one adult bitch are described. The dogs all had well-defined patches of scaling, crusting and alopecia over the muzzle, periorbital skin and distal limbs, and the tail, perineum and pinnae were affected in some of them. The affected puppies were all sired by the same stud dog. The affected adult bitch was unrelated to the puppies. Three of the four dogs tested had high serum creatine kinase concentrations and electromyographic abnormalities were detected in three of the four dogs tested. The histological changes observed in the skin of four of the dogs strongly supported the diagnosis of dermatomyositis, and in the fifth dog they were compatible with this diagnosis. Two of the puppies were euthanised shortly after being diagnosed. In the other two puppies and the adult the disease remains stable and non-progressive 15 to 18 months after diagnosis. The sire of the four affected puppies has been used extensively because it was considered to be genetically clear of collie eye anomaly.

Syringohydromyelia in Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Syringohydromyelia secondary to foramen magnum overcrowding is described in seven Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Clinical signs were consistent with a central spinal cord lesion. The most common signs were persistent scratching at the shoulder region with apparent neck, thoracic limb, or ear pain and thoracic limb lower motor neuron deficits. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging. The syringohydromyelia is postulated to be a consequence of an occipital bone malformation resulting in a small caudal fossa and cerebellar herniation. Clinical signs improved but did not completely resolve when the dogs received treatment with corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.