92 research outputs found
A novel encephalopathy in a thiamine-deficient dog resembling human Wernicke’s disease with atypical MRI pattern
No full textThiamine is a water-soluble vitamin, which participates in several vital metabolic pathways involved in energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis of mammals. In companion animals thiamine deficiency is classically associated with signs of diffuse encephalopathy and lesions on brainstem nuclei and mesencephalic colliculi evident on magnetic resonance imaging. This paper describes a novel clinical presentation in a thiamine-deficient dog showing multifocal, central and peripheral nervous and cardiovascular system alterations. Brain MRI showed bilateral caudate nuclei damage, with necrotic-malacic evolution, similar to the atypical MRI pattern found in Wernicke’s encephalopathy in humans. Detection of bilateral symmetrical lesions of the caudate nuclei in dogs should prompt consideration of a thiamine deficiency among the differential diagnoses
Correlation between human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status and central nervous system (CNS) involvement in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
No full text 210 Background: The incidence of CNS metastasesin prostate cancer is very low. Recent data suggest that HER-2/neu is involved in progression of prostate cancer. Docetaxel-based chemotherapy has provided a survival advantage for mCRPC. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relation between HER-2 status and risk of CNS metastases in pts with mCRPC treated with docetaxel. Methods: From 2003 to 2010, 130 pts with mCRPC were treated with 3wk docetaxel 75 mg/mq. 72/130 pts were retreated with the same regimen on disease progression. 50 out of these 72 pts received second docetaxel retreatment. All pts had bone metastases. Pts underwent total body CT scan before starting docetaxel chemotherapy and every 6 months during treatment. The median age was 66 (41–88), median baseline PSA: 110 ng/ml (range 5–1100), median ECOG Performance Status: 1 (range 0–2). The data on 130 pts, who underwent diagnostic biopsy or potentially curative resection , were reviewed. Tissue blocks from primary prostate cancer tissues were obtained. Grade 3 of the HER-2 by IHC staining was defined as a positive result or gene amplification by FISH. 10 out of these 50 pts receiving second docetaxel retreatment were diagnosed with CNS metastases. Results: CNS metastases were observed in HER-2 positive pts. 6/10 pts presented parenchymal metastases: 4 pts were asymptomatic, 3 pts underwent metastasectomy and all of them received palliative whole-brain RT. 4/10 pts presented leptomeningeal metastases with neurological symptoms and 2 of them received palliative whole-brain RT. The median time from prostate cancer diagnosis to the date of diagnosis of CNS metastases was 6 years (1–8). The median time from first cycle of docetaxel to the date of diagnosis of CNS metastases was 3 years (1.5–4). Conclusions: These preliminary data demonstrated that HER-2 expression confers an increased risk of CNS metastases in mCRPC and constitutes a therapeutic challenge. The apparent increase of CNS presentation may be related to the effectiveness of systemic therapy. These informations support the further evaluation of neurological symptoms in long-term docetaxel treated pts. </jats:p
IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM THYMOPENTIN TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH HIV-INDUCED LYMPHADENOPATHY SYNDROME
No full textCentral vestibular syndrome in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with presumptive right caudal cerebral artery ischemic infarct and prevalent midbrain involvement
No full textA wild young male red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was found in the mountainous hinterland of Rome (Italy) with a heavily depressed mental status and unresponsive to the surrounding environment. Neurological examination revealed depression, left circling, right head tilt, ventromedial positional strabismus and decreased postural reactions on the left side. Neurological abnormalities were suggestive of central vestibular syndrome. Two consecutive MRIs performed with 30 days interval were compatible with lacunar ischemic infarct in the territory of right caudal cerebral artery and its collateral branches. The lesion epicentre was in the right periaqueductal portion of the rostral mesencephalic tegmentum. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological correlation between lesion localization and clinical presentation are discussed
Presumptive ischemic brain infarction in a dog with evans' syndrome
No full textA ten-year-old neutered female mixed breed dog was referred for pale mucous membrane and acute onset of right prosencephalic clinical signs. Brainmagnetic resonance imagingwas suggestive for right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke. Based on cell blood count, serum biochemistry and serologic tests and flow cytometric detection of anti-platelets and anti-red blood cells antibodies, a diagnosis of immunomediated haemolytic anemia associated with thrombocytopenia of suspected immunomediated origin was done. Immunosuppresive therapy with prednisone was started and the dog clinically recovered. Two months later complete normalization of CBC and serum biochemistry was documented. The dog remained stable for 7 months without therapy; then she relapsed. CBC revealed mild regenerative anemia with spherocytosis and thrombocytopenia. A conclusive Evans' syndrome diagnosis was done and prednisone and cyclosporine treatment led to normalization of physical and CBC parameters. The dog is still alive at the time the paper submitted. Possible thrombotic etiopathogenetic mechanisms are illustrated in the paper and the authors suggest introducing Evans' syndrome in the differential diagnosis list for brain ischemic stroke in dogs
A review of the neural control of micturition in dogs and cats: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuroplasticity
No full textThis article discusses the current knowledge on the role of the neurological structures, especially the cerebellum and the hypothalamus, and compares the information with human medicine. Micturition is a complex voluntary and involuntarily mechanism. Its physiological completion strictly depends on the hierarchical organisation of the central nervous system pathways in the peripheral nervous system. Although the role of the peripheral nervous system and subcortical areas, such as brainstem centres, are well established in veterinary medicine, the role of the cerebellum and hypothalamus have been poorly investigated and understood. Lower urinary tract dysfunction is often associated with neurological diseases that cause neurogenic bladder (NB). The neuroplasticity of the nervous system in the developmental changes of the mechanism of micturition during the prenatal and postnatal periods is also analysed
Clinical and neuropathological findings of Equine Motor Neuron Disease in two Italian horses.
No full textNeurological manifestations in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum: descriptions of 10 cases and a review of the literature
No full textIn order to evaluate possible nervous system involvement in canine leishmaniasis, retrospective evaluation of all medical records of leishmaniotic dogs exhibiting neurological signs referred to our hospital over a 5-year period was performed. The records of 10 dogs were reviewed. Depending on the neuroanatomical localisation, the dogs underwent advanced diagnostic imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, electrodiagnostic testing and histopathologic evaluations. The final neurological diagnosis was: meningoencephalitis (n=2), brain haemorrhagic stroke (n=1), haemorrhagic choroiditis (n=1), meningomyelitis (n=2), ischaemic myelopathy (n=1), polymyositis (n=2) and peripheral neuropathy (n=1). This study confirms that both central and peripheral nervous systems can be affected by leishmaniasis and provides an overview on the possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms. In addition, clinical and diagnostic findings, therapy and follow-up of affected dogs are described
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