BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To estimate clinical roles of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) versus angiography and ultrasonography in carotid plaque characterization. METHODS: We characterized two groups of patients with recently (<1 month) symptomatic (n=14; age=71.8+/-8.6 years, mean+/-SD) or chronic (n=13, age=68.9+/-9.0 years) carotid stenosis using a battery of imaging tests: diffusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR or transfemoral angiography, duplex ultrasonography (DUS), and carotid FDG-PET/computed tomography. RESULTS: The degree of angiographic stenosis was greater in patients with recently symptomatic carotid plaques (67.5+/-21.5%) than in patients with chronic carotid plaques (32.4+/-26.8%, p=0.001). Despite the significant difference in the degree of stenosis, lesional maximum standardized uptake values (maxSUVs) on the carotid FDG-PET did not differ between the recently symptomatic (1.56+/-0.53) and chronic (1.56+/-0.34, p=0.65) stenosis groups. However, lesional-to-contralesional maxSUV ratios were higher in the recently symptomatic stenosis group (113+/-17%) than in the chronic stenosis group (98+/-10%, p=0.017). The grayscale median value of the lesional DUS echodensities was lower in the recently symptomatic stenosis group (28.2+/-10.0, n=9) than in the chronic stenosis group (53.9+/-14.0, n=8; p=0.001). Overall, there were no significant correlations between angiographic stenosis, DUS echodensity, and FDG-PET maxSUV. Case/subgroup analyses suggested complementarity between imaging modalities. CONCLUSIONS: There were both correspondences and discrepancies between the carotid FDG-PET images and DUS or angiography data. Further studies are required to determine whether FDG-PET could improve the clinical management of carotid stenosis.
Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Stenosis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diffusion ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Hyperadrenocorticism, a disorder characterized by excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal cortex, is wellrecognized in dogs. A 10-year-old, intact male, Yorkshire terrier dog was evaluated because of corneal ulceration and generalized alopecia. Diagnosis was made based on history taking, clinical signs, physical examination, and results of routine laboratory testing (complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, and urinalysis). In addition, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test and abdominal ultrasonography were also used to diagnose this case. The patient was diagnosed as adrenal gland neoplasia and medical therapy using the adrenocorticolytic agent, mitotane, was initiated. An ACTH stimulation test was performed after initial therapy. After successful induction was obtained, maintenance therapy with mitotane still continued.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/*veterinary ; Adrenocortical Hyperfunction/diagnosis/drug therapy/etiology/*veterinary ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/*therapeutic use ; Dog Diseases/*drug therapy ; Dogs ; Male ; Mitotane/*therapeutic use ; Radiography, Abdominal/veterinary ; Tomography, X-Ray/veterinary

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a canine model of stroke. Ischemic stroke was induced by using prepared autologous thrombus. The dogs were placed in lateral recumbency on the operation table and the cervical area of each dog was sterilized by using alcohol. After making a cervical incision, the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery (a branch of the common carotid artery that supplies an anterior part of the brain) were exposed. A 200 microL injection of the autologous thrombus prepared 24 hr prior to surgery was delivered with a 20 gauge venous catheter through an internal carotid artery. After successful delivery of the autologous thrombus, the venous catheter was removed, and the cervical incision was sutured. Neurologic signs including generalized seizures, tetraparesis, and altered mental status, were observed in all 3 dogs after induction of ischemic stroke and the signs manifested immediately after awakening from anesthesia. T1- and T2-weighted images and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images of the brain were acquired 1 day before and 1 day after surgery. On the day following ischemic stroke induction, MRI revealed multifocal lesions in the cerebral cortex and subcortex such as T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, FLAIR hyperintensity, and diffusion-weighted hyperintensity in all 3 dogs. Upon postmortem examination, ischemic lesions were found to be consistent with the MRI findings and they were unstained with 2% triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Histologic features of the earliest neuronal changes such as cytoplasmic eosinophilia with pyknotic nuclei were identified. Neuropil spongiosis and perivascular cuffing were also prominently observed at the infarcted area. The present study demonstrated the features of MRI and histopathologic findings in canine ischemic stroke models.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Catheters ; Cerebral Cortex ; Cytoplasm ; Dogs* ; Eosinophilia ; Equipment and Supplies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons ; Neuropil ; Operating Tables ; Seizures ; Stroke* ; Thrombosis*

A 1. 8-year-old intact female Maltese dog was presented because of a history of chronic diarrhea, polyphagia, weight loss, and coprophagia. The patient was severely emaciated and evacuated very moist and four-smelling, yellow feces. Fecal stain with Sudan III revealed numerous lipid droplets. Result of fat absorption test showed aldigestion. A definite diagnosis was made based on trypsin-like immunoreactivity assay in serum which was low enough to be diagnosed as an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. After pancreatic enzyme supplement with porcine pancreatin powder, the clinical signs were disappeared. This case report documents clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, treatment and efficiency of oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in a Maltese dog.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*drug therapy ; Dogs ; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency/drug therapy/*veterinary ; Female ; Pancreatin/*therapeutic use

This study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and efficacy of intralesional injection as a method of application to acute cutaneous wounds in dogs. Healthy adult beagles (n = 3) were used in this study. Autologous PRP was separated from anticoagulant treated whole blood in three dogs. Cutaneous wounds were created and then treated by intralesional injection of PRP in the experimental group, while they were treated with saline in the control group on days 0, 2 and 4. The healing process was evaluated by gross examination throughout the experimental period and histologic examination on day 7, 14 and 21. In PRP treated wounds, the mean diameter was smaller and the wound closure rate was higher than in the control. Histological study revealed that PRP treated wounds showed more granulation formation and angiogenesis on day 7, and faster epithelialization, more granulation formation and collagen deposition were observed on day 14 than in control wounds. On day 21, collagen deposition and epithelialization were enhanced in PRP treated groups. Overall, PRP application showed beneficial effects in wound healing, and intralesional injection was useful for application of PRP and could be a good therapeutic option for wound management in dogs.
Animals ; Collagen/metabolism ; Dermis/cytology/injuries/physiology ; Dogs ; Epidermis/cytology/injuries/*physiology ; Female ; Granulation Tissue/cytology ; Injections, Intralesional/veterinary ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; *Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; Treatment Outcome ; *Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries/therapy/*veterinary

PURPOSE: The change of quality of life following a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator vaginal tape (TVT-O) procedure was investigated in patients with stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 86 women with stress urinary incontinence who underwent the TVT or TVT-O procedure and followed up for at least 1 year. Preoperatively, the patients were evaluated with history taking, physical examination, urodynamics to determine abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) and pre- and postoperative quality of life was evaluated by incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QoL). The success after operation was defined as the absence of any subjective complaint of leakage. RESULTS: The rate of cure of TVT and TVT-O procedure were 84%, 92% and the rate of improvement of them were 16%, 8%, respectively. Preoperative patient characteristics including uroflowmetric parameters and ALPP were comparable in the two groups. The I-QoL parameters one year after surgery were statistically significant increase in I-QoL scores in each groups. There were no serious or long-term complications related to both procedures. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the TVT and TVT-O procedure are effective for treating female stress incontinence and also in the aspect of improving quality.
Female ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Suburethral Slings* ; Surgical Mesh ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urodynamics

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical and histopathological findings in a canine model of ischemic stroke. Cerebral ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in four healthy beagle dogs using silicone plugs. They showed neurological signs of forebrain dysfunction such as reduced responsiveness, head turning, circling, postural reaction deficits, perceptual deficits, and hemianopsia. These signs gradually regressed within 4 weeks without therapy. On magnetic resonance imaging, T2 hyperintensity and T1 hypointensity were found in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. These lesions were well-defined and sharply demarcated from adjacent brain parenchyma with a homogenous appearance. No abnormalities of the cerebrospinal fluid were observed. At necropsy, atrophic and necrotic lesions were observed in the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus were partially unstained with triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride. Histopathologically, typical features of infarction were identified in cortical and thalamic lesions. This study demonstrates that our canine model resembles the conditions of real stroke patients.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Brain/metabolism/pathology ; Cerebral Infarction/*etiology/*pathology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid/chemistry/cytology ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Dogs ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*complications/*pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

The purpose of this study was to identify time-related changes in clinical, MRI, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings associated with ischemic stroke in dogs. Additionally, the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and tissue levels of interleukin (IL)-6 with clinical prognosis was assessed. Ischemic stroke was induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in nine healthy experimental dogs. The dogs were divided into three groups according to survival time and duration of the experimental period: group A (survived only 1 day), group B (1-week experimental period), and group C (2-week experimental period). Neurologic status was evaluated daily. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed according to a predetermined schedule. Concentration of IL-6 in CSF was measured serially after ischemic stroke. Postmortem examination was performed for all experimental dogs. During histopathological examination, variable degrees of cavitation and necrosis due to neuronal cytopathic effects, such as pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasmic shrinkage, were observed on the affected side of the cerebral cortex in all dogs. Immunohistochemistry specific for IL-6 showed increased expression in the ischemic lesions. CSF IL-6 concentrations and ischemic lesion volumes 1 day after ischemic stroke were significantly higher in group A compared to groups B and C.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia/*etiology ; Dogs ; Female ; *Immunohistochemistry ; *Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Stroke/*pathology