Functional neurologic recovery in two dogs diagnosed with severe luxation of the vertebral column

Traumatic injuries to the vertebral column, spinal cord, and cauda equina nerve roots occur frequently in human and veterinary medicine and lead to devastating consequences. Complications include partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and visceral functions, which are among the main causes of euthanasia in dogs. The present case report describes neurological functional recovery in two dogs that were treated surgically for severe spinal fracture and vertebral luxation. In the first case, a stray, mixed breed puppy was diagnosed with thoracolumbar syndrome and Schiff-Scherrington posture, as well as a T13 caudal epiphyseal fracture with 100% luxation between vertebrae T13 and L1; despite these injuries, the animal did show deep pain sensation in the pelvic limbs. Decompression through hemilaminectomy and spinal stabilization with vertebral body pins and bone cement were performed, and the treatment was supplemented with physiotherapy and acupuncture. In the second case, a mixed breed dog was diagnosed with a vertebral fracture and severe luxation between L6 and L7 after a vehicular trauma, but maintained nociception and perineal reflex. Surgical stabilization of the spine was performed using a modified dorsal segmental fixation technique Both patients showed significant recovery of neurological function. Complete luxation of the spinal canal observed radiographically does not mean a poor prognosis, and in some cases, motor, sensory, and visceral functions all have the potential for recovery. In the first case the determining factor for good prognosis was the presence of deep pain perception, and in the second case the prognosis was determined by the presence of sensitivity and anal sphincter tone during the initial neurological examination.

Purely cortical anaplastic ependymoma

Ependymomas are glial tumors derived from ependymal cells lining the ventricles and the central canal of the spinal cord. It may occur outside the ventricular structures, representing the extraventicular form, or without any relationship of ventricular system, called ectopic ependymona. Less than fifteen cases of ectopic ependymomas were reported and less than five were anaplastic. We report a rare case of pure cortical ectopic anaplastic ependymoma.

Does spinal block through tattooed skin cause histological changes in nervous tissue and meninges?: an experimental model in rabbits

Although there is no documented evidence that tattoo pigments can cause neurological complications, the implications of performing neuraxial anesthesia through tattooed skin are unknown. In this study, we aimed to assess whether spinal puncture performed through tattooed skin of rabbits determines changes over the spinal cord and meninges. In addition, we sought to evaluate the presence of ink fragments entrapped in spinal needles. Thirty-six young male adult rabbits, each weighing between 3400 and 3900 g and having a spine length between 38.5 and 39 cm, were divided by lot into 3 groups as follows: GI, spinal puncture through tattooed skin; GII, spinal puncture through tattooed skin and saline injection; and GIII, spinal puncture through skin free of tattoo and saline injection. After intravenous anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine, the subarachnoid space was punctured at S1-S2 under ultrasound guidance with a 22-gauge 2½ Quincke needle. Animals in GII and GIII received 5 μL/cm of spinal length (0.2 mL) of saline intrathecally. In GI, the needle tip was placed into the yellow ligament, and no solution was injected into the intrathecal space; after tattooed skin puncture, 1 mL of saline was injected through the needle over a histological slide to prepare a smear that was dyed by the Giemsa method to enable tissue identification if present. All animals remained in captivity for 21 days under medical observation and were killed by decapitation. The lumbosacral spinal cord portion was removed for histological analysis using hematoxylin-eosin stain. None of the animals had impaired motor function or decreased nociception during the period of clinical observation. None of the animals from the control group (GIII) showed signs of injuries to meninges. In GII, however, 4 animals presented with signs of meningeal injury. The main histological changes observed were focal areas of perivascular lymphoplasmacyte infiltration in the pia mater and arachnoid. There was no signal of injury in neural tissue in any animal of both groups. Tissue coring containing ink pigments was noted in all GI smears from the spinal needles used to puncture the tattooed skin. On the basis of the present results, intrathecal injection of saline through a needle inserted through tattooed skin is capable of producing histological changes over the meninges of rabbits. Ink fragments were entrapped inside the spinal needles, despite the presence of a stylet.

Increased DNA damage is related to maternal blood glucose levels in the offspring of women with diabetes and mild gestational hyperglycemia

This study aimed at correlating maternal blood glucose levels with DNA damage levels in the offspring of women with diabetes or mild gestational hyperglycemia (MGH). Based on oral glucose tolerance test results and glycemic profiles, 56 pregnant women were allocated into 3 groups: nondiabetes, MGH, and diabetes. The offspring of these women (56 infants) were also evaluated. Maternal peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood samples were collected and processed for biochemical and DNA damage analysis by the comet assay. A positive correlation between maternal blood glucose mean and increased offspring DNA damage levels was observed. Hyperglycemia played a role in offspring DNA damage, but other diabetes-induced complications were also involved. Increased maternal blood glucose levels can lead to increased offspring DNA damage levels. Therefore, the monitoring, control, and treatment of pregnant women with diabetes and MGH are highly important to ensure a risk-free pregnancy and healthy infants.

Efeito Diabetes mellitus gestacional na modulação de genes relacionados ao metabolismo mitocondrial e a implicação na predisposiçao do recém-nascido à obesidade

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo comportamental das aferências do núcleo ventral do corpo trapezóide ao primeiro núcleo do circuito neural do reflexo auditivo de sobressalto: núcleo da raiz coclear

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da capacidade imunomoduladora in vivo de células-tronco mesenquimais obtidas da matriz do cordão umbilical equino

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Eficácia e efeitos hemodinâmicos da anestesia raquidiana com ropivacaína isobárica, hipobárica ou hiperbárica seletiva em cães anestesiados com isofluorano

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Efeito da clorexidina na cicatrização umbilical de avestruzes

The contamination of the umbilical region of newly hatched ostriches is one of the major problems in the bird production. This work aimed to evaluate the umbilical healing of ostriches (Struthio camelus) through the use of chlorhexidine as antiseptic associated to the total or partial umbilical cord cut off. It was used 168 newly hatched ostriches of which the umbilical cords were either sectioned totally or 0.5 cm above their insertion. The umbilical region antisepsis consisted of topical administration of an aqueous or alcoholic solution of chlorhexidine, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0% during three days. A group of non-treated animals was added also. The umbilical healing was evaluated in the ostriches at 14 and 28 days of age. Results showed that all the chlorhexidine solutions reduced the risk of omphalitis, being the alcoholic solution 2% the most efficient. Umbilical healing was faster in animals in which the umbilical cord was totally cut off. It can be concluded that the use of chlorhexidine as antiseptic for newly hatched ostriches is safe and favors the umbilical healing. Moreover, for a better effectiveness it is necessary to remove the umbilical cord in its insertion

Avaliação dos dados obtidos em um programa de esterilização cirúrgica de gatos em Araçatuba, SP no período de 1996 a 2010

Cats are gradually occupying a more important position as pets and this preference is a result of how easy cat maintenance in an urban environment is, even though they are very prolific and need surgical sterilization. This paper aims at evaluating obtained data within 15 years of research in a university service program that offers free cats sterilization surgery. We carried out a statistical analysis of data shown in the records of animals treated by the program. Surgical sterilization was performed on 647 animals (409 females – 63% and 238 males – 37%). Unilateral cryptorchidism was observed in 9 (3.8%) male cats. Forty (10%) female cats were pregnant at the time of the surgery and the treatment with contraceptives was observed in 67 (16.4%) female cats. One death occurred during anesthesia recovery and 2 cats were euthanized because of wound infection, totalizing an amount of 0.5% of severe complications. From 1996 to 2004, 212 female cats were spayed (122 adults and 90 prepubertal) and during that time two different approaches for ovariohysterectomy were compared: flank laparotomy and ventral midline celiotomy. The flank laparotomy approach was used in only 46 female cats (21.7%) due to some disadvantages observed – the need of an incision on each flank in prepubertal or nulliparous animals and the difficulty or impossibility of total uterus removal. In the same period, 105 male cats underwent orchiectomy via an open technique in which the spermatic cord was linked with nylon thread. From 2005 to 2010, 197 females (106 adults and 91 prepubertal) were spayed. The minilaparotomy technique was used to perform ovariohysterectomy on 139 female cats (70.6%). In this procedure, ovaries and uterus were exteriorized in a blind fashion with a hook through a small midline incision. The traditional midline ovariohysterectomy, which incision length permits direct visualization of the ovaries and uterus, had to be performed in 58 (29.4%) female cats due to advanced pregnancy, full urinary bladder during surgery or obesity. Over the past 6 years, 133 male cats (48 adults and 85 prepubertal) were castrated by means of an open technique in which the spermatic cord was tied to itself. The demand for surgeries during the project demonstrated that people are becoming aware concerning the importance of sterilization when facing cat overpopulation and abandonment.

Alterações antropométricas de lesados medulares após treinamento intervalado em natação

The goal of this study was to assess the alterations in some anthropometric measures of sedentary subjects with spinal cord injury after a swimming interval training program with the use of a lifejacket. The study included 17 male spinal cord injured subjects, divided into two groups: 11 subjects in the training group (TG) and 6 in the control group (CG).The protocol employed a stroke of breaststroke, in work periods of moderate to severe, and stroke in the back stroke in periods of active recovery. An anthropometric evaluation was applied before the application of the training protocol and another (reevaluation) after 8 weeks. In the TG, the results obtained after the swimming program showed a significant change (p < 0.05) in the supra-iliac (SICF) and in the triciptal cutaneous folds (TCF), arm and waist circumference measures, from the first evaluation to the reevaluation. In the CG there were no significant changes observed in any of the variables studied. When comparing the two groups after the swimming training program, the average of the variable SICFT in the TG was significantly lower than the average for the CG. Generally speaking, the out comings showed the swimming protocol efficiency in promoting desirable anthropometric changes in spinal cord injured subjects while a reduction of fatty tissue in the arms and abdominal region and an increase of muscular tissue in the upper limbs of those subjects also occurred.

Estudo mielográfico comparativo entre meios de contraste iopamidol e ioexol em bezerros

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ultrassonografia modo B de alta resolução modo Doppler e uso de contraste de microbolhas na avaliação testicular de gatos domésticos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Efeitos neuroprotetor e regenerativo do selante de fibrina derivado da peçonha de serpente combinado com células tronco mononucleares após reparo do nervo isquiático de ratos neonatos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)