ABSTRACT. A 7-year-old castrated male mixed-breed dog was presented with a complaint of acute pain. The dog had suffered from isolated seizures for two years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a smooth brain surface due to lack of gyri and sulci formation of the cerebrum and thick cortical grey matter. Additionally, ventriculomegaly and an arachnoid cyst were noted. Multiple spinal cord compressions induced by intervertebral disc protrusion were observed on a cervical MRI. Based on these findings, the dog was diagnosed as having lissencephaly concurrent with intervertebral cervical disease. After therapy for seizure and cervical pain, the clinical signs were completely resolved. To the author's knowledge, this is the case report to diagnose lissencephaly in a mixedbreed dog.

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.

ABSTRACT. A 14-year-old male miniature schnauzer was referred to us because it was circling to the right. A mass in the diencephalon was noted on brain magnetic resonance images. The dura was thickened with marked linear enhancement after contrast administration. Based on diagnostic image analysis, this lesion strongly suggested meningioma. The patient's symptoms were well controlled by a combination therapy of prednisolone and lomustine (CCNU), and survived for thirteen months after diagnosis. This case was diagnosed as a meningioma based on histopathological findings. This report describes the clinical findings, imaging characteristics, and pathologic features of a diencephalic and mesencephalic meningioma and long-term survival after lomustine and prednisolone therapy. KEY WORDS: lomustine (CCNU), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), meningioma.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 68(4): 383-386, 2006 Primary brain tumors include neoplasms that arise from brain parenchymal tissue, cells comprising the outer and inner lining of the brain, and vascular elements. Intracranial neoplasia is well described in the dog, and the incidence of brain tumors in this species may approach 3.0%. It has been reported that primary central nervous system tumors arising from mesodermal origin (meningioma) are the most common intracranial tumors in dogs, followed by neuroectoderm a l ( g l i a l ) t u m o r s ( e . g . , a s t r o c y t o m a a n d oligodendroglioma) [2,9,12].Diagnosis of specific tumor types from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics is sometimes difficult in both people and animals, and a definitive diagnosis may depend upon incisional or excisional biopsies. Brain tumors exert their pathologic effects both by directly encroaching on and/or invading brain tissue and by such secondary effects as peritumoral edema, inflammation, obstructive hydrocephalus, and hemorrhaging. Treatment of dogs and cats with primary brain tumors can be divided conceptually into supportive and definitive therapy [2].A 14-year-old male miniature schnauzer with body weight of 5.8 kg was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Konkuk University due to a 4-week history of circling to the right and anorexia. Intermittent circling was observed first, and clinical signs worsened progressively. Neurological examination revealed continuous clock-wise circling. Cranial nerve deficits included both bilaterally decreased menace response (MR) and pupillary light reflex (PLR). Based on the neurological examination, clinical signs were likely due to a structural brain lesion. The results of complete blood count (CBC) profiles were within the reference range. Serum chemistry profiles showed increased alkaline phosphatase (581 U/L; reference range: 0 to 142 U/L) and alanine aminotransferase (82 U/L; reference range: 13 to 53 U/L).Thus, we performed a brain MR scan (E-scan; ESAOTE, Italy) using 0.2T unit. T1-and T2-weighted images and postcontrast T1-weighted images were obtained. MR scanning confirmed a mass in diencephalon and mesencephalon ...

A Yorkshire terrier and a Chihuahua were referred for acute onset, generalized tonic-clonic seizures and were suspected to have meningoencephalitis based on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings. Brain lesions appeared hyperintense with T2-weighted imaging and hypointense with T1-weighted imaging, and were characteristic of necrotizing meningoencephalitis. Both dogs were diagnosed with necrotizing meningoencephalitis based on pathologic findings. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) was performed on both animals before euthanasia with the permission of the owner. In FDG-PET images, these lesions seen in MR images were characterized by multifocal or diffuse hypometabolism. Our FDG-PET results provided evidence of glucose hypometabolism in areas of necrosis and cavitation associated with necrotizing meningoencephalitis. FDG-PET has the potential to provide valuable diagnostic information in dogs with suspected necrotizing encephalitis.

A study was carried out to determine the health effects of rice husk dust in Malaysian rice millers. The study population consisted of 122 male Malay workers from three rice mills, with 42 controls of similar age, sex, ethnic group, and agricultural work background. Interviews using standardised questionnaires, physical examination, total and differential white cell counts, chest radiographs, and lung function tests were performed on each of the millers and the controls. Environmental dust monitoring was also carried out in the three rice mills. Clinical, haematological, and radiological findings suggest that a distinct clinical syndrome seems to be associated with exposure to rice husk dust. The manifestations of this "rice millers' syndrome" include acute and chronic irritant effects affecting the eyes, skin, and upper respiratory tract; allergic responses such as nasal catarrh, tightness of chest, asthma, and eosinophilia; and radiological opacities in the chest, probably representing early silicosis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis.In many Asian countries rice is a major agricultural crop and forms the staple food of more than one quarter of the world's population. The cultivation of rice (Oryza sp) is usually carried out in irrigated "padi" (fields). After harvesting, the rice is dried and milled and a large amount of dust is thereby generated. Apart from reported cases of occupational asthma' and keratitis nummularis,2 little research has been carried out on the effects of rice husk dust. A study was thus carried out in Malaysia (a major rice growing country) to determine whether there were adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to rice husk dust. MethodsThe study population consisted of all workers employed at the time of the study (March-May 1983) Each subject and control was interviewed by a physician using a standard questionnaire based on the British Medical Research Council questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. This also contained questions pertaining to symptoms of eye irritation (defined as any complaints of itchiness, grittiness, soreness, lachrymation, redness, or photophobia of the eyes) and pruritus (defined as any complaints of itchiness or irritation of the skin with or without rashes). A full physical examination was also carried out on each subject and control by another physician who was not aware of the dust exposure levels. Blood samples were also collected by finger prick using a triangular surgical needle and analysed for total white and differential count by a trained laboratory technologist. For total white count, 2% aqueous acetic acid solution was used for dilution and counting was carried out using an improved Neubauer chamber. Leishman's stain was used for slide preparation in the differential white count.Standard erect posterior anterior chest radiographs were taken for each subject and control, using conventional exposure of between 60-80 KV without an absorption grid. The focal film distance was fixed at three metres, with centering point betw...

ABSTRACT. Stem cell therapy is being special premise for various renal diseases. However, there is limited literature on localization and pathologic and functional effects of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in healthy dogs. Two healthy dogs were included in this study. Canine MSCs (cMSCs) were cultured from canine bone marrow and incubated with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) for in vivo cell tracking via MR imaging. The dogs were given the MSC (3  10 6 cells) into a renal artery via femoral artery catheterization. Follow-up serial renal assessments included ultrasonography and MRI, serum chemistry, urine analysis, and renal clearance tests. The dogs were euthanized at days 8 and 35 respectively for histopathologic evaluation of kidney. Strong hypointensity in MRI was detected in the treated renal cortex the day after cMSCs infusion. However they disappeared from MR image by the 8th day. Of the serum chemistry tests, serum hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST) were significantly elevated for one week after cMSCs treatment. Histopathological findings also revealed infiltration of SPIO-containing cells into the parenchyma of kidney. On 35th day, histopathology, glomerular atrophy, tubular necrosis, and mineralization were found in the subcapsular cortex, with fibrosis of the interstitial tissues. In vivo MRI studies of stem cells were useful in determining the sequential location of stem cells in the renal parenchyma of healthy dogs. Allogenic stem cells administered via renal artery caused inflammation, tubular necrosis, mineralization, and fibrosis without functional complications.KEY WORDS: bone marrow, canine, kidney, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

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ABSTRACT. A 15-year-old female maltese was referred to us because of a 3-month history of ataxia, circling, and acute blindness. A mass was noted in the brainstem on brain magnetic resonance images. A cerebellar herniation was also detected on T1-weighted sagittal images. The lateral, third and fourth ventricles and central canal of the cervical spinal cord were enlarged. Based on diagnostic imaging findings, cervical syringomyelia secondary to a brainstem tumor was suspected. The clinical signs were controlled well by lomustine and the dog survived for 8 months after the initial diagnosis. The mass was diagnosed as a meningioma based on histopathological findings. This report describes the clinical findings and imaging characteristics of an acquired syringomyelia resulting from a brainstem meningioma.