MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF PERIPHERAL NERVE SHEATH TUMORS OF THE CANINE BRACHIAL PLEXUS IN 18 DOGS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations from 18 dogs with a histologically confirmed peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) of the brachial plexus were assessed retrospectively. Almost half (8/18) had a diffuse thickening of the brachial plexus nerve(s), six of which extended into the vertebral canal. The other 10/18 dogs had a nodule or mass in the axilla (1.2-338 cm3). Seven of those 10 masses also had diffuse nerve sheath thickening, three of which extended into the vertebral canal. The majority of tumors were hyperintense to muscle on T2-weighted images and isointense on T1-weighted images. Eight of 18 PNSTs had only minimal to mild contrast enhancement and many (13/18) enhanced heterogeneously following gadolinium DTPA administration. Transverse plane images with a large enough field of view (FOV) to include both axillae and the vertebral canal were essential, allowing in-slice comparison to detect lesions by asymmetry of structures. Higher resolution, smaller FOV, multiplanar examination of the cervicothoracic spine was important for appreciating nerve root and foraminal involvement. Short tau inversion recovery, T2-weighted, pre and postcontrast T1-weighted pulse sequences were all useful. Contrast enhancement was critical to detecting subtle diffuse nerve sheath involvement or small isointense nodules, and for accurately identifying the full extent of disease. Some canine brachial plexus tumors can be challenging to detect, requiring a rigorous multiplanar multi-pulse sequence MRI examination.     

嗅神经母细胞瘤的CT诊断(附9例报告)

目的：探讨嗅神经母细胞瘤的ＣＴ诊断及鉴别诊断。方法：对９例病人进行鼻窦与头部ＣＴ横断扫描和（或）冠状扫描。结果：９例全部累及鼻腔，其中８例侵及筛窦，３例侵及上颌窦，４例侵及眼眶和颅内脑组织。其ＣＴ主要表现为鼻腔上部软组织肿块影，易侵及筛窦、上颌窦甚至眼眶和颅内脑组织，同时伴有侵及部位的骨质破坏。结论：ＣＴ对典型的嗅神经母细胞瘤能作出准确的诊断，对肿瘤的分期也有很大的价值；但对表现不典型者需与其它肿瘤鉴别。     

鹅颈动脉颈神经的解剖学观察和溃变法研究

鹅颈动脉颈神经分布到颈动脉上的神经丛有两种情况：有神经节与无神经节。溃变结果表明在颈前神经节和颈交感干神经节上都出现有溃变细胞，说明颈动脉神经中至少含有由颈前神经节的节后纤维和经由颈交感干神经节的节前与节后纤维。颈动脉颈神经在第１５～１６颈椎段从两侧颈长肌缝中走出分布于皮下。     

Ultrasound-guided retrobulbar nerve block in donkey cadavers

ObjectiveTo develop and describe an acoustic window to access and inject the retrobulbar region in donkey cadavers.Study designProspective cadaveric experimental study.AnimalsA total of 14 donkey cadaver heads.MethodsUltrasound landmarks for retrobulbar injection were identified by dissection of two cadavers. Ultrasound-guided retrobulbar injection of 3, 6 and 9 mL of contrast–lidocaine mixture (1:1) were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) in 12 cadavers for needle position and spread of injectate into the extraocular muscle cone.ResultsReal-time visualization of needle, extraocular muscle cone and optic nerve enabled successful intraconal instillation of injectate, as documented on CT images.Conclusions and clinical relevanceUltrasound-guided retrobulbar injections in cadaver donkeys provided adequate infiltration of the intraconal space.     

Where does it hurt? Problems with interpretation of regional and intra‐synovial diagnostic analgesia

Detailed clinical evaluation and diagnostic analgesia are crucial for accurate lameness diagnosis. This review discusses the ways in which local analgesic techniques can cause confusion and highlights how important it is to recognise that the majority of methods are less specific than was formerly thought. Interpretation of responses must be done together with the results of clinical examination and careful assessment of diagnostic images. With the knowledge of false negative and false positive results of local analgesic techniques and the recognition that there may be more than one focus of pain contributing to lameness, it is still possible to reach accurate diagnoses, provided that a logical, thoughtful approach is utilised.     

The use of a nerve stimulation test to confirm sacrococcygeal epidural needle placement in cats

ObjectiveTo determine if a nerve stimulation test (NST) could act as a monitoring technique to confirm sacrococcygeal epidural needle placement in cats.Study designProspective experimental trial in a clinical setting.AnimalsTwenty-four adult cats, scheduled for a therapeutic procedure where epidural anesthesia was indicated.MethodsUnder general anesthesia, an insulated needle was inserted through the S₃-Cd₁ intervertebral space guided by the application of a fixed electrical current (0.7 mA) until a motor response was obtained. The NST was considered positive when the epidural nerve stimulation produced a motor response of the muscles of the tail, whereas it was considered negative when no motor response was evoked. In the NST positive cases, 0.3 mL kg⁻¹ of 0.5% bupivacaine was administrated before needle withdrawal. Ten minutes after injection, epidural blockade was confirmed by the loss of perineal (anal), and pelvic limbs reflexes (patellar and withdrawal).ResultsThe use of a fixed electrical stimulation current of 0.7 mA resulted in correct prediction of sacrococcygeal epidural injection, corroborated by post bupivacaine loss of perineal and pelvic limb reflexes, in 95.8% of the cases.Conclusion and clinical relevanceThis study demonstrates the feasibility of using, in a clinical setting, an electrical stimulation test as an objective and in real-time method to confirm sacrococcygeal epidural needle placement in cats.     

Establishment of a Method to Measure Length of the Ulnar Nerve and Standardize F-wave Values in Clinically Normal Beagles

We designed a new method of measuring the length of the ulnar nerve and determining standard values for F-wave parameters of the ulnar nerve in clinically normal beagles. Nerve length must be precisely measured to determine F-wave latency and conduction velocity. The length of the forelimb has served as the length of the ulnar nerve for F-wave assessments, but report indicates that F-wave latency is proportional to the length of the pathway traveled by nerve impulses. Therefore, we measured the surface distance from a stimulus point to the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (nerve length 1) and the anterior horn of the scapula (nerve length 2) as landmarks through the olecranon and the shoulder blade acromion. The correlation coefficients between the shortest F-wave latency and the length of nerves 1, 2 or the forelimb were 0.61, 0.7 and 0.58. Nerve length 2 generated the highest value. Furthermore, the anterior horn of the scapula was easily palpated in any dog regardless of well-fed body. We concluded that nerve length 2 was optimal for measuring the length of the ulnar nerve.     

甲壳动物CHH家族神经激素结构和功能研究进展

甲壳动物主要利用温度、光照周期等外界因子调节其生理状态 ,使它们的生殖活动处于最适条件下 ,来自外界因子的这些信息作用于甲壳动物的中枢神经系统 ,后者将其传递到神经内分泌系统和内分泌系统 ,神经内分泌系统和内分泌系统能够分泌一些促进因子和抑制因子以实施对性腺活动的调控。由于甲壳动物成体的生殖和蜕皮常常交替出现 ,因此 ,神经内分泌系统和内分泌系统的精确调控非常重要。甲壳动物高血糖激素 (ＣＨＨ)家族神经激素是甲壳动物特有的多肽激素 ,它们主要由眼柄的Ｘ -器官窦腺复合体合成 ,它们包括 :甲壳动物高血糖激素 (ＣＨＨ)、…