MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF EQUINE NIGROPALLIDAL ENCEPHALOMALACIA

Magnetic resonance imaging (MR) was used to make a diagnosis of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia in a horse. Equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia is a neurodegenerative disease that has many characteristics with Parkinson-like diseases in humans. Historically, horses were euthanized based on clinical signs and exposure to the toxic weed, yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Previously, the disease has only been confirmed on necropsy. MR imaging can provide accurate and sensitive visualization of typical lesions seen in the brain of horses affected with equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia. Lesions were seen on T1-weighted, T2-weighted and proton density images. There was no contrast enhancement following Gd-DTPA administration. Lesions seen on MR were confirmed at necropsy. Using MR to confirm a diagnosis of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia will prevent unnecessary suffering of horses and expense to owners that would otherwise incur, while further diagnostics are performed.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF CEREBRAL CORTICAL NECROSIS (POLIOENCEPHALOMALACIA) IN A DOG

A 3-year-old neutered female mixed breed dog was examined because of severe, generalized seizure activity, tetraparesis, and encephalopathic signs. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evaluation was unremarkable except for a mild increase in protein. Serum and CSF titers for infectious diseases were negative. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examination of the brain was performed and lesions were found within the cerebral gray matter of the temporal and parietal lobes. The lesions had increased signal intensity on T1, T2, and proton density-weighted images. There was mild inhomogeneous enhancement following intravenous contrast medium administration. Neurologic status improved and the seizures were well controlled, but the dog never regained normal mentation and euthanasia was performed 10 weeks after initial evaluation. At necropsy, severe cerebral cortical necrosis was found in the regions corresponding to the lesions seen on MR imaging examination. Large numbers of fat-containing macrophages (gitter cells) were found within these areas, and are thought to be responsible for the characteristic hyperintensity seen on the MR images.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF MULTILOBULAR OSTEOCHONDROSARCOMA IN 3 DOGS

Three dogs with multilobular osteochondrosarcoma of the skull were evaluated using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Spin echo T1, T2, proton weighted and post contrast T1W images were obtained with a 1.5 Tesla magnet. The MR imaging findings were similar in all three dogs with mixed signal intensities in the T1W, T2W and proton weighted images and fairly large areas of contrast enhancement in the post contrast T1W images. The extent of brain and soft tissue involvement were well delineated and provided useful information concerning surgical planning. MR imaging provided a useful method of evaluating dogs with skull tumors.     

基于Hough变换识别单周期正弦曲线图像的算法及实现

手工识别成像测井中的裂缝具有一定的主观性，不同的人可能会有不同的解释结果．作者介绍利用Hough变换自动识别裂缝的原理及其算法，并通过实例分析了其应用效果，结果表明，这种算法计算裂缝参数不仅精度可靠，还保证了裂缝参数拾取的唯一性，对实现井壁裂缝参数的完全自动解释有重要意义．     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE EQUINE STIFLE

The purpose of this study was to define normal gross anatomic structures in the equine stifle with magnetic resonance images. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were made in sagittal, 15° supinated, transverse, and dorsal planes of two equine stifles. The MR images were scrutinized by comparing MR images to dissection specimens and frozen cross sections of stifle joints. Sagittal and 15° supinated images were the most valuable in assessing articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and soft tissue structures within the joint. Cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments, medial and lateral menisci, meniscotibial and meniscofemoral ligaments, long digital extensor tendon, and patellar ligaments were easily evaluated. MR images provided substantially more gross anatomical information than the currently available imaging modalities.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS OF PRESUMED CEREBELLAR CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT IN TWELVE DOGS

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of presumed cerebrovascular accident in 12 dogs are described. Fourteen lesions were seen, commonly (11 of 14) within the gray matter of the cerebellar hemispheres or vermis. Thirteen lesions were hyperintense on T2-weighted images (in 11 dogs) and one was hypointense. Eleven of 14 lesions were within the region supplied by the rostral cerebellar artery or one of its main branches and there was no, or minimal, mass effect. Contrast enhancement was only seen in six lesions and was mild in all. Gradient-echo images provided additional information in two dogs. The appearance of infarction in dogs with diffusion-weighted images (DWI) is similar to that in humans, and provided supportive evidence for the diagnosis of infarction in five dogs. The use of gradient-echo and DWI is recommended for the evaluation of suspected cerebrovascular accidents in dogs. Six of the 12 affected animals were spaniels or spaniel crosses, suggesting a possible breed predisposition.     

Using laser to measure stem thickness and cut weed stems

Summary Stem thickness of the weed Solanum nigrum and the crop sugarbeet was determined with a He–Ne laser using a novel non‐destructive technique measuring stem shadow. Thereafter, the stems were cut close to the soil surface with a CO₂ laser. Treatments were carried out on pot plants, grown in the greenhouse, at two different growth stages, and plant dry matter was measured 2–5 weeks after treatment. The relationship between plant dry weight and laser energy was analysed using two different non‐linear dose–response regression models; one model included stem thickness as a variable, the other did not. A binary model was also tested. The non‐linear model incorporating stem thickness described the data best, indicating that it would be possible to optimize laser cutting by measuring stem thickness before cutting. The general tendency was that more energy was needed the thicker the stem. Energy uses on a field scale are discussed.     

Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF A CERVICAL WOODEN FOREIGN BODY IN A DOG

This article describes the discovery of a chronic cervical wooden foreign body ventral to the left transverse processes of the cranial cervical spine using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a dog that presented with chronic neck pain and lameness. The dog did not exhibit dysphagia or chronic draining tracts, the most common signs of the presumed cause, that of a penetrating oropharyngeal foreign body. The foreign body itself was represented on MR images as an oval straight-edged core within an inflammatory tissue reaction. The wood was slightly hyperintense on T2- and isointense on T1-weighted images relative to muscle. Surrounding this was a more conspicuous contrast-enhancing reactive tissue rim that was hyperintense on all pulse sequences. Adjacent musculature also exhibited diffuse edema and contrast enhancement that extended around the left cervical vertebral transverse processes and local intervertebral nerve roots. The foreign body was found to be a wooden stick upon surgical removal. MRI is an excellent method for visualizing the inflammatory tissue reactions associated with soft-tissue foreign bodies because of its contrast resolution and depiction of anatomy in multiple imaging planes.     

Visualization of the effect of a surfactant on the uptake of xenobiotics into plant foliage by confocal laser scanning microscopy

A radiolabelling method is generally used to determine the foliar uptake of xenobiotics. This technique cannot provide any information on the localization of chemicals inside leaf tissues. The influence of an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant on the uptake of three fluorescent dyes, difluorofluorescein (hydrophilic), rhodamine B (moderately lipophilic) and a naphthalimide dye (lipophilic), into the leaves of three contrasting species, bean (Vicia faba), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea), at 16 h after treatment was measured using a conventional wash‐off method and also visualized in vivo by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Whereas the lipophilic dyes showed greater intrinsic uptake than the hydrophilic one, the enhancing effect of the surfactant on uptake was more pronounced for the latter. CLSM revealed that the presence of the surfactant increased the transport of difluorofluorescein into the epidermal cells of bean and wheat leaves, but not cabbage leaves. Rhodamine B showed greatest transcuticular diffusion in all three species, but most of the dye moved into the vacuole of the epidermal cells. The naphthalimide dye was strongly retained by the wax–cuticle layer of all species, even in the presence of the surfactant. CLSM has proven to be an attractive tool for studying xenobiotic diffusion. The results obtained using fluorescent dyes are believed to be applicable to the foliar uptake of herbicides.