Angel Ripplinger

Neoplasmas envolvendo o sistema nervoso central de cães: 26 casos (2003-2011)

This retrospective study was aimed to identify dogs with neoplasms affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and compile information on the affected breeds, sex, age group, anatomical site of the tumor, type of clinical signs and clinical course, and laboratory results. The study included the cases submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HVU) of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil, from January 2003 to June 2011. The 26 neoplasms affecting the CNS included in this study occurred mainly in Boxers (35%) and the predominantly affected age-group was 5-year-old or older (92.3%). The course of clinical signs in dogs with brain neoplasms was 7-115 days and that of spinal cord tumors was 7-420 days. The most frequently observed neurological signs in dogs with brain and spinal cord neoplasms were respectively changes in the conscience levels (58%), which were characterized by somnolence, and spinal hyperesthesia (57%). The cortico-thalamic region and the T3-L3 spinal cord segment were the most frequently anatomical sites involved (58% and 43%, respectively). Ten out 12 neoplasms affecting the brain were primary (83.3%) whereas only four of those 14 neoplasms affecting the spinal cord were primary (28.6%). Meningioma was the most frequent m primary neoplasms affecting the brain and spinal cord of dogs, consisting respectively of 40% e 75% of the cases.

Recuperação funcional em cães com doença do disco intervertebral toracolombar sem percepção à dor profunda: 37 casos (2002-2010)

The aim of this study was to evaluate functional recovery in 37 cases with diagnostic of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease in dogs without deep pain perception (more than 48 hours) and did not underwent surgical treatment from 2002 to 2010. The following data were obtained: Breed, age, sex, neuroanatomic localization, loss of deep pain perception, duration of clinical signs, functional recovery, deep pain recovery, recurrence and euthanasia or death. A satisfactory functional recovery was observed in 11 dogs (55%), mostly between 30-60 days after the beginning of the clinics signal (six dogs). Two of 11 dogs with satisfactory functional recovery did not recovered deep pain perception. The results showed that dogs with presumptive diagnoses of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease with more than 48 hours and that did not underwent surgical treatment are capable of a functional satisfactory recovery and should be waited 30 days after clinical signs begin to establish a prognosis on the recovery of voluntaries movements.

Recuperação funcional de cães paraplégicos com doença do disco intervertebral toracolombar sem percepção à dor profunda submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico: 15 casos (2006-2010)

This retrospective study was to evaluate the functional recovery of paraplegic dogs without deep pain perception (DPP) with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) submitted to dorsolateral hemilaminectomy. Only dogs with IVDD between spinal cord segments T3 and L3, which were paraplegic without DPP and were submitted to decompressive surgery were included in the study. Satisfactory functional recovery was observed in 73.3% of the dogs (n=11). Recovery time after surgery was one day (one dog), between 15 and 30 days (seven dogs) and over 30 days 30 days 3 dogs). The duration of the lack of DPP before surgery was 12-48 hours, in five recovered dogs and over 48 hours in six recovered dogs It can be concluded that paraplegic dogs with thoracolumbar IVD and lack of DPP may present satisfactory functional recovery when submitted to surgical treatment even when the absence of deep pain perception has settled for more than 48 hours. Further research is needed to better evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment, mainly for dogs with lack of DPP over 48 hours.

Mielopatia compressiva por lipoma de células fusiformes infiltrativo em cão

A female dog was referred presenting neurological signs of proprioceptive ataxy, proprioceptive deficit in the right pelvic limb, mild ambulatory paresis and spinal pain during the palpation in thoracic vertebrae. It was observed a right extradural compression of spinal cord over fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae by spinal myelography. During necropsy evaluation, it was observed a neoplasm which infiltrated in the spinal canal in the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae with marked compression of the spinal cord. Microscopically there were well differentiated neoplasic adipocytes, with areas of spindle cells, diagnosed as infiltrative spindle cell lipoma. The immunohistochemical staining revealed positive CD34 cells mainly in the areas of spindle cells lipoma.

Epilepsia em cães: 66 casos (2005-2010)

The objective of this study was to identify dogs with epilepsy and to obtain information about breed, sex, age, classification of the epilepsy and the seizures, as well as the stage and time of occurrence of the seizures. Epilepsy was primary in 66.7% (44/66) of dogs, symptomatic in 21.2% (14/66), and probably symptomatic in 12.1% (8/66). Crossbred dogs (27%) were the most affected and the predominant age group ranged from one to five years; the generalized tonic-clonic seizures (66.7%) was the most frequent presentation. The search for the owner (72.7%) during the preictal period and the compulsive walking (60.5%) in post-ictal period were the more frequent signs observed in the affected dogs, and the occurrence of seizures was higher at night (79.2%).

Quercetin treatment regulates the Na+,K+-ATPase activity, peripheral cholinergic enzymes, and oxidative stress in a rat model of demyelination

Quercetin is reported to exert a plethora of health benefits through many different mechanisms of action. This versatility and presence in the human diet has attracted the attention of the scientific community, resulting in a huge output of in vitro and in vivo (preclinical) studies. Therefore, we hypothesized that quercetin can protect Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the central nervous system, reestablish the peripheral cholinesterases activities, and reduce oxidative stress during demyelination events in rats. In line with this expectation, our study aims to find out how quercetin acts on the Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the central nervous system, peripheral cholinesterases, and stress oxidative markers in an experimental model of demyelinating disease. Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: vehicle, quercetin, ethidium bromide (EB), and EB plus quercetin groups. The animals were treated once a day with vehicle (ethanol 20%) or quercetin 50 mg/kg for 7 (demyelination phase, by gavage) or 21 days (remyelination phase) after EB (0.1%, 10 μL) injection (intrapontine).The encephalon was removed, and the pons, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum were dissected to verify the Na+,K+-ATPase activity. Our results showed that quercetin protected against reduction in Na+,K+-ATPase in the pons and cerebellum in the demyelination phase, and it increased the activity of this enzyme in the remyelination phase. During the demyelination, quercetin promoted the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in whole blood and lymphocytes induced by EB, and it reduced the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in lymphocytes in the remyelination phase. On day 7, EB increased the superoxide dismutase and decreased catalase activities, as well as increased the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels. Taken together, these results indicated that quercetin regulates the Na+,K+-ATPase activity, affects the alterations of redox state, and participates in the reestablishment of peripheral cholinergic activity during demyelinating and remyelination events.

Sonda uretral flexível como método alternativo para aferição invasiva da pressão intracraniana em trauma cranioencefálico induzido em coelhos

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of flexible urethral catheter as an alternative method for measuring intracranial pressure in rabbits with head trauma induced by 4 F Fogarty catheter (epidural balloon) and compare the data obtained with the conventional method of ventriculostomy catheter. In this study, New Zealand rabbits were randomly distributed into two groups, G1: measuring the ICP with ventriculostomy catheter (n=6) and G2: measuring the ICP with urethral catheter (n=6). Two craniotomies were performed in the right and left parietal region for the implantation of a ventriculostomy catheter and/or flexible urethral catheter and epidural 4 Fr Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter, respectively. MAP, CPP, HR, RF and RT values were measured before and after of the craniotomy. The ICP value was measured after craniotomy, every five minutes during 40 minutes after the balloon was inflated with 0.3 ml with NaCl and further 40 minutes after the balloon was inflated with 0.6 ml. The ICP value increased in both groups; however, the ICP values were lower in the flexible urethral catheter. The flexible urethral catheter can be used as an alternative method to measure ICP values in rabbits with head injury.

Therapeutic Aspects of Dogs with Presumptive Diagnosis of Idiopathic Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterised by recurrent epileptic seizures. Various antiepileptic drugs are used for the management of canine idiopathic epilepsy. Phenobarbital is the drug of choice for long-term treatment in dogs. Although it is well tolerated, phenobarbital can cause liver injury if administered alone or in combination with other drugs. Therefore, the main of this study was to identify dogs with presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy and information about the antiepileptic drugs, the dose and frequency of administration, period of treatment, frequency of the seizure before and after start the treatment, complementary exams and adverse effects. Materials, Methods & Results: In this study were included 21 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. All dogs were examined and having blood taken for blood count, biochemical tests (ALT, AST, AP, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, amylase, lipase, cholesterol and triglycerides), measurement of serum phenobarbital and/or potassium bromide and, some dogs, free T4 by dialysis and canine TSH. In this study, it was observed monotherapy (phenobarbital) in 76.19% (16/21), double therapy (phenobarbital and potassium bromide) in 19.05% (4/21) and triple therapy (phenobarbital, potassium bromide and gabapentin) in 4.76% (1/21) of dogs. The phenobarbital was used as monotherapy with dose between 1.4 and 12 mg kg-1 and the median of serum concentration was 26.41 μg kg-1. There was significant reduction in the frequency of the seizure after start the treatment. There was refractory to antiepileptic drugs in two dogs (9.5%). In blood analysis, there was increase serum activities of AP (23.81%) and ALT (14.20%), decrease total protein (42.29%), hypoalbuminemia (9.5%) and it was not increased AST activities. The main adverse effects were nodularliver damage and hypothyroidism. Discussion: In most cases of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, monotherapy is preferred, because it tends to avoid complications that may arise from drug interactions and may also improve compliance by providing a simple treatment regimen. In this study, the phenobarbital controlled the seizures when used as monotherapy. It is considered success of an antiseizure drug when there is a reduction of seizure frequency by at least 50%, with minimal drug side effects. Approximately 20-30% of dogs with epilepsy do not have satisfactory seizure control or experience intolerable adverse effects with appropriate conventional medical treatment. In this study, there was refractory to antiepileptic drugs in 9.5%, one dog treated with phenobarbital and other with phenobarbital and potassium bromide. The long-term use of phenobarbital causes increase in liver enzymes, ALT and, mainly, ALP, these are attributed to enzymatic induction and to low degree of liver damage. ALT and AP increased the values and this does not necessarily indicate clinically significant liver damage or the need to stop therapy. The risk of liver toxicity appears to be greater with concentrations higher than 35 μg mL-1 or when multiple potentially hepatotoxic drugs are used. Other factors associated to the long-term use of anticonvulsant, such phenobarbital, potassium bromide or both, for the treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs is acute pancreatitis and hypothyroidism. In this study, it was not observed acute pancreatitis, but there were two dogs with hypothyroidism. The long-term use of phenobarbital did not cause significant side effects, even with changes in the biochemical tests.