Publications by authors named "Anna Sunol"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate spinal degenerative changes in cats, particularly focusing on the incidence of these changes in cats with intervertebral disk herniation versus other spinal diseases.
- Out of 114 cats analyzed, 70% exhibited some form of spinal degeneration, with intervertebral disk degeneration being the most prevalent finding, and these changes were linked to age and weight.
- The findings suggest that in cats showing myelopathy, intervertebral disk extrusion is often the main cause of symptoms, while other conditions like lumbosacral stenosis may not be directly related to the neurological issues presented.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated head tilt in pet rabbits over a period from 2009 to 2020, focusing on understanding its associated diseases.
- The findings revealed that the most common diagnoses were Encephalitozoon cuniculi meningoencephalomyelitis and otitis media/interna, with certain clinical signs linked to a higher risk of death or euthanasia.
- The researchers highlighted the potential benefits of meloxicam for improving symptoms and recommended specific tests (EC serology and CT scans) for better diagnosis in cases of head tilt.
Article Synopsis
- A head turn in dogs can indicate issues in the central nervous system (CNS) and is traditionally linked to forebrain dysfunction, but this study aims to explore other potential origins.
- The research was conducted on 49 client-owned dogs presenting with head turns, using thorough neurological exams and advanced imaging techniques to analyze their conditions.
- Results show that while many head turns were associated with forebrain issues, specific combinations of head and body postures indicated that other areas of the CNS, like the brainstem or cervical spinal cord, could also be involved, highlighting the need for careful classification of symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on 22 cats diagnosed with central cord syndrome (CCS) to analyze their clinical findings, diagnoses, and outcomes.
- Most affected cats were around 9 years old, with prevalent lesions in the C1-C5 and C6-T2 spinal cord segments, often linked to ischemic myelopathy or neoplasia.
- The prognosis was generally poor, with about 59% of the cats showing negative outcomes, especially in cases with chronic signs and specific underlying causes.
Article Synopsis
- Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy (PrBC) and postpartum (PPBC) tends to be found at more advanced stages, leading to a poorer prognosis, especially with PPBC being very aggressive.
- Researchers discovered that cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be detected in breast milk (BM) from breast cancer patients, showing higher detection rates compared to plasma samples.
- This study suggests that using BM for ctDNA analysis could serve as a novel liquid biopsy method, allowing for earlier detection of breast cancer, even months before standard diagnosis techniques.
Background: Limited recent data exists regarding discospondylitis in dogs.
Hypothesis/objectives: (i) Describe the signalment, clinical and imaging findings, etiologic agents, treatment, and outcome of dogs with discospondylitis, (ii) determine diagnostic agreement between radiographs, CT, and MRI with regard to the presence of discospondylitis and its location, and (iii) determine risk factors for relapse and progressive neurological deterioration.
Animals: Three hundred eighty-six dogs.
Article Synopsis
- * A study analyzed liquid biopsies from 16 FA patients without clinical signs of oral cancer, finding mutations in cancer genes in 9 of them; those with mutations almost all went on to develop significant oral lesions or cancer.
- * This new diagnostic approach could help identify FA patients at higher risk of oral cancers, improving monitoring and treatment outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Liquid biopsy, specifically plasma ctDNA analysis, has potential but its effectiveness in capturing detailed tumor characteristics for clinical use is still being explored.
- In a study with 459 metastatic breast cancer patients, machine learning techniques were applied to ctDNA to uncover complex biological features similar to traditional tumor tissue analysis.
- The research identified four DNA subtypes and a specific ctDNA genomic signature linked to poor treatment response and survival outcomes, highlighting the potential for ctDNA to serve as a valuable predictor in cancer treatment.
Fanconi anemia (FA) patients frequently develop oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This cancer in FA patients is diagnosed within the first 3-4 decades of life, very often preceded by lesions that suffer a malignant transformation. In addition, they respond poorly to current treatments due to toxicity or multiple recurrences.
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- There's a high demand for non-invasive methods to detect early responses to cancer treatments, particularly through measuring circulating tumor biomarkers.
- Researchers focused on manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), a resilient protein, which was found to correlate with cancer cell death during chemotherapy in breast cancer.
- Increased levels of SOD2 in the blood of patients responding to neoadjuvant therapy suggest that tracking this protein could enhance non-invasive monitoring and evaluation of cancer treatments over time.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on creating a low-cost simulator for teaching cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling, traditionally learned using cadavers or in clinical settings, which can be challenging for students.
- A 3D-printed model of a dog's lumbosacral vertebral column was developed, integrating synthetic materials and a fluidic system to imitate the CSF collection process, and it received high validation from expert reviewers.
- Final-year veterinary students trained on both the simulator and cadavers showed similar performance in placing needles but the simulator group successfully collected CSF samples, highlighting the simulator's effectiveness as a teaching tool.
Article Synopsis
- Brain gliomas are common tumors in dogs, but there is limited info on clinical features and overall survival for those receiving palliative care.
- The study analyzed 60 dogs diagnosed with brain gliomas based on MRI and medical history, with a notable proportion being French Bulldogs and many presenting with epileptic seizures.
- MRI findings revealed differences in tumor locations, with certain areas linked to higher epilepsy rates, and those with contrast-enhancing gliomas had significantly shorter survival times, averaging 61 days.
Article Synopsis
- Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is being researched as a potential biomarker for predicting outcomes in patients with early breast cancer (EBC) undergoing neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 2908 studies identified 11 that met criteria to analyze ctDNA's impact on relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in this patient population.
- The findings revealed that ctDNA detection at baseline and after NAT correlated with worse RFS and OS, but did not predict the likelihood of achieving a pathologic complete response (pCR), indicating the need for further studies to improve patient treatment personalization.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to describe the clinical signs, diagnostic processes, treatments, and outcomes for dogs diagnosed with acute central cord syndrome (CCS).
- A total of 74 dogs from five referral hospitals were evaluated, revealing that most cases (88%) involved the C1-C5 spinal cord region, with common causes being disk herniations.
- The majority of dogs (93%) showed favorable outcomes after treatment, although those with respiratory issues had significantly worse prognoses.
The clinical utility of neostigmine administration in the diagnosis of acquired myasthenia gravis.
J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio)
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluated the effectiveness of neostigmine methylsulfate in diagnosing acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) in dogs and cats from 2017 to 2019.
- Out of 25 animals (22 dogs and 3 cats) with clinical signs of MG, 16 dogs were diagnosed with the condition, with 13 responding positively to the neostigmine challenge.
- The results suggest that the neostigmine challenge may be a safe and effective alternative to the previously used edrophonium challenge for diagnosing MG.
Background: Gliomas in dogs remain poorly understood.
Objectives: To characterize the clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging features and survival of a large sample of dogs with glioma using the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium diagnostic classification.
Animals: Ninety-one dogs with histopathological diagnosis of glioma.
Article Synopsis
- Albuminocytological dissociation (ACD) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is seen as high protein levels with normal cell counts, indicating issues related to the blood-brain barrier or CSF flow.
- A study reviewed CSF data from 497 dogs with neurological issues, finding ACD in 16.5% of samples, with certain diseases showing higher rates of ACD.
- The most affected conditions included cranial nerve neuropathy, brain tumors, idiopathic vestibular disease, and brain vascular disease, shedding light on their CSF patterns and prevalence of ACD in dogs.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the consistency of MRI measurements related to optic nerve sheath and eye globe dimensions, the associations between these measurements, and their potential dependence on age and body weight, while also exploring their link to intracranial pressure (ICP).
- A retrospective analysis categorized patients into normal and intracranial hypertension groups based on MRI results, measuring the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and eye globe transverse diameter (ETD) to assess measurement reliability and correlations.
- Results showed moderate-to-good reliability for all measurements, with significant correlations identified among these metrics and age, weight, and ICP status, leading to the conclusion that ONSD and the ONSD:ETD ratio may not be reliable indicators for diagnosing intrac
Article Synopsis
- A 9-year-old male cat presented with lethargy and pain for three weeks, leading to an MRI revealing a large mass affecting the nasal cavity and brain.
- The mass was found to be a transitional meningioma, causing significant complications like herniation and cribriform plate destruction.
- This case is notable as it is the first report of a meningioma in a cat with considerable nasal involvement, suggesting it should be considered in similar cases.
Vertebral fractures and luxations are common causes of neurological emergencies in small-animal patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of three-dimensional printing (3Dp) models on how veterinary students understand and learn to identify canine spinal fractures and to compare 3Dp models to computed tomography (CT) images and three-dimensional CT (3D-CT) reconstructions. Three spinal fracture models were generated by 3Dp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCase Summary: A 12-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented to our referral hospital with a chronic history of tenesmus and lumbosacral pain. A diagnosis of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) was made and a standard dorsal L7-S1 laminectomy was performed uneventfully, with complete recovery within 1 month. The cat was brought back 4 months later for investigation of lumbosacral pain after having suffered a minor traumatic event.
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- Intracranial neoplasia, particularly meningiomas and gliomas, is common in dogs, and this study focuses on the survival outcomes of dogs treated with surgical resection alone.
- The research analyzed medical records of 29 dogs, revealing that those with meningiomas had a significantly longer median survival time (422 days) compared to those with gliomas (66 days).
- The study also found that midline shifts and ventricular compression might negatively impact survival for dogs with meningiomas, suggesting surgical resection can be a viable treatment option in the absence of radiation therapy.