Are postnatal traumatic events an underestimated cause of porencephalic lesions in dogs and cats?

Introduction: Porencephaly is defined as a fluid-filled cavity of variable size in the brain cortex. It is regarded as a congenital condition and is typically considered a developmental or an encephaloclastic defect. Our hypothesis is that postnatal traumatic events in the first few months of life may represent a cause of canine and feline porencephaly that is more common than generally suspected.

Can MRI differentiate between ring-enhancing gliomas and intra-axial abscesses?

Gliomas of the brain may appear as expansile ring-enhancing masses in MRI studies, mimicking the appearance of intra-axial abscesses. The aims of this study were to compare the MRI features of ring-enhancing gliomas and intra-axial brain abscesses in dogs and cats and to identify the characteristics that might help differentiate them. For this multicenter, retrospective, and observational study, the inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) a definitive diagnosis of glioma or abscess based on cytological or histopathological examination following CSF collection or surgical biopsy/necropsy, respectively; (b) MRI study performed with a high- or low-field MRI scanner, including a same plane T1W pre- and postcontrast, a T2W and a T2 FLAIR sequence in at least one plane.

Renal ultrasonographic abnormalities are associated with low glomerular filtration rate calculated by scintigraphy in dogs.

Ultrasound provides information on kidney morphology, but studies relating structural and functional abnormalities in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are lacking. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to compare individual kidney (IK) B-mode ultrasound abnormalities to IK glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated by scintigraphy normalized to plasma volume (PV) in dogs, to evaluate if ultrasonographic findings were associated with low IKGFR/PV. Eighty privately owned dogs with and without clinical suspicion of CKD were prospectively enrolled, and kidney ultrasound and IKGFR/PV were evaluated independently.

Radiographic and ultrasonographic findings in a dog with emphysematous pyometra.

Background: Emphysematous pyometra is a rare canine disease characterized by gas-forming bacteria infecting the uterus and causing an accumulation of both gas and infectious exudate in the uterine lumen. While radiological features of emphysematous pyometra have been previously described in dogs, the ultrasonographic appearance has not been reported.

Case Presentation: A 7-year-old intact female Labrador Retriever was presented because of a 1 day history of vomiting, anorexia, mild polyuria/polydipsia and signs of fatigue.

Agomelatine Improves Apathy in Frontotemporal Dementia.

Background/aims: Apathy is the most common initial symptom of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and has been linked to frontal-subcortical dopaminergic system dysfunction. No pharmacological therapy has been approved for the treatment of apathy, but, on the basis of its physiopathological mechanism, we suspected that increasing prefrontal dopaminergic innervation could improve this disabling symptom.

Methods: We evaluated a group of 24 nondepressed patients with a diagnosis of the behavioral variant of FTD, in order to determine the effectiveness on apathy of agomelatine, an antidepressant with MT1 and MT2 receptor agonism and 5-HT2C receptor antagonism; the latter leads to an increase in prefrontal dopaminergic and noradrenergic tone.

Prevalence and cognitive underpinnings of isolated apathy in young healthy subjects.

Background: Apathy is well described in neurodegenerative conditions, however to date there is no evidence of significant isolated apathy in subjects free from other neurological and psychiatric co-morbidites. Identifying isolated apathy in subjects free from neuropsychiatric conditions could contribute to refining current concepts of apathy and reevaluate its nosological classification as an independent clinical syndrome.

Methods: We assessed apathy and perceived quality of life in a group of 2751 adults (age 19-40 years) free from neuropsychiatric or medical conditions.

Souvenaid reduces behavioral deficits and improves social cognition skills in frontotemporal dementia: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: Souvenaid™ is a nutraceutical compound thought to positively enhance synaptic function. In line with this mechanism of action, Souvenaid™ has been shown to improve cognitive function in subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease in randomized clinical trials. To date, however, the potential of Souvenaid™ to improve cognitive functioning in subjects with other neurodegenerative conditions also characterized by synaptic loss has not been explored.

Duloxetine-bupropion combination for treatment-resistant atypical depression: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of combined bupropion versus placebo using duloxetine as active reference drug, in patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression with atypical features and a history of treatment resistance, were evaluated in this preliminary six-week study. Patients (n=46) had a baseline Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) ≥14 and were randomly assigned to 150/300 mg/day bupropion vs. placebo, which was added to 60 to 120 mg/day duloxetine depending on baseline depression severity.

Ziprasidone hydrocloride: what role in the management of schizophrenia?

Background: Since schizophrenia is considered one of the top ten causes of disease-related disability in the world, the development of second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics (SGAs) has increased the hopes of psychiatrists. SGAs, however, cannot be considered a unique pharmacological class since each SGA has many complex pharmacologic actions, only some of which are shared with other SGAs. Even though manyantipsychotics have similar efficacy on average, prescribers may be able to achieve better than average results by considering differences in selecting a specific drug for a specific patient.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders: a comprehensive survey.

Our aim was to present a comprehensive, updated survey on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive related disorders (OCRDs) and their clinical management via literature review, critical analysis and synthesis. Information on OCD and OCRD current nosography, clinical phenomenology and etiology, may lead to a better comprehension of their management. Clinicians should become familiar with the broad spectrum of OCD disorders, since it is a pivotal issue in current clinical psychiatry.

Aripiprazole augmentation in poor insight obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case report.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with a relevant impairment in social and interpersonal functioning and severe disability. This seems to be particularly true for the poor insight subtype, characterised by a lack of consciousness of illness and, consequently, compliance with treatment. Poor responsiveness to serotonergic drugs in poor insight obsessive-compulsive patients may also require an augmentation therapy with atypical antipsychotics.

Maternal attitudes and attachment styles in mothers of obese children.

This study evaluated categories of attachment style and the maternal attitude toward educational role in a sample of 30 mothers of obese children and a control group of 80 mothers of children of normal weight. All mothers completed the 1994 Attachment Style Questionnaire and the 1958 Parental Attitude Research Instrument. 30 mothers (M age 37.