Finite element analysis shows minimal stability difference between individualized mini-hemilaminectomy-corpectomy and partial lateral corpectomy in a dog model.

Objective: Use finite element analysis to evaluate the biomechanical effects of spinal decompression procedures in healthy Beagle dogs, comparing individualized mini-hemilaminectomy-corpectomy (iMHC), mini-hemilaminectomy, partial lateral corpectomy (PLC), and hemilaminectomy.

Methods: A finite element model of the L1-L2 functional spinal unit was generated using CT data. For each decompression model, loads were applied in 0.

Vertebral fixation does not affect recovery or recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc herniation in small dogs (< 15 kg).

Objective: To compare the prognosis of small dogs with cervical intervertebral disc herniation (C-IVDH) when treated with ventral slot decompression (VSD) alone or with concomitant vertebral fixation (VF).

Animals: Small dogs (n = 303) weighing < 15 kg diagnosed with C-IVDH and treated with VSD.

Procedures: We recorded signalment, cervical myelopathy grade, surgical site, use of VF, degree of adjacent disc degeneration, recovery, recurrence, recurrence site, and postoperative course, including the time elapsed from recovery to recurrence.

Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula in 3 cats.

Three young adult cats with intermittent spinal hyperesthesia and paraparesis and diagnosed with spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula are described. In all 3 cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed focal dilatation of the veins in the epidural space of the thoracic spinal cord, whereas computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed dilatation and enhancement from the intercostal vein to the azygos vein at the same site in the arterial phase. Dorsal laminectomy and occlusion of the interarcuate branches running across the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord were performed in all 3 cats to decompress the spinal cord, which resulted in a remission of clinical signs and no recurrence during 14 to 40 months of follow-up after surgery in all cases.

Influence of ventral fixation techniques on atlantoaxial joint fusion in canine models with dens partial resection.

We evaluated the completeness of bony fusion of the atlantoaxial joint (AAJ) through polymethylmethacrylate fixation (PMF) and atlantoaxial plate fixation (APF) using six canine models with dens partial resection. In both groups, the hydroxyapatite content at the AAJ was measured up to 7 months postoperatively using quantitative computed tomography. Histological assessment revealed fibrous fusion in the PMF group.

Effect of durotomy in dogs with thoracolumbar disc herniation and without deep pain perception in the hind limbs.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of durotomy as an adjunct to surgical decompression in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL-IVDH) and loss of deep pain perception (DPP) in the hind limbs.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 116) with TL-IVDH and loss of DPP treated with hemilaminectomy.

Establishment of the MID-NET medical information database network as a reliable and valuable database for drug safety assessments in Japan.

Purpose: To establish a new medical information database network (designated MID-NET ) to provide real-world data for drug safety assessments in Japan.

Methods: This network was designed and developed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in collaboration with 23 hospitals from 10 healthcare organizations across Japan. MID-NET is a distributed and closed network system that connects all collaborative organizations through a central data center.

Evaluation of atlantooccipital overlapping and cerebral ventricle size in dogs with atlantoaxial instability.

This study investigated cerebral ventricle size and concurrent craniocervical junction abnormality in relation to atlantooccipital overlapping (AOO) in dogs with atlantoaxial instability (AAI). A total of 61 dogs were treated with atlantoaxial ventral fixation. Medical records of each dog, including magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) images, were retrospectively reviewed.

Epidemiological and morphological characteristics of incomplete ossification of the dorsal neural arch of the atlas in dogs with atlantoaxial instability.

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively evaluate the epidemiological and morphological features and outcome of surgical treatment of incomplete ossification of the dorsal neural arch of the atlas (IODA) in dogs with atlantoaxial instability (AAI). ANIMALS 106 AAI-affected dogs that underwent ventral fixation of the atlantoaxial joint. PROCEDURES Medical records and CT images for each dog were reviewed.

Atlantooccipital overlapping and its effect on outcomes after ventral fixation in dogs with atlantoaxial instability.

We compared clinical outcomes after ventral fixation in dogs with atlantoaxial instability (AAI) on the basis of the presence or absence of atlantooccipital overlapping (AOO). Of 41 dogs diagnosed with AAI and treated ventral fixation, 12 exhibited AOO (AOO group), whereas 29 did not (non-AOO group). The AOO group had significantly higher neurological scores before (P=0.

Assessment of T2 Relaxation Times for Normal Canine Knee Articular Cartilage by T2 Mapping Using 1.5-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

 This study aims to assess and compare the T2 relaxation times for articular cartilage of normal canine stifle joints in four regions by T2 mapping using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).   prospective study: 20 hindlimbs (left and right) from 10 normal healthy beagle dogs ( = 20).

Evaluation of the dens-to-axis length ratio and dens angle in toy-breed dogs with and without atlantoaxial instability and in healthy Beagles.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare morphological characteristics of the dens in atlantoaxial instability (AAI)-predisposed toy-breed dogs (TBDs) with and without AAI and non-AAI-predisposed healthy Beagles. ANIMALS 80 AAI-affected and 40 nonaffected TBDs and 40 Beagles. PROCEDURES Each dog underwent CT examination of the cervical vertebral column.

Biomechanical evaluation of three ventral fixation methods for canine atlantoaxial instability: a cadaveric study.

Vol. 78, No. 12 (2016), The "received date" year in the manuscript was printed incorrectly.

Biomechanical evaluation of three ventral fixation methods for canine atlantoaxial instability: a cadaveric study.

We evaluated comparatively the mechanical strength in three kinds of surgical fixation techniques for canine atlantoaxial joint. Atlantoaxial plate fixation (APF), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) fixation (PMF) and transarticular fixation (TAF) were applied to the atlas and axis harvested from healthy beagle dogs, and then, the specimens were tested. The PMF group had significantly higher resistance to flexion than the APF group (P=0.

Functional dissection of siRNA sequence by systematic DNA substitution: modified siRNA with a DNA seed arm is a powerful tool for mammalian gene silencing with significantly reduced off-target effect.

Short interfering RNA (siRNA)-based RNA interference (RNAi) is widely used for target gene knockdown in mammalian cells. To clarify the position-dependent functions of ribonucleotides in siRNA, siRNAs with various DNA substitutions were constructed. The following could be simultaneously replaced with DNA without substantial loss of gene-silencing activity: the seed arm, which occupies positions 2-8 from the 5'end of the guide strand; its complementary sequence; the 5'end of the guide strand and the 3'overhang of the passenger strand.

Requirements of genetic interactions between Src42A, armadillo and shotgun, a gene encoding E-cadherin, for normal development in Drosophila.

Src42A is one of the two Src homologs in Drosophila. Src42A protein accumulates at sites of cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion. Anti-Engrailed antibody staining of Src42A protein-null mutant embryos indicated that Src42A is essential for proper cell-cell matching during dorsal closure.

Guidelines for the selection of highly effective siRNA sequences for mammalian and chick RNA interference.

In the present study, the relationship between short interfering RNA (siRNA) sequence and RNA interference (RNAi) effect was extensively analyzed using 62 targets of four exogenous and two endogenous genes and three mammalian and Drosophila cells. We present the rules that may govern siRNA sequence preference and in accordance with which highly effective siRNAs essential for systematic mammalian functional genomics can be readily designed. These rules indicate that siRNAs which simultaneously satisfy all four of the following sequence conditions are capable of inducing highly effective gene silencing in mammalian cells: (i) A/U at the 5' end of the antisense strand; (ii) G/C at the 5' end of the sense strand; (iii) at least five A/U residues in the 5' terminal one-third of the antisense strand; and (iv) the absence of any GC stretch of more than 9 nt in length.

Expression of DDAH1 in chick and rat embryos.

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) is an enzyme that metabolizes methylated arginine to citrulline and methylamine, thus working to produce nitric oxide (NO). We isolated a gene encoding chick DDAH1. In situ hybridization analysis revealed characteristic DDAH1 mRNA expression in the embryonic spinal cord, which was especially strong in the ventral horn and dorsal root ganglion (DRG).

The expression of SCDGF/PDGF-C/fallotein and SCDGF-B/PDGF-D in the rat central nervous system.

We examined the expression patterns of the two homologous genes, spinal cord-derived growth factor (SCDGF)/platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-C/fallotein and SCDGF-B/PDGF-D in the rat central nervous system. In the spinal cord, SCDGF/PDGF-C/fallotein was expressed in the floor plate at embryonic day (E) 11 and also in the ventricular zone at E16 but not in adult. However, SCDGF-B/PDGF-D was prominently expressed in the adult motoneurons, although faint expression was observed in the ventral ventricular zone at E16.