Virtual Multiple Mini-Interviews for Veterinary Admissions.

Admissions teams are challenged to select the best applicants for their college. There is a growing emphasis on selecting applicants with personal attributes important for success in a variety of veterinary careers, but there is no clear consensus on how to best identify these individuals. A number of veterinary colleges are utilizing multiple mini-interviews (MMIs), a highly structured type of interview in this selection process.

Evaluation of endothelin-1 and MMPs-2, -9, -14 in cerebrospinal fluid as indirect indicators of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in chronic canine hypothyroidism.

Chronic canine hypothyroidism is associated with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. We hypothesized that this change is mediated by endothelin-1(ET-1) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -2, -9, and -14, as evidenced by increased concentrations of these proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compared to controls. CSF from 18 dogs, 9 controls and 9 with experimentally induced hypothyroidism was collected before and 6, 12, and 18 months after induction of hypothyroidism.

Beyond NAVMEC: competency-based veterinary education and assessment of the professional competencies.

The implementation of competency-based curricula within the health sciences has been an important paradigm shift over the past 30 years. As a result, one of the five strategic goals recommended by the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium (NAVMEC) report was to graduate career-ready veterinarians who are proficient in, and have the confidence to use, an agreed-upon set of core competencies. Of the nine competencies identified as essential for veterinary graduates, seven could be classified as professional or non-technical competencies: communication; collaboration; management (self, team, system); lifelong learning, scholarship, value of research; leadership; diversity and multicultural awareness; and adaptation to changing environments.

Longitudinal study of the effects of chronic hypothyroidism on skeletal muscle in dogs.

Objective: To study the effects of experimentally induced hypothyroidism on skeletal muscle and characterize any observed myopathic abnormalities in dogs.

Animals: 9 female, adult mixed-breed dogs; 6 with hypothyroidism induced with irradiation with 131 iodine and 3 untreated control dogs.

Procedures: Clinical examinations were performed monthly.

Clinical signs, risk factors, and outcomes associated with bromide toxicosis (bromism) in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

Objective: To evaluate clinical signs, risk factors, and outcomes associated with bromide toxicosis (bromism) in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy treated with potassium or sodium bromide.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Animals: 83 clinically ill epileptic dogs with (cases; n = 31) and without (controls; 52) bromism.

Assessment of the use of plasma and serum chloride concentrations as indirect predictors of serum bromide concentrations in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

Background: Bromide (BR) administration causes pseudohyperchloremia when plasma or serum chloride (Cl-) concentrations are determined with commonly available automated analytical assays. In humans receiving BR, it has been previously demonstrated that the plasma Cl- concentration is a useful indirect estimator of the measured BR concentration.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the magnitude of pseudohyperchloremia seen in epileptic dogs treated with BR could be used as a predictor of the measured serum BR concentration.

Cerebrospinal fluid from a 10-year-old dog with a single seizure episode.

A cerebrospinal fluid sample collected from the cerebellomedullary cistern of a 10-year-old Shetland Sheepdog with a recent history of seizures was submitted for fluid analysis and cytologic examination. Key findings included a total nucleated cell count of 520/microL (reference interval 0-5 cells/microL), with a predominance of mononuclear cells, a protein concentration of 51.8 mg/dL (reference interval 0-35 mg/dL), and a glucose concentration of 44.

The effects of epidural deracoxib on the ground reaction forces in an acute stifle synovitis model.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of epidurally administered deracoxib to mediate the signs of a sodium urate crystal-induced stifle synovitis in dogs, and to compare the efficacy of epidural versus subcutaneously administered deracoxib.

Study Design: Experimental, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled modified cross-over design.

Animals: Random source, adult, mixed breed dogs (n = 24; 14 males, 10 females).

Evaluation of the internal vertebral venous plexus, vertebral canal, dural sac, and vertebral body via nonselective computed tomographic venography in the cervical vertebral column in healthy dogs.

Objective: To evaluate nonselective computed tomographic (CT) venography for evaluating the cervical internal vertebral venous plexus (IVVP), define the diameter and area dimensions of the IVVP, and determine the relationship between dimensions of the cervical IVVP and other vertebral components in medium-sized dogs. Animals-6 healthy dogs that weighed 18 to 27 kg. Procedure-Helical CT scans were performed from C1 to C7 before and after IV injection of contrast medium (480 mg of iodine/kg) and a continuous infusion (240 mg of iodine/kg).

CT myelography of the thoraco-lumbar spine in 8 dogs with degenerative myelopathy.

CT myelography of the T11-L2 region was performed in 8 large-breed dogs with a clinical diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy (DM) and 3 large-breed dogs that were clinically normal. CT myelographic characteristics were recorded for each dog, at each disc level. Area measurements of the spinal cord, dural sac, vertebral canal, and vertebral body were recorded at 4 slice locations for each disc level.

A modified lateral approach to the canine cervical spine: procedural description and clinical application in 16 dogs with lateralized compressive myelopathy or radiculopathy.

Objective: To describe a modified lateral surgical approach to the cervical spine in dogs and evaluate clinical outcomes of dogs with neurologic disorders treated with this technique.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Sample Population: Sixteen dogs with lesions involving the cervical spine.

Bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome in dogs: 6 cases (1999-2004).

Objective: To determine clinical features, diagnostic imaging abnormalities, underlying disease, disease progression, and outcome in dogs with bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 6 dogs.

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a Labrador Retriever.

An 8-year-old Labrador Retriever with an 11-month history of progressive partial seizures and necropsy examination findings characteristic of the lamellar form of canine neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL) is presented. The clinical, light microscopic, and ultrastructural features of this case most closely resemble human adult-onset NCL (Kufs disease). This is the first report of NCL occurring in the Labrador Retriever breed.

Characterization of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in cerebrospinal fluid of clinically normal dogs.

Objective: To characterize matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in CSF of clinically normal dogs.

Sample Population: Samples of CSF collected from 23 dogs.

Procedure: Dogs were anesthetized, CSF samples were collected, and dogs were then euthanatized.

A new device for stereotactic CT-guided biopsy of the canine brain: design, construction, and needle placement accuracy.

An inexpensive device was created for computed tomographic (CT)-guided stereotactic biopsy of the canine brain. The accuracy of the device was tested using 16, formalin-perfused, canine head specimens. For each dog, a 6-inch biopsy needle was guided into pituitary gland and caudate nucleus targets.

A comparison of the cytologic and histologic features of meningiomas in four dogs.

The cytologic and histologic features of 2 intracranial and 2 spinal (extramedullary cervical) canine meningiomas were compared. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in 2 cases revealed mild, mixed cell pleocytosis, primarily composed of small lymphocytes and monocytoid cells, with a moderate increase in total protein concentration. Cytologic features suggestive of meningioma included cells with both epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics and a tendency towards cell clustering.

Dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy in a Labrador retriever.

Sex-linked muscular dystrophy associated with dystrophin deficiency has been reported in several breeds of dogs and is best characterized in the golden retriever. In this case report, a young, male Labrador retriever with dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy is presented. Clinical signs included generalized weakness, lingual hypertrophy, and dysphagia.

Use of computed tomographic densitometry to quantify contrast enhancement of compressive soft tissues in the canine lumbosacral vertebral canal.

Objectives: To evaluate computed tomography (CT) densitometry as a technique for quantifying contrast enhancement of compressive soft tissues in the canine lumbosacral vertebral canal and to determine whether the degree of contrast enhancement can be used to help predict tissue type or histopathologic characteristics.

Animals: 29 large breed dogs with lumbosacral stenosis.

Procedure: Contrast-enhanced CT of L5-S3 was performed by use of a previously described protocol.