Publications by authors named "Samantha Loeber"

Objective: To evaluate the radiation dose to personnel locations during simulated head and limb scans with a novel equine standing CT (sCT) system.

Methods: Measurements were made with the use of a helical fan beam sCT system (Equina; Asto CT Inc). Scatter radiation was measured in different positions in the sCT room to mimic the location of the control operator, horse handler, and lead rope handler during simulated equine head and limb imaging.

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MRI plays an integral role in the diagnosis of brain tumors in dogs and cats. Optimized image acquisition protocols in addition to a systematic approach to brain tumor evaluation on MRI using imaging characteristic interpretation criteria may allow for enhanced lesion detection, accurate presumptive diagnoses, and formulation of a prioritized differential diagnosis list.

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Extensive descriptions of MRI characteristics of canine and feline brain tumors allow for relatively accurate lesion detection, discrimination, and presumptive diagnosis on MRI. Ambiguous and overlapping MRI features between brain lesion and tumor as well as tumor types is a limitation that necessitates histopathology for final diagnosis, which is often not available antemortem. Non-invasive advanced diagnostic imaging techniques continue to be developed to enhance sensitivity and specificity for brain tumor diagnosis on MRI in dogs and cats.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates how effective digital radiographs (DR) and standing computed tomography (sCT) are in assessing the risk of condylar stress fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses, which can lead to catastrophic injuries.
  • - Four observers analyzed images of 31 horses, focusing on bone structure changes, and found that while both imaging methods had high specificity, the sensitivity for detecting structural changes was relatively low.
  • - Results indicated that sCT provided better repeatability and reliability for risk assessments compared to DR, particularly for identifying horses at high risk of injury.
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Objective: The aim of this study was to describe a technique for anastomosis of the thoracic duct (TD) to the azygos vein (AV) using a microvascular anastomotic coupler (MAC) device in feline cadavers. Our hypothesis was that a TD-AV lymphaticovenous anastomosis would be feasible in feline cadavers.

Study Design: Cadaveric study.

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Objective: To describe the technique for anastomosis of the caudal thoracic duct (TD) to the 10th or 11th intercostal vein (ICV) using a microvascular anastomotic coupler (MAC) device in dogs and assess patency of the anastomosis on days 0 and 30.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Sample Population: Six adult Beagle dogs.

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Exocrine pancreatic carcinomas are uncommon in dogs and cats, and diagnosis with diagnostic imaging can be challenging. This retrospective, multi-institutional, descriptive study was performed to evaluate the CT features of exocrine pancreatic carcinomas. The CT examinations of 18 dogs and 12 cats with exocrine pancreatic carcinomas diagnosed by cytology or histopathology were reviewed.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tarsal joint abnormalities, including calcaneal displacement and inflammation, were observed in aging male C57BL/6J mice, with a 1% occurrence rate starting around 20 weeks of age.
  • *The study evaluated physical and behavioral changes in affected mice, revealing higher frailty scores, reduced body weight, and altered weight distribution, indicating pain-related sensitivity.
  • *Morphine treatment seemed to alleviate pain symptoms, causing affected mice to perform similarly to unaffected ones, underscoring the need for further research on inbred mouse strains in disease studies.*
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Objective: This retrospective study aimed to measure rabbit laryngotracheal dimensions at different locations on computed tomography (CT), assess the relationship of these measurements with rabbit body weight, determine the most common narrowest measurement and assess its relationship with endotracheal tube (ETT) size and body weight.

Animals: 66 adult domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of different breeds and body weights.

Procedures: CT laryngotracheal luminal height, width, and cross-sectional area measurements were made at the rostral thyroid cartilage at the level of the arytenoids, caudal thyroid cartilage/rostral cricoid cartilage, caudal cricoid cartilage/cranial trachea, and trachea at the level of the fifth cervical vertebra.

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  • The emergence of the Omicron variant BA.2 has heightened worries about the reduced effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines and treatments due to its mutations, with BA.2 now dominant in many countries.
  • Research comparing the infectivity and pathogenicity of BA.2 to BA.1 in mice and hamsters found that both variants exhibit similar levels of infectivity but are less pathogenic than earlier SARS-CoV-2 strains.
  • Despite a significant decrease in neutralizing antibody response from COVID-19 survivors and vaccine recipients against BA.2, some therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs still show effectiveness in treating BA.2 infections in hamsters.
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A 14-week-old male unilaterally cryptorchid Clumber spaniel was presented for acute lethargy. Physical examination revealed abdominal pain, and a single testis was palpated in the scrotum. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) revealed a poorly vascularized, ovoid structure immediately caudal to the left kidney with scant regional peritoneal effusion.

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A 2-year-old male neutered Rat Terrier was presented for alopecia, recurrent urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence. Abdominal ultrasound and CT identified a thin, tubular, paired structure arising from the craniodorsal aspect of an enlarged, cystic prostate. An atypical uterus masculinus was initially suspected, however it was then identified that the patient had chronic exogenous estrogen exposure, and surgical resection and histopathology was consistent with an enlarged and inflamed vas deferens.

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The recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants possessing large numbers of mutations has raised concerns of decreased effectiveness of current vaccines, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and antiviral drugs for COVID-19 against these variants1,2. While the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, has become dominant in many countries, BA.

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In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Radiology.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Omicron variant B.1.1.529 has raised concerns about its ability to evade vaccine protection and therapeutic antibodies.
  • Research using mice and hamsters revealed that B.1.1.529 caused less severe respiratory infections compared to previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, even though it binds strongly to mouse ACE2.
  • The findings indicate a milder disease response in rodents infected with B.1.1.529, which aligns with some early clinical observations in humans.
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Despite the development and deployment of antibody and vaccine countermeasures, rapidly-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at key antigenic sites in the spike protein jeopardize their efficacy. The recent emergence of B.1.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of multiple mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with four variants of concern currently identified as potential threats.
  • - The B.1.617.2/Delta variant, linked to the COVID-19 surge in India during spring 2021, displays notably aggressive traits in infected hamsters.
  • - A specific mutation, P681R, in the spike protein of the B.1.617.2/Delta variant enhances its ability to infect and cause disease, indicating it plays a key role in the virus's increased pathogenicity.
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Case Description: A 3-year-old 17.5-kg (38.5-lb) mixed-breed dog was referred for evaluation because of nasal discharge, sneezing, and signs of nasal congestion of approximately 9 months' duration.

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Article Synopsis
  • The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for the virus's ability to infect hosts and trigger immune responses, particularly the production of antibodies.
  • A new variant called P.1, identified in Brazil, was studied in hamsters to assess its virulence and ability to evade immune responses compared to earlier strains.
  • Results showed that while P.1 replicates similarly to earlier strains, it may be antigenically distinct, as antibodies from previous infections were less effective against it, suggesting potential implications for vaccine efficacy.
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Clinical signs of liver lobe torsion in rabbits are often nonspecific and mimic those that are also generally detected with gastrointestinal stasis. Nonspecific clinical signs may result in pursuit of full-body imaging such as computed tomography (CT). The aim of this multicenter, retrospective, case series study was to describe CT findings of liver lobe torsion in a group of rabbits.

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Objective: To describe a technique for anastomosis of the thoracic duct (TD) to the 11th or 12th intercostal vein (ICV) using a microvascular anastomotic coupler (MAC) in the dog.

Study Design: Cadaveric study.

Animals: Eight beagles.

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At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2) was detected in Wuhan, China, that spread rapidly around the world, with severe consequences for human health and the global economy. Here, we assessed the replicative ability and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 isolates in Syrian hamsters. SARS-CoV-2 isolates replicated efficiently in the lungs of hamsters, causing severe pathological lung lesions following intranasal infection.

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