Shoulder magnetic resonance arthrography in dogs: Comparison of craniolateral and caudolateral approach for ultrasound-guided contrast injection.

Shoulder joint disease is a common cause of forelimb lameness in dogs. To diagnose this condition, shoulder magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) is performed, which involves the injection of contrast agents into the shoulder joint space under ultrasound (US)-guidance. The objective of this study was to compare the craniolateral and caudolateral approaches for shoulder MRA using US-guided injection techniques, and investigate their clinical feasibility in dogs. Forty shoulder joints from 10 adult beagles were studied in two repetitions. The craniolateral (n = 20) and caudolateral (n = 20) injection techniques were applied randomly under US-guidance. The shoulder MRA was conducted immediately after the contrast agents was injected. The procedure time (scan and injection time), number of attempts, joint distension and degree of extraarticular extravasation were recorded and compared between the two groups. The results showed that the caudolateral approach had significantly more contrast agents extravasation compared to the craniolateral approach (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of procedure time (scan time p = 0.80, injection time p = 0.74), number of attempts (p = 0.70) and joint distension (p = 0.23). The craniolateral approach of US-guided contrast injection techniques for shoulder MRA minimizes damage to the juxta-articular structures and reduces extraarticular extravasation, resulting in good-quality images. This study demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of the craniolateral approach under US-guidance for shoulder MRA in dogs.

Respiratory phase can affect pulmonary vein-to-pulmonary artery ratio measured with CT.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pulmonary vein (PV)-to-pulmonary artery (PA) ratios obtained in healthy dogs by means of various CT protocols, accounting for the effects of the respiratory phase and contrast agent used. ANIMALS: 10 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: Before and after contrast medium (600 mg iodine/kg) was injected IV, thoracic CT was performed with a positive-pressure breath-hold (inspiratory phase) and at the end of expiration (expiratory phase). After CT scanning, echocardiography was performed, and an optimized right parasternal long-axis view was obtained for measurement of PV and PA diameters. The PV and PA diameters were measured subsequently for each CT protocol. RESULTS: Mean ± SD PV:PA values obtained from pre- and postcontrast inspiratory CT were 1.058 ± 0.072 and 1.020 ± 0.053, respectively, which were comparable to the echocardiographic value (P > .05). Mean PV:PA values obtained with pre- and postcontrast expiratory CT were 1.259 ± 0.094 and 1.239 ± 0.066, respectively, which were significantly (P = .005) greater than inspiratory CT measurements. There was a significant (r > 0.5, P < .05) linear relationship between PV:PA values obtained with pre- and postcontrast inspiratory CT and echocardiography. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PV:PA could be measured with thoracic CT in a manner similar to that for echocardiography. However, PV:PA values measured with expiratory CT were different from previously reported values. Therefore, the respiratory phase should be considered when evaluating pulmonary vascular size through CT, and measurements with the inspiratory CT protocol would be more accurate.

Decrease in glucose transporter 1 levels and translocation of glucose transporter 3 in the dentate gyrus of C57BL/6 mice and gerbils with aging.

In the present study, we compared the cell-specific expression and changes protein levels in the glucose transporters (GLUTs) 1 and 3, the major GLUTs in the mouse and gerbil brains using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In both mouse and gerbils, GLUT1 immunoreactivity was mainly found in the blood vessels in the dentate gyrus, while GLUT3 immunoreactivity was detected in the subgranular zone and the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. GLUT1-immunoreactivity in blood vessels and GLUT1 protein levels were significantly decreased with age in the mice and gerbils, respectively. In addition, few GLUT3-immunoreactive cells were found in the subgranular zone in aged mice and gerbils, but GLUT3-immunoreactivity was abundantly found in the polymorphic layer of dentate gyrus in mice and gerbils with a dot-like pattern. Based on the double immunofluorescence study, GLUT3-immunoreactive structures in gerbils were localized in the glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive astrocytes in the dentate gyrus. Western blot analysis showed that GLUT3 expression in the hippocampal homogenates was slightly, although not significantly, decreased with age in mice and gerbils, respectively. These results indicate that the reduction in GLUT1 in the blood vessels of dentate gyrus and GLUT3 in the subgranular zone of dentate gyrus may be associated with the decrease in uptake of glucose into brain and neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus. In addition, the expression of GLUT3 in the astrocytes in polymorphic layer of dentate gyrus may be associated with metabolic changes in glucose in aged hippocampus.