scholarly journals Neurological disorder in two moose calves ( Alces alces L.) naturally infected with Elaphostrongylus alces

Rangifer ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margareta Steen ◽  
Lars Roepstorff
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neurological Disorder ◽  
Alces Alces ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Neurological Signs ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Eggs And Larvae

Two months old moose calves exhibiting neurological signs were videotaped, killed and necropsied. The parasite Elaphostrongylus alces (Steen et al 1989) was found epidurally along the meninges of the spinal cord, and in the muscle faciae of the thoracic and lumbar regions. Progressive inflammatory processes were present in the epineurium, perineurium and endoneurium. Accumulations of inflammatory cells, eosinophils, lymfocytes and macrophages, were found around eggs and larvae and frequently, around regional blood wessels. The neurological disturbances in the moose calves were pronounced, with locomotive abnormalities and ataxia. They showed weakness in the hindquarters, with uncoordinated and swaying movements of the hind legs. In addition, one of the calves was lame on the left forelimb. The muscles of the leg were visibly atrophic. The lesions produced by E. alces at the lumbar nerve roots and in the cauda equina are suggested to be the cause of the clinical signs observed.

Multiple hemangiomas (hemangiomatosis) of the cauda equina and spinal cord

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Roncaroli ◽  
Bernd W. Scheithauer ◽  
H. Gordon Deen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Conus Medullaris ◽  
Unique Case ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
History Of ◽  
Leg Weakness

✓ A case of multiple hemangiomas of the cauda equina nerve roots, conus medullaris, and lower spinal cord is described. The 74-year-old male patient presented with a 9-month history of progressive bilateral leg weakness. He had a history of lymphoma at the age of 39 years and renal cell carcinoma in his early 40s. Neither disease was evident at the time of this presentation. A magnetic resonance image revealed multiple enhancing nodules in the cauda equina region as well as on the pial surface of the lower thoracic spinal cord and conus medullaris. The patient underwent an L2–3 laminectomy. Cauda equina nerve roots were found to be studded with numerous purple nodules, the largest measuring 6 to 8 mm. The nodules were adherent to nerve roots from which they could not be resected. Two lesions were histologically examined and found to be capillary hemangiomas. Twelve months into an uneventful postoperative course, the patient is neurologically unchanged. This unique case might represent a distinct form of hemangiomatosis confined to the cauda equina nerve roots and spinal cord.

scholarly journals Cysticercose of the central nervous system: II. Spinal cysticercose

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedicto Oscar Colli ◽  
João Alberto Assirati Jr. ◽  
Hélio Rubens Machado ◽  
Fábio dos Santos ◽  
Osvaldo Massaiti Takayanagui
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Subarachnoid Space ◽  
Spinal Canal ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Inflammatory Reactions ◽  
Circulatory Insufficiency ◽  
Cerebral Cysticercosis ◽  
Clinical Pictures

The compromising of the spinal canal by cysticercus is considered infrequent, varying from 16 to 20% in relation to the brain involvement. In the spinal canal the cysticercus predominantly places in the subarachnoid space. Clinical signs in spinal cysticercosis can be caused by direct compression of the spinal cord/roots by cisticerci and by local or at distance inflammatory reactions (arachnoiditis). Another mechanism of lesion is degeneration of the spinal cord due to pachymeningitis or circulatory insufficiency. The most frequent clinical features are signs of spinal cord and/or cauda equina compression. The diagnosis of spinal cysticercosis is based on evidence of cerebral cysticercosis and on neuroradiological examinations (myelography and myelo-CT) that show signs of arachnoiditis and images of cysts in the subarachnoid space and sometimes, signs of intramedullary lesions, but the confirmation can only be made through immunological reactions in the CSF or during surgery. The clinical course of 10 patients with diagnosis of spinal cysticercosis observed among 182 patients submitted to surgical treatment due to this diasease are analyzed. The clinical pictures in all cases were signs of spinal cord or roots compression. All but two presented previously signs of brain cysticercosis. Neuroradiological examinations showed signs of arachnoiditis in 4 patients, images of cysts in the subarachnoid space in 5, and signs of arachnoiditis and images of cysts in one. The 6 patients that presented intraspinal cysts were submitted to exeresis of the cysts and 2 patients with total blockage of the spinal canal underwent surgery for diagnosis. The 2 remaining patients with arachnoiditis and blockge of the spinal canal were clinically treated. All of the six patients submitted to cyst exeresis had initial improvement but 4 of them later developed arachnoiditis and recurrence of the clinical signs and only 2 remained well for long-term. The 2 non operated patients had no improvement of their clinical signs. Two patients died later due to complications of cerebral cysticercosis. Based on the experience acquired in the management of these patients we indicate surgical treatment for patients that present free cyst in subarachnoid space. For those who present arachnoiditis, surgery is indicated only when there is doubt in the diagnosis. Intramedullary cysts should also be surgically treated.

scholarly journals Ultrastrutitural Pathology of an Inherited Lower Motor Neuron Disease of Pigs

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-237
Author(s):  
Donal O'Toole ◽  
Gerald Wells ◽  
James Ingram ◽  
William Cooley ◽  
Stephan Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Motor Neuron ◽  
Motor Neuron Disease ◽  
Peripheral Nerves ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Spinal Nerve ◽  
Spinal Nerve Roots ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Lumbar Spinal

The ultrastructural features of a recently described inherited lower motor neuron disease were studied in 5 affected pigs. Clinical signs comprised progressive ataxia and paresis of variable severity. Affected pigs, 6, 7, 15, 15, and 19 weeks of age, and 2 unrelated healthy pigs, 9 and 15 weeks of age, were anesthetized and their tissues were fixed by whole body perfusion with mixed aldehydes. From 1 or more affected pigs, samples of cervical and lumbar spinal ventral horn, lateral and ventral spinal columns, dorsal and ventral lumbar spinal nerve roots, 2 peripheral nerves (Nn. phrenicus and fibularis communis), and 2 skeletal muscles (Mm. diaphragma and tibialis cranialis) were examined ultrastructurally. There was widespread degeneration of myelinated axons in peripheral nerves and in lateral and ventral columns of lumbar and cervical segments of spinal cord. Axonal degeneration was present in ventral spinal nerve roots and was absent in dorsal spinal nerve roots sampled at the same lumbar levels. Unmyelinated axons in peripheral nerves and spinal nerve roots were unaffected. In 4 of 5 affected pigs, there were atrophic alpha motor neurons in cervical spinal cord that contained dense, round osmiophilic perikaryal inclusions up to 4 μm in diameter and round swollen mitochondria. Axonal regeneration was present in N. phrenicus of the 19-week-old affected pig that had clinical signs of longest duration (10 weeks). There was no morphologic evidence of axonal degeneration or spinal neuronal atrophy in either control pig. The ultrastructural features of this motor neuron disease distinguish it from other reported progressive spinal neuropathies of pigs.

Pharmacotherapy with 17β-estradiol and progesterone prevents development of mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Garay ◽  
Maria Claudia Gonzalez Deniselle ◽  
Lobke Gierman ◽  
Analia Lima ◽  
Paulina Roig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Proteolipid Protein ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Mouse Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune

Abstract: Pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) show disease remission in the third trimester concomitant with high circulating levels of sex steroids. Rodent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an accepted model for MS. Previous studies have shown that monotherapy with estrogens or progesterone exert beneficial effects on EAE. The aim of the present study was to determine if estrogen and progesterone cotherapy of C57BL/6 female mice provided substantial protection from EAE.: A group of mice received single pellets of progesterone (100 mg) and 17 β-estradiol (2.5 mg) subcutaneously 1 week before EAE induction, whereas another group were untreated before EAE induction. On day 16 we compared the two EAE groups and control mice in terms of clinical scores, spinal cord demyelination, expression of myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein, macrophage cell infiltration, neuronal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and protein, and the number of glial fribrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunopositive astrocytes.: Clinical signs of EAE were substantially attenuated by estrogen and progesterone treatment. Steroid cotherapy prevented spinal cord demyelination, infiltration of inflammatory cells and GFAP: Cotherapy with estrogen and progesterone inhibits the development of major neurochemical abnormalities and clinical signs of EAE. We suggest that a combination of neuroprotective, promyelinating and immuno-suppressive mechanisms are involved in these beneficial effects.

scholarly journals A METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF BRAIN, BRAIN STEM WITH SPINAL CORD AS ONE UNIT FROM HUMAN CADAVERS FOR ANATOMICAL STUDY AND MUSEUM PURPOSES

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhash Bhukya ◽  
Merlin R Thomas ◽  
Alok P Acharya ◽  
A Manitombi Devi ◽  
A Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Anatomical Study ◽  
Spinal Nerve ◽  
Posterior Arch ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Venous Sinuses ◽  
Human Cadavers ◽  
Museum Display

After successful embalming of the 05 human adult cadavers, removals of brain, brain stem with spinal cord were done as a single unit. The removal of bilateral laminectomy of vertebrae helps in viewing of spinal cord with its coverings and spinal nerve roots, dorsal root ganglion and cauda equina. It is followed by removal of vault of skull, squamous part of occipital bone and posterior arch of atlas, helps in viewing of brain, brain stem along with dural sheath and venous sinuses. This approach helps in total removal of brain, brain stem and spinal cord with its covering with large venous sinuses remaining intact however small venous sinuses are sacrificed in this process. The specimen thus obtained can be used for anatomical study and museum display. Keywords: Removal of brain, brain stem, spinal cord, anatomical study.

scholarly journals LESIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN VITAMIN DEFICIENCY

1933 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Toxic Substance ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Vagus Nerves ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Nervous Disease ◽  
Myelin Sheaths ◽  
Pyramidal Tracts

Under the conditions of these experiments, which consisted essentially of maintaining rats on a ration adequate in all dietary essentials as far as is known except vitamin A, the following changes were produced in the nervous system. 1. Degeneration of the medullary sheaths of the brachial plexuses and sciatic nerves, and less often of the vagus nerves. Such lesions were not found in the optic nerves. 2. Degeneration of the medullary sheaths of the sensory tracts on the periphery of the spinal cord and in the posterior columns. Much less frequently similar lesions were found in both the crossed and uncrossed pyramidal tracts. 3. Changes of the same nature in the posterior nerve roots and less frequently in the anterior nerve roots of the spinal cord. Evidence was adduced to indicate that the changes in the sensory tracts of the spinal cord followed those in the posterior nerve roots. With the onset of muscular weakness and incoordination in these animals anatomic changes like those just described were found at necropsy, but they were not present for any appreciable period preceding the onset of these clinical signs. For a short but undetermined period following clinical signs of recovery from the nervous disease, marked lesions were still present in the nervous system at necropsy. These lesions in the nervous system were produced by a ration containing no cereals which might have contributed a "toxic" substance to account for the degeneration of the myelin sheaths. Neither does a deficiency in unsaturated fatty acids appear to have played a rôle in their development.

scholarly journals Post mortem evaluation of spinal cord and protruded intervertebral discs in dogs without neurological abnormalities

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 1793-1799
Author(s):  
Carolina C. Zani ◽  
Paulo V.T. Marinho ◽  
Gabriel A.C. Diamante ◽  
Felipe A.R. Sueiro ◽  
Mônica V. Bahr Arias
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Nervous Tissue ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Lymphocytic Infiltration ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Histological Changes ◽  
Disc Protrusion ◽  
Neurological Signs ◽  
Neurological Abnormalities ◽  
Spinal Cord Segment

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to verify the presence of protrusion of the intervertebral disc (IVD) causing compression of the spinal cord and/or roots of cauda equina in 30 dogs above seven years of age with no evidence of previous neurological abnormalities. After the occurrence of death or euthanasia, a laminectomy was performed from C2 to the sacral vertebra to verify the presence of IVD protrusions. The protruded IVD were macroscopically graded according to the Thompson scale, and the corresponding spinal cord segment was histologically analyzed for nervous tissue compression. Of the 30 dogs, twelve (40%) presented disc protrusion, and of these 12 dogs, seven (58%) presented more than one protruded disc. Disc protrusion was observed in 3.2% (25/780) of all IVD evaluated. Of the six chondrodystrophic dogs, five (83%) presented disc protrusion. Of the 24 nonchondrodystrophic dogs, seven (29%) presented IVD protrusion. The site that showed the highest frequency of protrusion was L4-L5 (6/25) followed by the L6-L7 region (3/25) and C6-C7 (3/25). Only two of the medullary segments evaluated showed histological changes, with presence of focal lymphocytic infiltration and multifocal mild hemorrhage in the gray matter. Under the conditions of this study, 40% of dogs older than seven years old showed IVD protrusions without showing neurological signs, with no abnormality of the nervous tissue in 92% of the evaluated segments. Thus, the protrusion of the IVD in some dogs, can only be a finding of no clinical relevance.

Innervation of caudal denervated ventral roots and their target muscles by the rostral spinal motoneurons after implanting a nerve autograft in spinal cord—injured adult marmosets

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Liu ◽  
Nozar Aghakhani ◽  
Nazaire Boisset ◽  
Gérard Said ◽  
Marc Tadie
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Axonal Regrowth ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Ventral Roots ◽  
Nerve Autograft ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The authors conducted a study to determine the effects of using a nerve autograft (NAG) to promote and guide axonal regrowth from the rostral spinal cord to the caudal lumbar ventral nerve roots to restore hindlimb motor function in adult marmosets after lower thoracic cord injury. Methods. Nine animals underwent a left-sided hemisection of the spinal cord at T-12 via left-sided T9—L3 hemilaminectomy, with section of all ipsilateral lumbrosacral ventral nerve roots. In the experimental group (five animals), an NAG obtained from the right peroneal nerve was anastomosed with the sectioned and electrophysiologically selected lumbar ventral roots (left L-3 and L-4) controlling the left quadriceps muscle and then implanted into the left ventrolateral T-10 cord. In the control group (four animals), the sectioned/selected lumbar ventral roots were only ligated. After surgery, all marmosets immediately suffered from complete paralysis of their left hindlimb. Five months later, some clinical signs of reinnervation such as tension and resistance began to appear in the paralyzed quadriceps of all experimental animals that received autografts. Nine months postoperatively, three of the five experimental marmosets could maintain their lesioned hindlimb in hip flexion. Muscle action potentials and motor evoked potentials were recorded from the target quadriceps in all experimental marmosets, but these potentials were absent in the control animals. Horseradish peroxidase retrograde labeling from the distal sectioned/reconnected lumbar ventral roots traced 234 ± 178 labeled neurons in the ipsilateral T8–10 ventral horn, mainly close to the NAG tip. Histological analysis showed numerous regenerating axons in this denervated/reconnected nerve root pathway, as well as newly formed motor endplates in the denervated/reinnervated quadriceps. No axonal regeneration was detected in the control animals. Conclusions. These data indicate that the rostral spinal neurons can regrow into the caudal ventral roots through an NAG, thereby innervating the target muscle in adult marmosets after spinal cord injury.

scholarly journals Fulminant spinal cord compression caused by postradiation inflammatory pseudotumor with rapid response to steroids: case report

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 660-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence Verla ◽  
Jonathan G. Thomas ◽  
Vilmos Thomazy ◽  
Gregory N. Fuller ◽  
Aziz Shaibani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Inflammatory Pseudotumor ◽  
Benign Tumor ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Effects Of Radiation ◽  
Valuable Role

Radiation therapy continues to play an extremely valuable role in the treatment of malignancy. The effects of radiation therapy on normal tissue can present in a delayed fashion, resulting in localized damage with pseudomalignant transformation, producing a compressive effect on the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and the subsequent fibrotic response can result in the development of an inflammatory pseudotumor (benign tumor-like lesion) with subsequent mass effect. Herein, the authors present a rare case of inflammatory pseudotumor with fulminant cervicothoracic cord compression, developing 7 years after radiation therapy for breast cancer. The lesion recurred following resection but subsequently displayed complete and rapid resolution following steroid therapy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous studies have reported such an incident.

scholarly journals “Scan-negative” cauda equina syndrome: A prospective cohort study

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011154
Author(s):  
Ingrid Hoeritzauer ◽  
Alan Carson ◽  
Patrick Statham ◽  
Jalesh N. Panicker ◽  
Voula Granitsiotis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Neurological Disorder ◽  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Functional Neurological Disorder

Objective:To describe clinical features relevant to diagnosis, mechanism and aetiology in patients with ‘scan-negative’ cauda equina syndrome (CES).Methods:We carried out a prospective study of consecutive patients presenting with the clinical features of CES to a regional neurosurgery centre comprising semi-structured interview and questionnaires investigating presenting symptoms, neurological examination, psychiatric and functional disorder comorbidity, bladder/bowel/sexual function, distress and disability.Results:198 patients presented consecutively over 28 months. 47 were diagnosed with ‘scan-positive’ CES (mean age 48yrs, 43% female). 76 ‘mixed’ category patients had nerve root compression/displacement without CES compression, (mean age 46yrs, 71% female) and 61 patients had ‘scan-negative’ CES (mean age 40yrs, 77% female). An alternative neurological cause of CES emerged in 14/198 patients during admission and 4/151 patients with mean duration 25 months follow up.Patients with ‘scan-negative’ CES had more positive clinical signs of a functional neurological disorder (11%‘scan positive’ CES v. 34%mixed and 68%‘scan-negative’, p<0.0001), were more likely to describe their current back pain as ‘worst ever’ (41% vs. 46% and 70%, p=0.005) and have symptoms of a panic attack at onset (37% vs. 57% and 70%, p=0.001). Patients with ‘scan positive’ CES were more likely to have reduced/absent bilateral ankle jerks (78% ‘vs. 30% and 12%, p=<0.0001). There was no significant difference between groups in the frequency of reduced anal tone and urinary retention.Conclusions:The first well phenotyped, prospective study of ‘scan-negative’ CES supports a model in which acute pain, medication, and mechanisms overlapping with functional neurological disorder may be relevant.

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