Clinical reasoning in canine spinal disease: what combination of clinical information is useful?

Spinal disease in dogs is commonly encountered in veterinary practice. Numerous diseases may cause similar clinical signs and presenting histories. The study objective was to use statistical models to identify combinations of discrete parameters from the patient signalment, history and neurological examination that could suggest the most likely diagnoses with statistical significance. A retrospective study of 500 dogs referred to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals before June 2012 for the investigation of spinal disease was performed. Details regarding signalment, history, physical and neurological examinations, neuroanatomical localisation and imaging data were obtained. Univariate analyses of variables (breed, age, weight, onset, deterioration, pain, asymmetry, neuroanatomical localisation) were performed, and variables were retained in a multivariate logistic regression model if P<0.05. Leading diagnoses were intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE, n=149), intervertebral disc protrusion (n=149), ischaemic myelopathy (IM, n=48) and neoplasms (n=44). Multivariate logistic regression characterised IM and acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusions as the only peracute onset, non-progressive, non-painful and asymmetrical T3-L3 myelopathies. IVDE was most commonly characterised as acute onset, often deteriorating, painful and largely symmetrical T3-L3 myelopathy. This study suggests that most spinal diseases cause distinctive combinations of presenting clinical parameters (signalment, onset, deterioration, pain, asymmetry, neuroanatomical localisation). Taking particular account of these parameters may aid decision making in a clinical setting

Evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging guidelines for differentiation between thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusions and intervertebral disk protrusions in dogs

Four MRI variables have recently been suggested to be independently associated with a diagnosis of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion or protrusion. Midline intervertebral disk herniation, and partial intervertebral disk degeneration were associated with intervertebral disk protrusion, while presence of a single intervertebral disk herniation and disk material dispersed beyond the boundaries of the intervertebral disk space were associated with intervertebral disk extrusion. The aim of this retrospective, cross‐sectional study was to determine whether using these MRI variables improves differentiation between thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusions and protrusions. Eighty large breed dogs with surgically confirmed thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusions or protrusions were included. Randomized MRI studies were presented on two occasions to six blinded observers, which were divided into three experience categories. During the first assessment, observers made a presumptive diagnosis of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion or protrusion without guidelines. During the second assessment they were asked to make a presumptive diagnosis with the aid of guidelines. Agreement was evaluated by Kappa‐statistics. Diagnostic accuracy significantly improved from 70.8 to 79.6% and interobserver agreement for making a diagnosis of intervertebral disk extrusion or intervertebral disk protrusion improved from fair (κ = 0.27) to moderate (κ = 0.41) after using the proposed guidelines. Diagnostic accuracy was significantly influenced by degree of observer experience. Intraobserver agreement for the assessed variables ranged from fair to excellent and interobserver agreement ranged from fair to moderate. The results of this study suggest that the proposed imaging guidelines can aid in differentiating thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusions from protrusions

Nasca classification of hemivertebra in five dogs

<p/> <p>Five dogs, four small mixed breed and a Doberman Pinscher, presented in our clinic with hemivertebra. Complete physical, radiological and neurological examinations were done and the spinal deformities were characterized in accord with the Nasca classification used in human medicine. Two dogs had multiple hemivertebrae (round, oval or wedge-shaped: Type 3) in the thoracic region; one dog had an individual surplus half vertebral body (Type 1) plus a wedge-shaped hemivertebra (Type 2b) in the lumbar region; one dog had multiple hemivertebrae which were fused on one side (Type 4a) in the thoracic region; and one dog had a wedge-shaped hemivertebra (Type 2a) in the cervical region.</p

Interval between injection of contrast material and positive contrast cheliography affects accurate diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, surgical and diagnostic imaging findings in 11 cats and 3 dogs with suspected acute and chronic traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, and to compare the results of positive contrast cheliography (peritoneography) taken immediately and 5 min after the injection of contrast material. Thoracic and abdominal radiography, ultrasonography, and positive contrast cheliography of all animals were performed. Eight cases were considered as acute and six cases were considered chronic. The contrast images taken immediately after the injection of contrast material revealed the contrast material in the thoracic cavity in 8/8 acute trauma patients, but in none of the chronic cases. In 5/6 of these cases contrast material was seen in the thoracal cavity only in additional images taken after 5 min. One patient was diagnosed with PIP and excluded from the study. Twelve cases had complete resolution and one animal died during the early postoperative period. Our results suggest that positive contrast cheliography performed immediately after the injection of contrast material may not reveal chronic cases of diaphragmatic hernia and a second imaging (or imaging after 5 min) is indicated in order not to overlook chronic cases

Harnessing Self-Control and AI: Understanding ChatGPT&rsquo;s Impact on Academic Wellbeing

The rapid integration of generative AI, particularly ChatGPT, into academic settings has prompted urgent questions regarding its impact on students&rsquo; psychological and academic outcomes. Although generative AI holds considerable potential to transform educational practices, its effects on individual traits such as self-control and academic wellbeing remain insufficiently explored. This study addresses this gap through a sequential two-phase design. In the first phase, the ChatGPT Usage Scale was adapted and validated for a Turkish university student population (N = 413). Using confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory, the scale was confirmed as a psychometrically valid and reliable one-factor instrument. In the second phase, a separate sample (N = 449) was used to examine the relationships between ChatGPT usage, self-control, and academic wellbeing through a mediation model. The findings revealed that higher ChatGPT usage was significantly associated with lower levels of both self-control and academic wellbeing. Additionally, mediation analysis demonstrated that self-control partially mediates the negative relationship between ChatGPT usage and academic wellbeing. The study concludes that while generative AI tools are valuable, their integration into education presents a double-edged sword, highlighting the critical need to foster students&rsquo; self-regulatory skills to ensure they can harness these tools responsibly without compromising their academic and psychological health

Games for CHANGE: High School Students’ Learning Experiences and Motivation to Learn Climate Change Science through Educational Computer Games

The purpose of this study is to explore high school students’ perceptions of learning climate change science through educational computer games. Further, it is aimed to investigate what roles educational computer games play in motivating students to learn climate change science. A qualitative case research design is used in this research to better understand and describe how educational computer games influence students’ perceptions of learning the climate change science and what roles these games play in motivating them to learn climate change science in the learning environment. A purposefully selected a high school teacher and her eight students are the study participants. A series of student and teacher interviews are used as a main source of data. Both deductive and inductive approaches are used to analyze the data using Gee’s principles about how games teach and Keller’s ARCS Theory of Motivation Model. The analysis of the data revealed that the educational computer games increased the students’ perceptions of learning climate change science. The findings also showed that the games have different characteristics to improve the students’ perceptions to learn climate change science. Interactivity, providing different learning styles, role playing, challenging, creating a realistic environment, and providing visual experiences to learn were the specific characteristics of the games used in this study. In addition, the analysis of the data revealed that the educational computer games increased the students’ motivation to learn climate change science. The findings showed that the games play various roles in motivating the students to learn. These roles were creating an engaging, interesting, focused learning environment; providing real-world connections and worth knowing information; and presenting the content in a challenging, but a fun way