MRI and clinical characteristics of suspected cerebrovascular accident in nine cats

Objectives Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) are infrequently reported in cats. To date, clinical characteristics, including lesion localisation and MRI findings, have only been reported in two cats. The aim of the current study is to document MRI findings in cats presenting with CVAs over an 11 year period. Cases were reviewed according to initial clinical presentation, subsequent physical and neurological findings, predisposing systemic disease and short- and long-term (when available) outcome with a view to identifying any typical pattern in disease occurrence. Methods Patient records of cats presenting to a single referral centre from January 2005 to September 2016 with acute onset, non-progressive (after 24 h) intracranial signs compatible with a CVA and where an MRI was performed within 72 h were retrospectively reviewed. Results Nine cats met the inclusion criteria. All cats had ischaemic CVAs (presumptively diagnosed in eight cats and confirmed in one cat following post-mortem examination). No cases of haemorrhagic CVAs were identified. Four cats presented with territorial infarcts that were confined to the territory of the rostral or caudal cerebellar arteries (n = 4). Lacunar infarcts were identified in five cats in the location of the cerebrum (n = 1), the thalamus/midbrain (n = 2) and the medulla oblongata (n = 2). Concurrent systemic disease was identified in most (n = 8/9). In the present study short-term prognosis was favourable and 8/9 cats survived to 48 h following admission. Conclusions and relevance CVAs in cats occur in the same vascular territories as in dogs and have similar MRI features. This study notes that the presenting cats had a high likelihood of concurrent disease (8/9 cases) but had a favourable short-term prognosis, if neither the clinical presentation nor concurrent disease were severe. </jats:sec

MRI and clinical resolution of a suspected intracranial toxoplasma granuloma with medical treatment in a domestic short hair cat

A two-year-old cat was presented with a left paradoxical vestibular syndrome. MRI of the brain revealed an extra-axial homogenously contrast enhancing mass in the region of the left caudal cerebellar peduncle. Toxoplasma serology was consistent with active infection and the lesion was suspected to be a toxoplasma granuloma. Following eight weeks of tapering oral prednisolone and 11 weeks of oral clindamycin treatment, repeat MRI revealed resolution of the lesion. Eighteen months after initial diagnosis, the cat remained neurologically normal. Differential diagnoses for a solitary, extra-axial, contrast enhancing mass lesion in the feline brain should include toxoplasma granuloma, which can undergo MRI and clinical resolution with medical treatment

The decays h+- -> W-+ h0(a0) within an extension of the MSSM with one complex Higgs triplet

The vertex H+-W-+h0, involving the gauge bosons W-+, the charged (H+-) and the lightest neutral (h0) Higgs bosons, arises within the context of many extensions of the SM, and it can be used to probe the Higgs sector of such extensions via the decay H+- -> W+- h0. We discuss the strength of this vertex for an extension of the MSSM with an additional complex Higgs triplet. By using this model, we find regions of the parameter space where the decay H+- -> W+- h0 is not only kinematically allowed, but it also becomes an important decay mode and in some cases the dominant one.Comment: 10 figure

Fabrication and characterization of large arrays of mesoscopic gold rings on large-aspect-ratio cantilevers

We have fabricated large arrays of mesoscopic metal rings on ultrasensitive cantilevers. The arrays are defined by electron beam lithography and contain up to $10^5$ rings. The rings have a circumference of 1 $\mu$m, and are made of ultrapure (6N) Au that is deposited onto a silicon-on-insulator wafer without an adhesion layer. Subsequent processing of the SOI wafer results in each array being supported at the end of a free-standing cantilever. To accommodate the large arrays while maintaining a low spring constant, the cantilevers are nearly 1 mm in both lateral dimensions and 100 nm thick. The extreme aspect ratio of the cantilevers, the large array size, and the absence of a sticking layer are intended to enable measurements of the rings' average persistent current $\langle I \rangle$ in the presence of relatively small magnetic fields. We describe the motivation for these measurements, the fabrication of the devices, and the characterization of the cantilevers' mechanical properties. We also discuss the devices' expected performance in measurements of $\langle I \rangle$.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Pseudobulges in Barred S0 Galaxies

We present preliminary results from an ongoing study of the bulges of S0 galaxies. We show that in a subsample of 14 barred S0 galaxies, fully half the photometrically defined bulges show kinematic signatures of "pseudobulges" -- that is, their kinematics are dominated by rotation. In four of these galaxies, we identify at least two subcomponents in the photometric bulge region: flatter, disk or bar components, assocated with disklike kinematics; and rounder "inner bulges,'' which appear to be hotter systems more like classical bulges.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure; to appear in "Penetrating Bars through Masks of Cosmic Dust: The Hubble Tuning Fork Strikes a New Note," eds. D. Block, K. Freeman, R. Groess, I. Puerari, and E.K. Block (Dordrecht: Kluwer

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of idiopathic oculomotor neuropathy in 14 dogs: Canine Idiopathic Oculomotor Neuropathy

Ophthalmoplegia/ophthalmoparesis (internal, external, or both) has been reported in dogs secondary to neoplasia affecting the oculomotor nerve and is usually given a poor prognosis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, management, outcome, and follow-up in a group of canine cases with idiopathic oculomotor neuropathy. Inclusion criteria included cases with ophthalmoplegia/ophthalmoparesis (internal, external or both) as sole neuroophthalmologic signs, complete ophthalmic and neurologic examination, head MRI, and a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. Dogs with progressive neurological signs not related to oculomotor neuropathy were excluded. Fourteen cases met the inclusion criteria. All cases were unilaterally affected. Magnetic resonance imaging showed equivocal enlargement of the oculomotor nerve in three cases, mild enlargement in five, and marked enlargement in six. Contrast enhancement was present in 12 cases, being marked in six. When present, the contrast enhancement was focal in eight cases and diffuse in four. The median follow-up time was 25 months. External ophthalmoparesis improved in seven cases, five cases under no treatment and two under systemic corticosteroid therapy. The clinical signs in the other seven cases remained unchanged. Idiopathic oculomotor neuropathy should be included as a differential diagnosis in dogs presenting with unilateral ophthalmoplegia/ophthalmoparesis (internal, external, or both) with the absence of other neurologic and ophthalmic signs, and with the MRI findings restricted to the oculomotor nerve. Idiopathic oculomotor neuropathy has a good prognosis as the clinical signs do not deteriorate and they can improve without treatment