Natasha Olby - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Natasha Olby

Research paper thumbnail of Neuroimaging

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology

Research paper thumbnail of Traumatic skull fractures in dogs and cats: A comparative analysis of neurological and computed tomographic features

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2020

Background Traumatic skull fractures (TSF) are relatively frequent in dogs and cats, but little i... more Background Traumatic skull fractures (TSF) are relatively frequent in dogs and cats, but little information is available regarding their clinical and imaging features. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe the neurological and computed tomographic (CT) features of a large cohort of dogs and cats with TSF. Animals Ninety‐one dogs and 95 cats with TSF identified on CT. Methods Multicenter retrospective comparative study. Signalment, cause of trauma, fracture locations and characteristics, presence of neurological deficits, and 1‐week survival were recorded. Fractures were classified according to the extent of fragmentation and displacement. Results The cranial vault was affected more frequently in dogs (P = .003), whereas the face and base of the cranium more often was affected in cats (P < .001). Cats presented with multiple fractures more frequently (P < .001). All animals with TSF in the cranial vault were more likely to develop neurological signs (P = .02), especially when depre...

Research paper thumbnail of Canine junctional epidermolysis bullosa due to a novel mutation in LAMA3 with severe upper respiratory involvement

Veterinary dermatology, 2021

BACKGROUND Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a group of congenital blistering skin diseas... more BACKGROUND Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a group of congenital blistering skin diseases characterized by clefting through the lamina lucida of the basement membrane zone. OBJECTIVES To characterize the clinical and morphological features of a congenital mechanobullous disease in a litter of puppies with severe upper respiratory involvement, and to identify an associated genetic variant. ANIMALS Five of eight puppies in an Australian cattle dog cross-bred litter showed signs of skin fragility. Three were stillborn and one died at one month of age. The two surviving puppies were presented with blistering skin disease and severe respiratory distress. Additionally, one unaffected sibling was examined and blood was obtained for genetic testing. METHODS AND MATERIALS Post-mortem examination, histopathological evaluation and electron microscopy were performed. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of one affected puppy was compared to a database of 522 dogs of 55 different breeds for v...

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular genetic and expression analysis of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein mRNA in German shepherd dogs with degenerative myelopathy

Berliner und Munchener tierarztliche Wochenschrift, 2003

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder of the spinal cord preferenti... more Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder of the spinal cord preferentially occurring in German shepherd dogs. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown. However, there are indications that vitamin E deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of DM. Therefore, we analyzed the expression and the nucleotide sequence of the canine alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha Ttp) of German shepherd dogs with DM in order to determine whether a deficiency or a defect of the alpha Ttp could be a primary factor in the pathogenesis of DM, as found in human patients with Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). The cDNA of the coding region of the canine alpha Ttp-mRNA was generated from total liver RNA using RT-PCR and 5' RACE technique. We determined the sequence of 707 out of 834 base pairs or 84.8% of the canine alpha Ttp coding region. Sequence comparison of canine alpha Ttp between affected and control dogs revealed no differences in either nucleotide or ...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison ofregionalge nee xpression differencesint he brains ofthe domestic doga ndh uman

Comparison ofthe expression profileso f2,721 genesint he cerebellum,c ortexandpituitary glandofth... more Comparison ofthe expression profileso f2,721 genesint he cerebellum,c ortexandpituitary glandofthree AmericanStafford shire terriers,oneb eaglea ndonef ox houndrevealed regionalexpressi on differencesint he brainbut failed to revealm arke dd ifferencesamong breeds,or evenindividualdo gs. Approximately 85 percent (42o f4 9o rthologuec omparisons) ofthe regionaldifferen cesint he dog aresimilart ot hosethatdifferen tiatethe analogous humanbrainr egions. Asmallerp ercentage ofh umandifferencesw erereplicated int he dog, particularly int he cortex,which maygenerally be evolvingmorerapidly thano therbrainr egions inm ammals. Thiss tudyl ays the foundation for detailed analysiso fthe population structureoftrans criptionalv ariation asitr elatest ocognitivea ndneur ologicalp henotypes int he domestic dog.

Research paper thumbnail of Genetics of Hereditary Ataxia in Scottish Terriers

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Background: Scottish Terriers have a high incidence of juvenile onset hereditary ataxia primarily... more Background: Scottish Terriers have a high incidence of juvenile onset hereditary ataxia primarily affecting the Purkinje neuron of the cerebellar cortex and causing slowly progressive cerebellar dysfunction. Objective: To identify chromosomal regions associated with hereditary ataxia in Scottish Terriers. Animals: One hundred and fifty-three Scottish Terriers were recruited through the Scottish Terrier Club of America. Materials and Methods: Prospective study. Dogs were classified as affected if they had slowly progressive cerebellar signs. When possible, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological evaluation of the brain were completed as diagnostic aids. To identify genomic regions connected with the disease, genome-wide mapping was performed using both linkage-and association-based approaches. Pedigree evaluation and homozygosity mapping were also performed to examine mode of inheritance and to investigate the region of interest, respectively. Results: Linkage and genome-wide association studies in a cohort of Scottish Terriers both identified a region on CFA X strongly associated with the disease trait. Homozygosity mapping revealed a 4 Mb region of interest. Pedigree evaluation failed to identify the possible mode of inheritance due to the lack of complete litter information. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: This finding suggests that further genetic investigation of the potential region of interest on CFA X should be considered in order to identify the causal mutation as well as develop a genetic test to eliminate the disease from this breed.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Cranberry Extract on the Frequency of Bacteriuria in Dogs with Acute Thoracolumbar Disk Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Background: Dogs with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of developing bacteriuria due to i... more Background: Dogs with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of developing bacteriuria due to increased residual urine volume. Cranberry extract inhibits binding of E. coli to uroepithelial cells, potentially reducing risk of bacteriuria. Hypothesis: Cranberry extract reduces risk of bacteriuria in dogs after acute TL-IVDH. Animals: Client-owned dogs with acute onset TL-IVDH causing nonambulatory status. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, prospective clinical trial. Dogs with acute TL-IVDH were recruited 48 hours postoperatively and randomized to receive cranberry extract or placebo in a masked fashion. Urine cultures and neurological examinations were performed 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively. The number of dogs with bacteriuria (all bacterial species) and bacteriuria (E. coli) were primary and secondary outcome measures and were evaluated using chi-squared test. Urine antiadhesion activity (AAA) was measured in a subset (N = 47) and examined in a secondary analysis evaluating additional risk factors for bacteriuria. Results: Bacteriuria was detected 17 times in 94 dogs (6 placebo, 11 cranberry, P = .12). There were 7 E. coli. positive cultures (1 placebo, 6 cranberry, P = .09). Dogs in both groups had positive urine AAA (14/21: placebo, 16/26: cranberry), and dogs with urine AAA had significantly fewer E. coli positive cultures (n = 1) than dogs without it (n = 4) (P = .047). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: This clinical trial did not show a benefit of oral cranberry extract but had low power. Cranberry extract supplementation did not impact urine AAA, but a possible association between urine AAA and lower risk of E. coli bacteriuria was identified. Other doses could be investigated.

Research paper thumbnail of Quantifying center of pressure variability in chondrodystrophoid dogs

The Veterinary Journal

The center of pressure (COP) position reflects a combination of proprioceptive, motor and mechani... more The center of pressure (COP) position reflects a combination of proprioceptive, motor and mechanical function. As such, it can be used to quantify and characterize neurologic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the movement of COP and its variability in healthy chondrodystrophoid dogs while walking to provide a baseline for comparison to dogs with spinal cord injury due to acute intervertebral disc herniations. Fifteen healthy adult chondrodystrophoid dogs were walked on an instrumented treadmill that recorded the location of each dog's COP as it walked. Center of pressure (COP) was referenced from an anatomical marker on the dogs' back. The root mean squared (RMS) values of changes in COP location in the sagittal (y) and horizontal (x) directions were calculated to determine the range of COP variability. Three dogs would not walk on the treadmill. One dog was too small to collect interpretable data. From the remaining 11 dogs, 206 trials were analyzed. Mean RMS for change in COPx per trial was 0.0138 (standard deviation, SD 0.0047) and for COPy was 0.0185 (SD 0.0071). Walking speed but not limb length had a significant effect on COP RMS. Repeat measurements in six dogs had high test retest consistency in the x and fair consistency in the y direction. In conclusion, COP variability can be measured consistently in dogs, and a range of COP variability for normal chondrodystrophoid dogs has been determined to provide a baseline for future studies on dogs with spinal cord injury.

Research paper thumbnail of Comprar Manual de neurología en pequeños animales | Olby, Natasha | 9788487736674 | Ediciones S

Http Www Libreriasaulamedica Com, 2008

Tienda online donde Comprar Manual de neurologia en pequenos animales al precio 30,29 € de Olby, ... more Tienda online donde Comprar Manual de neurologia en pequenos animales al precio 30,29 € de Olby, Natasha | Platt, Simon, tienda de Libros de Medicina, Libros de Veterinaria - Pequenos animales

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical and Thermal Sensory Testing in Normal Chondrodystrophoid Dogs and Dogs with Spinal Cord Injury caused by Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniations

Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2016

Intervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) causing paralysis an... more Intervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) causing paralysis and sensory loss. Little quantitative information is available on the loss and recovery of sensation in dogs with SCI. To determine whether quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to establish thermal and mechanical sensory thresholds in chrondrodystrophoid dogs and compare thresholds among normal dogs and dogs with different grades of SCI. Thirty-three client-owned chondrodystrophoid dogs: 15 normal and 18 SCI dogs. Thermal testing was performed by placing a hot (49°C) and cold (5°C) probe on the dorsal metatarsus and mechanical thresholds were tested using calibrated forceps to apply force to the lateral digit. Stimuli were applied until acknowledged, and response rate, latency, and force applied to response were recorded. Test-retest repeatability was determined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients. Response rates were compared using logistic regression and threshol...

Research paper thumbnail of A CTSA One Health Alliance (COHA) survey of clinical trial infrastructure in North American veterinary institutions

BMC Veterinary Research, 2021

While a necessary step toward enhancing rigor and reproducibility of veterinary clinical trials c... more While a necessary step toward enhancing rigor and reproducibility of veterinary clinical trials conducted on the translational spectrum includes understanding the current state of the field, no broad assessment of existing veterinary clinical trial resources has been previously conducted. Funded by a CTSA One Health Alliance (COHA) pilot award, the goal of this project was to conduct an electronic survey of North American Veterinary Colleges regarding practices in veterinary clinical trial review, approval, conduct, and support in order to identify opportunities to leverage existing resources and develop new ones to enhance the impact of veterinary and translational health research. A total of 30 institutions were invited to participate in the survey and the survey response rate was 73 %. The most common source of funding noted for veterinary clinical research was industry (33 %); however, respondents reported that only 5 % (3.7–11.0) of studies were FDA-regulated. Respondents indic...

Research paper thumbnail of Long‐term postoperative pain evaluation in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation after hemilaminectomy

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Gait Assessment Scales in Dogs with Spinal Cord Injury due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Research paper thumbnail of Minimally invasive microsurgical decompression of an intervertebral disc protrusion in a dog

Research paper thumbnail of Development of an International Canine Spinal Cord Injury observational registry: a collaborative data-sharing network to optimize translational studies of SCI

Spinal cord, Jul 23, 2018

Prospective cross-sectional cohort study. The canine spontaneous model of spinal cord injury (SCI... more Prospective cross-sectional cohort study. The canine spontaneous model of spinal cord injury (SCI) is as an important pre-clinical platform as it recapitulates key facets of human injury in a naturally occurring context. The establishment of an observational canine SCI registry constitutes a key step in performing epidemiologic studies and assessing the impact of therapeutic strategies to enhance translational research. Further, accumulating information on dogs with SCI may contribute to current "big data" approaches to enhance understanding of the disease using heterogeneous multi-institutional, multi-species datasets from both pre-clinical and human studies. Multiple veterinary academic institutions across the United States and Europe. Common data elements recommended for experimental and human SCI studies were reviewed and adapted for use in a web-based registry, to which all dogs presenting to member veterinary tertiary care facilities were prospectively entered over ~...

Research paper thumbnail of The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields on Post-Operative Pain and Locomotor Recovery in Dogs with Acute, Severe Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Extrusion: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Prospective Clinical Trial

Journal of neurotrauma, Jan 2, 2018

Spinal cord injury (SCI) attributed to acute intervertebral disc extrusions (IVDEs) is common in ... more Spinal cord injury (SCI) attributed to acute intervertebral disc extrusions (IVDEs) is common in dogs and is treated by surgical decompression. Dogs with sensorimotor complete injuries have an incomplete recovery. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) reduce post-operative pain through anti-inflammatory effects and there is growing evidence for neuroprotective effects. This randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluated the effect of PEMF on post-operative pain and neurological recovery in dogs with surgically treated sensorimotor complete SCI attributed to acute IVDE. Sixteen dogs with surgically treated complete thoracolumbar SCI were randomized to receive PEMF (15 min every 2 h for 2 weeks then twice-daily for 4 weeks) or placebo starting immediately after diagnosis. The primary outcome was gait score at 2 weeks. Secondary measures of gait, pain perception, and proprioceptive function were evaluated at 2 and 6 weeks. Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) concentration wa...

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Lesion Severity Characterized by Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Motor Function in Chronic Canine Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of neurotrauma, 2018

Lesion heterogeneity among chronically paralyzed dogs after acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal ... more Lesion heterogeneity among chronically paralyzed dogs after acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) is poorly described. We hypothesized that lesion severity quantified by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is associated with hindlimb motor function. Our objectives were to quantify lesion severity with fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and tractography and investigate associations with motor function. Twenty-two dogs with complete TLSCI in the chronic stage were enrolled and compared with six control dogs. All underwent thoracolumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with DTI and gait analysis. FA and MD were calculated on regions of interest (ROI) at the lesion epicenter and cranial and caudal to the visible lesion on conventional MRI and in corresponding ROI in controls. Tractography was performed to detect translesional fibers. Gait was quantified using an ordinal scale (OFS). FA and MD values were compared between cases and controls, and relationship...

Research paper thumbnail of Translational Pharmacologic Efficacy Studies of Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2) in Spinal Cord Injury Models and in the Veterinary Clinical Setting

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per res... more Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Spinal Cord Injury, Glial Growth Factor 2, GGF2 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 90 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Trans-Lesional Conduction, Motor Neuron Pool Excitability, and Motor Function in Dogs with Incomplete Recovery from Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of neurotrauma, Jan 16, 2017

Spontaneous, acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TL-SCI) in dogs frequently results... more Spontaneous, acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TL-SCI) in dogs frequently results in permanent deficits modeling chronic paralysis in people. Recovery of walking without recovery of sensation has been interpreted in dogs as reflexive spinal walking. To evaluate this assumption, this study characterized the electrophysiological status of motor and sensory long tracts and local reflex circuitry in dogs with absent recovery of sensation after acute TL-SCI and correlated findings to gait scores. Twenty dogs with permanent deficits after acute, clinically complete TL-SCI and 6 normal dogs were prospectively enrolled. Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (MEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), H-reflex, and F-waves were evaluated. Gait was quantified using an ordinal, open field scale (OFS) and treadmill-based stepping and coordination scores (SS, RI). MEP latency and H-reflex variables were compared between cases and controls. Associations between presen...

Research paper thumbnail of Generation of Putative Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) from Adult Canine Fibroblast

Biology of Reproduction, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Neuroimaging

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology

Research paper thumbnail of Traumatic skull fractures in dogs and cats: A comparative analysis of neurological and computed tomographic features

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2020

Background Traumatic skull fractures (TSF) are relatively frequent in dogs and cats, but little i... more Background Traumatic skull fractures (TSF) are relatively frequent in dogs and cats, but little information is available regarding their clinical and imaging features. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe the neurological and computed tomographic (CT) features of a large cohort of dogs and cats with TSF. Animals Ninety‐one dogs and 95 cats with TSF identified on CT. Methods Multicenter retrospective comparative study. Signalment, cause of trauma, fracture locations and characteristics, presence of neurological deficits, and 1‐week survival were recorded. Fractures were classified according to the extent of fragmentation and displacement. Results The cranial vault was affected more frequently in dogs (P = .003), whereas the face and base of the cranium more often was affected in cats (P < .001). Cats presented with multiple fractures more frequently (P < .001). All animals with TSF in the cranial vault were more likely to develop neurological signs (P = .02), especially when depre...

Research paper thumbnail of Canine junctional epidermolysis bullosa due to a novel mutation in LAMA3 with severe upper respiratory involvement

Veterinary dermatology, 2021

BACKGROUND Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a group of congenital blistering skin diseas... more BACKGROUND Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a group of congenital blistering skin diseases characterized by clefting through the lamina lucida of the basement membrane zone. OBJECTIVES To characterize the clinical and morphological features of a congenital mechanobullous disease in a litter of puppies with severe upper respiratory involvement, and to identify an associated genetic variant. ANIMALS Five of eight puppies in an Australian cattle dog cross-bred litter showed signs of skin fragility. Three were stillborn and one died at one month of age. The two surviving puppies were presented with blistering skin disease and severe respiratory distress. Additionally, one unaffected sibling was examined and blood was obtained for genetic testing. METHODS AND MATERIALS Post-mortem examination, histopathological evaluation and electron microscopy were performed. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of one affected puppy was compared to a database of 522 dogs of 55 different breeds for v...

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular genetic and expression analysis of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein mRNA in German shepherd dogs with degenerative myelopathy

Berliner und Munchener tierarztliche Wochenschrift, 2003

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder of the spinal cord preferenti... more Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder of the spinal cord preferentially occurring in German shepherd dogs. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown. However, there are indications that vitamin E deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of DM. Therefore, we analyzed the expression and the nucleotide sequence of the canine alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha Ttp) of German shepherd dogs with DM in order to determine whether a deficiency or a defect of the alpha Ttp could be a primary factor in the pathogenesis of DM, as found in human patients with Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). The cDNA of the coding region of the canine alpha Ttp-mRNA was generated from total liver RNA using RT-PCR and 5' RACE technique. We determined the sequence of 707 out of 834 base pairs or 84.8% of the canine alpha Ttp coding region. Sequence comparison of canine alpha Ttp between affected and control dogs revealed no differences in either nucleotide or ...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison ofregionalge nee xpression differencesint he brains ofthe domestic doga ndh uman

Comparison ofthe expression profileso f2,721 genesint he cerebellum,c ortexandpituitary glandofth... more Comparison ofthe expression profileso f2,721 genesint he cerebellum,c ortexandpituitary glandofthree AmericanStafford shire terriers,oneb eaglea ndonef ox houndrevealed regionalexpressi on differencesint he brainbut failed to revealm arke dd ifferencesamong breeds,or evenindividualdo gs. Approximately 85 percent (42o f4 9o rthologuec omparisons) ofthe regionaldifferen cesint he dog aresimilart ot hosethatdifferen tiatethe analogous humanbrainr egions. Asmallerp ercentage ofh umandifferencesw erereplicated int he dog, particularly int he cortex,which maygenerally be evolvingmorerapidly thano therbrainr egions inm ammals. Thiss tudyl ays the foundation for detailed analysiso fthe population structureoftrans criptionalv ariation asitr elatest ocognitivea ndneur ologicalp henotypes int he domestic dog.

Research paper thumbnail of Genetics of Hereditary Ataxia in Scottish Terriers

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Background: Scottish Terriers have a high incidence of juvenile onset hereditary ataxia primarily... more Background: Scottish Terriers have a high incidence of juvenile onset hereditary ataxia primarily affecting the Purkinje neuron of the cerebellar cortex and causing slowly progressive cerebellar dysfunction. Objective: To identify chromosomal regions associated with hereditary ataxia in Scottish Terriers. Animals: One hundred and fifty-three Scottish Terriers were recruited through the Scottish Terrier Club of America. Materials and Methods: Prospective study. Dogs were classified as affected if they had slowly progressive cerebellar signs. When possible, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological evaluation of the brain were completed as diagnostic aids. To identify genomic regions connected with the disease, genome-wide mapping was performed using both linkage-and association-based approaches. Pedigree evaluation and homozygosity mapping were also performed to examine mode of inheritance and to investigate the region of interest, respectively. Results: Linkage and genome-wide association studies in a cohort of Scottish Terriers both identified a region on CFA X strongly associated with the disease trait. Homozygosity mapping revealed a 4 Mb region of interest. Pedigree evaluation failed to identify the possible mode of inheritance due to the lack of complete litter information. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: This finding suggests that further genetic investigation of the potential region of interest on CFA X should be considered in order to identify the causal mutation as well as develop a genetic test to eliminate the disease from this breed.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Cranberry Extract on the Frequency of Bacteriuria in Dogs with Acute Thoracolumbar Disk Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Background: Dogs with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of developing bacteriuria due to i... more Background: Dogs with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of developing bacteriuria due to increased residual urine volume. Cranberry extract inhibits binding of E. coli to uroepithelial cells, potentially reducing risk of bacteriuria. Hypothesis: Cranberry extract reduces risk of bacteriuria in dogs after acute TL-IVDH. Animals: Client-owned dogs with acute onset TL-IVDH causing nonambulatory status. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, prospective clinical trial. Dogs with acute TL-IVDH were recruited 48 hours postoperatively and randomized to receive cranberry extract or placebo in a masked fashion. Urine cultures and neurological examinations were performed 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively. The number of dogs with bacteriuria (all bacterial species) and bacteriuria (E. coli) were primary and secondary outcome measures and were evaluated using chi-squared test. Urine antiadhesion activity (AAA) was measured in a subset (N = 47) and examined in a secondary analysis evaluating additional risk factors for bacteriuria. Results: Bacteriuria was detected 17 times in 94 dogs (6 placebo, 11 cranberry, P = .12). There were 7 E. coli. positive cultures (1 placebo, 6 cranberry, P = .09). Dogs in both groups had positive urine AAA (14/21: placebo, 16/26: cranberry), and dogs with urine AAA had significantly fewer E. coli positive cultures (n = 1) than dogs without it (n = 4) (P = .047). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: This clinical trial did not show a benefit of oral cranberry extract but had low power. Cranberry extract supplementation did not impact urine AAA, but a possible association between urine AAA and lower risk of E. coli bacteriuria was identified. Other doses could be investigated.

Research paper thumbnail of Quantifying center of pressure variability in chondrodystrophoid dogs

The Veterinary Journal

The center of pressure (COP) position reflects a combination of proprioceptive, motor and mechani... more The center of pressure (COP) position reflects a combination of proprioceptive, motor and mechanical function. As such, it can be used to quantify and characterize neurologic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the movement of COP and its variability in healthy chondrodystrophoid dogs while walking to provide a baseline for comparison to dogs with spinal cord injury due to acute intervertebral disc herniations. Fifteen healthy adult chondrodystrophoid dogs were walked on an instrumented treadmill that recorded the location of each dog's COP as it walked. Center of pressure (COP) was referenced from an anatomical marker on the dogs' back. The root mean squared (RMS) values of changes in COP location in the sagittal (y) and horizontal (x) directions were calculated to determine the range of COP variability. Three dogs would not walk on the treadmill. One dog was too small to collect interpretable data. From the remaining 11 dogs, 206 trials were analyzed. Mean RMS for change in COPx per trial was 0.0138 (standard deviation, SD 0.0047) and for COPy was 0.0185 (SD 0.0071). Walking speed but not limb length had a significant effect on COP RMS. Repeat measurements in six dogs had high test retest consistency in the x and fair consistency in the y direction. In conclusion, COP variability can be measured consistently in dogs, and a range of COP variability for normal chondrodystrophoid dogs has been determined to provide a baseline for future studies on dogs with spinal cord injury.

Research paper thumbnail of Comprar Manual de neurología en pequeños animales | Olby, Natasha | 9788487736674 | Ediciones S

Http Www Libreriasaulamedica Com, 2008

Tienda online donde Comprar Manual de neurologia en pequenos animales al precio 30,29 € de Olby, ... more Tienda online donde Comprar Manual de neurologia en pequenos animales al precio 30,29 € de Olby, Natasha | Platt, Simon, tienda de Libros de Medicina, Libros de Veterinaria - Pequenos animales

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical and Thermal Sensory Testing in Normal Chondrodystrophoid Dogs and Dogs with Spinal Cord Injury caused by Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniations

Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2016

Intervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) causing paralysis an... more Intervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) causing paralysis and sensory loss. Little quantitative information is available on the loss and recovery of sensation in dogs with SCI. To determine whether quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to establish thermal and mechanical sensory thresholds in chrondrodystrophoid dogs and compare thresholds among normal dogs and dogs with different grades of SCI. Thirty-three client-owned chondrodystrophoid dogs: 15 normal and 18 SCI dogs. Thermal testing was performed by placing a hot (49°C) and cold (5°C) probe on the dorsal metatarsus and mechanical thresholds were tested using calibrated forceps to apply force to the lateral digit. Stimuli were applied until acknowledged, and response rate, latency, and force applied to response were recorded. Test-retest repeatability was determined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients. Response rates were compared using logistic regression and threshol...

Research paper thumbnail of A CTSA One Health Alliance (COHA) survey of clinical trial infrastructure in North American veterinary institutions

BMC Veterinary Research, 2021

While a necessary step toward enhancing rigor and reproducibility of veterinary clinical trials c... more While a necessary step toward enhancing rigor and reproducibility of veterinary clinical trials conducted on the translational spectrum includes understanding the current state of the field, no broad assessment of existing veterinary clinical trial resources has been previously conducted. Funded by a CTSA One Health Alliance (COHA) pilot award, the goal of this project was to conduct an electronic survey of North American Veterinary Colleges regarding practices in veterinary clinical trial review, approval, conduct, and support in order to identify opportunities to leverage existing resources and develop new ones to enhance the impact of veterinary and translational health research. A total of 30 institutions were invited to participate in the survey and the survey response rate was 73 %. The most common source of funding noted for veterinary clinical research was industry (33 %); however, respondents reported that only 5 % (3.7–11.0) of studies were FDA-regulated. Respondents indic...

Research paper thumbnail of Long‐term postoperative pain evaluation in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation after hemilaminectomy

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Gait Assessment Scales in Dogs with Spinal Cord Injury due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Research paper thumbnail of Minimally invasive microsurgical decompression of an intervertebral disc protrusion in a dog

Research paper thumbnail of Development of an International Canine Spinal Cord Injury observational registry: a collaborative data-sharing network to optimize translational studies of SCI

Spinal cord, Jul 23, 2018

Prospective cross-sectional cohort study. The canine spontaneous model of spinal cord injury (SCI... more Prospective cross-sectional cohort study. The canine spontaneous model of spinal cord injury (SCI) is as an important pre-clinical platform as it recapitulates key facets of human injury in a naturally occurring context. The establishment of an observational canine SCI registry constitutes a key step in performing epidemiologic studies and assessing the impact of therapeutic strategies to enhance translational research. Further, accumulating information on dogs with SCI may contribute to current "big data" approaches to enhance understanding of the disease using heterogeneous multi-institutional, multi-species datasets from both pre-clinical and human studies. Multiple veterinary academic institutions across the United States and Europe. Common data elements recommended for experimental and human SCI studies were reviewed and adapted for use in a web-based registry, to which all dogs presenting to member veterinary tertiary care facilities were prospectively entered over ~...

Research paper thumbnail of The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields on Post-Operative Pain and Locomotor Recovery in Dogs with Acute, Severe Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Extrusion: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Prospective Clinical Trial

Journal of neurotrauma, Jan 2, 2018

Spinal cord injury (SCI) attributed to acute intervertebral disc extrusions (IVDEs) is common in ... more Spinal cord injury (SCI) attributed to acute intervertebral disc extrusions (IVDEs) is common in dogs and is treated by surgical decompression. Dogs with sensorimotor complete injuries have an incomplete recovery. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) reduce post-operative pain through anti-inflammatory effects and there is growing evidence for neuroprotective effects. This randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluated the effect of PEMF on post-operative pain and neurological recovery in dogs with surgically treated sensorimotor complete SCI attributed to acute IVDE. Sixteen dogs with surgically treated complete thoracolumbar SCI were randomized to receive PEMF (15 min every 2 h for 2 weeks then twice-daily for 4 weeks) or placebo starting immediately after diagnosis. The primary outcome was gait score at 2 weeks. Secondary measures of gait, pain perception, and proprioceptive function were evaluated at 2 and 6 weeks. Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) concentration wa...

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Lesion Severity Characterized by Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Motor Function in Chronic Canine Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of neurotrauma, 2018

Lesion heterogeneity among chronically paralyzed dogs after acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal ... more Lesion heterogeneity among chronically paralyzed dogs after acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) is poorly described. We hypothesized that lesion severity quantified by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is associated with hindlimb motor function. Our objectives were to quantify lesion severity with fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and tractography and investigate associations with motor function. Twenty-two dogs with complete TLSCI in the chronic stage were enrolled and compared with six control dogs. All underwent thoracolumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with DTI and gait analysis. FA and MD were calculated on regions of interest (ROI) at the lesion epicenter and cranial and caudal to the visible lesion on conventional MRI and in corresponding ROI in controls. Tractography was performed to detect translesional fibers. Gait was quantified using an ordinal scale (OFS). FA and MD values were compared between cases and controls, and relationship...

Research paper thumbnail of Translational Pharmacologic Efficacy Studies of Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2) in Spinal Cord Injury Models and in the Veterinary Clinical Setting

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per res... more Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Spinal Cord Injury, Glial Growth Factor 2, GGF2 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 90 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship between Trans-Lesional Conduction, Motor Neuron Pool Excitability, and Motor Function in Dogs with Incomplete Recovery from Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of neurotrauma, Jan 16, 2017

Spontaneous, acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TL-SCI) in dogs frequently results... more Spontaneous, acute, complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TL-SCI) in dogs frequently results in permanent deficits modeling chronic paralysis in people. Recovery of walking without recovery of sensation has been interpreted in dogs as reflexive spinal walking. To evaluate this assumption, this study characterized the electrophysiological status of motor and sensory long tracts and local reflex circuitry in dogs with absent recovery of sensation after acute TL-SCI and correlated findings to gait scores. Twenty dogs with permanent deficits after acute, clinically complete TL-SCI and 6 normal dogs were prospectively enrolled. Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (MEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), H-reflex, and F-waves were evaluated. Gait was quantified using an ordinal, open field scale (OFS) and treadmill-based stepping and coordination scores (SS, RI). MEP latency and H-reflex variables were compared between cases and controls. Associations between presen...

Research paper thumbnail of Generation of Putative Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) from Adult Canine Fibroblast

Biology of Reproduction, 2011