Made by DATEXIS (Data Science and Text-based Information Systems) at Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin
Deep Learning Technology: Sebastian Arnold, Betty van Aken, Paul Grundmann, Felix A. Gers and Alexander Löser. Learning Contextualized Document Representations for Healthcare Answer Retrieval. The Web Conference 2020 (WWW'20)
Funded by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; Grant: 01MD19013D, Smart-MD Project, Digital Technologies
Traditional diagnosis included radiographs. The vet may ask for a follow up radiograph with a barium marker to collect more data on digestion to aid in confirmation of PDD. A tissue sample is a more reliable method as well but invasive yet the only definitive diagnosis with live parrots.
The presence of avian bornaviruses may be detected in two ways: Testing fecal samples, cloanal swabs and blood for the presence of the virus or examining the bird's blood for ABV-specific antibodies by western blot or ELISA.
All tests give a percentage of false positives and false negatives so detection of ABV or antibody against it does not mean that PDD will follow. The disease does not follow a clear path of development or transmission.
MRI features can be suggestive of cortical hyper intensity and edema.
Differential diagnoses can be:
- Todd's paresis
- Stroke
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Metabolic disorders
- Inherited disorders such as mitochondrial myopathy
In pet rabbits, myxomatosis can be misdiagnosed as pasteurellosis, a bacterial infection which can be treated with antibiotics. By contrast, there is no treatment for rabbits suffering from myxomatosis, other than palliative care to ease the suffering of individual animals, and the treatment of secondary and opportunistic infections, in the hopes the treated animal will survive. In practice, the owner is often urged to euthanize the animal to end its suffering.
Screening tools for contact granulomas are not currently available. Diagnosis of contact granulomas require visualization using laryngoscopy, and may require further biopsy for differential diagnosis. A combination of symptoms and lifestyle factors may be linked with the development of a contact granuloma, however symptoms vary greatly by individual. Some lifestyle factors that have been linked with elevated risk of development of contact granulomas include frequent use of the voice, especially when in loud environments, and concurrent use of the voice with alcohol consumption (increasing risk of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms). Contact granuloma may also arise after intubation, and so following intubation, patients should be monitored if voice symptoms arise. Symptoms may or may not include hoarse voice, described as "huskiness" by some patients, "aching" in the throat related to increased effort to produce voice, and the feeling of having a lump in one's throat when swallowing. It is also possible to have no such symptoms, especially if the granuloma is small. A patient presenting with such symptoms or risk factors should therefore be referred for further visualization. It is therefore recommended to obtain a diagnosis from a doctor.
Various methods are used to diagnose contact granuloma which aid in differentiating it from other vocal fold pathology. Laryngoscopy can allow visualization of the suspected granuloma while also checking for signs of vocal abuse. Laryngoscopy, as well as an acoustic analysis of the voice, can help rule out vocal fold paresis as an underlying cause. Microscopic examination of the tissue can help determine that the lesion is benign rather than cancerous, as would be the case in contact granuloma. Other methods such as laryngeal electromyography and reflux testing can also be used to evaluate the function of the vocal folds and determine if laryngopharyngeal reflux is contributing to the pathology.
No known treatment for BPT currently exists. However, the condition it is self-limiting and resolves after about eighteen months.
In addition to evaluation of any symptoms and signs, various blood tests can be done:
- Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL)
- Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS)
- Rapid plasma reagin (RPR)
- Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA)
Also, it is important to test the cerebrospinal fluid for signs of syphilis.
Additional tests to look for problems with the nervous system may include the following:
- Cerebral angiogram
- Head CT scan
- Lumbar puncture ("spinal tap") to acquire a sample for cerebrospinal fluid analysis
- MRI scan of the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord
Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is a viral disease of goats caused by a lentivirus called caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. The disease is found worldwide.
Two syndromes of CAE occur. Adult goats develop a chronic progressive arthritis, whereas young goats develop a neurological syndrome, with signs of paresis or paralysis. Less commonly, mastitis or pneumonia may occur.
Infection is life-long, and it may be years before signs of the disease occur. The reason for the long (and variable) period of dormancy of the virus is not known.
In goats which develop arthritis, the joints become inflamed and swollen, and the goats will slowly lose condition. In some cases the goat will not be able to stand.
In goats which develop the neurological form of the disease, the onset of signs is gradual over several weeks. The hind legs are most often affected. The goat will be uncoordinated, and unable to place its feet properly, so that it "knuckles", that is, it stands with the front of its fetlock on the ground, rather than its hoof. The goat has increased difficulty standing and eventually is unable to stand.
The disease is spread to goat kids when they drink colostrum or milk from infected goats. Separating goat kids from infected goats, and feeding the kids with cow's milk, or pasteurized goat milk, will prevent infection. The disease can be spread from goat to goat via direct contact and body fluids, such as saliva. Blood testing goats for CAE virus before moving them into a new herd will prevent the spread of the disease.
There is no known cure. To prevent spread of the disease, infected animals are separated from non-infected goats, or culled.
MAV is not recognized as a distinct diagnostic entity. Lembert and Neuhauser propose criteria for definite and probable migraine-associated vertigo.
A diagnosis of "definite migraine-associated vertigo" includes a case history of:
- episodic vestibular symptoms of at least moderate severity;
- current or previous history of migraine according to the 2004 "International Classification of Headache Disorders";
- one of the following migrainous symptoms during two or more attacks of vertigo: migrainous headache, photophobia, phonophobia, visual or other auras; and
- other causes ruled out by appropriate investigations.
A diagnosis of "probable migraine-associated vertigo" includes a case history of episodic vestibular symptoms of at least moderate severity and one of the following:
- current or previous history of migraine according to the 2004 "International Classification of Headache Disorders";
- migrainous symptoms during vestibular symptoms;
- migraine precipitants of vertigo in more than 50% of attacks, such as food triggers, sleep irregularities, or hormonal change;
- response to migraine medications in more than 50% of attacks; and
- other causes ruled out by appropriate investigations.
Note that, in both of the above criteria, headache is not required to make the diagnosis of migraine-associated vertigo.
They add that, in patients with a clear-cut history, no vestibular tests are required. Other historical criteria which are helpful in making the diagnosis of migraine-associated vertigo are vertiginous symptoms throughout the patient’s entire life, a long history of motion intolerance, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, illusions of motion of the environment, and vertigo that awakens the patient.
Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) is a disease affecting psittacines (parrots). It was first recognized and described in 1978 by Dr. Hannis L. Stoddard. Since the first reported cases were involving species of macaw, the condition was termed macaw wasting syndrome.
The procedure of diagnosis for Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome (CFS) is closely aligned with the diagnosis procedure for benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS). The differentiation between a diagnosis of BFS versus CFS is usually more severe and prominent pain, cramps and stiffness associated with CFS.
Treatment of migraine-associated vertigo is the same as the treatment for migraine in general.
Benign paroxysmal torticollis disappears in the early years of life with no medical intervention.
However, some cases of benign paroxysmal torticollis cases can evolve into benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, migrainous vertigo or typical migraines.
Diagnosis is achieved most commonly by serologic testing of the blood for the presence of antibodies against the ehrlichia organism. Many veterinarians routinely test for the disease, especially in enzootic areas. During the acute phase of infection, the test can be falsely negative because the body will not have had time to make antibodies to the infection. As such, the test should be repeated. A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test can be performed during this stage to detect genetic material of the bacteria. The PCR test is more likely to yield a negative result during the subclinical and chronic disease phases. In addition, blood tests may show abnormalities in the numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and most commonly platelets, if the disease is present. Uncommonly, a diagnosis can be made by looking under a microscope at a blood smear for the presence of the "ehrlichia" morulae, which sometimes can be seen as intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within a white blood cell.
Treatment is similar to treatment for benign fasciculation syndrome.
Carbamazepine therapy has been found to provide moderate reductions in symptoms.
Treatment usually consists of observation unless the patient has concern, there is pain, drainage, or other symptoms related to the lesion. Surgical removal of the affected gland would be recommended in those cases. Another treatment option would be aspiration, which can be repeated multiple times. This is commonly performed in those who are debilitated or in those whose benefit from surgery would be outweighed by the risks. Prognosis is usually good; rarely this condition may devolve into lymphoma, or could actually represent 'occult' lymphoma from the outset.
After its discovery in 1896 in imported rabbits in Uruguay, a relatively harmless strain of the disease spread quickly throughout the wild rabbit populations in South America.
There are many diagnostic methods that can be used to determine the type of salivary gland tumour and if it is benign or malignant. Examples of diagnostic methods include:
Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health. The head, neck, mouth, and throat will be checked for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Endoscopy: A procedure to look at organs and tissues inside the body to check for abnormal areas. For salivary gland cancer, an endoscope is inserted into the mouth to look at the mouth, throat, and larynx. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing.
MRI
Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer.
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: The removal of tissue or fluid using a thin needle. An FNA is the most common type of biopsy used for salivary gland cancer, and has been shown to produce accurate results when differentiating between benign and malignant tumours.
Radiographs: An OPG (orthopantomogram) can be taken to rule out mandibular involvement. A chest radiograph may also be taken to rule out any secondary tumours.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound can be used to initially assess a tumour that is located superficially in either the submandibular or parotid gland. It can distinguish an intrinsic from an extrinsic neoplasm. Ultrasonic images of malignant tumours include ill defined margins.
The prognosis is good for dogs with acute ehrlichiosis. For dogs that have reached the chronic stage of the disease, the prognosis is guarded. When bone marrow suppression occurs and there are low levels of blood cells, the animal may not respond to treatment.
Clinical exam may reveal sectoral paresis of the iris sphincter or vermiform iris movements. The tonic pupil may become smaller (miotic) over time which is referred to as "little old Adie's". Testing with low dose (1/8%) pilocarpine may constrict the tonic pupil due to cholinergic denervation supersensitivity. A normal pupil will not constrict with the dilute dose of pilocarpine. CT scans and MRI scans may be useful in the diagnostic testing of focal hypoactive reflexes.
A combination of lifestyle modifications and medications can be used for the treatment of dolichoectasias.
- Antihypertensive medications such as Thiazides, Beta Blocker, ACE Inhibitor
- Trental or other Pentoxifylline drugs
- Dietary changes
- Weight loss
- Regular exercise
Diagnostic criteria:
A. Pain paroxysms of intermittent occurrence, lasting for seconds or minutes, in the depth of the ear
B. Presence of a trigger area in the posterior wall of the auditory canal
C. Not attributed to another disorder
Adie's syndrome is not life-threatening or disabling. As such, there is no mortality rate relating to the condition; however, loss of deep tendon reflexes is permanent and may progress over time.
Penicillin is used to treat neurosyphilis; however, early diagnosis and treatment is critical. Two examples of penicillin therapies include:
- Aqueous penicillin G 3–4 million units every four hours for 10 to 14 days.
- One daily intramuscular injection and oral probenecid four times daily, both for 10 to 14 days.
Follow-up blood tests are generally performed at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months to make sure the infection is gone. Lumbar punctures for CSF fluid analysis are generally performed every 6 months.
Neurosyphilis was almost at the point being unheard of in the United States after penicillin therapy was introduced. However, concurrent infection of "T. pallidum" with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been found to affect the course of syphilis. Syphilis can lie dormant for 10 to 20 years before progressing to neurosyphilis, but HIV may accelerate the rate of the progress. Also, infection with HIV has been found to cause penicillin therapy to fail more often. Therefore, neurosyphilis has once again been prevalent in societies with high HIV rates and limited access to penicillin. Blood testing for syphilis was once required in order to obtain a marriage license in most U.S. states, but that requirement has been discontinued by all 50 states over recent years, also contributing to the spread of the disease.