Prognostic factors in dogs with common causes of proteinuria

Little is known about the prognostic value of increased urine protein to creatinine ratios (UPC) comparing different underlying diseases in dogs. Therefore, between 2014 and 2015, dogs with a UPC of 2,0 or higher measured were retrospectively analysed at least once. They were divided into groups of the most common underlying diseases, namely primary glomerulopathy, Cushing's disease, leishmaniasis and in a group of different diseases. Possible prognostic factors, like UPC at time of diagnosis, creatinine, urine specific gravity, albumin and haematocrit, were assessed. Eighty-nine dogs with severe proteinuria were included in the study. Median time of survival was 42 days. UPC and time of survival did not differ significantly between the groups. Among the dogs with primary glomerulopathy, identified significant risk factors for death included increased UPC (p=0,03), increased creatinine (p

Increased prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Bernese Mountain Dogs: a possible breed predisposition

BACKGROUND: Glomerulonephritis in dogs has been associated with B. burgdorferi infections. In Bernese Mountain Dogs with glomerulonephritis antibodies against B. burgdorferi were found in most dogs, raising the question if the breed is predisposed to infections with B. burgdorferi. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in a well defined population of Bernese Mountain Dogs and to compare this prevalence with data from dogs of other breeds. RESULTS: 160 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 62 control dogs (large breed dogs with long hair) were included. All dogs were considered healthy according to a questionnaire filled out by the owner, complete blood count, chemistry panel, urinalysis and urine culture. Bernese Mountain Dogs and control dogs were kept similar in similar environments. Seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi was assessed by ELISA and Western blot and was 58% in Bernese Mountain Dogs compared to 15% in control dogs. This difference was significant. Neither antibodies against leptospires nor vaccination or hair coat color influenced the results. CONCLUSIONS: The cause of the considerably higher prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi in Bernese Mountain Dogs and its consequences are not known. A breed predisposition can be suspected

Follow-up of Bernese Mountain dogs and other dogs with serologically diagnosed Borrelia burgdorferi infection: what happens to seropositive animals?

BACKGROUND: Data on the long-term outcome of B. burgdorferi infections in adult dogs are sparse. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Bernese Mountain dogs with serological evidence of natural B. burgdorferi infection more often develop signs such as lameness, azotemia or proteinuria during a follow-up period of 2.5 to 3.0 years. Seropositive Bernese Mountain dogs were compared to seronegative Bernese Mountain dogs and to seropositive and seronegative control dogs of other breeds. Dogs included in a previous study on the prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi in Bernese Mountain dogs were re-evaluated. Antibodies against B. burgdorferi were determined using an ELISA with a whole-cell sonicate as antigen and results were confirmed using a Western blot assay. RESULTS: Fifty-three Bernese Mountain dogs and 30 control dogs were re-evaluated. Re-evaluation was performed between 2.5 and 3.0 years (median 2.7 years) after the first assessment.The age of the dogs at the second evaluation ranged from 3 to 11 years (median 6 years). There were no significant differences with regard to poor general condition or lameness between the first and the second evaluation. At the first evaluation 22 (42%) of the Bernese Mountain dogs and 11 (37%) of the control dogs were considered positive for antibodies against B. burgdorferi. At the second evaluation 25 (47%) of the Bernese Mountain dogs and 12 (40%) of the control dogs were considered positive; 69% of the dogs showed the same serological result at both examinations and 31% were seroconverted or seroreverted. During the first examination, azotemia was diagnosed in 6 Bernese Mountain dogs and during the second examination in 11 Bernese Mountain dogs. No control dogs had azotemia in this study. In seropositive dogs there was no increase in lameness or signs of renal disease over time. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that antibodies against B. burgdorferi determined by whole cell ELISA and confirmed by Western blot were neither associated with the development of lameness nor with signs of renal disease like azotemia or proteinuria in dogs observed over a period of 2.5 to 3.0 years

No difference in long-term outcome between open and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prospective, randomized study

Background: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair techniques have almost replaced open repairs. Short- and mid-term studies have shown comparable outcomes, with no clear superiority of either procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term clinical and imaging outcomes following arthroscopic or open rotator cuff repair. Methods: Forty patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-documented, symptomatic supraspinatus or supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears were randomized to undergo arthroscopic or open rotator cuff repair. Clinical and radiographic follow-up was obtained at 6 weeks, 3 months, 1 year, 2 years, and >10 years postoperatively. Clinical assessment included measurement of active range of motion, visual analog scale score for pain, functional scoring according to the Constant-Murley score (CS), and assessment of the Subjective Shoulder Value. Imaging included conventional radiography and MRI for the assessment of cuff integrity and alteration of the deltoid muscle. Results: We enrolled 20 patients with a mean age of 60 years (range, 50-71 years; standard deviation [SD], 6 years) in the arthroscopic surgery group and 20 patients with a mean age of 55 years (range, 39-67 years; SD, 8 years) in the open surgery group. More than 10 years' follow-up was available for 13 patients in the arthroscopic surgery group and 11 patients in the open surgery group, with mean follow-up periods of 13.8 years (range, 11.9-15.2 years; SD, 1.1 years) and 13.1 years (range, 11.7-15 years; SD, 1.1 years), respectively. No statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes were identified between the 2 groups: The median absolute CS was 79 points (range, 14-84 points) in the arthroscopic surgery group and 84 points (range, 56-90 points) in the open surgery group (P = .177). The median relative CS was 94% (range, 20%-99%) and 96% (range, 65%-111%), respectively (P = .429). The median Subjective Shoulder Value was 93% (range, 20%-100%) and 93% (range, 10%-100%), respectively (P = .976). MRI evaluation showed a retear rate of 30% equally distributed between the 2 groups. Neither fatty infiltration of the deltoid muscle, deltoid muscle volume, nor the deltoid origin were different between the 2 groups. Conclusion: In a small cohort of patients, we could not document any difference in clinical and radiographic outcomes at long-term follow-up between arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair. The postulated harm to the deltoid muscle with the open technique could not be confirmed

Follow-up of Bernese Mountain dogs and other dogs with serologically diagnosed Borrelia burgdorferi infection: What happens to seropositive animals?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data on the long-term outcome of <it>B. burgdorferi </it>infections in adult dogs are sparse. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Bernese Mountain dogs with serological evidence of natural <it>B. burgdorferi </it>infection more often develop signs such as lameness, azotemia or proteinuria during a follow-up period of 2.5 to 3.0 years. Seropositive Bernese Mountain dogs were compared to seronegative Bernese Mountain dogs and to seropositive and seronegative control dogs of other breeds.</p> <p>Dogs included in a previous study on the prevalence of antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi </it>in Bernese Mountain dogs were re-evaluated. Antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi </it>were determined using an ELISA with a whole-cell sonicate as antigen and results were confirmed using a Western blot assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-three Bernese Mountain dogs and 30 control dogs were re-evaluated. Re-evaluation was performed between 2.5 and 3.0 years (median 2.7 years) after the first assessment.</p> <p>The age of the dogs at the second evaluation ranged from 3 to 11 years (median 6 years). There were no significant differences with regard to poor general condition or lameness between the first and the second evaluation.</p> <p>At the first evaluation 22 (42%) of the Bernese Mountain dogs and 11 (37%) of the control dogs were considered positive for antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi</it>. At the second evaluation 25 (47%) of the Bernese Mountain dogs and 12 (40%) of the control dogs were considered positive; 69% of the dogs showed the same serological result at both examinations and 31% were seroconverted or seroreverted. During the first examination, azotemia was diagnosed in 6 Bernese Mountain dogs and during the second examination in 11 Bernese Mountain dogs. No control dogs had azotemia in this study. In seropositive dogs there was no increase in lameness or signs of renal disease over time.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It may be concluded that antibodies against <it>B. burgdorferi </it>determined by whole cell ELISA and confirmed by Western blot were neither associated with the development of lameness nor with signs of renal disease like azotemia or proteinuria in dogs observed over a period of 2.5 to 3.0 years.</p

Analysis of Radicals in Combustion Processes

This work reports on a variety of radical analysis applications in combustion that are performed in the laboratories of the Paul Scherrer Institute. Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence and Resonant Holographic Interferometry is applied to the two-dimensional imaging of radicals in flames. The potential of Four-Wave Mixing Spectroscopy for non-perturbing combustion diagnostics is investigated and the method is applied to radicals in flames. Phase-Conjugation and the use of two different input frequencies are utilized to address typical problems in a combustion environment, i.e., lensing effects due to temperature and density gradients and congested spectra of the analyte due to significant thermal population of the ground state.More fundamentally, experiments are aimed to obtain detailed knowledge on the spectroscopy of many important radicals that are not yet characterized sufficiently for diagnostic purposes. A molecular beam apparatus has been set up where the collisionless and cold environment provides well defined experimental conditions to produce and investigate the relevant radicals. Finally, temporally and spectrally resolved fluorescence decays in the picosecond time domain are measured in an atmospheric pressure flame. These experiments yield results on vibrational and rotational energy transfer that are required for quantitative laser-induced fluorescence measurements

Microstructural investigation of hybrid CAD/CAM restorative dental materials by micro-CT and SEM

Objectives: An increasing number of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) hybrid materials have been introduced to the dental market in recent years. In addition, CAD/CAM hybrid materials for additive manufacturing (AM) are becoming more attractive in digital dentistry. Studies on material microstructures using micro-computed tomography ($\mu$-CT) combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have only been available to a limited extent so far. Methods: One CAD/CAM three-dimensional- (3D-) printable hybrid material (VarseoSmile Crown plus) and two CAD/CAM millable hybrid materials (Vita Enamic; Voco Grandio), as well as one direct composite material (Ceram.x duo), were included in the present study. Cylindrical samples with a diameter of 2 mm were produced from each material and investigated by means of synchrotron radiation $\mu$-CT at a voxel size of 0.65 $\mu$m. Different samples from the same materials, obtained by cutting and polishing, were investigated by SEM. Results: The 3D-printed hybrid material showed some agglomerations and a more irregular distribution of fillers, as well as a visible layered macrostructure and a few spherical pores due to the printing process. The CAD/CAM millable hybrid materials revealed a more homogenous distribution of ceramic particles. The direct composite material showed multiple air bubbles and microstructural irregularities based on manual processing. Significance: The $\mu$-CT and SEM analysis of the materials revealed different microstructures even though they belong to the same class of materials. It could be shown that $\mu$-CT and SEM imaging are valuable tools to understand microstructure and related mechanical properties of materials.Comment: 22 pages, 3 tables, 11 figures including supplementary materia

Myocardial first-pass perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance: history, theory, and current state of the art

In less than two decades, first-pass perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has undergone a wide range of changes with the development and availability of improved hardware, software, and contrast agents, in concert with a better understanding of the mechanisms of contrast enhancement. The following review provides a perspective of the historical development of first-pass CMR, the developments in pulse sequence design and contrast agents, the relevant animal models used in early preclinical studies, the mechanism of artifacts, the differences between 1.5T and 3T scanning, and the relevant clinical applications and protocols. This comprehensive overview includes a summary of the past clinical performance of first-pass perfusion CMR and current clinical applications using state-of-the-art methodologies

Iron overload in polytransfused patients without heart failure is associated with subclinical alterations of systolic left ventricular function using cardiovascular magnetic resonance tagging

BACKGROUND: It remains incompletely understood whether patients with transfusion related cardiac iron overload without signs of heart failure exhibit already subclinical alterations of systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Therefore we performed a comprehensive evaluation of systolic and diastolic cardiac function in such patients using tagged and phase-contrast CMR. METHODS: 19 patients requiring regular blood transfusions for chronic anemia and 8 healthy volunteers were investigated using cine, tagged, and phase-contrast and T2* CMR. LV ejection fraction, peak filling rate, end-systolic global midventricular systolic Eulerian radial thickening and shortening strains as well as left ventricular rotation and twist, mitral E and A wave velocity, and tissue e' wave and E/e' wave velocity ratio, as well as isovolumic relaxation time and E wave deceleration time were computed and compared to cardiac T2*. RESULTS: Patients without significant iron overload (T2* > 20 ms, n = 9) had similar parameters of systolic and diastolic function as normal controls, whereas patients with severe iron overload (T2* 20 ms) or normal controls. Patients with moderate iron overload (T2* 10-20 ms, n = 5), had preserved ejection fraction (59 ± 6%, p = NS vs. pts. with T2* > 20 ms and controls), but showed reduced maximal LV rotational twist (1.8 ± 0.4 degrees). The magnitude of reduction of LV twist (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), of LV ejection fraction (r = 0.44, p < 0.001), of peak radial thickening (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and of systolic (r = 0.50, p < 0.05) and diastolic twist and untwist rate (r = -0.53, p < 0.001) in patients were directly correlated to the logarithm of cardiac T2*. CONCLUSION: Multiple transfused patients with normal ejection fraction and without heart failure have subclinical alterations of systolic and diastolic LV function in direct relation to the severity of cardiac iron overload. Among all parameters, left ventricular twist is affected earliest, and has the highest correlation to log (T2*), suggesting that this parameter might be used to follow systolic left ventricular function in patients with iron overload