Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life, Clinical, Radiographic, Echocardiographic, and Laboratory Variables in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease Receiving Pimobendan or Placebo: The EPIC Study

Background: Changes in clinical variables associated with the administration of pimobendan to dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and cardiomegaly have not been described. Objectives: To investigate the effect of pimobendan on clinical variables and the relationship between a change in heart size and the time to congestive heart failure (CHF) or cardiac-related death (CRD) in dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly. To determine whether pimobendan-treated dogs differ from dogs receiving placebo at onset of CHF. Animals: Three hundred and fifty-four dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly. Materials and Methods: Prospective, blinded study with dogs randomized (ratio 1:1) to pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg/d) or placebo. Clinical, laboratory, and heart-size variables in both groups were measured and compared at different time points (day 35 and onset of CHF) and over the study duration. Relationships between short-term changes in echocardiographic variables and time to CHF or CRD were explored. Results: At day 35, heart size had reduced in the pimobendan group:median change in (Delta) LVIDDN -0.06 (IQR:-0.15 to + 0.02), P < 0.0001, and LA:Ao -0.08 (IQR:-0.23 to + 0.03), P < 0.0001. Reduction in heart size was associated with increased time to CHF or CRD. Hazard ratio for a 0.1 increase in Delta LVIDDN was 1.26, P = 0.0003. Hazard ratio for a 0.1 increase in Delta LA:Ao was 1.14, P = 0.0002. At onset of CHF, groups were similar. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Pimobendan treatment reduces heart size. Reduced heart size is associated with improved outcome. At the onset of CHF, dogs treated with pimobendan were indistinguishable from those receiving placebo

Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study - A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Pimobendan is effective in treatment of dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Its effect on dogs before the onset of CHF is unknown. Hypothesis/Objectives: Administration of pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg/d in divided doses) to dogs with increased heart size secondary to preclinical MMVD, not receiving other cardiovascular medications, will delay the onset of signs of CHF, cardiac-related death, or euthanasia. Animals: 360 client-owned dogs with MMVD with left atrial-to-aortic ratio >= 1.6, normalized left ventricular internal diameter in diastole >= 1.7, and vertebral heart sum >10.5. Methods: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, multicenter clinical trial. Primary outcome variable was time to a composite of the onset of CHF, cardiac-related death, or euthanasia. Results: Median time to primary endpoint was 1228 days (95% CI: 856-NA) in the pimobendan group and 766 days (95% CI: 667-875) in the placebo group (P = .0038). Hazard ratio for the pimobendan group was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.47-0.87) compared with the placebo group. The benefit persisted after adjustment for other variables. Adverse events were not different between treatment groups. Dogs in the pimobendan group lived longer (median survival time was 1059 days (95% CI: 952-NA) in the pimobendan group and 902 days (95% CI: 747-1061) in the placebo group) (P = .012). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Administration of pimobendan to dogs with MMVD and echocardiographic and radiographic evidence of cardiomegaly results in prolongation of preclinical period and is safe and well tolerated. Prolongation of preclinical period by approximately 15 months represents substantial clinical benefit

Evaluation of benazepril in cats with heart disease in a prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Background: Heart disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cats, but there is limited evidence of the benefit of any medication. Hypothesis: The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril would delay the time to treatment failure in cats with heart disease of various etiologies. Animals: One hundred fifty-one client-owned cats. Methods: Cats with heart disease, confirmed by echocardiography, with or without clinical signs of congestive heart failure, were recruited between 2002 and 2005 and randomized to benazepril or placebo in a prospective, multicenter, parallel-group, blinded clinical trial. Benazepril (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) or placebo was administered PO once daily for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint was treatment failure. Analyses were conducted separately for all-cause treatment failure (main analysis) and heart disease-related treatment failure (supportive analysis). Results: No benefit of benazepril versus placebo was detected for time to all-cause treatment failure (P =.42) or time to treatment failure related to heart disease (P =.21). Hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) from multivariate analysis for benazepril compared with placebo were 1.00 (0.57-1.74) for all-cause failure, and 0.99 (0.50-1.94) for forward selection and 0.93 (0.48-1.81) for bidirectional selection models for heart disease-related failure. There were no significant differences between groups over time after administration of the test articles in left atrium diameter, left ventricle wall thickness, quality of life scores, adverse events, or plasma biochemistry or hematology variables. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Benazepril was tolerated well in cats with heart disease, but no evidence of benefit was detected

Temporal changes in clinical and radiographic variables in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease: The EPIC study

The Evaluation of pimobendan in dogs with cardiomegaly caused by preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (EPIC) study monitored dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) as they developed congestive heart failure (CHF)

Sensorless control of brushless DC motor using back EMF commutation

Brushless dc motors require rotor position information for commutation and speed control. Resolvers, encoders or Hall effect devices are often used but they increase cost and size of the system. Therefore, a great deal of work on sensorless control of brushless dc motor has been carried out for a few years. This report describes the principles and implementation of a sensorless control system using the principle of Back Electromotive Force (back emf) Commutation. As the proposed control scheme uses an open loop procedure to start the motor, the open loop to closed loop transition has been investigated. The system allows a rehable control and reversal of the motor, even at low speed. The implementation of the control algorithm in a TMS320F240 DSP is described. The test results on a 20 V, 10000 rpm, two-poles motor have been found satisfactory when run with no load. The load tests, made by holding the shaft, showed that the motor sometimes stopped at low speed.</p

Amélioration des conditions de capture printanière et de stabulation de saumons adultes pour la reproduction artificielle

Le pourcentage de Saumons parvenant jusqu'à leurs meilleures zones de frayères sur le Haut-Allier est souvent faible, du fait de la longueur du parcours (800 à 860 km) et des nombreux obstacles. Pour ne pas affecter directement ce potentiel de reproduction naturelle, les sujets destinés à la ponte artificielle sont prélevés loin en aval et longtemps avant la saison de reproduction, c'est-à-dire au barrage de Vichy (03) en avril et plus récemment en mai. Malheureusement, les mortalités sur les Saumons en captivité étaient très élevées (surtout dans les six semaines suivant la capture) lors des premières campagnes (1970 à 1973) : 80 à 100 %. Elles ont pu être progressivement réduites dans les campagnes suivantes et sont descendues à 15 % en 1978 (34 sujets capturés) et 7 % en 1979 (44 sujets). Cette amélioration est liée essentiellement : a) au perfectionnement du matériel et des techniques de piégeage, manipulation et transport des Saumons, de façon à limiter au maximum fatigue, traumatisme ou stress ; b) à la stabulation dans un bassin de très grandes surface (8 000 m2) et profondeur (moyenne : 2 m, maximum : 4 m), avec fort débit (environ 100 l/sec), où l'eau ne dépasse pas 18° C. Divers perfectionnements sont encore nécessaires. Mais le fait de mieux maîtriser l'approvisionnement en œufs permet maintenant d'envisager une intensification des repeuplements sur ce bassin, en réduisant ou supprimant les importations d'œufs (Grande-Bretagne ou Scandinavie) ; nos marquages ont, en effet, montré que les retours d'adultes étaient deux à trois fois supérieurs à partir d'œufs de souche Allier

Thoracoscopic Resection of Right Auricular Masses in dogs (9 cases):2003-2011

Abstract Objective—To determine the feasibility of thoracoscopic resection of masses located on the right auricle in dogs. Design—Retrospective case series. Animals—Dogs (n = 9) with a mass on the right auricle. Procedures—Hospital records from 2003 to 2011 were reviewed. Only dogs that underwent thoracoscopic resection of a mass on the right auricle were selected. Data collected included history, clinicopathologic findings, surgical technique, and outcome. Results—All dogs with pericardial effusion were examined by means of echocardiography. Cardiac masses on the right auricle were identified in 5 dogs. Eight dogs had clinical signs of cardiac tamponade and right-sided heart failure. All dogs underwent thoracoscopic resection of a mass on the right atrium. Eight hemangiosarcomas and 1 pyogranulomatous lesion were resected. One dog with a mass located at the base of the right auricle died during surgery. No postoperative complications were noted. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Right auricular masses were successfully removed in 8 dogs. Masses close to the base of the right atrial appendage may not be amenable to resection with thoracoscopy. Resection of small masses at the tip of the right auricular appendage can be performed thoracoscopically.</jats:p