Social-Cognitive Processes Before Dog Acquisition Associated with Future Relationship Satisfaction of Dog Owners and Canine Behavior Problems

Making the right decision before acquiring a dog may help prevent the development of canine behavior problems and increase the likelihood of a satisfactory relationship. In this study, social-cognitive factors in decision-making were assessed in the phasebeforethe acquisition of a dog (the motivational phase) to see whether they were associated with later canine behavior problems and satisfaction with the dog after formation of a relationship (the experience phase). Respondents (n= 193) filled in an online questionnaire several months before acquiring a dog and six and 18 months thereafter. Results indicate that the confidence of dog owners in their ability to train and care for a dog-assessed before acquisition-was associated with fewer canine behavior problems, more satisfaction with the dog, and lower perceived costs in the experience phase. Self-efficacy had no effect on consistency between planned and actual acquisition. People scoring high on social norms were more likely to adhere to their plans, while those who expected many advantages were less likely to do so. Moreover, several preparation activities were associated with consistency, with more frequent doubt in the motivational phase being related to greater inconsistency. People who frequently read books about owning dogs and who often talked about this with others were more likely to adhere to their initial plans. In contrast, those who often visited websites offering/selling dogs were less consistent, possibly due to impulse buying. In conclusion, the quality of the relationship with a dog seems partly related to human decision-making factors occurring before the dog has been acquired. Longitudinal studies of human-animal relationships could enhance knowledge concerning the social-cognitive processes underlying our relationships with animals, possibly providing starting points for interventions aimed at improving the welfare of both animals and humans

Expectations versus Reality:Long-Term Research on the Dog-Owner Relationship

In the framework of the early prevention of problems in the owner-dog relationship, it is important to have a broad perspective on the development of this relationship over time, starting before people actually acquire a dog. People who currently (or previously) own(ed) a dog can rely on their experiences when considering a new dog, while this knowledge is unavailable to first time dog-owners. In this study, we explore how self-efficacy, social comparison, perceptions about the (dis)advantages of ownership and commitment to the dog (so-called social cognitive factors), problematic canine behaviors, perceived costs, and satisfaction with the dog change over time. We examine changes from the motivational phase of relationship development (before acquisition of the dog) into the experience phase (six and twelve months after acquisition of the dog). We explore if patterns are different in experienced (previous (n = 73) and current (n = 80)) versus unexperienced (first time (n = 30) dog owners. The respondents filled in three online questionnaires-once before and twice after acquisition of their dog. From T0 (before acquisition of the dog) to T1 (having the dog for six months) participants (especially those with no ownership experience) had to adjust their perceptions about dogs and dog ownership. Experiencing the relationship for an additional year (from T1 to T2) barely changed the social cognitive factors, satisfaction, and perceived costs. A small decline in problematic canine behaviors was present among the experienced dog owners between T1 and T2. To conclude, perceptions about dogs and dog ownership change over time, but after testing these perceptions with reality, they become stable after about six months

Family Member, Best Friend, Child or 'Just' a Pet, Owners' Relationship Perceptions and Consequences for Their Cats

Describing the relationship with one’s cat in human terms might reflect an underlying anthropomorphic view of the relationship which might be associated with an owner’s behavior towards their cat and the cat’s living environment. Owners self-categorized the relationship with their cat as either a ‘member of the family’, ‘as a child’, ‘best friend’, or ‘a pet animal’. The extent to which owner- and cat-related factors influence these four relationship descriptions are examined in survey data of approximately 1800 cat owners. Differences in outdoor access, care during absence of the owner, and access to the bedroom are examined between the four relationship perceptions. The owner’s age and household composition, ideas about their cat’s equality, support, and dependency, and whether their cat is a pedigree were significantly associated with relationship description and explained 46% of the variance. Owners who perceive their cat as a child or best friend see their cat as loyal, empathetic, equal to family, and dependent on them for love and care. Their cats are less often left in the care of others, are allowed more often in the bedroom and have less often (unrestricted) outdoor access. Moreover, cats perceived as children are more likely to live in a multi-cat household. Our results provide insight in the factors that are related to different (anthropomorphic) perceptions of the human–cat relationship and how perceptions relate to the living environment of cats

Cardiac output, cerebral blood flow and cognition in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation:design and rationale of the CAPITA study

Background : Approximately one-third of patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis who are scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have some degree of cognitive impairment. TAVI may have negative cognitive effects due to periprocedural micro-emboli inducing cerebral infarction. On the contrary, TAVI may also have positive cognitive effects due to increases in cardiac output and cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, studies that systematically assess these effects are scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to assess cerebral and cognitive outcomes in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing TAVI. Study design : In the prospective CAPITA (CArdiac OutPut, Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognition In Patients With Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) study, cerebral and cognitive outcomes are assessed in patients undergoing TAVI. One day before and 3 months after TAVI, patients will undergo echocardiography (cardiac output, valve function), brain magnetic resonance imaging (CBF, structural lesions) and extensive neuropsychological assessment. To assess longer-term effects of TAVI, patients will again undergo echocardiography and neuropsychological assessment 1 year after the procedure. The co-primary outcome measures are change in CBF (in ml/100 g per min) and change in global cognitive functioning (Z-score) between baseline and 3‑month follow-up. Secondary objectives include change in cardiac output, white matter hyperintensities and other structural brain lesions. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05481008) Conclusion : The CAPITA study is the first study designed to systematically assess positive and negative cerebral and cognitive outcomes after TAVI. We hypothesise that TAVI improves cardiac output, CBF and cognitive functioning.</p

Sensitivity to the depressogenic effect of stress and HPA-axis reactivity in adolescence: A review of gender differences

Adolescence is characterized by major biological, psychological, and social challenges, as well as by an increase in depression rates. This review focuses on the association between stressful experiences and depression in adolescence, and the possible role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA-)axis in this link. Adolescent girls have a higher probability to develop depressive symptoms than adolescent boys and preadolescents. Increasing evidence indicates that girls' higher risk of depression is partly brought about by an increased sensitivity for stressful life events, particularly interpersonal stressors, which are highly prevalent in adolescent girls. Genetic risk factors for depression, as well as those for stress sensitivity, are often expressed differently in girls and boys. Also environmental adversity tends to affect girls' stress responses more than those of boys. These gender-specific association patterns have been reported for both sensitivity to stressful life events and HPA-axis responses to social stress. Together, the findings suggest that girls are more malleable than boys in response to internal and external influences. This postulated greater malleability may be adaptive in many circumstances, but also brings along risk, such as an increased probability of depression

Mitral inflow patterns after MitraClip implantation at rest and during exercise

MitraClip implantation reduces mitral regurgitation effectively but decreases mitral valve area, creating iatrogenic mitral stenosis. Evaluation with transesophageal echocardiography intraprocedurally is necessary to measure mitral regurgitation and mitral valve pressure gradient (MVPG) to determine whether it is necessary and safe to place more clips. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these intraprocedural hemodynamics represent postprocedural measurements and whether exercise is affected by the stenosis. In this retrospective single-center study, 51 patients who underwent MitraClip implantation were included. Measurements were performed intraprocedurally using transesophageal echocardiography and postprocedurally using transthoracic echocardiography. In 23 of these patients, exercise echocardiography was performed at follow-up. Intraprocedural mean MVPG was 3.0 ± 1.6 mm Hg and increased to 4.3 ± 2.2 mm Hg postprocedurally (P < .001). During exercise, mean MVPG increased significantly compared with rest conditions (from 3.6 ± 1.7 to 6.3 ± 2.7 mm Hg, P < .001). Six patients had mean resting MVPGs ≥ 5 mm Hg at follow-up and had higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAPs) than patients with mean MVPGs < 5 mm Hg (47 ± 7 vs 35 ± 12 mm Hg, P = .035). Higher MVPG and sPAP did not lead to more symptoms of heart failure. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an estimated cutoff point for intraprocedural pressure half-time of 91 msec to identify patients with mitral stenosis and sPAP ≥ 50 mm Hg postprocedurally. Mean MVPG during MitraClip implantation measured by TEE underestimates the hemodynamics in daily life, of which operators should be aware when deciding on placing one or more clips. Pressure half-time seems to be the most robust parameter compared with mean and maximum MVPG and may contribute to this decision. Patients with higher mean MVPGs after MitraClip implantation have higher sPAPs at follow-up. However, more symptoms of heart failure were not detected at follow-u

A New Comprehensive Educational Group Program for Older Adults with Cognitive Complaints: Background, Content, and Process Evaluation.

Hoogenhout, E. M., De Groot, R. H. M., & Jolles, J. (2011). A new comprehensive educational group intervention for older adults with cognitive complaints: Background, content, and process evaluation. Educational Gerontology, 37, 51-73. doi:10.1080/03601277.2010.515888This paper presents a comprehensive group intervention for older adults with cognitive complaints. It offers psycho-education about cognitive aging and contextual factors, focuses on skills and compensatory behaviour, and incorporates group discussion. The intervention reduced negative emotional reactions towards cognitive functioning in a controlled study in healthy women aged 60 to 75 years. Its background and content are described in detail to enable replication and large-scale implementation. Therefore, a process evaluation was carried out. The results support participants’ appreciation and point to better self-evaluations after intervention. This intervention may offer a valuable contribution to public health care for older adults

No associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in corticoid receptor genes and heart rate and cortisol responses to a standardized social stress test in adolescents: the TRAILS Study

Previously, sequence variation in the glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptor genes (NR3C1 and NR3C2, respectively) have been found to be associated with physiological stress responses to social stress tests in small samples of adult men and oral contraceptives (OC) using women. Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GR (23EK-rs6190, 9beta-rs6198, BclI-rs4142324) and the MR gene (I180V-rs5522 and -2G/C (rs2070951) with cortisol and heart rate responses to a performance-related social stress task (public speaking and mental arithmetic) were examined in a large sample (n = 553) of adolescents (15-17 years). To make comparisons with previous findings, associations were tested in boys (n = 277), free-cycling (FC) girls (n = 183) and OC users (n = 93). None of the previously reported associations in adults could be replicated in this large adolescent sample. Explanations for non-replication are discussed

Perioperative systemic therapy and cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC versus upfront cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC alone for isolated resectable colorectal peritoneal metastases: Protocol of a multicentre, open-label, parralel-group, phase II-III, randomised, superiority study (CAIRO6)

Background: Upfront cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC (CRS-HIPEC) is the standard treatment for isolated resectable colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM) in the Netherlands. This study investigates whether addition of perioperative systemic therapy to CRS-HIPEC improves oncological outcomes. Methods: This open-label, parallel-group, phase II-III, randomised, superiority study is performed in nine Dutch tertiary referral centres. Eligible patients are adults who have a good performance status, histologically or cytologically proven resectable PM of a colorectal adenocarcinoma, no systemic colorectal metastases, no systemic therapy for colorectal cancer within six months prior to enrolment, and no previous CRS-HIPEC. Eligible patients are randomised (1:1) to perioperative systemic therapy and CRS-HIPEC (experimental arm) or upfront CRS-HIPEC alone (control arm) by using central randomisation software with minimisation stratified by a peritoneal cancer index of 0-10 or 11-20, metachronous or synchronous PM, previous systemic therapy for colorectal cancer, and HIPEC with oxaliplatin or mitomycin C. At the treating physician's discretion, perioperative systemic therapy consists of either four 3-weekly neoadjuvant and adjuvant cycles of capecitabine with oxaliplatin (CAPOX), six 2-weekly neoadjuvant and adjuvant cycles of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin with oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), or six 2-weekly neoadjuvant cycles of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin with irinotecan (FOLFIRI) followed by four 3-weekly (capecitabine) or six 2-weekly (5-fluorouracil/leucovorin) adjuvant cycles of fluoropyrimidine monotherapy. Bevacizumab is added to the first three (CAPOX) or four (FOLFOX/FOLFIRI) neoadjuvant cycles. The first 80 patients are enrolled in a phase II study to explore the feasibility of accrual and the feasibility, safety, and tolerance of perioperative systemic therapy. If predefined criteria of feasibility and safety are met, the study continues as a phase III study with 3-year overall survival as primary endpoint. A total of 358 patients is needed to detect the hypothesised 15% increase in 3-year overall survival (control arm 50%; experimental arm 65%). Secondary endpoints are surgical characteristics, major postoperative morbidity, progression-free survival, disease-free survival, health-related quality of life, costs, major systemic therapy related toxicity, and objective radiological and histopathological response rates. Discussion: This is the first randomised study that prospectively compares oncological outcomes of perioperative systemic therapy and CRS-HIPEC with upfront CRS-HIPEC alone for isolated resectable colorectal PM