Retrospective evaluation of the ST segment electrocardiographic features in 180 healthy dogs

Objectives Normal features of the ST segment are poorly characterised in dogs. This study aimed to describe ST segment characteristics in a population of healthy dogs. Materials and Methods Medical records were reviewed to identify healthy dogs that underwent an electrocardiogram. Several ST segment qualitative parameters were evaluated: presence/absence of deviation, type of deviation (depression/elevation) and morphological patterns of depression (horizontal, downsloping, upsloping and sagging) and elevation (horizontal, concave and convex). Moreover, the amplitude of ST segment depression/elevation was measured. The potential effect of sex, bodyweight, age and somatotype on the presence/absence of ST segment deviation was evaluated through binary logistic regression. Results One hundred and eighty dogs were enrolled. The deviation was evident in 43 of 180 dogs (23.9%), among which 36 showed depression and seven showed elevation. The median depression amplitude was 0.1 (range 0.05 to 0.3) mV. The mean elevation amplitude was 0.136 +/- 0.055 mV. Concerning depression morphology, the horizontal pattern was overrepresented, followed by the downsloping and upsloping ones. Concerning elevation morphology, all dogs showed a concave pattern. No meaningful effect of sex, bodyweight, age and somatotype on the presence/absence of ST segment deviation was documented. Clinical Significance Normal features of canine ST segment were described and made available for clinical use

Different Fish Meal and Fish Oil Dietary Levels in European Sea Bass: Welfare Implications After Acute Confinement Stress

open9siTo provide practical feeding management guidelines preceding a stressful episode during farming practices, European sea bass juveniles (initial weight: 72.3 g) were fed for 60-days different fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) dietary levels [high (30% FM, 15% FO, FM30/FO15), intermediate (20% FM, 7% FO, FM20/FO7), and low (10% FM, 3% FO, FM10/FO3)] in triplicate conditions. Fish were then fasted for 36 h and exposed to a 2-h acute crowding (80 kg m–3 biomass). Plasma biochemistry, skin mucus parameters and gene expression of stress and immune-related genes were performed before, at 2 and 24 h after crowding. At the end of the trial, the FM10/FO3 group showed lower final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate compared to the other treatments. Most of the plasma parameters were mainly affected by crowding condition rather than diet; however, after stress, lactate was higher in the FM30/FO15 group compared to the other treatments. Similarly, protease, antiprotease, peroxidase and lysozyme in skin mucus were mostly affected by crowding conditions, while fish fed FM10/FO3 displayed higher skin mucosal IgM and bactericidal activity against Vibrio anguillarum and V. harveyi. Most of the stress-related genes considered (hsp70 and gr-1 in the brain; hsp70, gr-1 and gr-2 in the head kidney), showed an overall expression pattern that increased over time after stress, in addition, hsp70 in the head kidney was also up-regulated in fish fed FM30/FO15 after stress. Higher plasmatic lactate together with the up-regulation of some stress-related transcripts suggest a higher reactivity to acute crowding of the stress-response mechanism in fish fed high FM and FO dietary levels. Otherwise, the higher skin mucosal IgM and bactericidal activity observed in fish fed FM10/FO3 dietary levels seems to indicate that acute crowding was able to activate a higher pro-inflammatory response in this treatment. Overall, the results of the present study seem to indicate that 10% FM and 3% FO dietary levels might affect stress and immune responses.openPelusio N.F.; Bonaldo A.; Gisbert E.; Andree K.B.; Esteban M.A.; Dondi F.; Sabetti M.C.; Gatta P.P.; Parma L.Pelusio N.F.; Bonaldo A.; Gisbert E.; Andree K.B.; Esteban M.A.; Dondi F.; Sabetti M.C.; Gatta P.P.; Parma L

Protocol for a mixed studies systematic review on the implementation of the recovery approach in adult mental health services

Introduction Recovery is integral to mental health planning in G-8 countries including Canada. A recovery-oriented approach to care aims to promote personal empowerment, illness self-management and a life beyond services for people with serious mental illness (SMI), while reducing the financial burden associated with mental illness. Although there is a growing body of literature on recovery, no synthesis of research on the implementation of recovery into mental health services exists. Objectives The objective is to conduct a mixed studies systematic review on the operationalisation of recovery into mental health services for adults with SMI. It will inform the transformation of Canadian services to a recovery orientation, but may be applicable to other countries. Methods and analysis Seven databases including PubMed, Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycInfo, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and Scopus will be searched for peer-reviewed empirical studies published from 1998 to December 2016. Systematic reviews and studies using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies will be included. Secondary searches will be conducted in reference lists of all selected full text articles. Handsearches will also be performed in the tables of contents of three recovery-focused journals for the last 5 years. International experts in the field will be contacted for comments and advice. Data extraction will include identification and methodological synthesis of each study; definition of recovery; information on recovery implementation; facilitators and barriers and study outcomes. A quality assessment will be conducted on each study. The data will be synthesised and a stepwise thematic analysis performed. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required for this knowledge synthesis. Findings will be disseminated through knowledge translation activities including: (1) a 1-day symposium; (2) presentations in national and international conferences and to local stakeholders; (3) publications in peer-reviewed journals; (4) posts on the organisational websites. © 2017 Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article)

Higher incidence of perineal community acquired MRSA infections among toddlers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A six-fold increase in pediatric MRSA infections, prompted us to examine the clinical profile of children with MRSA infections seen at Mercy Children's Hospital, Toledo, Ohio and to characterize the responsible strains.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Records were reviewed of pediatric patients who cultured positive for MRSA from June 1 to December 31, 2007. Strain typing by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFT) and DiversiLab, SCC<it>mec </it>typing, and PCR-based <it>lukSF-PV </it>gene (encodes Panton-Valentine leukocidin), arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and <it>cap</it>5 gene detection was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Chart review of 63 patients with MRSA infections revealed that 58(92%) were community acquired MRSA (CAMRSA). All CAMRSA were skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Twenty five (43%) patients were aged < 3 yrs, 19(33%) aged 4-12 and 14(24%) aged 13-18. Nineteen (76%) of those aged < 3 yrs had higher incidence of perineal infections compared to only 2(11%) of the 4-12 yrs and none of the 13-18 yrs of age. Infections in the extremities were more common in the older youth compared to the youngest children. Overall, there was a significant association between site of the infection and age group (Fisher's Exact p-value < 0.001). All CAMRSA were USA300 PFT, clindamycin susceptible, SCC<it>mec </it>type IVa and <it>lukSF-PV gene </it>positive. Nearly all contained ACME and about 80% were <it>cap</it>5 positive. Of the 58 USA300 strains by PFT, 55(95%) were also identified as USA300 via the automated repetitive sequence-based PCR method from DiversiLab.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CAMRSA SSTI of the perineum was significantly more common among toddlers and that of the extremities in older children. The infecting strains were all USA300 PFT. Further studies are needed to identify the unique virulence and colonization characteristics of USA300 strains in these infections.</p

Epidemiology and risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in children in the post-PCV7 era

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of community-associated methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) has risen dramatically in the U.S., particularly among children. Although <it>Streptococcus pneumoniae </it>colonization has been inversely associated with <it>S. aureus </it>colonization in unvaccinated children, this and other risk factors for <it>S. aureus </it>carriage have not been assessed following widespread use of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). Our objectives were to (1) determine the prevalence of <it>S. aureus </it>and MRSA colonization in young children in the context of widespread use of PCV7; and (2) examine risk factors for <it>S. aureus </it>colonization in the post-PCV7 era, including the absence of vaccine-type <it>S. pneumoniae </it>colonization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Swabs of the anterior nares (<it>S. aureus</it>) were obtained from children enrolled in an ongoing study of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization of healthy children in 8 Massachusetts communities. Children 3 months to <7 years of age seen for well child or sick visits in primary care offices from 11/03–4/04 and 10/06–4/07 were enrolled. <it>S. aureus </it>was identified and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. Epidemiologic risk factors for <it>S. aureus </it>colonization were collected from parent surveys and chart reviews, along with data on pneumococcal colonization. Multivariate mixed model analyses were performed to identify factors associated with <it>S. aureus </it>colonization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 1,968 children, the mean age (SD) was 2.7 (1.8) years, 32% received an antibiotic in the past 2 months, 2% were colonized with PCV7 strains and 24% were colonized with non-PCV7 strains. The prevalence of <it>S. aureus </it>colonization remained stable between 2003–04 and 2006–07 (14.6% vs. 14.1%), while MRSA colonization remained low (0.2% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.09). Although absence of pneumococcal colonization was not significantly associated with <it>S. aureus </it>colonization, age (6–11 mo vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.39 [95% CI 0.24–0.64]; 1–1.99 yrs vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.35 [0.23–0.54]; 2–2.99 yrs vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.45 [0.28–0.73]; 3–3.99 yrs vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.53 [0.33–0.86]) and recent antibiotic use were significant predictors in multivariate models.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Massachusetts, <it>S. aureus </it>and MRSA colonization remained stable from 2003–04 to 2006–07 among children <7 years despite widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. <it>S. aureus </it>nasal colonization varies by age and is inversely correlated with recent antibiotic use.</p

Reversals of fortune: path dependency, problem solving, and temporal cases

Historical reversals highlight a basic methodological problem: is it possible to treat two successive periods both as independent cases to compare for causal analysis and as parts of a single historical sequence? I argue that one strategy for doing so, using models of path dependency, imposes serious limits on explanation. An alternative model which treats successive periods as contrasting solutions for recurrent problems offers two advantages. First, it more effectively combines analytical comparisons of different periods with narratives of causal sequences spanning two or more periods. Second, it better integrates scholarly accounts of historical reversals with actors’ own narratives of the past

Physiological shift of the ventricular mean electrical axis in healthy French Bulldogs: a retrospective electrocardiographic analysis of 80 healthy dogs

Introduction/objectives Whether a brachymorphic conformation may lead to electrocardiographic peculiarities diverging from generic reference intervals (RIs) cited in textbooks remains to be established. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating electrocardiographic variables in one of the most common brachymorphic breed, namely the French Bulldog (FB). Animals, materials and methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify healthy FBs ≥1-year-old that underwent an electrocardiogram. The Mann–Whitney U test or the Student's t-test was used to compare continuous variables among male and female dogs, while the χ2 test was used for categorical variables. Spearman's correlation coefficients between electrocardiographic measurements and age and body weight were also calculated. Moreover, electrocardiographic RIs were determined. Results Eighty healthy FBs were enrolled; their electrocardiographic variables fitted with generic RIs, with the exception of the QRS-complex mean electrical axis (QRS-MEA). The median QRS-MEA value was 43.5° (from −18° to +90°). A QRS-MEA shift was found in 24/80 (30%) dogs; in all cases, it was a left shift (median 26°, from −18° to +39°). Specifically, 20 dogs showed a slight left shift (from +39° to +14°), while four dogs showed a marked one (from +9° to −18°). No meaningful differences were found when comparing electrocardiographic variables between males and females. No significant correlations between electrocardiographic variables and age or body weight were found, with the exceptions of the P-wave amplitude, PQ-interval duration and QT-interval duration. Conclusions Healthy FBs can present a left shift of QRS-MEA. These data should be considered when interpreting FBs’ electrocardiograms

Evaluation of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin to detect renal tubular damage in dogs with stable myxomatous mitral valve disease

Background Dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) can experience progressive renal tubular damage and dysfunction. The prevalence of renal tubular damage is not known in dogs with stable MMVD. Objective To evaluate renal tubular damage in dogs with stable MMVD by evaluation of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Animals Ninety-eight MMVD dogs grouped according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) staging (group B1, n = 23; group B2, n = 27; group C + D, n = 48) and 46 healthy dogs. Methods Multicenter prospective observational study. Serum and urine chemistry including NGAL reported as uNGAL concentration (uNGAL) and normalized with urinary creatinine (uNGALC) were compared between MMVD dogs and healthy controls, and among different MMVD ACVIM stages. Results The MMVD dogs had significantly higher uNGAL and uNGALC (1204 pg/mL; range, 30-39 732 and 1816 pg/mg; range, 22-127 693, respectively) compared to healthy dogs (584 pg/mL; range, 56-4072 and 231 pg/mg; range, 15-2407, respectively; P = .002 and P &lt; .0001, respectively). Both uNGAL and uNGALC increased with the increasing ACVIM stage (P = .001 and P &lt; .001, respectively). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Renal tubular damage is present in dogs with stable MMVD, as measured by increased uNGAL. This tubular damage is subclinical, occurs in all stages of MMVD even in the absence of azotemia, and increases with the severity of MMVD. Reno-protective approaches to manage MMVD dogs should be explored to slow the progression of renal tubular damage in these patients

Does Acidification Affect Urinary Creatinine in Dairy Cattle?

Nitrogen content in urine plays a crucial role in assessing the environmental impact of dairy farming. Urine acidifications avoid urine nitrogen volatilization, but potentially lead to a degradation of creatinine, the most dependable marker for quantifying total urine excretion volume, affecting its measurement. This study aimed to assess how acidifying urine samples affects the concentration and detection of creatinine in dairy cattle. In this trial, individual urine samples from 20 Holstein lactating dairy cows were divided into three subsamples, allocated to 1 of 3 groups consisting of 20 samples each. Samples were immediately treated as follows: acidification with H2SO4 (1 mL of acid in 30 mL of sample) to achieve a pH &lt; 2 (Group 1)); addition of an equal volume of distilled water (1 mL of distilled water in 30 mL of sample) to investigate dilution effects (Group 2); or storage without any acid or water treatment (Group 3). An analysis of creatinine levels was carried out using the Jaffe method. The Friedman test was employed to compare urine groups across treatments, and the Bland-Altman test was used to assess the agreement between measurements in Group 1 and Group 3. Urinary creatinine values were statistically different (p &lt; 0.001) between Group 1 (median 48.5 mg/dL; range 36.9-83 mg/dL), Group 2 (median 47.5 mg/dL; range 36.5-80.7 mg/dL), and Group 3 (median 48.9 mg/dL, range 37.2-84). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrates agreement between Group 3 and Group 1. The measurement of urinary creatinine using the Jaffe method is affected by sample acidification, but the use of creatinine as a marker for total urine output could remain a viable tool when urine samples are acidified

The canine T wave: a retrospective analysis on qualitative and quantitative T wave variables obtained in 129 healthy dogs and proposed reference intervals

The T wave is a poorly characterized electrocardiographic variable in small animals. Therefore, this study aimed to describe T wave features in a large population of healthy dogs