Computed tomographic imaging characteristics of the normal canine lacrimal glands.

BackgroundThe canine lacrimal gland (LG) and accessory lacrimal gland of the third eyelid (TEG) are responsible for production of the aqueous portion of the precorneal tear film. Immune-mediated, toxic, neoplastic, or infectious processes can affect the glands directly or can involve adjacent tissues, with secondary gland involvement. Disease affecting these glands can cause keratoconjunctivitis sicca, corneal ulcers, and loss of vision. Due to their location in the orbit, these small structures are difficult to evaluate and measure, making cross-sectional imaging an important diagnostic tool. The detailed cross-sectional imaging appearance of the LG and TEG in dogs using computed tomography (CT) has not been reported to date.ResultsForty-two dogs were imaged, and the length, width, and height were measured and the volume calculated for the LGs & TEGs. The glands were best visualized in contrast-enhanced CT images. The mean volume of the LG was 0.14 cm3 and the TEG was 0.1 cm3. The mean height, width, and length of the LG were, 9.36 mm, 4.29 mm, and 9.35 mm, respectively; the corresponding values for the TEG was 2.02 mm, 9.34 mm, and 7.90 mm. LG and TEG volume were positively correlated with body weight (p < 0.05).ConclusionsContrast-enhanced CT is a valuable tool for noninvasive assessment of canine lacrimal glands

Effect of screening abdominal ultrasound examination on the decision to pursue advanced diagnostic tests and treatment in dogs with neurologic disease.

BackgroundAbdominal ultrasound examinations (AUS) are commonly performed before advanced neurodiagnostics to screen for diseases that might affect diagnostic plans and prognosis.ObjectivesDescribe the type and frequency of abnormalities found by AUS in dogs presenting with a neurological condition, identify risk factors associated with abnormalities, and evaluate treatment decisions based on findings.AnimalsSeven hundred and fifty-nine hospitalized dogs.MethodsRetrospective study. Medical records of dogs presented from 2007 to 2009 for neurologic disease were searched for signalment, neuroanatomic localization, and AUS findings. Whether dogs had advanced neurodiagnostics and treatment was analyzed.ResultsFifty-eight percent of dogs had abnormal findings on AUS. Probability of abnormalities increased with age (P < 0.001). Nondachshund breeds had higher probability of abnormal AUS than dachshunds (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87). Eleven percent of dogs did not have advanced neurodiagnostics and in 1.3%, this was because of abnormal AUS. Dogs with ultrasonographic abnormalities were less likely than dogs without to have advanced neurodiagnostics (OR = 0.3 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17, 0.52]), however, the probability of performing advanced diagnostics was high regardless of normal (OR = 0.95 [95% CI: 0.92, 0.97]) or abnormal (OR = 0.85 [95% CI: 0.81, 0.88]) AUS. Treatment was more often pursued in small dogs and less often in dogs with brain disease.Conclusions and clinical importanceFindings from screening AUS had a small negative effect on the likelihood of pursuing advanced neurodiagnostics. Although it should be included in the extracranial diagnostic workup in dogs with significant history or physical examination abnormalities, AUS is considered a low-yield diagnostic test in young dogs and dachshunds

Comparison of computed tomographic angiography and intraoperative mesenteric portovenography for extrahepatic portosystemic shunts

Objectives Comparison of intra-operative mesenteric portovenography and computed tomographic angiography for the documentation of the portal vasculature in patients with single extrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Methods Retrospective study of patients with extrahepatic portosystemic shunts that underwent preoperative computed tomographic angiography and intra-operative mesenteric portography. Studies were compared for identification of the intra- and extrahepatic portal vasculature. Results Computed tomographic angiography demonstrated all four portal vein tributaries and sub-tributaries. Intra-operative mesenteric portography inconsistently demonstrated the cranial mesenteric vein, the gastroduodenal vein (12 of 49 dogs and 0 of 10 cats), splenic vein (46 of 49 dogs and 8 of 10 cats) and caudal mesenteric vein (3 of 49 dogs and 2 of 10 cats). Computed tomographic angiography showed the intrahepatic portal vein with shunts emanating from the left gastric vein, splenocaval shunts or shunts involving the left colic vein. It showed intrahepatic portal branching in 5 of 12 patients with shunts involving the right gastric vein. Intra-operative mesenteric portography showed the intrahepatic portal vein in 29 of 59 patients but was outperformed by computed tomographic angiography in all cases except those patients with a shunt involving the right gastric vein. Clinical Significance In cases that have undergone diagnostic preoperative computed tomographic angiography there is no indication for diagnostic intra-operative mesenteric portovenography before ligation. In contrast, portovenography performed “after” temporary full ligation of the shunt provides clinical useful information and might be considered an integral investigation during shunt attenuation surgery

Konzeption und Evaluation eines Laufbandtests zur Ableitung einer Trainingsempfehlung auf absolut maximalem Fettverbrennungs-Niveau

Hintergrund: Ein Training bei absolut maximalem Fettumsatz ist interessant für Patienten, gesundheitsorientierte Freizeitsportler und leistungsorientierte Sportler. Der klassische Laktat-Laufband-Stufentest erlaubt keine direkten Schlüsse auf den Fettumsatz. Methoden: Es wurde ein modifizierter ergospirometrischer Laufband-Stufentest entwickelt, der eine 30 minütige Einlaufphase bei sehr geringer Intensität besitzt. In der darauf folgenden Auswertungsphase wurde alle 3 min die Geschwindigkeit um 0,2 m/s pro Stufe erhöht. Wegen des Anstieges des Fettumsatzes mit zunehmender Laufdauer wurden in der Auswertungsphase die berechneten Fettumsätze um 2,5 mg/min reduziert, um eine bessere Vergleichbarkeit der Stufen zu gewährleisten. Dieser neu entwickelte Test wurde anschließend mit einem klassischen Laktat-Laufband-Stufentest verglichen. Ergebnisse: Die Herzfrequenzen bei Laktat 2 mmol/l liegen intraindividuell betrachtet im Median um 16 bpm höher als die bei absolut maximalem Fettumsatz. Einen Trainingsbereich für die absolut maximale Fettverbrennung gibt man möglichst an, indem man den Herzfrequenzbereich zwischen Über- und Unterschreiten von 90 % des absolut maximalen Fettumsatzes definiert. Dieser hat im Median eine Breite von 27 bpm und reicht im Median von 125 bpm bis 151 bpm. Der absolute maximale Fettumsatz beträgt im Median 432 mg/min. Bei den Herzfrequenzen von Laktat 2 mmol/l, erstem Laktatanstieg bzw. einer um 15 bpm reduzierten Herzfrequenz von Laktat 2 mmol/l, betragen die Fettumsätze 86 %, 96 % bzw. 97 % des absolut maximalen Fettumsatzes. Der Anteil der Fette beträgt bei absolut maximalem Fettumsatz im Median 51 % am Gesamtenergieumsatz. Der Laktatspiegel bei absolut maximalem Fettumsatz beträgt im Median 1,4 mmol/l. Die Intensität bei absolut maximalem Fettumsatz entspricht im Median 66 % der maximal möglichen Sauerstoffaufnahme

La litre, ceinture de deuil ou trait ultime

Un bandeau noir peint sur le pourtour des murs de l'église et sur lequel figurent les armoiries seigneuriales, appelé litre, révèle un dispositif funéraire. Ce rite fut aboli avec la Révolution, effacé et oublié, il constitue aujourd’hui un enjeu crucial pour la restauration, les monuments historiques, bref notre mémoire. Nous analysons ici l’histoire du droit de litre en relation à l’espace sacré dans sa dimension politique, sociale et anthropologique. Le noir en tant que couleur de deuil renvoie à l’irreprésentable. Trait ultime, il annonce justement l’espace de l’abstraction.A black band painted on the circumference of the walls of the church and on which appear the seigniorial coat of arms, called litre, reveals a funeral custom. This rite was abolished with the Revolution, erased and forgotten, it is today a crucial issue for restoration, historical monuments and our memory. We analyze the history of the right of litre in relation to the sacred space in its political, social and anthropological dimension. Black as a mourning color refers to the irrepresentable; as an ultimate line, it announces the space of abstraction

Soziales Kapital

Analysis of social capital in ethnic, gated, and virtual communities in the US with different theoretical approaches (Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman, Robert Putnam)Untersuchung der sozialen Netzwerke verschiedener Gemeinschaftsstrukturen (ethnic, gated, virtual communities)in den USA unter Berücksichtigung soziologischer Theorien zur Gemeinschaftsbildun

Eficácia da oxamniquine, do praziquantel e da combinação de ambas as drogas na esquistossomose mansônica no Brasil

Conduziu-se um ensaio clínico para comparar a eficácia de uma combinação em baixas doses de oxamniquine (7,5 mg/kg) mais praziquantel (20 mg/kg) com ambas as drogas - oxamniquine (15 mg/kg) e praziquantel (40 mg/kg) - empregadas isoladamente, no tratamento da esquistossomose mansônica em uma área endêmica do nordeste brasileiro. Os medicamentos foram administrados, aleatoriamente, por via oral, a 91 pacientes. Seis e doze meses depois do tratamento 89% dos admitidos no ensaio foram reexaminados segundo os métodos de Kato-Katz (dez lâminas) e MIF (um grama de fezes). Os índices de cura alcançados, representando a ausência de ovos nas fezes em todos os controles durante o acompanhamento parasitológico individualizado dos pacientes, foram de 81,8%, 81,2% e 67,6% com, respectivamente, o praziquantel, a oxamniquine e a combinação. A redução do número de ovos eliminado por gra ma de fezes nos casos não curados, variou de 93,8 96,8% com o praziquantel, 32,5 97% com a oxamniquine e 76,9-99,5% com a combinação. Concluiu-se que os três regimes terapêuticos, nas doses utilizadas, dão resultados similares e satisfatórios no tratamento da esquistossomose mansônica não complicada, no Brasil.A randomized clinical trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of a low-dosage combination of oxamniquine (7.5 mg/kg) plus praziquantel (20 mg/kg) against either agent, oxamniquine (15 mg/kg) or praziquantel (40 mg/kg) alone, in the treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni in the Brazilian north-east. The drugs were randomly administered per os to 91 patients. Six and twelve months after treatment 89% of those admitted to the trial were reexamined by Kato-Katz method (ten slides) and MIF technique (one gram of stool) The achieved cure rates, as defined by absence of S. mansoni eggs in the faeces of individual patients at all points during the parasitological follow-up, were 81.8%, 81.2% and 67.6% for praziquantel, oxamniquine and the combination respectively. The reduction of eggs excretion in non cured patients six months after therapy ranged from 93.8-96.8% with praziquantel, 32.5-97% with oxamniquine and 76.9-99.5% with the combination. It is concluded that, at the used dosages, the three therapeutical regimens give similar and satisfactory results in the treatment of uncomplicated S. mansoni infection in Brazil

Surgical management of a cat with hepatic arterioportal fistula

A 9‐month‐old domestic short‐haired cat presented with stunted growth and chronic gastrointestinal signs. Tachypnoea, a heart murmur and cranial abdominal bruit were detected on physical examination. Echocardiography revealed volume overload in all heart chambers. CT angiography identified an abnormal communication between the hepatic arterial circulation and the portal vein, along with multiple acquired shunts. The abnormal vascular communication was surgically ligated. Echocardiography documented improvement in cardiac parameters following surgery and the cat continues to have no clinical signs 39 months after surgery. This report describes successful surgical management of feline hepatic arterioportal fistula for the first time