Urinary and plasma catecholamines and metanephrines in dogs with pheochromocytoma, hypercortisolism, nonadrenal disease and in healthy dogs.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PC) is based on a combination of clinical suspicion, finding an adrenal mass, increased plasma, and urine concentrations of catecholamine metabolites and is finally confirmed with histopathology. In human medicine, it is controversial whether biochemically testing plasma is superior to testing urine. OBJECTIVES: To measure urinary and plasma catecholamines and metanephrines in healthy dogs, dogs with PC, hypercortisolism (HC), and nonadrenal diseases (NAD) and to determine the test with the best diagnostic performance for dogs with PC. ANIMALS: Seven PC dogs, 10 dogs with HC, 14 dogs with NAD, 10 healthy dogs. METHODS: Prospective diagnostic clinical study. Urine and heparin plasma samples were collected and stored at -80°C before analysis using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrochemical detection or tandem mass spectrometry were performed. Urinary variables were expressed as ratios to urinary creatinine concentration. RESULTS: Dogs with PC had significantly higher urinary normetanephrine and metanephrine : creatinine ratios and significantly higher plasma-total and free normetanephrine and plasma-free metanephrine concentrations compared to the 3 other groups. There were no overlapping results of urinary normetanephrine concentrations between PC and all other groups, and only one PC dog with a plasma normetanephrine concentration in the range of the dogs with HC and NAD disease. Performances of total and free plasma variables were similar. Overlap of epinephrine and norepinephrine results between the groups was large with both urine and plasma. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Measurement of normetanephrine is the preferred biochemical test for PC and urine was superior to plasma

Cruise Report - METEOR-Berichte Azores Plateau Cruise No. M128 02.07.2016 – 27.07.2016, Ponta Delgada (Azores, Portugal) – Ponta Delgada (Azores, Portugal)

The research program of cruise M128 Azores Plateau mainly aimed at improving our understanding of the igneous and tectonic processes that occur during the initial emplacement of large igneous plateaus and the subsequent interaction between intraplate volcanism and ultraslow rifting. The sampling program targeted the oldest and youngest igneous volcanic edifices in the Azores to better constrain the age of the submarine Plateau and the processes that led to changes in the magmatic activity. We obtained a total of more than 330 rock samples and more than 435 biological specimens during 70 TV grab stations (63 containing samples) and 19 successful ROV dives. The combination of bathymetric maps (1980 km hydroacoustic profile length) and petrological samples allows us to better constrain the evolution of rift systems in this tectonically and magmatically active region. A major sampling focus were the volcanic rift systems west of the islands along the Terceira Rift axis and west of São Jorge and Faial. In addition, six stratigraphic dive profiles will yield important constraints on the early magmatic evolution of the Azores Plateau. The samples and geochemical, petrological, volcanological and biological data will provide a unique and detailed picture of how and when the Azores submarine Plateau formed and the extent to which the local tectonic processes influenced the formation and ascent of melts. The macrofauna samples will yield detailed information on the function of the Azores Plateau as a bathymetric swell in the Central Atlantic Ocean

Investigating the factors influencing professional identity of first-year health and social care students

Interprofessional education (IPE) involves students from different professions being brought together to learn about each other's profession. Several models of IPE exist, and central to the debate around which of these models is the most appropriate is the question of the stage of training in which to implement these programmes. Currently, however, there is no consensus on this question. Debate so far has revolved around the strength of professional identities, or lack thereof, amongst pre-qualifying students and how this may influence interprofessional learning. The potential role of professional identity in IPE seems to be unresolved. The present article adds to this debate by investigating the level of professional identity when students commence their professional studies; the differences in the level of professional identity between students from a range of professions; and the factors which may affect the initial levels of professional identification. Data were collected by questionnaire from the first-year cohort of Health and Social Care (H&SC) students embarking on IPE as an embedded part of an undergraduate pre-qualifying programme. A sample of 1254 students was achieved. Professional identity was measured using an adaptation of a previously described scale. Our findings suggest that a degree of professional identity is evident before students begin their training. Differences in strength of initial professional identity were observed across professions, with physiotherapy students displaying the highest levels of professional identification. To test for associations between professional identity and a number of independent variables, an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was estimated. The variables that were found to be significant predictors of baseline professional identity were: gender; profession; previous work experience in H&SC environments; understanding of team working; knowledge of profession; and cognitive flexibility. Some explanations for these findings are presented and the implications are discussed