1,720,973 research outputs found
Echocardiographic values in healthy Pugs: Effect of body weight, age, and sex
No full textBackground: Transthoracic echocardiography represents the main noninvasive technique for evaluating cardiac morphology and function in dogs. In dogs with particular somatotypes, such as brachymorphic dogs, breed-specific echocardiographic values are needed for a proper echocardiographic interpretation. Nowadays, the Pug represents one of the most popular brachymorphic canine breeds worldwide. However, data on echocardiographic measurements in this breed are currently limited. Aim: We aimed to determine echocardiographic values in a population of apparently healthy Pugs, and to assess the possible effects of body weight (BW), age, and sex on selected echocardiographic variables, with particular emphasis on those related to the left-sided cardiac chambers. Methods: Apparently healthy Pugs underwent a full physical examination, a 1-minute six-lead electrocardiogram, and a complete transthoracic echocardiography. Twenty-four echocardiographic variables were measured by combining M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler modalities, and relative values were determined by applying the statistical procedures recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Moreover, the effect of selected demographic variables on echocardiographic measurements was tested using a linear mixed model. Results: The investigation included 86 Pugs. Echocardiographic values were provided for each variable and compared with previous veterinary literature. A statistically significant effect of BW, age, and sex was documented for several of the tested variables. Doppler examination demonstrated a trivial pulmonary regurgitation in 24/86 (27.9%) Pugs. Moreover, a persistent left cranial vena cava was suspected in 4/86 (4.7%) dogs. Conclusion: Echocardiographic features of the Pug were addressed and echocardiographic values were made available for clinical use. Because our findings were obtained using a standardized echocardiographic analysis in a population of 86 healthy Pugs, they may act as a reliable guide for an accurate echocardiographic interpretation in this breed
Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in Seropositive Cats in Northern Italy
Full text linkFeline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is responsible for immunodeficiency syndrome in cats. Several viral subtypes have been identified, each with a variable geographical distribution. To date, the subtype B is known to be the genotype spread in Italy. In this study, the genetic diversity of FIV in northern Italy was assessed by detecting proviral DNA in the blood samples of 50 cats determined to be positive through an anti-FIV antibodies test. These cats were tested using six different PCR assays, and the identified viruses were sequenced and analyzed. Forty-eight cats were confirmed positive, and several FIV subtypes were characterized. As expected, the subtype B was the most commonly observed, and the subtype A was reported for the first time in Italy. Moreover, a new taxon possibly representing an additional FIV subtype was detected, and one virus belonging to subtype B potentially had a recombinant origin. The genetic variability between the FIV viruses that emerged in this study may lead to the potential diagnostic failure of single molecular tests. Therefore, a new diagnostic strategy, which adopts different molecular tests and sequencing, is recommended to monitor the evolution and spread of FIV
The canine T wave: a retrospective analysis on qualitative and quantitative T wave variables obtained in 129 healthy dogs and proposed reference intervals
Full text linkThe 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
Does Acidification Affect Urinary Creatinine in Dairy Cattle?
No full textNitrogen 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 < 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 < 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
Retrospective evaluation of the ST segment electrocardiographic features in 180 healthy dogs
Full text linkOBJECTIVES: 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
Endoscopic and surgical treatment of non‐neoplastic proximal duodenal ulceration in dogs, and anatomical study of proximal duodenal vascularisation
No full textObjectives: Proximal duodenal ulceration is often characterised by continuous bleeding, and treatment is challenging. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of vascularisation in proximal duodenal ulceration and describe clinical aspects, endoscopic features and treatment in dogs. Material and Methods: Polyurethane foam casts of gastroduodenal vessels were obtained from five dogs which had died from disorders unrelated to the digestive system. In addition, 12 dogs having proximal duodenal ulcers diagnosed by endoscopic examination were enrolled in a treatment trial. After the endoscopic diagnosis of a duodenal ulcer, all the dogs were treated medically and, in the absence of resolution, were subsequently treated by endoscopic electrocauterisation or by surgery. Results: A submucosal vascular network was evident in all the casts, with a prominent venous plexus seen exclusively in the first half inch of the duodenum. In clinical cases, on endoscopic examination, the duodenal ulcer was located at the proximal part of the duodenum, involving the mesenteric portion of the wall. The dogs not responding to medical treatment (6/12) were treated with endoscopic electrocauterisation, surgical coagulation or resection of the proximal duodenal portion. All the dogs survived until discharge, and the median survival time following discharge was 107.5 days. Clinical Significance: Based on the anatomical details highlighted in this study, the continuous bleeding observed in our patients may have been due to the prominent venous plexus evidenced at the level of the proximal duodenum. Surgical and endoscopic treatments in six patients resolved the ulcer bleeding with no recurrences noted during follow-up
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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