The aim of the study was to investigate the stress-reducing effect of a casozepine before a veterinary examination in dogs. It should be examined whether the dogs are less stressed during a ...standardized veterinary examination after an oral application of casozepine over 2 days and whether the administration has an influence on the salivary concentrations of the stress hormones vasopressin and cortisol. Across the study group (n=36), a significantly lower stress score (P=0.0026) and lower mean (P=0.01) and maximum (P=0.024) pulse rates were seen at follow-up after casozepine administration, in contrast to the placebo group (n=26). Salivary vasopressin concentrations increased during follow-up in the placebo group (P=0.04), whereas they remained the same in the casozepine group. Cortisol concentrations increased during follow-up in the casozepin group (P=0.01). The results indicate that although dogs in both groups remained excited at follow-up, short-term casozepine administration before a veterinary visit had a weak stress-reducing effect in dogs based on subjective stress scoring and pulse rate.
•Lower stress score was seen was seen after casozepine administration.•Lower mean and maximum pulse rates were seen after casozepine administration.•Salivary vasopressin increased during clinical examination in the placebo group.•Salivary vasopressin remained the same during examination in the casozepine group.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objectives
To compare the efficacy of polyhexanide, cold argon plasma and saline in reducing bacterial bio‐burden in dog bite wounds.
Materials and Methods
Prospective blinded randomised clinical ...trial. Dogs were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups by lottery and bacterial cultures obtained before and after treatment were compared. Bite wounds were surgically debrided and treated with polyhexanide, cold argon plasma or saline lavage. All wounds were cultured three times: directly after debridement, directly after prelavage with 2 mL/cm2 (saline in the saline and cold argon plasma group, or polyhexanide) and following the definitive lavage. Data were analysed using a generalised linear model for ordinal data.
Results
A total of 85 dogs were enrolled in this study (polyhexanide n=29, cold argon plasma n=28, saline n=28). Positive bacterial culture results after debridement were obtained in 53/85 (62.3%) wounds. Polyhexanide and saline lavage significantly reduced the bio‐burden, while cold argon plasma treatment did not. This effect was evident after prelavage when polyhexanide performed significantly better than saline and cold argon plasma as well as after final treatment. No significant differences were detected after prelavage or main treatment between saline and cold argon plasma.
Clinical Significance
Polyhexanide lavage achieved the best immediate and ultimate decontamination of bite wounds.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Objectives
To evaluate progression and complications of various cataract aetiologies and stages of development.
Materials and Methods
In all, 447 eyes of 250 dogs with cataracts were monitored ...between 2012 and 2015. Breed, gender, age, vision, types of cataract, stage of cataract development (incipient, immature, mature and hypermature), complications of cataracts, ocular ultrasonography and electroretinography findings were recorded. Re‐examinations were performed after a minimum of 1, 6 and 12 months. A relative rate of progression within 1 month was determined and progression was categorised as stationary, slow, moderate or rapid.
Results
Overall, 44∙7% cataracts progressed and 55∙3% remained stationary. Incipient, immature, mature and hypermature cataracts progressed in 34∙1, 72∙7, 66∙7 and 44∙6% of cases, respectively. Hereditary, congenital, diabetic, contusive trauma‐related, perforating trauma‐related, radiation‐related, senile cataracts and cataracts secondary to concurrent ocular diseases progressed in 47∙1, 66∙7, 66∙7, 50, 44∙4, 0, 29∙9 and 48∙9% of cases, respectively. Rapid progression was identified in 13∙3% of diabetic and 4∙3% of hereditary cataracts. Complications were diagnosed in 43∙5% and occurred at any stage but more frequently the further the cataract had developed. Lens‐induced uveitis was the most common complication. Diabetic, traumatic, secondary and hereditary cataracts were associated with more complications than senile cataracts.
Clinical Significance
Stage of development and cataract aetiology are associated with different rates of progression and complications.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Femtosecond pulses from X-ray free-electron lasers offer a powerful method for observing the coherent dynamic of phonons in crystalline materials, it is now shown. This time-resolved spectroscopic ...tool could provide insight into low-energy collective excitations in solids and how they interact at a microscopic level to determine the material's macroscopic properties.
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IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
We demonstrate single-shot temporal characterization of relativistic electron bunches using single-cycle terahertz (THz) field streaking. A transverse deflecting structure consisting of a metal slit ...enables efficient coupling of the THz field and electron bunch. The intrinsically stable carrier envelope phase and strong gradient of the THz pulses allow simultaneous, self-calibrated determination of the time-of-arrival with subfemtosecond precision and bunch duration with single-femtosecond precision, respectively, opening up new opportunities for ultrafast electron diffraction as well as accelerator technologies in general.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Repeated observations of enhanced bone growth around various degradable magnesium alloys in vivo raise the question: what is the major mutual origin of this biological stimulus? Several possible ...origins, e.g. the metal surface properties, electrochemical interactions and biological effects of alloying elements, can be excluded by investigating the sole bone response to the purified major corrosion product of all magnesium alloys, magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)
2). Isostatically compressed cylinders of pure Mg(OH)
2 were implanted into rabbit femur condyles for 2–6
weeks. We observed a temporarily increased bone volume (BV/TV) in the vicinity of Mg(OH)
2 at 4
weeks that returned to a level that was equal to the control at 6
weeks. The osteoclast surface (OcS/BS) was significantly reduced during the first four weeks around the Mg(OH)
2 cylinder, while an increase in osteoid surface (OS/BS) was observed at the same time. At 6
weeks, the OcS/BS adjacent to the Mg(OH)
2 cylinder was back within the same range of the control. The mineral apposition rate (MAR) was extensively enhanced until 4
weeks in the Mg(OH)
2 group before matching the control. Thus, the enhanced bone formation and temporarily decreased bone resorption resulted in a higher bone mass around the slowly dissolving Mg(OH)
2 cylinder. These data support the hypothesis that the major corrosion product Mg(OH)
2 from any magnesium alloy is the major origin of the observed enhanced bone growth in vivo. Further studies have to evaluate if the enhanced bone growth is mainly due to the local magnesium ion concentration or the local alkalosis accompanying the Mg(OH)
2 dissolution.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The interactions between electrons and lattice vibrations are fundamental to materials behaviour. In the case of group IV-VI, V and related materials, these interactions are strong, and the materials ...exist near electronic and structural phase transitions. The prototypical example is PbTe whose incipient ferroelectric behaviour has been recently associated with large phonon anharmonicity and thermoelectricity. Here we show that it is primarily electron-phonon coupling involving electron states near the band edges that leads to the ferroelectric instability in PbTe. Using a combination of nonequilibrium lattice dynamics measurements and first principles calculations, we find that photoexcitation reduces the Peierls-like electronic instability and reinforces the paraelectric state. This weakens the long-range forces along the cubic direction tied to resonant bonding and low lattice thermal conductivity. Our results demonstrate how free-electron-laser-based ultrafast X-ray scattering can be utilized to shed light on the microscopic mechanisms that determine materials properties.
Background
Cat breeders observed a frequent occurrence of internal hydrocephalus in Persian cats with extreme brachycephalic head morphology.
Objective
To investigate a possible relationship among ...the grade of brachycephaly, ventricular dilatation, and skull dysmorphologies in Persian cats.
Animals
92 Persian‐, 10 Domestic shorthair cats.
Methods
The grade of brachycephaly was determined on skull models based on CT datasets. Cranial measurements were examined with regard to a possible correlation with relative ventricular volume, and cranial capacity. Persians with high (peke‐face Persians) and lower grades of brachycephaly (doll‐face Persians) were investigated for the presence of skull dysmorphologies.
Results
The mean cranial index of the peke‐face Persians (0.97 ± 0.14) was significantly higher than the mean cranial index of doll‐face Persians (0.66 ± 0.04; P < 0.001). Peke‐face Persians had a lower relative nasal bone length (0.15 ± 0.04) compared to doll‐face (0.29 ± 0.08; P < 0.001). The endocranial volume was significantly lower in doll‐face than peke‐face Persians (89.6 ± 1.27% versus 91.76 ± 2.07%; P < 0.001). The cranial index was significantly correlated with this variable (Spearman's r: 0.7; P < 0.0001). Mean ventricle: Brain ratio of the peke‐face group (0.159 ± 0.14) was significantly higher compared to doll‐face Persians (0.015 ± 0.01; P < 0.001).
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
High grades of brachycephaly are also associated with malformations of the calvarial and facial bones as well as dental malformations. As these dysmorphologies can affect animal welfare, the selection for extreme forms of brachycephaly in Persian cats should be reconsidered.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
For highly heritable brain disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, investigating genetic effects on the level of neural systems seems an obvious approach. Nevertheless, the usefulness of the ...intermediate phenotypes ('endo' phenotypes) continues to be debated energetically. We argue that, while not all intermediate phenotypes are created equal, the hypothesis-driven investigation of the translational cascades linking genetic variation to disturbed behavior is a viable and important strategy that should not be supplanted by an exclusive focus on brainless, clinical/categorical phenotypes investigated in very large numbers of participants.
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