The main source of vitamin D in dogs is their diet. Information on vitamin D in dogs and on factors that may influence the serum concentration of 25(OH)D are still scarce. This study aimed at ...determining serum 25(OH)D values in healthy dogs and evaluating its association with factors such as sex, age, and diet. Blood samples were collected from healthy intact male and female dogs divided into two groups: (G1) 30 dogs (Beagles), 15 adults and 15 puppies, receiving standardized diet; (G2) 29 dogs of different breeds, adults, receiving varied diets. The 25(OH)D was analyzed by the chemiluminescence method. Serum levels of 25(OH)D are not associated with sex, but the concentration is lower in puppies (30.6 ng/mL) than in adults (34.9 ng/mL) (G1),
P
< 0.05. There was no difference between the types of diet: commercial food (40.6 ng/mL), and the combination of commercial and homemade food (36.0 ng/mL),
P
= 0.2. The concentration of 25(OH)D may not be directly associated with vitamin D intake (G1),
P
= 0.08, which emphasizes the importance of considering and investigating multiple variables that may influence the availability of vitamin D in their circulation.
To report a series of pitfalls and complications in a case of cochlear implantation.
Case report.
An 11-year-old boy affected by auditory neuropathy underwent cochlear implantation. Intra-operative ...assessment was apparently consistent with correct insertion of the electrode array into the cochlea. However, subsequent high resolution computed tomography revealed that the entire electrode array was curled up within the vestibule. Revision surgery was complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. A straight probe was repeatedly inserted into the internal auditory canal, before conversion to a canal wall down procedure and appropriate positioning of the electrode array.
In this case, mild anteriorisation of the facial nerve created an awkward insertion angle for the electrode array via the retro-facial route, which may have triggered the described series of adverse events.
Abstract
Introduction
Myocardial Infarction (MI) with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) is now a recognised MI subtype. A 2013 systematic review of MINOCA literature indicated that MINOCA ...prognosis is favourable compared to those with MI and obstructive coronary artery disease (MICAD), but healthy controls were not included. With the growth of recent literature and evaluation of MINOCA prognosis, we performed an in-depth analysis of MINOCA prognosis, in relation to 1-year all-cause mortality and 1-year re-infarction compared with MICAD patients and a healthy cohort.
Methods
An unrestricted literature search was conducted on the terms “MI”, “non-obstructive”, “angiography” and “prognosis” using PubMed and Embase. Publications with non-consecutive recruitment, less than 100 MINOCA patients or selection bias (i.e. restricted age group) were excluded. MINOCA & MICAD were defined as the presence of an MI (as per the universal criteria) in the absence & presence of CAD (i.e. epicardial vessel with a stenosis ≥50% on angiography), respectively. The healthy cohort was defined as those with no history of cardiovascular diseases. Unpublished data were accumulated via the MINOCA Global Collaboration. Data from the included studies were pooled and analysed using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Odds ratios (ORs), mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for proportion and continuous data respectively.
Results
The search identified 2889 unique publications, of which 27 included prognosis data. Of the 563660 consecutive MI patients, the overall pooled prevalence of MINOCA wasat 8.7% (95% CI: 7.5%-9.9%). The 1-year mortality and 1-year re-infarction data by diagnosis are presented in the table.
Prognosis comparison by diagnosis
MINOCA (n=41658)
MINOCA vs MICAD
MINOCA vs Healthy
% (95% CI)
MINOCA (n=16642)
MICAD (n=174461)
Mean difference or OR 95% CI
MINOCA (n=8465)
Healthy (n=33074)
Mean difference or OR 95% CI
Years or % (95% CI)
Years or % (95% CI)
Years or % (95% CI)
Years or % (95% CI)
Age
61 (60–62)
61 (59–63)
64 (63–66)
3.2 (2.2–4.2)
62 (57–66)
60 (58–63)
1.6 (−5–8.6)
Female
51 (48–53)
51 (48–55)
28 (26–30)
2.8 (2.5–3.1)
56 (48–64)
38 (24–52)
2.2 (1.3–3.7)
1 year mortality
3.4 (2.9–4)
3.4 (2.9–3.9)
5.5 (4.7–6.2)
0.6 (0.5–0.7)
2.6 (1.2–4)
0.7 (0.5–1)
3.7 (1.7–8.2)
1 year Re-MI
2.7 (2.1–3.3)
2.8 (1.8–3.7)
5.7 (3.9–7.5)
0.5 (0.4–0.7)
3.5 (0–7)
0.3 (0–0.6)
14.1 (9.5–21.2)
Conclusions
This pooled analysis shows that MINOCA accounts for almost one in ten MI presentations. The risks of re-infarction and death among MINOCA patients are much higher than in healthy controls, but lower than for MICAD patients. Efforts are needed to improve understanding of the optimal management and secondary prevention strategies in this unique and heterogeneous population.
This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary investigation of the wreck of a riverine flat-bottom sewn barge dated to the fifth century AD. The wreck was recovered west of the city of ...Comacchio (Ferrara, North Italy), near the sixth century church Santa Maria in Padovetere (SMP). It was found in the silty sediments filling a paleo channel of the Po River and is one of the very few well-preserved inland watercrafts from the Roman period known in southern Europe. Thanks to the high level of conservation of the organic matter, archaeobotanical analyses of the bilge sediments, rope fragments, caulking, and wood elements and chemical analyses of the pitch have revealed the local provenance of the barge's materials, the craft's possible use, and the environment in which it sailed. A geomorphological study of the area where the wreck was found led to a reconstruction of the flooding event that could be responsible for the barge's abandonment.
The drugs used in chemotherapy treatments have little specificity, attack tumor cells, and also injure proliferative tissues. Knowledge of the functions of micronutrients has greatly increased, ...especially of Selenium (Se) that presents immunomodulatory and antitumor functions. The present study evaluated the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas (LL) and solid tumors (ST) while receiving Selenium (Se) supplementation. This is a randomized, double-blind, crossover study that evaluated the quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire), renal and liver functions of patients supplemented with Se. There was no statistically significant alteration in LL patients. However, the fatigue and nausea scores after 30 days did decrease in this group as well as in the ST group. After 1 year supplementation with Selenium, a more noticeable decrease in the scores concerning fatigue and nausea could be observed in the ST group, when compared with the beginning of the study. The LL patients also presented a decrease in the fatigue scores and physical functions. The kidney function as well as liver function has improved after Selenium supplementation when compared with the placebo intake in LL and ST patients, more remarkably in the LL group. Supplementation with Selenium promotes the reduction of chemotherapy side effects in cancer patients, especially by improving the conditions of patients with fatigue, nausea, and impaired physical function. Renal and liver functions have also improved.
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