Search

B-mode ultrasound is routinely performed to evaluate the prostate gland in neutered dogs, although, the detection of malignancies may be challenging. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has shown to be useful for the assessment of prostatic perfusion in normal and diseased dogs, although the interpretation of contrast ultrasonographic features may still be subjective. A quantitative tool for evaluating prostatic perfusion might improve the reliability of the results in terms of early detection of prostate neoplasia in neutered dogs. The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of a postprocessing analysis tool to CEUS of the prostate in healthy neutered dogs, to provide quantitative measurements, and to study the influence of individual characteristics on prostatic regression. Twenty-three neutered dogs underwent a B-mode and CEUS examination of the prostate to acquire data about prostatic morphology and microcirculation. The prostate was imaged using a 5-7.5 MHz linear transducer and contrast was administered intravenously. Videoclips were analyzed by using Qontrast software and a postprocessing digital analysis tool (ImageJ) to measure perfusion peak intensity, time to peak, and vascularization ratio at the moment of the peak, which were then related to body weight, age, and time elapsed since orchiectomy. Correlation tests revealed higher vascularization in younger compared with older dogs (P < .05) and in smaller compared with larger dogs (P < .05). Time elapsed since orchiectomy (P > .05) did not affect prostatic perfusion. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and the postprocessing analysis tool ImageJ allowed analysis of vascular perfusion in all dogs and have the potential to improve the diagnostic possibilities for andrological examination., (© 2024 American College of Veterinary Radiology.)

Background: One in five individuals live with chronic pain globally, which often co-occurs with sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. Although these conditions are commonly managed with cannabinoid-based medicines (CBM), health care providers report lack of information on the risks, benefits, and appropriate use of CBM for therapeutic purposes. Aims: We present these clinical practice guidelines to help clinicians and patients navigate appropriate CBM use in the management of chronic pain and co-occurring conditions. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies investigating the use of CBM for the treatment of chronic pain. Articles were dually reviewed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Clinical recommendations were developed based on available evidence from the review. Values and preferences and practical tips have also been provided to support clinical application. The GRADE system was used to rate the strength of recommendations and quality of evidence. Results: From our literature search, 70 articles met inclusion criteria and were utilized in guideline development, including 19 systematic reviews and 51 original research studies. Research typically demonstrates moderate benefit of CBM in chronic pain management. There is also evidence for efficacy of CBM in the management of comorbidities, including sleep problems, anxiety, appetite suppression, and for managing symptoms in some chronic conditions associated with pain including HIV, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. Conclusions: All patients considering CBM should be educated on risks and adverse events. Patients and clinicians should work collaboratively to identify appropriate dosing, titration, and administration routes for each individual. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO no. 135886.

Dry cow treatment with an intramammary antibiotic is recommended to reduce the risk of mastitis at the beginning of the next lactation. The dry period may be shortened unintentionally, affecting antibiotic residue depletion and the time when residues reach concentrations below the maximum residue limit (MRL). The objective of this study was to evaluate residue depletion in milk after dry cow treatment with cloxacillin, considering dry periods of 14 (G14d), 21 (G21d), and 28 d (G28d). Overall, fifteen cows with 60 udder quarters were included in the study. For each cow, three of the udder quarters were treated with 1000 mg cloxacillin benzathine (2:1) on d 252, d 259, and d 266 of gestation; one quarter was left untreated. Milk samples were drawn until 20 DIM and milk composition, somatic cell count and cloxacillin residues were analyzed. The HPLC-MS/MS revealed different excretion kinetics for the compounds cloxacillin and cloxacillin benzathine (1:1). All cows showed a cloxacillin and cloxacillin benzathine (1:1) concentration below the MRL of 30 µg/kg after 5 d. In the udder quarters of G21d and G28d, the cloxacillin concentration was already below the MRL at first milking after calving. The cloxacillin benzathine (1:1) concentration in the milk of G28d, G21d, and G14d fell below 30 µg/kg on the 5th, 3rd, and 5th DIM, respectively. Shortening the dry period affects residue depletion after dry cow treatment with cloxacillin. The risk of exceeding the MRL, however, seems low, even with dry periods shorter than 14 d.

Objective: Innovative teaching strategies such as case-based learning and hands-on training are more and more integrated into undergraduate veterinary teaching. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that lectures still play an important role in many vet schools. Nowadays, however, lectures are questioned to be motivating and engaging enough for a long-lasting learning retention. In this context, we compared acceptance and learning outcome of the teaching methods reading, writing, and listening to a presentation., Material and Methods: In structured settings based on a cross-over design, 151 students in their fifth year attending a 2-weeks clinical rotation at the Clinic for Animal Reproduction were asked to read papers, listen to a presentation by a lecturer, and to write a summary in group work. Each task dealt with 1 of 3 topics from the field of animal reproduction. A week later, the students were asked to complete a multiple-choice test and an evaluation form. The test contained questions about each of the covered topics as well as a fourth topic, which was not taught in context of this project to assess the students' prior knowledge., Results: The results revealed that writing a summary in group work led to the best learning outcome, but it cannot be ruled out that learning success may have depended to a large extent on group work. Furthermore, the results did not differ significantly from the second-best teaching method listening to a presentation. The teaching method students preferred most was the lecture, followed by reading papers and writing a summary., Conclusions: We conclude that presentations by lecturers are still an important teaching method but can be complemented by writing tasks, which may be used in specific settings as a possible way to improve learning outcome in veterinary education., Conclusion for Practice: Our project supports the assumption that more active, student-centered learning approaches such as writing summaries can lead to more engagement and a better learning retention. In addition, training writing skills is important because clinical reports and other written communication are relevant parts of daily veterinary routine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.The authors gratefully thank the participants of the study. In addition, we thank the staff of the Clinic for Animal Reproduction as well as the students attending the clinical rotation in 2014 who discussed this project with us and helped to develop the teaching material and the evaluation forms., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Objective: Explicitly addressing suicidality in group therapy is often avoided due to the fear of contagion effects. However, there is some evidence that this fear is not valid. Therefore, the present study aims at contributing to this question by investigating the session-specific effects of two modules on suicidality that are part of the Metacognitive Training for Depression (D-MCT/S)., Methods: Forty-four patients with depression participated in the two modules on suicidality of the D-MCT/S. Before and after each group session, patients filled out a questionnaire asking for symptoms of suicidality, associated cognitions (e.g., hopelessness), and associated emotions (e.g., anger). Data were analyzed by linear mixed-effect models., Results: Approximately 84% of the patients had experienced lifetime suicidal ideation. No within- or between-session effects were found for the modules on suicidality. Sample size was large enough to find small to medium effects (within-session analyses) and medium to large effects (between-session analyses)., Conclusion: The modules on suicidality did not specifically change suicidal symptoms or associated cognitions and emotions immediately or by the next session. Most importantly, our results disconfirm evidence on deterioration when suicidality is addressed in a highly structured group setting. Whether the current findings also apply to other forms of group therapies needs to be investigated in future studies. HIGHLIGHTSSession-specific investigations allow a thoroughly examination of an interventionMetacognitive Training for Depression showed no contagion effect on suicidality.

Introduction: Chronic pain of various origin is known to be associated with selective cognitive impairment. Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is one of the leading causes of chronic pain in the adult population, but its association with cognitive performance has not been evaluated. Here, we investigate the effect of chronic pain due to unilateral OA of one hip and no further source of chronic pain on cognitive performance., Materials and Methods: A neuropsychological test battery, consisting of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, Rivermead behavioural memory test, d2 test of attention, and F-A-S test was applied in 148 patients and 82 healthy pain-free control individuals. The influence of potentially confounding factors such as depression and anxiety was examined., Results: Patients with OA of the hip showed decreased performance in specific neuropsychological tests. Performance in verbal and visual short-term and long-term memory and selective attention tests was significantly poorer compared to healthy controls. Whereas the executive functions "updating", "set shifting", "response inhibition" and "reflection" appear intact, "problem solving" and "planning" were impaired. None of the confounders showed any influence on cognitive performance in both study groups., Conclusion: We conclude that chronic pain secondary to end-stage hip OA is associated with selective cognitive impairment. Future studies are required to investigate the effect of total hip arthroplasty on cognitive performance., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Although fetal fluids, amnion (AM) and allantois (AL), have been studied at the end of pregnancy in the bitch, little is known about their composition during gestation. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the biochemical parameters of fetal fluids collected from healthy pregnant bitches in mid pregnancy. Fetal fluids were collected from 26 pregnant bitches between 35 and 62 days from ovulation based on ultrasonography. A total of 149 samples were analyzed; 94 samples of known origin (61 a.m. and 33 AL) from 17 dams, which included 17 paired samples (AM and AL from the same fetus; 34 samples), and 55 of unknown origin from nine dams. Reference ranges were formulated for 22 biochemical parameters in AM and AL based on the samples of known origin (n = 94). All parameters (creatinine, albumin, GGT and urea) significantly different between AM and AL were included (by mixed model ANOVA) in the analysis and an algorithm to predict the origin of the fluid was developed (by logistic regression). Overall, of the 94 samples, 79 samples (84%) were correctly identified by the algorithm. For the 33 allantois samples, and for the 61 amnion samples, 23 (69.7%) and 56 (91.8%) were correctly identified by the algorithm, respectively. Based on the algorithm, 31 of the unknown samples (58%) were classified as amnion and 22 samples (42%), as allantois fluid. For all the unknown samples, the average certainty was 86% (compared to 81% for the samples whose fluid type was known), showing the degree of precision of the classification., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Metacognitive training for depression (D-MCT) is a novel low-intensity group training for economic treatment of depression. Previous studies demonstrate its efficacy in moderately depressed outpatients. The present study evaluated efficacy and patients' perspective of the D-MCT in severely depressed psychiatric inpatients., Methods: In a randomized-controlled trial, 75 individuals with a major depressive disorder (MDD) were allocated to D-MCT versus euthymic therapy as add-on (twice a week) to cognitive-behavioural-based (CBT) inpatient-care. Depressive symptoms (HDRS, BDI), dysfunctional (meta)cognition (DAS, MCQ-30) and subjective appraisal were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks (post) and 3 months (follow-up)., Results: Participants in both conditions showed a large decline in depression at post and follow-up-assessment. No superior add-effect of D-MCT versus active control emerged for depression severity on top of the inpatient care. However, among patients with a diagnosis of MDD with no (vs. at least one) comorbidity, D-MCT participants showed a larger decline in depressive (meta-)cognition at follow-up with medium-to-large effect sizes. D-MCT was evaluated as superior in overall appraisal, treatment preference, motivation and satisfaction., Limitations: The follow-up time interval of 3 months may have been too short to detect long-term effects. There is emerging evidence that modification of (meta)cognition unfolds its full effects only with time. Effects of CBT inpatient-care on outcome parameters cannot be differentiated., Conclusions: Although D-MCT as an add-on was not superior in complete case analyses, results suggest greater benefit for patients with MDD and no comorbidity. D-MCT proved feasible in acute-psychiatric inpatient-care and was highly accepted by patients. Future studies should investigate the role of modified (meta)cognition on long-term treatment outcome, including dropout and relapse rates., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Vaginal cytology is an important examination method in the context of gynecological disorders and cycle staging in the bitch. While collection and preparation of samples are easy, the evaluation appears to be challenging. Inconsistent definitions of cell attributes such as size, cornification and the appearance of the nucleus have been published. The aim of the project was to develop a tutorial for vaginal cell determination. To get a deeper insight into the use of cytology in practice, an online survey was distributed to veterinarians interested in small animal reproduction. Participants were asked to define eight cells and answer questions. The agreement of the 16 participants, working in eight different countries, determining the cells was poor (κ = 0.412). Eleven respondents stated that vaginal cytology has a low reliability. Nevertheless, 13 participants use this tool regularly. The tutorial was developed as a flowchart based on the survey results, scientific literature and own measurements. It guides the user systematically through the evaluation of specific cell characteristics. An evaluation of the results of five raters with difference experience levels led to a high agreement (κ = 0.858). Vaginal cytology is a useful diagnostic tool, but it seems helpful to standardize the determination of cell types., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Reckers, Klopfleisch, Belik and Arlt.)

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether total hip arthroplasty (THA) for chronic hip pain due to unilateral primary osteoarthritis (OA) has a beneficial effect on cognitive performance., Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 101 patients with end-stage hip OA scheduled for THA (mean age 67.4 years (SD 9.5), 51.5% female (n = 52)). Patients were assessed at baseline as well as after three and months. Primary outcome was cognitive performance measured by d2 Test of Attention at six months, Trail Making Test (TMT), FAS-test, Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT; story recall subtest), and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF). The improvement of cognitive performance was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance., Results: At six months, there was significant improvement in attention, working speed and concentration (d2-test; p < 0.001), visual construction and visual memory (ROCF; p < 0.001), semantic memory (FAS-test; p = 0.009), verbal episodic memory (RBMT; immediate recall p = 0.023, delayed recall p = 0.026), as well as pain (p < 0.001) with small to large effect sizes. Attention, concentration, and visual as well as verbal episodic memory improved significantly with medium effect sizes over η 2 partial = 0.06. In these cognitive domains the within-group difference exceeded the minimum clinically important difference., Conclusion: THA is associated with clinically relevant postoperative improvement in the cognitive functions of attention, concentration, and memory. These data support the concept of a broad interaction of arthroplasty with central nervous system function. Cite this article: Bone Joint J  2022;104-B(3):331-340.

Background: There is accumulating evidence that implicit measures improve the prediction of suicidality within a 6-month follow-up period in psychiatric populations. Building upon these results, we set out to expand the follow-up period and to investigate various implicit methods., Methods: Seventy-nine inpatients completed the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) and a range of implicit measures: three implicit association tests (IATs: Death; Self-harm-Me/Others; Self-Harm-Good/Bad) and a subliminal priming task (with separate scores for negative and positive adjectives, each indicating the association between the primes "dying" and "growing"). After 18 months, we reached n = 52 patients and reassessed suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts., Results: In a hierarchical regression, the five implicit task indices were entered after the patient's age, gender, and BSS score at baseline. The implicit scores improved prediction of BSS scores after 18 months compared to prediction based on age, gender, and BSS score at baseline alone. However, none of the implicit measures was associated with suicide plans or attempts during the follow-up period., Conclusion: Results suggest that implicit measures can be a useful assessment tool for the prediction of suicidal ideation, even beyond the BSS. However, long-term prediction of suicide plans or attempts using implicit measures seems limited., (© 2021 The Authors. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association of Suicidology.)

Background and Purpose: The aim was to study the effect of intravenous alteplase on the development of post-stroke depression (PSD) in acute stroke patients, and to identify predictors of PSD., Methods: This post hoc analysis included patients with unknown onset stroke randomized to treatment with alteplase or placebo in the WAKE-UP trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01525290), in whom a composite end-point of PSD was defined as a Beck Depression Inventory ≥10, medication with an antidepressant, or depression recorded as an adverse event. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of PSD at 90 days. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the indirect effect of thrombolysis on PSD mediated by the modified Rankin Scale., Results: Information on the composite end-point was available for 438 of 503 randomized patients. PSD was present in 96 of 224 (42.9%) patients in the alteplase group and 115 of 214 (53.7%) in the placebo group (odds ratio 0.63; 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.94; p = 0.022; adjusted for age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at baseline). Prognostic factors associated with PSD included baseline medication with antidepressants, higher lesion volume, history of depression and assignment to placebo. While 65% of the effect of thrombolysis on PSD were caused directly, 35% were mediated by an improvement of the mRS., Conclusions: Treatment with alteplase in patients with acute stroke resulted in lower rates of depression at 90 days, which were only partially explained by reduced functional disability. Predictors of PSD including history and clinical characteristics may help in identifying patients at risk of PSD., (© 2021 The Authors. European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Neurology.)

Recent evidence favours psychological interventions explicitly targeting suicidality; however, group treatments on suicidality are rare and are assumed to have unfavourable effects. We developed two modules specifically addressing suicidality that replace two existing modules in the Metacognitive Training for Depression (D-MCT). The aim of the current study was to examine the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of this intervention (D-MCT/S). Forty-eight inpatients with depression received eight sessions of D-MCT/S over 4 weeks in addition to standard treatment. Patients were assessed before the training, 4 and 8 weeks later regarding suicidality (primary outcome: Beck Suicide Scale [BSS]), hopelessness, depression (e.g. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS]), dysfunctional attitudes, and self-esteem. Negative effects of the modules and subjective appraisal were assessed. Suicidality, hopelessness, and depression decreased over time. Whereas the effects on the BSS only reached trend level, a large effect was observed when the suicide item of the HDRS was used. Two of the 46 patients (4%) reported a deterioration in their symptoms, but this was not associated with the D-MCT/S. Negative effects of the general training were rather low, and acceptability was high. In general, patients evaluated the two new modules on suicidality similarly to the established modules. However, both modules were assessed as distressing by 39% of the patients. When we addressed suicidality in the D-MCT/S, we did not observe any contagious effects. In fact, the pilot versions of the two modules on suicidality are promising in terms of feasibility, safety, and acceptability. The results will be used to improve current shortcomings. The trial was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (#DRKS-ID: DRKS00010543) on 23 August 2016., (© 2020 The Authors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Neutral [Ru(η 6 -arene)Cl 2 {Ph 2 P(CH 2 ) 3 SPh-κ P }] (arene = benzene, indane, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene: 2a , 2c and 2d ) and cationic [Ru(η 6 -arene)Cl(Ph 2 P(CH 2 ) 3 SPh-κ P ,κ S )]X complexes (arene = mesitylene, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene; X = Cl: 3b , 3e ; arene = benzene, mesitylene, indane, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, and 1,4-dihydronaphthalene; X = PF 6 : 4a - 4e ) complexes were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1 H, 13 C and 31 P NMR spectroscopy and also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The stability of the complexes has been investigated in DMSO. Complexes have been assessed for their cytotoxic activity against 518A2, 8505C, A253, MCF-7 and SW480 cell lines. Generally, complexes exhibited activity in the lower micromolar range; moreover, they are found to be more active than cisplatin. For the most active ruthenium(II) complex, 4b , bearing mesitylene as ligand, the mechanism of action against 8505C cisplatin resistant cell line was determined. Complex 4b induced apoptosis accompanied by caspase activation.

Within the second funding period of the SPP 1708 "Material Synthesis near Room Temperature",which started in 2017, we were able to synthesize novel anionic species utilizing Ionic Liquids (ILs) both, as reaction media and reactant. ILs, bearing the decomposable and non-innocent methyl carbonate anion [CO 3 Me] - , served as starting material and enabled facile access to pseudohalide salts by reaction with Me 3 Si-X (X=CN, N 3 , OCN, SCN). Starting with the synthesized Room temperature Ionic Liquid (RT-IL) [nBu 3 MeN][B(OMe) 3 (CN)], we were able to crystallize the double salt [nBu 3 MeN] 2 [B(OMe) 3 (CN)](CN). Furthermore, we studied the reaction of [WCC]SCN and [WCC]CN (WCC=weakly coordinating cation) with their corresponding protic acids HX (X=SCN, CN), which resulted in formation of [H(NCS) 2 ] - and the temperature labile solvate anions [CN(HCN) n ] - (n=2, 3). In addition, the highly labile anionic HCN solvates were obtained from [PPN]X ([PPN]=μ-nitridobis(triphenylphosphonium), X=N 3 , OCN, SCN and OCP) and HCN. Crystals of [PPN][X(HCN) 3 ] (X=N 3 , OCN) and [PPN][SCN(HCN) 2 ] were obtained when the crystallization was carried out at low temperatures. Interestingly, reaction of [PPN]OCP with HCN was noticed, which led to the formation of [P(CN) 2 ] - , crystallizing as HCN disolvate [PPN][P(CN⋅HCN) 2 ]. Furthermore, we were able to isolate the novel cyanido(halido) silicate dianions of the type [SiCl 0.78 (CN) 5.22 ] 2- and [SiF(CN) 5 ] 2- and the hexa-substituted [Si(CN) 6 ] 2- by temperature controlled halide/cyanide exchange reactions. By facile neutralization reactions with the non-innocent cation of [Et 3 HN] 2 [Si(CN) 6 ] with MOH (M=Li, K), Li 2 [Si(CN) 6 ] ⋅ 2 H 2 O and K 2 [Si(CN) 6 ] were obtained, which form three dimensional coordination polymers. From salt metathesis processes of M 2 [Si(CN) 6 ] with different imidazolium bromides, we were able to isolate new imidazolium salts and the ionic liquid [BMIm] 2 [Si(CN) 6 ]. When reacting [Mes(nBu)Im] 2 [Si(CN) 6 ] with an excess of the strong Lewis acid B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , the voluminous adduct anion {Si[CN⋅B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ] 6 } 2- was obtained., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: Chronic pain and co-occurring disorders, such as sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, are among the most common conditions for which cannabis and cannabinoid-based products derived from the cannabis plant (CBP) are used for therapeutic purposes. However, healthcare providers report that they lack sufficient information on the risks, benefits and appropriate use of cannabis and CBP derived from the cannabis plant for therapeutic purposes., Methods and Analysis: We will conduct a systematic review of studies investigating the use of cannabis and CBP derived from the cannabis plant for the treatment of chronic pain and co-occurring conditions. Randomised controlled trials, meta-analyses and observational studies will be prioritised. We will exclude reviews of cannabinoid mechanisms of actions, commentary articles and narrative reviews. The primary outcome of interest will be efficacy in relieving chronic pain. Secondary outcomes will be efficacy in ameliorating conditions such as sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. We will search electronic bibliographic databases including Academic Search Complete, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Evidence based Medicine Reviewes, OVID Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science. Two reviewers will conduct screening and data collection independently. Study level of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for randomised controlled trials and non-randomised studies. Narrative analysis will be utilised to interpret the data., Ethics and Dissemination: The results of this systematic review will inform guideline development for the use of cannabis and CBP derived from the cannabis plant in the management of chronic pain and co-occurring conditions. Areas requiring further study will also be highlighted., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42020135886., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Web-based interventions have been shown to be effective for the treatment of depression. However, interventions are often complex and include a variety of elements, making it difficult to identify the most effective component(s)., Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to shed light on mechanisms in the online treatment of depression by comparing a single-module, fully automated intervention for depression (internet-based behavioral activation [iBA]) to a nonoverlapping active control intervention and a nonactive control group., Methods: We assessed 104 people with at least mild depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, >4) via the internet at baseline (t 0 ) and 2 weeks (t 1 ) and 4 weeks (t 2 ) later. After the t 0 assessment, participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (1) iBA (n=37), (2) active control using a brief internet-based mindfulness intervention (iMBI, n=32), or (3) care as usual (CAU, n=35). The primary outcome was improvement in depressive symptoms, as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Secondary parameters included changes in activity, dysfunctional attitudes, and quality of life., Results: While groups did not differ regarding the change in depression from t 0 to t 1 (η p 2 =.007, P=.746) or t 0 to t 2 (η p 2 =.008, P=.735), iBA was associated with a larger decrease in dysfunctional attitudes from t 0 to t 2 in comparison to CAU (η p 2 =.053, P=.04) and a larger increase in activity from t 0 to t 1 than the pooled control groups (η p 2 =.060, P=.02). A change in depression from t 0 to t 2 was mediated by a change in activity from t 0 to t 1 . At t 1 , 22% (6/27) of the participants in the iBA group and 12% (3/25) of the participants in the iMBI group indicated that they did not use the intervention., Conclusions: Although we did not find support for the short-term efficacy of the single-module iBA regarding depression, long-term effects are still conceivable, potentially initiated by changes in secondary outcomes. Future studies should use a longer intervention and follow-up interval., Trial Registration: DKRS (#DRKS00011562)., (©Lena Jelinek, Sönke Arlt, Steffen Moritz, Johanna Schröder, Stefan Westermann, Barbara Cludius. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 26.03.2020.)

When [PPN]SCN (1; PPN = [Ph 3 P-N-PPh 3 ]) is treated with Me 3 Si-SCN in methanol, [PPN][H(NCS) 2 ] (2), a hydrogen diisothiocyanate salt bearing the [H(NCS) 2 ] - anion, was generated, isolated, and fully characterized. Pure heavy E(NCS) 3 [E = Sb (3), Bi (4)] species were obtained from the reaction of EF 3 and an excess of Me 3 Si-SCN, while the tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvates E(NCS) 3 ·THF were isolated when the product was recrystallized from THF. When 2 equiv of 1 was combined with Me 3 Si-SCN and SbF 3 , [PPN] 2 [Sb(NCS) 5 ] (5) could be isolated. When 1 was added to BiF 3 , [PPN] 2 [Bi(NCS) 3 (SCN) 2 ·THF] (6·THF), containing three SCN - ions coordinating via the N atom and two coordinating via the S atom, was isolated after recrystallization from THF. The structures of 1, 2, 3·THF, 4·THF, 5, and 6·THF were determined. 3·THF displayed a typical [3 + 3] coordination mode with a trigonal-pyramidal environment in the first coordination sphere of the Sb 3+ ion, and the dianion of 5, [Sb(NCS) 5 ] 2- , featured a classical square-pyramidal molecular geometry around the Sb 3+ ion with one additional Menshutkin-type interaction to one aryl ring of the [PPN] + cation. 4·THF exhibited a distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal structure within a two-dimensional network, while in 6·THF, an octahedrally surrounded Bi 3+ ion was observed.

Background: Delirium is common in old patients who undergo cardiac surgery, and it is associated with adverse outcomes. The genesis of delirium is thought to be multi-factorial, but it is still not well understood. Symptoms of depression and elevated cortisol level have been described in some previous studies as factors associated with delirium, suggesting a shared pathophysiology., Aims: The objective of the present study was to determine whether preoperative depression symptoms and increased cortisol level represent risk factors for delirium after cardiac surgery., Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study in 183 patients aged >50 years undergoing elective cardiac surgery. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess patients for depressive symptoms before surgery. Preoperative plasma cortisol levels were available in 145 participants. Delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) during the first 7 days after surgery. Spearman correlation was used for correlations between GDS, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Charlson comorbidity index, and age. Binary logistic regression was used to determine whether GDS and cortisol levels predict postoperative delirium., Results: Delirium occurred in 60 patients out of 183 (32.8%) included and lasted 2.3 days (SD 1.36). GDS was correlated with age (p = 0.001) and comorbidity index (p = 0.003) and inversely correlated with MMSE score (p < 0.001). Higher preoperative GDS scores were associated with incidence of delirium in the postoperative period (p = 0.002). The association was significant after controlling for age, MMSE score, history of stroke, and Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.045). Preoperative cortisol level was not associated with the development of postoperative delirium., Conclusion: Our results suggest that a higher preoperative depression score is associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium. On the other hand, preoperative plasma cortisol level does not seem to be a predictor of delirium after surgery. Further studies are needed to determine the potential of preoperative depression treatment to prevent postoperative delirium., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The objective of the study was to update a prior meta-analysis on the efficacy of the treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF 2α . Clinical endometritis in cattle is defined as the presence of a purulent or mucopurulent vaginal discharge after 20 or 26 d, respectively, postpartum. Although the prevalence and impact of this disease are well known, the questions of whether and how to treat endometritis are still controversially discussed. Hence, to ensure timeliness of scientific results, we updated an existing meta-analysis published in 2013 that showed no treatment effect of PGF 2α in cases of bovine endometritis. As in the prior meta-analysis, a comprehensive literature search was conducted. After applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3 trials remained that could be added to the 6 trials in the initial meta-analysis. Data for each trial were analyzed using the meta-analysis software Review Manager (version 5.3; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Estimated effect sizes of PGF 2α were calculated on calving to first service interval (CFSI) and calving to conception interval (CCI). As revealed by the initial meta-analysis, PGF 2α treatment still had no effect on both reproductive parameters. Heterogeneity remained substantial for CFSI and CCI and even increased for CCI compared with the initial meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis, however, did not reveal a source of heterogeneity. In updating the meta-analysis, publication bias for trials reporting CCI became even more pronounced, suggesting that studies with higher standard error (i.e., usually smaller studies) that reported a prolonging effect on CCI after a PGF 2α treatment were less likely to be published. Finally, although the number of trials published on the chosen topic and their comparability are still limited, this update of our meta-analysis now provides results that are based on approximately twice the number of included cows. The overall outcome, however, has not substantially changed and a positive effect of a PGF 2α treatment in case of clinical endometritis could not be shown. Therefore, we do not recommend a treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF 2α as a means to improve reproductive performance., (Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ovulation timing in bitches is a routine procedure in small animal practice around the world. It is most frequently used for supporting breeding management, high-risk pregnancy monitoring and determination of the time of parturition. To learn more about how and for what reasons veterinarians interested in small animal reproduction perform canine ovulation timing, an online survey was conducted in 2017. The link to the survey was distributed via the mailing list cafereprod-l@list.cornell.edu and the website, the Twitter account and the Facebook page of EVSSAR. All respondents recommended using quantitative progesterone measurement for ovulation timing alone or in combination with other diagnostic tests. Vaginal cytology was also a commonly used technique. The 63 respondents followed different protocols for sampling and staining vaginal epithelial cells. Interestingly, 50 respondents used vaginal cytology routinely, but only two consider it as a very reliable and another nine as a somewhat reliable test if used alone. In a second project, delegates attending the EVSSAR congress held in Vienna, Austria, in June 2017 had the opportunity to examine seven stained vaginal smear slides under optical microscopy in a blinded approach. The results showed a marked heterogeneity in the identification of vaginal cells and assessment of the time in relation to ovulation. This heterogeneity supports the opinion of survey participants that vaginal cytology alone is not a valid tool for determining the day of ovulation. Results of both projects suggest that there is no standard procedure for the examination of vaginal smears in dogs. It is not recommended to determine the optimal time for mating based on the examination of a single vaginal smear only. According to some comments of survey participants, it is more useful to assess vaginal samples repeatedly and to use the findings to determine when to start progesterone measurement., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Metacognitive Training for Depression (D-MCT) is a highly standardized group program targeted at depression-related ("Beckian") emotional as well as cognitive biases, including mood-congruent and false memory. While prior results are promising with respect to psychopathological outcomes (depression), it is unclear whether D-MCT also meets its goal of improving cognitive biases, such as false memories. In the framework of a randomized controlled trial (registered trial, DRKS00007907), we investigated whether D-MCT is superior to an active control condition (health training, HT) in reducing the susceptibility of depressed patients for false memories. False memories were examined using parallel versions of a visual variant of the Deese-Roediger McDermott paradigm. Both groups committed less false memories at post assessment after 4 weeks compared to baseline. Relative to HT, D-MCT led to a significant decrease in high-confident false memories over time. The study presents first evidence that D-MCT decreases the susceptibility of depressed patients for false memories, particularly for errors made with high confidence that are presumably the most "toxic" in terms of mood-congruent memory distortions., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acetabular fracture surgery is directed toward anatomical reduction and stable fixation to allow for the early functional rehabilitation of an injured hip joint. Recent biomechanical investigations have shown the superiority of using an additional screw in the infraacetabular (IA) region, thereby transfixing the separated columns to strengthen the construct by closing the periacetabular fixation frame. However, the inter-individual existence and variance concerning secure IA screw corridors are poorly understood., Methods: This computer-aided 3-D radiomorphometric study examined 124 CT Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) datasets of intact human pelves (248 acetabula) to visualize the spatial IA corridors as the sum of all intraosseous screw positions. DICOM files were pre-processed using the Amira® 4.2 visualization software. Final corridor computation was accomplished using a custom-made software algorithm. The volumetric measurement data of each corridor were calculated for further statistical analyses. Correlations between the volumetric values and the biometric data were investigated. Furthermore, the influence of hip dysplasia on the IA corridor configuration was analyzed., Results: The IA corridors consistently showed a double-cone shape with the isthmus located at the acetabular fovea. In 97% of male and 91% of female acetabula, a corridor for a 3.5-mm screw could be found. The number of IA corridors was significantly lower in females for screw diameters ≥ 4.5 mm. The mean 3.5-mm screw corridor volume was 16 cm 3 in males and 9.2 cm 3 in female pelves. Corridor volumes were significantly positively correlated with body height and weight and with the diameter of Köhler's teardrop on standard AP pelvic X-rays. No correlation was observed between hip dysplasia and the IA corridor extent., Conclusion: IA corridors are consistently smaller in females. However, 3.5-mm small fragment screws may still be used as the standard implant because sex-specific differences are significant only with screw diameters ≥ 4.5 mm. Congenital hip dysplasia does not affect secure IA screw insertion. The described method allows 3-D shape analyses with highly reliable results. The visualization of secure IA corridors may support the spatial awareness of surgeons. Volumetric data allow the reliable assessment of individual IA corridors using standard AP X-ray views, which aids preoperative planning.

SBA-15 (Santa Barbara Amorphous 15) mesoporous silica and its functionalized form (with 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane) SBA-15~SH were used as carriers for [Ru(η 6 -p-cymene)Cl 2 {Ph 2 P(CH 2 ) 3 SPh-κP}] complex, denoted as [Ru]. Prepared mesoporous silica nanomaterials were characterized by traditional methods. Materials without [Ru] complex did not show any cytotoxic activity against melanoma B16 and B16-F10 cell lines. On the contrary, materials containing [Ru] such as SBA-15|[Ru] and SBA-15~SH|[Ru], exhibited very high activity against tested tumor cell lines, moreover with similar inhibitory potential. According to the loaded amount of the [Ru] in SBA-15|[Ru] and SBA-15~SH|[Ru] the IC 50 values are 1-2μM depending on the test used, thus in comparison to [Ru] alone the activity of nanomaterials containing [Ru] are elevated 3-6 times in vitro. However, the mechanism of apoptosis induction differs for these two mesoporous silica. Unlike reference [Ru] compound and SBA-15~SH|[Ru], SBA-15|[Ru] induces high caspase activation. Discrepancy in mechanism of drugs action at intracellular level points towards an influence of functionalization as well as availability of the drug. Moreover, both SBA-15|[Ru] and SBA-15~SH|[Ru] similarly to [Ru] are declining autophagy in B16 cell line., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The chemistry of arsenic cyanides has been investigated and is found to be completely different to the chemistry of the heavier analogs antimony and bismuth as well as phosphorus. The reaction of As(CN) 3 with cyanide salts resulted in the formation of an unknown cyanido arsazolide heterocycle, which represents a structure isomer of the desired [As(CN) 4 ] - . The structure, bonding, and formation of this unusual heterocycle is discussed featuring an arsenic mediated C-C coupling of cyanides. [AsC 4 N 4 ] - salts with different counterions such as [PPh 4 ] + , [PPN] + =[Ph 3 P-N-PPh 3 ] + , Ag + , and [BMIm] + are reported with [BMIm][AsC 4 N 4 ] being a low-temperature ionic liquid (T m =-62 °C)., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Advice for dog owners regarding the Pros and Cons and optimal time for neutering a female dog is complex and should be based on recent and valid research data as well as individual aspects. After taking a closer look at the literature, it becomes clear that some putative robust information has to be revised or updated. An obvious advantage of neutering a female dog is that ovarian diseases and sexual steroid-dependent diseases, including metropathy, no longer occur. In addition, it is likely that an early neutering reduces the risk to a certain extent of mammary neoplasia, even if the scientific basis for this observation is weak. The effect might be less than some earlier publications suggest. Disadvantages of neutering female dogs include urinary incontinence, which was postulated decades earlier. However, reported incidences and findings regarding factors that influence urinary incontinence, including time of neutering related to puberty, are heterogeneous. Recently, several studies have been published suggesting a significantly higher risk of different forms of neoplasia and musculoskeletal disorders in neutered dogs. However, factors that may bias these findings, including nutritional condition, age and/or housing, were not addressed in most studies. Data on effects on metabolism and the immune system are currently very limited. If owners want their female dogs to be neutered, a thorough counselling is essential that includes individual aspects as well as breed- and housing-specific factors. The optimal time may be between the first and the second heat. It can be suggested, that at this time, a certain reduction of the risk of mammary neoplasia can be achieved with only a moderate potential for undesired side effects.

Background: Meta-analyses conclude that individuals with depression display neurocognitive deficits. However, the extent to which some of these impairments occur due to secondary influences, and thus in part represent epiphenomena, has rarely been tested. Therefore, the authors examined the impact of performance motivation, attitude towards cognitive assessment, and momentary symptoms during assessment on neuropsychological test results in depression., Research Design and Methods: Forty-five patients with depression and 60 nonclinical individuals underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Before and after the assessment, each participant was asked to complete the Momentary Influences, Attitudes and Motivation Impact on Cognitive Performance Scale (MIAMI)., Results: As hypothesized, patients with depression performed worse than nonclinical controls on most neuropsychological parameters. Group differences achieved a medium effect size for parameters tapping speed and a large effect for parameters tapping accuracy. Yet, only one fourth of the patient population displayed abnormal scores (≥ 1 SD below the population mean). In line with the hypothesis, patients with depression were more fearful of test outcomes, complained more about negative momentary influences, and were less motivated (based on retrospective assessment) than controls, as assessed with the MIAMI. The MIAMI total score mediated the relationship between group status and test scores in three out of four analyses. When MIAMI scores were entered as covariate, group differences were largely reduced., Discussion: Patients with depression show a more negative attitude towards testing, lower performance motivation, and more negative momentary influences, all of which induce malperformance. The results suggest that performance dysfunction does not necessarily mirror brain dysfunction in areas hosting cognitive functions but is confounded with other factors. Greater caution is warranted when interpreting the results of neuropsychological tests in depressed patients.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of the treatment of bovine metritis with common antibiotic and nonantibiotic treatment options. Acute puerperal metritis, a systemic and potentially painful illness with rectal temperature >39.5°C and signs of toxemia due to an infection of the uterus, occurs within 21 d after parturition. Because of the infectious nature, antibiotics are considered beneficial for the treatment of acute puerperal metritis. Each use of an antimicrobial drug, however, is associated with selective pressure for eventual emergence of resistant bacteria. The 23 trials evaluated in the course of a previously conducted systematic review were the basis for meta-analytic investigations. Selected trials were screened regarding their eligibility for the following investigations: (1) comparison of different antibiotic treatments with respect to metritis prevalence at time of re-examination, (2) efficacy of ceftiofur treatment with respect to metritis prevalence at time of re-examination, (3) comparison of efficacy of antibiotic versus nonantibiotic drugs with respect to metritis prevalence at time of re-examination, and (4) equivalence assessment of treatment effects on reproductive performance measures. Where at least 3 trials had investigated the same outcome variable and met the inclusion criteria (inclusion of a control or reference group diagnosed with metritis; reporting means and standard deviation in case of continuous data), meta-analytic investigations were carried out. Due to a shortage of comparable studies, we could not conduct investigations (1) and (3). Ceftiofur treatment of 828 metritic cows was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of metritis following treatment in comparison to 804 untreated cows. In conclusion, meta-analytic investigations uncovered a need for more high-quality studies. Furthermore, a positive effect of the most commonly used antibiotic drug, ceftiofur, for the treatment of bovine metritis could be shown. A comparison with other antibiotic or nonantibiotic treatment options could not be made., (Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Progressive motility is usually estimated by visual inspection using a light contrast microscope at X 100 immediately after semen collection or immediately after thawing frozen semen. Standard operating procedures have never been established for this test. The objective of this experiment was to examine time-dependent changes of motility after thawing cryopreserved canine semen. Semen of 35 dogs was collected, and volume, concentration, progressive motility, morphology, membrane integrity and HOS test were evaluated. For cryopreservation, CaniPRO ® Freeze A&B was used. Semen was thawed and diluted using CaniPRO ® culture medium. After thawing, semen was evaluated as before. In addition, every sample was evaluated for progressively motile sperm cells 0, 5, 20 and 60 min after thawing. Progressive semen motility was significantly highest five minutes after thawing., (© 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Five steps have been recommended to provide evidence-based patient care: formulating a clinical question, searching for literature, evaluating the validity and applicability of results, implementing results into practice, and assessing if the new evidence has led to improved health care. Students can be trained in these steps by the development of knowledge summaries such as critically appraised topics (CATs). The aim of the present project was the development, use, and evaluation of a German-language CAT database and an appraisal of the quality of CATs developed by students. A total of 153 fifth-year veterinary medical students (in 21 groups) were enrolled in the project. Each group developed a CAT and most students participated in a survey. To learn more about the quality of the CATs, we asked experts to appraise the texts written by the students. The CATs were indexed with key words and assigned to specific fields corresponding to the European Colleges of Veterinary Specialisation. Currently, 57 CATs have been developed. The majority of students stated that writing CATs is a good exercise and that "it is important to teach the assessment of scientific information." In total, 13 experts completed the questionnaires, out of which 9 graded the CAT they appraised as good. In addition to English-language CAT databases, German tools should also be available for students and practitioners.

The reaction of in situ generated E(CN) 3 (E = Sb, Bi) with different amounts of [Ph 4 P]CN and [PPN]CN ([PPN] + = [Ph 3 P-N-PPh 3 ] + ) was studied, affording salts bearing the novel ions [E(CN) 5 ] 2- , [Bi 2 (CN) 11 ] 5- , and [Bi(CN) 6 ] 3- . The valence lone pair of electrons on the central atom of antimony and bismuth(III) compounds can be either sterically active in an unsymmetric fashion (three shorter bonds + x longer bonds) or symmetric (with rather long averaged bonds). In the presence of weakly coordinating cations (e.g., [Ph 4 P] + and [PPN] + ), the solid-state structures of salts with [E(CN) 5 ] 2- anions contain well-separated cations and monomeric anions, which display a sterically active lone pair and a monomeric square-based pyramidal (pseudo-octahedral) structure. The [Bi(CN) 5 ·MeCN] 2- acetonitrile adduct ion exhibits a strongly distorted octahedral structure, which is better understood as a [5 + 1] coordination. The intriguing [Ph 4 P] 6 [Bi 2 (CN) 11 ]CN salt consists of separated cations and anions as well as well-separated [Bi 2 (CN) 11 ] 5- and CN - ions. The structure of the molecular [Bi 2 (CN) 11 ] 5- ion can be described as two square-based-pyramidal [Bi(CN) 5 ] 2- fragments connected by a disordered bridging CN - ion, thereby leading to a distorted-octahedral environment around the two Bi centers. Here the steric effect of the lone pair is much less pronounced but still present.

The heavy pnictogen tricyanides, E(CN) 3 (E=Sb, Bi), were synthesized from EF 3 and Me 3 SiCN in ionic liquids, for example, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([BMIm][OTf]), which prevents the oligomerization of the molecular E(CN) 3 species by formation of [BMIm][E(CN) 3 (OTf)] salts in solution. Recrystallization of [BMIm][E(CN) 3 (OTf)] from THF led to the isolation and full characterization of the molecular species E(CN) 3 ⋅2 THF., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The mechanisms leading to amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD) are unknown but both increased production or impaired clearance likely contribute to aggregation. To understand the potential roles of the extracellular matrix proteoglycan Testican-1 in the pathophysiology of AD, we used samples from AD patients and controls and an in vitro approach. Protein expression analysis showed increased levels of Testican-1 in frontal and temporal cortex of AD patients; histological analysis showed that Testican-1 accumulates and co-aggregates with Aβ plaques in the frontal, temporal and entorhinal cortices of AD patients. Proteomic analysis identified 10 fragments of Testican-1 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from AD patients. HEK293T cells expressing human wild type or mutant Aβ precursor protein (APP) were transfected with Testican-1. The co-expression of both proteins modified the sorting of Testican-1 into the endocytic pathway leading to its transient accumulation in Golgi, which seemed to affect APP processing, as indicated by reduced Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in APP mutant cells. In conclusion, patient data reflect a clearance impairment that may favor Aβ accumulation in AD brains and our in vitro model supports the notion that the interaction between APP and Testican-1 may be a key step in the production and aggregation of Aβ species., (© 2016 Oxford University Press OR American Association of Neuropathologists.)

Most common ovarian diseases appear to be cystic or ovarian tumours. These conditions may affect health, fertility or even the life of the animal. Literature related to ovarian cysts and neoplasia in dogs was assessed to summarize studies and case series on ovarian cysts and primary ovarian tumours in regard to epidemiologic, clinical and fertility aspects. Two research papers on histopathological examination of ovarian cysts could be identified. Seven research papers on ovarian tumours were also assessed, showing inconsistent results on the frequency of occurrence of different types of neoplasia. This might be due to different definitions of diseases and different diagnostic procedures. In conclusion, scarce research has been performed on ovarian diseases in the bitch in the last decades. Many publications are based on case reports. Most quality criteria of study methodology like blinding, randomization, sensitivity and specificity of test methods are not considered in papers on ovarian diseases. In the future, a multicentre data collection of cases could help to gather more data on the incidence, clinical relevance, treatment options and prognosis of ovarian diseases., (© 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Background: Depression is common in schizophrenia. Whereas the improvement of mood and self-esteem represents a subjective treatment priority for many patients, depression is rarely a primary target for clinical intervention. The present trial examined whether an online intervention for depression can ameliorate depressive symptoms in schizophrenia., Methods: A total of 58 individuals with schizophrenia were invited to participate in an online survey which encompassed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D, primary outcome), the Patient-Health-Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Paranoia Checklist. Subsequently, telephone interviews were conducted to verify diagnostic status and assess symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS). Participants were randomized either to the experimental condition (online depression intervention) or to a waitlist control condition. Three months after inclusion, a reassessment was carried out (self-report and telephone interview blind for group condition). The trial was registered (registration: DRKS00007888)., Results: Participants in the treatment group showed a significant decline of depressive symptoms at a medium-to-large effect size, as assessed with the CES-D and the PANSS depression item, in comparison to the waitlist control group (completer (CC) and intention-to-treat analyses (ITT)). For the PHQ-9 (CC and ITT) and the PANSS distress subscale (CC only) significance was bordered at a medium effect size. Completion at the post-assessment after three months was 84%., Discussion: Depression in schizophrenia is both underdiagnosed and undertreated. To reduce the large treatment gap in the disorder, low threshold strategies are urgently needed. Online treatment and bibliotherapy may represent valuable tools to address patients' needs beyond the treatment of the core positive syndrome., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Throughout cryopreservation, sperm are exposed to major osmotic challenges. Only intact membranes of sperm cells are able to regulate these volumetric changes, which can be determined by the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS test). Correlations between the HOS test and conventional semen variables are inconsistent. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to examine relationships between HOS test results and standard semen variables before freezing and after thawing and (2) to evaluate the prognostic value of the HOS assessments on post-thaw quality of dog semen. Semen of 35 dogs was collected and analyzed before freezing and after thawing following a 7-day freeze-thaw interval. Conventional semen variables such as sperm cell motility, membrane integrity morphology were evaluated and the HOS test was conducted with results from this test being recorded. In fresh semen the HOS test was positively correlated with progressive motility of sperm cells: r=0.52, sperm cell membrane integrity: r=0.50 and normal sperm cell morphology: r=0.46 (P<0.05). In frozen-thawed semen, the data obtained with the HOS test were positively correlated with progressive sperm cell motility: r=0.67 and membrane integrity: r=0.86 (P<0.05). The data obtained with the HOS test in fresh semen were positively correlated with sperm cell membrane integrity: r=0.50 normal sperm cell morphology: r=0.55 and data from the HOS test (r=0.43; P<0.05) with frozen-thawed semen. For the prediction of individual cryopreservation capacity, results from assessment of the fresh semen variables of good and poor semen quality were statistically compared. Based on these results, it is not possible to predict the quality of frozen-thawed dog semen using the HOS test., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rather than merely transferring information, veterinary education should stimulate and motivate students and encourage them to think. Currently in veterinary education, most curricula use the method of frontal teaching (e.g., in lectures). A student-centered critical approach to information is rarely used. Our research sought to determine if students consider in-course discussion useful and if sufficient possibilities for discussion are provided and supported by their lecturers. In December 2013, we conducted a survey of fourth-year students. Specifically, we wanted to know if students consider in-course discussion about course content useful for successful learning and if students wish to have more opportunities for discussion during class time. Finally, we wanted to identify barriers that limit the students' motivation and ability to engage in discussion of course content. In total, 105 students completed the survey. The majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that clinical topics should be discussed during class time. Frequently stated reasons were improved learning (85.7%) and the opportunity to look at topics from different perspectives (92.4%). In conclusion, we found a considerable dearth of and request for discussion within veterinary education. In light of these findings, we emphasize the need for new teaching strategies that promote independent thinking and critical questioning. We suggest the implementation of more discussion opportunities in well considered and moderated settings in veterinary teaching.

Objectives: Wiki systems are becoming increasingly important in university teaching. Not much is known about the opinion of lecturers of veterinary medicine regarding the active participation of students in teaching, their opinion on wiki systems and their motivation to use them in courses and to improve the quality of information. The objective of the present study was to evaluate how lecturers of veterinary medicine estimate learning management systems and the production of text or material by students in courses, if they rate wiki systems as an appropriate tool for teaching, if they would use wiki systems for their courses and if they are willing to improve the quality of information., Methods: The data collection was carried out as an online survey using a five-point Likert scale. Lecturers of veterinary medicine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland were contacted (n=approx. 1700) out of which 139 completed (8.2%) the survey., Results: Most lecturers use LMS and consider it to be suitable for providing course material. Half of all respondents indicated that they believe that students achieve greater learning success by developing their own learning material. In courses 23.0% of their students develop own materials. The majority of lecturers considered wiki systems as an appropriate and complementary tool for teaching (53.6%). A collection of wiki articles is seen as useful (56.6%), particularly when experts review the contents. One third of the lecturers would use wiki systems for the creation of material by students, but 82.5% have not yet used them in teaching. One third is willing to participate in the review of articles with regard to their quality., Conclusion: The results show that many lecturers are willing to use veterinary wiki systems and that they regard them useful for teaching. According to the opinion of the majority of lecturers, the creation of material by students can lead to greater learning success and wiki systems are suitable for this purpose. We are about to develop strategies to support the implementation of wiki systems into veterinary education and a peer review system supported by lecturers. In a further project the actual learning success provided by the active use of wiki-systems by students will be evaluated.

The miRBase-21 database currently lists 1881 microRNA (miRNA) precursors and 2585 unique mature human miRNAs. Since their discovery, miRNAs have proved to present a new level of epigenetic post-transcriptional control of protein synthesis. Initial results point to a possible involvement of miRNA in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We applied OpenArray technology to profile the expression of 1178 unique miRNAs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of AD patients (n = 22) and controls (n = 28). Using a Cq of 34 as cut-off, we identified positive signals for 441 miRNAs, while 729 miRNAs could not be detected, indicating that at least 37% of miRNAs are present in the brain. We found 74 miRNAs being down- and 74 miRNAs being up-regulated in AD using a 1.5 fold change threshold. By applying the new explorative "Measure of relevance" method, 6 reliable and 9 informative biomarkers were identified. Confirmatory MANCOVA revealed reliable miR-100, miR-146a and miR-1274a as differentially expressed in AD reaching Bonferroni corrected significance. MANCOVA also confirmed differential expression of informative miR-103, miR-375, miR-505#, miR-708, miR-4467, miR-219, miR-296, miR-766 and miR-3622b-3p. Discrimination analysis using a combination of miR-100, miR-103 and miR-375 was able to detect AD in CSF by positively classifying controls and AD cases with 96.4% and 95.5% accuracy, respectively. Referring to the Ingenuity database we could identify a set of AD associated genes that are targeted by these miRNAs. Highly predicted targets included genes involved in the regulation of tau and amyloid pathways in AD like MAPT, BACE1 and mTOR.

With new knowledge being generated and published daily, the importance of evidence-based approaches in veterinary medicine is obvious. Clinicians must stay current or risk making poor decisions that clients may challenge. Especially in animal reproduction, several new substances and procedures to diagnose or treat reproductive disorders have been introduced in the last years. On the other hand, a closer look at the quality of published literature on animal reproduction reveals major deficits in methodology and reporting of many clinical trials. We strongly recommend systematically assessing the quality of scientific information when reading journal papers before using the given information in practice. The aim of evidence-based medicine (EBM) is to base the decisions in the practice of medicine on valid, clinically relevant research data. Therefore, we suggest that students should become familiar with the concepts of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) at the beginning of their veterinary education. Concepts and supporting tools such as checklists for literature assessment have been developed and validated. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the importance of incorporating EBVM in animal reproduction. The need for further research that produces strong evidence in different fields of animal reproduction and better reporting of relevant study information is obvious., (© 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic and critical appraisal of the quality of previous publications and describe diagnostic methods, diagnostic criteria and definitions, repeatability, and agreement among methods for diagnosis of vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, and oophoritis in dairy cows. Publications (n=1,600) that included the words "dairy," "cows," and at least one disease of interest were located with online search engines. In total, 51 papers were selected for comprehensive review by pairs of the authors. Only 61% (n=31) of the 51 reviewed papers provided a definition or citation for the disease or diagnostic methods studied, and only 49% (n=25) of the papers provided the data or a citation to support the test cut point used for diagnosing disease. Furthermore, a large proportion of the papers did not provide sufficient detail to allow critical assessment of the quality of design or reporting. Of 11 described diagnostic methods, only one complete methodology, i.e., vaginoscopy, was assessed for both within- and between-operator repeatability (κ=0.55-0.60 and 0.44, respectively). In the absence of a gold standard, comparisons between different tests have been undertaken. Agreement between the various diagnostic methods is at a low level. These discrepancies may indicate that these diagnostic methods assess different aspects of reproductive health and underline the importance of tying diagnostic criteria to objective measures of reproductive performance. Those studies that used a reproductive outcome to select cut points and tests have the greatest clinical utility. This approach has demonstrated, for example, that presence of (muco)purulent discharge in the vagina and an increased proportion of leukocytes in cytological preparations following uterine lavage or cytobrush sampling are associated with poorer reproductive outcomes. The lack of validated, consistent definitions and outcome variables makes comparisons of the different tests difficult. The quality of design and reporting in future publications could be improved by using checklists as a guideline. Further high-quality research based on published standards to improve study design and reporting should improve cow-side diagnostic tests. Specifically, more data on intra- and interobserver agreement are needed to evaluate test variability. Also, more studies are necessary to determine optimal cut points and time postpartum of examination., (Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to determine sensitivity and specificity of a body temperature decline in bitches to predict parturition. Temperature loggers were placed into the vaginal cavity of 16 pregnant bitches on day 56-61 after estimated ovulation or first mating. This measurement technique has been validated previously and enabled continuous sampling of body temperature. The temperature loggers were expelled from the vagina before delivery of the first pup. The computed values for specificity (77-92%) were higher than sensitivity (53-69%), indicating a more precise prognosis of parturition not occurring. In conclusion, our findings may assist interpreting vaginal temperature measurements in order to predict parturition in bitches., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS test) is a simple and inexpensive test to evaluate the functional integrity of sperm cell membranes. According to the existing literature, its simple applicability has turned it into a valuable additional parameter to standard canine semen analysis. In the recent years, much research has been conducted in this field. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the quality of published literature in canine reproduction concerning the HOS test. Using two distinguished databases, 38 articles were detected and analysed subsequently according to various aspects, for example study design, population, semen sampling and implementation concerning the HOS test. Although there are numerous articles available, the diagnostic value of the HOS test remains ambiguous. Until now, neither a recognized test protocol nor reliable reference values have been defined. Most of the trials evaluated show serious methodological flaws and therefore do not permit drawing reliable conclusions. According to our results, approximately half of the studies (n = 20) included a sample size of five or less animals. None of the studies examined the inter- or intraobserver agreement for the HOS test. Further research is warranted including appropriate statistical methods and a sufficient number of animals to establish a standardized test protocol as well as reliable reference values. Most importantly, it is required to clarify a correlation between the HOS test and the fertilizing capacity to determine the diagnostic value of the HOS test., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common cause of memory impairment and dementia in the elderly disturbed memory function is a widespread subjective and/or objective symptom in a variety of medical conditions. The early detection and correct distinction of AD from non-AD memory impairment is critically important to detect possibly treatable and reversible underlying causes. In the context of clinical research, it is crucial to correctly distinguish between AD or non-AD memory impairment in order to build homogenous study populations for the assessment of new therapeutic possibilities. The distinction of AD from non-AD memory impairment may be difficult, especially in mildly affected patients, due to an overlap of clinical symptoms and biomarker alterations between AD and certain non-AD conditions. This review aims to describe recent aspects of the differential diagnosis of AD and non-AD related memory impairment and how these may be considered in the presence of memory deficits.

The use of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) is well established as an effective treatment to correct water-, electrolyte-, and acid-base balance in diarrheic calves. The main ingredients of a commercial ORS are Na, glucose, and alkalinizing agents, such as NaHCO3. Particular importance is attributed to the combination of glucose and Na at a specific ratio to optimize intestinal sodium, and thereby water uptake, through the sodium-glucose co-transport. Enhancing intestinal Na absorption by combining glucose and Na in an ORS has the potential to improve the alkalinizing effect of an ORS according the strong ion theory. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of glucose on the alkalinizing effect of NaHCO3 when administered orally. Nine healthy neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves underwent 3 oral treatments with 2-L solutions of NaHCO3 (150 mmol/L), glucose (300 mmol/L), and glucose + NaHCO3 (300 mmol/L + 150 mmol/L, respectively) in randomized order. Arterial and venous blood was obtained before treatment and in 30-min intervals thereafter for blood gas analysis and determination of plasma protein and electrolyte concentrations. Urine was collected volumetrically to determine urine volume, osmolality, pH, net acid excretion, and renal Na excretion after treatment. Plasma volume changes were extrapolated from plasma protein concentration changes. Treatment and time effects were tested with repeated measures ANOVA. Only subtle differences between oral administration of NaHCO3, with and without glucose, were observed for the change of the standard HCO3 concentration relative to baseline. No differences in plasma Na, plasma volume expansion, renal Na, net base excretion, urine volume, or pH could be identified between animals treated orally with NaHCO3 with and without glucose. Similarly, no differences in blood glucose concentration, plasma volume expansion, urine volume, or renal glucose excretion were observed in the 8h after treatment when comparing oral glucose treatment with and without NaHCO3. Our results indicate that combination of NaHCO3 with glucose in a hypertonic ORS only had a minor effect on the alkalinizing effect of NaHCO3, which is unlikely to be of clinical relevance. The combination of NaHCO3 and glucose neither improved Na, glucose, nor water absorption in euhydrated neonatal dairy calves, questioning the relevance of a specific ratio between Na and glucose in ORS for calves., (Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fully automated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based volumetry may serve as biomarker for the diagnosis in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. We aimed at investigating the relation between fully automated MRI-based volumetric measures and neuropsychological test performance in amnestic MCI and patients with mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. In order to assess a possible prognostic value of fully automated MRI-based volumetry for future cognitive performance, the rate of change of neuropsychological test performance over time was also tested for its correlation with fully automated MRI-based volumetry at baseline. In 50 subjects, 18 with amnestic MCI, 21 with mild AD, and 11 controls, neuropsychological testing and T1-weighted MRI were performed at baseline and at a mean follow-up interval of 2.1 ± 0.5 years (n = 19). Fully automated MRI volumetry of the grey matter volume (GMV) was performed using a combined stereotactic normalisation and segmentation approach as provided by SPM8 and a set of pre-defined binary lobe masks. Left and right hippocampus masks were derived from probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps. Volumes of the inner and outer liquor space were also determined automatically from the MRI. Pearson's test was used for the correlation analyses. Left hippocampal GMV was significantly correlated with performance in memory tasks, and left temporal GMV was related to performance in language tasks. Bilateral frontal, parietal and occipital GMVs were correlated to performance in neuropsychological tests comprising multiple domains. Rate of GMV change in the left hippocampus was correlated with decline of performance in the Boston Naming Test (BNT), Mini-Mental Status Examination, and trail making test B (TMT-B). The decrease of BNT and TMT-A performance over time correlated with the loss of grey matter in multiple brain regions. We conclude that fully automated MRI-based volumetry allows detection of regional grey matter volume loss that correlates with neuropsychological performance in patients with amnestic MCI or mild AD. Because of the high level of automation, MRI-based volumetry may easily be integrated into clinical routine to complement the current diagnostic procedure.

The objective of the conducted meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of the treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF(2α) by statistical means. Postpartum uterine infections have a high prevalence and a very negative effect on reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Because of a wide discordance between research results, a meta-analysis of the efficacy of the treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF(2α) was conducted. A comprehensive literature search was performed using online databases to reveal a total of 2,307 references. In addition, 5 articles were retrieved by reviewing citations. After applying specific exclusion criteria and evaluating specific evidence parameters, 5 publications, comprising 6 trials, were eligible for being analyzed by means of meta-analysis. Data for each trial were extracted and analyzed using meta-analysis software Review Manager (version 5.1; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Estimated effect sizes of PGF(2α) were calculated on calving to first service and calving to conception interval. Prostaglandin F(2α) treatment of cows with chronic endometritis had a negative effect on both reproductive performance parameters. Heterogeneity was substantial for calving to first service and calving to conception interval [I(2) (measure of variation beyond chance)=100 and 87%, respectively]; therefore, random-effects models were used. Sensitivity analysis as well as subgroup analysis showed that the performance of randomization was influential in modifying effect size of PGF(2α) treatment. The funnel plot illustrated a publication bias toward smaller studies that reported a prolonged calving to conception interval after a PGF(2α) treatment. We conclude that the investigation of this subject by means of meta-analysis did not reveal an improvement of reproductive performance of cows with endometritis after treatment with PGF(2α). Furthermore, there is a shortage of comparable high quality studies investigating reproductive performance after PGF(2α) treatment of cows with chronic endometritis., (Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)