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Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a spectrum disorder due to variants in genes of the cohesin protein complex. The following abstracts are from the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Scientific and Educational Symposium held virtually in October 2020. Aspects of behavior, including autistic features, impulsivity, adaptive skills, executive function, and anxiety are described. Applied behavioral analysis is a promising approach for autism, and an N-acetylcysteine trial is proposed. Children below 6 years with CdLS have an increased number of and further travel to medical providers, with insurance type comprising a significant barrier. Speech, language, and feeding abilities fall significantly below expectations for age in CdLS. Augmentative alternative communication can yield potential barriers as well as interesting benefits. Developmentally, studies in animal models further elucidate the mechanisms and roles of cohesin: link with mediator transcriptional complex; facilitation of enhancer-promoter communication; regulation of gene expression; allocation of cells to germ layers; and repair of spontaneous DNA damage in placental cells. Genome and RNA sequencing can help identify the molecular cause in the 20% of individuals with suspected CdLS and negative testing. The phenotypes in individuals with variants in the SMC1A gene are distinct, and that with intractable seizures has been further evaluated. AMA CME credits provided by GBMC, Baltimore, MD. All studies approved by an ethics committee., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Thermal cameras are popular in detection for their precision in surveillance in the dark and for privacy preservation. In the era of data driven problem solving approaches, manually finding and annotating a large amount of data is inefficient in terms of cost and effort. With the introduction of transfer learning, rather than having large datasets, a dataset covering all characteristics and aspects of the target place is more important. In this work, we studied a large thermal dataset recorded for 20 weeks and identified nine phenomena in it. Moreover, we investigated the impact of each phenomenon for model adaptation in transfer learning. Each phenomenon was investigated separately and in combination. the performance was analyzed by computing the F1 score, precision, recall, true negative rate, and false negative rate. Furthermore, to underline our investigation, the trained model with our dataset was further tested on publicly available datasets, and encouraging results were obtained. Finally, our dataset was also made publicly available.

Objective: To review clinically relevant features of systemic oxygen delivery and consumption and the technique and use of venous oxygenation monitoring in human and veterinary medicine., Data Sources: Veterinary and human peer-reviewed medical literature including scientific reviews, clinical and laboratory research articles, and authors' clinical research experience., Summary: Measurement of venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation (venous oxygenation) provides insight into the balance between oxygen supply and tissue demand. In people, measurement of venous oxygen saturation can reveal decompensation that is missed by physical examination and other routinely monitored parameters. Therefore, measurement of mixed or central venous oxygenation measurement may help guide therapy and predict outcome of critically ill patients. In dogs, low central venous oxygen saturation has been associated with impaired cardiopulmonary function and poor outcome in several small studies of experimental shock or severe clinical illness, suggesting that monitoring this variable may assist the treatment of severe illness in this species as well., Conclusion: Venous oxygenation reflects systemic oxygenation status and can be used to guide treatment and estimate prognosis in critically ill patients. Measurement of venous oxygenation in veterinary patients is feasible and is a potentially valuable tool in the management of patients with severe disease. This review is intended to increase the understanding and awareness of the potential role of venous oxygen measurement in veterinary patients., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2018.)

Classroom management in dual immersion classrooms includes unique challenges. The teacher must instruct and correct in the L2 language, in which students are beginning learners, and effective classroom management strategies appropriate to the L2 context. Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT) is a positive classroom management program that teaches social skills and uses group contingencies to improve behavior. The present study examined the ability of French immersion teachers to implement CW-FIT in the L2, including the effects of CW-FIT on teacher praise and reprimand rates and as well as on students' classroom behavior. Social validity was also assessed. A single-subject multiple baseline design with embedded reversals was used to evaluate impact in second-, third-, and fourth-grade dual immersion classrooms. Results indicated that dual immersion teachers were able to implement CW-FIT in L2 with fidelity. The intervention significantly increased teacher praise and improved classroom on-task behavior. Changes in teacher reprimand rates were inconsistent. Students and teachers reported CW-FIT to be socially valid.

Parenting children with autism in countries with limited professional and financial resources can be overwhelming. Parent training led by non-governmental organizations may help alleviate some of these burdens. The present pilot study was conducted in the Republic of Macedonia, a country located in Southeastern Europe. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a parent training model for disseminating evidence-based practices through didactic and pyramidal training strategies. Results indicated that children improved on a number of different behaviors and results provide some evidence that parenting confidence and distress improved.

Background: Aggressive behaviors are common in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may be phenotypic indicators of different subtypes within ASD. In current research literature for non-ASD samples, aggression has been linked to several brain structures associated with emotion and behavioral control. However, few if any studies exist investigating brain volume differences in individuals with ASD who have comorbid aggression as indicated by standardized diagnostic and behavioral measures., Method: We examined neuroimaging data from individuals rigorously diagnosed with ASD versus typically developing (TD) controls. We began with data from brain volume regions of interest (ROI) taken from previous literature on aggression including the brainstem, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. We defined aggression status using the Irritability subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and used lasso logistic regression to select among these predictor variables. Brainstem volume was the only variable shown to be a predictor of aggression status., Results: We found that smaller brainstem volumes are associated with higher odds of being in the high aggression group., Conclusions: Understanding brain differences in individuals with ASD who engage in aggressive behavior from those with ASD who do not can inform treatment approaches. Future research should investigate brainstem structure and function in ASD to identify possible mechanisms related to arousal and aggression.

Major prehistoric forces, such as the climatic shifts of the Pleistocene, can remain visible in a species' population genetics. Inference of refuges via genetic tools is useful for conservation management as it can identify populations whose preservation may help retain a species' adaptive potential. Such investigation is needed for Australia's southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), whose conservation status has recently deteriorated, and whose phylogeographic history during the Pleistocene may be atypical compared to other species. Its contemporary range spans approximately 2000 km of diverse habitat on either side of the Spencer Gulf, which was a land bridge during periods of Pleistocene aridity that may have allowed for migration circumventing the arid Eyrean barrier. We sampled from animals in nearly all known sites within the species' current distribution, mainly using non-invasive methods, and employed nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses to assess alternative scenarios for Pleistocene impacts on population structure. We found evidence for mildly differentiated populations at the range extremes on either side of Spencer Gulf, with secondary contact between locations neighbouring each side of the barrier. These extreme western and eastern regions, and four other regions in between, were genetically distinct in genotypic clustering analyses. Estimates indicate modest, but complex gene flow patterns among some of these regions, in some cases possibly restricted for several thousand years. Prior to this study there was little information to aid risk assessment and prioritization of conservation interventions facilitating gene flow among populations of this species. The contributions of this study to that issue are outlined., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Monitoring forms the basis for understanding ecological change. It relies on repeatability of methods to ensure detected changes accurately reflect the effect of environmental drivers. However, operator bias can influence the repeatability of field and laboratory work. We tested this for invertebrates and diatoms in three trials: (1) two operators swept invertebrates from heath vegetation, (2) four operators picked invertebrates from pyrethrum knockdown samples from tree trunk and (3) diatom identifications by eight operators in three laboratories. In each trial, operators were working simultaneously and their training in the field and laboratory was identical. No variation in catch efficiency was found between the two operators of differing experience using a random number of net sweeps to catch invertebrates when sequence, location and size of sweeps were random. Number of individuals and higher taxa collected by four operators from tree trunks varied significantly between operators and with their 'experience ranking'. Diatom identifications made by eight operators were clustered together according to which of three laboratories they belonged. These three tests demonstrated significant potential bias of operators in both field and laboratory. This is the first documented case demonstrating the significant influence of observer bias on results from invertebrate field-based studies. Examples of two long-term trials are also given that illustrate further operator bias. Our results suggest that long-term ecological studies using invertebrates need to be rigorously audited to ensure that operator bias is accounted for during analysis and interpretation. Further, taxonomic harmonisation remains an important step in merging field and laboratory data collected by different operators.

Objective: To determine if critically ill dogs have an increased risk of fluid overload (FO) during hospitalization compared to less ill dogs, and to determine if FO is associated with increased mortality during hospitalization., Design: Observational, case-control study., Setting: University teaching hospital., Animals: Thirty-four critically ill dogs and 15 comparatively healthy stable postoperative dogs with neuro-orthopedic disease., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Data recorded included underlying disease, body weight, and APPLEfast score at admission, single-day and composite APPLEfull scores during hospitalization, total fluid volume administered (L), total fluid volume output (L), and outcome. Percent FO (%FO) was calculated using the equation 100 × ([fluid volume administered - fluid volume lost]/1000 mL/L) - (% dehydration at admission), with fluid volume expressed as mL/kg of baseline body weight. Critically ill dogs developed greater %FO during hospitalization compared to stable postoperative dogs (12.1 ± 11.7% vs 0.5 ± 5.2%, P = 0.001), and half (8 out of 16) of the dogs with %FO ≥ 12% died. Composite APPLEfull scores were weakly positively correlated with %FO, whereas APPLEfast and single-day APPLEfull scores recorded at admission were not. The odds ratio for death was 1.08 for every percent increase in FO during hospitalization (95% confidence limits 1.012-1.59, P = 0.02)., Conclusions: Critically ill dogs are at increased risk for FO during hospitalization, and a weak but significant association exists between %FO, illness severity, and mortality. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm the findings of this retrospective study., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2016.)

Objective: To describe the clinical features, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome of a dog with acute abdominal pain and hemoperitoneum secondary to a presumptive intraperitoneal (IP) snakebite., Case Summary: A 10-month-old castrated male mixed-breed dog was evaluated for suspected snake envenomation. The dog presented recumbent and tachycardic with signs of severe abdominal pain. Two cutaneous puncture wounds and hemoperitoneum were discovered during evaluation. Ultrasonographic examination revealed communication of the wounds with the peritoneal cavity. The dog was treated with supportive care, parenteral analgesia, packed red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma transfusions, crotalid antivenom, and placement of an IP catheter to provide local analgesia. The dog recovered fully and was discharged 5 days after initial presentation., New or Unique Information Provided: To our knowledge, this is the first report of IP envenomation accompanied by hemorrhage treated with continuous IP analgesia in the veterinary literature., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.)

This study evaluated the effects of an intervention for teaching phonological awareness skills to kindergarten-age children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The intervention employed a combined multiple treatment and multiple baseline design, embedded in playtime and implemented under naturally occurring conditions. Six children in a special education kindergarten class were taught syllable segmentation, first sound identification, and phoneme segmenting. Results indicated that all children made gains on each skill. Results are discussed in light of current research on phonological awareness intervention for young children with intellectual and developmental disabilities., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the indications, duration of ventilation, underlying cardiac diseases, and outcome of dogs and cats undergoing positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) for treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF)., Design: Two-site retrospective study (1992-2012)., Setting: Two university small animal teaching hospitals., Animals: Six cats and 10 dogs undergoing PPV for CHF., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Medical records were searched to identify patients requiring PPV for treatment of pulmonary edema secondary to CHF. Sixteen animals fulfilled these criteria. Patient signalment, duration of PPV, underlying cardiac disease, arterial or venous blood gas values, pharmacologic therapy before, during, and after PPV, anesthetic drugs, complications, and outcome were recorded. Overall survival to discharge was 62.5% (10/16). Mean (±SD) duration of PPV was 30.8 ± 21.3 hours and average time from presentation for CHF to initiation of PPV was 5.9 ± 6.4 hours. Azotemia at the time of initiation of ventilation, development of anuria or oliguria, and use of pentobarbital for anesthesia were negatively associated with survival (P = 0.011, P = 0.036, and P = 0.036, respectively). Survival-to-discharge rate was 77% (10/13) for patients treated after 2005 and those not receiving pentobarbital. There was no significant effect attributed to age, sex, weight, species, nature of heart disease, furosemide dose, length of ventilation, use of vasopressors, first-time CHF events, or plasma lactate concentration on survival to discharge., Conclusions: Dogs and cats requiring PPV for CHF have a good overall prognosis for hospital discharge and require PPV for a relatively short duration. Azotemia, oliguria or anuria, and the use of pentobarbital are negatively associated with outcome., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2014.)

Writing is one of the primary skills that children learn in school. Interventions that address performance deficits and skill deficits have been shown to improve aspects of elementary school children's writing. This study demonstrates performance-based interventions (goal setting, feedback, and contingent reward) and a skill-based intervention (instruction) on the writing skills of a 10-year-old child. Results indicated that the performance intervention increased the number of correctly spelled words, and the combination of performance and instructional intervention increased the number of complete sentences., (© Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

Objective: To evaluate effects of blood collection method and site on results of thromboelastography in healthy dogs., Animals: 8 clinically normal purpose-bred dogs., Procedures: Blood was collected from the external jugular vein by syringe aspiration via direct venipuncture with a 20-gauge needle, through a central venous catheter, or into an evacuated tube with a 21-gauge winged needle catheter. Blood was collected from the lateral saphenous vein by syringe aspiration via direct venipuncture with a 20-gauge needle or into an evacuated tube with a 21-gauge winged needle catheter. Kaolin-activated thromboelastographic analyses were performed, and R (reaction time), K (clot formation time), α angle, maximal amplitude, and G (global clot strength) were analyzed., Results: No significant differences were observed with regard to sampling site. Sample collection method had no effect on thromboelastographic results for saphenous vein samples. Blood samples collected from the jugular vein by syringe aspiration had a lower R and K and higher α angle than did blood samples collected from the jugular vein by evacuated tube collection. Significant differences were observed between blood samples collected from the jugular vein by syringe aspiration and samples collected from the saphenous vein by evacuated tube collection and between samples collected from the saphenous vein by evacuated tube collection and samples collected from the jugular vein through a central venous catheter., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Different sampling methods resulted in small but significant differences in thromboelastographic values. Results justify the use of standardized techniques for research purposes, but all of these sampling methods were acceptable for 1-time clinical use.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of acepromazine maleate administered IV on platelet function assessed in healthy dogs by use of a modified thromboelastography assay., Animals: 6 healthy adult mixed-breed dogs., Procedures: Dogs received each of 3 treatments (saline [0.9% NaCl] solution [1 to 2 mL, IV] and acepromazine maleate [0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, IV]) in a randomized crossover study with a minimum 3-day washout period between treatments. From each dog, blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture immediately before and 30 and 240 minutes after administration of each treatment. A modified thromboelastography assay, consisting of citrated kaolin-activated (baseline assessment), reptilase-ADP-activated (ADP-activated), and reptilase-arachidonic acid (AA)-activated (AA-activated) thromboelastography, was performed for each sample. Platelet inhibition was evaluated by assessing the percentage change in maximum amplitude for ADP-activated or AA-activated samples, compared with baseline values. Percentage change in maximum amplitude was analyzed by use of Skillings-Mack tests with significance accepted at a family-wise error rate of P < 0.05 by use of Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons., Results: No significant differences were found in the percentage change of maximum amplitude from baseline for ADP-activated or AA-activated samples among treatments at any time., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Platelet function in dogs, as assessed by use of a modified thromboelastography assay, was not inhibited by acepromazine at doses of 0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg, IV. This was in contrast to previous reports in which it was suggested that acepromazine may alter platelet function via inhibition of ADP and AA.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease affecting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of the post-synaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle fatigue and weakness. The myasthenic patient can be a challenge to anesthesiologists, and the post-surgical risk of respiratory failure has always been a matter of concern. The incidence and prevalence of MG have been increasing for decades and the disease is underdiagnosed. This makes it important for the anesthesiologist to be aware of possible signs of the disease and to be properly updated on the optimal perioperative anesthesiological management of the myasthenic patient. The review is based on electronic searches on PubMed and a review of the references of the articles. The following keywords were used: myasthenia gravis AND neuromuscular blocking agents, myasthenia gravis AND sevoflurane, myasthenia gravis AND epidural, myasthenia gravis AND neuromuscular blockade reversal and myasthenia gravis AND pyridostigmine. The articles included were from reviews and clinical trials written in English. MG patients can easily be anesthetized without need for post-surgery mechanical ventilation whether it is general anesthesia or peripheral nerve block. Volatile anesthesia or the use of an epidural for the patient makes it possible to avoid the use of neuromuscular blocking agents, and when used, it should be in smaller doses and the patient should be carefully monitored. This review shows that with thorough pre-operative evaluation, continuing the daily pyridostigmine and careful monitoring the MG patient can be managed safely., (© 2011 The Authors Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica © 2011 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.)

Thirty-one dogs were randomised to receive intermittent wound infusion of bupivacaine or saline after surgery. Wound pressure sensitivity, pain scores, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, analgesic drugs administered, time to walking and time to eating after surgery were recorded. Plasma bupivacaine concentrations were measured. The relative frequency distributions of the non-interventional and interventional pain scores, but not the relative frequency distributions of palpation pain scores or wound pressure sensitivity, were significantly different between groups following surgery. There was a significant difference between groups in the time to eating and in the amount and timing of analgesic drugs administered. Measured plasma bupivacaine concentrations demonstrated systemic absorption of the drug. Bupivacaine infusion into surgical wounds after surgery may improve post-operative recovery, but no effect on wound tenderness was demonstrated in this study., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate effects of IV administration of dextrose on coagulation in healthy dogs., Animals: 7 dogs., Procedures: Thromboelastography and coagulation panel analysis were used to assess coagulation. Samples (S1 through S9) were collected during the study phases: phase 0 (S1 [baseline]); phase 1 (S2 and S3), infusion of crystalloid fluid without dextrose; phase 2 (S4 and S5), high-rate dextrose infusion; phase 3 (S6, S7, and S8), moderate-rate dextrose infusion; and phase 4 (S9), discontinuation of fluids for 24 hours. In phase 3, dogs were allocated to 2 groups; 1 was administered dextrose at a rate comparable to total parental nutrition (40% of resting energy requirement; group A), and 1 was administered dextrose at rates equaling 70% to 90% of resting energy requirement (group B). Blood glucose concentration was measured every 2 hours., Results: No dogs had clinically relevant sustained hyperglycemia. Maximum amplitude and elastic shear modulus were significantly lower at S6 than at S1 through S4. Concentration of D-dimer was significantly higher at S6 than at S1, S3, and S4 and significantly higher at S5 than at S3. Prothrombin time was significantly prolonged at S3, S5, S7, S8, and S9, compared with the value at S1. Activated partial thromboplastin time was significantly prolonged at S5 and S6, compared with values at S1, S2, S3, S4, and S9., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: IV administration of dextrose to healthy dogs at rates comparable to or higher than those for conventional parenteral nutrition resulted in mild but clinically unimportant interference with coagulation.

Objective: To determine the items (question topics) for a subjective instrument to assess degenerative joint disease (DJD)-associated chronic pain in cats and determine the instrument design most appropriate for use by cat owners., Animals: 100 randomly selected client-owned cats from 6 months to 20 years old., Procedures: Cats were evaluated to determine degree of radiographic DJD and signs of pain throughout the skeletal system. Two groups were identified: high DJD pain and low DJD pain. Owner-answered questions about activity and signs of pain were compared between the 2 groups to define items relating to chronic DJD pain. Interviews with 45 cat owners were performed to generate items. Fifty-three cat owners who had not been involved in any other part of the study, 19 veterinarians, and 2 statisticians assessed 6 preliminary instrument designs., Results: 22 cats were selected for each group; 19 important items were identified, resulting in 12 potential items for the instrument; and 3 additional items were identified from owner interviews. Owners and veterinarians selected a 5-point descriptive instrument design over 11-point or visual analogue scale formats., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Behaviors relating to activity were substantially different between healthy cats and cats with signs of DJD-associated pain. Fifteen items were identified as being potentially useful, and the preferred instrument design was identified. This information could be used to construct an owner-based questionnaire to assess feline DJD-associated pain. Once validated, such a questionnaire would assist in evaluating potential analgesic treatments for these patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in a randomly selected sample of domestic cats., Study Design: Prospective observational study., Animals: Client-owned cats., Methods: Cats (n=100) from a single practice and equally distributed across 4 age groups (0-5; 5-10; 10-15, and 15-20 years old) were randomly selected (regardless of heath status) and sedated for orthogonal radiographic projections of all joints and the spine. Quasi-Poisson regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between patient demographics, blood biochemistry, hematologic and urine analysis variables, and DJD severity., Results: Most (92%) cats had radiographic evidence of DJD; 91% had at least 1 site of appendicular DJD and 55% had > or = 1 site of axial column DJD. Affected joints in descending order of frequency were hip, stifle, tarsus, and elbow. The thoracic segment of the spine was more frequently affected than the lumbosacral segment. Although many variables were significantly associated with DJD, when variables were combined, only the association between age and DJD was significant (P<.0001). For each 1-year increase in cat age, the expected total DJD score increases by an estimated 13.6% (95% confidence interval: 10.6%, 16.8%)., Conclusion: Radiographically visible DJD is very common in domesticated cats, even in young animals and is strongly associated with age., Clinical Relevance: DJD is a common disease of domesticated cats that requires further investigation of its associated clinical signs.

Since European colonization, Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) has declined across its range to the point where it is now only patchily distributed within the montane ash forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria. The loss of large hollow-bearing trees coupled with inadequate recruitment of mature ash forest has been predicted to result in a reduction in population size of up to 90% by 2020. Furthermore, bioclimatic analyses have suggested additional reductions in the species' distribution under a variety of climate change scenarios. Using a panel of 15 highly resolving microsatellite markers and mitochondrial control region sequence data, we infer past and present gene flow. Populations in the northern part of the core range were highly admixed, and showed no signs of either current or historical barriers to gene flow. A marginal, isolated and inbred population at Yellingbo was highly genetically differentiated, both in terms of current and historic genetic structure. Sequence data confirmed the conclusions from earlier genetic simulation studies that the Yellingbo population has been isolated from the rest of the species range since before European-induced changes to the montane landscape, and formed part of a larger genetic unit that is now otherwise extinct. Historic loss of maternal lineages in the Central Highlands of Victoria was detected despite signals of immigration, indicating population declines that most probably coincided with changes in climate at the end of the Pleistocene. Given ongoing habitat loss and the recent (February 2009) wildfire in the Central Highlands, we forecast (potentially extensive) demographic declines, in line with predicted range reductions under climate change scenarios.

Background: Ionized hypocalcemia (iHCa) is a common electrolyte disturbance in critically ill people, especially those with sepsis. The cause of the iHCa is not entirely understood and is likely multifactorial. Critically ill people with iHCa have longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates compared to people with normocalcemia. There are no published clinical studies evaluating the incidence and impact of iHCa in critically ill dogs., Hypothesis: iHCa occurs in critically ill dogs, is more prevalent in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis, and is associated with longer hospital stays and higher mortality., Animals: One hundred and forty-one client-owned dogs admitted to a companion animal intensive care unit (ICU) in a veterinary teaching hospital., Methods: Prospective observational study of sequentially enrolled dogs. Blood was collected and analyzed within an hour of admission from all dogs presented to the ICU that met study inclusion criteria., Results: The incidence of iHCa (iCa < 1.11 mmol/L) was 16%. The presence of iHCa was associated with longer ICU (P= .038) and hospital (P= .012) stays but not with decreased survival (P= .60). Dogs with sepsis as defined by >or=3 SIRS criteria and a positive culture were more likely to have iHCa (P= .050)., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: In dogs not previously treated with fluids or blood products intravenously, the finding of iHCa upon admission to the ICU predicted a longer duration of ICU and hospital stay. Septic dogs with positive cultures were more likely to have iHCa.

Objective: Compare the effects of 3 anticoagulation protocols on anti-factor Xa activity (AXa)., Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study., Setting: University veterinary teaching hospital., Animals: Eighteen dogs considered to be at risk for venous thrombosis., Interventions: Each dog was randomly assigned to 1 of the following 3 groups (n=6/group) and was treated for 24 hours: low-dose heparin (LDH), high-dose heparin (HDH), and dalteparin (DP). Dogs in the LDH group received a constant rate infusion (CRI) of unfractionated heparin (UFH) at 300 U/kg/d, the HDH group received a bolus of 100 U/kg of UFH IV, then a CRI of 900 U/kg/day, and the DP group received 100 U/kg DP SC at 0, 12, and 24 hours., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 54 samples for activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and AXa assays were collected at 0, 4, and 28 hours. Six samples had an AXa >0.1 U/mL, 5 of those were from the HDH group at hour 4. Two samples from the HDH group at hour 4 had a prolonged aPTT (93 and 200 seconds) and the highest AXa (0.6 and 1.0 U/mL, respectively). Four additional dogs in the HDH group did not complete the study due to hemorrhage; none of the dogs completing the study showed signs of hemorrhage., Conclusions: Neither DP nor LDH increased AXa to values considered therapeutic in humans (0.5-1 and 0.35-0.75 U/mL, respectively), and both protocols appear to be inadequate to increase AXa in dogs with clinical illness. HDH increased AXa to this range in 2 of 6 dogs, but had unpredictable effects on aPTT and resulted in hemorrhage in some dogs.

Effective conservation management requires that genetically divergent populations potentially harbouring important local adaptations be identified and maintained as separate management units. In the case of the endangered Australian Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), an arboreal marsupial endemic to Victoria, uncertainty over the evolutionary origin of a potentially important extant wild population recently discovered in atypical habitat (lowland swamp) at Yellingbo is hampering such efforts. The population is rumoured to be a recent introduction. Microsatellite allele frequencies at Yellingbo differed substantially from those in sampled populations in montane ash forest (F(ST) between 0.23 and 0.36), and Bayesian clustering analyses of genotypes strongly separated them (K = 2). We conducted a suite of bottlenecking tests which all indicated that Yellingbo had undergone a recent reduction in size. The extent to which the distinctiveness of Yellingbo animals might be expected solely through bottlenecking associated with a recent introduction, was tested by simulating population-history scenarios seeded with genotypes from candidate wild and captive sources. No bottleneck scenario reproduced anything approaching the genetic distinction of the Yellingbo population, with all STRUCTURE analyses placing Yellingbo in a separate cluster to simulated populations (K = 2, minimum F(ST) = 0.13). These results suggest that Yellingbo does not share recent ancestry with other extant populations and instead may be a remnant of an otherwise extinct gene pool. Importantly, this may include genes involved in adaptation to a lowland swamp environment, substantially adding to the conservation importance of this population, and suggesting that separate management may be prudent until evidence suggests otherwise.

Objective: To assess the correlation between data generated by an accelerometer-based activity monitor and the distance moved in cats., Study Design: Prospective experimental study., Animals: Three, four-year-old, male, purpose-bred research cats, weighing between 5.1 and 5.9 kg., Methods: Part I: Collar and harness mounted accelerometers were evaluated in three cats, comparing simultaneously collected accelerometer data with movement data from computer-analyzed video. Part II: Cats wore collar and harness mounted accelerometers, and data were recorded for 4 weeks to evaluate day-to-day and week-to-week variation in activity., Results: Part I: 432 hours of simultaneous video and accelerometer data were collected. The correlation between accelerometer counts and distance moved was 0.82 overall. Agreement between collar and harness mounted accelerometers was excellent with only 6% of the differences in measurements lying outside the mean difference +/- 2 standard deviations. The adjusted R(2) for harness accelerometer output and 6% mobility was 0.75; for movement 0.84; and for mean velocity 0.83. Evaluation of video indicated eating, grooming and scratching created high accelerometer counts with little effect on movement. Part II: There was a significant effect of day on harness (p < 0.001) and collar (p < 0.002) counts, with counts being lowest at the weekend. There was a significant effect of week on harness-mounted accelerometer counts (p < 0.034), but not on collar-mounted accelerometer counts. Harness accelerometer counts were lowest in week 1., Conclusion: Output from an acceleration-based digitally integrated accelerometer correlated well with distance moved and mobility in freely moving cats provided the mobility threshold in the analysis software was > or = 6%., Clinical Relevance: Acceleration-based activity monitors may allow for objective measurement of improved mobility following analgesic treatment for conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Background: There are no validated systems for measuring pain from osteoarthritis in cats., Hypothesis: Owner subjective assessments and an activity monitor (AM) can be used to detect pain in cats with osteoarthritis and to assess efficacy of treatments., Animals: Thirteen cats older than 10 years old, with owner-assessed decreases in activity, painful arthritic joints, and clinically normal blood work were included and evaluated for 3 weeks., Methods: A collar-mounted AM measured activity and a client-specific outcome measure (CSOM) questionnaire characterized the severity of impairment. Overall global quality of life was also evaluated for each treatment. In weeks 2 and 3, meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg, day 1; 0.05 mg/kg, days 2-5) or a placebo was administered in a blinded, randomized, cross-over manner to test the assessment systems., Results: The cats had a median of 4 arthritic appendicular joints. Activity counts for the week when cats (complete data on activity; n=9) were administered meloxicam were significantly higher than at baseline (P = .02) but not after placebo (P = .06). Baseline activity counts were not significantly different from placebo (P = .6). The CSOM data (n=13) showed that owners considered their cats to be more active on meloxicam compared with baseline (P = .001) and placebo (P < .004), and more active on placebo than at baseline (P < .01). Global quality of life improved significantly with meloxicam (P < .042)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Both an AM and a CSOM system can detect behavior associated with pain relief in cats that are arthritic. Objective activity data might allow subjective assessment systems to be validated for use in clinical studies.

Objective: To determine the correlation between activity as measured by an accelerometer and videographic measurements of movement and mobility in healthy dogs., Animals: 4 healthy dogs., Procedures: After determination that accelerometers had good agreement, 5 identical accelerometers were used simultaneously to test their output at 8 locations (rotated among collar, vest, and forelimb stocking locations) on each dog. Movement and mobility for each dog were recorded continuously with a computerized videography system for 7-hour sessions on 4 consecutive days. Accelerometer values were combined into 439 fifteen-minute intervals and compared with 3 videographic measurements of movement and mobility (distance traveled, time spent walking > 20 cm/s, and time spent changing position by > 12% of 2-dimensional surface area during 1.5 seconds)., Results: 96% of values compared between the most discordant pair of accelerometers were within 2 SDs of the mean value from all 5 accelerometers. All mounting locations provided acceptable correlation with videographic measurements of movement and mobility, and the ventral portion of the collar was determined to be the most convenient location., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Use of an accelerometer was adequate for at-home activity monitoring, an important end point in clinical trials of treatment for chronic disease, and provided information about daily activity that is unattainable by other methods.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is increased in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF)., Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of a novel canine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of BNP for the diagnosis of CHF in dogs presenting with either cough or dyspnea., Animals: Three hundred and thirty dogs from 2 large university teaching hospitals., Methods: We prospectively measured plasma BNP concentrations in 3 groups of dogs: (1) normal adult dogs (n = 75), (2) dogs with asymptomatic heart disease (n = 76), and (3) dogs with cough or dyspnea (n = 179). The final diagnosis of dogs with cough or dyspnea and the severity of CHF (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council Heart Failure Classification [ISACHC]) were determined by medical record review by a study cardiologist who was blinded to the results of the BNP assay., Results: Dogs with CHF had a higher median BNP concentration (24.6 pg/mL) than dogs with noncardiac causes of cough or dyspnea (2.6 pg/mL) (P < .0001). The area under the curve was 0.91 for the receiver operating curve analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the BNP measurement to differentiate CHF from other causes of cough or dyspnea. The median BNP concentrations in dogs were 3.0 pg/mL with ISACHC I, 17.8 pg/mL with ISACHC II, and 30.5 pg/mL with ISACHC III. (P < .0001), Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Measurement of BNP is useful in establishing or in excluding the diagnosis of CHF in dogs with cough or dyspnea. B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations rose significantly as a function of severity of CHF.

The aim of the present study was to analyze whether leukocyte subsets in peripheral blood and tumour biopsies obtained before treatment were able to predict response or survival in patients with metastatic melanoma following Interleukin-2 (IL-2) based immunotherapy. Flow cytometry was performed on peripheral blood for CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells and CD56(+) natural killer (NK) cells. Immunohistochemical analyses were used to identify CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, CD57(+) NK cells and CD64(+) (macrophages) cells in tumour biopsies. High numbers of tumour-associated CD64(+) macrophages in tumour biopsies were statistically significantly associated with poor response to treatment. Our data suggest that tumour-associated macrophages may correlate negatively with response, which may be of biological importance for IL-2 based immunotherapy of malignant melanoma.

An understanding of genetic variation and structure of pest populations has the potential to improve the efficiency of measures to control them. Genetic analysis was undertaken at five microsatellite loci in four native Australian and 14 introduced New Zealand populations of the common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula in order to document these parameters. Genetic variation in New Zealand populations, and phylogenetic relationships among Australian and New Zealand populations, were largely predicted by the recorded introduction history. Populations on the two main islands of New Zealand had only slightly lower genetic diversity than did Australian populations, except that allelic richness on the South Is. was significantly lower. Diversity was higher in North Is. than in South Is. populations (although not significantly so) and mainland New Zealand populations as a group were significantly more diverse than offshore islands that represented secondary population size bottlenecks. In phylogenetic analyses South Is. and offshore island populations grouped with Tasmania, while North Is. populations grouped either with mainland Australia or were intermediate between the two Australian sources. This scheme was supported by admixture coefficients showing that North and South Is./offshore island populations were largely mainland Australian and Tasmanian in origin, respectively. Population structure differed markedly between the North and South Islands: populations were typically more genetically differentiated on the former than the latter, which also showed significant isolation-by-distance. Substantial linkage disequilibrium in most sampled New Zealand but no Australian population between microsatellite loci Tv16 and Tv27 suggests they may be physically linked.

Retroviral vectors that are able to sustain multiple rounds of replication may find many applications. However, one critical feature of such vectors is the ability to maintain an intact transgene cassette during repeated rounds of replication. We here report on the stability of a translational cassette consisting of an internal ribosome entry site followed by the enhanced green fluorescent protein coding sequence inserted in different configurations into murine leukemia virus genomes. In two of the constructs, the insert was located in the upstream part of the U3 region while in the third construct it was inserted in the 3' untranslated region of the viral genome. Furthermore, in two of the constructs, the translational cassette was flanked by a direct repeat, while no such structure flanked the third construct. Our results show that deletion of the heterologous translational cassette is observed for all constructs upon extended cell culture and that the number of replication rounds before revertants are detected can be postponed by decreasing the length of the repeat flanking the translational cassette.

Emergency/critical care is a new veterinary specialty that poses special challenges in veterinary education. Traditional methods of teaching emergency procedures in the teaching hospital place novices in a high-stress, high-stakes environment not conducive to learning or to optimum patient care. Our innovative emergency-procedures laboratory enables students to acquire a high degree of proficiency, in a realistic setting, with focused, controlled instruction and practice, replicable in schools with or without emergency/critical care facilities.

Temporary cardiac pacing is used in the emergency treatment of life-threatening bradyarrhythmias and for the support of heart rate and blood pressure of patients with sick sinus syndrome or high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block undergoing general anesthesia, typically for permanent pacemaker implantation. We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of a noninvasive transthoracic external cardiac pacing system in 42 dogs treated for bradyarrhythmias. Optimal placement of the patch electrodes on the skin of the thorax was initially established on 2 anesthetized normal dogs. The optimal electrode placement was determined to be on the right and left hemithoraces, directly over the heart. Afterward, by means of this electrode placement all 42 dogs treated for bradyarrhythmias in this study were successfully paced with the noninvasive transthoracic system. Dogs ranged in age from 1 to 15 years and weighed between 3.2 and 40 kg. Miniature Schnauzers, German Shepherds, and mixed breeds were most common in the study population. Indications for noninvasive transthoracic pacing included emergency treatment of hemodynamically unstable 3rd-degree AV block (2 dogs): support of heart rate during general anesthesia for permanent pacemaker implantation or lead-wire adjustment (38 dogs): and support of heart rate during general anesthesia for ophthalmologic surgery in dogs with sick sinus syndrome (2 dogs). Complications included pain and skeletal muscle stimulation, which required general anesthesia. We conclude that the noninvasive transthoracic pacing system evaluated is satisfactory for clinical veterinary use.

Hundreds of thousands of animals are presented to US veterinarians annually for surgery or for evaluation of painful disease. This large population offers the opportunity for clinical research of both acute and chronic pain syndromes. Although there is growing interest by veterinary clinical specialists to explore the nature of animal pain and how best to treat it, this resource is relatively unknown to the pain research community. Computer-assisted collection of behavioral data has created new opportunities for characterizing the pain experience in animal species for the benefit of both animals and humans. This review describes the current state of veterinary clinical pain studies in dogs and an application of computer-assisted behavioral analysis.

Reliable evaluation of tumor growth in animal models depends upon accurate identification of all malignant cells in affected organs. An ideal tumor cell label is non-toxic, labels the cells in a population uniformly and does not affect their biological behavior. A good candidate for such a cell label is enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). However, the stability of EGFP expression and the characteristics of EGFP-marked tumors cells in vivo have not yet been elucidated in detail. We here report that a B16 murine melanoma subline stably transduced with an EGFP/Neo encoding retroviral vector display the same growth patterns in vitro and in vivo as the parental cell line. Furthermore, the transduced cells were found to maintain the level of EGFP expression in vivo for at least 15 days. Thus, B16 malignant melanoma cells stably transduced with the gene for EGFP seem well suited for studies on tumor growth in mouse models.

The effects of transdermal fentanyl and i.m. oxymorphone on behavioural and physiological responses, after ovariohysterectomy in dogs, were investigated. The study involved three groups of 10 dogs: fentanyl/surgery (FS), oxymorphone/surgery (OS), fentanyl/control (FC). A transdermal fentanyl delivery system (50 microg hour(-1)) (FS and FC) was applied 20 hours before surgery, or i.m. oxymorphone (OS) was administered. After ovariohysterectomy (FS and OS) or anaesthesia alone (FC), dogs were continuously videotaped for 24 hours and a standardised hourly interaction with a handler performed. The videotapes were analysed, and interactive and non-interactive behaviours evaluated. In addition, pain and sedation scores, pulse and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, arterial blood pressure, plasma cortisol and plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured. This study showed that transdermal fentanyl and i.m. oxymorphone (0.05 mg kg(-1)) produced comparable analgesic effects over a 24 hour recording period. I.m. oxymorphone produced significantly more sedation and lower rectal temperatures than transdermal fentanyl. There were no significant differences between groups in respiratory and heart rates, and arterial blood pressures.

Epidemic outbreaks of group B meningococcal disease exhibit a clonal nature consisting of a common serotype-subtype. Subtype-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed toward two variable regions (VR1 and VR2) of the class 1 protein of Neisseria meningitidis are used in this classification scheme. A new MAb was developed to classify a nonsubtypeable (NST) strain of N. meningitidis, 7967. This MAb bound to both the NST strain and the prototype subtype P1. 14 strain, S3446, by dot blot analysis. However, a MAb produced to the prototype P1.14 strain did not bind to strain 7967. Sixteen additional strains were further identified as P1.14 with the prototype MAb; of these, 15 strains bound both MAbs. Differences in the characteristics of binding of both antibodies to the three apparently diverse P1.14 strains were studied further by using outer membrane complex proteins, immobilized peptides, and soluble peptides. Deduced amino acid analysis suggested that both MAbs bind to VR2 and that single amino acid changes within VR2 (KM, NM, or KK) might explain the differences in binding characteristics. These results demonstrated that minor variations which exist within subtype variable regions may be clearly identified only by a combination of molecular and immunologic testing. The impact of subtype variation will become more evident as subtype-specific vaccines are developed and tested for efficacy.

Stewart's strong ion difference, first introduced more than 10 years ago, offers an innovative approach for the analysis of non-respiratory acid-base disorders. This article addresses the concept of strong ion difference and discusses its clinical applications. A brief review of base excess and anion gap is also included. Clinical cases are provided to demonstrate a step-by-step method using strong ion difference to evaluate nonrespiratory acid-base imbalances.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 7% NaCl solution (hypertonic saline) in 6% dextran 70 solution (HSD) with that of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) for treatment of dogs in traumatic shock., Design: Prospective, randomized, clinical study., Animals: 16 traumatized adult dogs with clinical signs of shock., Procedure: Physical, hemodynamic, blood gas, and clinical chemistry measurements were performed prior to treatment. Initial treatment consisted of HSD (n = 8) or LRS (n = 8) administered as a bolus (5 ml/kg of body weight, IV) over a 3-minute period, followed by administration of additional LRS and other treatments to restore hemodynamic and physical criteria to within reference limits. Measurements were repeated for 3 hours after initial treatment. The volumes of LRS and HSD administered were recorded hourly. Degree of injury was scored by using a trauma severity index., Results: Dogs responded similarly to the treatments, and all but 3 dogs survived to be discharged. The amount of fluid administered to dogs in the HSD group over the final 2 hours of the study was significantly less than that administered to the dogs in the LRS group. Serum sodium concentration and osmolality of the dogs in the HSD group were not significantly greater than those values in the LRS group. Bradyarrhythmias were observed in 2 dogs in the HSD group., Clinical Implications: Hypertonic sodium chloride/dextran solution is safe and effective for resuscitating dogs in traumatic shock. Seven percent NaCl in 6% dextran 70 may reduce the need for isotonic fluids in the hours after initial resuscitation.

Levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA, RNA, or p24 antigen and reverse transcriptase activity in T-cell cultures treated with 500 IU of recombinant alpha interferon (rIFN alpha) per ml were comparable to those in control cultures. Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis of proteins in lysates of IFN-treated T cells documented a marked accumulation of HIV proteins. Localization of gp120 by immunofluorescence showed a diffuse pattern in IFN-treated cells quite distinct from the ring pattern in untreated control cells. That large quantities of gp120 in aberrant cell compartments might affect HIV morphogenesis was confirmed in infectivity studies: virions from IFN-treated cells were 100- to 1,000-fold less infectious than an equal number of virions from control cells. Direct examination of IFN-treated and control HIV-infected cells by transmission electron microscopy showed little difference in the number or distribution of viral particles. However, quantitation of gp120 by immunogold particle analysis revealed a marked depletion of envelope glycoprotein in virions released from IFN-treated cells. This defect in gp120 assembly onto mature viral particles provides a molecular basis for this loss of infectivity.

During the period 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989, a total of 1,004 patients were submitted to outpatient single-day surgery in Aalborg Hospital. As fas as possible, the patients were anaesthetized with propofol (Diprivan)/alfentanil (Rapifen) and oxygen and atmospheric air. This form of anaesthesia was found to be rapid and suitable for single-day surgery. 8.1% of the patients required admission for further observation, 2.3% of these on account of anaesthesiological complications. It is concluded that, by means of meticulous planning, it is possible to carry out ambulant anaesthesia and surgery and, employing limited staff resources, it has proved possible to reduce the waiting time for outpatient intervention to 10-12 weeks.

Although macrophages are major targets for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in vivo, study of HIV-macrophage interactions in vitro was hindered because many laboratory strains of HIV would not replicate in macrophages, and because survival of macrophages in culture was poor. Addition of purified macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) to cultured macrophages markedly improves their survival, but does not induce proliferation. HIV isolates that replicate in macrophages will also replicate in lymphocytes; however, isolates adapted to lymphoid cells (such as HIV-HTLVIIIB) will not replicate in macrophages. The envelope gene appears to be a major determinant of the cell tropism of viral isolates. T-cell grown virus stocks synthesize abundant gp120, while virus grown in macrophages contains relatively much less gp120. Electron microscopy of virions from macrophages shows them to be depleted of gp120 surface "spikes." Recombination studies show that the portion of the genome coding for the envelope glycoprotein appears to determine cell tropism. Lastly, rsCD4 neutralized macrophage-tropic isolates less efficiently than T-cell tropic isolates. HIV replication in macrophages is partially under the control of cellular factors, although these have been less well characterized than they have in lymphocytes.