Sex-Specific Differences in Etiology and Prognosis in Patients With Significant Tricuspid Regurgitation.

The aim of this study was to assess differences in etiology, comorbidities, echocardiographic parameters, and prognosis between men and women with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of 1569 patients (age 71 [62 to 78] years) at first diagnosis of significant TR were compared between men and women. Patients with congenital heart disease or previous tricuspid valve surgery were excluded.

Effect of freezing and storage temperature on stability and antimicrobial activity of an antibiotic mixture used for decontamination of tissue allografts.

One of the most important risks to be controlled in tissue banking is the infection associated with the clinical use of auto- and allografts. Thus, tissue disinfection protocols are used, in addition to processing in controlled environments. For this purpose, combinations of antibiotics are designed to ensure a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity.

Comparison of two minimally invasive techniques for liver biopsy collection in dogs.

Objectives: High-quality biopsy is an essential factor for the successful diagnosis of canine liver disease. The aim of this study was to compare various aspects of biopsies obtained by two different techniques: pretied ligating loop and cup biopsy forceps.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen client-owned dogs underwent laparoscopic liver biopsies for diagnosis of liver disease.

Plasma cytokine concentrations in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt.

Congenital portosystemic shunts (cPSS) are a well-recognised vascular anomaly in dogs. Recent studies have shown an association between inflammation and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is a common clinical syndrome in dogs with a cPSS. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α are frequently increased in the plasma of human patients with liver disease and have been implicated in the development of HE.

Serum haptoglobin concentrations in dogs with liver disease.

Dogs with liver disease have been shown to have increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. However, it is unclear whether dogs with liver disease also have increased serum haptoglobin concentrations. The aim of the study was to measure serum haptoglobin concentrations in healthy dogs, hospitalised dogs and dogs with liver diseases.

Study protocol: using the Q-STEPS to assess and improve the quality of physical activity programmes for the elderly.

Background: Aging is one of the most important and obvious phenomenon observed in our society. In the past years, there has been a growing concern in designing physical activity (PA) programmes for elderly people, because evidence suggests that such health promotion interventions may reduce the deleterious effects of the ageing process. Accordingly, a growing body of literature points to the importance of a sound approach to planning and evaluation in order to improve the quality of PA programmes.

Association between dairy product intake and abdominal obesity in Azorean adolescents.

Background: Some studies have reported an inverse association between dairy product (DP) consumption and weight or fat mass loss.

Objectives: The objective of our study was to assess the association between DP intake and abdominal obesity (AO) among Azorean adolescents.

Subjects/methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis.

Dogs with congenital porto-systemic shunting (cPSS) and hepatic encephalopathy have higher serum concentrations of C-reactive protein than asymptomatic dogs with cPSS.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with liver disorders and a wide range of rodent models of HE have been described to facilitate studies into the pathogenesis and treatment of HE. However, it is widely acknowledged that no individual model perfectly mimics human HE and there is a particular need for spontaneous, larger animal models. One common congenital abnormality in dogs is the portosystemic shunt (cPSS) which causes clinical signs that are similar to human HE such as ataxia, disorientation, lethargy and occasionally coma.

A proposed adaptation of the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model to physical activity programmes for the elderly - development of a quality self-assessment tool using a modified Delphi process.

Background: There has been a growing concern in designing physical activity (PA) programmes for elderly people, since evidence suggests that such health promotion interventions may reduce the deleterious effects of the ageing process. Complete programme evaluations are a necessary prerequisite to continuous quality improvements. Being able to refine, adapt and create tools that are suited to the realities and contexts of PA programmes for the elderly in order to support its continuous improvement is, therefore, crucial.

Evaluation of physical activity programmes for the elderly - exploring the lessons from other sectors and examining the general characteristics of the programmes.

Background: In Portugal, there are several physical activity (PA) programmes for elderly people developed by the local government. The importance of these programmes has been increasing since the evidence has shown that this type of health promotion interventions may reduce the deleterious effects of the ageing process. However, no study has already identified the general characteristics of these programmes nor if they use any scheme to assess the quality of the service provided.

Influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and parental lifestyle on adolescents' abdominal obesity.

Aim: The aims of this study were (1) to analyse the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and parental overweight status (POS) and socioeconomic status (SES) on abdominal obesity.

Subjects And Methods: This study was comprised of 779 adolescents (12-18 years). Waist-height ratio (WHtR), 20 m shuttle-run test to ascertain CRF, POS according to World Health Organization recommendations and SES of parents using level of education were analysed.

Metabolic risk factors, physical activity and physical fitness in Azorean adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased over the last few decades in adolescents and has become an important health challenge worldwide. This study analyzed the relationships between metabolic risk factors (MRF) and physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) in a sample of Azorean adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 417 adolescents (243 girls) aged 15-18 from the Azorean Islands, Portugal.

Evaluation of physical activity programmes for elderly people - a descriptive study using the EFQM' criteria.

Background: In the past years, there has been a growing concern in designing physical activity (PA) programmes for elderly people, because evidence suggests that such health promotion interventions may reduce the deleterious effects of the ageing process. Quality is an important issue when designing a PA programme for older people. Some studies support the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) as an operational framework for evaluating the quality of an organization.

Metabolic syndrome and physical fitness in a sample of Azorean adolescents.

Background: Metabolic syndrome, a predecessor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, has become prevalent in adolescents. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components and to analyze the relationship between metabolic syndrome and overall physical fitness levels in a sample of Azorean adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study, the Azorean Physical Activity and Health Study II, was conducted on 517 adolescents (297 girls, 220 boys) aged 15-18 years old from the Azorean Islands.

Comparison of different VO(2max) equations in the ability to discriminate the metabolic risk in Portuguese adolescents.

There is increasing evidence that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important health marker already in youth. This study aimed to determine the ability of five VO(2max) equations to discriminate between low/high Metabolic Risk in 450 Portuguese adolescents aged 10-18. We measured waist and hip circumferences, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

Sitting time and body mass index, in a Portuguese sample of men: results from the Azorean Physical Activity and Health Study (APAHS).

The aim of this study was to verify the relation between body mass index (BMI) and sitting time in a sample of 4,091 Azorean men. BMI was calculated from self-reported weight and height. Total physical activity (PA) time and total sitting time were assessed with the IPAQ (short version).

Whole blood manganese concentrations in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts.

Background: Manganese (Mn) is an essential mineral that is a cofactor for many enzymes required in the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Because hepatic clearance is essential in Mn homeostasis, conditions in humans resulting in hepatic insufficiency including cirrhosis and both acquired and congenital portosystemic shunting have been reported to result in increased blood Mn concentrations and increased Mn content in the central nervous system. Because Mn toxicity causes neurologic disturbances, increased Mn concentrations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.

Retrospective analysis of the relationship between time of thoracostomy drain removal and discharge time.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the volume of fluid being produced at the time of thoracostomy drain removal and the time to hospital discharge in dogs and cats.

Methods: Records of 101 dogs and 26 cats with thoracostomy drains were reviewed. Three subgroups were created according to the reason for thoracostomy drain placement: P (postsurgical), A (air) and F (fluid).