Cannabidiol (CBD)-containing products are widely commercially available for companion animals, mirroring popularity in human use. Although data on the safety and efficacy of long-term oral supplementation are increasing in dogs, evidence remains lacking in cats. The purpose of these studies was to address gaps in the knowledge around the long-term suitability and tolerance of a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-free CBD distillate in clinically healthy cats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is a prevailing view that humans' capacity to use language to characterize sensations like odors or tastes is poor, providing an unreliable source of information.
Methods: Here, we developed a machine learning method based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) using Large Language Models (LLM) to predict COVID-19 diagnosis solely based on text descriptions of acute changes in chemosensation, i.e.
The bulk vegetable oil-water partition coefficient of caffeine and quinine was determined by a shake-flask method as log K = -1.32 and 2.97.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCannabidiol (CBD) containing dog food and treats are widely commercially available, mirroring the growing popularity of CBD as a supplement for humans. Despite this, experimental evidence of the safety and efficacy of long-term oral exposure in dogs is lacking. The purpose of this study was to address the gap in knowledge around the longer-term suitability and tolerance of a broad-spectrum CBD (THC-free) distillate in clinically healthy dogs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessment of immune competence of farmed Atlantic salmon is especially important during smoltification and the first several months in the sea. Recently developed tools were applied to salmon raised in a traditional flow-through facility (FT, cohort 1) and in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS, cohort 2). Fish were sampled at four time-points: parr, smolt, and at three weeks and three months after seawater transfer (SWT); expression of 85 selected immune and stress genes, IgM transcripts (Ig-seq), and circulating antibodies were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly responses in healthy adult dogs fed grain-free diets with high inclusion of split peas (20%) and lentils (40%) that may lead to canine diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were investigated. To help understand the clinical relevance of the findings, a survey of electronic health records (EHR) was conducted of dogs with and without suspected DCM for comparison. Control and Test diets were fed to Labrador retriever dogs for 30 days (n = 5 and 6, respectively).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sudden smell loss is a specific early symptom of COVID-19, which, prior to the emergence of Omicron, had estimated prevalence of ~40% to 75%. Chemosensory impairments affect physical and mental health, and dietary behavior. Thus, it is critical to understand the rate and time course of smell recovery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe common scab disease caused by , a soil-dwelling Gram-positive bacterium, is an economically important disease of potatoes and other tuber crops. The lack of effective treatments against this disease accounts for large economic losses globally. Plant extracts were screened to find several that effectively inhibited growth in culture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe impact of dietary phosphorus on chronic renal disease in cats, humans and other species is receiving increasing attention. As Ca and P metabolism are linked, the ratio of Ca:P is an important factor for consideration when formulating diets for cats and other animals. Here, we describe a fully randomised crossover study including twenty-four healthy, neutered adult cats, investigating postprandial responses in plasma P, ionised Ca and parathyroid hormone (PTH) following one meal (50 % of individual metabolic energy requirement) of each of six experimental diets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To assess the impact of pregnancy on cardiac function and fibrosis by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF).
Background: CMR T1 mapping can assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis which is associated to adverse clinical outcomes. Right ventricular (RV) accelerated remodeling is reported in rToF women with experienced pregnancy.
Background: Dietary protein and phosphorus (P) restriction is the mainstay for nutritional management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, adequate restriction levels for cats with early CKD remain unclear.
Objectives: To investigate responses in cats with early CKD to varying dietary protein, P, and calcium (Ca) : P ratio.
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient; however, potential health impacts of high dietary levels of added soluble, highly bioavailable P salts especially are a concern. P sources with lower bioavailability are considered safer. Yet, speciation of different P sources to assess diets' risk to health is challenging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAge-related changes in gastrointestinal function have been reported in companion animals, but the impact on digestive efficiency remains uncertain. Healthy dogs ( = 37; 2.6-14.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBefore seawater transfer, farmed Atlantic salmon are subjected to treatments that may affect the immune system and susceptibility to pathogens. E.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe implications of long-term high calcium (Ca) intake are well documented in growing dogs and in adult dogs of large breed size, however, the consequences on other breeds and breed sizes are yet to be determined. Eighteen neutered adult beagles, nine males and nine females aged 1.4-4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Infants are born with the biological predisposition to reject bitterness. Dark green vegetables contain essential nutrients but also bitter compounds, making them more difficult to like.
Objective: The Good Tastes Study was designed to determine whether reducing bitterness by adding small amounts of sugar or salt would alter infant acceptance of kale purées.
An appropriate energy intake for healthy growth can reduce the risk of obesity and co-morbidities, such as orthopaedic diseases. The 2006 National Research Council (NRC) universal equation calculates the energy requirement of growing dogs based on predicted adult body weight, but evidence suggests a revision may be required. This study investigates the energy requirements of seventeen Norfolk terrier puppies over their first year (10 to 52 weeks).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough sensory-guided product design is most traditionally used by food and beverage companies, the approach has widespread application for many other products, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Previously, our team used sensory methods to explore preclinical optimization of soft-gel vaginal microbicides. Past clinical trials suggest vaginal microbicides may be an effective means for women to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, but these microbicides will not work if they are not used due to poor acceptability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCognitive trajectories vary greatly across older individuals, and the neural mechanisms underlying these differences remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the cognitive variability in older adults by linking the influence of white matter microstructure on the task-related organization of fast and effective communications between brain regions. Using diffusion tensor imaging and electroencephalography, we show that individual differences in white matter network organization are associated with network clustering and efficiency in the alpha and high-gamma bands, and that functional network dynamics partly explain individual differences in cognitive control performance in older adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the alignment between vegetables and fruits listed in the ingredients of commercially produced infant and toddler food (ITF) and inclusion in front-of-package product names.
Design: A database of commercial ITF containing vegetables (n = 548) was created. Inclusion of each vegetable or fruit in the product name (yes/no), form (ie, whole/puree, juice/juice concentrate, etc), and ingredient list position (ie, first, second) were recorded.
High dietary phosphorus (P), particularly soluble salts, may contribute to chronic kidney disease development in cats. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety of P supplied at 1 g/1000 kcal (4184kJ) from a highly soluble P salt in P-rich dry format feline diets. Seventy-five healthy adult cats (n 25/group) were fed either a low P control (1·4 g/1000 kcal [4184kJ]; Ca:P ratio 0·97) or one of two test diets with 4 g/1000 kcal (4184 kJ); Ca:P 1·04 or 5 g/1000 kcal (4184kJ); Ca:P 1·27, both incorporating 1 g/1000 kcal (4184 kJ) sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) - for a period of 30 weeks in a randomised parallel-group study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn a preregistered, cross-sectional study, we investigated whether olfactory loss is a reliable predictor of COVID-19 using a crowdsourced questionnaire in 23 languages to assess symptoms in individuals self-reporting recent respiratory illness. We quantified changes in chemosensory abilities during the course of the respiratory illness using 0-100 visual analog scales (VAS) for participants reporting a positive (C19+; n = 4148) or negative (C19-; n = 546) COVID-19 laboratory test outcome. Logistic regression models identified univariate and multivariate predictors of COVID-19 status and post-COVID-19 olfactory recovery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To explore variation in general practitioners' (GPs') performance of six recommended procedures in type 2 diabetes patients <75 years without cardiovascular disease.
Methods: Cross-sectional study of quality of diabetes care in Norway based on electronic health records from 2014. GPs (clustered in practices) were divided in quintiles based on a composite measure of performance of six processes of care.