Risk factors and implications associated with ultrasound-diagnosed nephrocalcinosis in cats with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Microscopic nephrocalcinosis is a common pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. Detection of macroscopic nephrocalcinosis using ultrasonography and its implications remain unexplored.

Objectives: Identify risk factors associated with ultrasound-diagnosed nephrocalcinosis and evaluate the influence of nephrocalcinosis on CKD progression.

Analysis of lower urinary tract signs and bacteriuria in cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass systems.

Objectives: Distinguishing bacterial cystitis from subclinical bacteriuria is necessary for feline treatment protocols and antimicrobial stewardship. This can be challenging in cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) systems because they may present with lower urinary tract signs without bacteriuria. We investigated the relationship between positive urine culture and lower urinary tract signs in cats with SUBs, including factors associated with each.

Female empowerment to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and prevent violence in adolescent girls and young women in Uganda: evidence reviews for policy.

Background: Adolescent girls and young women in Uganda face numerous public health challenges including high HIV prevalence, teenage pregnancies, poor sexual and reproductive health rights, child marriage, and violence.

Objectives: This evidence review explores which interventions focusing on the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women to address these challenges are suitable for Ugandan policy.

Methods: We reviewed the literature to identify experimental studies and systematic reviews of interventions which improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and/or prevent violence in adolescent girls and young women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Risk factors for upper urinary tract uroliths and ureteral obstruction in cats under referral veterinary care in the United Kingdom.

Background: Cats presenting with upper urinary tract uroliths (UUTUs) and ureteral obstruction ("obstructive UUTU") are typically younger than cats with idiopathic CKD that often have incidental nephroliths.

Hypothesis: Cats with upper urinary tract urolith have 2 clinical phenotypes; a more aggressive phenotype at risk of obstructive UUTU at a young age and a more benign phenotype in older cats, with reduced risk of obstructive UUTU.

Objectives: Identify risk factors for UUTU and for obstructive UUTU.

Ionized hypercalcemia in 238 cats from a referral hospital population (2009-2019).

Background: Ionized calcium concentration ([iCa]) is more sensitive for detecting calcium disturbances than serum total calcium concentration but literature on ionized hypercalcemia in cats is limited. Urolithiasis is a possible adverse consequence of hypercalcemia.

Hypothesis/objectives: To describe clinical details of diagnoses associated with ionized hypercalcemia in cats and association with urolithiasis.

Frequency, breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors for diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.

Background: Hypothyroidism is a commonly diagnosed endocrinopathy in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and risk factors for diagnosis of hypothyroidism in UK primary-care practice. Dogs diagnosed with hypothyroidism were identified by searching electronic patient records of primary-care practices participating in VetCompass.

Ionized hypercalcemia in cats with azotemic chronic kidney disease (2012-2018).

Background: Hypercalcemia is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats, but studies assessing the physiologically relevant ionized calcium fraction are lacking.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence and incidence rate of ionized hypercalcemia, and to explore predictor variables to identify cats at risk of ionized hypercalcemia in a cohort of cats diagnosed with azotemic CKD.

Animals: One hundred sixty-four client-owned cats with azotemic CKD.

New concepts in phosphorus homeostasis and its impact on renal health with particular reference to the cat.

New discoveries relating to phosphorus homeostasis include the hormones fibroblast growth factor-23 and klotho produced by bone and kidney. These hormones, together with novel understanding of how calcium and phosphate ions are carried in colloidal form as calciprotein particles, have changed our view of how phosphorus is regulated. Recognition that high dietary intake of inorganic forms of phosphorus in humans is a risk factor for both cardiovascular and renal diseases have led to re-examination of the impact of inorganic sources of phosphorus in prepared cat foods on renal health.

Feline Comorbidities: Balancing hyperthyroidism and concurrent chronic kidney disease.

Practical Relevance: Both hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common long-term conditions in older cats, which might be diagnosed concurrently or develop at different times. Hyperthyroidism may mask the presence of CKD, and vice versa, by various mechanisms that are described in this review. Hyperthyroidism treatment options should be carefully considered when CKD has also been diagnosed.

Risk factors and implications associated with renal mineralization in chronic kidney disease in cats.

Background: Nephrocalcinosis is a pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Its pathophysiological implications for cats with CKD are unexplored.

Objectives: Identify nephrocalcinosis risk factors and evaluate its influence on CKD progression and all-cause mortality.

Frequency and risk factors for naturally occurring Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending UK primary-care practices.

Objectives: To estimate the frequency and risk factors for Cushing's syndrome in dogs under UK primary veterinary care.

Materials And Methods: Dogs with Cushing's syndrome were identified by searching electronic patient records of primary-care veterinary practices. Pre-existing and incident cases of Cushing's syndrome during 2016 were included to estimate the 1-year period prevalence.

Prevalence of child maltreatment in India and its association with gender, urbanisation and policy: a rapid review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: India is home to 20% of the world's children and yet, little is known on the magnitude and trends of child maltreatment nationwide. The aims of this review are to provide a prevalence of child maltreatment in India with considerations for any effects of gender; urbanisation (eg, urban vs rural) and legislation (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012).

Methods And Analysis: A rapid review will be undertaken of all quantitative peer-reviewed studies on child maltreatment in India between 2005 and 2020.

A feline-focused review of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorders - Part 1: Physiology of calcium handling.

Mineral derangements are a common consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite the well-established role of phosphorus in the pathophysiology of CKD, the implications of calcium disturbances associated with CKD remain equivocal. Calcium plays an essential role in numerous physiological functions in the body and is a fundamental structural component of bone.

Hypogonadism induced by surgical stress and brain trauma is reversed by human chorionic gonadotropin in male rats: A potential therapy for surgical and TBI-induced hypogonadism?

Introduction: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is an almost universal, yet underappreciated, endocrinological complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The goal of this study was to determine whether the developmental hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment could reverse HH induced by a TBI.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected at post-surgery/post-injury (PSD/PID) days -10, 1, 11, 19 and 29 from male Sprague-Dawley rats (5- to 6-month-old) that had undergone a Sham surgery (craniectomy alone) or CCI injury (craniectomy + bilateral moderate-to-severe CCI injury) and treatment with saline or hCG (400 IU/kg; i.

Comparison of two protocols for insulin administration and fasting time in diabetic dogs anaesthetised for phacoemulsification: A prospective clinical trial.

Background: There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines on perioperative insulin administration and fasting time in diabetic dogs. The aim of this study was to compare two protocols with respect to intraoperative changes in blood glucose (BG) concentrations compared to preoperative values.

Methods: Thirty-two dogs were included.

Machine-learning based prediction of Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending UK primary-care veterinary practice.

Cushing's syndrome is an endocrine disease in dogs that negatively impacts upon the quality-of-life of affected animals. Cushing's syndrome can be a challenging diagnosis to confirm, therefore new methods to aid diagnosis are warranted. Four machine-learning algorithms were applied to predict a future diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome, using structured clinical data from the VetCompass programme in the UK.

The effect of attenuating dietary phosphate restriction on blood ionized calcium concentrations in cats with chronic kidney disease and ionized hypercalcemia.

Background: Hypercalcemia is commonly observed in cats with azotemic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dietary phosphate restriction is considered standard of care but may contribute to the development of hypercalcemia. The optimal dietary management strategy for these cats is unclear.

Risk factors associated with disturbances of calcium homeostasis after initiation of a phosphate-restricted diet in cats with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Dietary phosphate restriction improves survival in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, feeding a phosphate-restricted diet may disrupt calcium homeostasis leading to hypercalcemia in some cats.

Objectives: To identify risk factors associated with increasing plasma total calcium (tCa) concentration after transition to a phosphate-restricted diet and to explore its role in CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in cats.

Development and internal validation of a prediction tool to aid the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending primary-care practice.

Background: Novel methods to aid identification of dogs with spontaneous Cushing's syndrome are warranted to optimize case selection for diagnostics, avoid unnecessary testing, and ultimately aid decision-making for veterinarians.

Hypothesis/objectives: To develop and internally validate a prediction tool for dogs receiving a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome using primary-care electronic health records.

Animals: Three hundred and ninety-eight dogs diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome and 541 noncase dogs, tested for but not diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome, from a cohort of 905 544 dogs attending VetCompass participating practices.

Factors associated with positive urine cultures in cats with subcutaneous ureteral bypass system implantation.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to report the postoperative incidence of subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB)-associated bacteriuria and risk factors in a large population of UK cats, to identify the commonly implicated isolates in these cases and to report associations of positive postoperative urine cultures with device occlusion or a need for further surgery.

Methods: Electronic clinical records were reviewed to identify cats with ureteral obstruction that underwent unilateral or bilateral SUB implantation between September 2011 and September 2019. In total, 118 client-owned cats were included in the study population.

Hypertension: Why Is It Critical?

Hypertension is a common problem, particularly in older cats. Hypertension secondary to a concurrent disease is the most common form of hypertension in cats, particularly in association with chronic kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. However, idiopathic hypertension may account for up to 24% of cases.

Development and evaluation of a health-related quality-of-life tool for dogs with Cushing's syndrome.

Background: Clinical signs and consequences of Cushing's syndrome are likely to impact upon a dog's life. Quantification of this impact on a dog's health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) could contribute to optimized disease management.

Hypothesis/objectives: To develop a novel HRQoL tool to aid assessment of dogs with Cushing's syndrome and to evaluate factors that impact upon dogs living with this disease.