Radiographic progression of osteoarthritis of the canine stifle joint: a prospective study.

A radiographic scoring system for features of osteoarthritis of the canine stifle joint was devised. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was assessed by calculation of unweighted kappa statistics. "Global score," "effusion," "osteophytosis," and "intra-articular mineralization" were all features that had acceptable reliability, but "subchondral sclerosis" did not.

Rationalizing criminal behaviour: the influence of criminal sentiments on sociomoral development in violent offenders and nonoffenders.

Cognitive developmental theory suggests that mature-level sociomoral reasoning (Stages 3 and 4) can provide a protective factor, or buffer, against antisocial and violent criminal behavior. This study explored whether the influence of internalised criminal sentiments could undermine this buffer. The sample was high-risk men and women offenders (n = 99) convicted of serious violent index offences, and men and women nonoffender university students (n = 101).

Chest physicians' and microbiologists' awareness and demand for drug monitoring in the treatment of TB.

There is a role for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to achieve the optimum therapeutic concentration of anti-tuberculous drugs. This work aimed to determine the current awareness of TDM in TB control among chest physicians and to estimate the demand for this service. Responses from a sample of chest physicians in the West Midlands revealed that 60% were aware of TDM and 33% had used it.

Progression of osteoarthritis following TPLO surgery: a prospective radiographic study of 40 dogs.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the progression of osteoarthritis following tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery. Osteoarthritis was monitored radiographically by means of an osteophyte scale on entry to the study, and at six weeks and six months following surgical intervention. Forty dogs were recruited to the study.

Overexpression of cyclins A and B as markers of neoplastic glandular lesions of the cervix.

Introduction: Cyclins are a family of regulatory proteins that play a pivotal role in controlling the cell cycle. While there is evidence of their altered expression in cervical squamous lesions, their precise role in glandular neoplasia is yet to be elucidated.

Objectives: To investigate the role of cyclins as markers of early cervical glandular neoplasia by comparing their expression in lesions of different histological type.

Rupture of the biceps brachii tendon sheath in two dogs.

Rupture of the biceps brachii tendon sheath was diagnosed in two dogs which were presented with chronic thoracic limb lameness. In each case, diagnosis was achieved by positive contrast arthrography, which revealed obvious leakage of contrast agent from the distal portion of the tendon sheath. Arthroscopy was performed in each affected shoulder joint and no other significant lesions were found.

Changes in the local regulation of insulin-like growth factors I and II and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins in osteoarthritis of the canine stifle joint secondary to cruciate ligament rupture.

Objectives: To investigate changes in concentrations of insulin-like growth factors I (IGF-I) and II (IGF-II) and the expression of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) in synovial fluids from dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA) of the canine stifle joint secondary to cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture.

Study Design: Prospective study with synovial fluid sampling from diseased and contralateral unaffected joints at 0, 1.5, and 5 months.

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study of P54FP for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis.

P54FP is an extract of Indian and Javanese turmeric, Curcuma domestica and Curcuma xanthorrhiza respectively, which contains a mixture of active ingredients including curcuminoids and essential oils. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial of P54FP as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the canine elbow or hip was conducted to assess its efficacy and safety. Sixty-one client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis were recruited through first-opinion practices and examined at a single centre.

Identification, measurement and interpretation of tree rings in woody species from mediterranean climates.

We review the literature dealing with mediterranean climate, vegetation, phenology and ecophysiology relevant to the understanding of tree-ring formation in mediterranean regions. Tree rings have been used extensively in temperate regions to reconstruct responses of forests to past environmental changes. In mediterranean regions, studies of tree rings are scarce, despite their potential for understanding and predicting the effects of global change on important ecological processes such as desertification.

Ultrasound imaging of the intervertebral disc.

Study Design: In vitro ultrasound imaging of dog intervertebral discs was performed.

Objective: To determine the reliability of ultrasound imaging in the detection of structural changes associated with disc pathology.

Summary Of Background Data: Little work has been done to evaluate the potential applications of ultrasound in the imaging of intervertebral discs.

Airways in cystic fibrosis are acidified: detection by exhaled breath condensate.

Background: The loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mediated chloride conductance does not fully explain the diverse pathologies evident in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-)) secretion is also impaired in CFTR expressing tissues and CFTR is thought to regulate HCO(3)(-) secretion at the apical membrane of epithelial cells. We hypothesised that the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of patients with CF would be acidified and that this may be worsened during an infective exacerbation due to the increased inflammatory burden.

Thoracolumbar disc disease in large dogs: a study of 99 cases.

The records of 99 dogs weighing over 20 kg with thoracolumbar disc disease were reviewed. Two types of disc disease were recognised: degenerative nuclear extrusion (n=63) and degenerative annular protrusion (n=36). Sixty-nine per cent of the affected discs were located between T12-T13 and L2-L3.

Glucose transport and metabolism in chondrocytes: a key to understanding chondrogenesis, skeletal development and cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.

Despite the recognition that degenerative cartilage disorders like osteoarthritis (OA) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) may have nutritional abnormalities at the root of their pathogenesis, balanced dietary supplementation programs have played a secondary role in their management. This review emphasizes the importance and role of nutritional factors such as glucose and glucose-derived sugars (i.e.

Urine volume estimations in dogs recovering from intervertebral disc prolapse surgery.

Ultrasonographic estimations of residual bladder urine volume (expressed as a percentage of the estimated bladder volume before micturition--the "percentage residual urine") and calculations of the amount of urine voided were performed in 15 dogs before and up to 25 days after surgery for thoracolumbar disc prolapse. The percentage residual urine was influenced by the grade of disc prolapse (F = 9.223; p < 0.

Moving from CFC aerosol to HFA aerosol or dry powder inhalers: what do patients think?

Background/objectives: Environmentally friendly hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) pressurised metered-dose inhalers are currently being marketed to replace chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-driven devices. It is uncertain whether these new formulations with different properties are acceptable to patients. Similarly, switching a patient to a dry powder inhaler (DPI) carries the risk of non-acceptance.

Changes in the canine femoropatellar joint space in the postsurgical, cruciate-deficient stifle joint.

In this study, we investigate the factors that influence changes in articular cartilage thickness in naturally occurring osteoarthritis of the canine stifle joint. Fifty-eight dogs with QA secondary to cranial cruciate ligament deficiency were examined radiographically at 0, 7, and 13 months using 90 degree flexed mediolateral radiographs of both stifle joints. The femoropatellar joint space widths were measured using a computer-assisted video image analysis system.

Extensive interbreed, but minimal intrabreed, variation of DLA class II alleles and haplotypes in dogs.

The DLA class II genes in the dog major histocompatibility complex are highly polymorphic. To date, 52 DLA-DRB1, 16 DLA-DQA1 and 41 DLA-DQB1 allelic sequences have been assigned. The aim of this study was to examine the intrabreed and interbreed variation of DLA allele and haplotype frequencies in dogs, and to ascertain whether conserved DLA class II haplotypes occur within and between different breeds.

Dog MHC alleles containing the human RA shared epitope confer susceptibility to canine rheumatoid arthritis.

To determine whether canine rheumatoid arthritis (CRA) is associated with dog MHC (DLA-DRB1) alleles which contain the QRRAA/RKRAA conserved third hypervariable region (3HVR) sequence, DNA samples were extracted from 61 dogs with clinically diagnosed small-joint polyarthritis and from 425 controls. Breed-matched controls were available for 41 cases. DLA-DRB1 genotypes were identified using molecular typing methods.