Automated echocardiographic left ventricular dimension assessment in dogs using artificial intelligence: Development and validation.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) could improve accuracy and reproducibility of echocardiographic measurements in dogs.

Hypothesis: A neural network can be trained to measure echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) linear dimensions in dogs.

Animals: Training dataset: 1398 frames from 461 canine echocardiograms from a single specialist center.

A multicenter, retrospective study of cardiac disease in Borzoi dogs.

Borzoi are large, relatively uncommon sighthounds anecdotally reported to suffer from sudden death. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the sample of Borzoi presenting to veterinary cardiologists for evaluation, with records searched from 14 centers across a study period of up to 20 years. The study sample was comprised of 152 client-owned Borzoi, with dogs most commonly presenting for pre-breed screening in 87/152 (52%), followed by evaluation of an arrhythmia in 28/152 (18%).

Retrospective evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 68 dogs.

Background: There is a lack of clinical data on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in dogs.

Hypothesis/objectives: To investigate signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic findings, and survival in dogs with HCM.

Animals: Sixty-eight client-owned dogs.

Comparison of a Deep Learning Algorithm vs. Humans for Vertebral Heart Scale Measurements in Cats and Dogs Shows a High Degree of Agreement Among Readers.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death among cats and dogs. Vertebral heart scale (VHS) is one tool to quantify radiographic cardiac enlargement and to predict the occurrence of congestive heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) performing VHS measurements when compared with two board-certified specialists.

Evaluation of hemostasis in hyperthyroid cats.

Background: Hyperthyroid cats might have a predisposition to arterial thrombus formation. The mechanism for thrombogenesis currently is unknown but could be associated with systemic hypercoagulability as seen in hyperthyroid humans.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate markers of hemostasis in hyperthyroid cats compared to healthy cats, and in hyperthyroid cats before and after radioactive iodine treatment (RIT).

Clinical characteristics of cats referred for evaluation of subclinical cardiac murmurs.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the clinical characteristics of cats referred for evaluation of subclinical cardiac murmurs, and, secondarily, to identify predictors of echocardiographic identification of cardiac disease.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-three apparently healthy cats with subclinical murmurs were retrospectively enrolled. Medical records of cats older than 1 year of age referred for the evaluation of subclinical murmurs were reviewed.

ACVIM consensus statement guidelines for the classification, diagnosis, and management of cardiomyopathies in cats.

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of myocardial disorders of mostly unknown etiology, and they occur commonly in cats. In some cats, they are well-tolerated and are associated with normal life expectancy, but in other cats they can result in congestive heart failure, arterial thromboembolism or sudden death. Cardiomyopathy classification in cats can be challenging, and in this consensus statement we outline a classification system based on cardiac structure and function (phenotype).

Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic evaluation of North American Irish Wolfhounds.

Background: Cardiac disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Irish Wolfhounds (IWs), but its prevalence and clinical characteristics in North American IWs are incompletely described.

Hypothesis/objectives: That atrial fibrillation (AF) is a diagnostic marker of echocardiographic abnormalities, and that clinical characteristics predict development of IW cardiomyopathy (IWCM). To define the prevalence of arrhythmias and echocardiographic abnormalities in North American IWs.

Duration of β-adrenoceptor blockade associated with once-daily oral administration of atenolol in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that once-daily oral administration of atenolol would attenuate the heart rate response to isoproterenol for 24 hours. ANIMALS 20 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted.

Dilated cardiomyopathy with endocardial fibroelastosis in a juvenile Pallas cat.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a myocardial disease characterized by ventricular chamber dilation associated with systolic myocardial dysfunction in the absence of other cardiac lesions. DCM occasionally develops in conjunction with proliferation of fibroelastic fibers in the endocardium, producing endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE). Although early reports describe EFE as a primary disease, evidence now suggests that EFE may develop as a response to myocardial dysfunction.

Infant Feeding Practices, Workplace Breastfeeding/Lactation Practices, and Perception of Unit/Service Support Among Primiparous Active Duty Servicewomen.

Introduction: Successful breastfeeding provides multiple health benefits to Servicewomen and their infants and has positive indirect benefits to the military. Workplace lactation support influences breastfeeding continuation after a Servicewoman's return to work.

Materials And Methods: This study evaluated the breastfeeding practices and workplace breastfeeding support among primiparous women serving in the U.

Effect of Follow-Up Intervals on Breastfeeding Rates 5-6 Months Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the effect of early versus traditional postpartum follow-up intervals on breastfeeding continuation rates 6 months postpartum.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled primiparous women planning to breastfeed to a postpartum appointment either 2-3 weeks or 6-8 weeks after delivery. The primary outcome was the breastfeeding rate in each group 5-6 months after delivery.

Comparison of the mitral valve morphologies of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and dogs of other breeds using 3D transthoracic echocardiography.

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is more prevalent in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) compared to dogs of other breeds at a given age. Abnormal valvular stress is thought to contribute to the development and progression of MMVD, and a relationship exists between mitral valve (MV) morphology and stress acting on the valve.

Objectives: To determine whether the MV morphology of healthy adult CKCSs differs from the morphology of healthy adult dogs of other breeds determined by RT-3DTTE.

The pregnancy "super-utilizer": how does a high-risk depression screen affect medical utilization?

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether a score of  >11 on the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) at the initial prenatal visit was associated with an increased use of acute medical visits when compared to pregnant women with an initial EPDS score of ≤11.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing the utilization of acute medical care during pregnancy and the first eight weeks after delivery amongst 200 women with an EPDS score >11 at their initial prenatal visit compared with 200 women with an EPDS score ≤11. "Super-utilization" was defined as ≥4 acute or unscheduled medical visits during pregnancy and the first eight weeks after delivery (90th percentile).

Class II phosphoinositide 3-kinase C2β regulates a novel signaling pathway involved in breast cancer progression.

It is now well established that the enzymes phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) have a key role in the development and progression of many cancer types and indeed PI3Ks inhibitors are currently being tested in clinical trials. Although eight distinct PI3K isoforms exist, grouped into three classes, most of the evidence currently available are focused on one specific isoform with very little known about the potential role of the other members of this family in cancer. Here we demonstrate that the class II enzyme PI3K-C2β is overexpressed in several human breast cancer cell lines and in human breast cancer specimens.

Management of incidentally detected heart murmurs in dogs and cats.

A dog or a cat has an incidentally detected heart murmur if the murmuris an unexpected discovery during a veterinary consultation that was not initially focused on the cardiovascular system. This document presents approaches for managing dogs and cats that have incidentally-detected heart murmurs, with an emphasis on murmur characteristics, signalment profiling, and multifactorial decision-making to choose an optimal course for a given patient.

Cardiovascular effects of thyroid disease.

Thyroid hormones have many effects on cardiovascular function, and deficiency or excess of thyroid hormones can result in cardiac dysfunction. Abnormalities of the cardiovascular system are often identified during examination of hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients. This article addresses the effects of thyroid hormones on the cardiovascular system and the clinical relevance of the cardiovascular response to thyroid dysfunction.

Mitral valve dysplasia characterized by isolated cleft of the anterior leaflet resulting in fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

A 7-month-old, sexually intact male English toy spaniel weighing 4 kg was referred for evaluation of a subclinical cardiac murmur. Echocardiography disclosed fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction that was caused by attachment of a cleft anterior mitral valve leaflet to the interventricular septum. Neither atrial nor ventricular septal defects were detected.

The effect of pregnancy on echocardiographic variables in healthy bitches.

Objectives: Little is known of the effect of pregnancy on canine cardiovascular function. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on canine echocardiographic variables.

Animals, Materials And Methods: Serial echocardiographic examinations of 7 healthy, sexually intact female canine mongrels dogs that weighed between 9.