Observed and expected reliability of echocardiographic volumetric methods and critical change values for quantification of mitral regurgitant fraction in dogs.

Background: Reliability of echocardiographic calculations for stroke volume and mitral regurgitant fraction (RF) are affected by observer variability and lack of a gold standard. Variability is used to calculate critical change values (CCVs) that are thresholds representing real change in a measure not associated with observer variability.

Hypothesis: Observed intra- and interobserver accuracy and variability in healthy dogs help model CCV for RF.

Exercise-based interventions targeting balance and falls in people with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: This review quantifies the mean treatment effect of exercise-based interventions on balance and falls risk in people with COPD.

Methods: A structured search strategy (2000-2023) was applied to eight databases to identify studies evaluating the impact of exercise-based interventions (≥14 days in duration) on balance or falls in people with COPD. Pooled mean treatment effects (95% confidence intervals (CIs), 95% prediction intervals (PIs)) were calculated for outcomes reported in five or more studies.

Utility of focused cardiac ultrasonography training in veterinary students to differentiate stages of subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.

Background: Differentiation of the subclinical phases of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs relies heavily on echocardiography. Focused cardiac ultrasonography (FCU) is a point-of-care technique that can assess heart size.

Hypothesis/objectives: Veterinary students trained in FCU can differentiate dogs with subclinical MMVD based on left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) dimensions.

Urine sodium concentration after intravenous furosemide in dogs with acute congestive heart failure and correlation with treatment efficacy.

Background: Poor natriuresis is a potential marker of diuretic resistance in dogs with acute congestive heart failure (CHF) but little is known about the relationship between urine sodium concentration (uNa) and frequency of successful decongestion. Supplemental O is a common treatment in dogs with severe CHF. The time from start to discontinuation of supplemental O therapy (DCSO ) typically reflects the time course and ease of decongestion.