Publications by authors named "S J Sample"
Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common serious orthopaedic disease in humans and dogs. Familial risk has been recognized in both species but interactions between genetic effects and environmental risk are not understood. We investigated ACL rupture heritability, genetic architecture, selection pressure, sharing of risk genes and biological pathways, and polygenic risk score (PRS) prediction of disease risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study is a qualitative exploration of the student experience of stress at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Ten third-year students from the class of 2019 participated in a semi-structured interview designed to explore the student experience surrounding stress, resiliency, and their perception of mental health awareness initiatives. Transcripts were de-identified and analyzed using thematic analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study explores the environmental factors contributing to cruciate ligament rupture (CR) in Labrador Retrievers, a disease influenced by genetics.
- Researchers evaluated dogs with unexpected CR outcomes based on their genetic risk profiles to identify these environmental factors.
- Findings indicate that neutering before 12 months significantly increases the risk of CR, highlighting the importance of informed decisions about neutering age and overall care for these dogs.
Late-onset peripheral neuropathy (LPN) is a heritable canine neuropathy commonly found in Labrador retrievers and is characterized by laryngeal paralysis and pelvic limb paresis. Our objective was to establish canine LPN as a model for human hereditary peripheral neuropathy by classifying it as either an axonopathy or myelinopathy and evaluating length-dependent degeneration. We conducted a motor nerve conduction study of the sciatic and ulnar nerves, electromyography (EMG) of appendicular and epaxial musculature, and histologic analysis of sciatic and recurrent laryngeal nerves in LPN-affected and control dogs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) concentration was altered in Labrador Retrievers with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) compared to a control population. A secondary aim was to investigate relationships between age, height, weight, and body mass index in the populations studied.
Animals: 123 dogs: 62 purebred Labrador Retrievers with ILP (ILP Cases) and 61 age-matched healthy medium- to large-breed dogs (Controls).