Nutrient Composition and Feed Hygiene of Alfalfa, Comparison of Feed Intake and Selected Metabolic Parameters in Horses Fed Alfalfa Haylage, Alfalfa Hay or Meadow Hay.

The aim of this study was to examine the nutrient composition and feed hygiene of alfalfa as well as investigate the feed intake, blood, urine and faecal parameters of horses fed alfalfa haylage (AS) compared with alfalfa hay (AH) and meadow hay (MH). A total of 11 geldings were fed ad libitum (2.1% dry matter (DM) of body weight (BW)) with alfalfa haylage, alfalfa hay and meadow hay (MH) in a Latin square design.

Crossing the valley of non-intimidating conspicuousness: evolution of warning coloration through the lens of fitness landscapes.

The initial evolution of conspicuous aposematism is a longstanding evolutionary paradox: while the benefits of conspicuousness in aposematic signals have been demonstrated, they rely on predators being familiar with the conspicuous signals and avoiding them. In a system dominated by naïve predators, the appearance of conspicuousness would be expected to increase detection and attack rate by the predators. Hence, it is unclear how such signals could become established in a naïve community.

[Is alfalfa hay an alternative to meadow hay in equine nutrition?].

Roughage alternatives for equine nutrition must be found due to the increasing climatic challenges. The aim of this study was to examine the nutrient composition and feed hygiene of alfalfa hay in comparison to meadow hay and to investigate the acceptance, weight development and faecal quality of broodmares fed alfalfa hay. The feed used was examined for nutrient content and hygiene status according to the standards of the Verband Deutscher Landwirtschaftlicher Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalten (VDLUFA).

Introduction of Lazy Luna an automatic software-driven multilevel comparison of ventricular function quantification in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard for cardiac function assessment. Quantification of clinical results (CR) requires precise segmentation. Clinicians statistically compare CRs to ensure reproducibility.

Assessment of diastolic dysfunction: comparison of different cardiovascular magnetic resonance techniques.

Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is still a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, and accurate non-invasive diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) remains difficult. The current study aimed at identifying the most informative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters for the assessment of LVDD.

Methods And Results: We prospectively included 50 patients and classified them into three groups: with DD (DD+, n = 15), without (DD-, n = 26), and uncertain (DD±, n = 9).

Frequency of exercise-induced ST-T-segment deviations and cardiac arrhythmias in recreational endurance athletes during a marathon race: results of the prospective observational Berlin Beat of Running study.

Objectives: While regular physical exercise has many health benefits, strenuous physical exercise may have a negative impact on cardiac function. The 'Berlin Beat of Running' study focused on feasibility and diagnostic value of continuous ECG monitoring in recreational endurance athletes during a marathon race. We hypothesised that cardiac arrhythmias and especially atrial fibrillation are frequently found in a cohort of recreational endurance athletes.

Influence of spatial resolution and contrast agent dosage on myocardial T1 relaxation times.

Objective: Our aim was to study the influence of small variations in spatial resolution and contrast agent dosage on myocardial T1 relaxation time.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine healthy volunteers underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance at 3T twice, including a modified look-locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) technique-3(3)3(3)5-for T1 mapping. Native T1 was assessed in three spatial resolutions (voxel size 1.

High Spatial Resolution Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance at 7.0 Tesla in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - First Experiences: Lesson Learned from 7.0 Tesla.

Background: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) provides valuable information in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) based on myocardial tissue differentiation and the detection of small morphological details. CMR at 7.0T improves spatial resolution versus today's clinical protocols.

Impact of surgical correction of pectus excavatum on cardiac function: insights on the right ventricle. A cardiovascular magnetic resonance study†.

Objectives: Pectus excavatum (PE) is often regarded as a cosmetic disease, while its effect on cardiac function is under debate. Data regarding cardiac function before and after surgical correction of PE are limited. We aimed to assess the impact of surgical correction of PE on cardiac function by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Clinical effects of phosphodiesterase 3A mutations in inherited hypertension with brachydactyly.

Autosomal-dominant hypertension with brachydactyly is a salt-independent Mendelian syndrome caused by activating mutations in the gene encoding phosphodiesterase 3A. These mutations increase the protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of phosphodiesterase 3A resulting in enhanced cAMP-hydrolytic affinity and accelerated cell proliferation. The phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein is diminished, and parathyroid hormone-related peptide is dysregulated, potentially accounting for all phenotypic features.

Insulin resistance in heart failure: differences between patients with reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aims: Insulin resistance (IR) is a characteristic feature of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology that affects symptoms and mortality. Differences in the pathophysiological profile of IR in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are not characterized in detail. The aim of this study was to evaluate features of IR in HFpEF vs.

Exercise training improves exercise capacity and diastolic function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: results of the Ex-DHF (Exercise training in Diastolic Heart Failure) pilot study.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether structured exercise training (ET) improves maximal exercise capacity, left ventricular diastolic function, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Background: Nearly one-half of patients with heart failure experience HFpEF, but effective therapeutic strategies are sparse.

Methods: A total of 64 patients (age 65 ± 7 years, 56% female) with HFpEF were prospectively randomized (2:1) to supervised endurance/resistance training in addition to usual care (ET, n = 44) or to usual care alone (UC) (n = 20).

Self-rated health predicts adverse events during β-blocker treatment: the CIBIS-ELD randomised trial analysis.

Background: Self-rated health (SRH) predicts outcome in patients with heart failure. Beta-blockers are known to improve health-related quality of life and reduce mortality in such patients. We aimed to evaluate the relation between SRH and adverse events during titration of beta-blockers in elderly patients with heart failure.

Titration to target dose of bisoprolol vs. carvedilol in elderly patients with heart failure: the CIBIS-ELD trial.

Aims: Various beta-blockers with distinct pharmacological profiles are approved in heart failure, yet they remain underused and underdosed. Although potentially of major public health importance, whether one agent is superior in terms of tolerability and optimal dosing has not been investigated. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the tolerability and clinical effects of two proven beta-blockers in elderly patients with heart failure.

Identification of new mutations in Israeli patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a peroxisomal disorder characterized by impaired peroxisomal betaoxidation of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). This is probably due to reduced activation of the VLCFAs and results in demyelination of the nervous system and adrenocortical insufficiency. The ALD gene is localized on Xq28, has 10 exons and encodes a protein of 745 amino acids with significant homology to the membrane peroxisomal protein PMP70.

Falls among older people: relationship to medication use and orthostatic hypotension.

Objective: To assess the risk of falls attributable to medication use and orthostatic hypotension.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Two self-care, apartment-style residential facilities in the Toronto area.

A prospective study of postural balance and risk of falling in an ambulatory and independent elderly population.

Background: An ability to predict risk of future falling is needed in order to target high-risk individuals for preventive intervention. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of different measures of postural balance to predict risk of falling prospectively in an ambulatory and independent elderly population.

Methods: Balance tests were performed on 100 volunteers (aged 62-96), and falling was then monitored prospectively over a one-year period.

Are activity-based assessments of balance and gait in the elderly predictive of risk of falling and/or type of fall?

Objective: To determine whether an activity-based test of balance and gait is predictive of the risk of: (1) falling in situations that are related to specific tasks evaluated as part of the test, (2) experiencing falls precipitated by different classes of biomechanical events, or (3) falling in general; and to compare the predictive ability of the activity-based test for the falls described in (2) and (3) to that of a posturography test that has been found previously to be predictive of falling risk.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Baseline tests performed in balance laboratory; subsequent history of falling monitored prospectively for 1 year in two residential-care facilities.

Bladder volume estimation in the elderly using a portable ultrasound-based measurement device.

We assessed the accuracy and ease of use of the BladderScan (BVI 2000) portable ultrasound-based bladder volume measurement device in a geriatric outpatient population. The Geriatric Continence Clinic nurse and physician each made 73 measurements on 36 subjects. Although the correlation coefficients between the true and ultrasound measurements were highly significant the mean differences were significantly different from zero.

Fear of falling and postural performance in the elderly.

A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the association between fear of falling and postural performance in the elderly. One hundred ambulatory and independent volunteers (aged 62-96) were subjected to five types of balance tests: (a) spontaneous postural sway, (b) induced anterior-posterior sway, (c) induced medial-lateral sway, (d) one-leg stance, and (e) a clinical balance assessment scale. Pseudorandom platform motions were used in the induced-sway tests.

Estimation of bladder wall location in ultrasound images.

A method of automatically estimating the location of the bladder wall in ultrasound images is proposed. Obtaining this estimate is intended to be the first stage in the development of an automatic bladder volume calculation system. The first step in the bladder wall estimation scheme involves globally processing the images using standard image processing techniques to highlight the bladder wall.

An evaluation of computer aided design of below-knee prosthetic sockets.

Forty-eight below-knee amputees compared sockets designed using CANFIT computer aided design (CAD) software with sockets designed using conventional methods. Each subject was fitted by one prosthetist who used conventional techniques and one who used the CANFIT system to design the socket. Prosthetists alternated design methods for each new subject.

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in prosthetics.

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems for the design and manufacture of limb prostheses have recently become commercially available. However, rigorous evaluations of these systems have not been performed to determine whether they produce sockets that fit as well as or better than sockets made using conventional design methods. A controlled evaluation protocol, in which computer-designed sockets are compared with conventionally designed sockets, has been developed and pilot tested at the authors' facility.