Equine-Assisted Learning-An Experiential, Facilitated Learning Model for Development of Professional Skills and Resiliency in Veterinary Students.

Stress has been identified as a major obstacle for students in DVM training programs and can be associated with a high incidence of anxiety and depression among students. Interventions for stress reduction and improved self-confidence have been introduced at many veterinary schools with the intention of increasing resiliency among students and improving skills for wellness to be used throughout a veterinary career. Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is a facilitated, reflective discussion method based on interpretation of equine behavior in a group experiential setting that has been used to improve confidence, self-assurance, verbal and nonverbal communication, focus, mindfulness, and coping strategies in populations of students, medical students, corporate groups, and career professionals.

Assessment and Revision of the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program Standardized Letter of Reference.

The Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP) recently revised its electronic standardized letter of reference (SLOR) to improve the quality and usefulness of the data obtained from it and to enhance the relevance of non-cognitive and cognitive candidate attributes assessed. We used a stepwise process including a broad survey of SLOR readers and writers, analysis of past SLORs, and a multi-wave iterative revision that included key stakeholders, such as residency and internship program directors from academia and private practice. Data from the SLOR survey and analysis of past SLOR responses identified opportunities to improve applicant differentiation, mitigate positive bias, and encourage response consistency.

Vital organ tissue oxygenation after serial normovolemic exchange transfusion with HBOC-201 in anesthetized swine.

This study determined the effects of serial, normovolemic, stepwise exchange transfusions with either 6% human serum albumin (HSA) or the hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, HBOC-201, on tissue oxygenation of the heart, brain, and kidney in intact anaesthetized pigs. Exchange transfusions to 10%, 30%, and 50% of the pigs' total blood volume were completed at a withdrawal rate of 1.0 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) followed by an infusion rate of 0.

Clinical application of a hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solution.

Oxyglobin, a hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying fluid, is indicated in the treatment of anemia in dogs and may be life saving if compatible red blood cells are not available for transfusion. The colloidal properties of Oxyglobin allow for expansion of the circulatory volume, which may be helpful in patients with hypovolemia, especially hemorrhagic shock. Oxyglobin's colloidal properties can also lead to circulatory overload, with development of pulmonary edema and pleural effusion, however, necessitating careful monitoring of the rate of administration and of the respiratory rate and effort of the patient.