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Purpose This retrospective cross-sectional cohort study investigated the influence of posture on lordosis (LL), length of the spinal canal (LSC), anteroposterior diameter (APD L1-L5), dural cross-sectional area (DCSA) of the lumbar spinal canal, and the prevalence of redundant nerve roots (RNR) using positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (0.6 T). Methods Sixty-eight patients with single-level degenerative central lumbar spinal stenosis (cLSS) presenting with RNR in the standing position (STA) were also investigated in supine (SUP) or neutral seated (SIT) and flexed seated (FLEX) positions. Additionally, 45 patients complaining of back pain and without MRI evidence of LSS were evaluated. Statistical significance was set at p  < 0.05. Results Controls (A) and patients with cLSS (B) were comparable in terms of mean age ( p  = 0.88) and sex ( p  = 0.22). The progressive transition from STA to FLEX led to a comparable decrease in LL ( p  = 0.97), an increase in LSC ( p  = 0.80), and an increase in APD L1-L5 ( p  = 0.78). The APD of the stenotic level increased disproportionally between the different postures, up to 67% in FLEX compared to 29% in adjacent non-stenotic levels ( p  < 0.001). Therefore, the prevalence of RNR decreased to 49, 26, and 4% in SUP, SIT, and FLEX, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of RNR in standing position was underestimated by half in supine position. Body postures modified LL, LSC, and APD similarly in patients and controls. Stenotic levels compensated for insufficient intraspinal volume with a disproportionate enlargement when switching from the STA to FLEX.

Background In Europe, canine babesiosis is most frequently caused by Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli , and occasionally by Babesia gibsoni. . In Germany, B. canis is recognized as endemic. The aims of this study were to assess how often Babesia spp. infections were diagnosed in a commercial laboratory in samples from dogs from Germany, and to evaluate potential risk factors for infection. Methods The database of the LABOKLIN laboratory was screened for Babesia spp.-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for dogs for the period January 2007–December 2020. Sequencing was performed for positive tests from 2018 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of sex, season, and year of testing. Questionnaires were sent to the submitting veterinarians to obtain information on travel abroad, tick infestation, and ectoparasite prophylaxis of the respective dogs. Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate statistical significance and P  < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results In total, 659 out of 20,914 dogs (3.2%) tested positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. Of 172 sequenced samples, B. canis was identified in 156, B. vogeli in nine, B. gibsoni in five, and B. vulpes in two. Season had a statistically significant impact on test results when summer/winter (1.6% tested positive) was compared to spring/autumn (4.7%), with peaks in April (5.2%) and October (7.4%) [ P  < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 3.16]. Sex (male 3.5%, female 2.8%; P  = 0.012, OR = 1.49) and age (< 7 years old 4.0%, ≥ 7 years old 2.3%; P  < 0.001, OR = 1.76) of the tested dogs also had a statistically significant effect. A statistically significant impact was demonstrated for observed tick attachment ( P  < 0.001, OR = 7.62) and lack of ectoparasite prophylaxis ( P  = 0.001, OR = 3.03). The frequency of positive Babesia spp. tests did not significantly differ between the 659 dogs that had never left Germany and the 1506 dogs with known stays abroad ( P  = 0.088). Conclusions The possibility of canine infection with B. canis needs to be especially taken into consideration in spring and autumn in Germany as the activity of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus , a potential vector for canine babesiosis, is highest in these seasons. Travel and importation of dogs are considered major factors associated with canine babesiosis in Germany. However, autochthonous Babesia spp. infections also occur in a considerable number of dogs in Germany. Graphical Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a phosphaturic hormone used to monitor chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the intra- and interassay precision of the FGF-23 concentrations in dogs as measured via the Kainos ELISA FGF-23 kit, (2) to calculate a reference interval, and (3) to assess the correlation of the FGF-23 concentration with the hematological and biochemical parameters. The coefficient of variation was below 15% for both the intra- and interassay precision, indicating good reproducibility. The reference interval ranged between 95.8 (90% confidence interval: 44.6; 139.2) and 695.1 pg/mL (598.7; 799.1) based on 136 clinically healthy dogs, classified as such according to the information of treating veterinarians as well as the unremarkable results of hematology and biochemistry. The FGF-23 concentration differed significantly between dogs aged <9 and ≥9 years (p = 0.045). Four groups of 10 dogs each were retrospectively formed based on the creatinine concentration classification according to the IRIS staging. Correlation was the strongest for the renal parameters. Statistically significant differences in the FGF-23 concentration were demonstrated between the study groups I and III (p < 0.001), I and IV (p < 0.001), and II and IV (p = 0.005). There was a trend for a rising FGF-23 concentration in older dogs. Due to the wide reference interval, diagnostic cut-offs and/or subject-based FGF-23 reference values in each dog are needed for monitoring and clinical interpretation.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a phosphaturic hormone used to monitor chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. The aim of this pilot study was to compare three diagnostic assays and to assess how the results correlate with parameters of renal dysfunction in cats. Four groups of 10 cats each were formed retrospectively according to creatinine, based on IRIS staging. FGF-23 was measured using two different ELISAs (MyBioSource and Kainos ELISA FGF-23 Kit) and an automated assay on the DiaSorin Liaison platform. Measurements were performed in 40 cats. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation between the Kainos and DiaSorin assays (ρ = 0.742/p < 0.001) and a low correlation (ρ = 0.443/p = 0.005) between the Kainos and MyBioSource assays. The measurements with the Kainos assay strongly correlated with urea (ρ = 0.835/p < 0.001) and creatinine (ρ = 0.764/p < 0.001), and moderately correlated with SDMA (ρ = 0.580/p < 0.001) and phosphorus (ρ = 0.532/p < 0.001). The results of the MyBioSource and DiaSorin assays only showed a moderate correlation with urea (ρ = 0.624/0.572) and creatinine (ρ = 0.622/0.510) concentrations (p = 0.001 each). The Kainos assay showed the strongest correlation (ρ = 0.806) with the various creatinine concentrations according to the IRIS, followed by the MyBioSource (ρ = 0.663/p < 0.001) and DiaSorin assays (ρ = 0.580/p < 0.001). Overall, the Kainos assay demonstrated the best correlations with both biomarkers and various creatinine concentrations according to the IRIS. Individual assay-based reference values should be established to make a reliable interpretation of FGF-23 levels possible to diagnose or monitor feline CKD.

Lafora disease (LD) is a genetic disease affecting beagles, resulting in seizures in combination with other signs. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical signs of LD in beagles with different NHLRC1 genotypes. One hundred and sixty-six beagles were tested for an NHLRC1 gene defect: L/L (n = 67), N/L (n = 32), N/N (n = 67). Owners were asked to participate in a survey about the clinical signs of LD in their dogs. These were recorded for the three possible genotypes in the two age groups, <6 years and ≥6 years. In all genotypes, nearly all the signs of LD were described. In the age group ≥ 6 years, however, they were significantly more frequent in beagles with the L/L genotype. If the following three clinical signs occur together in a beagle ≥ 6 years—jerking of the head, photosensitivity and forgetting things he/she used to be able to do—98.2% of these dogs are correctly assigned to the L/L genotype. If one or two of these signs are missing, the correct classification decreases to 92.1% and 13.2%, respectively. Only the combination of certain signs truly indicates the L/L genotype. Yet, for many dogs, only genetic testing will provide confirmation of the disease.

Abstract Introduction Relationship between changes in cardiac function, functional capacity, and patient-reported health status in heart failure (HF) remains incompletely defined, which may help inform endpoint selection and clarify how distinct clinical domains reflect treatment response. Methods This post hoc analysis of the randomized cardiac microcurrent (C-MIC) II trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of C-MIC therapy in patients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction on optimal guideline-directed medical therapy, included 65 ambulatory patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III-IV symptoms, and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 25–35%. Correlations between changes in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary Score (KCCQ-OSS), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), core lab-assessed LVEF (primary measure) and site-assessed LVEF, and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) were evaluated at 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months using Pearson coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The mean age was 60.0 ± 9.7 years and baseline LVEF was 29.8 ± 3.3%. Baseline 6MWD was 291.4 ± 61.6 m and KCCQ-OSS was 42.6 ± 22.7. From baseline to 6 months, changes in KCCQ-OSS (n = 63) and 6MWD (n = 61) showed modest correlations with core lab-assessed LVEF (r = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16–0.58; P = .0015 and r = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.15–0.58; P = .0022, respectively). Changes in KCCQ-OSS and 6MWD correlated strongly (n = 62; r = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.46–0.76; P < .0001). Changes in KCCQ-OSS and 6MWD did not correlate significantly with changes in peak VO2 (P = .06 and P = .30, respectively). Changes in LVEF and peak VO2 (n = 55) demonstrated modest correlation (r = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.16–0.61; P = .002). Baseline correlations with peak VO2 were weak to modest but increased at 6 months for LVEF (n = 59; r = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35–0.71; P < .0001). Conclusion In advanced HF, improvements in health status and submaximal functional capacity associate modestly with LVEF, while LVEF correlates more closely with peak VO2. Cardiac function, functional capacity, and health status represent related but distinct domains, supporting multidimensional assessment in HF trials. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract Solid black arrows indicate strong associations; solid red arrows indicate moderate associations; dashed red arrows indicate weak or non-significant associations. For image description, please refer to the figure legend and surrounding text.