Comparison of two cold compression therapy protocols after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate two different protocols of cold compression therapy (CCT) for pain management and functional recovery in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 27 adult dogs (n = 30 stifles; staged bilateral procedures: n = 3) undergoing routine TPLO were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 10/group). Dogs of group I received CCT once before and immediately after surgery. In dogs of group II CCT was performed postoperatively four times at 6-hour intervals. Dogs of the control group did not receive CCT. Circumference of the stifle joint and the following pain-related parameters were measured by a single blinded observer before surgery and 1, 10 and 42 days after surgery: stifle joint range of motion (ROM), subjective degree of lameness, and score of a modified Glasgow Pain Scale (GPS). RESULTS: Both CCT groups showed significantly greater ROM and lower GPS scores 24 hours after surgery compared to the control group. Ten days after surgery there was a significantly lower degree of lameness in both CCT groups compared to the control group. Fourty-two days after surgery a significantly greater ROM was observed in both CCT groups compared to the control group. Group II also showed a significant improvement in the degree of lameness and GPS. There were no significant differences in any of the parameters between the two CCT groups at any time point. CONCLUSION: CCT applied preoperatively and immediately postoperatively showed similar short- and long-term beneficial results compared to a previously established protocol of applying CCT four times postoperatively. This protocol may be more suitable for practical use. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The reported data can be used to establish the new protocol of CCT in a clinical surrounding and to support postoperative rehabilitation of the canine patient.

Radiographic location of the origin and insertion of the canine medial glenohumeral ligament. / Radiographische Lokalisation der Ansatz- und Ursprungspunkte des medialen glenohumeralen Bandes beim Hund.

OBJECTIVE: To define the radiographic origin and insertion of the canine medial glenohumeral ligament (MGHL) at the scapula and the humerus of dogs as radiographic aim points for the surgical ligament reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The forelimbs (n = 20) from 10 adult, orthopaedically unaffected dogs (> 20 kg body weight) were used. Radiopaque markers (1 mm steel bullet) were placed into the visual origin and insertion of the MGHL. Finally, virtual digital radiographs were produced in medio-lateral and cranio-caudal projection and the location of the origin and insertion points were expressed using four different methods (4x4 grid box method, percentage position in the grid box for the medio-lateral projection, the percentage position orientated at different landmarks and the clock-face scale method). RESULTS: The relative positions of the centre of origin and insertion points of the MGHL were located constantly in radiographs in relation to anatomical landmarks in the canine shoulder. Therefore the described methods are useful for determination. CONCLUSION: The radiographic location of the origin and insertion points of the MGHL can be consistently predicted in radiographs of dogs with a body weight above 20 kg. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The reported data can be used to verify the correct placement of the insertion of bone anchors for stabilising a medial shoulder instability by ligament reconstruction in dogs.

Overhydration Is a Strong Predictor of Mortality in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients - Independently of Cardiac Failure.

BACKGROUND: Overhydration is a common problem in peritoneal dialysis patients and has been shown to be associated with mortality. However, it still remains unclear whether overhydration per se is predictive of mortality or whether it is mainly a reflection of underlying comorbidities. The purpose of our study was to assess overhydration in peritoneal dialysis patients using bioimpedance spectroscopy and to investigate whether overhydration is an independent predictor of mortality. METHODS: We analyzed and followed 54 peritoneal dialysis patients between June 2008 and December 2014. All patients underwent bioimpedance spectroscopy measurement once and were allocated to normohydrated and overhydrated groups. Overhydration was defined as an absolute overhydration/extracellular volume ratio > 15%. Simultaneously, clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory data were assessed. Heart failure was defined either on echocardiography, as a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, or clinically according to the New York Heart Association functional classification. Patient survival was documented up until December 31st 2014. Factors associated with mortality were identified and a multivariable Cox regression model was used to identify independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Apart from higher daily peritoneal ultrafiltration rate and cumulative diuretic dose in overhydrated patients, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups, in particular with respect to gender, body mass index, comorbidity and cardiac medication. Mortality was higher in overhydrated than in euvolemic patients. In the univariate analysis, increased age, overhydration, low diastolic blood pressure, raised troponin and NTproBNP, hypoalbuminemia, heart failure but not CRP were predictive of mortality. After adjustment, only overhydration, increased age and low diastolic blood pressure remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Overhydration remains an independent predictor of mortality even after adjustment for heart failure in peritoneal dialysis patients and should therefore be actively sought and managed in order to improve survival in this population.

Readout for intersatellite laser interferometry: Measuring low frequency phase fluctuations of high-frequency signals with microradian precision.

Precision phase readout of optical beat note signals is one of the core techniques required for intersatellite laser interferometry. Future space based gravitational wave detectors like eLISA require such a readout over a wide range of MHz frequencies, due to orbit induced Doppler shifts, with a precision in the order of µrad/√Hz at frequencies between 0.1 mHz and 1 Hz. In this paper, we present phase readout systems, so-called phasemeters, that are able to achieve such precisions and we discuss various means that have been employed to reduce noise in the analogue circuit domain and during digitisation. We also discuss the influence of some non-linear noise sources in the analogue domain of such phasemeters. And finally, we present the performance that was achieved during testing of the elegant breadboard model of the LISA phasemeter, which was developed in the scope of a European Space Agency technology development activity.