ABSTRACT
Dilation of the caudal vena cava (CVC) on lateral thoracic radiographs is often interpreted as suggestive of right-sided congestive heart failure. To quantitate the clinical utility of evaluating CVC size as an indicator of right-sided heart disease, we compared the ratio of the diameter of the CVC as measured on a left lateral thoracic radiograph to the descending aorta (Ao), length of the thoracic vertebra above the tracheal bifurcation (VL), and width of the right fourth rib (R4) in 35 dogs with right heart disease and 35 control dogs. Each CVC ratio (CVC/Ao, CVC/VL, CVC/R4) was statistically larger in dogs with right heart disease. Response operating characteristic curves and likelihood ratios were used to determine ratios helpful in identifying dogs with right heart disease. A CVC/Ao > 1.50, CVC/VL > 1.30, or CVC/R4 > 3.50 are strongly suggestive of a right-sided heart abnormality in a patient.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Dogs/anatomy & histology , Heart Failure/veterinary , Vena Cava, Inferior/diagnostic imaging , Animals , Aorta, Thoracic/diagnostic imaging , Ascites/diagnostic imaging , Ascites/veterinary , Biometry , Dilatation, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging , Diuretics/therapeutic use , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Furosemide/therapeutic use , Heart Failure/diagnostic imaging , Heart Failure/drug therapy , Hypertension, Pulmonary/diagnostic imaging , Hypertension, Pulmonary/veterinary , Jugular Veins/diagnostic imaging , Likelihood Functions , Pericardial Effusion/diagnostic imaging , Pericardial Effusion/veterinary , Pulmonary Valve Stenosis/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Valve Stenosis/veterinary , ROC Curve , Radiography, Thoracic , Retrospective Studies , Ribs/diagnostic imaging , Thoracic Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Trachea/diagnostic imaging , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/veterinary , Ventricular Function, Right , Ventricular PressureABSTRACT
One hundred two obese subjects were evaluated 2-3 years following treatment in a combined behavior therapy and very low calorie diet (VLCD) program. Average weight loss after VLCD was 27.2 kg; average weight loss at follow-up was 11.3 kg. Subjects who reported high levels of exercise were more successful in maintaining weight loss (17.5 kg at follow-up) than were those who exercised only moderately (9.3 kg), or not at all (5.6 kg). Enrolling in a weight loss maintenance program also minimized weight regain. Subjects who participated in maintenance for more than 8 months sustained more average weight loss at follow-up (19.1 kg) than did subjects who participated for 8 months or less (10.6 kg), or subjects who did not participate in maintenance (6.6 kg).
Subject(s)
Fasting , Obesity/therapy , Weight Loss , Adult , Behavior Therapy , Energy Intake , Exercise , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Weight GainABSTRACT
This study evaluated the relationship between Marlatt and Gordon's (1985) Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE) and fasting outcomes of patients enrolled in a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) and behavior education program. Within the first 11 weeks of the VLCD, 41 of 76 patients reported a fasting lapse and rated this lapse on an attribution scale. Patients reporting greater characterological attributions for their first lapse (i.e., a higher AVE) lost a smaller percentage of their excess weight during active fasting than patients reporting more situational attributions r(39) = -.36, p less than .025. First lapse AVE ratings did not distinguish between program dropout versus completer status, but high AVE dropouts did spend fewer weeks in the VLCD program than low AVE dropouts, r(12) = -.54, p less than .05. Although a faster's initial level of obesity accounted for the largest portion of weight loss outcome variance, the AVE accounted for a significant additional portion of outcome.
