Breed incidence of lymphoma in a UK population of insured dogs.

Canine lymphoma is one of the commonest forms of spontaneous canine neoplasia. Improved understanding of the genetic and environmental risk factors for canine lymphoma, including breed differences, may have comparative benefits for the study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in humans. In this study, data from a pet insurance company were used to estimate the incidences of canine lymphoma for pedigree breeds in the UK. Out of a total of 130,684 insured dogs, 103 had a diagnosis of lymphoma recorded. A significant breed effect was found with the boxer, bulldog and bull mastiff breeds, all having a high incidence of lymphoma. The small number of lymphoma cases recorded may have limited our ability to detect other breeds with an elevated risk. Incidence of lymphoma was found to increase with age, peaking at 10 years of age.

Setopress vs Elastocrepe in chronic venous ulceration.

Venous ulceration is a major problem, particularly in the elderly population. It causes stress to the patient and treatment can be time-consuming. Compression therapy is considered to be the most appropriate non-invasive treatment of venous ulcers. It is generally accepted that composite bandage systems are most efficacious using a long-stretch or short-stretch bandage system. The study reported has compared a long-stretch bandage (Setopress) with a short-stretch bandage (Elastocrepe) over a 16-week period in the treatment of patients with venous ulceration. The trial was a prospective, randomized, observer-blind, parallel group study. Thirty-two patients (male and female) with a total of 39 ulcers completed the trial. After 15 weeks, 11 of 19 ulcers treated with the long-stretch bandage and 7 of 20 ulcers treated with the short-stretch bandage had healed. The differences were not statistically significant. After 15 weeks, the ulcer healing rate for the long-stretch bandage was 58% compared with 35% for the short-stretch bandage. The combined proportion of ulcers healed or improved was statistically significantly greater in the long-stretch bandage group.

Evaluation of a new polyurethane foam dressing.

The treatment of moderately to heavily exuding wounds requires a dressing that will remove excess exudate while ensuring optimum conditions at the wound site and preventing maceration of the surrounding skin tissue. This prospective, stratified, randomised clinical trial was designed to assess the performance and safety of a new polyurethane foam dressing compared with a hydrocellular dressing. Both dressings are currently available to community nurses for the treatment of these wound types. Sixty-one patients recruited to the trial. They were grouped according to wound type: 20 leg ulcers, 20 Grade 2 or Grade 3 pressure sores and 21 other wounds that included traumatic, acute and chronic wounds and burns. Patients were randomized to treatment and dressing changes and assessments were undertaken as required. Condition of the wound and surrounding skin, comfort, ease of use and leakage from the dressing were monitored at each assessment. Treatment continued for six weeks or until the wound was lightly exuding (defined as absence of leakage with the dressing remaining in place for more than four days on two consecutive occasions). Photographs and tracings of the wounds were taken weekly. The results showed that the two dressings were similar in performance in that they could remain in place for approximately 2.5 days, irrespective of wound type. There were no statistically significant differences in surrounding skin condition, reduction in wound size, patient comfort or ease of application and removal.

A comparison of sub-bandage pressures produced by experienced and inexperienced bandagers.

An investigation of the relative importance of bandage design, experience of bandager and size of limb on sub-bandage pressures.