Spatial and temporal clustering of calcium oxalate and magnesium ammonium phosphate uroliths in dogs living in Ontario, Canada between 1998 and 2006.

Using the spatial scan statistic with a Bernoulli model, in a comparison of the two most common canine uroliths, calcium oxalate (CaOx) and magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) we determined whether there was evidence of spatial and/or temporal clustering of each urolith type based on canine submissions from Ontario to the Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre (CVUC) between 1998 and 2006. During this period, there were 10,478 canine submissions, excluding cases that were identified as recurrent. We were able to georeference approximately 93% of these incident cases. After adjusting for spatial and temporal distributions of dogs based on the demographic risk factors of age, sex, and breed-type, statistically significant spatial and temporal clusters were present for both CaOx and struvite urolith types. A purely temporal struvite cluster occurred between February 10, 1998 and December 20, 2001, whereas, a purely temporal CaOx cluster occurred between September 2, 2005 and December 21, 2006. Hypotheses to explain the spatial clustering of uroliths include variation in the spatial distribution of water hardness, diet-type, access to veterinary care, and the use of surgical versus medical therapies to treat these uroliths. Based on the cluster locations, water hardness was unlikely to explain the spatial difference between the two cluster types whereas variables related to human population density were more consistent with our findings; the CaOx cluster occurred in the highest population density area of Ontario, and the struvite cluster occurred in the lowest population density area of southern Ontario. The temporal struvite cluster at the beginning and CaOx cluster at the end of the study period reflect a similar trend away from struvite towards CaOx urolithiasis among both canines and humans in the developed countries of North America and Europe.

Cross-language word segmentation by 9-month-olds.

Dutch-learning and English-learning 9-month-olds were tested, using the Headturn Preference Procedure, for their ability to segment Dutch words with strong/weak stress patterns from fluent Dutch speech. This prosodic pattern is highly typical for words of both languages. The infants were familiarized with pairs of words and then tested on four passages, two that included the familiarized words and two that did not. Both the Dutch- and the English-learning infants gave evidence of segmenting the targets from the passages, to an equivalent degree. Thus, English-learning infants are able to extract words from fluent speech in a language that is phonetically different from English. We discuss the possibility that this cross-language segmentation ability is aided by the similarity of the typical rhythmic structure of Dutch and English words.

The role of talker-specific information in word segmentation by infants.

Infants' representations of the sound patterns of words were explored by examining the effects of talker variability on the recognition of words in fluent speech. Infants were familiarized with isolated words (e.g., cup and dog) from 1 talker and then heard 4 passages produced by another talker, 2 of which included the familiarized words. At 7.5 months of age, infants attended longer to passages with the familiar words for materials produced by 2 female talkers or 2 male talkers but not for materials by a male and a female talker. These findings suggest a strong role for talker-voice similarity in infants' ability to generalize word tokens. By 10.5 months, infants could generalize different instances of the same word across talkers of the opposite sex. One implication of the present results is that infants' initial representations of the sound structure of words not only include phonetic information but also indexical properties relating to the vocal characteristics of particular talkers.

Unusual case of foreign body-induced struvite urolithiasis in a dog.

A 6-year-old, castrated male dog was presented because of inappropriate urination and hematuria. Radiographs indicated a bladder stone with a sewing needle at its center. The urolith was removed and diagnosed as predominantly struvite, most likely a result of the foreign body and a urinary tract infection.

The beginnings of word segmentation in english-learning infants.

A series of 15 experiments was conducted to explore English-learning infants' capacities to segment bisyllabic words from fluent speech. The studies in Part I focused on 7.5 month olds' abilities to segment words with strong/weak stress patterns from fluent speech. The infants demonstrated an ability to detect strong/weak target words in sentential contexts. Moreover, the findings indicated that the infants were responding to the whole words and not to just their strong syllables. In Part II, a parallel series of studies was conducted examining 7.5 month olds' abilities to segment words with weak/strong stress patterns. In contrast with the results for strong/weak words, 7.5 month olds appeared to missegment weak/strong words. They demonstrated a tendency to treat strong syllables as markers of word onsets. In addition, when weak/strong words co-occurred with a particular following weak syllable (e.g., "guitar is"), 7.5 month olds appeared to misperceive these as strong/weak words (e.g., "taris"). The studies in Part III examined the abilities of 10.5 month olds to segment weak/strong words from fluent speech. These older infants were able to segment weak/strong words correctly from the various contexts in which they appeared. Overall, the findings suggest that English learners may rely heavily on stress cues when they begin to segment words from fluent speech. However, within a few months time, infants learn to integrate multiple sources of information about the likely boundaries of words in fluent speech.

A comparison of indirect blood pressure monitoring techniques in the anesthetized cat.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of three indirect blood pressure monitoring techniques (oscillometric technique [OS], Doppler [DOP], and optical plethysmography [OP] [blood pressure determined with a pulse oximeter waveform]) when compared with direct arterial pressure measurement in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMAL POPULATION: Eight healthy (five female, three male), domestic short-hair cats weighing 3.5 +/- 0.8 kg METHODS: Cats were anesthetized with isoflurane. The inspired concentration of isoflurane was adjusted to produce mild hypotension (80 to 100 mm Hg direct systolic), moderate hypotension (60 to 80 mm Hg direct systolic), and severe hypotension (< 60 mm Hg direct systolic). Indirect pressure measurements were obtained from the thoracic limb and compared with concurrent direct measurement using regression analysis and a modification of Bland and Altman's technique. RESULTS: All three techniques underestimated systolic pressure. OS produced the best prediction of systolic pressure with a bias +/- precision of -15.9 +/- 8.1 mm Hg. DOP and OP were relatively inaccurate with a bias +/- precision of -25 +/- 7.4 mm Hg and -25 +/- 7.5 mm Hg. All three techniques correlated well with direct pressure with r values of 0.81, 0.88, and 0.88 for OS, DOP, and OP. DOP and OP provided an accurate prediction of direct mean arterial pressure with a bias +/- precision of -0.8 +/- 6 mm Hg and 0.6 +/- 5.5 mm Hg. Correlation was good between DOP and mean arterial pressure with r = 0.89. Correlation was also good between OP and mean arterial pressure with r = 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: OS provided the most accurate prediction of direct systolic pressure. DOP and OP provided a good prediction of mean arterial pressure in the cat. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: All three of these techniques are useful for detecting trends. Direct monitoring of blood pressure should be considered if accurate blood pressure measurement is required.

Multifocal retinopathy of Great Pyrenees dogs.

Forty-four related Great Pyrenees dogs were examined ophthalmoscopically. Focal retinal elevations, multiple gray-tan-pink subretinal patches, and discrete areas of tapetal hyper-reflectivity were seen in 19 dogs, ranging from 13 weeks to 10 years of age. These lesions varied in size from focal spots that were barely visible with the indirect ophthalmoscope to areas that were larger than the optic disc. Complete blood cell counts, serum biochemical profiles, urinalyses, and blood pressure measurements were completed on four affected dogs and all were within normal reference ranges. Photopic and scotopic electroretinography was completed and the a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and latencies were similar for affected and age-matched nonaffected Great Pyrenees and other normal dogs. Electroretinograms that were examined twice during a 3-year period on three affected adult dogs did not reveal significant progressive deterioration of the a or b-wave parameters. Fluorescein angiography was completed on four affected dogs of ages 1 (n = 2), 5, and 6 years. These angiograms were repeated in three of these dogs 1 year later. The blood ocular barrier was intact in these dogs but there was blocked choroidal fluorescence. Postmortem examination, light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy were performed on three affected puppies and two affected adult dogs. These examinations revealed that the lesions in the puppies were limited to bilateral multiple areas of retinal pigment epithelial vacuolation, hypertrophy, and apparent separation from Bruch's membrane, and multiple serous retinal detachments. The affected adult dogs had focal retinal degeneration and retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy, hyperplasia and pigmentation. Pedigree analysis and test mating confirm that this condition is inherited, probably as an autosomal recessive trait. This condition develops at approximately 13 weeks of age and the focal areas of retinal detachment and retinal pigment epithelial vacuolation progress to permanent and stable focal areas of retinal degeneration, and retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy and pigmentation.

Idiopathic, asymptomatic thrombocytopenia in Cavalier King Charles spaniels: 11 cases (1983-1993).

The medical records of 11 Cavalier King Charles spaniels with idiopathic, asymptomatic thrombocytopenia and large-to-giant platelets were identified from a 10-year retrospective search using the Veterinary Medical Data Base at Purdue University. Eight of the dogs had been treated with various immunosuppressive drugs. Six of the treated dogs remained thrombocytopenic, one was not reevaluated, and one developed a normal platelet count. The underlying etiology of idiopathic, asymptomatic thrombocytopenia in Cavalier King Charles spaniels has not been identified, but this condition could represent a congenital macrothrombocytopenic disorder.

Evaluation of three pancreas specific protein assays, TLI(trypsin-like immunoreactivity), PASP (pancreas specific protein) and CA 19-9 (glycoprotein) for use in the diagnosis of canine pancreatitis.

Three radioimmunoassays (RIA) for the pancreas specific proteins TLI, PASP and CA 19-9 were evaluated in serum from normal control dogs (n = 40) and dogs with pancreatitis (n = 20). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for serum TLI and PASP levels between the control and pancreatitis groups. However, only 3/20 dogs with pancreatitis had serum TLI concentrations greater than the highest concentration in control dogs. Concentrations of PASP in serum were higher in 15/20 dogs with pancreatitis than in the control dogs. The magnitude of the increase in concentrations of PASP in pancreatitis was small in the majority of cases. Thus these assays are of limited clinical value in the diagnosis of pancreatitis. There was no cross-reactivity with dog serum in the CA 19-9 assay.

Risk factors associated with parvovirus enteritis in dogs: 283 cases (1982-1991).

OBJECTIVE: To determine breed, sex, and seasonal predisposition for development of canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Medical records from 283 dogs with confirmed CPV enteritis and from 834 age-matched control dogs that were healthy or had been admitted with nonenteric illness. PROCEDURE: Effects of season, breed, sex, and neutering on the risk of developing CPV enteritis were examined by calculation of unadjusted odds ratios and performance of multivariate analysis. Stratified and contingency table analyses were performed to identify interactions and confounding among variables. RESULTS: Rottweilers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherd Dogs were at increased risk and Toy Poodles and Cocker Spaniels were at decreased risk for developing CPV enteritis, compared with that for mixed-breed dogs. For dogs more than 6 months old, sexually intact males were twice as likely as intact females to develop CPV enteritis. Dogs were 3 times more likely to be admitted with CPV enteritis in July, August, and September, compared with the rest of the year. Dogs were 12.7 times more likely to be admitted with CPV enteritis if they had not been currently vaccinated. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Lack of vaccination is a significant risk factor for development of CPV enteritis. Seasonal, sex, and breed predispositions for the development of CPV enteritis also exist.

Vulnerability to depressive mood reactions: retesting the hopelessness model of depression.

A replication of Metalsky, Halberstadt & Abramson's (1987) test of the revised hopelessness model of depression was conducted. Depressive mood response to examination outcome was assessed in undergraduate students across two periods of examination. In phase 1, consistent with Metalsky et al. (1987), examination outcome was the sole predictor of depressive mood response on receipt of exam results. There was no evidence for a delayed mood response five days later. In phase 2, the interaction between attributional style and exam outcome was predictive of depressive mood response on receipt of exam results. Taken together, the results provide support for the diathesis-stress and specific vulnerability components of the model with respect to immediate mood response. No support was found for the causal mediation component. Differences between recently published studies are reported and implications for the model discussed.

Synthesis, antitumor activity, and chemical properties of silaplatin and related platinum (II) and platinum (IV) complexes derived from beta-silyl amines.

Platinum (II) and platinum (IV) coordination complexes derived from beta-silyl-substituted amines were prepared. The solubility of selected complexes in water and physiological saline was measured, and the effect of the beta-silicon on the reactivity of the complex in aqueous solution was determined by HPLC. The stabilities of selected silyl complexes were compared to the carbon analogues. The cyclic complexes 2a ("silaplatin") and its Pt(IV) analogue, 2b, were very active against L1210 leukemia in vivo. Both the platinum (II) complex 2a and the platinum (IV) complex 2b produced a significant number of cures over the dose range 10-40 mg/kg. The platinum (II) complex 2a, silaplatin, was very active in vivo against an L1210 leukemia subline that was resistant to cisplatin; 2a was also active, when given ip, against ic implanted L1210. The cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid complex 3c was synthesized; this complex was active against both cisplatin sensitive and resistant L1210 leukemia but was less potent than the analogous dichloro compound 2a. The acyclic platinum (II) and platinum (IV) complexes 1a,b were synthesized and unexpectedly found to be inactive in vivo against L1210 leukemia. More lipophilic silaplatin analogues were prepared--Pt(II) complex 2c and Pt(IV) complex 2d have one additional methylene carbon compared to 2a,b, whereas Pt(II) complex 2e and Pt(IV) complex 2f have two additional methylene carbons. Cyclization of the alkyl groups attached to the silicon gave the spiro bicyclic Pt(II) complexes 10a and 11a and the Pt(IV) complexes 10b and 11b.

Injuries suffered by dogs from riding in the back of open pickup trucks: a retrospective review of seventy cases.

Case records of 70 dogs injured while riding in the back of open pickup trucks during the period January 1, 1982, to May 1, 1993, were reviewed. Most dogs were young (mean age 2.4 y) and of medium to large size (average weight 22.6 kg). Sixty-five dogs (93%) were injured during the months of April through October. Forty-nine dogs (70%) had single injuries and 21 dogs (30%) sustained multiple injuries. Fractures were the most frequent injury incurred, with fractures of the femur the most common. Surgical repair was recommended in all but 2 cases.

Gloomy but smarter: the academic consequences of attributional style.

The social psychological literature concerning the relationship between attribution and performance has documented the detrimental effects of particular types of attributional pattern on performance, expectancies and mood. The present paper reports three studies in which there was a consistent relationship between attributional style and actual performance. Undergraduate students who tended to attribute achievement-orientated failure to stable, and to some extent global, causes actually performed well on subsequent academic and ability tasks. These findings are new and constitute a challenge to the prevailing assumptions in the literature.

Hyperferritinemia associated with malignant histiocytosis in a dog.

A 3.5-year-old male Golden Retriever with lethargy, generalized lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly was determined to have malignant histiocytosis, based on the morphologic appearance of neoplastic cells by light and electron microscopic examination, evidence of erythrophagocytosis, the presence of diffuse nonspecific esterase activity, and immunohistochemical demonstration of vimentin intermediate filaments. Because of the appearance of abundant iron stores in the bone marrow, serum was obtained for determination of iron, total iron binding capacity, and ferritin values. Serum ferritin concentrations were markedly increased. Measurement of serum ferritin concentrations may be useful in supporting a diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis, and the monitoring of serum ferritin concentrations may be useful for assessing treatment and regression of the disease.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in a cat.

An 8-year-old castrated male cat was examined because of a chronic, nonhealing, ulcerative lesion on the left hind limb. Cutaneous lymphoma was diagnosed on the basis of the morphologic appearance of malignant cells and Pautrier's microabscesses on light and electron microscopic examination. The tumor was found to be of T-cell origin by use of a polyclonal antibody recognizing T-cell antigen. Results of serum ELISA for FeLV were negative. The gp70 antigen of FeLV was not detected immunohistochemically in tumor tissue sections, using polyclonal goat antisera and avidin/biotin/peroxidase complex technique. Presence of FeLV was demonstrated by the polymerase chain reaction procedure, involving amplification of a 166-base pair region of FeLV DNA. Although FeLV is reported to be the cause of most types of lymphoma in cats, cats with epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma have consistently negative test results for circulating FeLV antigen. In such cases, using the polymerase chain reaction method, tumor DNA may be assessed for integrated FeLV provirus and the presence of FeLV can be confirmed.