scholarly journals Osteoarthritis in pet guinea pigs: an update on diagnosis, treatment and management

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 100-106
Author(s):  
Emma Keeble

This article reviews the current literature on osteoarthritis in pet and laboratory guinea pigs. The associated clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis in pet guinea pigs will be discussed, with options for analgesia detailed. This condition is thought to be common in pet guinea pigs, even from an early age in some genetic lines, although osteoarthritis often goes undiagnosed in this species until advanced disease is present, posing a major welfare concern. Increasing awareness of this condition in veterinary practitioners should aid early diagnosis in pets and help improve their quality of life. Prevention may be possible using oral protective nutritional supplements to slow down the progression of this disease at an early stage. Lifestyle changes are also discussed for the management of this condition in pet guinea pigs.

2021 ◽  
pp. 100157
Author(s):  
Somaresh Kumar Mondal ◽  
Abdul Gaffar Khan ◽  
Md. Mamun Ali ◽  
Mir Kaosar Ahamed ◽  
Kawsar Ahmed

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Zlatkina ◽  
V Shkapo ◽  
A Nesen ◽  
T Starchenko

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of premature death worldwide. According to epidemiological studies CVD prevention is highly effective. A 50% reduction in mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with exposure to risk factors and only 40% with improved treatment. Purpose.  To assess the quality of life (QOL) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and metabolic disorders, to establish its impact on therapy effectiveness. We examined 280 patients with AH and comorbidity - 171 women and 109 men aged 45-75 years. Along with AH, all patients had comorbidities: 72.6 % suffered from coronary artery disease (CAD), 10.5% after myocardial infarction (MI), 35 % had clinical signs of heart failure (HF), 22, 1% - type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2DM), 27.4% - chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods. Anthropometry, blood pressure (BP) measurement, immunoassay (C-reactive protein), biochemical blood analysis (lipid, carbohydrate metabolism parameters, QOL determination (questionnaire Sf-36). Results. In patients with comorbidity of pathologies (presence of AH, t2DM, CKD, CAD, obesity), there was a decrease in assessments in almost all indicators of QOL, and especially significant limitations in the performance of daily activities due to both physical and mental state. Conclusion. The degree of AH in patients with t2DM decreased QOL of physical activity, role-physical functioning, pain and general health, reflecting physical health, as well as mental health, including vitality, social activity, role emotional functioning. T2DM in patients with AH significantly worsens QOL of this category of patients as in physical component summary and mental component summary. The indicators of QOL are significantly affected by the duration of t2DM, as well as the degree of compensation. Achievement of the target BP levels in patients with AH with t2DM shows an improvement in a number of QOL parameters and makes it possible to recommend the Sf-36 questionnaire as a criterion for the effectiveness of the therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 648-657
Author(s):  
Karen E. Steinhauser ◽  
Karen M. Stechuchak ◽  
Katherine Ramos ◽  
Joseph Winger ◽  
James A. Tulsky ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveCompare the efficacy of two interventions addressing emotional and existential well-being in early life-limiting illness.MethodPrimary trial analysis (n = 135) included patients with advanced cancer, congestive heart failure, or end-stage renal disease; Arm 1 received the Outlook intervention, addressing issues of life completion and preparation, and Arm 2 received relaxation meditation (RM). Primary outcomes at five weeks (primary endpoint) and seven weeks (secondary): completion and preparation (QUAL-E); secondary outcomes: anxiety (POMS) quality of life (FACT-G) and spiritual well-being (FACIT-Sp) subscales of faith, meaning, and peace.ResultsAverage age was 62; 56% were post-high school-educated, 54% were married, 52% white, 44% female, and 70% had a cancer diagnosis. At baseline, participants demonstrated low levels of anxiety (<5 on POMS subscale) and depression (<10 on CESD) relative to population norms. Results of the primary analysis revealed no significant differences in mean Preparation by treatment arm at five weeks (14.4 Outlook vs. 14.8 RM; between-group difference −0.4 [95% CI, −1.6, 0.8], p = 0.49) or seven weeks (15.2 vs.15.4; between-group difference −0.2 [95% CI, −1.5, 1.0], p = 0.73). There were also no significant differences in mean Life Completion by treatment arm between five weeks (26.6 Outlook vs. 26.3 RM; between-group difference 0.2 [95% CI, −1.2, 1.7], p = 0.76) or seven weeks (26.5 vs. 27.5; between-group difference −1.0 [95% CI, −2.7, 0.7], p = 0.23). Compared to RM, Outlook participants did not have significant differences over time in the secondary outcomes of overall quality of life, anxiety, depression, FACT-G subscales, and FACIT-Sp subscales.DiscussionIn early-stage life-limiting illness, Outlook did not demonstrate a significant difference in primary or secondary outcomes relative to RM. Results underscore the importance of pre-screening for distress. Qualitatively, Outlook participants were able to express suppressed emotions, place illness context, reflect on adaptations, and strengthen identity. Screening for distress and identifying specified measures of distress, beyond anxiety and depression, is essential in our ability to adequately assess the multi-dimensional mechanisms that decrease existential suffering.


Author(s):  
Vladica M. Velickovic ◽  
Jean P. Lembelembe ◽  
Francisco Cegri ◽  
Ivana Binic ◽  
Amr B. Abdelaziz ◽  
...  

The aim of the research is to assess the benefit–harm of superabsorbent polymers wound dressings based on polyacrylate polymers (SAPs) compared with standard of care (SoC) dressing mix for patients with moderate-to-highly exuding hard-to-heal leg ulcers. The SoC dressings mix was composed of other superabsorbents in 29% of cases, antimicrobials 26%, foams 20%, alginates 5%, and other dressings 19% weighted according to their frequency. We have used the decision-analytic modeling method, Markov process, as an adequate analytical solution for medical prognosis. We have combined the systematic literature search to identify the most relevant inputs for the analysis, with available patient-level clinical data concerning benefits of superabsorbent to generate a robust prediction of patient-relevant outcomes, including healing rates and health-related quality of life. Besides, we have qualitatively described adverse events associated with those treatments. Our research indicates that SAPs when compared with SoC dressing mix in a patient with moderate-to-highly excluding leg ulcers are leading to an improved healing rate with an absolute risk difference of 2.20% in 6 months and a relative risk of 1.07 in favor of SAP dressings. The attributable fraction among those exposed to SAP dressings of 6.6%, meaning that 6.6% of the healed ulcers could be attributed to having had the SAP dressing treatment instead of the SoC dressing treatment. Besides, SAP dressings lead to improved quality of life measured as incremental quality-adjusted life weeks (QALWs) of 0.13 QALWs.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Lin Wei ◽  
Ru-Zhen Yuan ◽  
Yong-Mei Jin ◽  
Shu Li ◽  
Ming-Yue Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background More than 50% cognitive impairment was reported by cancer patients before and after medical treatment. However, there are no effective interventions to manage the cognitive problem in women with breast cancer. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function and cancer-related symptoms in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Method A single-blinded, randomized control trial was designed. The trial will recruit 70 patients with early-stage breast cancer scheduled to receive chemotherapy from Shanghai in China. All participants will be randomly assigned to (1:1) the supervised Baduanjin group (5 times/week, 30 min each time) or the wait-list control group for 3 months. The effect of Baduanjin exercise intervention will be evaluated by outcome measures including subjective and objective cognitive function, symptoms (fatigue, depression, and anxiety), and health-related quality of life at pre-intervention (T0), 8 weeks (T1), and 12 weeks (T2). The PCI score in the FACT-Cog as the primary cognitive outcome will be reported descriptively, while effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) will be calculated. The collected data will be analyzed by using an intention-to-treat principle and linear mixed-effects modeling. Discussion This is the first randomized clinical trial to investigate whether Baduanjin exercise will have a positive role in improving cognitive function in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. If possible, Baduanjin exercise will be a potential non-pharmacological intervention to manage cognitive dysfunction and promote survivorship care among breast cancer survivors. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2000033152. Registered on 22 May 2020


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 721-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Essmat Shouman ◽  
Nahla Fawzy Abou El Ezz ◽  
Nivine Gado ◽  
Amal Mahmoud Ibrahim Goda

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure health-related quality of life (QOL) among patients with early stage cancer breast under curative treatment at department of oncology and nuclear medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals. Identify factors affecting QOL among these patients. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional study measured QOL among early stage female breast cancer (BC) patients and determined the main factors affecting their QOL. Three interviewer administered questionnaires were used. Findings – The physical domain mostly affected in BC patients and the functional domain least. Socio-demographic factors that significantly affected BC patients QOL scores were patient age, education, having children and family income. Specific patient characteristics include caregiver presence – a factor that affected different QOL scores. Age at diagnosis, affection in the side of the predominant hand, post-operative chemotherapy and difficulty in obtaining the medication were the disease-related factors that affected QOL scores. Originality/value – The final model predicting QOL for early stage female BC patients included age, education and difficulty in obtaining the medication as determinants for total QOL score. Carer presence was the specific patient characteristic that affected different QOL scores.


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