scholarly journals Beloved Whiskers: Management Type, Care Practices and Connections to Welfare in Domestic Cats

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2308
Author(s):  
Daiana de Souza Machado ◽  
Luana da Silva Gonçalves ◽  
Rogério Ribeiro Vicentini ◽  
Maria Camila Ceballos ◽  
Aline Cristina Sant’Anna

The quality of cat care practices depends in part on the type of management applied, which either positively or negatively impacts cat welfare. This study investigated whether the type of cat management (indoor vs. outdoor) was related to other cat care practices adopted by cat owners, associated with the quality of human-cat relationships and cat welfare. An online survey was distributed via social networks. Descriptive statistics, categorical Principal Component Analysis, Fisher’s Exact test and Chi-square test in contingency table were applied. A total of 16,302 cat owners returned the survey. Most Brazilian owners reported indoor management of their cats; this was related to owners living in apartments, more frequent use of cat care practices, and more interactions with their pets. Outdoor management was related to cats living in houses or farms, sleeping outdoors or around the neighborhood, and owners had fewer interaction with their pets. In conclusion, owners practicing indoor management seemed to be closer to their cats than owners reporting outdoor management. However, obesity and owner-reported behavioral problems were associated with indoor management.

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
PA Martins-Júnior ◽  
LS Marques ◽  
ML Ramos-Jorge ML

Objectives: To determine the association between types of malocclusion and quality of life in children between 8-10 years of age and establish correlations between the severity of the malocclusion and particular bio-psychosocial variables. Study design: The sample was made up of 102 schoolchildren aged 8-10 years. Clinical exams were performed using the criteria of the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) to determine the presence and severity of malocclusions. The impact on quality of life was assessed using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10). Statistical analysis involved the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's correlation analysis. Results: Malocclusions affected 61% of the children examined. There was a positive correlation between total CPQ8-10 and DAI scores (P = 0.034). The following types of malocclusion had a significant effect on the quality of life of the children: upper anterior irregularity ≥ 2 mm, anterior open bite ≥ 2mm and diastema ≥ 2mm. Children with malocclusion experienced a greater negative impact on quality of life in comparison to those without malocclusion. Conclusions: Malocclusions had a negative influence over the quality of life of children between 8-10 years of age. More severe malocclusions had a greater impact with regard to social, emotional and functional aspects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisane Moreno Lorena de SOUSA ◽  
Lize STANGARLIN-FIORI ◽  
Esther Heyde Selke COSTA ◽  
Fernanda FURTADO ◽  
Caroline Opolski MEDEIROS

ABSTRACT Objective This investigation evaluated the use of food labels and consumers’ perception of the reliability of food labels nutritional information. Methods This is a transversal exploratory quantitative investigation, carried out in Curitiba, Brazil. A total of 536 students from a public institution participated in the survey answering a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses, Chi-Square test and Fisher’s exact test were performed considering a significance level of 5%. Results The participants’ mean age was 21.11±2.83 years, and 59.3% were female. It was noticed that 41.6% of consumers used the nutritional information sometimes and 14.7% always, mainly because they liked to know what they were buying and consuming (35.8%). Lack of patience (29.5%) and concern about the composition of the food purchased (34.2%) were the main reasons for not using the information provided. The most commonly used nutrition claim was “trans fat-free” (42.5%) and the type of food in which nutrition labeling was used most was milk and dairy products (42.0%). Frequent use of nutritional information was higher among women (p<0.01) and among those who practice physical activity (p=0.04). Many individuals relied on food labels nutritional information (61.9%), but out of these, 43.6% did not use that information at the time of purchase. There was no difference between respondents’ confidence in the information, sociodemographic and health data. Conclusion Many people still do not use the label nutrition information. Efforts should be made to change this scenario. Changes in nutrition labeling can help modify this situation, with the use of clearer label information, more easily understood, that does not raise any doubts in the consumers’ mind.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (04) ◽  
pp. 53-61
Author(s):  
Trieu V. Nguyen

Forest structure plays a very important role in the sustainable management of forest resources. Research established 20 plots. The plot area is 900 m2 (30 m × 30 m) for 4 forest types: IIA, IIB, IIIA1 and IIIA3. Results showed that average diameter of four stages is IIA: 11.25 cm; IIB: 12.81 cm; II: 1: 15.94 cm and IIIA3: 20.30 cm. The mixed linear model demonstrated that growth in both diameter and height between forest states was significantly different (P < 0.05). Weibull and J-shape functions can simulate well for 75% of experimental distributions. Path analysis showed that for all four states, direct influence (AHTT) had a greater absolute value than the indirect effect (AHGT). Principal component analysis diagrams showed that for all four types, the quality of forest trees was closely related to canopy width, total height and diameter at breast height. The difference in the quality of the trees between the four states was really significant, as the Sig value of the Chi-square test is 0.000 (less than 0.05). Stages IIA and IIB had mainly species of pioneer species, while IIIA1 and IIIA3 had more shade tolerant species. Stage IIIA3 had the highest level of species diversity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
Ajay Bapna ◽  
Nidhi Patni ◽  
Sanjeev Patni

Objectives: Breast cancer is increasing in India due to aging population, better awareness among general public, willingness to seek treatment of cancers, and easier access to cancers centers. We present our single-center data over a 2-year period and discuss cost implications taking the example of metronomic chemotherapy maintenance and predictive markers in early breast cancer. Material and Methods: Prospectively collected data of all consecutive patients with breast cancer registered between September 2017 and August 2019 were evaluated. Clinical features, stage, receptor status, and other features were tabulated. Statistical analysis was using SAS version 9.4 – Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were performed. P ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: For the 484 consecutive patients, the median age was 50 years. This included EBC (201, 42%), LABC (141, 29%), and MBC (142, 29%). ER expression was seen in 52% of cases (253/484), PR in 47% (229/484), and Her2 was positive in 47% (229/484). Finally, 83 patients (17%) were identified as TNBC. HR-positive Her2-negative EBC constituted 111/484 patients (23%). Discussion: If our 83 TNBC patients were given metronomic maintenance chemotherapy, their 3-year overall survival (OS) is projected to increase from 54% to 100% at a cost of INR 8191/- per patient (equivalent to USD 109/-). If our 111 HR-positive Her2-negative EBC patients were evaluated for risk by biomarker test validated in Indian patients, 76 of these would be spared the toxicity of adjuvant CT. This would also result in saving on the cost of chemotherapy medication of INR 4,035,296/- in India (equivalent to USD 53,699/- if treated in USD). In addition, they would also have better quality of life (QoL). Conclusion: It is possible to identify patients with low risk early breast cancer using Can assist and save them from unnecessary cost and/or toxicity.


Author(s):  
Chathoth Anjana ◽  
Suseela Indu ◽  
Prabhakaran Vineetha

Introduction: Smooth extubation in children is a challenging task, especially those undergoing tonsillectomy. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 receptor agonist has been found to be beneficial in paediatric anaesthesia due to its anxiolytic, sedative and analgesic properties. It also attenuates haemodynamic stress response and airway reflexes to intubation and extubation. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid is also extensively used in paediatric anaesthesia. Aim: To compare the effects of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl premedication on quality of extubation and extubation haemodynamics. Materials and Methods: The prospective cohort study was conducted in 120 children divided into two groups of 60 each, aged 5-12 years, belonging to American Society of Anaesthesiologists’ (ASA) physical status I and II, posted for elective tonsillectomy under general anaesthesia. Group F received fentanyl 2 μg/kg intravenously and group D, dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg as intravenous infusion over 10 minutes as premedication. The time from discontinuation of anaesthetics to extubation and to opening the eyes in response to verbal stimuli were noted. The quality of extubation was evaluated according to the 5 point extubation score and postoperative sedation assessed using Ramsay sedation score. The haemodynamic parameters were monitored immediately after discontinuation of anaesthetics and at 1, 3, 5 and 10 minutes postextubation. Any complications like airway obstruction, bradycardia, and hypotension were noted and treated appropriately. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22 was used for statistical analysis and categorical outcomes compared with Chi-square test/Fisher’s-Exact test. Results: Extubation was smoother in group receiving dexmedetomidine. The median time from discontinuation of anaesthetics to extubation and eye opening was significantly shorter in dexmedetomidine group compared to fentanyl group (p<0.001). Postoperative sedation score was comparable between the two groups. Heart Rate (HR) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) monitored showed significantly stable values in the dexmedetomidine group (p<0.001) when compared to fentanyl soon after discontinuation of anaesthetics and 1, 3, 5 and 10 minutes postextubation. Conclusion: Premedication with dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg intravenously provides better quality and haemodynamics of extubation compared to fentanyl 2 μg/kg in children undergoing tonsillectomy, without causing significant sedation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 591-601
Author(s):  
Akansha Kishen ◽  
Anjali A K ◽  
Brundha M P ◽  
Muralidharan N P

Covid 19 is considered to be a pandemic virus infection. SARS-Cov-2 causes it. It is a viral infection that is transmitted through aerosol and droplet contamination, cross-infection, etc. Dentists are at a higher risk due to this corona. It has affected daily routines of dentist's life as they are unavailable to run the clinic and attend to patients. Different search engines like PubMed, and Google Scholar was used. The questionnaire consisting of twenty questions was prepared by using online survey google forms and circulated among the participants. SPSS software was used to evaluate the results and data collection. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square test. Later, results were being tabulated. This survey that is taken among dental students, dentists, and random public, it is seen that the majority of them are well aware of this recent pandemic attack. (COVID-19). It is concluded that dentists are affected to a significant extent due to coronavirus as their daily routine is affected severely. This study aims to identify the effect on dentist life on a routine basis due to the pandemic COVID - 19.


2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
pp. 548-552

Objective: To predict the quality of anticoagulation control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving warfarin in Thailand. Materials and Methods: The present study retrospectively recruited Thai AF patients receiving warfarin for three months or longer between June 2012 and December 2017 in Central Chest Institute of Thailand. The patients were classified into those with SAMe-TT₂R₂ of 2 or less, and 3 or more. The Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the proportion of the patients with poor time in therapeutic range (TTR) between the two groups of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score. The discrimination performance of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score was demonstrated with c-statistics. Results: Ninety AF patients were enrolled. An average age was 69.89±10.04 years. Most patients were persistent AF. An average CHA₂DS₂-VASc, SAMe-TT₂R₂, and HAS-BLED score were 3.68±1.51, 3.26±0.88, and 1.98±0.85, respectively. The present study showed the increased proportion of AF patients with poor TTR with higher SAMe-TT₂R₂ score. The AF patients with SAMe-TT₂R₂ score of 3 or more had a larger proportion of patients with poor TTR than those with SAMe-TT₂R₂ score of 2 or less with statistical significance when TTR was below 70% (p=0.03) and 65% (p=0.04), respectively. The discrimination performance of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score was demonstrated with c-statistics of 0.60, 0.59, and 0.55 when TTR was below 70%, 65% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion: Thai AF patients receiving warfarin had a larger proportion of patients with poor TTR when the SAMe-TT₂R₂ score was higher. The score of 3 or more could predict poor quality of anticoagulation control in those patients. Keywords: Time in therapeutic range, Poor quality of anticoagulation control, Warfarin, SAMe-TT₂R₂, Labile INR


2021 ◽  
pp. 153857442110225
Author(s):  
Joel Mathew John ◽  
Vimalin Samuel ◽  
Dheepak Selvaraj ◽  
Prabhu Premkumar ◽  
Albert A Kota ◽  
...  

Objective: The use of drug coated balloon (DCB) for angioplasty has shown superior efficacy against plain balloons for treating complex infrainguinal arterial disease. We report and compare the clinical outcomes following application of DCB(Paclitaxel) and plain angioplasty (POBA) in our tertiary care centre. Methods: A retrospective, single centre analysis of 301 patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia involving the infrainguinal segment was conducted between September 2014 and September 2018, after approval from the Institutional review board. We analyzed clinical outcomes by measuring postoperative ABI improvement, restenosis requiring reintervention procedure, minor and major amputations at the end of 18 months. . To find the association between the group variables (POBA and DCB) and other risk variables, Chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test was used. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Patients who underwent treatment with plain balloon (POBA) and DCB(Paclitaxel) angioplasty were 246(81.7%) and 55(18.3%) respectively. Our study group was predominantly male (Male: Female = 6.7:1), most patients were more than 50 years of age (n = 251, 83.4%). Smoking (n = 199, 66.1%) and diabetes (n = 210, 69.8%) were the most common atherosclerotic risk factors. Postoperative Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABI) improvement were similar in both groups (POBA = 57.7%; DCB = 69.8%; p = 0.103). Minor and major amputations following POBA were 26% and 22%; and DCB were 12.7% and 16.4% respectively. Re-stenosis requiring a re-interventional procedure within 18 months was 15%, (n = 37) following POBA; and 12.7% (n = 7) following DCB (p = 0.661). Conclusions: This retrospective study shows similar clinical limb related outcomes following POBA and DCB at 18 months. However, our comparative analysis between the POBA and DCB groups was totally unadjusted and not adjusted for common confounders such as age and sex. Hence, for one to draw definitive conclusions leading to changes in clinical practice; a randomized, prospective study with a larger patient cohort is needed.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1424
Author(s):  
Esben Nyborg Poulsen ◽  
Anna Olsson ◽  
Stefan Gustavsen ◽  
Annika Reynberg Langkilde ◽  
Annette Bang Oturai ◽  
...  

Spinal cord lesions are included in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet spinal cord MRI is not mandatory for diagnosis according to the latest revisions of the McDonald Criteria. We investigated the distribution of spinal cord lesions in MS patients and examined how it influences the fulfillment of the 2017 McDonald Criteria. Seventy-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS were examined with brain and entire spinal cord MRI. Sixty-five patients received contrast. The number and anatomical location of MS lesions were assessed along with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). A Chi-square test, Fischer’s exact test, and one-sided McNemar’s test were used to test distributions. MS lesions were distributed throughout the spinal cord. Diagnosis of dissemination in space (DIS) was increased from 58/74 (78.4%) to 67/74 (90.5%) when adding cervical spinal cord MRI to brain MRI alone (p = 0.004). Diagnosis of dissemination in time (DIT) was not significantly increased when adding entire spinal cord MRI to brain MRI alone (p = 0.04). There was no association between the number of spinal cord lesions and the EDSS score (p = 0.71). MS lesions are present throughout the spinal cord, and spinal cord MRI may play an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of MS patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S792-S792
Author(s):  
Alfredo Traversa ◽  
Linda Poggensee ◽  
Geneva M Wilson ◽  
Katie J Suda ◽  
Charlesnika T Evans ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are classified as an “urgent threat” to public health. Historically, colistin and tigecycline had been considered the drugs of choice for CRE infections, while other agents such as aminoglycosides and carbapenems had been used as adjunctive therapy. However, the FDA approval of ceftazidime-avibactam in 2015, meropenem-vaborbactam in 2017, and plazomicin in 2018 has expanded treatment options. Our purpose was to assess trends in CRE treatment for “new” antibiotics (ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, plazomicin) as compared with other antibiotics with CRE activity. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study describing treatment of CRE blood stream infections (BSI) across 134 VA facilities from 2012-2018. Patients were censored at their first positive blood culture with CRE. Categorical data was assessed with a Fisher’s exact test or chi-square test. Trends test and logistic regression were used to describe changes in CRE treatment over time. Results 724 patients with positive blood cultures for CRE were identified during the study period. Most patients were male (94%), white (32%) or Hispanic (38%), and the mean age was 71.5+11.9. Of those patients that received antibiotics (N=697), 53.4% carbapenems, 40.3% received aminoglycosides, 39.3% received polymyxins, 32.9% penicillins, 32.6% extended spectrum cephalosporins, 26.1% fluoroquinolones, 11.6% ceftazidime/avibactam, and 0.4% ceftolazone/tazobactam. Over the study period, there was decreased utilization of aminoglycosides (P &lt; 0.0026) and colistin (P&lt; 0.002) and increases in extended spectrum cephalosporins (P &lt; 0.001) and ceftazidime/avibactam (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion Utilization of “older” agents such as aminoglycosides and polymyxins for the treatment of CRE blood stream infections is decreasing in the VA. Treating CRE with ceftazidime/avibactam, a newly approved antibiotic, and extended spectrum cephalosporins are increasing. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


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