Retrospective Evaluation of the Effect of Heart Rate on Survival in Dogs with Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) usually is associated with a rapid ventricular rate. The optimal heart rate (HR) during AF is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Heart rate affects survival in dogs with chronic AF.

Animals

Forty‐six dogs with AF and 24‐hour ambulatory recordings were evaluated.

Methods

Retrospective study. Holter‐derived HR variables were analyzed as follows: mean HR (meanHR, 24‐hour average), minimum HR (minHR, 1‐minute average), maximum HR (maxHR, 1‐minute average). Survival times were recorded from the time of presumed adequate rate control. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards analysis identified variables independently associated with survival; Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis estimated the median survival time of dogs with meanHR <125 bpm versus ≥125 bpm.

Results

All 46 dogs had structural heart disease; 31 of 46 had congestive heart failure (CHF), 44 of 46 received antiarrhythmic drugs. Of 15 dogs with cardiac death, 14 had CHF. Median time to all‐cause death was 524 days (Interquartile range (IQR), 76–1,037 days). MeanHR was 125 bpm (range, 62–203 bpm), minHR was 82 bpm (range, 37–163 bpm), maxHR was 217 bpm (range, 126–307 bpm). These were significantly correlated with all‐cause and cardiac‐related mortality. For every 10 bpm increase in meanHR, the risk of all‐cause mortality increased by 35% (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P < 0.001). Median survival time of dogs with meanHR<125 bpm (n = 23) was significantly longer (1,037 days; range, 524‐open) than meanHR ≥125 bpm (n = 23; 105 days; range, 67–267 days; P = 0.0012). Mean HR was independently associated with all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.003).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Holter‐derived meanHR affects survival in dogs with AF. Dogs with meanHR <125 bpm lived longer than those with meanHR ≥ 125 bpm.     

Echocardiographic Estimates of Right Ventricular Systolic Function in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Background

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction independently predicts outcomes in human myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). There is limited information regarding RV systolic function in dogs with MMVD.

Hypothesis

Right ventricular systolic function differs among stages of disease, decreasing in decompensated MMVD.

Animals

Thirty‐sixclient‐owned dogs with MMVD not receiving oral cardiovascular medications.

Methods

Prospective clinical study. Dogs were categorized according to disease severity as ACVIM Stage B1, B2, or C. Seven echocardiographic indices of RV systolic function were measured. Groups were compared by 1‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. Frequencies of cases with cardiac remodeling falling outside previously established reference intervals were compared using Fisher's exact test. Intra‐ and interobserver measurement variability was calculated for each RV function index.

Results

The indices TAPSE (P = 0.029), RV St_L (P = 0.012), and RV StR_L (P = 0.041) were significantly different between groups. A greater proportion of B2 dogs (7 of 12) had TAPSE values above reference intervals compared with B1 (2 of 12) or C (2 of 12) dogs (P = 0.027). Measurement variability of TAPSE, RV S', and RV St_G was clinically acceptable.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Right ventricular systolic function differs between stages of MMVD, increasing in stage B2, and declining in stage C. The prognostic importance of RV function indices, particularly TAPSE, might be worth evaluating in dogs with MMVD.     

草原灌丛化入侵:过程、机制和效应

草原灌丛化已成为全球性问题,也是生态学、畜牧学研究的热点问题。紧扣草原灌丛化过程、发生机理及其生态学后效等关键问题,介绍了国内外的最新研究进展。灌木入侵途径包括有意识引进入侵和自然入侵2类,入侵过程分为传播到达、定居建群和扩散入侵3个阶段。放牧、火烧、温室气体增加,干旱以及降水格局改变等均可导致草本向木本的转化,且机制复杂,主要有影响草本,木本植物盖度、水分利用效率、化感作用等。木本植物入侵打破了草原生态系统的稳定,表现出沃岛效应,影响动植物的分布以及生态系统的功能和服务。阐明草原“草本-木本”群落演替机制,可为我国研究草原灌丛化和管理提供理论借鉴。     

The evolution and application of enzymes in the animal feed industry: the role of data interpretation

ABSTRACT

1. Enzymes have been used commercially for nearly 40 years and save significant costs through sparing of expensive nutrients but the mechanism by which this is achieved is still debated.

2. The research focused on non-starch polysaccharidase (NSPase) enzymes is used as an example of where greater progress could have been made if the details of the work had been described more fully and the analysis of the data generated had been broader in scope and more critical.

3. Lack of standardisation of the details presented in the materials and methods has been identified as a significant barrier to meaningful retrospective analysis and thus limits advances in the understanding of the mode of action of these enzymes.

4. The identity of the enzyme employed and its activity is often lacking, and more importantly the purity is rarely disclosed. Contaminant activities which are neither listed nor assayed could play a significant role in the responses observed.

5. The dose optimum of most enzymes is often considerably higher than that employed in most studies. Thus studies claiming synergy between two ‘activities’ should ensure that the response is not related to each enzyme simply augmenting the dose of just one activity in the finished feed. This is a common problem, and coupled with the lack of factorial experiments to justify the presence of each enzyme in a multi-enzyme product, it is not surprising that there is still debate as to whether single or multi-enzymes are best suited poultry rations.

6. The three proposed mechanisms for NSPases (viscosity, cell wall and prebiotic) are discussed, and along with their strengths and weaknesses it is suggested that a re-evaluation of each is needed. Viscosity may have to be re-evaluated as being a function not only of the cereal being fed, but of the age of the animal as well. The cell wall theory as described is poorly modelled in vitro and hence the validity of these data is questioned. The prebiotic theory may need significant modification as it appears that the quantities of oligomers produced are insufficient to generate the additional volatile fatty acids (VFA)’s reported. It is likely that all three mechanisms play a role in the responses observed, but the prebiotic mechanism probably plays by far the most important part in low viscosity diets.

7. Future research would be improved if it considered all potential mechanisms when designing a trial. Significant failings are apparent as a result of adherence to tenets in explanation of the results. Most importantly, it should be emphasised that a hypothesis is there to be tested, not defended.     

茉莉花茶加工技术与吸香机理研究现状

为了进一步综合地认识茉莉花茶窨制的工艺本质、完善茉莉花茶窨制技术,本文综述和分析了茉莉花茶加工技术及吸香机理的研究现状,并对后续研究进行了展望。     

干热河谷印楝树干液流密度动态变化特征研究

采用TDP技术对金沙江干热河谷元谋段主要造林树种印楝的树干液流密度动态变化进行了观测,得到3点主要结论:①无论干热季节或湿润季节,印楝树干液流密度昼夜变化的规律性较强,呈明显的单峰曲线;②由干热季节转向湿润季节时,印楝树干液流密度呈下降趋势,5年生印楝在5月、7月及10月的典型晴天里的树干液流密度日变化平均值分别为12.11、7.48及6.90cm3·cm-2·h-1;③在干热季节里印楝蒸腾耗水具有相当的被动性,而在湿润季节时其蒸腾耗水则表现出主动性和平氨性,反映了印楝在不同季节里的耗水机制差异.     

仓房自动堆包机的研制与设计

仓房自动堆包机是专门为粮食储藏和粮食加工企业研制的一款有限空间堆包设备。它不仅能在有限空间将粮包提升到目标高度、自动堆放,而且还能替代多人工作,设备操作简单、方便、灵活,可实现粮食储藏和食品加工企业有限仓房机械化作业。     

植物TIR1/AFBs基因家族研究进展

TIR1/AFBs基因家族是一种存在于细胞核中的生长素受体,属于F-box蛋白基因中的一个小亚族。它们通过与相关生长素相结合活化转录因子来促进基因的表达,从而进行调控,是生长素信号转导过程中的关键部分。为了深入研究生长素信号转导机制,从TIR1/AFBs基因家族的发现与结构,家族成员表达模式的差异及对植物生长发育方面的调节等方面概括介绍了TIR1/AFBs基因家族的分子调控机制,总结了TIR1/AFBs基因的功能。最后探讨了TIR1/AFBs基因的研究方向。     

黑龙江省国有林场管理体制机制改革立法研究

在对黑龙江省国有林场管理体制机制的立法现状和立法中存在的问题进行分析后,从立法角度探讨黑龙江省国有林场改革的新思路与措施,进而提出改革的建议,为国有林场的改革提供理论和法律支撑.     

我国竞技体育人才培养路径的协同机制研究*

体工队“三级训练网”、俱乐部、院校化是我国竞技体育人才培养的三个主要路径。研究运用文献研究、专家访谈等方法，解析各个培养路径的机制结构,分析不同培养路径的矛盾问题和解决思路，在培养主体、培养目标、人才输送三个方面提出我国竞技体育人才培养路径的协同机制。