RCM can be considered an end-stage condition associated with a poor prognosis, with few cats not showing clinical signs and surviving >1 year. Most cats died of cardiac disease within a very short time.

No abstract

The epidemiology of Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD s) has changed over the past twenty years. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CHD s in the population of dogs recruited in a single referral center (RC); compare the epidemiological features of CHD s in screened breeds (Boxers) versus non-screened (French and English Bulldogs, German Shepherds); investigate the association of breeds with the prevalence of CHD s ; determine the popularity and volatility of breeds over a 20-year period; analysed the trends of the most popular breeds in the overall population of newborn dogs registered in the Italian Kennel Club (IKC) from 1st January 1997 to 31st December 2017. The RC's cardiological database was analysed, and 1,779 clinical records were included in a retrospective observation study. Descriptive statistics and frequencies regarding the most representative breeds and CHD s were generated. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the trends of the most common CHD s found in single and in cluster of breeds. The relationship between breed popularity and presence of CHD s was studied. The most common CHD s were Pulmonic Stenosis, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Subaortic Stenosis, Ventricular Septal Defect, Aortic Stenosis, Tricuspid Dysplasia, Atrial Septal Defect, Double Chamber Right Ventricle, Mitral Dysplasia, and others less frequent. The most represented pure breeds were Boxer, German Shepherd, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Maltese, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, and others in lower percentage. Chihuahuas, American Staffordshire Terriers, Border Collies, French Bulldogs, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were the most appreciated all of which showed a high value of volatility. This study found evidence for the value of the screening program implemented in Boxers; fashions and trends influence dog owners' choices more than the worries of health problems in a breed. Effective breeding programs are needed in order to control the diffusion of CHD s without impoverishing the genetic pool.

In order to quantify the association between use of statins and the risk of all hematological malignancies and of subtypes, we performed a meta-analysis of observational studies. We achieved a MEDLINE/EMBASE comprehensive search for studies published up to August 2014 investigating the association between use of statins and the risk of hematological malignancies, including Hodgkin- and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma. Fixed- and random-effect models were fitted to estimate the summary relative risk (RR) based on adjusted study-specific results. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the Q and I2 statistics and the sources of heterogeneity were investigated using Deeks' test. Moreover, an influence analysis was performed. Finally, publication bias was evaluated using funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test. Fourteen studies (10 case–control and four cohort studies) contributed to the analysis. Statin use, compared to nonuse of statins, was negatively associated with all hematological malignancies taken together (summary RR 0.86; 95% CI: 0.77–0.96), with leukemia (0.83; 0.74–0.92), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (0.81; 0.68 to 0.96), but it was not related to the risk of myeloma (0.89; 0.53–1.51). Long-term users of statins showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk of all hematological malignancies taken together (0.78; 0.71–0.87). Statistically significant between-studies heterogeneity was observed for all outcome except for leukemia. Heterogeneity was caused by differences confounding-adjustment level of the included studies only for Myeloma. No significant evidence of publication bias was found.

Statins are among the most commonly prescribed drugs used to manage dyslipidemia. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer mortality and its rates have recently been increasing in central and northern Europe and USA. To quantify the association between statin use and risk for HCC, we performed a meta-analysis of published studies. We conducted a MEDLINE search for observational studies reporting the association between exposure to statins and risk for incident liver cancer until March 2012. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to estimate summary relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Moreover, between-study heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using adequate statistical tests. Five observational studies (two case-control and three cohort studies) based on 2574 cases of HCC were included. Statin treatment, compared with no treatment, was inversely related to HCC (summary RR=0.58; 95% CI 0.46-0.74). Between-study heterogeneity was significant (P<0.001) and numerically relevant (I=65%). When only longest statin use was considered, the RR was 0.66 (95% CI 0.55-0.80). Influence analysis on the overall estimate showed that heterogeneity was largely because of one study; when omitting it, the I dropped to 27% (P=0.240), whereas the summary RR was only marginally modified (RR=0.52; 95% CI 0.44-0.62). There was no evidence of publication bias. This meta-analysis suggests a favorable effect of statins on HCC, in the absence, however, of a duration-risk relationship.

CA 125 is a promising biomarker in the diagnosis, stratification, and outcome evaluation of heart failure patients. CA 125 may be regarded as a surrogate marker of echocardiographic variables, N-terminal pro-BNP and brain natriuretic peptide.

No abstract

Objectives: To evaluate and illustrate complications of cardiac catheterisation and the associated risk factors of the most common cardiac intervention procedures. Materials and MethOds: Retrospective study of clinical records of client-owned dogs presented to a cardiology referral centre between January 2006 and December 2017. results: Five hundred and twenty-four dogs were included, 62 of which had complications. Complications were divided into technical complications and those due to unexpected additional anatomical abnormalities. Seven procedures (1.33%) were interrupted; five dogs (0.95%) subsequently underwent surgery, and four dogs died during the interventional procedure, indicating a mortality rate of 0.76% clinical significance: There is a low risk of complications following closure of patent ductus arteriosus or pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty when carried out by a trained team using standardised procedures in a referral centre. 613 FIG 4. Longitudinal cross-section of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with unusual morphology studied with three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (on the left); angiography that highlights the PDA in the same patient (on the right)