Tackling physical inactivity and inequalities: implementing a whole systems approach to transform community provision for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a global public health priority. There are known health and well-being consequences of being inactive, and the benefits of being physically active are well established. However, there are persistent inequalities when it comes to how physically active people are, with disabled people, people living with long-term health conditions, and people residing in areas of socio-economic deprivation being particularly affected. Methods such as whole system approaches (WSAs), which are dynamic, multifaceted, and engage all relevant stakeholders, have gained momentum as an approach to address such complex public health problems. However, evidence relating to the implementation of WSAs to address physical inactivity is lacking. The aim of the Prevention and Enablement Model (PEM) was to take a whole system approach in Essex to encourage and support disabled people and/or individuals living with long-term health conditions to be more active, happier, and to live more independently. METHODS: The aim of this study was to explore the enablers, challenges, and reflections associated with the process of designing and implementing the PEM. Semi-structured interviews (n = 12) were used to collect data from people involved in the PEM's design, implementation and/or delivery. Data was analysed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (1) Working collaboratively: Specific enablers of time and space were identified as important in the planning and implementation of a WSA (2) Leadership and planning: Distributed and flexible leadership was identified as central to successful implementation (3) Re-orientating practice: Highlighted the transformative potential of a whole system approach and how it contrasts with conventional work practices, and (4) Reflection and learning: Informing ongoing refinements and further implementation of successful system change. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the challenge and complexity of implementing a WSA that involves diverse stakeholders from across adult social care, the NHS, and the third sector. Several important enablers are identified, such as leadership and planning, and the challenges and discomfort that can arise whilst changing systems. Ongoing efforts are required to ensure that different elements of the system collaborate effectively to address inequalities in physical activity participation, through the implementation of a WSA.

Differences in Approach and Avoidance Motivation Sensitivities Predicting Participation and Performance in Strength Sport.

ABSTRACT: Cusimano, K, Freeman, P, Moran, J, and Yamaguchi, M. Differences in approach and avoidance motivation sensitivities predicting participation and performance in strength sport. J Strength Cond Res 38(1): 180-184, 2024-Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory proposes that individual differences in behavior are due to the sensitivity to 2 brain systems: the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), which regulates aversive emotions to threatening stimuli, and the behavioral approach system (BAS), which regulates positive emotions toward rewarding or nonpunishing stimuli. The current study investigated whether BIS and BAS sensitivity predicts participation and performance in strength sports. A sample of 177 competitive strength athletes (male = 148; female = 29; mean age = 28.68; SD = 6.24 years) and 178 control participants (male = 89; female = 89; mean age = 29.39; SD = 7.42) completed the BIS/BAS scale, with strength athletes also providing their Wilks scores as a measure of sporting performance. Independent t tests showed significantly higher BIS (MD = 2.37, p = 0.003, 95% CI [0.79, 3.94], d = 0.31) and total BAS (MD = 11.71, p < 0.001, 95% CI [9.26, 14.15], d = 1.00) sensitivity in strength athletes than individuals in the control group. A 3-step hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the number of training years (ß = 0.506, p < 0 .001), BIS (ß = -203, p = 0.005) and BAS drive (ß = 0.188, p = 0.012) made significant unique contributions to predicting the Wilks score, with no significant contributions of age, sex, BAS fun seeking, and BAS reward responsiveness. The findings indicate that the overall reward sensitivity (total BAS score) and reward seeking (BAS drive) are associated positively with participation and performance in strength sports, respectively. Given the association of these brain systems to addiction and other psychiatric disorders, the findings could have implications in psychiatric treatment and sporting recruitment.

Serum anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a ganglioside IgG antibodies are biomarkers for immune-mediated polyneuropathies in cats.

Recent work identified anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG ganglioside antibodies as biomarkers in dogs clinically diagnosed with acute canine polyradiculoneuritis, in turn considered a canine equivalent of Guillain-Barré syndrome. This study aims to investigate the serum prevalence of similar antibodies in cats clinically diagnosed with immune-mediated polyneuropathies. The sera from 41 cats clinically diagnosed with immune-mediated polyneuropathies (IPN), 9 cats with other neurological or neuromuscular disorders (ONM) and 46 neurologically normal cats (CTRL) were examined for the presence of IgG antibodies against glycolipids GM1, GM2, GD1a, GD1b, GalNAc-GD1a, GA1, SGPG, LM1, galactocerebroside and sulphatide. A total of 29/41 IPN-cats had either anti-GM2 or anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG antibodies, with 24/29 cats having both. Direct comparison of anti-GM2 (sensitivity: 70.7%; specificity: 78.2%) and anti-GalNAc-GD1a (sensitivity: 70.7%; specificity: 70.9%) antibodies narrowly showed anti-GM2 IgG antibodies to be the better marker for identifying IPN-cats when compared to the combined ONM and CTRL groups (P = .049). Anti-GA1 and/or anti-sulphatide IgG antibodies were ubiquitously present across all sample groups, whereas antibodies against GM1, GD1a, GD1b, SGPG, LM1 and galactocerebroside were overall only rarely observed. Anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG antibodies may serve as serum biomarkers for immune-mediated polyneuropathies in cats, as previously observed in dogs and humans.

Follow-up MRI appearance of the surgical site in dogs treated for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation and showing ongoing or recurrent neurological symptoms.

Reherniation and reoperation rates of 4.5%-36% are reported in canine patients treated for intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). Decision-making for surgical reintervention can prove challenging, especially since common postoperative changes are poorly described on MRI. The purpose of this single-center, retrospective, descriptive study was to describe the MRI characteristics of the surgical site in dogs treated for thoracolumbar IVDH and presenting for ongoing or recurrent neurological signs. Twenty-one patients were included for a total of 42 MRI studies. Chondrodystrophic breeds, specifically Dachshunds, were overrepresented. Mean number of days between surgery and second MRI was 335 (range 2-1367). Metallic susceptibility artifacts were seen in seven of 21 cases (33%), but these were limited in extent, spanning on average 1.3 vertebral bodies. In 11 cases, spinal cord compression suspected to be clinically significant was found at the surgical site; the extradural compressive material consisted of intervertebral disc material only, or a combination of intervertebral disc material and hematoma or inflammatory changes in 10 cases, and a displaced articular process and fibrous tissue in one case. The latter is a newly described complication of mini-hemilaminectomies. Paravertebral soft tissue changes and vertebral new bone formation varied according to the postoperative stage at which the patients were imaged. The results of this study supported the use of MRI as a diagnostic modality for spinal imaging following IVDH surgery, and showed that the presence of extradural disc material at a spinal surgical site is common along with various vertebral and paravertebral changes.

Lifetime Stressor Exposure and Psychophysiological Reactivity and Habituation to Repeated Acute Social Stressors.

This study addressed whether lifetime stressor exposure was associated with psychophysiological reactivity and habituation to a novel laboratory-based stressor. Eighty-six participants (Mage = 23.31 years, SD = 4.94) reported their exposure to lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressors before completing two consecutive trials of the Trier Social Stress Test, while cardiovascular (i.e., heart rate) and endocrine (i.e., salivary cortisol) data were recorded. Exposure to a moderate number of lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressors was associated with adaptive cardiovascular reactivity, whereas very low or very high stressor exposure was related to maladaptive reactivity. Moreover, experiencing a very low number of lifetime non-sport (but not sport-specific) stressors was associated with poorer habituation. In contrast, lifetime stressor severity was unrelated to cardiovascular reactivity. Finally, greater lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressor counts were associated with blunted cortisol reactivity and poorer habituation. These results suggest that lifetime stressor exposure may influence sport performers' acute stress responses.

Imaging characteristics of thoracolumbar spinal stenosis due to articular process hyperplasia and degenerative joint disease in six large breed dogs.

Previous studies have reported evidence that thoracolumbar articular process hyperplasia and degenerative joint disease may be a cause of stenotic myelopathy in large breed dogs; however, detailed descriptions of imaging characteristics are currently lacking. The aim of this retrospective, multi-center, case series report was to describe imaging findings in six large breed dogs diagnosed with thoracolumbar articular process hyperplasia and degenerative joint disease causing vertebral canal stenosis. All dogs presented with progressive paraparesis, proprioceptive ataxia of the pelvic limbs, and neuroanatomical localization of T3-L3 myelopathy. All dogs underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thoracolumbar spine and had articular process malformations at T13-L1 (three German Shepherd dogs (GSD) and a Boxer dog) or T12-T13 (two mixed-breed dogs). Five cases were managed surgically. Findings provided more detailed imaging descriptions and supported previously published studies indicating that maldevelopment of articular processes and secondary degenerative changes can be a cause of thoracolumbar spinal stenosis and myelopathy in large breed dogs. While uncommon, this condition should be included as a differential diagnosis for large breed dogs presenting with a T3-L3 myelopathy.

Long-term follow-up of spinal segmental stabilization for surgical treatment of dorsal hemivertebrae associated with kyphosis in brachycephalic dogs.

The aim of this study is to report chronic complications (> 2 mo after surgery) following spinal segmental stabilization (SSS) to treat myelopathy associated with thoracic congenital vertebral malformations in brachycephalic dogs. Follow-up medical records (years 2006 to 2020) of 12 cases that underwent SSS at 3 university hospitals were retrieved and analyzed with a minimum follow-up period of 1 y. Five dogs showed no chronic complications and 7 dogs had chronic complications which are reported here. This case series demonstrates that the rate of chronic complications associated with SSS was high (58%) but most of these were minor and did not require revision surgery.

Suivi à long terme de la stabilisation segmentaire rachidienne pour le traitement chirurgical des hémi-vertèbres dorsales associées à la cyphose chez le chien brachycéphale. Le but de cette étude est de rapporter les complications chroniques (> 2 mois après chirurgie) suite à la stabilisation segmentaire rachidienne (SSS) pour traiter la myélopathie associée aux malformations vertébrales congénitales thoraciques chez les chiens brachycéphales. Les dossiers médicaux de suivi (années 2006 à 2020) de 12 cas qui ont subi un SSS dans trois hôpitaux universitaires ont été récupérés et analysés avec une période de suivi minimale de 1 an. Cinq chiens n'ont présenté aucune complication chronique et sept chiens ont présenté des complications chroniques qui sont rapportées ici. Cette série de cas démontre que le taux de complications chroniques associées au SSS était élevé (58 %) mais que la plupart d'entre elles étaient mineures et n'ont pas nécessité de reprise chirurgicale.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Adverse life events, cardiovascular responses, and sports performance under pressure.

Research suggests that experiencing a moderate number of adverse life events can benefit future stress responses. This study explored the relationship between adverse life (ie, non-sport) events and cardiovascular responses to, and performance during, a pressurized sporting task. One hundred participants (64 men, 36 women; Mage =21.94 years, SDage =4.98) reported the number of adverse life events (eg, serious accident or injury) they had encountered before completing a pressurized dart-throwing task during which performance was recorded. Before the task, participants' demand and resource evaluations and cardiovascular reactivity were assessed. Adverse life events did not impact demand and resource evaluations. However, participants who reported 4-7 adverse life events displayed cardiovascular responses more reflective of a challenge state (relatively lower total peripheral resistance and/or higher cardiac output) compared to those who reported a lower (<4) or higher (>7) number of events. Furthermore, participants who reported 3-13 adverse life events outperformed those who reported a lower (<3) or higher (>13) number of events. Supplementary analyses suggested that this relationship might be due to a small number of extreme values. However, after outlier analyses, a significant linear relationship remained suggesting that a higher number of adverse life events facilitated performance. The results suggest that experiencing a moderate to high number of adverse life events might have beneficial effects on subsequent cardiovascular responses and performance under pressure. Practitioners should therefore consider prior brushes with adversity when identifying athletes who are likely to excel during stressful competition.

A cross-sectional study examining predictors of visit frequency to local green space and the impact this has on physical activity levels.

BACKGROUND: Lack of physical activity (PA) is a growing public health concern. There is a growing body of literature that suggests a positive relationship may exist between the amount of local green space near one's home and PA levels. For instance, park proximity has been shown to predict PA levels amongst certain populations. However, there is little evidence for the role of relatedness towards nature and perceptions of local green space on this relationship. The aim of this study was to examine, in a National UK sample, whether subjective indices associated with local green space were better predictors of visit frequency to local green space and PA levels compared to objectively measured quantity of local green space. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was designed. From a random sample, 2079 working age adults responded to an online survey in September 2011. Demographics, self-reported PA, objective measures of the local environment (including local green space, road coverage, and environmental deprivation), were assessed in conjunction with perceptions of local green space and nature relatedness. Quantity of local green space was assessed by cross-referencing respondents' home postcodes with general land use databases. Regression models were conducted to assess which of our independent variables best predicted visit frequency to local green space and/or meeting PA guidelines. In addition, an ordinal regression was run to examine the relationship between visit frequency to local green space and the likelihood of meeting national PA guidelines. RESULTS: Nature relatedness was the strongest predictor for both visit frequency to local green space and meeting PA guidelines. Results show that perceived quality is a better predictor of visit frequency to local green space than objective quantity of local green space. The odds of achieving the recommended amount of PA was over four times greater for people who visited local green space once per week compared to never going (OR 4.151; 95 % CI, 2.40 to 7.17). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that perceptions of local green space and nature relatedness play an important role in the relationship between local green space and PA. Considering the known health benefits of PA, our results are potentially important for public health interventions, policy making and environmental planning.

Ecological dynamics of emerging bat virus spillover.

Viruses that originate in bats may be the most notorious emerging zoonoses that spill over from wildlife into domestic animals and humans. Understanding how these infections filter through ecological systems to cause disease in humans is of profound importance to public health. Transmission of viruses from bats to humans requires a hierarchy of enabling conditions that connect the distribution of reservoir hosts, viral infection within these hosts, and exposure and susceptibility of recipient hosts. For many emerging bat viruses, spillover also requires viral shedding from bats, and survival of the virus in the environment. Focusing on Hendra virus, but also addressing Nipah virus, Ebola virus, Marburg virus and coronaviruses, we delineate this cross-species spillover dynamic from the within-host processes that drive virus excretion to land-use changes that increase interaction among species. We describe how land-use changes may affect co-occurrence and contact between bats and recipient hosts. Two hypotheses may explain temporal and spatial pulses of virus shedding in bat populations: episodic shedding from persistently infected bats or transient epidemics that occur as virus is transmitted among bat populations. Management of livestock also may affect the probability of exposure and disease. Interventions to decrease the probability of virus spillover can be implemented at multiple levels from targeting the reservoir host to managing recipient host exposure and susceptibility.

Applying generalizability theory to examine the antecedents of perceived coach support.

Although social support is integral to the coaching process, there is only a limited understanding of the antecedents of perceived coach support. We applied generalizability theory to examine perceived coach support and its antecedents at perceiver, provider, and relational levels of analysis. Two studies were conducted in which athletes rated the degree to which they identified with a selection of coaches, and the personality, competency, and supportiveness of those coaches. Univariate analyses demonstrated that the relational component accounted for a significant amount of variance in perceived coach support in both studies. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that when athletes perceive specific coaches to be highly agreeable, competent, and individuals with whom they share a common identity, they also perceive these same coaches to be particularly supportive in comparison with other coaches.

Reappraising Threat: How to Optimize Performance Under Pressure.

Competitive situations often hinge on one pressurized moment. In these situations, individuals' psychophysiological states determine performance, with a challenge state associated with better performance than a threat state. But what can be done if an individual experiences a threat state? This study examined one potential solution: arousal reappraisal. Fifty participants received either arousal reappraisal or control instructions before performing a pressurized, single-trial, motor task. Although both groups initially displayed cardiovascular responses consistent with a threat state, the reappraisal group displayed a cardiovascular response more reflective of a challenge state (relatively higher cardiac output and/or lower total peripheral resistance) after the reappraisal manipulation. Furthermore, despite performing similarly at baseline, the reappraisal group outperformed the control group during the pressurized task. The results demonstrate that encouraging individuals to interpret heightened physiological arousal as a tool that can help maximize performance can result in more adaptive cardiovascular responses and motor performance under pressure.

The ARSQ: the athletes' received support questionnaire.

To address calls for context-specific measurement of social support, this article reports the development of the Athletes' Received Support Questionnaire (ARSQ) and demonstrates initial evidence for its validity. Across four studies there was support for a four-dimensional structure reflecting emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible received support. There was also support for unidimensional and higher-order models. Further, Study 3 provided some support for convergent validity, with significant correlations between the corresponding dimensions of the ARSQ and the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors. Study 4 provided evidence for the nomological validity of the ARSQ. Emotional and esteem support significantly predicted self-confidence and positive affect, and tangible support significantly moderated the relationship between stress and negative affect. Collectively, these results provide initial evidence for the validity of the ARSQ, and offer researchers flexibility to adopt either a multidimensional or aggregated approach to measuring received support.

The value of social support to encourage people with schizophrenia to engage in physical activity: an international insight from specialist mental health physiotherapists.

BACKGROUND: Research is needed to understand how mental health physiotherapists use social support when promoting physical activity. AIMS: The aim of this study was to establish which dimensions of social support are used within physiotherapy sessions for individuals with schizophrenia. METHOD: A cross sectional international survey design of specialist mental health physiotherapists was undertaken. RESULTS: Forty mental health physiotherapists provided in depth accounts of the four functional dimensions of social support (informational, tangible, esteem and emotional) and the one structural dimension (importance of group exercise). The results illustrate how these different dimensions of social support are used by physiotherapists to engage patients and identify the value of group work as a specific form of support. Specifically the importance of all types of support was reported and this helped to provide a detailed consideration to the skills that mental health physiotherapist have. CONCLUSION: Providing social support is a significant part of the rehabilitation professionals' role. The current results advance the current understanding of how social support is provided to individuals with schizophrenia in rehabilitation settings.

Outcome of the Use of Clinical Reasoning Alone in Dogs with Acute Thoracolumbar Myelopathy and/or Pain.

Acute thoracolumbar myelopathy is a common neurological presentation in dogs. Although certain spinal conditions present with characteristic clinical pictures, managing such cases with clinical reasoning alone (i.e., without cross-sectional imaging) has never been explored. The aim of this study was to define the outcome of patients with suspected intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE), ischaemic myelopathy (IM) or acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE) that were managed with clinical reasoning alone. The database of the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital (Cambridge) was searched for paraparetic or paraplegic dogs with suspected IVDE or IM/ANNPE that were initially managed medically without undergoing imaging. Clinical presentation and outcome were recorded. If cross-sectional imaging was subsequently performed, information about the final diagnosis was collected and compared with the initially suspected diagnosis. A total of 123 IVDE cases were collected: 81% had a successful outcome with no imaging performed; 16% had IVDE confirmed with imaging and successful outcome with surgery or medical management; and just 3% were found to have an alternative diagnosis or were euthanised without imaging. A total of 16 IM/ANNPE cases were collected: 94% had a successful outcome, and one dog was euthanised. Successful outcomes can be obtained by using clinical reasoning alone in most dogs with suspected IVDE or IM/ANNPE.

What determines participation in sport for older adults in England: A multilevel analysis of Active Lives data.

Physical inactivity within an ageing population is an ongoing public health concern for policymakers. Engagement in sport forms a foundation of policy designed to encourage physical activity participation and improve health and wellbeing. This study aimed to (i) understand the extent to which older adults participate in sport and the (ii) correlates that predict this involvement within an English population sample of older adults. A further aim was (iii) to examine the extent in which sports participation may vary due to the opportunity provided across Active Partnerships in England. To address this, a multi-level analysis framed through COM-B was conducted of the 2021 English Active Lives dataset (i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic). The Active Lives survey provides population-level insight into sport, exercise, and physical activity participation across England. It samples upwards of n = 180,000 participants beyond the age of 16 years and asks questions on factors that influence participation. Our findings drawn from a sample of n = 68,808 older adults (i.e., >60-years of age) indicate that when accounting for variation across regions sports participation was significantly predicted by age (ß = -.246, p = .040) and multiple deprivation (ß = .706, p = .030). Further, our analysis suggests sports participation across regions is associated with changes in the perceptions of opportunity to participate (ß = -28.70, p = .001). As the UK transitions from the COVID-19 pandemic, findings have implications for the promotion of sports participation for older adults, in that local, regional, and national stakeholders must do more to change perceptions of social and physical opportunity within an ageing population. This may be achieved through adaptations to the recreational sporting landscape, raising awareness, and supportive policy changes on a national level.

The relationship between modifiable lifestyle behaviours and self-reported health in children and adolescents in the United Kingdom.

Obesity, along with its associated health issues, is closely tied to lifestyle habits. While certain elements affecting childhood health, such as genetics and ethnicity, are beyond individuals' control, there exists modifiable lifestyle behaviours that can facilitate healthier living. This study employed multiple regression analysis to investigate the relationship between specific modifiable lifestyle behaviours and self-reported health. The independent variables considered included days of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable consumption, breakfast frequency, school night sleep duration, and non-school night sleep duration. These variables were chosen for their practical modifiability within participants' daily lives. The analysis revealed a highly significant overall model (F(13,11363) = 191.117, p < .001), explaining 17.9% of the variance in self-reported health. Notably, higher MVPA levels were associated with improved self-reported health (B = 0.136 to 0.730, p < .001). Additionally, regular breakfast consumption and increased fruit and vegetable intake exhibited positive associations with self-reported health (B = 0.113 to 0.377, p < .001), while girls reported lower self-reported health (B = -0.079, p < .001). School night sleep duration was positively linked to self-reported health (B = 0.071, p < .001). Furthermore, a dose-response relationship between MVPA, dietary habits, and health was identified. These findings hold substantial potential for public health campaigns to promote healthy behaviours and prevent chronic diseases in young individuals. It is imperative to emphasise that all the variables considered in this study are readily modifiable aspects of individuals' lives, offering a promising avenue for personal health and well-being enhancement.

Champ or chump? Challenge and threat states during pressurized competition.

The present research examined the immediate impact of challenge and threat states on golf performance in both real competition and a laboratory-based task. In Study 1, 199 experienced golfers reported their evaluations of competition demands and personal coping resources before a golf competition. Evaluating the competition as a challenge (i.e., sufficient resources to cope with demands) was associated with superior performance. In Study 2, 60 experienced golfers randomly received challenge or threat manipulation instructions and then performed a competitive golf-putting task. Challenge and threat states were successfully manipulated and the challenge group outperformed the threat group. Furthermore, the challenge group reported less anxiety, more facilitative interpretations of anxiety, less conscious processing, and displayed longer quiet eye durations. However, these variables failed to mediate the group-performance relationship. These studies demonstrate the importance of considering preperformance psychophysiological states when examining the influence of competitive pressure on motor performance.

HASTE MRI sequence findings correlate with loss of deep pain perception in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusion.

BACKGROUND: Thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (TL IVDE) is a common reason for the veterinary hospital admission. Various imaging factors including degree and length of compression have been tested for correlation with clinical severity, but no reliable correlation has been found. Half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences highlight the dorsal and ventral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) columns and have been used to demonstrate spinal cord swelling in dogs with TL IVDE. This has been used as a predictor of progressive ascending-descending myelomalacia but has not been correlated with neurological grade. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the correlation between the attenuation of CSF HASTE signal and clinical severity in dogs suffering from TL disc extrusions. METHODS: Dogs less than 15 kg who were non-ambulatory due to suspected TL IVDE were prospectively recruited for a study into conservative management. MRI studies were undertaken under sedation including HASTE sequences. The ratio of the length of CSF attenuation to the length of the L2 vertebra was calculated and correlated with clinical severity. RESULTS: Twenty dogs met the inclusion criteria. No statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the mean CSF attenuation and neurological grade (p = 0.17 but there was a significant difference in the mean CSF attenuation in those who retained deep pain perception and those who did not (p = 0.02). Time to loss of ambulation was also found to not be correlated with CSF attenuation (p = 0.95). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the length of CSF attenuation of HASTE MRI sequences in dogs less than 15 kg suffering from IVDEs may be correlated with a loss of deep pain perception.

Equine Behavioural and Physiological Responses to Auditory Stimuli in the Presence and Absence of Noise-Damping Ear Covers.

Despite numerous studies investigating responses to visual perception, there is limited research into how horses respond to different auditory stimuli. Although 'noise-damping' ear covers are frequently used on sport horses to minimise distraction from external auditory stimuli, the effectiveness of ear covers has not been established. This study aimed to (i) investigate the responses of horses to different sounds commonly present in a competition environment, and (ii) compare these responses in the presence and absence of ear covers. A total of 18 horses were presented with 5 sounds commonly heard in competition or stable environments both with and without ear covers, in a randomised order crossover design. Behavioural and heart rate responses were recorded. Responses were compared between sounds and with/without ear covers. Differences in physiological and behavioural responses to different complex auditory stimuli were shown. An overall difference in physiological and behavioural responses with and without ear covers was detected, although the only difference in heart rate between ear covers and no ear covers that individually achieved significance was the feed sound. These findings suggest that horses can discriminate sounds and alter their responses based on the individual stimulus, and these responses are reduced when wearing ear covers with varying effectiveness for different sounds.