Efectos de la rehabilitación pulmonar en pacientes con EPOC según la clasificación GOLD 2020 en Cali, Colombia / Pulmonary rehabilitation effects in patients with COPD according to GOLD 2020 classification in Cali, Colombia

Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica dispone de una guía encargada de la prevención y tratamiento, denominada Global Initiative for Chronic Lung Disease, la cual anualmente se actualiza y cataloga la rehabilitación pulmonar, dentro de las opciones de tratamiento. Objetivo: Describir los efectos en variables clínicas, de capacidad funcional, de ansiedad/depresión y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, después de un programa de rehabilitación pulmonar, de acuerdo con la clasificación GOLD 2020 en una clínica de Cali. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, longitudinal donde se incluyeron 79 pacientes divididos en 3 grupos (B, C y D). Resultados: La edad media fue de 70 años; el 69% eran hombres. La cantidad de días hospitalizados fue mayor para el grupo C y D, con un promedio de 8 y 13 días, respectivamente (p≤0,000). La capacidad funcional evidenció una mayor distancia en el grupo C (421m) y la menor distancia para el grupo D (328m), p≤0,006. En la ansiedad y depresión, el grupo D logró obtener mejorías al igual que en el cuestionario de calidad de vida. Conclusión: El grupo C presentó mayor capacidad funcional y mejor calidad de vida, el grupo B tuvo mejores resultados en las variables clínicas, y el grupo D tuvo peor condición clínica, capacidad funcional y calidad de vida. Al finalizar la rehabilitación pulmonar el grupo D presentó mayores cambios en la capacidad funcional y calidad de vida.(AU)

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has a guide in charge of prevention and treatment, called the Global Initiative for Chronic Lung Disease, which is annually updated and catalogs pulmonary rehabilitation, within the treatment options. Objective: To describe the effects on clinical variables, functional capacity, anxiety/depression and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after a pulmonary rehabilitation program, according to the GOLD 2020 classification in a Cali clinic. Materials and methods: Descriptive, longitudinal study where 79 patients divided into 3 groups were included (B, C and D). Results:The mean age was 70 years, 69% men. The number of hospitalized days was greater for groups C and D with an average of 8 and 13 days, respectively (p≤0.000). The functional capacity showed a greater distance in group C (421m) and the shortest distance for group D (328m), p≤0.006. In anxiety and depression, group D managed to obtain improvements as well as in the quality of life questionnaire. Conclusion: Group C presented greater functional capacity and better quality of life, group B had better results in clinical variables, and group D had worse clinical condition, functional capacity and quality of life. At the end of pulmonary rehabilitation, group D presented greater changes in functional capacity and quality of life.(AU)

Writing in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases. Dos and Don'ts!

Too many articles are still rejected by scientific medical journals due to lack of preparation of the manuscript and of knowledge of the modern editorial rules that govern scientific medical writing. Therefore, the editorial board of the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Heads & Neck Diseases summarized studies published by its members since 2020 in the columns of the scientific journal of the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology and the International Francophone Society of Otorhinolaryngology and data from the PubMed indexed literature dedicated to scientific medical writing in otolaryngology in the 21st century. The authors hope that this review, in the form of a list of "Dos and Don'ts", will provide authors with a practical guide facilitating publication of rigorous, reproducible and transparent scientific studies, in accordance with the movement toward better science that society as a whole has been fighting for since the beginning of this century.

[Pulmonary rehabilitation effects in patients with COPD according to GOLD 2020 classification in Cali, Colombia]. / Efectos de la rehabilitación pulmonar en pacientes con EPOC según la clasificación GOLD 2020 en Cali, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has a guide in charge of prevention and treatment, called the Global Initiative for Chronic Lung Disease, which is annually updated and catalogs pulmonary rehabilitation, within the treatment options. OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects on clinical variables, functional capacity, anxiety/depression and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after a pulmonary rehabilitation program, according to the GOLD 2020 classification in a Cali clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive, longitudinal study where 79 patients divided into 3 groups were included (B, C and D). RESULTS: The mean age was 70 years, 69% men. The number of hospitalized days was greater for groups C and D with an average of 8 and 13 days, respectively (p≤0.000). The functional capacity showed a greater distance in group C (421m) and the shortest distance for group D (328m), p≤0.006. In anxiety and depression, group D managed to obtain improvements as well as in the quality of life questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Group C presented greater functional capacity and better quality of life, group B had better results in clinical variables, and group D had worse clinical condition, functional capacity and quality of life. At the end of pulmonary rehabilitation, group D presented greater changes in functional capacity and quality of life.

Regorafenib in patients with relapsed advanced or metastatic chordoma: results of a non-comparative, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase II study.

BACKGROUND: REGOBONE multicohort study explored the efficacy and safety of regorafenib for patients with advanced bone sarcomas; this report details the cohort of patients with relapsed advanced or metastatic chordoma. METHODS: Patients with relapsed chordoma progressing despite 0-2 prior lines of systemic therapy, were randomised (2 : 1) to receive regorafenib (160 mg/day, 21/28 days) or placebo. Patients on placebo could cross over to receive regorafenib after centrally-confirmed progression. The primary endpoint was the progression-free rate at 6 months (PFR-6) (by RECIST 1.1). With one-sided α of 0.05, and 80% power, at least 10/24 progression-free patients at 6 months (PFR-6) were needed for success. RESULTS: From March 2016 to February 2020, 27 patients were enrolled. A total of 23 patients were assessable for efficacy: 7 on placebo, 16 on regorafenib, 16 were men, median age was 66 (32-85) years. At 6 months, in the regorafenib arm, 1 patient was not assessable, 6/14 were non-progressive (PFR-6: 42.9%; one-sided 95% CI = 20.6) 3/14 discontinued regorafenib due to toxicity; and in the placebo arm, 2/5 patients were non-progressive (PFR-6: 40.0%; one-sided 95% CI = 7.6), 2 were non-assessable. Median progression-free survival was 8.2 months (95% CI 4.5-12.9 months) on regorafenib and 10.1 months (95% CI 0.8 months-non evaluable [NE]) on placebo. Median overall survival rates were 28.3 months (95% CI 14.8 months-NE) on regorafenib but not reached in placebo arm. Four placebo patients crossed over to receive regorafenib after centrally-confirmed progression. The most common grade ≥3 regorafenib-related adverse events were hand-foot skin reaction (22%), hypertension (22%), pain (22%), and diarrhoea (17%), with no toxic death. CONCLUSION: This study failed to show any signal of benefit for regorafenib in patients with advanced/metastatic recurrent chordoma.

Keys for successful publication in Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis: A STROBE analysis of peer reviews of articles submitted in 2020-2021.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate reviewing and editorial decision for articles submitted to the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of reviewers' comments on 1,133 scientific articles (700 original articles, 96 literature reviews, and 337 case reports), originating from 69 countries, consecutively submitted on-line between January 1st, 2020 and December 31st, 2021. The main objective was to document the acceptance rate and decision time. Accessory objectives were to synthesize the main comments and to screen for correlations between acceptance and the main characteristics of first authors, articles and reviewers' comments. RESULTS: In total, 4.1% of submitted articles were accepted. Median decision time differed significantly (P<0.0001), at 1 month in case of refusal and 4 months in case of acceptance. Reviewers mentioned failure to adhere to the journal's authors' guide, to use the appropriate EQUATOR guidelines and to adopt the recommended P<0.005 significance threshold in 94.8%, 54.2%, and 39.9% of cases, respectively. On multivariate analysis, 3 variables significantly impacted acceptance, which increased from 1.3% to 44.6% (P<0.0001) when an appropriate EQUATOR guideline was used and from 0.3% to 57.4% (P<0.0001) when the significance threshold was set at P<0.005, and decreased from 10.5% to 1.1% (P=0.0001) when the article did not originate from a French-speaking country (member of the Francophonie organization). CONCLUSION: Adhesion to modern scientific medical writing rules increased acceptance rates for articles in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases. Teaching modern scientific medical writing needs to be enhanced in otorhinolaryngology.

Micólogas en Chile: la desconocida historia de grandes científicas del siglo XX / Mycologists in Chile: the unknown story of great women scientists of the 20th century

La mayoría de las mujeres que realizan ciencia en Chile y en otros países, son mujeres invisibles para la sociedad. Muchas mujeres que realizaron grandes esfuerzos para estudiar una carrera científica a la que dedicaron toda su vida, son olvidadas al momento de su retiro o de su muerte. Esto incluye a micólogas que vivieron o estuvieron de paso en nuestro país en el siglo XX y que realizaron grandes aportes al conocimiento de esta disciplina, comúnmente conocida como el estudio de los hongos y de especies afines. En esta revisión bibliográfica, se dan a conocer algunos nombres de las micólogas o de científicas que contribuyeron de manera significativa al desarrollo de la Micología Chilena durante el siglo XX, época donde en nuestro país la Micología era más desarrollada por hombres que por mujeres. Gran parte de las micólogas que mencionamos han fallecido, pero no por ello debemos olvidar quiénes fueron, al contrario, es importante conocer su historia que podría ser inspiradora para las próximas generaciones de mujeres micólogas en nuestro país. (AU)

Noninvasive Follow-up Imaging of Ruptured Pediatric Brain AVMs Using Arterial Spin-Labeling.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain AVMs represent the main etiology of pediatric intracranial hemorrhage. Noninvasive imaging techniques to monitor the treatment effect of brain AVMs remain an unmet need. In a large cohort of pediatric ruptured brain AVMs, we aimed to investigate the role of arterial spin-labeling for the longitudinal follow-up during treatment and after complete obliteration by analyzing CBF variations across treatment sessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with ruptured brain AVMs referred to a pediatric quaternary care center were prospectively included in a registry that was retrospectively queried for children treated between 2011 and 2019 with unimodal or multimodal treatment (surgery, radiosurgery, embolization). We included children who underwent an arterial spin-labeling sequence before and after treatment and a follow-up DSA. CBF variations were analyzed in univariable analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-nine children with 105 distinct treatment sessions were included. The median CBF variation after treatment was -43 mL/100 mg/min (interquartile range, -102-5.5), significantly lower after complete nidal surgical resection. Following radiosurgery, patients who were healed on the last DSA follow-up demonstrated a greater CBF decrease on intercurrent MR imaging, compared with patients with a persisting shunt at last follow-up (mean, -62 [SD, 61] mL/100 mg/min versus -17 [SD, 40.1] mL/100 mg/min; P = .02). In children with obliterated AVMs, recurrences occurred in 12% and resulted in a constant increase in CBF (mean, +89 [SD, 77] mL/100 mg/min). CONCLUSIONS: Our results contribute data on the role of noninvasive arterial spin-labeling monitoring of the response to treatment or follow-up after obliteration of pediatric AVMs. Future research may help to better delineate how arterial spin-labeling can assist in decisions regarding the optimal timing for DSA.

Edge artificial intelligence wireless video capsule endoscopy.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, including colorectal cancer, which has shown a rising incidence among adults younger than 50. Although this could be alleviated by regular screening, only a small percentage of those at risk are screened comprehensively, due to shortcomings in accuracy and patient acceptance. To address these challenges, we designed an artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered wireless video endoscopic capsule that surpasses the performance of the existing solutions by featuring, among others: (1) real-time image processing using onboard deep neural networks (DNN), (2) enhanced visualization of the mucous layer by deploying both white-light and narrow-band imaging, (3) on-the-go task modification and DNN update using over-the-air-programming and (4) bi-directional communication with patient's personal electronic devices to report important findings. We tested our solution in an in vivo setting, by administrating our endoscopic capsule to a pig under general anesthesia. All novel features, successfully implemented on a single platform, were validated. Our study lays the groundwork for clinically implementing a new generation of endoscopic capsules, which will significantly improve early diagnosis of upper and lower GI tract diseases.

Validation of a French version of the Sunnybrook facial grading system.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to translate the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System and its specific criteria into French and validate its use by French-speaking physicians for facial palsy evaluation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The original English version of the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System and its specific criteria was translated into French according to international standards. Twenty videos of patients with a wide range of facial palsy in terms of duration and severity were independently rated, twice each, by 6 physicians with varied experience in facial palsy care. Internal consistency and intra- and inter-rater reliability were analyzed. RESULTS: The French version of Sunnybrook Facial Grading System and its specific criteria both showed good internal consistency, with Cronbach alpha of 0.84 and 0.86 respectively. Inter-rater reliability was excellent in both sessions for the composite score, the score of symmetry at rest and during voluntary movement and synkinesis: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between 0.77 and 0.98. Intra-rater reproducibility on the composite score and subscores was also excellent and comparable for expert, experienced and novice physicians, with an average ICC of 0.95. CONCLUSION: The French version of the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System and its specific criteria is reliable, reproducible and easy to use by French-speaking teams for facial palsy evaluation.

Analysis of a Fast Control Allocation approach for nonlinear over-actuated systems.

Autonomous Robots with multiple directional thrusters are normally over-actuated systems that require nonlinear control allocation methods to map the forces that drive the robot's dynamics and act as virtual control variables to the actuators. This process demands computational efforts that, sometimes, are not available in small robotic platforms. The present paper introduces a new control allocation approach with fast convergence, high accuracy, and dealing with complex nonlinear problems, especially in embedded systems. The adopted approach divides the desired nonlinear system into coupled linear problems. For that purpose, the Real Actions (RAs) and Virtual Control Variables (VCVs) are broke in two or more sets each. While the RA subsets are designed to linearize the system according to different input subspaces, the VCV is designed to be partially coupled to overlap the output subspaces. This approach generates smaller linear systems with fast and robust convergence used sequentially to solve nonlinear allocation problems. This methodology is assessed in mathematical tutorial cases and over-actuated UAV simulations.

Comparison of water vapor thermal therapy and prostate artery embolization for fragile patients with indwelling urinary catheters: Preliminary results from a multi-institutional study.

PURPOSE: To report our preliminary experience with water vapor thermal therapy with the Rezum™ System and Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) for treatment of medically refractory, complete urinary retention to achieve successful cessation of catheter dependency in frail-patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional study was conducted including all patients who underwent Rezum™ procedure and PAE between October 2017 and June 2020. The included population focused on frail-patients unsuitable for conventional surgery with complete urinary retention. Rezum™ patients were identified and matched (1:1) with patients who underwent PAE. The matching criteria were age, Charlson score, prostate volume and duration of follow-up. The primary outcome was catheter-free survival, defined as spontaneous voiding and release from catheter dependence. RESULTS: Eleven patients from the Rezum™ group were matched to 11 embolized patients. PAE and Rezum™ patients were comparable in age (median: 77 vs. 75 years), Charlson score (median: 6 vs. 6) and prostate volume (74 vs. 60 cc). Procedures were significantly longer in the PAE group compared to the Rezum™ procedures (median: 148 vs. 8min, P<0.001). After a median follow-up of 12 months, spontaneous voiding was conserved in all cases (100%) after the Rezum™ procedure and in 5 cases (45.4%) after PAE (P=0.01). In catheter-free patients, the rate of benign prostatic hyperplasia medication use after procedure was 40% for PAE and 18.2% for Rezum™ patients (P=0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience for treatment of complete urinary retention in frail-patients shows the feasibility of PAE and Rezum™ to restore spontaneous urination without being associated with the occurrence of major complications. Early data suggests that Rezum™ may provide superior results in terms of cessation of catheter dependence. Future studies are needed to definitively assess which treatment would be best suited for each patient. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

[The experience of medical students as peer tutors]. / Rol de tutor par: experiencia de estudiantes de medicina.

BACKGROUND: Peer tutoring is a process of accompaniment carried out by a student with certain features and skills, whose objective is to support and guide, academically and emotionally, other students who may require it. AIM: To assess the experience of medical students who played the role of peer tutor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out semi-structured in-depth interviews, with prior informed consent, to a non-probabilistic and intentional sample of six students who performed the role of peer tutor, during 2017 and 2018. The data analysis followed the scheme of constant comparison and progressive reduction in a manual way, according to the comparative method, guaranteeing scientific rigor, maintaining criteria of credibility, dependence, confirmability, and transferability. RESULTS: The first level identified 234 units of meaning that originated in the third level, two qualitative domains, oriented to the contribution of peer tutors derived from their experience to strengthen both the process of peer tutor training and the management of peer tutoring. CONCLUSIONS: Peer tutoring as a teaching-learning strategy contributes to the development of generic competences and metacognitive skills, generating high levels of personal satisfaction and identification their teaching role.

Rol de tutor par: experiencia de estudiantes de medicina / The experience of medical students as peer tutors

Background: Peer tutoring is a process of accompaniment carried out by a student with certain features and skills, whose objective is to support and guide, academically and emotionally, other students who may require it. Aim: To assess the experience of medical students who played the role of peer tutor. Material and Methods: We carried out semi-structured in-depth interviews, with prior informed consent, to a non-probabilistic and intentional sample of six students who performed the role of peer tutor, during 2017 and 2018. The data analysis followed the scheme of constant comparison and progressive reduction in a manual way, according to the comparative method, guaranteeing scientific rigor, maintaining criteria of credibility, dependence, confirmability, and transferability. Results: The first level identified 234 units of meaning that originated in the third level, two qualitative domains, oriented to the contribution of peer tutors derived from their experience to strengthen both the process of peer tutor training and the management of peer tutoring. Conclusions: Peer tutoring as a teaching-learning strategy contributes to the development of generic competences and metacognitive skills, generating high levels of personal satisfaction and identification their teaching role.

Effects of azacitidine in 93 patients with IDH1/2 mutated acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndromes: a French retrospective multicenter study.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and 2 (IDH2) mutations in Myeloid Neoplams (MNs) exhibit DNA hypermethylation via 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) over-production. Clinical impact of azacitidine (AZA) remains inconsistent in IDH1/2-mutated MNs and the potential of serum 2HG as a suitable marker of response to AZA is unknown. To address these questions, we retrospectively analyzed 93 MNs patients (78 AML, 11 MDS, 4 CMML) with IDH1/2 mutations treated with AZA. After a median of 5 cycles of AZA, overall response rate was 28% (including 15% complete remission) and median OS was 12.3 months (significantly shorter in AML compared to MDS/CMML patients). In multivariate analysis of AML patients, DNMT3A mutation was associated with shorter OS while IDH1/2 mutation subtypes had no independent impact. No difference was observed in serum 2HG levels upon AZA treatment between responding and refractory patients suggesting that serum 2HG cannot be used as a surrogate marker of AZA response.

Immediate preoperative renal artery embolization in the resection of complex renal tumors (UroCCR-48 Reinbol study).

PURPOSE: We evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of immediate preoperative renal artery embolization (IPRAE) before complex nephrectomy for locally advanced RCC ± inferior vena cava thrombus (IVCT). METHODS: A comparative retrospective (2007-2017) multicenter study which included 145 patients with locally advanced RCC ± IVCT: 99 radical nephrectomies vs. 46 radical nephrectomies with IPRAE identified in the prospective UroCCR national database (CNIL DR 2013-206; NCT03293563). IPRAE was performed under local anesthesia the day of nephrectomy (< 4 h prior to nephrectomy). The primary endpoint was peroperative blood loss (mL). Secondary outcomes were: tolerance of embolization (pain visual scale), success rate of IPRAE defined by complete devascularization of the kidney, perioperative complications according to Clavien score and postoperative GFR. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of IPRAE and the control groups were similar. Tumor staging was 14% T2b, 41% T3a, 27% T3b, 13% T3c, 6% T4. The success rate of IPRAE was 98%. Median artery embolizated per patient was 2 (Agochukwu and Shuch in World J Urol 32:581-589, 2014; Marshall et al. in J Urol 139:1166-1172, 1988; Yap et al. in BJU Int 110:1283-1288, 2012;Gill et al. in J Urol. 194:929-938, 2015; Wang et al. in Eur Urol 69:1112-1119, 2016). No severe complications occurred after IPRAE. Postembolization syndrome was reported in 7% (Clavien I-II). Mean peroperative blood losses in the IPRAE and control groups were: 726 ± 118 ml and 1083 ± 114 ml (P = 0.03). In a multivariate analysis that included: age, Karnofsky index, IPRAE (yes vs. no), IVCT (yes vs. no), tumor size and synchronous metastasis, no IPRAE and IVCT were significantly associated with increased peroperative bleeding. CONCLUSION: IPRAE before nephrectomy for locally advanced and/or IVCT tumors was well tolerated, was associated with lower peroperative bleeding and did not increase the incidence or severity of postoperative complications.

Statistics in scientific articles published in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate biostatistics in scientific articles published in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 76 scientific articles published in 2018 and 2019. The main goal was to describe the percentage of articles using biostatistics and to explore for potential associations with the article's main characteristics. Secondary goals were, within the group of articles using statistical tests, to describe the type of statistics used, the assessment of normality in case of comparison of mean values, the p-value threshold for significance, the use of confidence intervals, and power analysis. RESULTS: Statistics were used in 73.7% of articles, without any significant association with main characteristics. Within the group of articles using statistics, the tests used were parametric, non-parametric and not specified in 77.7%, 51.4% and 1.8% of cases, respectively. Normality was checked in 14.2% of article using parametric tests to evaluate mean values. The p-value significance threshold was set at .05, .01, .005 levels and not defined in 60.7%, 1.8%, 1.8% and 35.7% of articles, respectively, while confidence intervals and power analyses were documented in 10.7% and 5.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This article underlines the need for better use of statistics in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases, to improve the quality of scientific articles published in the organ of written expression of the French and International French-speaking Societies of Otorhinolaryngology, and to support the ongoing move toward better medical science.

Musical Ear Syndrome: Prevalence and characteristics in cochlear implant bearers.

INTRODUCTION: Musical Ear Syndrome (MES) is an uncommon phenomenon described as the perception of auditory musical sensations not corresponding to any external stimulus. It seems to be more frequent in case of profound hearing loss. Our objective was to evaluate prevalence, characteristics and risk factors in a population of cochlear implant patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in cochlear implant patients, who were adult (>18 years) in 2020 and underwent cochlear implantation between 1993 and 2019. We analyzed the presence and characteristics of MES. RESULTS: 118 of the 358 patients (33%) perceived or had perceived auditory musical sensations: 71 (19.8%) before, 100 (28%) after, and 53 (14.8%) both before and after implantation. The musical auditory sensations were usually short and well-tolerated, resembling instrumental music, and occurring several times a day. Thirteen patients (11%) considered them intolerable. Fatigue was a triggering factor in 40 patients (33.9%). Personal and medical characteristics, type of implantation, make of implant, etiology and tinnitus did not emerge as risk factors. On the other hand, MES+ patients were significatively younger (56±17.4 years versus 61.9±17.9 years; P=0.0009). Despite the phenomenon, patients were satisfied with implant functioning and subjective auditory performance was not affected. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of Musical Ear Syndrome was high in cochlear implant patients, and especially in younger subjects. It is essential to improve knowledge of this phenomenon.

Fenofibrate treatment for severe hypertriglyceridemia in dogs.

Lipid disorders are relatively common in dogs. Hyperlipidemia can be primary or secondary to other diseases. In humans, fenofibrate is used to control hypertriglyceridemia. In dogs, there are no studies evaluating fenofibrate in hypertriglyceridemia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fenofibrate to control severe hypertriglyceridemia in dogs. A total of 124 dogs (n = 124) with severe hypertriglyceridemia (>300 mg/dL, 3.39 mmol/L) were randomly distributed in the fenofibrate group (n = 64) and the diet group (n = 60). Dogs of the fenofibrate group were treated with fenofibrate (10 mg/Kg) once daily. Dogs of the diet group were treated with low-fat diet (10%). Serum triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), liver enzymes, and creatine kinase concentrations were evaluated, before and after 1 mo of medical or dietary treatment. Triglyceride concentrations were reduced with fenofibrate (P < 0.001), and 85.93% of the dogs normalized their levels. Triglyceride concentrations also decreased with low-fat diet (P < 0.001), but only 26.6% of the dogs normalized their levels. Triglyceride concentrations were reduced with fenofibrate (P < 0.01) and with low-fat diet (P < 0.01). Of the cases with hypercholesterolemia, 53.7% and 50% of the dogs normalized their TC concentrations, with fenofibrate and diet, respectively. No significant adverse effects were observed (3% showed diarrhea). Fenofibrate was safe and effective in reducing and normalizing TG concentrations in dogs with severe hypertriglyceridemia, regardless of the cause of hyperlipidemia. The low-fat diet was effective in reducing, but not normalizing, TG concentrations. Fenofibrate and low-fat diet were effective in reducing TC concentrations. This is the first study evaluating fibrates in dogs with severe hypertriglyceridemia and comparing results with a low-fat diet.