Organic carbon accumulation in British saltmarshes.

Saltmarshes are a crucial component of the coastal carbon (C) system and provide a natural climate regulation service through the accumulation and long-term storage of organic carbon (OC) in their soils. These coastal ecosystems are under growing pressure from a changing climate and increasing anthropogenic disturbance. To manage and protect these ecosystems for C and to allow their inclusion in emissions and natural-capital accounting, as well as carbon markets, accurate and reliable estimates of OC accumulation are required. However, globally, such data are rare or of varying quality. Here, we quantify sedimentation rates and OC densities for 21 saltmarshes in Great Britain (GB). We estimate that, on average, saltmarshes accumulate OC at a rate of 110.88 ± 43.12 g C m-2 yr-1. This is considerably less than widely applied global saltmarsh averages. It is therefore highly likely that the contribution of northern European saltmarshes to global saltmarsh OC accumulation has been significantly overestimated. Taking account of the climatic, geomorphological, oceanographic, and ecological characteristics of all GB saltmarshes and the areal extent of different saltmarsh zones, we estimate that the 451.65 km2 of GB saltmarsh accumulates 46,563 ± 4353 t of OC annually. These low OC accumulation rates underline the importance of the 5.20 ± 0.65 million tonnes of OC already stored in these vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Going forward the protection and preservation of the existing stores of OC in GB saltmarshes must be a priority for the UK as this will provide climate benefits through avoided emissions several times more significant than the annual accumulation of OC in these ecosystems.

Prognostic indicators in dogs with intra-hepatic portal hypertension.

Objectives: The primary goals of this retrospective study were to describe a population of dogs with portal hypertension secondary to liver disease, and to assess whether prognosis could be inferred from historical, clinical, and clinicopathological data. Animals and procedures: Dogs (N = 76) diagnosed with intrahepatic portal hypertension between 2011 and 2020 were included; dogs with known congenital hepatic anomalies were excluded. Effect on survival was assessed using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models for historical, clinical, and clinicopathological variables. Results: Dogs survived for a median of 14 d (range: 0 to 2028 d), with 31.6% being euthanized within 2 d of diagnosis and 23.7% surviving longer than 2 mo. Presence of jaundice and duration of clinical signs, expressed in days, were significantly associated with outcome in the univariable analysis (HR = 1.846, 95% CI: 1.094 to 3.117, P = 0.02; HR = 0.995, 95% CI: 0.990 to 1.000, P = 0.033, respectively). However, only presence of jaundice was significantly associated with increased hazard of death in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion: Results of this study show that portal hypertension is associated with a poor prognosis; however, some dogs can show prolonged survival. Clinical relevance: Clinical data can guide decision-making for clinicians and owners.

Indicateurs pronostiques chez les chiens atteints d'hypertension portale intra-hépatique. Objectifs: Les principaux objectifs de cette étude rétrospective étaient de décrire une population de chiens souffrant d'hypertension portale secondaire à une maladie hépatique et d'évaluer si le pronostic pouvait être déduit à partir de données historiques, cliniques et clinicopathologiques. Animaux et procédures: Les chiens (N = 76) diagnostiqués avec une hypertension portale intrahépatique entre 2011 et 2020 ont été inclus; les chiens présentant des anomalies hépatiques congénitales connues ont été exclus. L'effet sur la survie a été évalué à l'aide de modèles de risques proportionnels de Cox univariés et multivariés pour les variables historiques, cliniques et clinicopathologiques. Résultats: Les chiens ont survécu pendant une durée médiane de 14 jours (intervalle : 0 à 2028 jours), 31,6 % ayant été euthanasiés dans les 2 jours suivant le diagnostic et 23,7 % ayant survécu plus de 2 mois. La présence d'ictère et la durée des signes cliniques, exprimées en jours, étaient significativement associées au résultat de l'analyse univariée (HR = 1,846, IC à 95 % : 1,094 à 3,117, P = 0,02; HR = 0,995, IC à 95 % : 0,990 à 1,000, P = 0,033, respectivement). Cependant, seule la présence d'ictère était significativement associée à un risque accru de décès dans l'analyse multivariée. Conclusion: Les résultats de cette étude montrent que l'hypertension portale est associée à un mauvais pronostic; cependant, certains chiens peuvent montrer une survie prolongée. Pertinence clinique: Les données cliniques peuvent guider la prise de décision des cliniciens et des propriétaires.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Uterine horn torsion in a non-gravid cat.

An 11-year-old female domestic shorthair cat with a previous history of having been spayed, presented with signs of abdominal distension, lethargy and anorexia of 1 week's duration. On the basis of radiological and ultrasonographic findings a tentative diagnosis of pyometra was made. Exploratory coeliotomy revealed a 900 degrees left horn uterine torsion along the longitudinal axis. Ovariohysterectomy was performed without correction of the torsion. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case report of uterine torsion in a non-gravid cat.