A survey investigating owner perceptions and management of firework-associated fear in dogs in the Greater Sydney area.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of firework-associated fear in dogs in Sydney, owner perception of their dog's response to fireworks, perceived efficacy of interventions to manage fearful behaviours and the frequency of dog owners seeking professional advice for these behaviours. METHODS: Dog owners in the Greater Sydney area were invited to complete an anonymous online survey. RESULTS: From 387 valid responses, 44.4% (171 of 385) reported their dogs were fearful of fireworks. The most common fear-related behaviour was seeking an owner or caretaker (120 of 161, 74.5%). Most owners responded by bringing their dog inside or trying to comfort or reassure their dog. Only 22.5% of owners sought professional advice for their dog's fear of fireworks, but of these, 65.5% considered that advice to be effective. Source and breed group were significantly associated with fear of fireworks (P = 0.011, P = 0.036 respectively). Fear of fireworks was also significantly associated with fear of thunder (P < 0.0001), gunshots (P < 0.0001) and vehicles (P = 0.0009). CONCLUSION: Fear of fireworks and other loud noises negatively impacts canine welfare, yet only a small percentage of owners sought professional advice. There is scope for veterinarians to educate owners and raise awareness about the identification and management of noise-associated fear and reduce the risk of escalation of fearful behaviours.

Follow-up of women with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ treated by conization: A single centre clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE: Hysterectomy has been the historical gold standard final step in the treatment algorithm of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) recommended by most North American colposcopy guidelines. AIS disproportionately affects young childbearing age women, therefore a fertility sparing treatment option is desirable. Our study examines the impact of conservative treatment of AIS with conization followed by serial surveillance. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed of patients treated for AIS from 2006 to 2020. Charts were identified by pathologic diagnosis of AIS on cervical and uterine specimens. Charts were excluded if AIS was not treated with conization, if AIS was not confirmed on initial conization specimen, or if invasive disease was found at initial conization. RESULTS: 121 patient charts were analyzed. Median age of patients at first conization and hysterectomy was 34.8 and 40.9, respectively. First conization was by Cold Knife Cone in 58% of patients, and by Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure in 42% of patients. Median follow-up period in our study was 609 days. 5% of patients had recurrence, with only one patient who recurred as cancer. One case of recurrence had a positive initial conization margin. Median time to recurrence was 700 days. 47% of patients underwent eventual hysterectomy. Residual AIS was found in 23% of hysterectomy specimens. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on hysterectomy specimen in four patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the oncologic safety of treating AIS with conization and serial surveillance. Routine hysterectomy completed as a part of the AIS treatment algorithm, as in current clinical guidelines, is unnecessary.

An antifungal Property of Crude Plant Extracts from Anogeissus Leiocarpus and Terminalia Avicennioides

Chloroform, ethanolic, methanolic, ethyl acetate and aqueous root extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Terminalia avicennioides were investigated in vitro for antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium species, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton rubrum using radial growth technique. The plant extracts inhibited the growth of all the test organisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged between 0.03µg/ml and 0.07µg/ml while the minimum fungicidal concentration ranged between 0.04µg/ml and 0.08µg/ml. Anogeissus leiocarpus appears to be more effective as an antifungal agent than Terminalia avicennioides. Ethanolic extracts of the two plant roots were more effective than the methanolic, chloroform, or aqueous extracts against all the test fungi

The development of the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) and its use among primary-care attenders with common mental disorders

BACKGROUND: Recent anthropological studies have documented the importance of understanding the relation of culture to the experience of mental illness. The use of interviews that elicit explanatory models has facilitated such research, but currently available interviews are lengthy and impractical for epidemiological studies. This paper is a preliminary report on the development of a brief instrument to elicit explanatory models for use in field work. METHOD: The development of the SEMI, a short interview to elicit explanatory models is described. The interview explores the subject's cultural background, nature of presenting problem, help-seeking behaviour, interaction with physician/healer and beliefs related to mental illness. RESULTS: The SEMI was employed to study the explanatory models of subjects with common mental disorders among Whites, African-Caribbean and Asians living in London and was also used in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from its use in four different ethnic groups is presented with the aim of demonstrating its capacity to show up differences in these varied settings. CONCLUSIONS: The simplicity and brevity of the SEMI allow for its use in field studies in different cultures, data can be used to provide variables for use in quantitative analysis and provide qualitative descriptions.(Au)