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Objectives: The aims of the second part of this retrospective multicentre study were to describe the surgical techniques used in the treatment of common calcaneal tendon (CCT) injuries, and evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes and complications. Methods: The medical records of five different small animal referral centres and veterinary teaching hospitals between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. Surgical vs conservative treatment was evaluated. Treatment type, type of postoperative immobilisation, and short- and long-term outcomes and complications were recorded. Minor complications were defined as not requiring surgical intervention. Long-term outcome was evaluated by an owner questionnaire. Results: Sixty-six cats met the inclusion criteria. Mean time to surgery was 9.6 days (range 0–185). Most cats (83.3%) were treated surgically. Regardless of treatment modality, all limbs were immobilised for a mean time of 48.2 days (range 2–98). For 63 cats that had the temporary tarsal joint immobilisation technique recorded, a transarticular external skeletal fixator (ESF; 57.1%) or a calcaneotibial screw (33.3%) were used most commonly. The method of immobilisation had a notable, although non-significant, influence on the occurrence of short-term complications, with most complications being reported for the transarticular ESF group. The total short-term complication rate was 41.3%, the minor complication rate was 33.3% and the major complication rate was 7.9%, with pin tract infections being the most commonly occurring minor complication. Three cats (6%) had a total of four major complications over the long term. Most cats (86%) were free of lameness at the long-term evaluation, with an overall successful clinical long-term outcome of 84.9%, according to the owner questionnaire. Cats with traumatic injuries and injuries treated surgically had higher questionnaire scores than those with atraumatic injuries and those treated conservatively. Conclusions and relevance: Outcome was generally good in cats with CCT injury, irrespective of the type of treatment. Complications included a high proportion of minor complications associated with the technique of tarsal joint immobilisation. ESF frames were more commonly involved in complications than other techniques. Surgically treated cats had a slightly better long-term outcomes.

Synopsis of patient data, injury specifications, therapy and outcome in 66 cats

Owner questionnaire

Objectives: The objective of the first part of this retrospective multicentre study was to identify and classify common calcaneal tendon (CCT) injuries in a study population of 66 cats. Methods: The medical records of five different small animal referral centres and veterinary teaching hospitals between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. In addition to patient-specific data, CCT injuries were characterised in detail. Diagnostic modalities and further comorbidities were recorded. Results: Sixty-six cats met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the cats was 7.5 years (range 0.5–16.3) and their mean body weight (BW) was 4.6 kg (range 1.5–9.0). Thirty-four spayed females (51.5%), five intact females (7.6%) and 27 castrated males (40.9%) were included. Most cases involved closed injuries of the CCT (69.7%). Twenty-one of 46 cats had closed atraumatic injuries (45.7%). Open injuries (30.3%) were most commonly lacerations (65%). Twenty-one injuries were classified as atraumatic (31.8%), whereas 25 were traumatic (37.9%). With every year of age, the odds of having an atraumatic injury increased by a factor of 1.021. Cats with atraumatic injuries had a higher mean BW than cats with traumatic injuries, but the difference was not statistically significant. Acute injuries were recorded in 40.9% of cases, whereas 51.5% of cats had a subacute CCT injury and 7.6% had chronic lesions. Most acute lesions were Meutstege type I injuries (55.6%). Subacute and chronic lesions were more commonly Meutstege type IIc injuries (58.8% and 60%, respectively). Considering all CCT injuries, a Meutstege type IIc injury was most common (53%). Conclusions and relevance: The most common type of injury was Meutstege type IIc. Cats with atraumatic injuries had a higher mean BW than cats with traumatic injuries, but the difference was not statistically significant. Older cats more commonly presented with atraumatic CCT injuries.

We study the discursive resonance of online climate skepticism in traditional media in Germany, a country where climate skeptics lack public prestige and thus form a political counter-movement. We thereby differentiate two temporal dynamics: resonance can be continuous or selective, based on the exploitation of specific events. Beyond, we test whether such resonance is higher within the conservative media. We rely on news value theory to shed light on the mechanism facilitating or hindering such resonance and identify three indicators for resonance: frames, positions and actors. Using various computational methods as well as qualitative case studies, we examine the skeptical and traditional media discourses over a period of two years. Our analysis shows that there is no continuous resonance. However, our data reveal selective resonance: skeptics’ manage to exploit specific events pushing their frames and positions onto traditional media’s agenda. Thereby, conservative media did not give greater resonance to climate skeptical voices whereas they resort to downplaying the issue by allocating less space to it.

Supplemental material, Online_appendix_16.5 for Coalitions and counter-coalitions in online contestation: An analysis of the German and British climate change debate by Silke Adam, Thomas Häussler, Hannah Schmid-Petri and Ueli Reber in New Media & Society

We examine how the political context in which actors are embedded relates to their online communication. We argue that the degree of contentiousness of an issue (high vs. low conflict) is a decisive factor in explaining the distinct network structures generated by the actors’ hyperlink patterns. Comparing two such networks originating in the United States and Germany in the area of clilmate change, we found systematic differences between them that result in distinct political hyperlink topologies, which reflect the underlying issue context. These differences become visible in the reciprocity of the actors’ hyperlink communication, the fragmentation of the networks along the political divide, the recognition issue opponents receive from the media, and the transnational orientation of climate advocates and skeptics. This research implies that hyperlink communication is responsive to the political context, and that countermovements, in particular, manage to reap the benefits from online communication mobilization efforts.

In a female dog with unspecific clinical symptoms, sonography detected a hyperechoic mass in the middle abdomen and blood analysis a middle grade systemic inflammatory reaction. Laparotomy revealed a peritoneal larval cestodosis (PLC). The diagnosis of an infection with tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides spp. was confirmed by parasitological examination and molecularbiological analysis. Reduction of the intra-abdominal parasitic load as well as a high dose administration of fenbendazole over 3 months led to a successful treatment which could be documented sonographically and by decreased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). Seven months after discontinuation of fenbendazole administration, PLC recurred, pre-empted by an elevation of serum CRP values. According to the literature a life-long fenbendazole treatment was initiated. In cases of unclear chronic granulomatous inflammations in the abdominal cavity in dogs, PLC should be considered. CRP concentration and sonographic examinations are suitable to control for treatment success and a possibly occurring relapse.

Neoplasien der Hypophyse verursachen bei Katzen verschiedene Krankheitsbilder. Unter anderem Akromegalie oder Morbus Cushing. Eine Folge ist nicht selten ein therapieresistenter Diabetes mellitus. Sowohl die medikamentelle Therapie als auch die Bestrahlungstherapie sind nicht immer überzeugend, sodass die chirurgische Entfernung der Hypophyse das Mittel der Wahl ist, um Neoplasien der Hypophyse zu behandeln. Die Hypophysektomie birgt viele Risiken. So kann es beispielsweise zu lebensbedrohlichen Blutungen kommen, die nicht immer kontrolliert werden können. Mit der Kryohypophysektomie könnte neoplastisch entartetes Hypophysengewebe zerstört werden, ohne die Risiken der konventionellen Hypophysektomie einzugehen. Problematisch ist jedoch die Kontrolle der Kryoläsion. Wenn nicht exorbitant teure Methoden wie beispielsweise eine MRT-kontrollierte kryochirurgische Einheit zu Verfügung steht, bleibt als einziges Mittel die Zeitmessung, um die Kryoläsion zu definieren. Zwei Studien berichten von annähernd konstanten Hypophysengrößen bei Katzen. Ob dies jedoch für alle Katzenrassen gilt, ist bisher nicht untersucht. So soll in dieser Studie die Hypophysengröße von normozephalen und brachyzephalen Katzen untersucht und verglichen werden. Weiterhin soll der allometrische Zusammenhang zwischen Alter, Körpermasse und Gehirnmaßen mit den Hypophysenmaßen untersucht werden und ein möglicher Einfluss des Geschlechts- und Kastrationsstatus ermittelt werden. Die Vermessung der Hypophysen erfolgt an sagittalen und transversalen MRT Bildern. Die MRT Bilder werden retrospektiv ausgewertet und wurden alle im Klinikum Veterinärmedizin der Klinik für Kleintiere (Chirurgie) der Justus-Liebig-Universität in Gießen angefertigt. Die Vermessung der Hypophysen erfolgt mit dem Programm OsiriX Imaging Software, Advanced open- Source PACS Workstation, DICOM Viewer. Es werden insgesamt n = 32 brachyzepha-le Katzen und n = 27 normozephale Katzen ausgewertet. Anhand der transversalen Bilder wird die Hypophysenhöhe und –breite sowie die Gehirnhöhe und –breite bestimmt. Die Hypophysenlänge und –höhe sowie die Gehirnlänge wird mit Hilfe der sagittalen Aufnahmen ermittelt. Die mittleren Hypophysenmaße bei den brachyzephalen Katzen lauten für HypHs 2,15 ± 0,15 mm, HypHt 2,42 ± 0,21 mm, HypBt 4,44 ± 0,27 mm und HypLs 3,14 ± 0,30 mm. Bei den normozephalen Katzen lauten die mittleren Hypophysenmaße für HypHs 2,94 ± 0,16 mm, HypHt 3,09 ± 0,26 mm, HypBt 4,73 ± 0,31 mm und HypLs 4,88 ± 0,30 mm. Es zeigt sich ein statistisch hochsignifikanter Einfluss der Kopfform (brachy- versus normozephal) auf die Hypophysenhöhe und –länge (p < 0,0001). In Bezug auf die Hypophysenbreite wird nur unter bestimmten Konstellationen der Kovariablen ein statistisch signifikanter oder auffälliger Einfluss der Kopfform ermittelt. In jedem Fall kann der Einfluss statistisch jedoch nicht gesichert werden. Das Geschlecht zeigt in der brachyzephalen Gruppe einen statistisch signifikanten Einfluss auf die Hypophysenbreite (p = 0,022 bzw. p = 0,012, abhängig von den Kovariablen) und bei den normozephalen und brachyzephalen Katzen gemeinsam betrachtet einen statistisch signifikanten bzw. auffälligen Einfluss auf die Hypophysenbreite (p = 0,015 bzw. p = 0,066, abhängig von den Kovariablen). Männliche Tiere zeigen eine breitere Hypophyse als weibliche. Der Kastrationsstatus zeigt statistisch keinen Einfluss auf die Hypophysengröße. Aufgrund der vorliegenden Datenstruktur kann der allometrische Zusammenhang zwischen Alter, Körpermasse und Hypophysengröße nicht gesichert werden. In der homogener aufgestellten brachyzephalen Population zeigt sich aber ein statistisch signifikanter Einfluss des Alters auf alle drei Hypophysenmaße (HypHs: p = 0,011; HypBt: p = 0,034; HypLs: p = 0,022), was einen allometrischen Zusammenhang zwischen Alter und Hypophysengröße nahelegt. Insgesamt kann bei brachyzephalen im Vergleich zu normorzephalen Katzen von einer kleineren Hypophyse ausgegangen werden. Dieser Umstand muss bei einem kryochirurgischen Eingriff unter allen Umständen berücksichtigt werden. Da die Hypophysenmaße auch bei normozephalen Katzen Schwankungen aufweisen, ist vor einer Operation eine genaue Vermessung der Hypophyse mittels MRT Untersuchung unabdingbar. Es müssen noch weitere Untersuchungen zum Kälteverhalten der Hypophyse bzw. Neoplasien der Hypophyse erfolgen, bevor an eine Etablierung der Kryohypophysektomie bei der Katze gedacht werden kann. Dennoch birgt diese Behandlungsmethode aufgrund zahlreicher Vorteile gegenüber der konventionellen chirurgischen Methode großes Potential. Pituitary neoplasias produce various disorders in cats including Acromegaly and Cushing’s syndrome. As a consequence these cats frequently suffer from therapy-resistant diabetes mellitus. Medication and radiation therapy are not satisfying with the result that hypophysec-tomy is considered treatment of choice for pituitary neoplasias. Nevertheless hypophysectomy bares many risks as uncontrollable hemorrhage. With the help of cryosurgery neoplastic tissue could be destroyed without taking risks of surgical hypophysectomy. However the most important problem is to control the expansion of the cryolesion. There are methods like MRI-controlled cryosurgical units with exorbitant costs. It seems more reasonable to determine the transduction time of the temperature to predict the extent of the cryolesion. There are two studies claiming almost constant pituitary sizes but considering different cat breeds these results should be quenstioned because brachycephalic cats evidently show a smaller cranial cavity. In this study the hypophyseal size range of brachycephalic and normocephalic cat breeds are investigated using magnetic resonance imaging and compared to each other. A further objective of this study was to investigate a possible allometric correlation between age, body weight, brain size and the size of the pituitary gland and if sex and neutering-status show an influence on hypophyseal measurements. The pituitary gland is measured from sagittal and transverse MRI images. All images are evaluated retrospectively and are acquired in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinic for Small Animals, Surgery, Justis-Liebig-University Giessen. Measurements are performed using Osirix Imaging Software, Advanced open-Spource PACS Workstation, DICOM Viewer. n = 32 brachycephalic and n = 27 normocephalic cats are included in this study. pituitary gland height and width as well as brain height and width are measured in transverse images and pituitary gland length and height as well as brain length are measured in sagittal images. Mean pituitary gland measurements in brachycephalic cats are for HypHs 2,15 ± 0,15 mm, HypHt 2,42 ± 0,21 mm, HypBt 4,44 ± 0,27 mm and HypLs 3,14 ± 0,30 mm. In normocephalic cats pituitary gland measurements are as followed: HypHs 2,94 ± 0,16 mm, HypHt 3,09 ± 0,26 mm, HypBt 4,73 ± 0,31 mm und HypLs 4,88 ± 0,30 mm. There is a high significant correlation between cranial shape (brachycephalic vs. cormocephalic) and pituitary gland height and length (p < 0,0001). Only with specific set-up of the covariates there is a significant or remarkable correlation between cranial shape and pituitary gland width. Though in each instance this correlation could not be verified. Sex has a significant influence on pituitary gland width in brachycephalic cats (p = 0,022 resp. p = 0,012, depending on covariates) and considering normo- and brachycephalic cats there is a significant or remarkable correlation between sex and pituitary gland width (p = 0,015 resp. p = 0,066, depending on covariates). Male cats show a greater pituitary gland width than female cats. Neutering-status shows no significant influence on hypophyseal measurements. Due to available data an allometric correlation between age, body weight and pituitary gland size cannot be deter-mined. Nevertheless age shows a significant influence on pituitary gland height, width and length in the more homogenous brachycephalic group which indicates an allometric correlation between age and pituitary gland size. Alltogether in this study brachycephalic cats show smaller pituitary glands than normocephalic cats. This circumstance has to considered if cryohypophysectomy comes into quenstion. Because there are ranges in pituitary gland sizes even in the normocephalic cat population exact measuring of the pituitary gland is crucial before a cryosurgical intervention. There is still lack of studies about cryosurgical properties of pituitary gland tissue and neoplasias of the pituitary gland. Even so this treatment option bearing considerable advantages compared to the conventional surgical method has great potential.