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Background: Chronic cancer-related fatigue is difficult to manage in breast cancer survivors. The tango trial showed that a six-week tango Argentino program was effective in reducing fatigue and improving quality of life, and here we investigated the sustainability of this tango program for breast cancer survivors., Methods: Stage I-III breast cancer survivors with increased fatigue symptoms were analyzed. The fifty participants in the tango trial were compared with a control cohort ( n = 108) who did not participate in the tango program. Using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire C30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and the German version of the cancer fatigue scale (CFS-D) self-reported quality of life parameters were assessed and longitudinal changes, correlations, and association factors were calculated., Results: Significant improvements in fatigue ( p = 0.006), physical functioning ( p = 0.01), and diarrhea ( p = 0.04) persisted in the 50 Tango participants at 6 months, but not in the control cohort. Twelve months after joining the tango program, increased fatigue was associated with reduced sporting activities ( p = 0.0005), but this was not the case for tango dancing., Conclusions: The present results suggest that tango may be appropriate as a component of early supportive and follow-up care programs, to promote health-related quality of life and physical activity and also eventually to improve long-term clinical outcomes of breast cancer survivors., Trial Registration: Trial registration numbers DRKS00013335 on 27 November 2017 and DRKS00021601 on 21 August 2020 retrospectively registered.

Background: Persistent impairments of quality of life-in particular, cancer-associated fatigue-are a major limitation for breast cancer survivors. As physical activity and mindfulness interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing fatigue symptoms, we investigated the efficacy of a six-week Argentine tango program., Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 breast cancer survivors diagnosed with stage I-III tumors 12-48 months prior to study enrollment and who had increased symptoms of fatigue. The participants were randomly assigned with a 1:1 allocation to either the tango or the waiting group. The treatment consisted of six weeks of supervised weekly one-hour tango group-sessions. Self-reported fatigue and further quality of life parameters were assessed at baseline and six weeks post-baseline. Longitudinal changes, correlations, Cohen's D ( d ) effect sizes, and association factors were also calculated., Results: Superiority of the tango intervention over the waiting list control was found in terms of improvement in fatigue ( d = -0.64; 95%CI, -1.2 to -0.08; p = 0.03), especially cognitive fatigue. In addition, a superiority of the tango intervention over the waiting list was found in the improvement of diarrhea ( d = -0.69; 95%CI, -1.25 to -0.13; p = 0.02). A pooled pre-post analysis of the 50 participants completing the six-week tango program revealed a close to 10% improvement of fatigue ( p = 0.0003), insomnia ( p = 0.008) and further quality of life outcomes. Adjusted multivariate linear regression analyses revealed the greatest improvements for participants who were more active in sports. In particular, survivors who received endocrine therapies, were obese, or had no prior dance experience seemed to especially benefit from the tango program., Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial demonstrated that a six-week Argentine tango program improves fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Further trials are warranted to determine whether such improvements lead to better long-term clinical outcomes., Trial Registration: trial registration number DRKS00021601. Retrospectively registered on 21 August 2020.

Background: The majority of breast cancer patients suffer from persistent impairments after completion of their primary oncological therapy. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in particular is a multidimensional syndrome having a profound negative impact on the quality of life. To counter CRF symptoms, physical activities are suggested as first-line interventions, mind-body therapies have been shown to be effective, and music therapy can also reduce anxiety and stress in breast cancer patients. Tango therapy that combines various elements can have an impact on physical, psychological, and cognitive abilities and could therefore have a beneficial effect on breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a 6-week tango module is suited as a therapeutic approach for people after primary breast cancer therapy to favorably influence their quality of life, especially CRF levels., Methods: Sixty patients with a diagnosis for stage I-III breast cancer 12-48 months before enrollment and with CRF (age > 18) will be recruited and randomized 1:1 to a tango or a waiting-list group. Movement concepts using elements of Argentine tango (self-awareness, musical and spatial perception, self-perception, playfulness, shared experience) will be examined with the participants during six consecutive weekly 1-h tango sessions. The primary outcome will be the improvement of CRF (German version of the Cancer Fatigue Scale), and the secondary outcomes will be the improvement in sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Patient-reported outcomes will be measured at baseline and 6 weeks later; follow-up will be performed 6, 12, and 24 months after baseline. An evaluation will be performed by means of descriptive data analyses., Discussion: Argentine tango, as a music-based movement therapy, can influence different skills and may improve several outcomes. The therapeutic use of Argentine tango in the care of breast cancer patients has not yet been reported. It is anticipated that participants receiving the tango module will have improved CRF, sleep, and quality of life scores compared to a waitlist control., Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS) DRKS00021601 . Retrospectively registered on 21 August 2020., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Objective: To determine whether dogs with naturally occurring canine parvoviral (CPV) enteritis have laboratory evidence of hypercoagulability., Design: Case-control study. Animals-9 dogs with naturally occurring CPV enteritis and 9 age-matched control dogs., Procedure: Blood was collected from all dogs within 24 hours of admission for thromboelastography (TEG) and determination of activated partial thromboplastin time (aP-TT), prothrombin time (PT), antithrombin III (AT) activity, and fibrinogen concentration. Fibrin-fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) concentration, D-dimer concentration, and platelet count were obtained in dogs with CPV enteritis only. Records were reviewed for evidence of thrombosis or phlebitis., Results: All 9 dogs with CPV enteritis had evidence of hypercoagulability, determined on the basis of significantly increased TEG maximum amplitude and decreased AT activity. Fibrinogen concentration was significantly higher in dogs with CPV enteritis than in control dogs. The aPTT was moderately prolonged in dogs with CPV enteritis, and FDP concentration was < 5 mg/ml in 7 of 9 dogs. No dogs had a measurable D-dimer concentration. Platelet counts were within reference range. Four of 9 dogs had clinical evidence of venous thrombosis or phlebitis associated with catheters. One dog had multifocal splenic thrombosis identified at necropsy., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Dogs with CPV enteritis have a high prevalence of clinical thrombosis or phlebitis and laboratory evidence of hypercoagulability without disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Thromboelastography may help identify hypercoagulable states in dogs.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a technique used in both human and veterinary medicine. Although a number of innovative adaptations to CPR have been researched, the mainstay of CPR remains intubation, adequate ventilation, chest compressions, and basic drug therapy. The purpose of this article is to review the techniques and drugs commonly used in both closed chest and open chest CPR.

Twenty-seven femoral shaft fractures in 23 patients with acute spinal cord injuries were reviewed for evaluation of the outcome of operative versus nonoperative treatment. Three groups were identified: 11 nonoperative, eight early operative, and eight delayed operative. Patients treated initially by nonoperative methods developed five impending nonunions (31%), which subsequently were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. One femur in each of the operative groups developed a refracture after early removal of metal fixation devices. In the delayed operative group, four patients (50%) required manipulation under general anesthesia for treatment of poor knee motion. Patients with complete neurologic lesions whose femurs were treated nonoperatively incurred more complications, i.e., decubitus ulcers, than those treated operatively. Operative stabilization of the femur within six weeks of injury rendered the most favorable outcome with the least number of orthopedic or medical complications in patients with both complete and incomplete cord lesions. All of the eight fractures united.

The long-term results of the key grip procedure (tenodesis of the flexor pollicis longus tendon to the radius, release of the A1 pulley, and percutaneous pin fixation of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb) were evaluated in 10 tetraplegic patients. Seven patients also had tenodesis of the extensor pollicis longus and brevis tendons to prevent flexion at the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint. Patients were examined an average of 7.4 years after surgery. Progressive flexion of the MP joint gradually occurred, indicating failure of the extensor tenodesis. Excessive bowstringing of the flexor pollicis longus tendon across the MP joint occurred in nine patients. Because of failure of the extensor tenodesis and bowstringing of the flexor tendon, the patients had to progressively extend the wrist further to pinch small objects. Functional testing demonstrated improved hand use in eight patients. Lateral pinch strength was related to wrist extension torque.