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Biomedical subjects

K D Cliff

Publications and source records attributed to K D Cliff.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of environmental management alone on marking frequency in cats with urine marking and to obtain demographic data on cats with urine marking and data on owner-perceived factors that contributed to urine marking behavior. DESIGN: Single-intervention study. ANIMALS: 40 neutered male and 7 spayed female cats. PROCEDURE: During a 2-week baseline phase, owners maintained a daily record of the number of urine marks. This phase was followed by a 2-week environmental management phase during which owners cleaned recently deposited urine marks daily, scooped waste from the litter box daily, and changed the litter and cleaned the litter box weekly while continuing to record urine marks. RESULTS: Male cats and cats from multicat households were significantly overrepresented, compared with the general pet cat population in California. The most commonly mentioned causative factors for urine marking were agonistic interactions with other cats outside or inside the home. Environmental management procedures resulted in an overall reduction in urine marking frequency. Among cats that marked > or = 6 times during the baseline phase, females were significantly more likely to respond to treatment (> or = 50% reduction in marking frequency) than were males. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that male cats and cats from multicat households are more likely to exhibit urine marking behavior than females and cats from single-cat households. Results also suggest that attention to environmental and litter box hygiene can reduce marking frequency in cats, regardless of sex or household status of the cats, and may come close to resolving the marking problem in some cats.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMed2001

Effects of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor on urine spraying behavior in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a readily available selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine hydrochloride, on reducing problem urine spraying in cats. DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. ANIMALS: 17 neutered cats > 1 year old with objectionable urine spraying behavior. Procedure-Owners recorded urine-spraying events for 2 weeks (baseline). Cats that vertically marked a mean of > or = 3 times per week were treated for 8 weeks with fluoxetine or fish-flavored liquid placebo. If urine spraying was not reduced by 70% by weeks 4 through 5, the dosage was increased by 50% for weeks 7 and 8. After discontinuation of treatment at the end of 8 weeks, owners recorded daily urine marks for another 4 weeks. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SE) weekly rate of spraying episodes in treated cats was 8.6 (+/- 2.0) at baseline, decreased significantly by week 2 (1.7 +/- 0.6), and continued to decrease by weeks 7 and 8 (0.4 +/- 0.2). The mean weekly spraying rate of cats receiving placebo was 7.8 (+/- 1.5) at baseline, decreased only slightly during week 1 (5.5 +/- 1.8), and did not decline further. When treatment was discontinued after 8 weeks, the spraying rate of cats that had received treatment varied. The main adverse reaction to the drug was a reduction in food intake, which was observed in 4 of 9 treated cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of fluoxetine hydrochloride for treatment of urine spraying in cats can be expected to considerably reduce the rate of urine marking. The frequency of spraying before treatment is predictive of the spraying rate when the drug is discontinued.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of behavioral changes associated with age-related cognitive impairment in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of age-related behavioral changes, namely impairment, in a randomly chosen population of dogs. DESIGN: Age-stratified cohort study. ANIMALS: 97 spayed female and 83 castrated male dogs that were 11 to 16 years old. PROCEDURE: Data on possible impairment in 4 behavioral categories (ie, orientation in the home and yard, social interaction, house training, and sleep-wake cycle) linked to cognitive dysfunction were obtained from dog owners, using a structured telephone interview. Hospital records of dogs had been screened to exclude dogs with dysfunction in organ systems that may cause behavioral changes. Dogs with behavioral impairment were those with > or = 2 signs of dysfunction within a category. Dogs with impairment in 1 category were considered mildly impaired and those with impairment in > or =2 categories were considered severely impaired. RESULTS: Age by sex interactions for dogs with impairment in any category were not significant, and, therefore, data on castrated males and spayed females were pooled for analyses across ages. The prevalence of age-related progressive impairment was significant in all categories. The percentage of 11- to 12-year-old dogs with impairment in > or = 1 category was 28% (22/80), of which 10% (8/80) had impairment in > or = 2 behavioral categories. Of 15- to 16-year-old dogs, 68% (23/34) had impairment in > or =1 category, of which 35% (12/34) had impairments in > or = 2 categories. There were no significant effects of body weight on the prevalence of signs of dysfunction in the behavioral categories. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Data collected provide estimates of the prevalence of various degrees of age-related behavioral changes associated with cognitive dysfunction in dogs. Age-related behavioral changes may be useful indicators for medical intervention for dogs with signs of cognitive impairment.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Predicting behavioral changes associated with age-related cognitive impairment in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To monitor the progression of age-related behavioral changes in dogs during a period of 6 to 18 months and to determine whether signs of dysfunction in any of 4 behavioral categories can be used to predict further impairment. DESIGN: Age-stratified cohort study. ANIMALS: 63 spayed female and 47 castrated male dogs 11 to 14 years of age. PROCEDURE: Data were collected from randomly selected dog owners who were interviewed by telephone twice at a 12- to 18-month interval; data were included if the dog had lived > or = 6 months between interviews. The interview focused on signs of impairment in the following behavioral categories: orientation in the home and yard, social interactions with human family members, house training, and the sleep-wake cycle. Dogs were determined to have impairment in 0 behavioral categories (on the basis of < or = 1 sign for each category), impairment in 1 category (> or = 2 signs of dysfunction in that category), or impairment in > or = 2 categories. RESULTS: Between interviews, 22% (16/73) of dogs that did not have impairment in a category at the time of the first interview developed impairment in that category by the time of the second interview. Forty-eight percent (13/27) of dogs that had impairment in 1 category at the time of the first interview developed impairment in > or = 2 categories by the time of the second interview and were significantly more likely to develop impairment in > or = 2 categories, compared with dogs that initially had impairment in 0 categories. Dogs with 1 sign of dysfunction in orientation were significantly more likely to develop impairment in that category, compared with dogs that had 0 signs of dysfunction in orientation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Age-related behavioral changes in dogs are progressive. Clinicians should consider trying to predict which dogs are most likely to become progressively impaired during the subsequent 6 to 18 months.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Effects of clomipramine hydrochloride on dominance-related aggression in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare effects of the serotonergic drug clomipramine hydrochloride with those of placebo for treatment of dominance-related aggression in dogs. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. ANIMALS: 28 neutered dogs > 1 year old with dominance-related aggression. PROCEDURE: Dogs displaying > or = 3 aggressive episodes/wk toward > or = 1 human family member in response to identifiable behavioral triggers were included in the study. Owners were instructed not to change patterns of interaction with their dogs during the study. After 2 weeks of baseline observations, dogs were treated for 6 weeks with clomipramine (1.5 mg/kg [0.7 mg/lb] of body weight, q 12 h; n = 15) or placebo (13). Responses to triggers were assigned the following aggression scores: no response, 0; growl or lip curl, 1; snap or bite, 2. Mean scores for responses to triggers were obtained during the 2-week pretreatment period (baseline) and during the first and second weeks, third and fourth weeks, and fifth and sixth weeks of treatment. At the end of the study, owners assigned a score designed to evaluate their overall perceived change in aggressiveness; this was referred to as the global score. RESULTS: Mean aggression scores decreased at the fifth and sixth week of treatment in both groups, compared with baseline scores. However, mean scores between groups were not different. Global scores, assigned by the owner, generally reflected changes in mean aggression scores. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with placebo, clomipramine administered to dogs at the dosage recommended for treatment of separation anxiety did not reduce aggressiveness toward human family members.

Aggression↗
PubMed1985

The levels of radioactive materials in some common UK building materials.

Measurements have been made of the radon exhalation rates and radionuclide contents of some common UK building materials. These include concrete blocks incorporating pulverised fuel ash from coal-fired power stations as well as more traditional materials such as clay bricks and concrete blocks. Simple models are applied to the results to calculate the radiation exposure of people living in houses constructed with these materials. It is estimated that building materials make only a small contribution to the total radon concentration in most houses. A similarly small contribution to the effective dose equivalent received by people arises from the gamma-ray emission from building materials, and in most cases will exceed the contribution to the effective dose equivalent from the radon exhalation of those materials.

Construction Materials↗
PubMed1985

Surveys of natural radiation exposure in UK dwellings with passive and active measurement techniques.

A representative sample of over 2,000 UK dwellings was monitored for a year using thermoluminescent and etchable plastic dosemeters to measure gamma-ray dose rates and radon concentrations. The survey was carried out by post. Each householder completed a questionnaire on the type of dwelling and its characteristics. These data will be used in the assessment of the factors affecting indoor exposure. The mean gamma-ray dose rates were 0.062 and 0.057 microGy h-1 in air and the mean radon concentrations were 25 and 18 Bq m-3 for living areas and bedrooms respectively. Other results of the preliminary data analysis are given. More detailed surveys were conducted in areas where the local geology indicated that elevated exposures to natural radiation might occur. Over 800 dwellings were visited and measurements made of several parameters. The mean gamma-ray dose rates varied from 0.05 to 0.10 microGy h-1 in air. The mean radon concentrations varied from 14 Bq m-3 to 520 Bq m-3. Other findings related to equilibrium factors and regional differences are discussed.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1983

Radon daughter exposures in the U.K.

Exposure due to the inhalation of the short-lived daughters of 222Rn is the single largest contributor to the exposure of the U.K. population. A survey of dwellings situated largely in the centers of population indicates an annual exposure of 0.16 WLM, on the average. On the basis of current knowledge this is equivalent to an annual effective dose equivalent of 800 mu Sv. This compares with the overall average of the effective dose equivalent from natural radiation of almost 1900 mu Sv in a year. The distribution of exposures to the short-lived daughters of 222Rn is markedly skew and indicates that some dwellings support concentrations of these daughters leading to exposures in excess of 1 WLM in a year. The areas of the U.K. in which exposures above this level are most likely to occur are regions with enhanced uranium mineralisation. These areas are sparsely populated and high exposures here do not significantly affect the overall average exposure of the population to radon daughters. An intensive survey of radon and radon daughters concentrations in one predominantly igneous region is reported. The average exposure for the 250 dwellings in this region surveyed so far was estimated to be 1.3 WLM in a year, a factor of 8 greater than the national value. About 5% of the homes exceed 5 WLM in a year. Measurements of equilibrium factor indicate that plate-out contributes to the removal of radon daughters from room air. In general, the equilibrium factor measured indicates an unattached fraction of 218Po of less than 10%.

Air↗
PubMed1979

Of rads and rem.

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International System of Units↗
PubMed1978

The measurement of low concentrations of radon-222 daughters in air, with emphasis on RaA assessment.

A number of methods exist for the measurement of the activity concentrations of radon-222 daughters in air but in most cases interest is centred on determining the Working Levels. In those instances where individual daughter activity concentrations are assessed the precision of the assessment of RaA (218Po) is poor unless spectrometry is used. In environmental monitoring the measurement of RaA activity concentrations is a reliable indicator of radon activity concentrations. Following a brief review of established methods of radon daughter activity concentration measurement, a method is given which enables activity concentrations as low as 0.05 pCi l-1 (50 pCim-3) of RaA to be measured with simple readily transportable equipment. The method presented here also measures RaB (214Pb) and RaC (214 Bi) activity concentrations and Working Levels with improved precision compared with established methods.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1978

Assessment of airborne radon daughter concentrations in dwellings in Great Britain.

Calculations of the activity concentration of RaA (218Po) in the air within living rooms and in the outside air were made at 87 dwellings in England and Scotland. From these measurements together with a determination of the ventilation rate existing in the room at the time of the measurements, the rate at which 222Rn is emanating from room surfaces into room air in pCil-1 h-1, can be calculated. For the dwellings studied the mean emanation rate is 0.54 pCil-1 h-1 and on the basis of a mean ventilation rate of one room change per hour throughout the year and assuming an occupancy factor of 0.8 the population exposure rate for the population of Great Britain to the short-lived daughters of 222Rn is estimated to be 0.15 Working Level Months per year.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗