Mirja Ruohoniemi

Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is an established diagnostic tool for noninvasive assessment of the biliary tract in humans. It has also been found to be feasible in companion animals, but no published studies have compared MRC sequences in veterinary medicine. The present study is part of a prospective, observational, analytical investigation on MR cholangiopancreatography performed on the donated bodies of 12 cats and eight dogs. The main aim of this study was to compare the images of 2D‐SSh‐TSE‐MRC and 3D‐TSE‐MRC sequences for visualization and image quality of the feline and canine biliary tract. Both sequences are T2‐weighted and noncontrast. Three independent readers scored the visibility of four segments of the biliary tract, namely the gallbladder (GB), cystic duct, common bile duct (CBD), and extrahepatic ducts, and the image quality of the two MRC sequences using five‐point Likert scales. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used to compare the scores between the MRC sequences separately for cats and dogs. Inter‐ and intraobserver agreements were measured using Gwet's AC2 with linear weighting. The 3D‐TSE‐MRC images were scored significantly higher than the 2D‐SSh‐TSE‐MRC for both visibility and image quality (P < .001–.016 for cats, P = .008–.031 for dogs); the only exception was GB in dogs. In both cats and dogs, interobserver agreement for segment visibility and image quality ranged from slight to substantial in 2D‐SSh‐TSE‐MRC and from poor to almost perfect in 3D‐TSE‐MRC. Most of the assessments (73% for segment visibility and 66% for image quality) had substantial to almost perfect intraobserver agreement. Findings from the current study support the use of 3D‐TSE‐MRC over 2D‐SSh‐TSE‐MRC for evaluation of the feline and canine biliary tract, but further studies on live animals are warranted.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is commonly used in humans and is also feasible in cats. The aim of this post-mortem study was to investigate the feasibility of MRCP in eight adult dogs by comparing the visibility and measured diameters of the biliary tract and pancreatic ducts in MRCP with those of fluoroscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (FRCP) and corrosion casting. In autopsy, six dogs had no evidence of hepatobiliary disorders, one had pancreatic pathology, and one had biliary pathology. The gallbladder (GB), cystic duct, and common bile duct (CBD) were visible in the MRCP images of all eight dogs. However, the extrahepatic ducts and pancreatic ducts were only variably visible. There was statistical agreement between MRCP and FRCP in measuring the diameters of the GB (fundus and body) and CBD (at papilla and extrahepatic ducts’ junction). The diameter measurements correlated between MRCP and corrosion casting. Our study showed that MRCP is feasible in dogs and allowed for proper visualization of the biliary tract. However, ducts with diameters of <1 mm were difficult to visualize using a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine. Further studies are warranted to apply MRCP in the diagnostic imaging of live dogs.

In human medicine, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a valuable diagnostic tool for hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. In veterinary medicine, however, data evaluating the diagnostic value of MRCP are limited. The primary objectives of this prospective, observational, analytical investigation were to assess whether MRCP reliably visualizes the biliary tract and pancreatic ducts in cats without and with related disorders, and whether MRCP images and measurements of the ducts agree with those of fluoroscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (FRCP), corrosion casting and histopathology. A secondary objective was to provide MRCP reference diameters for bile ducts, GB, and pancreatic ducts. Donated bodies of 12 euthanized adult cats underwent MRCP, FRCP, and autopsy with corrosion casting of the biliary tract and pancreatic ducts using vinyl polysiloxane. Diameters of the biliary ducts, gallbladder (GB), and pancreatic ducts were measured using MRCP, FRCP, corrosion casts and histopathologic slides. There was an agreement between MRCP and FRCP in measuring diameters of the GB body, GB neck, cystic duct, and common bile duct (CBD) at papilla. Strong positive correlations existed between MRCP and corrosion casting for measuring GB body and neck, cystic duct, and CBD at the extrahepatic ducts’ junction. In contrast to the reference methods, post‐mortem MRCP did not visualize right and left extrahepatic ducts, and pancreatic ducts in most cats. Based on this study, MRCP with 1.5 Tesla can be regarded as a contributory method to improve the assessment of feline biliary tract and pancreatic ducts when their diameter is >1 mm.

Concerns have been expressed that the engagement shown by committed individuals is not fully utilized by their organizations while there is insufficient knowledge of which conditions facilitate teaching collaboration and lead to improvements in university education. Portfolios of 43 life science academics applying to enter to the University of Helsinki Teachers’ Academy were analyzed through content analysis. Five categories of interactive or collaborative practices emerged from the data: (1) Interacting with peers for personal development, (2) Sharing good teaching practices, (3) Teaching together, (4) Producing educational artefacts, (5) Developing education systematically. The practices occurred in both formal and informal settings, and both settings were present in all categories. In contrast with the formal practices, the informal practices were described in an enthusiastic way. The engagement shown by the scholarly teachers was mostly realized in informal settings. There is probably unrealized potential in the scholarly teachers’ teaching-related practices through which they could contribute to the development of teaching in academia. Formal communities related to teaching should be developed to promote deeper collaboration and to foster the participants’ feeling of personal commitment and ownership.

This paper explores the value of a research-based student inventory from the quality assurance point of view in two culturally different European higher education institutions for veterinary education. Perceived heavy workload is a well-known problem in veterinary studies and is a challenge to the quality of learning. First- and third-year students in both institutions responded to an inventory consisting of items regarding their approaches to learning, self-efficacy, study workload and the teaching-learning environment. There were differences in students’ approaches to learning and perceived workload between the two institutions. In both contexts, the strongest predictor of the workload turned out to be the surface approach to learning. Self-efficacy showed a positive correlation with the deep approach to learning and organised studying. The strengths of the teaching-learning environment varied between the institutions. Moreover, the present study discusses how the gained information could be used in improving the teaching-learning environment and students’ learning.

During the last decade, concerns over veterinary students' stress have been expressed in several studies, and the need for student support has become evident. In addition, the importance of professional and personal identity development in veterinary curricula has been widely recognized. There is a need to integrate academic and professional skills instruction with training in personal-life balance. Even though tools for student support and stress management exist within universities, reports on active and creative practices in veterinary education are scarce. We report here a course that has been organized twice as an optional part of veterinary studies to provide students with tools for everyday life and personal development toward a future veterinary career. Students defined their own learning objectives in this course, and they reported having received tools and knowledge especially for time management and stress control. The course gave the students an opportunity to step back from their busy schedules, think over their lives and actions, and even take concrete actions that have a positive effect on their well-being. The rich qualitative material collected during the pilot course has been used not only for developing the course further but also for development of the mandatory curriculum.

Time and effort management skills have proved to be very important in studying, as they provide a foundation for both study success and engagement in university studies across the world. The paper focuses on how these skills develop during university studies in veterinary medicine, and examines possible changes in relation to students' experiences of the teaching-learning environment and study success. The results suggest that students' experience of interest and relevance of the subject matter explained the changes in their time and effort management skills. Moreover, students who scored high in these skills during their Bachelor's studies succeeded well in their later studies. The findings highlight the need to support the development of students' time and effort management skills from the very beginning of university studies. Moreover, the teachers should pay greater attention to the relevance of the subject matter, as it may also support the development of these skills.