Suspected tick-borne flavivirus meningoencephalomyelitis in dogs from the UK: six cases (2021).

OBJECTIVES: Tick-borne encephalitis virus and louping ill virus are neurotropic flaviviruses transmitted by ticks. Epidemiologically, tick-borne encephalitis is endemic in Europe whereas louping ill's predominant geographical distribution is the UK. Rarely, these flaviviruses affect dogs causing neurological signs. This case series aimed to describe the clinical, clinicopathological, and imaging findings, as well as the outcomes in six dogs with meningoencephalitis and/or meningomyelitis caused by a flavivirus in the UK in 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective case-series study. Clinical data were retrieved from medical records of dogs with positive serological or immunohistochemical results from three different institutions from spring to winter 2021. RESULTS: Six dogs were included in the study. All dogs presented an initial phase of pyrexia and/or lethargy followed by progressive signs of spinal cord and/or intracranial disease. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral and symmetrical lesions affecting the grey matter of the thalamus, pons, medulla oblongata, and thoracic or lumbar intumescences with none or mild parenchymal and meningeal contrast enhancement. Serology for tick-borne encephalitis virus was positive in five dogs with the presence of seroconversion in two dogs. The viral distinction between flaviviruses was not achieved. One dog with negative serology presented positive immunohistochemistry at post-mortem examination. Three dogs survived but presented neurological sequelae. Three dogs were euthanased due to the rapid progression of the clinical signs or static neurological signs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These cases raise awareness of the presence of tick-borne encephalitis as an emergent disease or the increased prevalence of louping ill virus affecting dogs in the UK.

Minor head injury in anticoagulated patients: Outcomes and analysis of clinical predictors. A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal management of patients taking oral anticoagulants who experience minor head injury (MHI) is unclear. The availability of validated protocols and reliable predictors of prognosis would be of great benefit. We investigated clinical factors as predictors of clinical outcomes and intracranial injury (ICI). METHODS: We conducted a single-cohort, prospective, observational study in an ED. Our structured clinical pathway included a first head CT scan, 24 h observation and a second CT scan. The primary outcome was the occurrence of MHI-related death or re-admission to ED at day +30. The secondary outcome was the rate of delayed ICI (dICI), defined as second positive CT scan after a first negative CT scan. We assessed some clinical predictors derived from guidelines and clinical prediction rules as potential risk factors for the outcomes. RESULTS: 450 patients with a negative first CT scan who underwent a second CT scan composed our 'study population'. The rate of the primary outcome was 4%. The rate of the secondary outcome was 4.7%. Upon univariate and multivariate analysis no statistically significant predictors for the outcomes were found. CONCLUSIONS: Previous retrospective studies showed a lot of negative predictive factors for anticoagulated patients suffering a minor head injury. In our prospective study no clinical factors emerged as predictors of poor clinical outcomes and dICI. So, even if we confirmed a low rate of adverse outcomes, the best management of these patients in ED remains not so clear and future trials are needed.

Validation of a multiplex-tandem RT-PCR for the detection of bovine respiratory disease complex using Scottish bovine lung samples.

The welfare and economic impact of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), and its associated antibiotic usage, are major challenges to cattle rearing and beef cattle finishing industries. Accurate pathogen diagnosis is important to undertake appropriate treatment and long-term management strategies, such as vaccine selection. Conventional diagnostic approaches have several limitations including high costs, long turnaround times and difficulty in test interpretation, which could delay treatment decisions and lead to unnecessary animal losses. We describe the validation of a multiplex-tandem (MT) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of seven common pathogens associated with BRDC. This test has the potential to advance pathogen identification and to overcome many of the limitations of current testing methods. It requires a single sample and results are obtained quickly and not influenced by prior antimicrobial therapy or overgrowth of contaminating organisms. We demonstrated a test specificity of 100% and sensitivity ranging from 93.5% to 100% for these seven common pathogens. This test will be a useful addition to advance BRDC investigation and diagnosis.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and screen time among youths with Down syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19-related restrictions hampered habitual physical activity (PA), particularly affecting the more vulnerable, such as people with Down syndrome (DS). The study aimed to investigate changes in PA, sedentary behaviour (SB) and screen time (ST) of youths with DS, before, during and after the restrictions, also in relation to parental PA levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional design with a retrospective assessment of variables for the before and during restrictions periods was adopted. Parents of youths with DS completed an online questionnaire. Sociodemographic aspects, weekly PA levels and youths' daily SB and ST were investigated, referring to three time-points: before the pandemic, during the restrictions and the restrictions-easing phase. RESULTS: A total of 57 parents voluntarily participated in the study, proxy-reporting on their child (male = 41, female = 16, age = 21.4 ± 7.7 years). A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance showed negative effects of restrictions (P < 0.05) on PA levels, SB and ST, independently from sociodemographic characteristics. In the restrictions-easing phase, PA levels did not return to before the pandemic values (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between parents and their child's PA was detected before the pandemic (r = 0.38; P < 0.01), no longer reported in the restrictions-easing phase. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed the negative impact of restrictions on youths with DS lifestyle. Moreover, the importance of addressing the needs of the disabled community including the whole family is highlighted.

Physical Exercise for Late-Life Major Depression.

(Reprinted with permission from Br J Psychiatry 2005; 207: 235-242).

Adaptation and Validation of a Portuguese Version of the Sports Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II-P) Showing Invariance for Gender and Sport Type.

In the present cross-sectional study, we adapted and examined the validity of a Portuguese version of the Sport Motivation Scale II (SMS-II-P) within a sample of 1148 Portuguese athletes (women = 546, men = 602) with a mean age of 18.45 years (SD = 5.36), participating in a variety of sports (i.e., football, basketball, swimming, and athletics). We conducted confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity analysis, and multigroup analysis across participants' sport type (team and individual) and gender. We also examined the correlations between the SMS-II-P behavioral regulations and basic psychological needs satisfaction. The results supported that the SMS-II-P had good psychometric properties and was invariant across gender and sport type. The scale demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity, and the subscales achieved adequate internal consistency. Correlations between the six types of regulation measured in the SMS-II supported the distinction between autonomous and controlled behavioral regulations, and the correlations between these subscales and other measures of autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction provided evidence of the self-determination continuum. Implications of this research for assessing Portuguese athletes and conducting future research are discussed.

Tocilizumab in COVID-19 interstitial pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Published reports on tocilizumab in COVID-19 pneumonitis show conflicting results due to weak designs or heterogeneity in critical methodological issues. METHODS: This open-label trial, structured according to Simon's optimal design, aims to identify factors predicting which patients could benefit from anti-IL6 strategies and to enhance the design of unequivocal and reliable future randomized trials. A total of 46 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia needing of oxygen therapy to maintain SO2 > 93% and with recent worsening of lung function received a single infusion of tocilizumab. Clinical and biological markers were measured to test their predictive values. Primary end point was early and sustained clinical response. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients fulfilled pre-defined response criteria. Lower levels of IL-6 at 24 h after tocilizumab infusion (P = 0.049) and higher baseline values of PaO2/FiO2 (P = 0.008) predicted a favourable response. CONCLUSIONS: Objective clinical response rate overcame the pre-defined threshold of 30%. Efficacy of tocilizumab to improve respiratory function in patients selected according to our inclusion criteria warrants investigations in randomized trials.

A Fatal Case of Louping-ill in a Dog: Immunolocalization and Full Genome Sequencing of the Virus.

Louping-ill (LI), caused by louping-ill virus (LIV), results in a frequently fatal encephalitis primarily affecting sheep and red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica), but it does occur in other species. An adult male Border collie dog was definitively diagnosed with fatal LI and the lesion profile, LIV antigen distribution and full genome sequence of the LIV responsible were investigated to determine if this differed significantly from sheep-derived LIV. No gross lesions were present. The histological lesions were confined to the central nervous system and comprised of lymphocytic perivascular cuffs, glial foci, neuronal necrosis and neuronophagia. Immunolocalization of viral antigen showed small amounts present in neurons only. These histological and immunohistochemical findings were similar to those reported in affected sheep. Compared with published full genome sequences of sheep-derived LIV, only very minor differences were present and phylogenetically the virus clustered individually between a subclade containing Scottish strains, LIV 369/T2 and G and another subclade containing an English isolate LIV A. The LIV isolated from the dog shares a common progenitor with LIV A. These findings suggest there is no canine-specific LIV strain, dogs are susceptible to sheep-associated strains of LI and with the increase in tick prevalence, and therefore exposure to LIV, a safe, effective vaccine for dogs may be required.

Sessile macrobenthos (Ochrophyta) drives seasonal change of meiofaunal community structure on temperate rocky reefs.

Unlike the soft bottom meiofauna, meiofauna associated to hard substrata is poorly studied, despite its ecological relevance. Since communities of hard substrata are usually characterized by species with different life cycles and strategies from those of soft bottom assemblages, information on hard substrata meiofauna is still needed. In this study, sessile macrobenthos and the associated meiofaunal assemblages of two sites of Portofino (NW Mediterranean) were investigated in two seasons at three different depths on both sub-vertical and inclined reefs. The study aimed to assess the abundance, diversity and composition of the meiofauna and the factors structuring its assemblages. Moreover, as meiofauna is known to be dependent upon the substrate characteristics, the study investigated whether the meiofaunal patterns could be related to the sessile macrobenthos structure and composition, and to which extent. Macroalgae dominated the sessile macrobenthic assemblages, while Nematoda and Copepoda were the main meiofaunal groups. Meiofaunal higher-taxa richness and diversity resulted very high, due to the large number of different microhabitats offered by macroalgae. Macrobenthic assemblages were dominated by Rodophyta and Ochrophyta in summer, the latter dramatically collapsing in winter. The meiofaunal abundance and composition changed significantly with the season, consistently with the sessile macrobenthic assemblages, and resulted strongly correlated with Ochrophyta. Shaping the meiofaunal assemblages, macroalgae appeared to act as ecosystem engineer for the meiofauna.

MTHFR, TS and XRCC1 genetic variants may affect survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes treated with supportive care or azacitidine.

We evaluated the impact of genomic polymorphisms in folate-metabolizing, DNA synthesis and DNA repair enzymes on the clinical outcome of 108 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receiving best supportive care (BSC) or azacitidine. A statistically significant association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677T/T, thymidylate synthase (TS) 5'-untranslated region (UTR) 3RG, TS 3'-UTR -6 bp/-6 bp, XRCC1 399G/G genotypes and short survival was found in patients receiving BSC by multivariate analysis (P<0.001; P=0.026; P=0.058; P=0.024). MTHFR 677T/T, TS 3'-UTR -6 bp/-6 bp and XRCC1 399G/G genotypes were associated with short survival in patients receiving azacitidine by multivariate analysis (P<0.001; P=0.004; P=0.002). We then performed an exploratory analysis to evaluate the effect of the simultaneous presence of multiple adverse variant genotypes. Interestingly, patients with ⩾1 adverse genetic variants had a short survival, independently from their International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and therapy received. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that polymorphisms in folate-metabolizing pathway, DNA synthesis and DNA repair genes could influence survival of MDS patients.

Role of Schmallenberg virus infection in congenital malformations in ruminants in Scotland in 2017.

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), together with the Moredun Research Institute, carries out surveillance for Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection in cattle and sheep. This article reports findings relating to diagnoses of fetopathy associated with SBV infection and other congenital malformations in these species made between January 1 and May 5, 2017.

Evolution of Ventricular Energetics in the Different Stages of Palliation of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Hyperplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) patients are palliated by creating a Fontan-type circulation passing from different surgical stages. The aim of this work is to describe the evolution of ventricular energetics parameters in HLHS patients during the different stages of palliation including the hybrid, the Norwood, the bidirectional Glenn (BDG), and the Fontan procedures. We conducted a retrospective clinical study enrolling all HLHS patients surgically treated with hybrid procedure and/or Norwood and/or BDG and/or Fontan operation from 2011 to 2016 collecting echocardiographic and hemodynamic data. Measured data were used to calculate energetic variables such as ventricular elastances, external and internal work, ventriculo-arterial coupling and cardiac mechanical efficiency. From 2010 to 2016, a total of 29 HLHS patients undergoing cardiac catheterization after hybrid (n = 7) or Norwood (n = 6) or Glenn (n = 8) or Fontan (n = 8) procedure were retrospectively enrolled. Ventricular volumes were significantly higher in the Norwood circulation than in the hybrid circulation (p = 0.03) with a progressive decrement from the first stage to the Fontan completion. Ventricular elastances were lower in the Norwood circulation than in the hybrid circulation and progressively increased passing from the first stage to the Fontan completion. The arterial elastance and Rtot increased in the Fontan circulation. The ventricular work progressively increased. Finally, the ventricular efficiency improves passing from the first to the last stage of palliation. The use of ventricular energetic parameters could lead to a more complete evaluation of such complex patients to better understand their adaptation to different pathophysiological conditions.

Are adults with spinal cord injury meeting the spinal cord injury-specific physical activity guidelines? A look at a sample from a Canadian province.

STUDY DESIGN: One cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To examine the extent to which a sample of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) meet the SCI-specific physical activity guidelines and to identify potential demographic, injury and motivational characteristics related to participation. SETTING: Quebec, Canada. METHODS: A sample of 73 adults from the province of Quebec, Canada living with SCI completed the Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Spinal Cord Injury to report their current frequency (sessions per week) and duration (minutes per session) in aerobic and resistance physical activity. RESULTS: Results showed that 12% of participants in this sample met the guidelines and as many as 44% reported 0 min of physical activity. Only the participants' mode of mobility and autonomous motivation for physical activity emerged as a marginal correlate of the likelihood of meeting the physical activity guidelines. CONCLUSION: Overall, physical activity participation rates among adults in this sample living with SCI remain quite low. Given the benefits of physical activity for adults with SCI, physical activity promotion efforts are needed.

Mason type III radial head fractures treated by anatomic radial head arthroplasty: Is this a safe treatment option?

BACKGROUND: Radial head fractures make up approximately 3% of all fractures and they are the most common elbow fracture in adults. Replacement through arthroplasty is the recommended treatment in the context of unstable elbow injury and comminuted radial head fracture. The midterm clinical, functional, and radiographic results in patients treated with anatomic radial head arthroplasty for a Mason type III radial head fracture are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective search of our facility's prospective trauma database to identify all skeletally mature patients who were treated by primary radial head replacement or open reduction and internal fixation following an acute radial head fracture. Inclusion criteria were Mason type III fractures and anatomic radial head arthroplasty (RHA). All the patients included were evaluated using a standard postoperative protocol including clinical and radiographic evaluation at 1, 3 and 12 months of follow-up. All the patients were reviewed clinically at an average of 30 months' follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-one subjects (32 Mason type III and 9 Mason IV fractures) were treated with anatomic RHA (Acumed, Hillsboro, OR, USA). Of these, two patients (1 Mason type III and 1 Mason type IV) were excluded from the analysis because severe cognitive impairment. Moreover, we decided to exclude the subjects with a Mason type IV fracture to obtain a more homogeneous sample. Therefore, 31 patients with a Mason type III fracture were included in this study. Based on the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, excellent results were obtained in 24 (77%) patients, good in 3 (10%) and fair in 4 (13%) patients. Heterotopic ossification was reported in 8 patients (26% of cases). The final elbow flexion-extension range of motion was of 112°, with a mean flexion of 125°. The final forearm rotational range of motion was 134° with a mean pronation of 68° and a mean supination of 66°. DISCUSSION: Anatomic radial head replacement leads to a good functional recovery, even in the presence of severe instability, such as coronoid fractures and LUCL injury. However, patients should be informed of the high number of adverse events (mainly heterotopic ossification) following this treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Humerus shaft fracture complicated by radial nerve palsy: Is surgical exploration necessary?

Fractures of the humerus shaft often are complicated by radial nerve palsy. Controversy still exists in the treatment that includes clinical observation and eventually late surgical exploration or early surgical exploration. Algorithms have been proposed to provide recommendations with regard to management of the injuries. However, advantages and disadvantages are associated with each of these algorithms. The aim of this study was to analyze the indications of each treatment options and facilitate the surgeon in choosing the conduct for each lesion, proposing our own algorithm.

Double-locking precontoured plating system for malunited fractures of the distal end of humerus.

BACKGROUND: Distal humeral malunions are uncommon injuries, often associated with limited elbow motion, pain, instability, weakness, and sometimes ulnar neuritis. The complex anatomy of the elbow joint makes this condition one of the most complex elbow injuries to treat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients were treated by the same surgeon between 2011 and 2013 using a double-locking precontoured plating system for malunited intra-articular or extra-articular fractures of the distal end of the humerus. RESULTS: At a mean 3 years of follow-up, a significant improvement in the elbow motion and functional outcome, evaluated with the Mayo Elbow Performance Index and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, were observed. Articular reduction obtained after the surgery was maintained in all patients without evidence of avascular necrosis. No other complications (i.e., infection, nervous iatrogenic lesions) were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Corrective osteotomy using double-locking precontoured plating system preceded by preoperative planning using a CT scan allowed an improvement in the functional outcome and elbow motion, without complications.

Environmental nanoparticles are significantly over-expressed in acute myeloid leukemia.

The increase in the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may suggest a possible environmental etiology. PM2.5 was declared by IARC a Class I carcinogen. No report has focused on particulate environmental pollution together with AML. The study investigated the presence and composition of particulate matter in blood with a Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with an Energy Dispersive Spectroscope, a sensor capable of identifying the composition of foreign bodies. 38 peripheral blood samples, 19 AML cases and 19 healthy controls, were analyzed. A significant overload of particulate matter-derived nanoparticles linked or aggregated to blood components was found in AML patients, while almost absent in matched healthy controls. Two-tailed Student's t-test, MANOVA and Principal Component Analysis indicated that the total numbers of aggregates and particles were statistically different between cases and controls (MANOVA, P<0.001 and P=0.009 respectively). The particles detected showed to contain highly-reactive, non-biocompatible and non-biodegradable metals; in particular, micro- and nano-sized particles grouped in organic/inorganic clusters, with statistically higher frequency of a subgroup of elements in AML samples. The demonstration, for the first time, of an overload of nanoparticles linked to blood components in AML patients could be the basis for a possible, novel pathogenetic mechanism for AML development.

Telomere length elongation after weight loss intervention in obese adults.

INTRODUCTION: Telomeres may be considered markers of biological aging, shorter telomere length is associated with some age-related diseases; in several studies short telomere length has also been associated to obesity in adults and adolescents. However the relationship between telomere complex functions and obesity is still not clear. Aim of the study was to assess telomere length (TL) in adults' obese subjects before and after weight loss obtained by placement of bioenteric intragastric balloon (BIB) for 6months. METHODS: We enrolled 42 obese subjects before and after BIB placement as weight loss intervention. Blood samples were collected in order to obtain DNA from leukocyte to measure TL by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Data were analyzed only in 37 subjects with complete data; all presented important body weight loss (124.06±26.7 vs 105.40±23.14, p<0.001) and more interesting they presented a significant increase in TL (3.58±0.83 vs 5.61±3.29, p<0.001). Moreover we observed a significant positive correlation between TL elongation and weight loss (r=0.44, p=0.007) as well as an inverse correlation between TL at baseline and TL elongation (r=-0.35, p=0.03).The predictors of TL elongation were once again weight loss and short TL at baseline (respectively p=0.007 and p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that weight loss is associated to telomere lengthening in a positive correlation: the greater weight loss the greater telomere lengthening; moreover telomere lengthening is more significant in those subjects with shortest telomeres at baseline.

Maternal creatine supplementation affects the morpho-functional development of hippocampal neurons in rat offspring.

Creatine supplementation has been shown to protect neurons from oxidative damage due to its antioxidant and ergogenic functions. These features have led to the hypothesis of creatine supplementation use during pregnancy as prophylactic treatment to prevent CNS damage, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Unfortunately, very little is known on the effects of creatine supplementation during neuron differentiation, while in vitro studies revealed an influence on neuron excitability, leaving the possibility of creatine supplementation during the CNS development an open question. Using a multiple approach, we studied the hippocampal neuron morphological and functional development in neonatal rats born by dams supplemented with 1% creatine in drinking water during pregnancy. CA1 pyramidal neurons of supplemented newborn rats showed enhanced dendritic tree development, increased LTP maintenance, larger evoked-synaptic responses, and higher intrinsic excitability in comparison to controls. Moreover, a faster repolarizing phase of action potential with the appearance of a hyperpolarization were recorded in neurons of the creatine-treated group. Consistently, CA1 neurons of creatine exposed pups exhibited a higher maximum firing frequency than controls. In summary, we found that creatine supplementation during pregnancy positively affects morphological and electrophysiological development of CA1 neurons in offspring rats, increasing neuronal excitability. Altogether, these findings emphasize the need to evaluate the benefits and the safety of maternal intake of creatine in humans.

Unaltered Oxytocin and Vasopressin Plasma Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia After 4 Months of Daily Treatment with Intranasal Oxytocin.

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been proposed as a treatment for a number of neuropsychiatric disorders characterised by impaired social behaviour, including schizophrenia. Although several studies have reported the chronic administration of OXT to be safe and tolerable, its effects on circulating levels of OXT, as well as the related neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP), have not been assessed. In the present study, in a within-subjects cross-over, double-blind, randomised controlled trial, we assayed the plasma levels of OXT and AVP in 31 patients with schizophrenia who were treated daily for 4 months with 40 IU of intranasal OXT or placebo. Our data indicate a mean ± SD baseline OXT concentration of 1.62 ± 0.68 pg/ml, as determined by radioimmunoassay, which did not display any significant variation after chronic treatment with OXT or placebo. Similarly, the mean ± SD baseline AVP value of 2.40 ± 1.26 pg/ml remained unchanged. The present study also assessed cardiovascular and body fluid indicators (osmolality, plasma sodium concentration and systolic blood pressure), as well as a parameter for food intake (body mass index), with all observed to remain stable. By reporting that daily treatment with 40 IU of intranasal OXT or placebo for 4 months does not impact on OXT and AVP plasma levels, nor on cardiovascular, body fluids and food intake parameters, the present study represents an important step towards developing OXT as a safe treatment.