Infestation rates of lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus on Atlantic salmon in fixed and towed sentinel cages.

Sea lice are a key limitation to sustainable salmon aquaculture, and effective monitoring strategies are critical for the management of these parasites. Sentinel cages are an established means of assessing infestation pressure at fixed locations, but as smolts move through systems they will be exposed to varying lice densities. As a means of assessing infestation pressure along trajectories, we describe the development and application of towed sentinel cages (TSCs) in a Scottish sea loch containing salmonid aquaculture. Trial deployments took place over 3 yr (2016-2018), and levels of sea lice infestation were compared between methodologies. Oceanographic data was collected alongside TSCs to put the results into the environmental context that smolts and sea lice experienced during the tows. The sea lice infestation rates found from TSCs were comparable to those on contemporaneously deployed fixed sentinel cages. Thus, due to their practicability and consistency with other surveillance methods, TSCs could be used to improve the assessment of exposure risk along wild salmonid smolt migration trajectories, where these are known.

Process evaluation of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of multi-component weight management programme in adults with intellectual disabilities and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Providing effective weight management to adults with intellectual disabilities is necessary to challenge the high rates of obesity. The aim of this process evaluation was to explore the feasibility of conducting a full-scale clinical trial of the TAKE 5 multi-component weight management programme. METHODS: The study was a 12-month pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial. Adults with intellectual disabilities and obesity were randomised to either TAKE 5, which included an energy deficit diet (EDD) or Waist Winners Too, based on health education principles. A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted focussing on the reach, recruitment, fidelity, implementation, dose (delivered/received) and context. RESULTS: The study successfully recruited adults with intellectual disabilities. Both weight management programmes were delivered with high fidelity and implemented as intended. Only one weight management programme, TAKE 5, demonstrated potential efficacy in reducing body weight and body composition. The effectiveness was largely attributed to the EDD and social support from carers. CONCLUSIONS: The extensive process evaluation illustrated that a full-scale trial of a multi-component programme including an EDD is feasible and an acceptable approach to weight management for adults with intellectual disabilities and obesity.

Using biological-physical modelling for informing sea lice dispersal in Loch Linnhe, Scotland.

Sea lice are a constraint on the sustainable growth of Scottish marine salmonid aquaculture. As part of an integrated pest management approach, farms coordinate procedures within spatial units. We present observations of copepodids being at relatively greater density than nauplii in upper waters, which informs the development of surface layer sea lice transmission modelling of Loch Linnhe, Scotland, for informing farm parasite management. A hydrodynamic model is coupled with a biological particle-tracking model, with characteristics of plankton sea lice. Simulations are undertaken for May and October 2011-2013, forced by local wind data collected for those periods. Particles are continually released from positions representing farm locations, weighted by relative farm counts, over a 2-week period and tracked for a further 5 days. A comparison is made between modelled relative concentrations against physical and biological surveys to provide confidence in model outputs. Connectivity between farm locations is determined in order to propose potential coordination areas. Generally, connectivity depends on flow patterns in the loch and decreases with increased farm separation. The connectivity indices are used to estimate the origins of the sea lice population composition at each site, which may influence medicinal regimens to avoid loss of efficacy.

Generation of Paramoeba perurans clonal cultures using flow cytometry and confirmation of virulence.

Amoebic gill disease (AGD) in farmed Atlantic salmon is caused by the amoeba Paramoeba perurans. The recent establishment of in vitro culture techniques for P. perurans has provided a valuable tool for studying the parasite in detail. In this study, flow cytometry was used to generate clonal cultures from single-sorted amoeba, and these were used to successfully establish AGD in experimental Atlantic salmon. The clonal cultures displayed differences in virulence, based on gill scores. The P. perurans load on gills, determined by qPCR analysis, showed a positive relationship with gill score, and with clonal virulence, indicating that the ability of amoebae to proliferate and/or remain attached on gills may play a role in virulence. Gill scores based on gross signs and histopathological analysis were in agreement. No association between level of gill score and specific gill arch was observed. It was found that for fish with lower gill scores based on histopathological examination, gross examination and qPCR analysis of gills from the same fish were less successful in detecting lesions and amoebae, respectively.

A survey of wild marine fish identifies a potential origin of an outbreak of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia in wrasse, Labridae, used as cleaner fish on marine Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms.

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) was isolated from five species of wrasse (Labridae) used as biological controls for parasitic sea lice predominantly, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837), on marine Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms in Shetland. As part of the epidemiological investigation, 1400 wild marine fish were caught and screened in pools of 10 for VHSV using virus isolation. Eleven pools (8%) were confirmed VHSV positive from: grey gurnard, Eutrigla gurnardus L.; Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus L.; Norway pout, Trisopterus esmarkii (Nilsson); plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L.; sprat, Sprattus sprattus L. and whiting, Merlangius merlangus L. The isolation of VHSV from grey gurnard is the first documented report in this species. Nucleic acid sequencing of the partial nucleocapsid (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes was carried out for viral characterization. Sequence analysis confirmed that all wild isolates were genotype III the same as the wrasse and there was a close genetic similarity between the isolates from wild fish and wrasse on the farms. Infection from these local wild marine fish is the most likely source of VHSV isolated from wrasse on the fish farms.

A feasibility study of behavioural activation for depressive symptoms in adults with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Important work has been carried out adapting cognitive behavioural therapy for people with intellectual disabilities. However, there is a lack of alternative psychological therapies available for people with intellectual disabilities and emotional difficulties. Behavioural activation for depression is less reliant on verbal communication and focuses on increasing purposeful activity and reducing avoidance. METHOD: This feasibility study involved the development and piloting of an adapted manual of behavioural activation for people with intellectual disabilities. The intervention consisted of 10-12 sessions and a key adaptation was that the therapist worked with the clients alongside a significant other in their life, either a paid carer or family member. Baseline, post-intervention (3 months after entering the study) and 6-month quantitative follow-up data were obtained. Primary outcome data were gathered, concerning depressive symptoms, participants' levels of activity and general well-being. RESULTS: Twenty-three adults with intellectual disabilities with symptoms of depression were recruited from specialist health services. In terms of acceptability, the behavioural activation intervention was well received and only two individuals dropped out, with a further two lost to follow-up. The main measures of depression appeared to be sensitive to change. Pre- to post-intervention data showed a significant reduction in self-report of depressive symptoms with a strong effect size (r = 0.78), that was maintained at follow-up (r = 0.86). Positive change was also obtained for informant reports of depressive symptoms from pre- to post-intervention, with a strong effect size (r = 0.7). Once again, this positive change was maintained at follow-up (r = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggested that behavioural activation may be a feasible and worthwhile approach to tackling depression in people with intellectual disabilities. However, a randomised controlled trial would be required to establish its effectiveness, with more sensitive measurement of change in activity.

Development and assessment of a biophysical dispersal model for sea lice.

Salmon aquaculture in Scotland continues to increase; however, one of the potential limitations to its further sustainable growth is the ectoparasitic sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis. The industry in Scotland undertakes coordinated management procedures to control the levels of sea lice on farms in designated production areas. We developed a biophysical sea lice dispersal model for Loch Linnhe, one of the largest fjords on the west coast of Scotland, to provide further information to help establish more effective farm management areas. We successfully extend modelling principles previously applied to a small Scottish fjordic system. Modelling scenarios demonstrate heterogeneity in the distribution of sea lice within the system and simulations, suggesting that lice could be transmitted up to 30 km. The scenarios are assessed by comparing model predictions against lice sampled by both planktonic trawls and settlement on sentinel caged fish. The model predicts the ranked abundance of both planktonic and settled lice assuming that the lice input to the system is relative to host biomass. Data collection is ongoing for undertaking and assessing additional scenarios.

Cognitive behavioural therapy from the perspective of clients with mild intellectual disabilities: a qualitative investigation of process issues.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians working with clients who have mild intellectual disabilities (IDs) have shown growing enthusiasm for using a cognitive behavioural approach, amid increasing evidence of good treatment outcomes for this client group. However, very little is known about the views and experiences of clients with IDs who have undergone cognitive behavioural therapy. This study aims to explore the perspective of these clients. METHODS: Fifteen participants with borderline to mild IDs and problems of anxiety, depression and anger were interviewed regarding their experience of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Two semi-structured interviews were carried out in the first phase of therapy between session four and session nine. An interpretive phenomenological approach was taken to seek out themes from participants' own personal accounts. RESULTS: Participants valued the opportunity to talk about problems with their therapist and benefitted from therapeutic relationships characterised by warmth, empathy and validation. Participants identified areas of positive change; however, many thought that this may be short lived or not maintained beyond discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The supportive aspects of therapeutic relationships were particularly important to participants undergoing CBT. The clinical implications are considered.

Carers' perspectives of a weight loss intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities and obesity: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: To date, no studies have explored the role of carers in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and obesity during a weight loss intervention. The present study explored perceptions of carers supporting adults with ID, as they participated in a 6-month multi-component weight loss intervention (TAKE 5). METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the experiences of 24 carers. The transcripts were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the analysis: carers' perceptions of participants' health; barriers and facilitators to weight loss; and carers' perceptions of the weight loss intervention. Data analysis showed similarities between the experiences reported by the carers who supported participants who lost weight and participants who did not. Lack of sufficient support from people from the internal and external environment of individuals with ID and poor communication among carers, were identified as being barriers to change. The need for accessible resources tailored to aid weight loss among adults with ID was also highlighted. CONCLUSION: This study identified specific facilitators and barriers experienced by carers during the process of supporting obese adults with ID to lose weight. Future research could utilise these findings to inform appropriate and effective weight management interventions for individuals with ID.

Interpersonal sources of conflict in young people with and without mild to moderate intellectual disabilities at transition from adolescence to adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal conflict is a source of stress and contributes to poor mental health in people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Understanding the contexts in which conflict typically occurs can better equip services to help people with such difficulties. However, existing studies into the contexts of conflict have included participants with wide-ranging ages and may not reflect the experiences of young adults in particular. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six young adults (16-20 years) with intellectual disabilities and 20 non-disabled young adults completed a semi-structured interview about a recent experience of interpersonal conflict. Participants were asked to describe their beliefs and feelings about the event and their subsequent response. RESULTS: Participants with intellectual disabilities were more likely to encounter conflict with strangers or peers outside their friendship group and to describe incidents of aggression than non-disabled participants. They were also more likely to characterize the other person globally as 'bad' and to perceive the other's actions as being personally directed at them. Young women with intellectual disabilities were less likely to describe responding aggressively to incidents. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that young adults with intellectual disabilities are often the target of overt aggression from those outside their inner social sphere, while their non-disabled peers are more likely to experience conflict with people close to them. Young adults with intellectual disabilities may also be more likely to feel victimized by interpersonal conflict. Implications of these findings and limitations of the study are discussed.

Small cell carcinoma of the lung: macrophage-specific antigens suggest hemopoietic stem cell origin.

Four surface antigens previously recognized only in macrophages are present on human small cell lung carcinoma cells and tumors. Cancerous cells may arise from macrophage precursors in bone marrow, and these precursors migrate to lung to participate in the repair of damaged tissue produced by continuous heavy smoking. The characteristic presence of neuropeptides such as bombesin in small cell carcinoma, when considered along with these findings, presents new possibilities for the role of such peptides in nervous, endocrine, and immune system function.

Opiate agonists and antagonists discriminated by receptor binding in brain.

Receptor binding of opiate agonists and antagonists can be differentiated in vivo and in vitro. Administration of either rapidly elevates stereospecific [(3)H]dihydromorphine binding to mouse brain extracts by 40 to 100 percent, but antagonists are 10 to 1000 times more potent than agonists; as little as 0.02 milligram of naloxone per kilogram of body weight significantly enhances opiate receptor binding. Sodium enhances antagonist binding in vitro but decreases agonist binding, a qualitative difference that may be relevant to the divergent pharmacological properties of opiate agonists and antagonists.

Opiate receptor: demonstration in nervous tissue.

Tritiated naloxone, a powerful opiate antagonist, specifically binds to an opiate receptor of mammalian brain and guinea pig intestine. Competition for the opiate receptor by various opiates and their antagonists closely parallels their pharmacological potency. The opiate receptor is confined to nervous tissue.

Long-term treatment with lithium prevents the development of dopamine receptor supersensitivity.

Long-term treatment of rats with haloperidol produced an increased sensitivity to the locomotor and stereotypic effect of apomorphine. This behavioral dopaminergic supersensitivity was accompanied by increased binding of [3H] spiroperidol in the striatum. Rats treated concurrently with lithium and haloperidol failed to develop both behavioral sensitivity to apomorphine and increased striatal dopamine receptor binding. The ability of lighium to prevent recurrent manicdepressive episodes may be related, in part, to its ability to stabilize dopaminergic receptor sensitivity.

beta-Endorphin is associated with overeating in genetically obese mice (ob/ob) and rats (fa/fa).

Small doses of the opiate antagonist naloxone selectively abolished overeating in genetically obese mice (ob/ob) and rats (fa/fa). Elevated concentrations of the naturally occurring opiate beta-endorphin were found in the pituitaries of both obese species and in the blood plasma of the obese rats. Brain levels of beta-endorphin and Leu-enkephalin were unchanged. These data suggest that excess pituitary beta-endorphin may play a role in the development of the overeating and obesity syndrome.

(D-Ala2)-Met-enkephalinamide: a potent, long-lasting synthetic pentapeptide analgesic.

[D-Ala2]-Met-enkephalinamide (DALA), a synthetic enkephalin analog designed by in vitro analysis, binds to opiate receptors almost as tightly as methionine-enkephalin. Since it is not susceptible to degradation by brain enzymes, low doses (5 to 10 micrograms) cause profound, long-lasting, morphine-like analgesia when microinjected into rat brain.

High levels of intracellular bombesin characterize human small-cell lung carcinoma.

"Small cells" or "oat cells" characterize a virulent form of lung cancer and share many biochemical properties with peptide-secreting neurones. The neuropeptide bombesin is present in all small-cell lines examined, but not in other lung cancer cell lines, suggesting that bombesinergic precursor cells in lung may give rise to this disease.

Opiate receptor gradients in monkey cerebral cortex: correspondence with sensory processing hierarchies.

In order to obtain information on the possible functions of endogenous opiates in the primate cerebral cortex, we assessed the distribution of mu-like opiate receptors (which selectively bind 3H-labeled naloxone) and delta-like opiate receptors (which selectively bind 3H-labeled D-Ala2, D-Leu5-enkephalin) throughout the cerebral cortex of the rhesus monkey. Stereospecific [3H]naloxone binding sites increased in a gradient along hierarchically organized cortical systems that sequentially process modality-specific sensory information of a progressively more complex nature. Specific [3H]enkephalin binding sites, in contrast, were relatively evenly distributed throughout the cerebral cortex. These results, in combination with electrophysiological studies of monkeys and humans, suggest that mu-like opiate receptors may play a role in the affective filtering of sensory stimuli at the cortical level, that is, in emotion-induced selective attention.

Benzodiazepine receptor-mediated chemotaxis of human monocytes.

Benzodiazepines, which are widely prescribed for their antianxiety effects, are shown to be potent stimulators of human monocyte chemotaxis. The chemotactic effects of benzodiazepine receptor agonists were blocked by the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist PK-11195, suggesting that these effects are mediated by the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor. Diazepam was also active in inducing chemotaxis. Binding studies on purified monocytes revealed high-affinity peripheral benzodiazepine receptors, and the displacement potencies of various benzodiazepines correlated with their relative potencies in mediating chemotaxis. The demonstration of functional benzodiazepine receptors on human monocytes, together with recent evidence of receptor-mediated monocyte chemotaxis by other psychoactive peptides (such as opiate peptides), suggests a biochemical substrate for psychosomatic communication.

Nuclear localization of histamine in neonatal rat brain.

The concentration of histamine in the brains of neonatal rats is considerably higher than that in adults. Subcellular fractionation studies revealed that about 90 percent of the histamine content of neonatal rat brain is confined to the crude nuclear fraction obtained by differential fractionation. Purified nuclei prepared from these fractions retained 90 percent of their histamine content. The nuclear localization of histamine in the brains of neonatal rats suggests a function for histamine in modulating the growth processes of the neonatal brain.