Nest-building in breeding mice: Impact of macro- and micro-environment.

The housing conditions of laboratory mice must be strictly controlled in order to reduce the impact of pathophysiological changes that affect animal health and welfare, possibly resulting in increased variability within experimental results. One way to improve the activity and survival of laboratory mice is to provide nesting material. The objective of this study was to determine if nest-building quality could be used to detect changes in murine mating behaviour in a rodent facility under controlled conditions. Nesting scores of 847 cages with monogamous pairs from three different genetic backgrounds (129, B6 and BALB/c) of both sexes were correlated with 18 predefined variables. The effects on nest quality were evaluated using descriptive data analysis, correspondence analysis and ordinal logistic model fitting. The results showed a strong relationship between nest quality and nest position. Humidity, genetic background, cage change and the number and age of pups in the cage affected the nest-building scores. The most important indicators were cage change and relative humidity, both of which exerted significant negative effects on nest-building quality. Even though the criteria were well defined, the observer could still influence nest score appraisal. However, in a long-term observational study, observers could improve their assessment by training and acquiring greater experience in score assignment. Nest-building scores are easy to assess in the cage, with little discomfort to the animal. Moreover, the nest score is a valid indicator of the health and well-being of laboratory mice and can provide valuable support in the management of animal facilities.

Use of the ReSVinet Scale for parents and healthcare workers in a paediatric emergency service: a prospective study.

Introduction: Most scales for acute respiratory infection (ARI) are limited to healthcare worker (HCW) use for clinical decision-making. The Respiratory Syncytial Virus network (ReSVinet) Scale offers a version for parents that could potentially help as an early warning system. Objective: To determine whether or not the ReSVinet Scale for ARI in infants can be reliably used by HCWs and parents in an emergency service. Methods: A prospective study was done of infants with ARI who were admitted to a paediatric emergency room to assess the ReSVinet Scale when used by faculty (paediatric doctor-professors), residents (doctors doing their first specialty in paediatrics) and parents. Spearman's correlation and a weighted kappa coefficient were used to measure interobserver agreement. Internal consistency was also tested by Cronbach's alpha test. Results: Overall, 188 patients, 58% male, were enrolled. A Spearman's correlation of 0.92 for faculty and resident scoring and 0.64 for faculty or resident and parent scoring was found. The weighted kappa coefficients were 0.78 for faculty versus residents, 0.41 for faculty versus parents, and 0.41 for residents versus parents. Cronbach's alpha test was 0.67 for faculty, 0.62 for residents and 0.69 for parents. Conclusion: There was good correlation in the ReSVinet scores between health professionals when used in the paediatric emergency area. Agreement between parents and health professionals was found to be more variable. Future studies should focus on finding ways to improve its reliability when used by parents before the scale is used in the emergency room.

Doenças de glândulas salivares: estudo epidemiológico em um serviço de Estomatologia do sul do Brasil / Salivary gland diseases: epidemiological study in a Stomatology service in southern Brazil

Objetivo: realizar um levantamento epidemiológico das doenças de glândulas salivares por meio de análise de prontuários registrados em um serviço de Estomatologia do sul do Brasil. Métodos: a amostra foi composta por aproximadamente 24.000 prontuários de pacientes do Serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital São Lucas, atendidos no período de 1977 a 2017. Foram selecionados os prontuários que apresentassem as seguintes enfermidades de glândulas salivares: mucocele, rânula, sialolitíase, sialoadenite infecciosa, síndrome de Sjögren, sialometaplasia necrosante e neoplasias benignas ou malignas. Os dados coletados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial, utilizando o teste Qui-Quadrado. Resultados: das 817 enfermidades encontradas, 56,2% eram mucoceles, 11,1% sialoadenites infecciosas, 10,3% rânulas, 10,1% sialolitíases, 5,5% neoplasias benignas, 4,3% síndrome de Sjögren, 2,1% neoplasias malignas e 0,4% sialometaplasias necrosantes. O mucocele apresentou predileção pelo sexo masculino, enquanto a rânula e a síndrome de Sjögren foram mais associadas ao sexo feminino. As demais enfermidades não apresentaram predileção por sexo. A localização das lesões, as características clínicas e a idade dos pacientes acometidos foram também avaliadas. Conclusão: as doenças das glândulas salivares merecem destaque entre as enfermidades do sistema estomatognático devido à complexa anatomia dessas estruturas, à importância da saliva na homeostase bucal e ao comportamento clínico indolente das neoplasias malignas que acometem essas glândulas.(AU)

Objective: to perform an epidemiological survey of salivary gland diseases by analyzing medical records from a Stomatology Service in southern Brazil. Methods: the sample consisted of approximately 24,000 medical records of patients assisted at the Stomatology Service of the São Lucas Hospital between 1977 and 2017. The following salivary gland disorders were selected: mucocele, ranula, sialolithiasis, infectious sialadenitis, Sjögren's syndrome, necrotizing sialometaplasia, and benign or malignant neoplasms. The data collected were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using the chi-squared test. Results: from the 817 disorders found, 56.2% were mucocele, 11.1% sialadenitis, 10.3% ranula, 10.1% sialolithiasis, 5.5% benign neoplasms, 4.3% Sjögren's syndrome, 2.1% malignant neoplasms, and 0.4% necrotizing sialometaplasia. Mucocele was more prevalent in men, while ranula and Sjögren's syndrome were more associated with women. The other diseases did not present gender preference. The location of the lesions, clinical characteristics, and age of the patients affected were also assessed. Conclusion: salivary gland diseases deserve special attention among stomatognathic system disorders due to the complex anatomy of such structures, the importance of saliva in the oral homeostasis, and the indolent clinical behavior of the malignant neoplasms affecting these glands.(AU)