Effect of rubber mats and perforation in the lying area on claw and limb lesions of fattening pigs.

Claw and leg lesions are frequently observed in finishing pigs and are likely to compromise their welfare. Providing softer than the usual concrete flooring may reduce both the frequency and severity of these lesions. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of rubber mats and floor perforation in the lying area on claw and leg health of finishing pigs. A total of 240 Swiss Large White finishing pigs from on average 24.9 kg until 102.3 kg were used in four batches, with six groups of 10 animals per batch. The six experimental pens initially measured 1.85×3.55 m and were enlarged after 6 weeks to 1.85×5.25 m. In all pens, one third of the floor space was built as a defecating area consisting of a concrete floor with 15% perforation. The remaining two thirds of the pen were designed as a lying area whose floor quality differed between the pens. It either consisted of concrete elements or was covered with rubber mats, and perforation of both floor types was either 0%, 5% or 10%. All individuals were scored for claw and leg lesions at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the 12-week fattening period. Lesions were summarised in scores based on the results of a principal component analysis. The influence on lesion scores of floor material, amount of perforation in the lying area, assessment time, and sex was examined using mixed-models. The total claw lesion score and the total limb lesion score as well as the claw angle increased from the beginning to the end of the fattening period. The values for both scores were slightly lower for animals kept on rubber mats compared with animals kept on concrete floor. There was no effect of the percentage of perforation on the examined outcome variables. In conclusion, our results indicate that rubber mats in the lying area bring about improvements in some aspects of claw and leg health in fattening pigs, whereas there is no effect of floor perforation.

Analysis of behavioral changes in dairy cows associated with claw horn lesions.

Detecting lame cows is important in improving animal welfare. Automated tools are potentially useful to enable identification and monitoring of lame cows. The goals of this study were to evaluate the suitability of various physiological and behavioral parameters to automatically detect lameness in dairy cows housed in a cubicle barn. Lame cows suffering from a claw horn lesion (sole ulcer or white line disease) of one claw of the same hind limb (n=32; group L) and 10 nonlame healthy cows (group C) were included in this study. Lying and standing behavior at night by tridimensional accelerometers, weight distribution between hind limbs by the 4-scale weighing platform, feeding behavior at night by the nose band sensor, and heart activity by the Polar device (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) were assessed. Either the entire data set or parts of the data collected over a 48-h period were used for statistical analysis, depending upon the parameter in question. The standing time at night over 12 h and the limb weight ratio (LWR) were significantly higher in group C as compared with group L, whereas the lying time at night over 12 h, the mean limb difference (△weight), and the standard deviation (SD) of the weight applied on the limb taking less weight were significantly lower in group C as compared with group L. No significant difference was noted between the groups for the parameters of heart activity and feeding behavior at night. The locomotion score of cows in group L was positively correlated with the lying time and △weight, whereas it was negatively correlated with LWR and SD. The highest sensitivity (0.97) for lameness detection was found for the parameter SD [specificity of 0.80 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84]. The highest specificity (0.90) for lameness detection was present for Δweight (sensitivity=0.78; AUC=0.88) and LWR (sensitivity=0.81; AUC=0.87). The model considering the data of SD together with lying time at night was the best predictor of cows being lame, accounting for 40% of the variation in the likelihood of a cow being lame (sensitivity=0.94; specificity=0.80; AUC=0.86). In conclusion, the data derived from the 4-scale-weighing platform, either alone or combined with the lying time at night over 12 h, represent the most valuable parameters for automated identification of lame cows suffering from a claw horn lesion of one individual hind limb.

[Influence of floor surface and access to pasture on claw characteristics in dairy cows kept in cubicle housing systems].

This study aimed at investigating the effect of the floor type used in the walking area of cubicle housing systems and of access to pasture on claw dimensions and claw shape in dairy cows. Data were collected on 36 farms, 12 farms each fitted with mastic asphalt, slatted concrete or solid rubber flooring. With each floor type, cows on half of the farms had access to pasture in summer. The farms were visited three times at intervals of about 6 months and data were collected from 10 cows during each visit. Net growth of the claw horn was highest on rubber flooring and lowest on mastic asphalt. On all floor types, claw angles were larger after the winter period and smaller after the summer period. With regard to claw shape, floor type had an effect on the occurrence of flat, concave and overgrown claw soles. In conclusion, none of the investigated floor types was clearly superior to the others with regard to claw dimensions and claw shape, and access to pasture during summer (median 4 h per day) had only little influence on the investigated claw characteristics.

Cette étude avait pour but de déterminer l'influence du sol dans la zone de sortie ainsi que celle de la mise au pâturage sur les dimensions et la forme des onglons de vaches laitières. Le recueil des données s'est fait dans 36 exploitations avec une stabulation libre à logettes, 12 avec une zone de sortie en asphalte,12 en béton et 12 recouverte de matelas de caoutchouc fixés. Indépendamment de la qualité du sol, les vaches avaient, sur la moitié des exploitations, accès au pâturage durant l'été. On a recueilli sur chaque exploitation des données sur 10 vaches à trois reprises, avec un intervalle d'environ 6 mois. La croissance des onglons était maximale sur les sols en caoutchouc et minimale sur l'asphalte. Quel que soit le type de sol, l'angle de la paroi était plus grand à la fin de la période hivernale et plus petit à la fin de l'été. Le type de sol avait aussi une influence sur l'apparition d'onglons plats, concaves ou trop longs. Dans l'ensemble toutefois, aucun des types de sol ne se révélait nettement supérieur et la mise au pâturage (en moyenne 4 heures par jour) n'avait qu'une faible influence sur les dimensions et la taille des onglons.

Effects of frequency and duration of outdoor exercise on the prevalence of hock lesions in tied Swiss dairy cows.

Injuries around the tarsal joint are common in dairy cows kept in tie stalls. This study investigated the influence of the frequency and duration of outdoor exercise on the prevalence of hock lesions in tied Swiss dairy cows. Over a 1-year period (from January to December), cows on 66 farms were examined a total of six times (once every 2 months) for the number and severity of hock lesions (hairless patches, scabs and open wounds, swellings). The prevalence of scabs and wounds (mean 2.1 scabs per cow and farm, range 0.3-4.1) was negatively associated with the duration of outdoor exercise, and positively associated with its frequency. It was also significantly affected by the time of visit and the type of bedding (straw being better than other materials). With increasing length of the lying area, the prevalence of scabs and wounds decreased. Based on the interpretation of the final model, it is suggested that a minimum of 50h spent outdoors over a 4-week period is necessary to have a marked result on the prevalence of hock lesions.

Is erectile dysfunction a marker for cardiovascular disease?

There is now significant evidence that erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a symptom of cardiovascular disease, and can act as a marker for disease progression. National Health Service (NHS) prescribing restrictions on treatments for ED have recently been reviewed by the Department of Health, and current arrangements will not change. Unrestricted availability of licensed treatments for ED on the NHS, irrespective of the cause of the ED, may encourage men to present for investigation, enabling early detection of cardiovascular disease. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra), an effective treatment for ED, can also have a direct beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease. Unrestricted NHS availability of ED treatments such as sildenafil could facilitate greater achievement of National Service Framework targets for coronary heart disease.

Behaviour and leg injuries in dairy cows kept in cubicle systems with straw bedding or soft lying mats.

In order to reduce straw input, soft lying mats are used increasingly instead of straw bedding in cubicle systems for dairy cows. This study aimed at comparing different types of soft lying mats with straw bedding regarding cow behaviour and leg injuries. Data were collected on five farms with straw bedding and on 13 farms using four types of soft lying mats consisting of different materials. On each farm, lying behaviour of 10 cows was recorded automatically during 3 days by means of a pneumatically operated resting sensor fitted in a belt. In addition, standing up and lying down behaviour of cows was quantified by direct observations, and all cows on a given farm were checked once for leg injuries.There were no significant differences between cows kept in cubicle systems with soft lying mats and straw bedding regarding the total time spent lying per day and the number of lying bouts per day. Standing up and lying down behaviour also did not differ between cows with access to soft lying mats and straw bedding. Leg injuries were most frequent in the tarsal and carpal joints. Cows kept in cubicle systems with soft lying mats had a significantly higher incidence of both hairless patches more than 2 cm in diameter (P<0.001) and scabs or wounds less than 2 cm in diameter (P<0.001) located in the tarsal joints than cows in cubicle systems with straw bedding. With the carpal joints, on the other hand, the incidence of leg injuries did not differ significantly between these two housing conditions. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that soft lying mats are equivalent to straw bedding in terms of cow behaviour but less favourable with respect to leg injuries located in the tarsal joints.

The economics of employing a counsellor in general practice: analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Counselling is currently adopted in many general practices, despite limited evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness. AIM: To compare direct and indirect costs of counsellors and general practitioners (GPs) in providing care to people with emotional problems. METHOD: We carried out a prospective, randomized controlled trial of non-directive counselling and routine general practice care in 14 general practices in north London. Counsellors adhered to a Rogerian model of counselling. The counselling sessions ranged from one to 12 sessions over 12 weeks. As reported elsewhere, there were no differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Therefore, we conducted a cost minimisation analysis. We present only the economic outcomes in this paper. Main outcome measures were cost data (service utilisation, travel, and work absence) at baseline, three months, and nine months. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six patients with emotional problems, mainly depression, took part. Seventy patients were randomised to the counsellors and 66 to the GPs. The average direct and indirect costs for the counsellor was 162.09 Pounds more per patient after three months compared with costs for the GP group; however, over the following six months the counsellor group was 87.00 Pounds less per patient than the GP group. Over the total nine-month period, the counsellor group remained more expensive per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Referral to counselling is no more clinically effective or expensive than GP care over a nine-month period in terms of direct plus indirect costs. However, further research is needed to establish indirect costs of introducing a counsellor into general practice.

Conducting randomized trials in general practice: methodological and practical issues.

The evaluation of the outcome of health services technologies is a requirement for their efficient provision in clinical practice. The most reliable evidence for treatment efficacy comes from randomized trials. Randomized trials in general practice pose particular methodological and practical difficulties. In this paper, we discuss how best to plan and manage a clinical trial in this setting. We base our discussion on our experience of conducting randomized trials to evaluate the effectiveness of brief psychotherapy in general practice.

The role of the general practitioner in the community care of people with HIV infection and AIDS: a comparative study of high- and low-prevalence areas in England.

BACKGROUND: Policy for the care of people suffering from HIV and AIDS has changed over the past decade. Schemes for shared primary and secondary care have been met with varying success, and patients may be reluctant to become involved. No systematic evaluation comparing the views of primary care providers and users in areas of varying HIV prevalence has been published. AIM: To examine the role of general practice in areas of England with low and high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence and to compare barriers to general practice care in each area. METHOD: We used focus groups, semistructured questionnaires and interviews in north London (high HIV prevalence) and Nottingham (low HIV prevalence). RESULTS: Four focus groups took place in London. A total of 411 general practitioners (GPs) in London and 405 in Nottingham replied to postal questionnaires. Overall, 121 primary care staff in 40 London practices and 26 staff in five Nottingham practices were interviewed. In all, 54 people infected with HIV were interviewed in London and 20 in Nottingham. Providers and users regarded the 24-hour availability and the familiar environment of general practice as its key assets. Lack of expertise and time were its disadvantages. Providers were concerned about inadequate communication with specialist services. Although providers were concerned about confidentiality, whether they had liberal and sympathetic attitudes was more important in deciding whether people with HIV used the service. In the low-prevalence area, general practice involvement was the result of individual initiatives, and practices were not integrated into specialist care. In the high-prevalence area, HIV care was more usual in general practice, but there was also little integration with HIV services. CONCLUSIONS: In high-prevalence districts, a strategy to make HIV care routine for all GPs may be appropriate. In low-prevalence areas, a network of selected, strategically located, relatively high-involvement practices may be more effective in meeting the primary care needs of people with HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Randomised controlled assessment of non-directive psychotherapy versus routine general-practitioner care.

BACKGROUND: We compared the efficacy of and patients' satisfaction with general-practice-based psychotherapists with those of general practitioners in providing treatment to people with emotional difficulties. METHODS: We carried out a prospective, randomised, controlled trial of brief, non-directive psychotherapy and routine general-practice care. Therapists adhered to a non-directive Rogerian model of psychotherapy. Between one and 12 sessions of psychotherapy were given over 12 weeks in 14 general practices in north London, UK. Of 136 patients with emotional difficulties, mainly depression, 70 patients were randomly assigned to the therapist and 66 to the general practitioner. Depression, anxiety, other mental-disorder symptoms, and social adjustment were measured by self-report at baseline, 3 months, and 9 months. Patients' satisfaction was also measured by self-report at 3 and 9 months. FINDINGS: All patients improved significantly over time. There were no significant differences between the groups receiving brief psychotherapy and routine general-practitioner care. Patients assigned brief psychotherapy were more satisfied with the help they received than those assigned to the general practitioner at both 3 and 9 months' follow-up (mean scores on satisfaction scale 50.9 [SD 7.9] vs 44.4 [9.8] and 45.6 [9.4] vs 37.1 [11.2], respectively). INTERPRETATION: General-practitioner care is as effective as brief psychotherapy for patients usually referred by doctors to practice-based psychotherapists. Patients with emotional difficulties prefer brief psychotherapy from a counsellor to care from their general practitioner.

Reactivity of monoclonal antibodies to proteins of a neurotropic bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) strain and to proteins of representative BHV-1 strains.

15 monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) were induced with the neuropathogenic strain N 569 of bovine herpesvirus 1 type 3 (BHV-1.3). Nine of them could be shown by radioimmunoprecipitation assay to react with viral glycoproteins and two of these McAbs were able to neutralize strain N 569. The reactivity of these 15 monoclonals was compared with 11 monoclonal antibodies induced with a BHV-1.1 strain. The available monoclonal antibodies made it possible to characterize BHV-1.3 and to classify BHV-1 into three types, namely BHV-1.1, BHV-1.2 and BHV-1.3. This confirmed the results based upon restriction endonuclease analysis and viral protein patterns obtained earlier. The main antigenic differences of representative virus strains were found on two glycoproteins designated 3 and 12. Caprine herpesvirus 1, included in this study because of its serological relationship to BHV-1, differed fundamentally from BHV-1 on the grounds of McAb reactivity.