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Background “Impulse Control Disorders” are behavioral conditions (e.g., gambling, hypersexuality), which are increasingly reported as reactions to dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease. The Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's disease focuses only on 6 behaviors. Nonetheless, impulsivity could affect the entire range of human practices. Because of their heterogeneity and undefined boundaries, it is not clear what conditions should be considered as Impulse Control Disorders. This results in poorly standardized scientific literature and underdiagnosis. Objective We aimed to create a comprehensive list of possible manifestations of drug-induced Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's disease and test it on pharmacosurveillance data. Methods PubMed was used to identify reviews in English about Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's disease. Mentioned conditions were charted and translated to the lexicon of MedDRA, ICD-11, and DSM-5. The relevant MedDRA terms were used to test potential association with dopamine agonists on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Results 50 reviews published between 2001 and 2020 were identified. 66 conditions were collected as possible Impulse Control Disorders. Pathological gambling, shopping, eating and sexuality, dopamine dysregulation syndrome, hobbyism and punding were the most frequently mentioned, together with leisure activities, body-focused compulsivity, disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders, and substance abuse. All these conditions were disproportionately reported with dopamine agonists, except for substance abuse. Conclusions We defined a potential extended list of ICDs, which, along with its conversion to international taxonomies, can support the identification of drug-induced conditions in pharmacovigilance archives, as well as monitoring processes in clinical practice.

The European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement No. HEALTH-F2-2010-241909 (EUGEI); The Spanish sample was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAM16PE07CP1, PI16/02012, PI19/024) (...), Velthorst, E., Mollon, J., Murray, R.M., de Haan, L., Germeys, I.M., Glahn, D.C., Arango, C., van der Ven, E., Di Forti, M., Bernardo, M., Guloksuz, S., Delespaul, P., Mezquida, G., Amoretti, S., Bobes, J., Saiz, P.A., García-Portilla, M.P., Santos, J.L., Jiménez-López, E., Sanjuan, J., Aguilar, E.J., Arrojo, M., Carracedo, A., López, G., González-Peñas, J., Parellada, M., Atbaşoğlu, C., Saka, M.C., Üçok, A., Alptekin, K., Akdede, B., Binbay, T., Altınyazar, V., Ulaş, H., Yalınçetin, B., Gümüş-Akay, G., Beyaz, B.C., Soygür, H., Cankurtaran, E.Ş., Kaymak, S.U., Maric, N.P., Mihaljevic, M.M., Petrovic, S.A., Mirjanic, T., Del-Ben, C.M., Ferraro, L., Gayer-Anderson, C., Jones, P.B., Jongsma, H.E., Kirkbride, J.B., La Cascia, C., Lasalvia, A., Tosato, S., Llorca, P.-M., Menezes, P.R., Morgan, C., Quattrone, D., Menchetti, M., Selten, J.-P., Szöke, A., Tarricone, I., Tortelli, A., McGuire, P., Valmaggia, L., Kempton, M.J., van der Gaag, M., Riecher-Rössler, A., Bressan, R.A., Barrantes-Vidal, N., Nelson, B., McGorry, P., Pantelis, C., Krebs, M.-O., Ruhrmann, S., Sachs, G., Rutten, B.P.F., van Os, J., Alizadeh, B.Z., van Amelsvoort, T., Bartels-Velthuis, A.A., Bruggeman, R., van Beveren, N.J., Luykx, J.J., Cahn, W., Simons, C.J.P., Kahn, R.S., Schirmbeck, F., van Winkel, R., Calem, M., Tognin, S., Modinos, G., Pisani, S., Kraan, T.C., van Dam, D.S., Burger, N., Amminger, G.P., Politis, A., Goodall, J., Borgwardt, S., Studerus, E., Gadelha, A., Brietzke, E., Asevedo, G., Asevedo, E., Zugman, A., Domínguez-Martínez, T., Monsonet, M., Cristóbal-Narváez, P., Racioppi, A., Kwapil, T.R., Kazes, M., Daban, C., Bourgin, J., Gay, O., Mam-Lam-Fook, C., Nordholm, D., Rander, L., Krakauer, K., Glenthøj, L.B., Glenthøj, B., Gebhard, D., Arnhold, J., Klosterkötter, J., Lasser, I., Winklbaur, B., Reichenberg, A., EU-GEI High Risk Study

Significant progress has been made in recent years demonstrating an all-optical high sensitivity Radio Frequency (RF) sensor exploiting the Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) effect in an atomic vapor. In order to exploit the potential of these Rydberg RF receivers in practical telecommunications applications, it is necessary to operate these devices outside of a sophisticated optics laboratory and to use rugged components in a noisy environment. We present a simple analytic model for the operation of a sensitive Rydberg RF receiver to predict the optical modulation in response to an RF signal. We show that the optical modulation depth can be maximized using an optimum coupling intensity. The optical modulation depth drops off rapidly as the RF source is detuned away from resonance. By detuning the coupling frequency to compensate for the RF detuning we demonstrate that the useful RF bandwidth of the receiver can be significantly extended. We measure this variation in optical response using a Rubidium vapor at a 15GHz RF carrier frequency. Using readily available optical components we obtain good agreement with our model. This convenient analytic approach will simplify the design and operation of Rydberg RF receivers as sensitive components in future 5G mobile communications, particularly for the power-limited uplink from mobile device to base-station.

Leptin regulates body weight and several physiological processes including reproduction. We evaluated the circulating levels of leptin in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches as well as their correlation with body weight, food intake and number of foetuses. Nineteen healthy German shepherd bitches were used and divided in two groups (pregnant n=12 and non-pregnant n=7). Blood samples were collected every 15days starting from ovulation (Day 0) throughout pregnancy (pregnant group, P) or throughout luteal phase (non-pregnant group, NP) In pregnant bitches, leptin concentrations increased from the day of ovulation (1.32±0.06ng/ml) up to day 45 (1.51±0.06ng/ml; p&nbsp

Background: Canine thymomas are associated with multiple paraneoplastic syndromes, among which myasthenia gravis is the most common. Acquired myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine receptors antibodies are the most commonly formed, but the production of antistriational antibodies binding to skeletal and cardiac muscle proteins has also been recorded both in humans and dogs. An association between the occurrence of antistriational antibodies and a severe form of myocarditis, giant cell myocarditis, has been described in humans. Case Description: A 4-year-old mixed-breed dog was referred because of one month history of exercise-induced weakness, hypersalivation and regurgitation. The neurologic examination was indicative of a neuromuscular junction disease, and myasthenia gravis was suspected. A Computed Tomographic scan examination showed the presence of a megaoesophagus and a thymic mass. Serum antibodies against acetylcholine receptors confirmed the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Treatment with pyridostigmine was started, and the thymic mass was surgically excised, and a diagnosis of thymoma was confirmed by histology. 24 hours after surgery, the dog developed a third-degree atrioventricular block. Severe arrhythmia and increased troponin serum levels suggested myocarditis which rapidly led to cardiopulmonary arrest. Histopathologic examination of the heart, esophagus and diaphragm revealed a lymphocytic and macrophagic infiltration, consistent with myocarditis and polymyositis. Scattered rare giant multinucleated cells were also detected in the myocardium. Conclusions: To the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and giant cell-like myocarditis in a dog.

Objective To assess the clinical utility of neostigmine methylsulfate administration in the diagnosis of suspected acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) in dogs and cats. Design Retrospective study (2017-2019). Setting Five university teaching hospitals and 2 private referral hospitals. Animals Twenty-two dogs and 3 cats. Criteria for inclusion were clinical signs consistent with acquired MG, performance of a neostigmine challenge and acetylcholine receptor antibody titers. Interventions None. Measurements & main results The route of neostigmine administration was recorded. Response to neostigmine challenge was determined via sequential evaluation of muscle strength and ambulation following administration of neostigmine methylsulfate. Response to neostigmine challenge was compared to acetylcholine receptor antibody titers, which were used as the biochemical gold standard in this study. Sixteen out of 22 dogs were diagnosed with acquired MG. Thirteen of 16 had a strong positive response to neostigmine challenge whereas 3 of 16 had no response. Two out of 3 dogs with polymyositis also had a strong positive response to neostigmine challenge. Weak positive results were seen with intracranial neoplasia (n = 1) and a dog with dilated cardiomyopathy and coxofemoral joint disease (n = 1). One cat was diagnosed with acquired MG and had a positive response to neostigmine challenge. Two cats had no response to neostigmine challenge and were diagnosed with alternate conditions. Two cats were premedicated with glycopyrrolate, one of which had a mild adverse response to neostigmine challenge (sialorrhea and mild transient tremors). Three out of 22 dogs had minimal adverse effects (sialorrhea and 1 dog with muscle tremors). Conclusions The neostigmine challenge appears to be safe and viable alternative to the previously utilized edrophonium challenge, particularly when weak positive responses are considered negative for acquired MG. Polymyositis cases may have a false positive response to neostigmine challenge.

Reliable and measurable animal-based measures (ABMs) are essential for assessing animal welfare. This study aimed at proposing ABMs for dromedary camels identifying their possible associations with management. Data were collected at a permanent camel market; a total of 76 pens and 528 camels were evaluated. ABMs were collected for each welfare principle (i.e., good feeding, good housing, good health, appropriate behavior), while resources or management-based measures were collected at three levels of investigations (animal, herd, or caretakers). Associations were calculated by generalized linear models. Body condition score and thirst index (ABMs of good feeding) resulted negatively associated with short caretaker’s experience, dirty bedding, limited shaded space, feeding and water space, and space allowance (P

Background Recent guidelines suggested a wider use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) than previously, but naturalistic data on the consequences of LAI use in terms of discontinuation rates and associated factors are still sparse, making it hard for clinicians to be informed on plausible treatment courses. Objective Our objective was to assess, under real-world clinical circumstances, LAI discontinuation rates over a period of 12 months after a first prescription, reasons for discontinuation, and associated factors. Methods The STAR Network ‘Depot Study’ was a naturalistic, multicentre, observational prospective study that enrolled subjects initiating a LAI without restrictions on diagnosis, clinical severity or setting. Participants from 32 Italian centres were assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Psychopathology, drug attitude and treatment adherence were measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Drug Attitude Inventory and the Kemp scale, respectively. Results The study followed 394 participants for 12 months. The overall discontinuation rate at 12 months was 39.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34.4–44.3), with paliperidone LAI being the least discontinued LAI (33.9%; 95% CI 25.3–43.5) and olanzapine LAI the most discontinued (62.5%; 95% CI 35.4–84.8). The most frequent reason for discontinuation was onset of adverse events (32.9%; 95% CI 25.6–40.9) followed by participant refusal of the medication (20.6%; 95% CI 14.6–27.9). Medication adherence at baseline was negatively associated with discontinuation risk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.853; 95% CI 0.742–0.981; p = 0.026), whereas being prescribed olanzapine LAI was associated with increased discontinuation risk compared with being prescribed paliperidone LAI (HR 2.156; 95% CI 1.003–4.634; p = 0.049). Conclusions Clinicians should be aware that LAI discontinuation is a frequent occurrence. LAI choice should be carefully discussed with the patient, taking into account individual characteristics and possible obstacles related to the practicalities of each formulation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40263-021-00809-w.

Objectives: \ud A previous single-country pilot study indicated serum anti-GM2 and anti-GA1 anti-glycolipid antibodies as potential biomarkers for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis. This study aims to validate these findings in a large geographically heterogenous cohort.\ud \ud Materials and Methods: \ud Sera from 175 dogs clinically diagnosed with acute canine polyradiculoneuritis, 112 dogs with other peripheral nerve, cranial nerve or neuromuscular disorders and 226 neurologically normal dogs were screened for anti-glycolipid antibodies against 11 common glycolipid targets to determine the immunoglobulin G anti-glycolipid antibodies with the highest combined sensitivity and specificity for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis.\ud \ud Results: \ud Anti-GM2 anti-glycolipid antibodies reached the highest combined sensitivity and specificity (sensitivity: 65.1%, 95% confidence interval 57.6 to 72.2%; specificity: 90.2%, 95% confidence interval 83.1 to 95.0%), followed by anti-GalNAc-GD1a anti-glycolipid antibodies (sensitivity: 61.7%, 95% confidence interval 54.1 to 68.9%; specificity: 89.3%, 95% confidence interval 82.0 to 94.3%) and these anti-glycolipid antibodies were frequently present concomitantly. Anti-GA1 anti-glycolipid antibodies were detected in both acute canine polyradiculoneuritis and control animals. Both for anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a anti-glycolipid antibodies, sex was found a significantly associated factor with a female to male odds ratio of 2.55 (P=0.0096) and 3.00 (P=0.0198), respectively. Anti-GalNAc-GD1a anti-glycolipid antibodies were more commonly observed in dogs unable to walk (odds ratio 4.56; P=0.0076).\ud \ud Clinical Significance: \ud Anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a immunoglobulin G anti-glycolipid antibodies represent serum biomarkers for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis.

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Research has indicated that craving is one of the strongest predictors of treatment outcome and relapse in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) but there is little consensus on the factors that may influence its activation and escalation. Research has also shown that desire thinking is an important cognitive process which may exacerbate craving in problem drinkers. The aim of present study was to explore, for the first time, the role of desire thinking in prospectively predicting relapse, craving and binge drinking in patients receiving treatment for AUD. One hundred and thirty-five patients admitted to two rehabilitation centres and two outpatient services for addiction and mental health problems were administered baseline, treatment completion and three months follow-up measures of anxiety and depression, AUD severity, binge drinking frequency, craving and desire thinking. Results indicated that the verbal perseveration component of desire thinking at treatment completion was the only significant predictor of relapse at follow-up over and above baseline AUD severity and binge drinking frequency. Furthermore, the imaginal prefiguration component of desire thinking and craving levels at treatment completion were found to predict craving levels at follow-up independently of AUD severity and binge drinking frequency at baseline. Finally, both the imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration components of desire thinking at treatment completion were found to be the only predictors of binge drinking frequency at follow-up independently of AUD severity and binge drinking frequency at baseline. Treatments for AUD should aim to reduce desire thinking in people to enhance clinical outcomes and reduce relapse risk.

This study, based on the 'Servizi Territoriali Associati per la Ricerca' (STAR) Network Depot Study nationwide baseline data, explored whether individual symptoms severity and clusters might influence the prescription of paliperidone palmitate 1-month (PP1M) vs. aripiprazole monohydrate. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used to assess psychopathology and relevant symptoms clusters. Drug Attitude Inventory, 10 items, was used to test attitude towards medications. Adherence to treatments was rated according to the Kemp seven-point scale. We assessed for eligibility 451 individuals and, among them, we included 195 subjects (n = 117 who started PPM1 and n = 78 aripiprazole monohydrate). Individuals were comparable in terms of age, gender, treatment years, recent hospitalizations, previous long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatments, additional oral treatments, attitude toward drugs, medication adherence, and alcohol/substance-related comorbidities. Subjects starting PP1M presented higher BPRS overall (P = 0.009), positive (P = 0.015), and negative (P = 0.010) symptom scores compared to subjects starting aripiprazole monohydrate. Results were confirmed by appropriate regression models and propensity score matching analysis. No differences were found comparing the other BPRS subscale scores: affect, resistance, and activation. Clinicians may be more prone to prescribe PPM1, rather than aripiprazole monohydrate, to subjects showing higher overall symptom severity, including positive and negative symptoms. No additional clinical factors influenced prescribing attitudes in our sample.

This study aimed to apply a protocol for assessing camel welfare, to develop a scoring system for the welfare measures, to produce overall assessment indices, and to classify the animal units (i.e., pens) according to their welfare level. A total of 105 measures were collected at Herd level from 76 pens at a market in Qatar. The pens held 528 camels, 132 of which were evaluated at a deeper level (i.e., Animal level). Out of the 105 measures, 71 were selected, scored, and aggregated to reach a Total Welfare Index (TWI) for each pen. The TWI ranged from 46.2 to 69.8. The Good Feeding index, including measures related to prolonged thirst and prolonged hunger, was the most critical (p &lt, 0.001), while the Good Health index, including measures related to the absence of injuries, disease and pain, was the less problematic (p &lt, 0.001). However, most of the pens were classified as “unsatisfactory” (61.8%) and none as “excellent”. Body Condition Score (BCS), Thirst Index, disease and physical injuries, presence of a shelter, and cleanliness of bedding were the measures which influenced the pens’ classification the most (p &lt, 0.05). The proposed model seems useful in the identification of camel welfare issues. Further applications, as well as the involvement of many scientists and stakeholders, are needed to refine and validate the protocol and its indices.

Author(s): Marrone, Federico; Alfonso, Giuseppe; Barbagallo, Rosario; Brandmayr, Pietro; Bruni, Giacomo; Costa, Simone; Farina, Giovanni; Gerecke, Reinhard; Iannarelli, Angelina; Mazza, Giuseppe; Mazzei, Antonio; Menchetti, Mattia; Moretti, Valerio; Mori, Emiliano; Novaga, Riccardo; Pecoraro, Marco; Schifani, Enrico; Stoch, Fabio; Vecchioni, Luca | Abstract: Scarce data are currently available about the distribution of the Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana in Italy, and most of the known occurrence localities are based on records collected in the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century, which were not confirmed in the last decades, mostly due to a lack of surveys. Accordingly, the available knowledge on the distribution of the species is far from being updated and representative, although a significant negative trend of H. verbana throughout the country is supposed. The lack of sound distribution data is a significant shortfall, which hinders the implementation of the monitoring of the species as required by the Article 17 of the “Habitats Directive” on the species of Union concern. To provide recent, validated distributional data for the Mediterranean medicinal leech in Italy to be used as baseline data for further surveys and monitoring, we present herein a set of unpublished observations collected in the last decades in peninsular Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Moreover, we report observation of H. verbana feeding on amphibians, a feeding habit to date poorly documented for the Mediterranean medicinal leech. Based on both published and novel data, H. verbana is characterised by a large but fragmented distribution in Italy. Therefore, dedicated monitoring programs and the collection of validated occasional observations are highly desirable to get a clearer picture of the real distribution of the species.

Background Antidepressant medication and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) are both recommended interventions in depression treatment guidelines based on literature reviews and meta-analyses. However, ‘conventional’ meta-analyses comparing their efficacy are limited by their reliance on reported study-level information and a narrow focus on depression outcome measures assessed at treatment completion. Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis, considered the gold standard in evidence synthesis, can improve the quality of the analyses when compared with conventional meta-analysis. Aims We describe the protocol for a systematic review and IPD meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of antidepressants and IPT for adult acute-phase depression across a range of outcome measures, including depressive symptom severity as well as functioning and well-being, at both post-treatment and follow-up (PROSPERO: CRD42020219891). Method We will conduct a systematic literature search in PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify randomised clinical trials comparing antidepressants and IPT in the acute-phase treatment of adults with depression. We will invite the authors of these studies to share the participant-level data of their trials. One-stage IPD meta-analyses will be conducted using mixed-effects models to assess treatment effects at post-treatment and follow-up for all outcome measures that are assessed in at least two studies. Conclusions This will be the first IPD meta-analysis examining antidepressants versus IPT efficacy. This study has the potential to enhance our knowledge of depression treatment by comparing the short- and long-term effects of two widely used interventions across a range of outcome measures using state-of-the-art statistical techniques.

To assess whether CC is more effective at reducing suicidal ideation in people with depression compared with usual care, and whether study and patient factors moderate treatment effects. We searched Medline, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL from inception to March 2020 for Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) that compared the effectiveness of CC with usual care in depressed adults, and reported changes in suicidal ideation at 4 to 6 months post-randomisation. Mixed-effects models accounted for clustering of participants within trials and heterogeneity across trials. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020201747. We extracted data from 28 RCTs (11,165 patients) of 83 eligible studies. We observed a small significant clinical improvement of CC on suicidal ideation, compared with usual care (SMD, -0.11 [95%CI, -0.15 to -0.08]; I , 0·47% [95%CI 0.04% to 4.90%]). CC interventions with a recognised psychological treatment were associated with small reductions in suicidal ideation (SMD, -0.15 [95%CI -0.19 to -0.11]). CC was more effective for reducing suicidal ideation among patients aged over 65 years (SMD, - 0.18 [95%CI -0.25 to -0.11]). Primary care based CC with an embedded psychological intervention is the most effective CC framework for reducing suicidal ideation and older patients may benefit the most. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.]

Recent foodborne pathogen outbreaks associated with dry pet food and treats have focused the attention on these products as vehicles of pathogens for both pets and their owners. This study investigates the purchasing habits of dog owners and determines if and in what form pet snacks can be potentially dangerous for humans, especially for children. For these purposes, questionnaires collected from 406 dog owners were evaluated and microbiological analyses were performed on 120 dry pet snacks. The shape of the pet snack affects the purchase (median score, Mdn = 6.4) and the star bone was the preferred one (Mdn = 7.1). Most of the participants (76.0%; p < 0.001) stated that snacks are attractive to their children and that the possibility for children to get in contact with pet snacks is rare, but not implausible (Mdn = 3.1). Indeed, more than 6% of respondents admitted that there had been incidents of involuntary ingestion of pet snacks, with fever and gastrointestinal manifestations. Microbiological analyses showed that 119 dry pet snacks analyzed of a total of 120 (99.2%) were in good sanitary condition except for one sample where the presence of Listeria ivanovii was confirmed. The upward trend in the presence of pets in households and the strong and continuous growth in value and volume of the pet food market led researchers to analyze possible public health issues. Children and infants in particular are the most exposed subjects as they are more likely to come into contact with pet snacks, attracted by a shape similar to that of a toy. For this reason, although our findings did not highlight important microbiological contamination of pet snacks, it would be useful to standardize food safety criteria with those for human food from a One Health perspective.

The literature is lacking data concerning the prognosis in cats suffering from naturally occurring acute onset of thoracolumbar (TL) spinal cord injury that are undergoing rehabilitation therapy. Therefore, we investigated the effect of physical rehabilitation in cats suffering from naturally occurring TL spinal cord injury. The medical records of 36 cats with acute onset of TL spinal cord injury that were selected for rehabilitation treatment were reviewed. Twenty-nine cats underwent an intensive physical rehabilitation protocol in the clinic (group 1), whereas the owners of seven cats declined physical rehabilitation (group 2). In group 1, seven cats had pelvic limb deep pain perception (DPP), which was significantly associated with the functional recovery of voluntary ambulatory status (p = 0.010) and voluntary micturition (p &lt, 0.001). Spinal walking was achieved in 10/22 (45%) of the cats without DPP, and none regained voluntary micturition. In group 2, no cats regained ambulatory status or voluntary micturition, although pelvic limb DPP was present in three patients. Treatment with a clinic-based rehabilitation program and the presence of a crossed extensor reflex were significantly associated with a higher possibility of regaining functional ambulatory status (p &lt, 0.010), but there was no difference in the recovery of voluntary micturition between the groups. Thus, cats with severe, naturally occurring, acute onset of TL spinal cord injury may benefit from physical rehabilitation. In the case of the loss of DPP, the acquisition of spinal walking is possible, despite the high possibility of a persistent neurologically dysfunctional bladder.

The COVID-19 outbreak has rapidly progressed worldwide finding the health system, scientists and society unprepared to face a little-known, fast spreading, and extremely deadly virus. Italy is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, resulting in healthcare facilities bearing heavy burdens and severe restrictive measures. Despite efforts to clarify the virus transmission, especially in indoor scenarios, several aspects of SARS-CoV-2 spread are still rudimentary. This study evaluated the contamination of the air and surfaces by SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the COVID-19 isolation ward of a hospital in Milan, Italy. A total of 42 air and surface samples were collected inside five different zones of the ward including contaminated (COVID-19 patients' area), semi-contaminated (undressing room), and clean areas. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was performed using real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Overall, 24.3% of swab samples were positive, but none of these were collected in the clean area. Thus, the positivity rate was higher in contaminated (35.0%) and semi-contaminated (50.0%) areas than in clean areas (0.0%; P, Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • Air and surface samples were collected in the COVID-19 ward of an Italian hospital. • SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was performed using RT-PCR. • Positive swab samples were found in the semi-contaminated and contaminated areas. • Viral RNA was found in the air of intensive care unit and corridor for patients. • No positive samples were found in the clean areas of the ward.

Despite promising immunotherapy strategies in human melanoma, there are few studies on the immune environment of canine melanocytic tumors. In humans, the activation of immunosuppressive cell subpopulations, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) that express forkhead box protein P3 (FoxP3), the engagement of immunosuppressive surface receptors like cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA-4), and the secretion of molecules inhibiting lymphocyte activation, such as indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), are recognized as immunoescape mechanisms that allow tumor growth and progression. The aim of our study was to investigate the expression of these immunosuppression markers in canine melanocytic tumors and to postulate their possible role in melanoma biology and progression. Fifty-five formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine melanocytic tumors (25 oral melanomas; 20 cutaneous melanomas; 10 cutaneous melanocytomas) were selected to investigate the expression of FoxP3, CTLA-4, and IDO by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction). All of the tested markers showed high gene and protein expression in oral melanomas and were differently expressed in cutaneous melanomas when compared to their benign counterpart. IDO expression was associated with an increased hazard of death both in univariable and multivariable analyses ( P < .05). FoxP3 protein expression >6.9 cells/HPF (high-power field) was an independent predictor of death ( P < .05). CTLA-4 gene and protein expressions were associated with a worse prognosis, but only in the univariable analysis ( P < .05). FoxP3, CTLA-4, and IDO likely play a role in canine melanoma immunoescape. Their expression, if supported by future studies, could represent a prognostic tool in canine melanoma and pave the way to future immunotherapeutic approaches in dogs.

E-cadherin, a glycoprotein involved in cell-cell adhesion, has a pivotal role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process through which neoplastic epithelial cells develop an invasive phenotype. In human cutaneous melanomas, decreased E-cadherin expression is associated with shorter survival and increased Breslow thickness, whereas in the dog its role is poorly understood. Tumor thickness and modified Clark level were recently proposed as useful features to assess canine melanocytic tumors, but no studies investigated their association with E-cadherin expression. We performed immunohistochemistry on 77 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary canine melanocytic tumors. A 3-tier and a 2-tier classification system for assessing E-cadherin expression were tested, with the latter being more informative for the assessment of canine melanocytic tumors. E-cadherin expression was lower in cutaneous melanomas than melanocytomas, as well as in amelanotic tumors compared to pigmented tumors. In amelanotic melanomas, absent E-cadherin expression was associated with an unfavorable outcome, suggesting a potential use of this marker in defining the prognosis of amelanotic melanomas. E-cadherin expression was lower in tumors with greater tumor thickness and modified Clark level ≥IV, suggesting its possible utility in identifying the most invasive tumors. The expression of E-cadherin in oral melanomas was heterogeneous, but was associated with pigmentation and clinical outcome; thus, E-cadherin evaluation could be advantageous to detect the most aggressive neoplasms. However, cutaneous melanomas without E-cadherin expression frequently had a favorable clinical outcome. Hence, its importance as prognostic factor should be carefully considered depending on the tumor origin.

Aglepristone was administered in bitches during the follicular phase to evaluate its effects on progesterone, estradiol-17β and LH serum concentrations. Ten German Shepherds were divided into two groups (treated n=5; control n=5). Treated bitches received 10mg/kg BW of aglepristone subcutaneously during the early follicular phase, 24hr after and then 7days later. The control group was injected, at the same time periods, with saline solution (0.3ml/kg BW). For the steroid evaluations, blood was collected daily from the onset of proestrus until the first day of cytological dioestrus. For LH base-line serum determination, blood was also collected every 20min for 2hr at the onset of proestrus. For LH surge identification, blood was collected daily (every 6hr) starting from the day of the first administration of aglepristone or saline solution until the first day of dioestrus. All animals ovulated but the treated group presented longer ovulation-dioestrus intervals than the control group (5.2±2.2days p&nbsp

Background: Pituitary tumours are common neoplasms of the sellar region in small animals. However, detailed information regarding the spectrum and severity of possible neurological signs are lacking. Objective: To retrospectively describe the neurological abnormalities in a population of dogs with a detectable pituitary mass (DPM) and relate them with the size of the mass and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs of brain compression (BC). Client-owned dogs were included in the study if they had MRI showing a DPM and a detailed neurological examination. The neurological signs were evaluated in relation to the pituitary height/brain ratio (P:B ratio) and the presence/absence of brain compression. Results: Ninety-seven dogs were enrolled. Besides abnormal mentation and behaviour (77%), gait (61%) and cranial nerve abnormalities (44%), other unreported neurological signs observed included postural abnormalities (21%), pain and/or hyperesthesia (25%) and abnormal postural and proprioceptive reactions (49%). The majority of dogs with DPM had signs of BC. The presence of a high pituitary height/brain area and BC represented a risk factor for developing mental status abnormalities. Conclusion: Neurological signs recorded in DPM-affected dogs include not only the typical forebrain signs but also gait disturbances and hyperesthesia. Neurological signs are positively associated with increased P:B ratio and MRI signs of brain compression.

This study investigated the effects of a short-term administration of bovine colostrum (BC) in a TNBS model of induced colitis. Colitis was induced by TNBS treatment after seven days of BC (BC group, n = 12) or saline (control group, n = 12) administration in mice. Clinical signs, histopathological characteristics, expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and microbial composition were assessed. BC was well tolerated and did not induce any histological damage or clinical symptoms. After TNBS treatment, the BC group showed a reduction in body weight (BW) loss compared to Control (p &lt, 0.05). Moreover, expression levels of TLR4 (p &lt, 0.01), Interleukin-1&beta, (IL-1&beta, p &lt, 0.001), Interleukin-8 (IL-8, 0.001), and Interleukin-10 (IL-10, 0.001) were lower in mice administered with BC. Finally, Escherichia coli were higher (p &lt, 0.05), while Enterococci (p &lt, 0.001), Lactobacillus spp. (p &lt, 0.001), and Bifidobacterium spp. (p &lt, 0.05) were lower in Control than BC group. This study confirms that pre-treatment with BC modulates the expression of genes and the count of microbes involved in the etiopathogenesis of colitis.

Throughout gestation, changes in foetal umbilical cord Doppler parameters in ewes were detected. Doppler ultrasonography of the umbilical artery was performed weekly starting at 18 weeks before parturition until birth. In the foetal umbilical artery (UA), systolic peak velocity (SPV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), increased (p for within‐subjects effect

In the last three decades, we assisted in a shift in the dairy product preferences in developed countries, with an increase in goat-derived products consumption. As already seen in the bovine sector, the diffusion of goat milk consumption has led to an abandonment of the local breeds in favor of the more productive cosmopolitan breeds, with an intense reduction in the livestock biodiversity. However, in several studies, it has been shown that local breeds present unique features such as a robust behavior towards the local climate and a high quality of their dairy products. This study aims to assess the differences between the basic lactation variables (milk yield, fat %, protein %, lactose % and somatic cell count) in the Alpine goat and the local breed Verzasca goat from a Bayesian point of observation. Results indicate that the Nera di Verzasca goat has overall lactation characteristics similar toa cosmopolite breed such as the Alpine goat, except for the milk daily yield reduced with respect to Alpine goats (1.68 ± 0.84 and 2.14 ± 1.03, respectively). Moreover, the Verzasca goat showed a tendency to maintain a lower level of somatic cell count along with lactation (798 ± 1734 and 1216 ± 2828, respectively). These findings help to increase the knowledge about the Italian local goat breeds and are important in the optic of biodiversity conservation.

Understanding the factors influencing the establishment of non-native species is pivotal with regards to the development of effective biosecurity policies. In this paper, we aim to assess the role of climate matching, trade patterns and breeding origin as drivers of establishment success of introduced lovebirds (Agapornis species). A comprehensive database on the worldwide distribution of eight species of non-native lovebirds (including establishment success and population size from 21 countries spanning 27 years) was compiled. We combined climate-based species distribution models with environmental niche analyses to evaluate environmental suitability and potential niche shifts in the introduced range of lovebirds. Then, we tested whether combining habitat suitability with information on trade, introduction effort and breeding origin (captive-bred or wild-caught) of imported birds can improve model predictions at the country level. Although climate-based models fit well with the current distribution of non-native lovebirds at 5-arcminute resolution and significant niche similarity was found for 3 species, we also observed successful establishments in areas climatically distinct from those occupied in native ranges. At the country level, only a significant relationship between the number of established populations and both the number of introduction sites and the year of first importation was observed. A significant effect of breeding origin was not found, but most traded birds had a captive-bred origin. Our work contributes to the growing evidence of the complexity of the invasion process and the difficulty of pre-introduction invasion assessments based solely on the characteristics of the recipient environments for the Agapornis species. Surveillance protocols should be applied to both wild-caught and captive-bred lovebirds, as additional data becomes available to better tease apart the role of origin in those species., The realisation of this manuscript was supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST Action ES1304 (ParrotNet). The contents of this paper are the authors’ responsibility and neither COST nor any person acting on its behalf is responsible for the use that might be made of the information contained in it. Luís Reino was funded by FEDER Funds through the Operational Competitiveness Factors Program “COMPETE”, and by National Funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) within the framework of the Project “PTDC/AAG-GLO/0463/2014-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016583” and FCT Post-doc Grant SFRH/BPD/93079/2013. LC was funded by the H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 fellowship No. 752149.

Overweight is common in cats and has health and welfare implications. This study aimed to assess potential predictive/protective factors for feline overweight associated with owner management and their relationship with cat behavior and welfare. A questionnaire was administered to 197 owners to collect information about cat demographics, management, environment, dietary habits and behavior. The feline Body Mass Index was recorded for each cat. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of parameters with overweight cats. Variables with a p-value &lt, 0.10 at univariable analyses were selected for the multivariable model. Most cats were mixed- breed, 1–7 years old and neutered, 51.3% were overweight. Age higher than 7 years, neutering, being alone all day and being stressed were predictive for overweight (p &lt, 0.05). Conversely, the presence of other animals had a protective effect (p &lt, 0.05). A general disagreement between owners’ perception and clinical evaluation of cats’ body condition was a common and significant risk factor for overweight (OR = 8.532, 95% CI = 4.073–17.875, p &lt, 0.001). According to the owners, many veterinarians did not inform them about their cat being overweight nor about the risks (p &lt, 0.001). This study provides helpful information on the influence of management and environment on cats’ body condition and its relationship with cat welfare.

The aim of this work was to find the best strategy to diagnose pregnancy failures in buffalo. A total of 109 animals belonging to a buffalo herd subjected to a synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) program were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected at days 0, 14, 25, 28 and 40 after AI for the determination of progesterone (P4) and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on day 25, 28 and 40 after AI to monitor pregnancy. The animals included in the data analysis were assigned ex post in pregnant (n = 50) and mortality (n = 12) groups. By ultrasonography, the predictive sign of mortality was the heartbeat. At day 25, the PAGs concentration was significant in predicting embryonic mortality with respect to ultrasonography and P4, at the cut-off of 1.1 ng/mL. At day 28, either PAGs, at a cut-off of 2.2 ng/mL, or ultrasonography, with no detection of heartbeat, were highly predictive of embryonic mortality. PAGs were the best marker (p &lt, 0.05) for predicting embryonic mortality between 25 and 40 days of gestation in buffalo. Its utilization as a diagnostic tool can influence management decisions in order to improve farm reproductive management.

The objective of this study was to describe the presence, prevalence, clinical manifestations, and risk factors of phantom complex and its effect on the quality of life for dogs that underwent amputation of a limb. An online questionnaire was developed containing 3 sections with a total of 69 questions. Clinical cases were recruited from a web site for 3-legged dog owners. Data were acquired from February to March 2015. Descriptive statistics and frequency distribution analyses were performed on the collected data. Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test were used for assessment of the associations between categorical variables. One hundred seven questionnaires were completed by owners of dogs with limb amputation. The most frequent reason for amputation was related to neoplasia (54%). Pain after limb amputation was commonly experienced by dogs, and the time of onset and clinical manifestations of pain after limb amputation were found to resemble those of phantom complex. The duration of pre-amputation pain and time between diagnosis and amputation were identified as risk factors for a higher frequency of post-amputation pain episodes. This pilot study introduces previously unreported signs that may be interpreted as expressions of pain in amputee dogs.

Background:Late-life depression is often associated with cognitive impairments and disability, which may persist even after adequate antidepressant drug treatment. Physical exercise is increasingly recognized as an effective antidepressant agent, and may exert positive effects on these features too. However, few studies examined this issue, especially by comparing different types of exercises.Methods:We performed secondary analyses on data from the Safety and Efficacy of Exercise for Depression in Seniors study, a trial comparing the antidepressant effectiveness of sertraline (S), sertraline plus thrice-weekly non-progressive exercise (S+NPE), and sertraline plus thrice-weekly progressive aerobic exercise (S+PAE). Exercise was conducted in small groups and monitored by heart rate meters. Patients with late-life depression without severe cognitive impairment were recruited from primary care and assessed at baseline and 24 weeks, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA, total and subdomain scores) and Brief Disability Questionnaire. Analyses were based on Generalized Linear Models.Results:In total, 121 patients (mean age 75, 71% females) were randomized to the study interventions. Compared with the S group, patients in the S+PAE group displayed greater improvements of MOCA total scores (p=0.006, effect size=0.37), visuospatial/executive functions (p=0.001, effect size=0.13), and disability (p=0.02, effect size=−0.31). Participants in the S+NPE group did not display significant differences with the control group.Conclusions:Adding aerobic, progressive exercise to antidepressant drug treatment may offer significant advantages over standard treatment for cognitive abilities and disability. These findings suggest that even among older patients exercise may constitute a valid therapeutic measure to improve patients’ outcomes.

Background For many years, long-acting intramuscular (LAI) antipsychotics have been prescribed predominantly to chronic and severe patients, as a last resort when other treatments failed. Recently, a broader and earlier use of LAIs, particularly second-generation LAIs, has been emphasized. To date, few studies attempted to frame how this change in prescribing took place in real-world practice. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the clinical features of patients prescribed with LAIs, and to explore possible prescribing differences between first- and second-generations LAIs under ordinary clinical practice in Italy. Methods The STAR Network "Depot" Study is an observational, longitudinal, multicenter study involving 35 centers in Italy. In the cross-sectional phase, patients prescribed with LAIs were consecutively recruited and assessed over a period of 12 months. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed. Results Of the 451 recruited patients, 61% were males. The level of social and working functioning was heterogeneous, as was the severity of disease. Seventy-two per cent of the patients had a diagnosis of the schizophrenia spectrum. Seventy per cent were prescribed with second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) LAIs (mostly paliperidone, aripiprazole and risperidone). Compared to first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) LAIs, patients prescribed with SGA LAIs were more often younger; employed; with a diagnosis of the schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar disorder; with higher levels of affective symptoms; with fewer LAI prescriptions in the past. Discussion LAIs' prescribing practices appear to be more flexible as compared to the past, although this change is mostly restricted to SGA LAIs.

Background Antidepressant medication (ADM) and psychotherapy are effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). It is unclear, however, if treatments differ in their effectiveness at the symptom level and whether symptom information can be utilised to inform treatment allocation. The present study synthesises comparative effectiveness information from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of ADM versus psychotherapy for MDD at the symptom level and develops and tests the Symptom-Oriented Therapy (SOrT) metric for precision treatment allocation. Methods First, we conducted systematic review and meta-analyses of RCTs comparing ADM and psychotherapy at the individual symptom level. We searched PubMed Medline, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, a database specific for psychotherapy RCTs, and looked for unpublished RCTs. Random-effects meta-analyses were applied on sum-scores and for individual symptoms for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) measures. Second, we computed the SOrT metric, which combines meta-analytic effect sizes with patients’ symptom profiles. The SOrT metric was evaluated using data from the Munich Antidepressant Response Signature (MARS) study (n = 407) and the Emory Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) study (n = 234). Results The systematic review identified 38 RCTs for qualitative inclusion, 27 and 19 for quantitative inclusion at the sum-score level, and 9 and 4 for quantitative inclusion on individual symptom level for the HAM-D and BDI, respectively. Neither meta-analytic strategy revealed significant differences in the effectiveness of ADM and psychotherapy across the two depression measures. The SOrT metric did not show meaningful associations with other clinical variables in the MARS sample, and there was no indication of utility of the metric for better treatment allocation from PReDICT data. Conclusions This registered report showed no differences of ADM and psychotherapy for the treatment of MDD at sum-score and symptom levels. Symptom-based metrics such as the proposed SOrT metric do not inform allocation to these treatments, but predictive value of symptom information requires further testing for other treatment comparisons.

Objective To report the surgical treatment and outcome of six bulldogs with spina bifida (SB) and meningocele (MC) or meningomyelocele (MMC). Study design Case series. Animals Five French bulldogs and one English bulldog with MC or MMC. Methods Medical records of dogs with spinal MC or MMC diagnosed by MRI at two institutions between 2013 and 2016 were reviewed for surgical treatment and outcomes. Results Meningocele was diagnosed in two dogs, and MMC was diagnosed in four dogs. A lumbosacral dimple was noted in all dogs along with neurological deficits most commonly consisting of urinary and fecal incontinence (n = 6) and mild/moderate paraparesis (n = 3). Dorsal laminectomy was performed in all dogs to allow dissection of the meningeal sac to the vertebral column defect. In dogs with MMC, nerves were repositioned and protruded meninges were removed prior to suturing remaining meninges. Adhesions and filum terminale were resected in two dogs with suspected tethered cord syndrome. Urinary and fecal incontinence improved in two dogs and remained unchanged in four. Paraparesis improved in two dogs. Conclusion Surgical treatment resulted in partial improvement of the urinary and fecal incontinence (2/6 dogs) and paraparesis (2/3 dogs) or stable neurological condition (3/6 dogs), with only minor temporary complications. Clinical significance In the absence of published data comparing surgical and conservative treatment of puppies affected by SB and MC or MMC, early surgical treatment can be considered to prevent deterioration of neurological signs and, eventually, facilitate improvement of neurological signs.

This study was fully funded by Nestlé Purina Research Despite appropriate antiseizure drug (ASD) treatment, around two-thirds of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) have seizures long-term and 20-30per cent of affected dogs remain poorly controlled. The current study aim is to test in a field trial the efficacy and tolerability of a commercially available diet enriched with 6.5per cent medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil in dogs (n=21) with at least a tier 1 idiopathic epilepsy diagnosis, without cluster seizures, in 10 veterinary practices across Europe. Each dog's quality of life (QoL), ataxia, sedation and frequency and severity of seizures were recorded by owners throughout the study. The mean seizure frequency per month, averaged over the entire 84-day study, significantly (P=0.04) decreased 32per cent compared with the baseline monthly seizure frequency recorded during the month immediately before feeding the diet. Similarly, the seizure days rate (days/month) also declined (P8.5/10) in 20 of the 21 dogs before starting the diet and this remained unchanged during the trial. This study demonstrates the use of a diet enriched with MCTs as an adjunct to ASD treatment may have some antiseizure properties for dogs diagnosed with IE, as demonstrated in previous studies.

Brachial plexus injury (BPI) represents a common consequence of road traffic accidents in humans and small animals. In humans, neuropathic pain is a common symptom after BPI. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical signs, the electrodiagnostic findings, the outcome and the quality of life (QoL) of a cohort of dogs and cats with BPI. Clinical records of 40 dogs and 26 cats with BPI were retrospectively reviewed. Specific attention was put on the evaluation of electrodiagnostic findings (35/40 dogs, 14/26 cats) and telephonic interview results (26/40 dogs, 18/26 cats). The most common neurological condition was the inability to bear weight and sensory deficits on the affected limb. Radial and ulnar motor nerve conduction studies (MNCSs) were absent respectively in 47% (radial) and 62% (ulnar) of dogs and 57% (radial) and 57% (ulnar) of cats. The absence of radial (p = 0.003) and ulnar (p = 0.007) MNCSs in dogs and ulnar MNCSs in cats (p = 0.02) was significantly associated to the amputation of the affected limb. The owners described signs of pain/discomfort in 73% of dogs and 56% of cats. This is the first report suggesting that neuropathic pain/discomfort should be adequately considered in order to improve the QoL.

The gray squirrel is one of the most common invasive species in Europe, whose presence is dangerous for the survival of the European red squirrel. To cope with this biological invasion and to safeguard biodiversity, the LIFE+U-SAVEREDS project aims to protect the red squirrel, by limiting the growth of the current population of gray squirrels and simultaneously promoting their eradication with surgical sterilization. This study compares two different anesthetic protocols, including dexmedetomidine (40 &micro, g/kg) and midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) associated with ketamine (15 mg/kg, n = 25 squirrels) or alfaxalone (5 mg/kg, n = 22 squirrels). A blinded investigator evaluated the quality and onset of sedation, intraoperative anesthesia, and recovery, as well as the physiologic parameters for each animal. Alfaxalone provided a good quality of anesthesia with limited cardiovascular effects (p &lt, 0.05) and good intraoperative myorelaxation. Ketamine induced complete relaxation in a shorter time (p &lt, 0.05) and a rapid (p &lt, 0.001) and excellent (p &lt, 0.05) recovery. Despite the overall superiority of ketamine, alfaxalone appeared to be an adequate alternative anesthetic drug that can be administered without requiring intravascular access. It should be rapidly metabolized and excreted, however, it requires the combination of longer acting sedatives/myorelaxants to prevent a poor recovery quality.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between fatty acids and the pattern that most contributes to discriminate between two farming systems, in which the main difference was the practice, or not, of alpine summer-grazing. Milk and cheese were sampled every month in two farms of Original Brown cows identical under geographical location and management during no grazing season point of view in the 2018 season. Fatty acids concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The principal component analysis extracted three components (PCs). Mammary gland de novo synthetized fatty acids (C14:0, C14:1 n9, and C16:0) and saturated and monosaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:0, C18:1 n9c) were inversely associated in the PC1, PC2 included polyunsaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:2 n6c, C18:3 n3) and C15:0 while conjugated linoleic acid (CLA n9c, n11t) and fatty acids containing 20 or more carbon atoms (C21:0, C20:5 n3) were associated in the PC3. The processes of rumen fermentation and de novo synthesis in mammary gland that are, in turn, influenced by diet, could explain the relationships between fatty acids within each PC. The discriminant analyses showed that the PC2 included the fatty acids profile that best discriminated between the two farming systems, followed by PC3 and, lastly, PC1. This model, if validated, could be an important tool to the dairy industry.

Large-scale longitudinal studies show that specific borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms are more likely to remit over time, suggesting that clinical features of BPD may vary between younger patients and older ones. The objective of the present report is to provide a direct comparison between younger (age 18-25 years; n = 44) and older (age 40-59 years; n = 49) BPD patients on the nine DSM-4 BPD criteria (self-harm, emotional dysregulation, impulsiveness, and work and social functioning). Younger and older patients reported similar levels of impulsiveness, emotional dysregulation, and work and social functional impairment. Younger adults were more likely to show anger and self-damaging behaviors compared with older patients, which in turn were more likely to endorse chronic emptiness. In conclusion, older patients with BPD are still impaired in impulsiveness, emotional regulation, and social functioning; treatments for older BPD population should be long term and focused on emotion dysregulation and impulsive behaviors.

Nineteen raccoons were enrolled in this study. The aim was to evaluate and compare the quality of anesthesia and the cardiorespiratory effects following treatment with a ketamine-based combination with either dexmedetomidine (KD group) or midazolam (KM group) in raccoons undergoing ovariohysterectomy/orchiectomy. General anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen and sufentanil infusion. The time required to approach the animals was similar among groups resulting in a median of 5 min after IM injection. Animals in group KD were scored with greater myorelaxation (p &lt, 0.01) and easier intubation (p &lt, 0.05). Moreover 70% of them did not require other drugs for tracheal intubation unlike animals in group KM, which required propofol in 100% of cases. After intubation and connection to the breathing circuit, physiological parameters were monitored continuously and recorded every 5 min. Sevoflurane requirements were lower in group KD than KM (p = 0.005). Blood pressure was maintained within physiological ranges in both groups but with higher values in group KM (p &lt, 0.05). Mild respiratory depression occurred during surgery and animals in group KM showed greater respiratory acidosis (p &lt, 0.05). Recovery was smooth and uneventful in all animals. Both anesthetic protocols can be recommended for safe anesthesia in wild raccoons.

The study of the immune response in several types of tumours has been rapidly increasing in recent years with the dual aim of understanding the interactions between neoplastic and immune cells and their importance in cancer pathogenesis and progression, as well as identifying targets for cancer immunotherapy. Despite being considered one of the most immunogenic tumour types, melanoma can progress in the presence of abundant lymphocytic infiltration, therefore suggesting that the immune response is not able to efficiently control tumour growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the density, distribution and grade of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in 97 canine melanocytic tumours is associated with histologic indicators of malignancy and can be considered a prognostic factor in the dog. As a further step in the characterization of the immune response in melanocytic tumours, an immunohistochemical investigation was performed to evaluate the two main populations of TILs, T-lymphocytes (CD3+ ) and B-lymphocytes (CD20+ ). The results of our study show that TILs are present in a large proportion of canine melanocytic tumours, especially in oral melanomas, and that the infiltrate is usually mild. The quantity of CD20+ TILs was significantly associated with some histologic prognostic factors, such as the mitotic count, the cellular pleomorphism and the percentage of pigmented cells. Remarkably, a high infiltration of CD20+ TILs was associated with tumour-related death, presence of metastasis/recurrence, shorter overall and disease-free survival, increased hazard of death and of developing recurrence/metastasis, hence representing a potential new negative prognostic factor in canine melanocytic tumours.

This study was conducted to evaluate the changing concentrations of metabolic hormones and metabolites in pregnant (P) and pseudopregnant (PP) rabbit does. Twenty-five New Zealand White rabbit does were submitted to artificial insemination (AI) and then classified as P (n = 15) or PP (n = 10). Blood samples were collected weekly until day 32 post AI. During pregnancy, leptin concentrations were greater on Days 14 and 21 (P< 0.05), while insulin was greater on days 21 and 32 post AI (P< 0.05) compared to PP does. The triiodothyronine/thyroxine (T3/T4) ratio was greater in the first and last week (P< 0.001); whereas, cortisol concentrations were greater in the last week of pregnancy and after parturition (P< 0.01) compared with that of PP does. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations increased from day 7 until day 32 post AI (P< 0.05). Glucose concentrations were unchanged throughout pregnancy although concentrations were positively associated with litter size. These results indicate concentrations of hormones and metabolites change during pregnancy to ensure energy requirements are met for both the foetuses and the maternal tissues. Physiological hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, and changes in cortisol as well as thyroid hormones indicate there is an adaptation of metabolic functions induced by pregnancy. These adaptations could be mediated by gonadal steroids because changes mainly occur in the second half of pregnancy when the profile of the sex hormones differs between P and PP does.

The purpose of this study was to describe the development and preliminary validation of a composite pain scale, called the Equine Ophthalmic Pain Scale (EOPS), to assess ocular pain in horses. Indicators associated with ocular pain were selected and classified as behavioural, physiological or ocular expressions. Eight horses diagnosed with ocular or adnexa diseases that required medical or surgical treatment were enrolled in the study (group P). The developed EOPS was applied at the baseline (T0) and 1 week later (T7). Moreover, the EOPS was applied twice, 1 week apart, to 15 healthy control horses (group C). Videos of 60-80 s duration of all assessments were retrospectively analysed by seven masked observers, who scored items included in the behavioural and ocular expression categories of the EOPS. The inter- and intra-observer reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficients ≥0.75) for most of the scored items. Cronbach's alpha (0.76) indicated that the EOPS had good internal consistency. The total score (TS), calculated as the sum of all scores, differed between groups C and P at T0 (P0.001) and reduced after medical/surgical treatment in group P (P = 0.017), indicating the responsiveness of the EOPS. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC=0.918, 95% confidence interval = 0.815-1.000; P0.001) indicated that the EOPS was very accurate for distinguishing healthy from pathological animals. Sensitivity and specificity of EOPS to identify horses with ocular pathology (at the optimal cut-off, i.e. TS ≥ 7) were 81.3% and 100.0%, respectively. However, 'overall behaviour', 'position inside the box', 'ear movements' and 'head position' items as well as physiological parameters, showed sub-optimal reliability, consistency and/or item-total correlation, suggesting that there is still room to improve this composite scale.

The assessment of species composition in a certain area may become outdated over time due to community dynamics including species range expansion, but also to local extinctions, species introductions and taxonomic redefinition. Therefore, updated checklists are required for animal conservation and management. Exhaustive checklists of invertebrate species may be challenging, as species determination often requires the analysis by specialists, but they are fundamental for local conservation practices. In this work, we provided an annotated preliminary checklist of invertebrates of the Special Conservation Area “Poggi di Prata” (province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany), detected through field samplings with experts, and a permanent Bioblitz set out on an online citizen-science platform (iNaturalist.org). The final dataset(1898-2020)included 329records of 282 species (217insects, 34gastropods, 30arachnids and 1 chilopod). Most records were uploaded on iNaturalist (about 56.5%), others came from observations or sampling collections(37%) and were determined by specialists. Only the remaining 6.5% of records came from published studies. Three species were protected by the Habitat Directive, 15 by the Tuscan Regional Law. We also detected two endemic or near-endemic taxa of this area: the beetle Paramaurops diecki massetanus and the land snail Marmorana saxetana. The unexpected (Italian southernmost) record of Gaurotes virginea needs to be deepened. Furthermore, 12 alien species, including insects affecting human economy and wellness (e.g., Rhinchophorous ferrugineus, Aedes albopictus, Halyomorpha halys, Dryocosmus kuriphilus and Cydalima perspectalis), were also detected. With our work, we confirmed that citizen-science platforms (e.g. iNaturalist) are valuable tools, complementary to field-work by specialists, to map local biodiversity and they may help to improve biogeographical knowledge.

Quantum based technologies have been fundamental in our world. After producing the laser and the transistor, the devices that have shaped our modern information society, the possibilities enabled by the ability to create and manipulate individual quantum states opens the door to a second quantum revolution. In this paper we explore the possibilities that these new technologies bring to the Telecommunications industry.

Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) is an invasive solitary bee that is rapidly spreading all over Europe. The present study aims to update the distribution of this species in Italy. The research led to the collection of 177 records, obtained through bibliographic research and data-mining from websites, blogs and social networks. We here present the first record of M. sculpturalis on a Mediterranean island and discuss its possible effect on the native ecosystem. Given the particular discovery of M. sculpturalis on Elba Island (Tuscany), we suggest possible monitoring, containment and possible eradication measures of the species.

Background: literature is lacking data concerning the prognosis in cat suffering from acute thoracolumbar spinal cord lesions on field condition either with or without physiotherapy treatment. We investigated the role of intensive physical rehabilitation training in cats suffering from acute thoracolumbar (TL) spinal cord injury and compared their outcome to the presence/absence of pelvic limb pain perception (PP) under field conditions. A further aim was the evaluation of the outcome of cats under intensive physiotherapy when compared to a control group.Methods: Retrospective study. The medical records of 29 feline patients with acute TL spinal cord injury, with and without PP, selected for intensive rehabilitation treatment were reviewed. Those cats that satisfied the same criteria, but performed at home physiotherapy exercises with the owner, were enrolled as control group.Results: 7 cats had pelvic limb PP, which resulted significantly associated with functional recovery of voluntary locomotion (p=0.01) and voluntary micturition (p= 0.00006). Twenty-two cats (76%) had the absence of pelvic limb PP and the acquisition of spinal walking (SW) was achieved in ten cats (45%). None of these patients regained a voluntary micturition at the end of the treatment. The presence of the crossed extensor reflex on admission was significantly associated with the acquisition of SW (p= 0.008). At 15 days, improvement in assisted walking/UWTM was found to be significantly associated with higher possibility to achieve SW at the end of the treatment (p=0.04). The control group included seven cats. None of the cats had regained voluntary micturition or ambulatory condition. Comparing to the control group, the intensive rehabilitation program was significantly associated with a higher possibility to regain functional locomotion (p= 0.005). Recovery of voluntary micturition did not show significant differences among the control group and the cats that underwent physical therapy.Conclusions: cats with severe acute TL lesion recovery can benefit from physiotherapy and, also in case of loss of PP, the acquisition of SW is possible under field condition.

A four-year-old Scottish Shepherd dog was referred for acute onset of disorientation, blindness and chronic diarrhoea. The neurological examination was consistent with a multifocal neurolocalisation involving the prosencephalon and the brainstem. The ophthalmological exam showed bilateral chorioretinitis with retinal detachment. The brain MRI showed periventricular and left caudate nucleus lesions, increased thickness of the left III, IV, VI and opthalmic branch of V cranial nerves and bilateral multifocal lesions in the temporal and masseter muscles. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed mild mixed pleocytosis. Faecal and urine cultures were positive for Prototheca zopfii genotype 2. Despite starting itraconazole therapy, the dog’s conditions deteriorated and the owner elected euthanasia. Protothecosis should be suspected in young dogs with multifocal neurological signs, blindness and chronic diarrhoea. MRI study of the central nervous system (CNS), together with blood exam, cytology and cultures, is a useful tool to evaluate the CNS in disseminated form of Prototheca infection.

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a neurological syndrome resulting from sudden infarction/haemorrhage within a normal or tumoural pituitary gland. Prompt imaging is essential to correlate haemorrhagic/ischaemic changes with clinical signs. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical, CT and 3T MRI findings of PA in a 13-year-old dog previously diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Neurological examination revealed an anxious-compulsive behaviour, internal ophthalmoplegia and bilaterally reduced menace response. Brain MRI showed a pituitary mass with two focal well-defined areas. The first was T2 weighted (T2w) and T1 weighted (T1w) hyperintense, FLAIR hypointense to the grey matter, and mildly contrast-enhancing with signal void artefact in GE-T2*, compatible with late/subacute haemorrhage; the second was T2w hypointense, T1w, FLAIR and GE-T2* isointense/hypointense to the grey matter and moderately enhancing, compatible with acute haemorrhage. The dog recovered after 24 hours, but internal ophthalmoplegia remained. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report describing MRI findings in a dog with PA.