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Non‐invasive genetic sampling is an increasingly common approach in wildlife research. It allows the gathering of first‐hand data on wild mammalian populations without capturing or handling individuals. For this reason, it has proved to be particularly useful when applied to elusive species living at low population densities and/or hard to identify in the field. The European wildcat represents an interesting case study in this respect. Several papers have been produced in the last decades, in which non‐invasive genetic sampling has been applied. Nevertheless, evidence from different case studies presents a complex scenario, where the efficiency of the method can vary considerably. This paper aimed to analyse possible interpretations of such differences and to identify potential drivers and barriers. 20 papers on the subject have been reviewed and compared, although differences in several details reported in the examined papers limited an in‐depth comparison. The review showed that the overlap of the study period with the reproductive season does not affect the final results of lure stick hair sampling research on the European wildcat. Moreover, valerian lure sticks generally provided positive results in the Continental ecoregion, whereas, in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions, outcomes were absent or very scarce. Most of the other working hypotheses remain still plausible, despite not yet being definitely provable. Setting up future wildcat monitoring schemes based on effective non‐invasive genetic sampling in different biogeographical regions of Europe is certainly a scope to be pursued. Some suggestions are provided in this respect (e.g. the set of parameters needed to allow further comparisons; the need to test other types of attractants, to make the application of the method possible where the use of valerian was proven to be inefficient or scarcely efficient, in order to allow a better comparison of future results). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The clinical course of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is usually measured using the percent predicted FEV1 and BMI Z-score referenced against a healthy population, since achieving normality is the ultimate goal of CF care. Referencing against age and sex matched CF peers may provide valuable information for patients and for comparison between CF centers or populations. Here, we used a large database of European CF patients to compute CF specific reference equations for FEV1 and BMI, derived CF-specific percentile charts and compared these European data to their nearest international equivalents. Methods 34859 FEV1 and 40947 BMI observations were used to compute European CF specific percentiles. Quantile regression was applied to raw measurements as a function of sex, age and height. Results were compared with the North American equivalent for FEV1 and with the WHO 2007 normative values for BMI. Results FEV1 and BMI percentiles illustrated the large variability between CF patients receiving the best current care. The European CF specific percentiles for FEV1 were significantly different from those in the USA from an earlier era, with higher lung function in Europe. The CF specific percentiles for BMI declined relative to the WHO standard in older children. Lung function and BMI were similar in the two largest contributing European Countries (France and Germany). Conclusion The CF specific percentile approach applied to FEV1 and BMI allows referencing patients with respect to their peers. These data allow peer to peer and population comparisons in CF patients.

Objectives: To estimate the burden of intestinal infectious disease (IID) in the UK and determine whether disease burden estimations using a retrospective study design differ from those using a prospective study design. Design/Setting: A retrospective telephone survey undertaken in each of the four countries comprising the United Kingdom. Participants were randomly asked about illness either in the past 7 or 28 days. Participants: 14,813 individuals for all of whom we had a legible recording of their agreement to participate Outcomes: Self-reported IID, defined as loose stools or clinically significant vomiting lasting less than two weeks, in the absence of a known non-infectious cause. Results: The rate of self-reported IID varied substantially depending on whether asked for illness in the previous 7 or 28 days. After standardising for age and sex, and adjusting for the number of interviews completed each month and the relative size of each UK country, the estimated rate of IID in the 7-day recall group was 1,530 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 1135–2113), while in the 28-day recall group it was 533 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 377–778). There was no significant variation in rates between the four countries. Rates in this study were also higher than in a related prospective study undertaken at the same time. Conclusions: The estimated burden of disease from IID varied dramatically depending on study design. Retrospective studies of IID give higher estimates of disease burden than prospective studies. Of retrospective studies longer recall periods give lower estimated rates than studies with short recall periods. Caution needs to be exercised when comparing studies of self-reported IID as small changes in study design or case definition can markedly affect estimated rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical course of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is usually measured using the percent predicted FEV1 and BMI Z-score referenced against a healthy population, since achieving normality is the ultimate goal of CF care. Referencing against age and sex matched CF peers may provide valuable information for patients and for comparison between CF centers or populations. Here, we used a large database of European CF patients to compute CF specific reference equations for FEV1 and BMI, derived CF-specific percentile charts and compared these European data to their nearest international equivalents. Methods: 34859 FEV1 and 40947 BMI observations were used to compute European CF specific percentiles. Quantile regression was applied to raw measurements as a function of sex, age and height. Results were compared with the North American equivalent for FEV1 and with the WHO 2007 normative values for BMI. Results: FEV1 and BMI percentiles illustrated the large variability between CF patients receiving the best current care. The European CF specific percentiles for FEV1 were significantly different from those in the USA from an earlier era, with higher lung function in Europe. The CF specific percentiles for BMI declined relative to the WHO standard in older children. Lung function and BMI were similar in the two largest contributing European Countries (France and Germany). Conclusion: The CF specific percentile approach applied to FEV1 and BMI allows referencing patients with respect to their peers. These data allow peer to peer and population comparisons in CF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improved survival in people with cystic fibrosis has led to an increasing number of patients reaching adulthood. This trend is likely to be maintained over the next decades, suggesting a need to increase the number of centres with expertise in the management of adult patients with cystic fibrosis. These centres should be capable of delivering multidisciplinary care addressing the complexity of the disease, in addition to addressing the psychological burden on patients and their families. Further issues that require attention are organ transplantation and end of life management.Lung disease in adults with cystic fibrosis drives most of the clinical care requirements, and major life-threatening complications, such as respiratory infection, respiratory failure, pneumothorax and haemoptysis, and the management of lung transplantation require expertise from trained respiratory physicians. The taskforce therefore strongly reccommends that medical leadership in multidisciplinary adult teams should be attributed to a respiratory physician adequately trained in cystic fibrosis management.The task force suggests the implementation of a core curriculum for trainees in adult respiratory medicine and the selection and accreditation of training centres that deliver postgraduate training to the standards of the HERMES programme., (Copyright ©ERS 2016.)

Pulmonary insufficiency is the main cause of death in cystic fibrosis (CF). We analysed forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) data of 14,732 patients registered in the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Patient Registry (ECFSPR) database in 2007. We used linear and logistic regressions to investigate associations between FEV1 % predicted and clinical outcomes. Body mass index (BMI), chronic infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pancreatic status and CF-related diabetes (CFRD) showed a statistically significant (all p<0.0001) and clinically relevant effect on FEV1 % pred after adjusting for age. Patients with a lower BMI experience a six-fold increased odds ratio (95% CI 5.0-7.3) of having severe lung disease (FEV1 <40% pred) compared to patients with normal BMI. Being chronically infected with P. aeruginosa increases the odds ratio of severe lung disease by 2.4 (95% CI 2.0-2.7), and patients with pancreatic insufficiency experience a 2.0-fold increased odds ratio (95% CI 1.6-2.5) of severe lung disease compared to pancreatic sufficient patients. Patients with CFRD have a 1.8-fold increased odds ratio (95% CI 1.6-2.2) compared to patients not affected. These potential risk factors for pulmonary disease in patients with CF are to some degree preventable or treatable. We emphasise the importance of their early identification through frequent routine tests, the implementation of infection control measures, and a timely initiation of relevant therapies.

Background: Infectious intestinal disease (IID) is a major health and economic burden in high-income countries. In the UK, there are an estimated 17 million IID cases annually, of which 6 million are caused by the 12 most common pathogens. Host factors that influence risk of IID are not well understood., Methods: We analyzed data from the IID2 Study, a UK cohort that measured IID incidence, to investigate factors associated with recurrent IID. We calculated rates of IID by age group, sex, previous episodes experienced, and socioecomic indicators. We used Cox models to investigate factors associated with recurrent illness., Results: The rate of IID was five times higher among infants than those aged 65 years and above (hazard ratio, HR = 5.0, 95% CI: 3.1 - 8.0). However, the association between previous IID and a subsequent IID episode was stronger in the elderly. Among those aged 65 years and above, each additional IID episode increased the rate of subsequent IID three-fold (HR = 3.1, 95% CI: 2.5 - 3.7). Among infants, the corresponding increase was 1.7-fold (HR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3 - 2.3)., Conclusions: Elderly populations have a high propensity for recurrent IID. More detailed studies are needed to identify vulnerable subgroups and susceptibility factors, and inform adequate control policies among the elderly.

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life-shortening autosomal recessive disease of Caucasian population. The clinical expression of the disease is heterogeneous and the treatment of CF patients requires high qualification of medical and paramedical staff. In 1992 and 1993, in Italy, two national laws (104/92 and 548/93) were enacted in favour of people affected by CF. Data gathered in the Italian Registry for CF (started on 1.1.1988) allow us to monitor changes occurred in the age structure of patients and diagnosis methods. This also thanks to the laws mentioned above. Data here presented refer to 4,209 patients, 1,964 of whom were alive on 1.1.1988, and 2,245 were diagnosed afterwards. A remarkable increase in early diagnosis (within the 3rd month of life) was noticed (from 41% to 65%), together with an increasing percentage of subjects who underwent a neonatal screening program (+34%). An increase in late diagnoses is also apparent: the frequency for patients diagnosed after 18 years of life ranged from 8% to 12%. The proportion of adult patients is more than doubled between 1988 (17%) and 2000 (41%) and the number of patients over 30 is now about 400. 512 patients died during the study period. Median age at death increased from 14 (1988) to 22 (2000) years. This trend can be observed also for patients diagnosed within the first year of life. All these changes have contributed in modifying age structure of CF population. In late 80's, the latter was mostly composed by children, while now 50% of patients are adolescents or adults. Therefore, it is now necessary to involve specialists of adult diseases in CF care.