Molecular Evolution and Phylogeography of Co-circulating IHNV and VHSV in Italy

Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) are the most important viral pathogens impacting rainbow trout farming. These viruses are persistent in Italy, where they are responsible for severe disease outbreaks (epizootics) that affect the profitability of the trout industry. Despite the importance of IHNV and VHSV, little is known about their evolution at a local scale, although this is likely to be important for virus eradication and control. To address this issue we performed a detailed molecular evolutionary and epidemiological analysis of IHNV and VHSV in trout farms from northern Italy. Full-length glycoprotein gene sequences of a selection of VHSV (n=108) and IHNV (n=89) strains were obtained. This revealed that Italian VHSV strains belong to sublineages Ia1 and Ia2 of genotype Ia and are distributed into 7 genetic clusters. In contrast, all Italian IHNV isolates fell within genogroup E, for which only a single genetic cluster was identified. More striking was that IHNV has evolved more rapidly than VHSV (mean rates of 11 and 7.3 × 10-4 nucleotide substitutions per site, per year, respectively), indicating that these viruses exhibit fundamentally different evolutionary dynamics. The time to the most recent common ancestor of both IHNV and VHSV was consistent with the first reports of these pathogens in Italy. By combining sequence data with epidemiological information it was possible to identify different patterns of virus spread among trout farms, in which adjacent facilities can be infected by either genetically similar or different viruses, and farms located in different water catchments can be infected by identical strains. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of combining molecular and epidemiological information to identify the determinants of IHN and VHS spread, and to provide data that is central to future surveillance strategies and possibly control

Can the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) be a predictive instrument for mortality in older adult liver transplant candidates?

PurposeThe most recent guidelines recommend that selection of liver transplant recipient patients be guided by a multidimensional approach that includes frailty assessment. Different scales have been developed to identify frail patients and determine their prognosis, but the data on older adult candidates are still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the Liver Frailty Index (LFI) and the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) as predictors of mortality in a cohort of older people patients being evaluated for liver transplantation.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted on 68 patients > 70 years being followed at the University Hospital of Padua in 2018. Clinical information on each patient, Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), Body Mass Index (BMI), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), LFI, MPI, and date-of-death, were recorded. The observational period was 3 years.ResultsWe studied 68 individuals (25 women), with a mean age 72.21 & PLUSMN; 1.64 years. Twenty-five (36.2%) patients died during the observational period. ROC curve analysis showed both MPI and LFI to be good predictors of mortality (AUC 0.7, p = 0.007, and AUC 0.689, p = 0.015, respectively). MELD (HR 1.99, p = 0.001), BMI (HR 2.34, p = 0.001), and poor ADL (HR 3.34, p = 0.04) were risk factors for mortality in these patients, while male sex (HR 0.1, p = 0.01) and high MNA scores (HR 0.57, p = 0.01) were protective factors.ConclusionOur study confirmed the prognostic value of MPI in older adult patients awaiting liver transplantation. In this cohort, good nutritional status and male sex were protective factors, while high MELD and BMI scores and poor functional status were risk factors.Key summary pointsAimThe aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the Liver Frailty Index (LFI) and the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) as predictors of mortality in a cohort of older adult patients being evaluated for liver transplantationFindingsOn the 68 patients studied, ROC curve analysis showed that MPI was similar or slightly better than LFI as predictor of mortality (AUC 0.7, p=0.007, and AUC 0.689, p=0.015, respectively).MessageIn older people patients listed for liver transplantation, MPI is as good a prognostic tool as LFI for predicting mortality

New bioelectrical impedance vector references and phase angle centile curves in 4,367 adults: The need for an urgent update after 30 years

Background & aims: The bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) represents a qualitative analysis of body composition. The vector, defined by resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) standardized by stature, can be evaluated compared to the 50%,75%, and 95% tolerance ellipses representative of the reference populations. The tolerance ellipses for healthy adults have been provided in 1995 and were developed by mixing underage, adult, and elderly subjects, possibly misrepresenting the actual adult population. The current multicentric, cross-sectional study aimed to provide new tolerance ellipses specific for the general adult population and as a secondary aim to present centile curves for the bioelectrical phase angle. Methods: R, Xc, and phase angle were measured in 2137 and 2230 males and females using phase-sensitive foot-to-hand analyzers at 50 kHz. A minimum of 35 subjects were included for each sex and age category from 18 to 65 years. Results: The new mean vectors showed a leftward shift on the R-Xc graph with respect to the former reference values (males: F = 75.3; p < 0.001; females: F = 36.6, p < 0.001). The results provided new 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentile curves for phase angle, identifying time point phases of decrement (males: -0.03° per year at 33.0-51.0 years and -0.05° per year after 51 years; females: -0.03° per year from 37.2 to 57.9 years). Conclusions: Compared to the original references, the new data are characterized by a different distribution within the R-Xc graph with a higher phase angle. Thirty years after the BIVA invention, the current study presents new tolerance ellipses and phase angle reference values for the adult population

Changes in sleep quality and sleep disturbances in the general population from before to during the COVID-19 lockdown: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionThis systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore changes in sleep quality and sleep disturbances in the general population from before to during the COVID-19 lockdown.MethodsThe protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021256378) and the PRISMA guidelines were followed. The major databases and gray literature were systematically searched from inception to 28/05/2021 to identify observational studies evaluating sleep changes in the general population during the lockdown with respect to the pre-lockdown period. A random effects meta-analysis was undertaken for studies reporting (a) the means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global scores or the means of the sleep onset latency (SOL) times (minutes - min) before and during the lockdown, (b) the percentages of poor sleep quality before and during the lockdown, or (c) the percentages of changes in sleep quality. Subgroup analysis by risk of bias and measurement tool utilized was carried out. A narrative synthesis on sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, insomnia and sleep medication consumption was also performed.ResultsSixty-three studies were included. A decline in sleep quality, reflected in a pooled increase in the PSQI global scores (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.26; 95% CI 0.17–0.34) and in SOL (SMD = 0.38 min; 95% CI 0.30–0.45) were found. The percentage of individuals with poor sleep quality increased during the lockdown (pooled relative risk 1.4; 95% CI 1.24–1.61). Moreover, 57.3% (95% CI 50.01–61.55) of the individuals reported a change in sleep quality; in 37.3% (95% CI 34.27–40.39) of these, it was a worsening. The studies included in the systematic review reported a decrease in sleep efficiency and an increase in sleep disturbances, insomnia, and in sleep medication consumption.DiscussionTimely interventions are warranted in view of the decline in sleep quality and the increase in sleep disturbances uncovered and their potentially negative impact on health. Further research and in particular longitudinal studies using validated instruments examining the long-term impact of the lockdown on sleep variables is needed.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021256378, identifier CRD42021256378

Frailty, psychological well-being, and social isolation in older adults with cognitive impairment during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: data from the GeroCovid initiative

Background: The containment measures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the phyco-physical well-being of the population, especially older adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). This study aims to evaluate whether the frailty of NCD patients was associated with different changes in multiple health domains, in particular in relation to loneliness and social isolation, pre- and post-lockdown. Materials and methods: Patients were recruited from 10 Italian Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia. Data were collected in the pre-pandemic period (T0), during the pandemic lockdown (T1), and 6-9 months post-lockdown (T2). The UCLA Loneliness Scale-3, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental ADL (IADL), Mini-Mental State Examination, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were administered. Caregivers' burden was also tested. Patients were categorized as non-frail, pre-frail, and frail according to the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Loss of Weight scale. Results: The sample included 165 subjects (61.9% women, mean age 79.5 ± 4.9 years). In the whole sample, the ADL, IADL, and NPI scores significantly declined between T0 and T2. There were no significative variations in functional and cognitive domains between the frail groups. During lockdown we recorded higher Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Perceived Stress Scale scores in frail people. In multivariable logistic regression, frailty was associated with an increase in social isolation, and a loss of IADL. Conclusions: We observed a global deterioration in functional and neuro-psychiatric domains irrespective of the degree of frailty. Frailty was associated with the worsening of social isolation during lockdown. Frail patients and their caregivers seemed to experience more anxiety and stress disorders during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

On-farm estimation of pig growth parameters from longitudinal data of live weight and feed consumption and the use of a mathematical model

Experimental data of feed consumption and composition, recorded over 5 consecutive short periods of growth from 30 crossbred male pigs divided 2 two groups and fed two restricted feeding regimes from 25 to 160 kg LW, were used to run a model in which a set of theoretical values, to describe the potential chemical growth of the pig, was preliminarily assumed. Simulated values of average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were the outputs. Estimates of protein mass at maturity (Pm, kg) and relative growth rate (B, d-1) for each feeding regimes where successively obtained through an optimization procedure which has minimized the coefficients of variation of the differences between the estimates and the measurements of ADG and FCR. The very similar values of Pm (33.7 and 33.2 kg), and B (0.0104 and 0.0105 d-1), obtained for the two feed treatments suggested that these values can be used as operational data to describe the growth parameters of the experimental pigs used

Simulation of growth performance of heavy pigs with different inherent growth characteristics kept on two restricted feeding planes

A mechanistic mathematical model was run to simulate the effect on average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of two different kind of pigs and two different feeding regimes. Theoretical values, taken from literature, were used as inputs to describe a poor and a improved genotype. To describe the feed, experimental measurements of feed composition and feed consumption, taken over 5 consecutive periods of growth from two groups of pigs, from 25 to 160 kg of live weight, were also used as inputs. The simulated ADG and FCR values were compared with the experimental performance. Across periods the experimental pigs showed ADG and FCR within the simulated ranges obtained for the theoretical pig genotype. It was concluded that the model was sensible to the variations of pig genotype and of feeding regime. It provided reasonable response both in term of pattern and magnitude

Two Cases of Myofibrillar Myopathies: Genetic and Quality of Life Study

We describe two cases of myofibrillar myopathies, due to different gene mutations. The first was a girl with cardiomyopathy and sensory axonal neuropathy that underwent cardiac transplantation at 15 years and suffers from rotatory scoliosis due to BAG3 mutation. The second is a male patient, with evident limb-girdle weakness since age 3. Two muscle biopsies were performed at ages 3 and 15, with muscle MRI, and LDB3 gene sequence analysis also carried out. Muscle biopsies revealed the presence of dystrophic changes in the first biopsy and myopathic abnormalities in the second, and the MRI images of the lower limbs showed an asymmetrical involvement in the thigh of quadriceps muscles and in the calf of gastrocnemius muscles. The patient was responsive to treatment with an intermittent steroid regimen and muscle-strengthening exercises. Considerations on both muscle–bone interaction and psychological and socioeconomic conditions are carried out for both cases

The influence of occupation type and complexity on cognitive performance in older adults

Sociodemographic factors, such as education and occupation, may influence the individual's cognitive reserve. We explored the extent to which the type and complexity of previous work activities influence cognitive per-formance (evaluated with Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE, and the Animal Naming Test, ANT) in 799 older people with or without brain damage. The presence of cortical/subcortical ischemic brain lesions and right/left hippocampal atrophy was derived from magnetic resonance imaging. We found that individuals who had done intellectual work had better MMSE and ANT scores than their counterparts in the presence of brain lesions or hippocampal atrophy. Among the manual workers there were significant differences between the MMSE scores of individuals with and without brain damage (mean MMSE difference (2.09 [SD: 0.68], p=0.01), but not among the intellectuals (0.19 [SD: 0.29], p=0.36) nor the service providers (1.67 [SD: 0.55], p=0.21). Occupations involving more complex dealings with people were associated with better MMSE scores in the presence of brain lesions [8=-0.41, 95%CI:-0.72,-0.09] and hippocampal atrophy [8=-0.29, 95%CI:-0.58,-0.001]. These results indicate that in more cognitively stimulating work with greater social interaction may help older individuals preserve cognitive functions, even in the presence of brain damage

Use of simple body measurements and allometry to predict the chemical growth and feed intake in pigs

The paper provides a practical procedure to estimate the chemical composition of pigs, their compositional growth and the expected feed intake from measurements of body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (P2) serially performed in vivo. A farm data set provided information on 920 individuals including BW, measured at 71 ± 4 (t1), 126 ± 5 (t2) and 184 ± 5 (t3) days of age, of P2 at t2 and t3, and of voluntary daily feed intake (FI), recorded over the period from t2 to t3 by automated IVOG feeders. Body lipid mass was estimated as L= (9.17 + 0.70*P2) *BW/100 and the other chemical constituents were predicted from fat free empty body mass using Gompertz growth functions and allometry. Using individual changes of body composition from age t2 to t3, energy requirements for maintenance and growth and the corresponding predicted feed intakes (PFI) were estimated. Measured FI were analysed for the effects of month, batch (within month), BWt2, P2t2, average metabolic weight, average daily gain and variation of P2 from t2 to t3. The same model was run again replacing the direct simple body measurements (BW and P2) with the estimated values of PFI as source of variation. Results. The Gompertz estimates of mature protein mass (Pm), relative growth rate parameter (B) and lipid to protein ratio at maturity were 43.5 ± 5.8 kg, 0.0116 ± 0.0011 d-1 and 1.81 ± 0.30, respectively. The current protein mass averaged 18.5 + 1.6 kg and the daily retentions of protein and lipid were 177 ± 21 and 239 ± 62 g/d, respectively. FI and PFI averaged 2.824 ± 0.448 and 2.814 ± 0.393 kg/d, respectively. In the ANOVA of the FI data, the replacement of direct body measurements by PFI did not change the proportion of variance explained (83%) and the RSD (0.199 g/d). The two sets of residual feed intake values obtained from the two ANOVA were highly correlated (RSD = 0.043 kg/d; R2= 0.961). Agreement between predicted and determined feed intakes provided a reasonable guarantee to the estimated (based on BW and P2) changes of body composition. Thus, a scheduled protocol of measurement of BW and P2 over the course of growth, coupled with the use of allometry, can be proposed to estimate in vivo the change of the chemical status of pigs kept under non limiting conditions