Animal Welfare Compromises Associated with Causes of Death in Neonatal Piglets.

(c) The Author/sThis pilot study aimed to assess the welfare impacts of different causes of pre-weaning deaths in piglets. Piglets that died between 0-7 days after birth (n = 106) were collected from two commercial pig farms and subject to post-mortem examination to confirm their cause of death as well as any contributing factors. Using the Five Domains Model, the most likely affective experiences associated with the pathological findings were carefully inferred to better understand affective experience as it related to known causes of liveborn piglet mortality. The most common causes of liveborn piglet mortality were starvation (23%), crushing (23%) and non-viable (21%). Thirty one piglets had evidence of starvation, but it was only considered the primary cause of death in 15 piglets, as cofactors such as poor viability (n = 13) were also present in many piglets with evidence of starvation. All 15 piglets that were crushed died within 24 h after birth and most had evidence of thoracic and/or abdominal internal bleeding. This study found that common causes of liveborn piglet death were associated with compromises in Domains 1 (Nutrition/hydration), 3 (Health/function), and4 (Behavioural interactions), with the most likely resulting affective states described in Domain 5 (Mental state). This highlights the interaction between physical/functional and situation-related (behavioural) aspects that influence an animals' welfare status.Published onlin

Anosognosia in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment is Related to Diminished Hippocampal Volume Comparable to Alzheimer's Disease Dementia:Preliminary MRI Findings

Although the presence of anosognosia in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) may be predictive of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), little is known about its neural correlates in AD and aMCI. Four different groups were compared using volumetric and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging metrics in regions of interest (hippocampus and cingulum cortex gray matter, cingulum bundle white matter): aMCI subjects with anosognosia (n = 6), aMCI subjects without anosognosia (n = 12), AD subjects with anosognosia (n = 6), and AD subjects without anosognosia (n = 9). aMCI subjects with anosognosia displayed a significantly lower gray matter density (GMD) in the bilateral hippocampus than aMCI subjects without anosognosia, which was accounted for by bilateral hippocampal differences. Furthermore, we identified that the mean hippocampal gray matter density of aMCI subjects with anosognosia was not statistically different than that of AD subjects. The groups of aMCI and AD subjects with anosognosia also displayed a lower GMD in the bilateral cingulum cortex compared to subjects without anosognosia, but these differences were not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were found in the fractional anisotropy or mean diffusivity of the hippocampus or cingulum between subjects with and without anosognosia in aMCI or AD groups. While these findings are derived from a small population of subjects and are in need of replication, they suggest that anosognosia in aMCI might be a useful clinical marker to suspect brain changes associated with AD neuropathology

Copper deficiency and effects of copper supplementation in a herd of red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Copper (Cu) deficiency was diagnosed in a Norwegian red deer (Cervus elaphus) herd subsequent to deaths due to emaciation in late autumn 1999. The animals had free access to salt licks containing 3000 mg Cu/kg. An evaluation of the herd revealed poor calf growth rate, low weights of adult hinds, dull and light-coloured hair coats and cases of diarrhoea. The herd was subsequently monitored throughout a three-year period of Cu-supplementation. The monitoring regimen included clinical observation, copper serum examination, weighing, faecal parasitological examination, and reproduction control by ultrasound. During the period January 2000 to May 2001, the animals were treated with Cu oxid capsules (1 g CuO/10 kg liveweight) at 2–4 months intervals, with the exception of March to September 2000. The animals were fed continuously with Cu-enriched concentrates containing 300 mg Cu/kg, at a rate of 1/2 kg per head and day, from May 2001 to January 2003. Following both copper supplementation regimens adequate serum Cu concentrations were measured, and markedly improved body weights, coat quality and reproductive results were observed, except for the period from March to September 2000 when no treatment was given. The results showed that in a deer herd, with a diet low in Cu, supplementation with CuO capsules had to be given at intervals of a few months to maintain adequate serum Cu levels. Free access to Cu-containing salt licks did not meet the animals' Cu demand. Good and stable results were achieved by the daily feeding of Cu-enriched concentrates

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Lawson criterion for ignition exceeded in an inertial fusion experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion

Cervid herpesvirus-1 and a Rhadinovirus type-2 of elk in two farmed red deer herds

This paper reports the first identification of Cervid herpesvirus-1 (CvHV-1) from eyes of deer with and without keratitis lesions on one farm, but not from the eyes showing similar lesions on a second farm. However, CvHV-1 was identified from the vagina of a hind showing vaginal lesions after dexamethasone treatment aimed at amplifying virus on the second farm which had also experienced an infertility problem. Concurrent identification of Rhadinovirus Type-2 of elk from the eyes of deer on both of these farms is reported here for the first time. An investigation of possible viral aetiology of infertility was subsequently initiated on the second farm above. Nineteen hinds not conceiving were slaughtered. No lesions were observed and no virus was isolated from the genitalia. Six other hinds from the mob were treated with dexamethasone and killed seven days later. No genitalia lesions or virus were observed. Semen from four suspect stags was cultured for virus, but were negative. It appears unlikely that the infertility was associated with CvHV-1 or Rhadinovirus

Alpha and gamma herpesvirus detection in two herds of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) in New Zealand

CASE HISTORY: In September 2004 two hinds on Farm 1 were observed with epiphora and keratoconjunctivitis, and corneal scarring. A low pregnancy rate in some hinds had been recorded that year. In the same year six yearling deer were observed on Farm 2 with keratitis, uveitis and corneal scarring.\ud \ud CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: On Farm 1, conjunctival swabs and blood samples were collected from the hinds with ocular lesions, and from 24 other hinds. The two affected hinds were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone for 7 days. Conjunctival, nasal and vaginal swabs were collected daily before euthanasia and necropsy on the eighth day. Subsequently, another five non-pregnant hinds were similarly immunosuppressed and necropsied, and the reproductive tracts of 20 non-pregnant hinds were collected following slaughter. Semen samples were collected from four stags implicated with reproductive failure. On Farm 2, conjunctival swabs were collected from six hinds with ocular lesions and from 14 unaffected deer.\ud \ud Viral culture, consensus primer PCR and sequencing for specific herpesviruses was carried out on conjunctival swabs, buffy coat from blood samples, semen and reproductive tracts. Necropsy samples were also examined using gross pathology and histopathology.\ud \ud On Farm 1, a type 2 rhadinovirus (CvRhV) was detected in the conjunctiva of one hind with keratoconjunctivitis using PCR. Following immunosuppression, gross vesicular and histological vaginal lesions typical of infection with alphaherpesvirus were observed in samples of vaginal tissue from the same hind. Buffy coat, vaginal and lumbar spinal nervous tissues were also positive for cervid herpesvirus 1 (CvHV-1) using PCR. Herpesviruses were not detected in reproductive tracts, ocular or semen samples of the other deer. CvRhV was detected in buffy coats from four other hinds and in a conjunctival swab from one hind, all without ocular lesions, using PCR.\ud \ud On Farm 2, conjunctival swabs from two deer with keratitis were culture positive for CvHV-1. Two culture-negative conjunctival samples from deer without ocular lesions were positive for CvHV-1 by PCR. In two other affected animals, presence of CvRhV was confirmed by PCR and sequencing.\ud \ud DIAGNOSIS: Infection with CvHV-1 associated with keratitis and vulvovaginitis, and CvRhV infection in deer with and without ocular lesions.\ud \ud CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CvHV-1 is a likely cause of keratoconjunctivitis and possibly reproductive tract pathology in deer. Investigation of ocular lesions and reproductive failure in farmed deer should include CvRhV and CvHV-1

Calcifediol Treatment and Hospital Mortality Due to COVID-19: A Cohort Study

Context. Calcifediol has been proposed as a potential treatment for COVID-19 patients. Objective: To compare the administration or not of oral calcifediol on mortality risk of patients hospitalized because of COVID-19. Design: Retrospective, multicenter, open, non-randomized cohort study. Settings: Hospitalized care. Patients: Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between 5 February and 5 May 2020 in five hospitals in the South of Spain. Intervention: Patients received calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) treatment (0.266 mg/capsule, 2 capsules on entry and then one capsule on day 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28) or not. Main Outcome Measure: In-hospital mortality during the first 30 days after admission. Results: A total of 537 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 (317 males (59%), median age, 70 years), and 79 (14.7%) received calcifediol treatment. Overall, in-hospital mortality during the first 30 days was 17.5%. The OR of death for patients receiving calcifediol (mortality rate of 5%) was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.61) compared to patients not receiving such treatment (mortality rate of 20%; p < 0.01). Patients who received calcifediol after admission were more likely than those not receiving treatment to have comorbidity and a lower rate of CURB-65 score for pneumonia severity ≥ 3 (one point for each of confusion, urea > 7 mmol/L, respiratory rate ≥ 30/min, systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≤ 60 mm Hg, and age ≥ 65 years), acute respiratory distress syndrome (moderate or severe), c-reactive protein, chronic kidney disease, and blood urea nitrogen. In a multivariable logistic regression model, adjusting for confounders, there were significant differences in mortality for patients receiving calcifediol compared with patients not receiving it (OR = 0.16 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.80). Conclusion: Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, treatment with calcifediol, compared with those not receiving calcifediol, was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality during the first 30 days. The observational design and sample size may limit the interpretation of these findings