New family of deep-sea planktonic copepods, the Paralubbockiidae (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida)

The deep-sea planktonic copepod Paralubbockia longipedia is redescribed from the type specimens, and a new family of Poecilostomatoida is proposed to accommodate it. The Paralubbockiidae fam. nov. is characterized by two unique plesiomorphies, the ventrally located fifth legs and the retention of a separate maxillulary palp, and by the apomorphic states of the endopods of the swimming legs and of the antenna. The sister group of the Paralubbockiidae is identified as the family Oncaeidae. These are the only two poecilostomatoid families that have retained a vestige of the geniculation mechanism in the antennules of the male. The genus Laitmatobius Humes is here regarded as incertae sedis within the lineage comprising the Oncaeidae and the Parulubbockiidae

Psychiatric Illnesses as Disorders of Network Dynamics

This review provides a dynamical systems perspective on psychiatric symptoms and disease, and discusses its potential implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. After a brief introduction into the theory of dynamical systems, we will focus on the idea that cognitive and emotional functions are implemented in terms of dynamical systems phenomena in the brain, a common assumption in theoretical and computational neuroscience. Specific computational models, anchored in biophysics, for generating different types of network dynamics, and with a relation to psychiatric symptoms, will be briefly reviewed, as well as methodological approaches for reconstructing the system dynamics from observed time series (like fMRI or EEG recordings). We then attempt to outline how psychiatric phenomena, associated with schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, ADHD, phantom pain, and others, could be understood in dynamical systems terms. Most importantly, we will try to convey that the dynamical systems level may provide a central, hub-like level of convergence which unifies and links multiple biophysical and behavioral phenomena, in the sense that diverse biophysical changes can give rise to the same dynamical phenomena and, vice versa, similar changes in dynamics may yield different behavioral symptoms depending on the brain area where these changes manifest. If this assessment is correct, it may have profound implications for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of psychiatric conditions, as it puts the focus on dynamics. We therefore argue that consideration of dynamics should play an important role in the choice and target of interventions

The entry of adalimumab biosimilars in Europe : an overview of price evolution and country responses

Background: From October 2018, adalimumab biosimilars could enter the European market. However, some countries, such as the Netherlands, report high discounts for the originator product that influence biosimilar entry. Consequently, we researched European (list) prices and reimbursement status of originator adalimumab, before and after the entry of biosimilars, and discuss relevant policy measures. Methods: Survey distributed via email to national experts consisting of three parts: i) general financing/co-payment of medicines, ii) reimbursement status and prices of originator adalimumab and availability of biosimilars, and iii) policy measures related to the use of adalimumab. Results: In the 27 surveyed countries, originator adalimumab is reimbursed (fully or only partial, and sometimes with restrictions in use), except for Kosovo, where it is not marketed. Following adalimumab biosimilars, a few countries have made changes to the reimbursement status/level or setting where adalimumab is available. Overall, a decrease in list prices of originator adalimumab was seen after loss of exclusivity rights. Some countries (Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Romania) reported that list prices have not changed up to May 2019, although confidential discounts may exist. Adalimumab biosimilars were available in 23 of the 27 surveyed countries. Countries adopted various approaches to leverage competition from the use of (biosimilar) adalimumab. In some countries, a strategy was implemented even before patent expiry (Scotland), while others did not report specific measures. Conclusion: This study documented how European countries responded differently to patent expiry of originator adalimumab and biosimilar market entry, with implications for pricing and reimbursement

Incidence and identification of mesophilic <i>Aeromonas</i> spp. from retail foods

Sixty-eight food samples were examined for the presence of mesophilic Aeromonas species both qualitatively and quantitatively. Aeromonads were isolated from 26% of the vegetable samples, 70% of the meat and poultry samples and 72% of the fish and shrimps. Numbers of motile aeromonads present in the food samples varied from 2 cfu g-1 to >105 cfu g-1. GLC analysis of FAMEs was used to identify a selection of presumptive Aeromonas colonies to fenospecies or genomic species level. Aeromonas strains belonging to the Aer. caviae complex, which also includes the potentially pathogenic genospecies HG4, were mostly isolated from vegetables but were also found in meat, poultry and fish. In addition, three strains of the virulent taxon Aer. veronii biovar sobria HG8 were isolated from poultry and minced meat. All members of the Aer. hydrophila complex, predominant in the fish, meat and poultry samples, were classified in the non-virulent taxon HG3. Although the significance of Aeromonas in foods remains undefined, the isolation of Aeromonas HG4 and HG8 strains from a variety of retail foods may indicate that these products can act as possible vehicles for the dessimination of food-borne Aeromonas gastroenteritis

Perspectives and Opportunities for Precompetitive Public–Private Partnerships in the Biomedical Sector

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Components of Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression Engage Specific Reinforcement Learning Mechanisms in a Pilot Study

Background: Behavioral activation is an evidence-based treatment for depression. Theoretical considerations suggest that treatment response depends on reinforcement learning mechanisms. However, which reinforcement learning mechanisms are engaged by and mediate the therapeutic effect of behavioral activation remains only partially understood, and there are no procedures to measure such mechanisms. Objective: To perform a pilot study to examine whether reinforcement learning processes measured through tasks or self-report are related to treatment response to behavioral activation. Method: The pilot study enrolled 13 outpatients (12 completers) with major depressive disorder, from July of 2018 through February of 2019, into a nine-week trial with BA. Psychiatric evaluations, decision-making tests and self-reported reward experience and anticipations were acquired before, during and after the treatment. Task and self-report data were analysed by using reinforcement-learning models. Inferred parameters were related to measures of depression severity through linear mixed effects models. Results: Treatment effects during different phases of the therapy were captured by specific decision-making processes in the task. During the weeks focusing on the active pursuit of reward, treatment effects were more pronounced amongst those individuals who showed an increase in Pavlovian appetitive influence. During the weeks focusing on the avoidance of punishments, treatment responses were more pronounced in those individuals who showed an increase in Pavlovian avoidance. Self-reported anticipation of reinforcement changed according to formal RL rules. Individual differences in the extent to which learning followed RL rules related to changes in anhedonia. Conclusions: In this pilot study both task-and self-report-derived measures of reinforcement learning captured individual differences in treatment response to behavioral activation. Appetitive and aversive Pavlovian reflexive processes appeared to be modulated by separate psychotherapeutic interventions, and the modulation strength covaried with response to specific interventions. Self-reported changes in reinforcement expectations are also related to treatment response

The impact of policy interventions to promote the uptake of biosimilar medicines in Belgium:a nationwide interrupted time series analysis

Background: The Belgian government has taken several measures to increase the uptake of biosimilars in past years. However, no formal evaluation of the impact of these measures has been made yet. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the implemented measures on biosimilar uptake. Methods: An interrupted time series analysis was performed using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model with the Box-Jenkins method. All data were expressed as defined daily doses (DDD) per month/quarter and obtained from the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI). Three molecules were included in the analysis: etanercept (ambulatory), filgrastim (hospital), and epoetin (hospital). A significance level of 5% was used for all analyses. Results: In the ambulatory care, the effect of a financial prescriber incentive of 2019 was investigated. After this intervention, 44.504 (95% CI −61.61 to −14.812; P < 0.001) fewer etanercept biosimilar DDDs were dispensed monthly than expected in the absence of the intervention. Two interventions were modelled for biosimilars in the hospital setting. The first intervention of 2016 includes prescription targets for biosimilars and monitoring of hospitals on adequate tendering. The second intervention involves an information campaign on biosimilars. After the first intervention, a small decrease in quarterly epoetin biosimilar uptake of 449.820 DDD (95% CI −880.113 to −19.527; P = 0.05) was observed. The second intervention led to a larger increase in quarterly epoetin biosimilar uptake of 2733.692 DDD (95% CI 1648.648–3818.736; P < 0.001). For filgrastim, 1809.833 DDD (95% CI 1354.797–2264.869; P < 0.001) more biosimilars were dispensed immediately after the first intervention and 151.639 DDD (95% CI −203.128 to −100.150; P < 0.001) fewer biosimilars each quarter after the first intervention. An immediate and sustained increase of 700.932 DDD (95% CI 180.536–1221.328; P = 0.016) in quarterly biosimilar volume was observed after the second intervention. All other parameter estimates were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the impact of past policy interventions to increase the uptake of biosimilars has been variable and limited. A holistic policy framework is required to develop a competitive and sustainable off-patent biologicals market in Belgium.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Adoption of biosimilar infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases in the EU5: A budget impact analysis using a Delphi panel

Introduction: Introducing biosimilar infliximab for the treatment in rheumatology (rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis) and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) may reduce treatment costs associated with biologics. This study aimed to investigate the budget impact of adopting biosimilar infliximab in five European countries, considering that the budget impact includes the adoption of biosimilar infliximab and the availability of biologic alternatives such as vedolizumab, biosimilar etanercept, biosimilar rituximab, and other relevant factors. Methods: An existing budget impact model was adapted to forecast the budget impact in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Epidemiological parameters were derived from published literature reviewed in July 2015. Current market shares of biologics were derived from Therapy Watch (2012/2013 data). Respondents in a Delphi panel, conducted in 2015 and consisting of several leading rheumatologists and gastroenterologists from different nationalities, were asked to forecast uptake of biosimilar infliximab and estimate the proportion of patients eligible for a particular type of biological treatment, including biosimilar infliximab. Scenario analyses assessed the influence of various factors, including price reductions, on the budget. Results: Uptake of biosimilar infliximab was particularly expected for naïve patients; switching patients that already received other biologics was not expected much. Market shares after 5 years of biosimilar infliximab were ~2% in rheumatology in all five countries and in gastroenterology ranged from 4% in France to over 30% in Italy. Except for France, budgets were expected to decrease for rheumatologic diseases. For gastroenterology, budgets were expected to decrease in Spain and Italy. Budgets were expected to increase substantially in the UK and Germany, due to the introduction of vedolizumab in the studied period. In France, budget was expected to slightly increase for ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's Disease, and ulcerative collitis. Savings in budget were expected in all countries, for all diseases, when larger price discounts on biosimilar infliximab were used. Discussion and Conclusion: This study has shown that only when price reductions are large en