Use of Camera Collars to Reassess the Foraging Strategies of Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Black bears and grizzly bears are opportunistic omnivores that consume a seasonally dynamic diet that varies over time and space. Changes in climate may influence the abundance and distribution of foods consumed by bears, which may place bears in closer proximity to humans and increase human-bear interactions. Therefore, reliable data on bear diets will remain important information for managers. Previous studies of bear foraging relied on visiting locations from GPS collars and documenting bear activity, but evidence of activity or foraging was observed at only 30–50% of locations. Emerging technologies, such as GPS camera collars, can provide new insights into the ecology of cryptic animals, including bears, and could be used to better understand the dynamic nature of their diets. During 2014–2016, we deployed GPS camera collars on 3 grizzly bears and 3 black bears in Yellowstone National Park as a pilot study to gain insights about the nutritional ecology of these species. Field crews observed sign of bear activity at ~52% of the GPS locations searched, which is comparable to other studies. However, when we compared the sign found by field crews to videos recorded by the collars at the same locations, the two methods matched only 18.6% of the time. This low congruence demonstrates a need to improve methods to understand foraging activities. Inference may be improved by matching rich datasets from GPS-tracking devices (i.e., location information and accelerometer data) with video documentation to predict bear foraging behaviors

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined<5 × 10(-8)) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

12670 CHAMPAIN Study:Initial Results From A Phase II Study Of Efficacy, Safety And Tolerability Of Modified-release Hydrocortisones: Chronocort ® (Efmody ® ) Versus Plenadren ®, In Primary Adrenal Insufficiency

Background: Current glucocorticoid replacement regimens for patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) mean patients wake with either low or undetectable cortisol levels[1], associated with fatigue and a reduced quality of life (QoL)2. Plenadren® (Takeda, UK) is a once-daily modified-release formulation of hydrocortisone that replaces daytime cortisol levels whereas Chronocort® (modified-release hydrocortisone hard capsules, Diurnal, UK) when taken twice-daily, has been shown to replicate the normal overnight rise in serum cortisol concentration and provide physiological levels throughout the day. We have undertaken a double-blind, double-dummy, two-way cross-over, randomised, phase II study of efficacy, safety and tolerability of modified-release hydrocortisones: Chronocort® Versus Plenadren®. Aim: To test the hypothesis that Chronocort® provides more physiological waking cortisol levels than Plenadren®. Methodology: The study was conducted across 8 sites in the UK and Germany. Male and female patients, aged ≥18 with confirmed PAI (defined as morning pre-dose cortisol &lt;50 nMol/l) on stable therapy over the preceding three months and not currently treated with Chronocort®/Plenadren®. Participants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), secondary or tertiary AI were excluded. Each participant was randomised on a 1:1 basis to either; treatment sequence I (Chronocort® first) or treatment sequence II (Plenadren® first) taking a 25mg total daily dose for 4 weeks; either Plenadren® 25mg in the morning or Chronocort® 10mg in the morning and 15mg at night with the associated dummy preparation followed immediately by the other treatment. The pre-dose morning serum cortisol level was assayed at baseline and after each treatment period. A physiological morning cortisol level was defined as a pre-dose level of &gt;140nMol/L. Secondary measures included: morning fatigue measured using the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) questionnaire and the PROMIS® 7b questionnaire; QoL was assessed using the EuroQol 5-level Standardised Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L™); Health-related Quality of Life in Addison’s disease (AddiQoL) questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36®) questionnaire. Results: Of 49 evaluable participants with PAI, 45 achieved a physiological morning cortisol after four weeks of Chronocort® compared with 2 after four weeks of Plenadren® (P &lt;0.0001). The mean (standard deviation) waking cortisol was 422.85 (203.50) vs 36.98 (113.87), respectively. Conclusion: Chronocort® provides more physiological waking cortisol levels than Plenadren®. Further analysis will test the hypothesis that waking with physiological cortisol levels improves fatigue and QoL in patients with PAI. 1.Mah PM, et al. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2004;61(3):367-75.2.Wichers M, et al. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1999;50(6):759-65

12670 CHAMPAIN Study:Initial Results From A Phase II Study Of Efficacy, Safety And Tolerability Of Modified-release Hydrocortisones: Chronocort ® (Efmody ® ) Versus Plenadren ®, In Primary Adrenal Insufficiency

Background: Current glucocorticoid replacement regimens for patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) mean patients wake with either low or undetectable cortisol levels[1], associated with fatigue and a reduced quality of life (QoL)2. Plenadren® (Takeda, UK) is a once-daily modified-release formulation of hydrocortisone that replaces daytime cortisol levels whereas Chronocort® (modified-release hydrocortisone hard capsules, Diurnal, UK) when taken twice-daily, has been shown to replicate the normal overnight rise in serum cortisol concentration and provide physiological levels throughout the day. We have undertaken a double-blind, double-dummy, two-way cross-over, randomised, phase II study of efficacy, safety and tolerability of modified-release hydrocortisones: Chronocort® Versus Plenadren®. Aim: To test the hypothesis that Chronocort® provides more physiological waking cortisol levels than Plenadren®. Methodology: The study was conducted across 8 sites in the UK and Germany. Male and female patients, aged ≥18 with confirmed PAI (defined as morning pre-dose cortisol &lt;50 nMol/l) on stable therapy over the preceding three months and not currently treated with Chronocort®/Plenadren®. Participants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), secondary or tertiary AI were excluded. Each participant was randomised on a 1:1 basis to either; treatment sequence I (Chronocort® first) or treatment sequence II (Plenadren® first) taking a 25mg total daily dose for 4 weeks; either Plenadren® 25mg in the morning or Chronocort® 10mg in the morning and 15mg at night with the associated dummy preparation followed immediately by the other treatment. The pre-dose morning serum cortisol level was assayed at baseline and after each treatment period. A physiological morning cortisol level was defined as a pre-dose level of &gt;140nMol/L. Secondary measures included: morning fatigue measured using the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) questionnaire and the PROMIS® 7b questionnaire; QoL was assessed using the EuroQol 5-level Standardised Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L™); Health-related Quality of Life in Addison’s disease (AddiQoL) questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36®) questionnaire. Results: Of 49 evaluable participants with PAI, 45 achieved a physiological morning cortisol after four weeks of Chronocort® compared with 2 after four weeks of Plenadren® (P &lt;0.0001). The mean (standard deviation) waking cortisol was 422.85 (203.50) vs 36.98 (113.87), respectively. Conclusion: Chronocort® provides more physiological waking cortisol levels than Plenadren®. Further analysis will test the hypothesis that waking with physiological cortisol levels improves fatigue and QoL in patients with PAI. 1.Mah PM, et al. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2004;61(3):367-75.2.Wichers M, et al. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1999;50(6):759-65

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease