Detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in respiratory samples from cats in the UK associated with human‐to‐cat transmission

Objectives: The aim of the study was to find evidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in UK cats. Design: Tissue samples were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen using immunofluorescence and for viral RNA by in situ hybridisation. A set of 387 oropharyngeal swabs that had been submitted for routine respiratory pathogen testing was tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR. Results: Lung tissue collected post‐mortem from cat 1 tested positive for both SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid antigen and RNA. SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was detected in an oropharyngeal swab collected from cat 2 that presented with rhinitis and conjunctivitis. High throughput sequencing of the viral genome revealed five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) compared to the nearest UK human SARS‐CoV‐2 sequence, and this human virus contained eight SNPs compared to the original Wuhan‐Hu‐1 reference sequence. An analysis of the viral genome of cat 2 together with nine other feline‐derived SARS‐CoV‐2 sequences from around the world revealed no shared cat‐specific mutations. Conclusions: These findings indicate that human‐to‐cat transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 occurred during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the UK, with the infected cats developing mild or severe respiratory disease. Given the ability of the new coronavirus to infect different species, it will be important to monitor for human‐to‐cat, cat‐to‐cat and cat‐to‐human transmission

Somali Cultural Competence Education: An Intervention for Emergency Department Staff

Citation information only is avaliable. Winona State University, Rochester, Minnesot

Training-Induced Functional Gains following SCI

We previously demonstrated that daily, hour-long training sessions significantly improved both locomotor (limb kinematics, gait, and hindlimb flexor-extensor bursting patterns) and nonlocomotor (bladder function and at-level mechanical allodynia) functions following a moderate contusive spinal cord injury. The amount of training needed to achieve this recovery is unknown. Furthermore, whether this recovery is induced primarily by neuronal activity below the lesion or other aspects related to general exercise is unclear. Therefore, the current study objectives were to (1) test the efficacy of 30 minutes of step training for recovery following a clinically relevant contusion injury in male Wistar rats and (2) test the efficacy of training without hindlimb engagement. The results indicate that as little as 30 minutes of step training six days per week enhances overground locomotion in male rats with contusive spinal cord injury but does not alter allodynia or bladder function. Thirty minutes of forelimb-only exercise did not alter locomotion, allodynia, or bladder function, and neither training protocol altered the amount of in-cage activity. Taken together, locomotor improvements were facilitated by hindlimb step training for 30 minutes, but longer durations of training are required to affect nonlocomotor systems

Improvements in bladder, bowel and sexual outcomes following task-specific locomotor training in human spinal cord injury

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Locomotor training (LT) as a therapeutic intervention following spinal cord injury (SCI) is an effective rehabilitation strategy for improving motor outcomes, but its impact on non-locomotor functions is unknown. Given recent results of our labs’ pre-clinical animal SCI LT studies and existing overlap of lumbosacral spinal circuitries controlling pelvic-visceral and locomotor functions, we addressed whether LT can improve bladder, bowel and sexual function in humans at chronic SCI time-points (> two years post-injury).</p><p>Study design</p><p>Prospective cohort study; pilot trial with small sample size.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Eight SCI research participants who were undergoing 80 daily one-hour sessions of LT on a treadmill using body-weight support, or one-hour of LT and stand training on alternate days, as part of another research study conducted at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, were enrolled in this pilot trial. Urodynamic assessments were performed and International Data Set questionnaire forms completed for bladder, bowel and sexual functions at pre-and post-training time points. Four usual care (non-trained; regular at-home routine) research participants were also enrolled in this study and had the same assessments collected twice, at least 3 months apart.</p><p>Results</p><p>Filling cystometry documented significant increases in bladder capacity, voiding efficiency and detrusor contraction time as well as significant decreases in voiding pressure post-training relative to baseline. Questionnaires revealed a decrease in the frequency of nocturia and urinary incontinence for several research participants as well as a significant decrease in time required for defecation and a significant increase in sexual desire post-training. No significant differences were found for usual care research participants.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>These results suggest that an appropriate level of sensory information provided to the spinal cord, generated through task-specific stepping and/or loading, can positively benefit the neural circuitries controlling urogenital and bowel functions.</p><p>Trial registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03036527" target="_blank">NCT03036527</a></p></div

Bladder capacity data summary.

<p>Bladder filling ceased and capacity measured (leak + residual volumes) with the occurrence of either spontaneous urine leakage (n = 5; reflex void), autonomic dysreflexia (n = 2; Participants A60 and C42) or a voluntary void following a strong urge (AIS D Participant C43). (A) A comparison of pre- and post-training bladder capacity values in each of the eight participants. A binomial proportion test indicates that a significant majority of the research participants demonstrated an improvement in bladder capacity (vs. random occurrence, p < .05). Note that research participant B23 had a suprapubic catheter and thus, the increase in capacity was incremental. (B) Bladder capacity increased significantly post-training (p = .02, 155.4 ± 76.1 vs 278.5 ± 147.8 ml).</p

LUT elements adapted from international SCI data set [74].

<p>LUT elements adapted from international SCI data set [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0190998#pone.0190998.ref074" target="_blank">74</a>].</p

Clinical characteristics of research participants.

<p>Clinical characteristics of research participants.</p

Voiding efficiency data summary.

<p>A comparison of pre- and post-training voiding efficiency (VE) values in the eight research participants. While the majority of participants demonstrated an improvement in VE, participant C42 did not have a leak/void and participant A60 just leaked a few drops. When considering the six research participants that had a measurable efficiency, a significant improvement in VE values occurred collectively post-training (p = .046; 39.6 ± 15.5% vs 63.9 ± 8.9%).</p