Relaxin som verktyg för dräktighetsdiagnostik hos alpackor : utvärdering av snabbtestet FASTest Relaxin

The alpaca is a South American camelid that originates from the Andes. Their popularity and numbers in Sweden and other western countries have increased over the last few decades and they are kept as pets and for their fleece (fiber). Their reproduction differs from other ruminants in that they are induced ovulators, have a long gestational period, very rarely have twins and are older when they are first mated. Pregnancy losses are also common in alpacas, especially early pregnancy losses, with 10-50% of the losses occurring during the first two months of pregnancy. Therefore, alpacas have a poor breeding performance which makes advances in breeding slow. It is estimated that only half of the alpacas produce offspring each year. Because of this, an easily accessible, accurate and userfriendly tool for pregnancy diagnostics is crucial to be able to mate the female again during the season, thereby increasing the number of offspring produced by each alpaca and enabling the producer to reach breeding goals more effectively. The most commonly used methods for diagnosing pregnancies are observing the females’ behaviour towards males, ultrasonography and progesterone concentrations in plasma. Ultrasonography is considered as an accurate method, but as many veterinarians either lack the knowledge or equipment to perform it, it is still not a readily available tool for alpaca breeders. Measuring progesterone concentration or observing the females’ behaviour towards males are not entirely reliable since they are not specific for pregnancy. Relaxin, on the other hand, is a pregnancy-specific hormone produced in the utero-fetal-placental unit. Relaxin concentration in blood is used in pregnancy diagnostics for several species, including dogs and cats. Two scientific papers described the relaxin concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant alpaca females and showed a significant difference between them. In this study, the point-of-care test FASTest Relaxin, developed for dogs and cats, was evaluated as a tool in pregnancy diagnosis in alpacas. In total, 18 female alpacas were included in this study, which was conducted in the United Kingdom; 12 were 61-90 days pregnant and 6 were non-pregnant. The pregnancies were confirmed by ultrasonography on the same day as the blood samples were collected. The blood was centrifuged and the plasma was used in the FASTest Relaxin test, according to the test instructions, within 4 hours. Later, plasma was sent for quantitative analysis in a laboratory. All the results from FASTest Relaxin were negative even though the results from quantitative analysis showed levels of relaxin similar to those of dogs and cats. The conclusion is, therefore, that FASTest Relaxin does not work as a tool for diagnosing pregnancy in alpacas. In contrast, the quantitative analysis showed a clear difference in relaxin concentrations between pregnant and non-pregnant females

Djurens betydelse för Krim-Kongo hemorragisk feber virus

Krim-Kongo hemorragisk feber virus, CCHFV, orsakar en allvarlig hemorragisk febersjukdom med hög dödlighet hos människor. Den är utspridd över stora delar av den Gamla Världen, så som Afrika, Mellanöstern, Asien och sydöstra Europa. Viruset sprids med fästingar och replikeras i infekterade däggdjur samt hos struts. Till skillnad från människor visar djur sällan några symtom vid infektion av CCHFV, även om det är visat att flera arter utvecklar viremi och antikroppssvar. De mest studerade arterna är nötkreatur, får och getter. Dessa arter har i vissa områden en mycket hög seroprevalens för CCHFV, den varierar dock kraftigt mellan olika endemiska områden. Bland studerade vilda däggdjur i södra Afrika har man även hos vissa arter funnit en hög seroprevalens. Fästingar fungerar som vektorer för CCHFV och fästingen Hyalomma marginatum och dess underarter anses vara de främsta vektorerna för viruset. Fästingar kan föra över CCHFV både vertikalt och horisontellt. De flesta människor som drabbas av sjukdomen har smittats vid kontakt med viremiska djur eller deras kroppsvätskor eller efter fästingbett av en infekterad individ. Det är därför främst riskgrupper som veterinärer, bönder och slakteripersonal som drabbas. För att undvika att människor drabbas av sjukdomen är det viktigt att minska prevalensen bland djur, för att i förlängningen undvika att människor smittas. Detta skulle kunna ske dels genom att minska antalet fästingar på djuren, dels genom att förhindra att viremiska tamdjur vid direktkontakt smittar människor. Många länder, däribland flera europeiska, saknar idag en plan för hur CCHFV ska övervakas och bekämpas. Detta trots att länder som Spanien och Italien har förutsättningar för att drabbas av CCHFV då Hyalomma marginatum finns i dessa länder, samt att CCHFV relativt lätt skulle kunna föras in via flyttfåglar som bär på infekterade fästingar, vilda däggdjur eller tamdjur som förflyttas. Ett bra övervakningsprogram för viruset kräver även fungerande testmetoder samt tillförlitlig diagnostik för att kunna säkerställa och jämföra förekomsten av CCHFV mellan områden. Mycket forskning återstår att göra för att förstå vilka abiotiska och biotiska faktorer som påverkar upprätthållandet av CCHFV hos reservoarer och vektorer samt hur viruset skulle kunna sprida sig. Denna litteraturstudie försöker besvara frågorna hur djur påverkas, vilka djurslag som har betydelse som reservoarer och smittspridare av CCHFV, hur den kan bekämpas och övervakas samt om den skulle kunna sprida sig i Europa.Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, CCHFV, causes a severe hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate in humans. It is spread over large parts of the Old World, such as Africa, the Middle East, Asia and southeastern Europe. The virus is spread by ticks and replicated in infected mammals and the ostrich. Unlike humans, animals rarely show any symptoms of infection by CCHFV, even if it is shown that several species develop viremia and antibody response. The most studied species are cattle, sheep and goats. These species have in some areas a very high seroprevalence for CCHFV; this varies considerably between different endemic areas. Among the studied wild mammals in southern Africa have also in some species have found a high seroprevalence. Ticks act as vectors for CCHFV and Hyalomma marginatum and its subspecies are considered to be the main vectors for the virus. Ticks can carry over CCHFV both vertically and horizontally. Most people who contract the disease have been infected by contact with viremic animals or their body fluids or after a tick bite of an infected individual. It is therefore primarily at-risk groups such as veterinarians, farmers and slaughterhouse staff who contract the disease. To prevent people from developing the disease, it is important to reduce the prevalence among animals, in order to ultimately prevent human infection. This could be done by reducing the number of ticks on the animals, and by preventing viremic domestic animals to get in direct contact with humans. Many countries, including several European, currently lacks a plan for how CCHFV be monitored and combated. This despite the fact that countries such as Spain and Italy have the potential to suffer CCHFV since H. marginatum is already present in these countries, and that CCHFV relatively easily can be introduced via migratory birds carrying infected ticks, wild mammals or domestic animals that are moved. A good monitoring program for the virus also requires functional testing methods and reliable diagnostics to ensure and compare the incidence of CCHFV between areas. Much research remains to be done to understand the abiotic and biotic factors affecting the maintenance of CCHFV of reservoirs and vectors, as well as how the virus could spread to new areas. This study tries to answer questions about how animals are affected, which animal species that are important as reservoirs and vectors of CCHFV, how it can be controlled and monitored, and if it could spread in Europe

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for stroke recovery

BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) might theoretically reduce post‐stroke disability by direct effects on the brain. This Cochrane Review was first published in 2012 and last updated in 2019. OBJECTIVES: To determine if SSRIs are more effective than placebo or usual care at improving outcomes in people less than 12 months post‐stroke, and to determine whether treatment with SSRIs is associated with adverse effects. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched 7 January 2021), Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL, Issue 7 of 12, 7 January 2021), MEDLINE (1946 to 7 January 2021), Embase (1974 to 7 January 2021), CINAHL (1982 to 7 January 2021), PsycINFO (1985 to 7 January 2021), and AMED (1985 to 7 January 2021). PsycBITE had previously been searched (16 July 2018). We searched clinical trials registers. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) recruiting stroke survivors within the first year. The intervention was any SSRI, at any dose, for any period, and for any indication. The comparator was usual care or placebo. Studies reporting at least one of our primary (disability score or independence) or secondary outcomes (impairments, depression, anxiety, quality of life, fatigue, cognition, healthcare cost, death, adverse events and leaving the study early) were included in the meta‐analysis. The primary analysis included studies at low risk of bias. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data on demographics, stroke type and, our pre‐specified outcomes, and bias sources. Two review authors independently extracted data. We used mean difference (MD) or standardised mean differences (SMDs) for continuous variables, and risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous variables, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed bias risks and applied GRADE criteria. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 76 eligible studies (13,029 participants); 75 provided data at end of treatment, and of these two provided data at follow‐up. Thirty‐eight required participants to have depression to enter. The duration, drug, and dose varied. Six studies were at low risk of bias across all domains; all six studies did not need participants to have depression to enter, and all used fluoxetine. Of these six studies, there was little to no difference in disability between groups SMD ‐0.0; 95% CI ‐0.05 to 0.05; 5 studies, 5436 participants, high‐quality evidence) or in independence (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.03; 5 studies, 5926 participants; high‐quality evidence) at the end of treatment. In the studies at low risk of bias across all domains, SSRIs slightly reduced the average depression score (SMD 0.14 lower, 95% CI 0.19 lower to 0.08 lower; 4 studies; 5356 participants, high‐quality evidence) and there was a slight reduction in the proportion with depression (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.86; 3 studies, 5907 participants, high‐quality evidence). Cognition was slightly better in the control group (MD ‐1.22, 95% CI ‐2.37 to ‐0.07; 4 studies, 5373 participants, moderate‐quality evidence). Only one study (n = 30) reported neurological deficit score (SMD ‐0.39, 95% CI ‐1.12 to 0.33; low‐quality evidence). SSRIs resulted in little to no difference in motor deficit (SMD 0.03, ‐0.02 to 0.08; 6 studies, 5518 participants, moderate‐quality evidence). SSRIs slightly increased the proportion leaving the study early (RR 1.57, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.40; 6 studies, 6090 participants, high‐quality evidence). SSRIs slightly increased the outcome of a seizure (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.98; 6 studies, 6080 participants, moderate‐quality evidence) and a bone fracture (RR 2.35, 95% CI 1.62 to 3.41; 6 studies, 6080 participants, high‐quality evidence). One study at low risk of bias across all domains reported gastrointestinal side effects (RR 1.71, 95% CI 0.33, to 8.83; 1 study, 30 participants). There was no difference in the total number of deaths between SSRI and placebo (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.24; 6 studies, 6090 participants, moderate quality evidence). SSRIs probably result in little to no difference in fatigue (MD ‐0.06; 95% CI ‐1.24 to 1.11; 4 studies, 5524 participants, moderate‐quality of evidence), nor in quality of life (MD 0.00; 95% CI ‐0.02 to 0.02, 3 studies, 5482 participants, high‐quality evidence). When all studies, irrespective of risk of bias, were included, SSRIs reduced disability scores but not the proportion independent. There was insufficient data to perform a meta‐analysis of outcomes at end of follow‐up. Several small ongoing studies are unlikely to alter conclusions. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is high‐quality evidence that SSRIs do not make a difference to disability or independence after stroke compared to placebo or usual care, reduced the risk of future depression, increased bone fractures and probably increased seizure risk

Species which may act as vectors or reservoirs of diseases covered by the Animal Health Law: Listed pathogens of fish

Vector or reservoir species of five fish diseases listed in the Animal Health Law were identified, based on evidence generated through an extensive literature review (ELR), to support a possible updating of Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. Fish species on or in which highly polymorphic region-deleted infectious salmon anaemia virus (HPR∆ ISAV), Koi herpes virus (KHV), epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV), infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) or viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) were detected, in the field or during experiments, were classified as reservoir species with different levels of certainty depending on the diagnostic tests used. Where experimental evidence indicated transmission of the pathogen from a studied species to another known susceptible species, the studied species was classified as a vector species. Although the quantification of the risk of spread of the pathogens by the vectors or reservoir species was not part of the terms or reference, such risks do exist for the vector species, since transmission from infected vector species to susceptible species was proven. Where evidence for transmission from infected fish was not found, these were defined as reservoirs. Nonetheless, the risk of the spread of the pathogens from infected reservoir species cannot be excluded. Evidence identifying conditions that may prevent transmission by vectors or reservoir fish species during transport was collected from scientific literature. For VHSV, IHNV or HPR∆ ISAV, it was concluded that under transport conditions at temperatures below 25°C, it is likely (66–90%) they will remain infective. Therefore, vector or reservoir species that may have been exposed to these pathogens in an affected area in the wild, aquaculture establishments or through water supply can possibly transmit VHSV, IHNV or HPR∆ ISAV into a non-affected area when transported at a temperature below 25°C. The conclusion was the same for EHN and KHV; however, they are likely to remain infective under all transport temperatures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Species which may act as vectors or reservoirs of diseases covered by the Animal Health Law: Listed pathogens of crustaceans

Vector or reservoir species of three diseases of crustaceans listed in the Animal Health Law were identified based on evidence generated through an extensive literature review, to support a possible updating of Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. Crustacean species on or in which Taura syndrome virus (TSV), Yellow head virus (YHV) or White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) were identified, in the field or during experiments, were classified as reservoir species with different levels of certainty depending on the diagnostic tests used. Where experimental evidence indicated transmission of the pathogen from a studied species to another known susceptible species, the studied species was classified as vector species. Although the quantification of the risk of spread of the pathogens by the vectors or reservoir species was not part of the terms of reference, such risks do exist for the vector species, since transmission from infected vector species to susceptible species was proven. Where evidence for transmission from infected crustaceans was not found, these were defined as reservoirs. Nonetheless, the risk of the spread of the pathogens from infected reservoir species cannot be excluded. Evidence identifying conditions that may prevent transmission by vectors during transport was collected from scientific literature. It was concluded that it is very likely to almost certain (90–100%) that WSSV, TSV and YHV will remain infective at any possible transport condition. Therefore, vector or reservoir species that may have been exposed to these pathogens in an affected area in the wild or aquaculture establishments or by water supply can possibly transmit WSSV, TSV and YHV.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Elevated serum chemokine CCL22 levels in first-episode psychosis: associations with symptoms, peripheral immune state and in vivo brain glial cell function

Several lines of research support immune system dysregulation in psychotic disorders. However, it remains unclear whether the immunological marker alterations are stable and how they associate with brain glial cell function. This longitudinal study aimed at investigating whether peripheral immune functions are altered in the early phases of psychotic disorders, whether the changes are associated with core symptoms, remission, brain glial cell function, and whether they persist in a one-year follow-up. Two independent cohorts comprising in total of 129 first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and 130 controls were assessed at baseline and at the one-year follow-up. Serum cyto-/chemokines were measured using a 38-plex Luminex assay. The FEP patients showed a marked increase in chemokine CCL22 levels both at baseline (p < 0.0001; Cohen's d = 0.70) and at the 12-month follow-up (p = 0.0007) compared to controls. The group difference remained significant (p = 0.0019) after accounting for relevant covariates including BMI, smoking, and antipsychotic medication. Elevated serum CCL22 levels were significantly associated with hallucinations (rho = 0.20) and disorganization (rho = 0.23), and with worse verbal performance (rho = -0.23). Brain glial cell activity was indexed with positron emission tomography and the translocator protein radiotracer [C-11]PBR28 in subgroups of 15 healthy controls and 14 FEP patients with serum CCL22/CCL17 measurements. The distribution volume (V-T) of [C-11]PBR28 was lower in patients compared to controls (p = 0.026; Cohen's d = 0.94) without regionally specific effects, and was inversely associated with serum CCL22 and CCL17 levels (p = 0.036). Our results do not support the over-active microglia hypothesis of psychosis, but indicate altered CCR4 immune signaling in early psychosis with behavioral correlates possibly mediated through cross-talk between chemokine networks and dysfunctional or a decreased number of glial cells

Att få livspusslet att gå ihop. : En kvalitativ studie om småbarnsföräldrars hälsa i relation till arbets- och familjelivet

Stressrelaterade besvär ökar och familjelivet har en betydande roll för att bidra till individens hälsa. Det är av vikt att öka medvetenheten om en god balans mellan arbetsliv och familjeliv för att åstadkomma en god hälsa. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur småbarnsföräldrar upplever livspusslet med arbetsliv och familjeliv utifrån ett folkhälsoperspektiv. Studien har använt sig av en kvalitativ metod och baseras på ett målstyrt urval av sex arbetande småbarnsföräldrar som har intervjuats genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Det insamlande intervjumaterialet har analyserats med en manifest innehållsanalys. Studiens resultat påvisar att arbetstid, arbetsmiljö och flexibilitet har en stor betydelse när det kommer till stress inom arbetslivet hos småbarnsföräldrarna. Att få mer tid för familjelivet och ett ökat stöd från omgivningen hade enligt småbarnsföräldrarna underlättat vardagen och är något som de flesta av deltagarna hade önskat mer av. Vidare påvisar resultatet att småbarnsföräldrars hälsa påverkas av en obalans mellan arbetsliv och familjeliv, vilket ofta resulterar i stress, energibrist och fysisk överbelastning. Studiens slutsats är att småbarnsföräldrars hälsa påverkas negativt av en obalans mellan arbetsliv och familjeliv

Självbestämd motivation – bättre arbetsprestation?

Studiens syfte var att undersöka sambanden mellan motivation enligt Self-determination theory och arbetsprestation i form av självskattad insats och kvalitet. En tvärsnittsstudie genomfördes i form av en webbenkät (n=36, 69,4% kvinnor, medelålder 43,1 år). Den skickades till samtliga anställda i en sektion samt en avdelning inom socialtjänsten i en västsvensk kommun. En hypotes var att det skulle finnas positiva samband mellan inre och identifierad motivation och en hög skattning av arbetsprestation. En korrelationsanalys visade positiva signifikanta samband mellan inre motivation och såväl insats som kvalitet, samt mellan identifierad motivation och såväl insats som kvalitet. Resultaten antyder att självbestämd motivation bland kommunanställda har positiva samband med självskattad insats och kvalitet på arbetet

Finns det ett samband mellan social blandning och blandade upplåtelseformer? : En kvantitativ studie över DeSO i Sveriges tre största städer

Uppsatsen studerar den sociala blandningen och blandningen av upplåtelseformer i DeSO i Sveriges tre störstastäder. Ett samband mellan social blandning och blandade upplåtelseformer studeras för att se om rådande planeringspolicy, vilken menar att blandade upplåtelseformer skapar social blandning, får effekt i verkligheten. För att kunna möta syftet konstrueras ett entropiindex för att förstå hur blandningen ser ut. Det genomförs också korrelationstest och en regressionsanalys som studerar om blandade upplåtelseformer skapar social blandning. Utifrån empirin identifieras att de undersökta områdena är socialt blandade genom att inkomstblandning, utbildningsblandning och etnisk blandning urskiljs. Vidare finner uppsatsen att upplåtelseformerna i de tre städerna är relativt blandade. Det vill säga att det finns blandade upplåtelseformer i vissa områden medan det finns homogen bebyggelse i andra områden. I uppsatsens tredje frågeställning accepteras hypoteserna då ett svagt samband mellan social blandning och blandade upplåtelseformer identifieras. Sambandet ses som svagt eftersom bland annat förklaringsgrader indikerar att ytterligare variabler inverkar i sambandet. Uppsatsens resultat anses vara tämligen överensstämmande med tidigare forskning. Slutligen menar uppsatsen att det mål som planeringen strävar efter, att skapa social blandning genom att blanda bebyggelsen, behöver undersökas vidare för att förstå dess verkliga effekter. Därmed kan uppdatering av denna policy i framtiden bli aktuell