Letter - Rabbit welfare and legislation in the UK

Oxley, JA. (2013). Letter - Rabbit welfare and legislation in the UK. World Rabbit Science. 21(4):271-272. doi:10.4995/wrs.2013.1748.SWORD27127221

A survey of rabbit handling methods within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

Rabbits are commonly kept in a variety of settings, including homes, laboratories, and veterinary clinics. Despite the popularity of keeping this prey species, little research has investigated current methods of handling. The aim of this study was to examine the experience of caregivers (owners and keepers) in using five handling methods commonly referred to in books written for companion animal (pet) owners and veterinary and/or laboratory personnel. An online survey was completed by 2644 respondents, representing all three of these groups, and breeders. Data were acquired to determine sources that participants used to gain knowledge of different handling methods, the methods they used and for what purposes they used them, and their perceptions of any associated difficulties or welfare concerns. Results indicated that participants most frequently used the method of supporting a rabbit’s body against a person’s chest, which was considered the easiest and most welfare-friendly method of the handling methods explored. “Scruffing with rear support” was the least used method and was considered to be distressing and painful for the rabbit. As rabbits are a terrestrial prey species, being picked up is likely an innately stressful experience. Additional research is encouraged to explore the experience of rabbits during handling to identify methods that can be easily used with the fewest welfare compromises

Review of medical fitness to drive in Europe

Understanding the impact of medical fitness to drive is important as the driving population ages. This desktop study set out to examine older driver safety from international best evidence on various aspects likely to affect an older person’s fitness to drive, including the role of education, driver retraining, self-awareness, and cognitive preconditions. The review also reviewed the influence of medication and the role of the medical practitioner, as well as the effectiveness of mandatory licensing retesting. Key recommendations included the need for a standardised screening process across all Member States in assessing fitness to drive, consistent guidelines to assist medical practitioners in their role of assessing a patient’s level of safety, and promotion of materials to help older people make their own decision when to cease driving. A wider use of Medical Assessment Boards across Europe to ensure a consistent process in assessment of fitness to drive would be helpful and the development of an effective and transparent screening protocol based on functional capability is warranted when assessing fitness to drive among older drivers

Serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), a determinant of angiogenesis, is upregulated in prostate cancer and correlates with disease stage and invasion

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) undergoes alternative splicing to produce both proangiogenic and antiangiogenic isoforms. Preferential splicing of proangiogenic VEGF is determined by serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), which is upregulated in a number of cancers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate SRPK1 expression in prostate cancer (PCa) and its association with cancer progression. SRPK1 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry of PCa tissue extracted from radical prostatectomy specimens of 110 patients. SRPK1 expression was significantly higher in tumour compared with benign tissue (p<0.00001) and correlated with higher pT stage (p=0.004), extracapsular extension (p=0.003) and extracapsular perineural invasion (p=0.008). Interestingly, the expression did not correlate with Gleason grade (p=0.21), suggesting that SRPK1 facilitates the development of a tumour microenvironment that favours growth and invasion (possibly through stimulating angiogenesis) while having little bearing on the morphology or function of the tumour cells themselves