An isthmus at the caecocolical junction is an anatomical feature of domestic and wild equids

The isthmus at the caecocolical junction in domestic equids is well described. Like another isthmus between the ansa proximalis coli (the colonic fermentation chamber or 'large colon') and the colon transversum (the distal or 'mall' colon), this spot represents not only a potential anatomical feature contributing to particle ingesta retention but also an explicit predilection site for intestinal obstructions. The question whether this anatomical feature also occurs in wild equids is therefore of both physiological and medical interest but has not been addressed so far. In this paper, we report dissections of the large intestine of a domestic pony (Equus caballus f. dom.), a Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski) and a plains zebra (Equus burchelli). The intestinal tract section of all three animals were similar in length; each species displayed the caecocolical isthmus as well as the abrupt narrowing of the intestinal tract between the 'large' and the 'small' colon. Graphical descriptions of wild equid gastrointestinal anatomy should include these features

An isthmus at the caecocolical junction is an anatomical feature of domestic and wild equids

The isthmus at the caecocolical junction in domestic equids is well described. Like another isthmus between the ansa proximalis coli (the colonic fermentation chamber or ‘large colon') and the colon transversum (the distal or ‘small' colon), this spot represents not only a potential anatomical feature contributing to particle ingesta retention but also an explicit predilection site for intestinal obstructions. The question whether this anatomical feature also occurs in wild equids is therefore of both physiological and medical interest but has not been addressed so far. In this paper, we report dissections of the large intestine of a domestic pony (Equus caballus f. dom.), a Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski) and a plains zebra (Equus burchelli). The intestinal tract section of all three animals were similar in length; each species displayed the caecocolical isthmus as well as the abrupt narrowing of the intestinal tract between the ‘large' and the ‘small' colon. Graphical descriptions of wild equid gastrointestinal anatomy should include these feature

Effects of Storage Time and Thawing Method on Selected Nutrients in Whole Fish for Zoo Animal Nutrition

Piscivores in human care receive whole fish that were frozen, stored and thawed before feeding. Nutrient losses have been documented, but exact changes during storage and with different thawing methods are unknown. Primarily, it was hypothesized that frozen fish lose different vitamins and trace minerals during a storage period of six months. Secondly, that different thawing methods have a significant influence on the degree of vitamin loss. Three fish species, herring (Clupeus harengus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) were analyzed at four time points within a storage period of 6 months at −20 °C. At each time point, three thawing methods were applied: thawing in a refrigerator (R), thawing at room temperature (RT), and thawing under running water (RW). The following nutrients were analyzed: vitamin A, B1, D3 and E, iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se). The statistical method used was a linear mixed effect model. Cu was below detection limits in all analyzed samples, vitamin B1 in most analyzed herring (44/48 samples) and capelin (in 25/36 samples), respectively. In addition, the vitamin D3 concentration was also below detection limits in half of the capelin samples (18/36). No concentration changes of Fe (p = 0.616), Zn (p = 0.686) or Se (p = 0.148) were observed during a storage period of six months, in contrast to a significant decrease in vitamin A (p = 0.019), D3 (p = 0.034) and E (p = 0.003) concentrations. Thawing fish with different thawing methods did not result in concentration changes of Fe (p = 0.821), Zn (p = 0.549) or Se (p = 0.633), but in a significant concentration change of vitamin A (p = 0.002). It is essential to supplement vitamins B1 and E in diets containing whole fish to avoid deficiencies in piscivorous species, and care should be taken not to store fish longer than six months, due to the depletion of vitamins A, D3 and E

Facilitators and barriers of routine psychosocial distress assessment within a stepped and collaborative care model in a Swiss hospital setting

BACKGROUND Stepped and Collaborative Care Models (SCCMs) have shown potential for improving mental health care. Most SCCMs have been used in primary care settings. At the core of such models are initial psychosocial distress assessments commonly in form of patient screening. We aimed to assess the feasibility of such assessments in a general hospital setting in Switzerland. METHODS We conducted and analyzed eighteen semi-structured interviews with nurses and physicians involved in a recent introduction of a SCCM model in a hospital setting, as part of the SomPsyNet project in Basel-Stadt. Following an implementation research approach, we used the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases (TICD) framework for analysis. The TICD distinguishes seven domains: guideline factors, individual healthcare professional factors, patient factors, professional interactions, incentives and resources, capacity for organizational change, and social, political, and legal factors. Domains were split into themes and subthemes, which were used for line-by-line coding. RESULTS Nurses and physicians reported factors belonging to all seven TICD domains. An appropriate integration of the psychosocial distress assessment into preexisting hospital processes and information technology systems was the most important facilitator. Subjectivity of the assessment, lack of awareness about the assessment, and time constraints, particularly among physicians, were factors undermining and limiting the implementation of the psychosocial distress assessment. CONCLUSIONS Awareness raising through regular training of new employees, feedback on performance and patient benefits, and working with champions and opinion leaders can likely support a successful implementation of routine psychosocial distress assessments. Additionally, aligning psychosocial distress assessments with workflows is essential to assure the sustainability of the procedure in a working context with commonly limited time

Microwear textures associated with experimental near-natural diets suggest that seeds and hard insect body parts cause high enamel surface complexity in small mammals

In mammals, complex dental microwear textures (DMT) representing differently sized and shaped enamel lesions overlaying each other have traditionally been associated with the seeds and kernels in frugivorous diets, as well as with sclerotized insect cuticles. Recently, this notion has been challenged by field observations as well as in vitro experimental data. It remains unclear to what extent each food item contributes to the complexity level and is reflected by the surface texture of the respective tooth position along the molar tooth row. To clarify the potential of seeds and other abrasive dietary items to cause complex microwear textures, we conducted a controlled feeding experiment with rats. Six individual rats each received either a vegetable mix, a fruit mix, a seed mix, whole crickets, whole black soldier fly larvae, or whole day-old-chicks. These diets were subjected to material testing to obtain mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus, yield strength, and food hardness (as indicated by texture profile analysis [TPA] tests). Seeds and crickets caused the highest surface complexity. The fruit mix, seed mix, and crickets caused the deepest wear features. Moreover, several diets resulted in an increasing wear gradient from the first to the second molar, suggesting that increasing bite force along the tooth row affects dental wear in rats on these diets. Mechanical properties of the diets showed different correlations with DMT obtained for the first and second molars. The first molar wear was mostly correlated with maximum TPA hardness, while the second molar wear was strongly correlated with maximum yield stress, mean TPA hardness, and maximum TPA hardness. This indicates a complex relationship between chewing mechanics, food mechanical properties, and observed DMT. Our results show that, in rats, seeds are the main cause of complex microwear textures but that hard insect body parts can also cause high complexity. However, the similarity in parameter values of surface textures resulting from seed and cricket consumption did not allow differentiation between these two diets in our experimental approach

Association of Different Restriction Levels With COVID-19-Related Distress and Mental Health in Somatic Inpatients: A Secondary Analysis of Swiss General Hospital Data

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related countermeasures hinder health care access and affect mental wellbeing of non-COVID-19 patients. There is lack of evidence on distress and mental health of patients hospitalized due to other reasons than COVID-19-a vulnerable population group in two ways: First, given their risk for physical diseases, they are at increased risk for severe courses and death related to COVID-19. Second, they may struggle particularly with COVID-19 restrictions due to their dependence on social support. Therefore, we investigated the association of intensity of COVID-19 restrictions with levels of COVID-19-related distress, mental health (depression, anxiety, somatic symptom disorder, and mental quality of life), and perceived social support among Swiss general hospital non-COVID-19 inpatients. METHODS We analyzed distress of 873 hospital inpatients not admitted for COVID-19, recruited from internal medicine, gynecology, rheumatology, rehabilitation, acute geriatrics, and geriatric rehabilitation wards of three hospitals. We assessed distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and four indicators of mental health: depressive and anxiety symptom severity, psychological distress associated with somatic symptoms, and the mental component of health-related quality of life; additionally, we assessed social support. The data collection period was divided into modest (June 9 to October 18, 2020) and strong (October 19, 2020, to April 17, 2021) COVID-19 restrictions, based on the Oxford Stringency Index for Switzerland. RESULTS An additional 13% (95%-Confidence Interval 4-21%) and 9% (1-16%) of hospital inpatients reported distress related to leisure time and loneliness, respectively, during strong COVID-19 restrictions compared to times of modest restrictions. There was no evidence for changes in mental health or social support. CONCLUSIONS Focusing on the vulnerable population of general hospital inpatients not admitted for COVID-19, our results suggest that tightening of COVID-19 restrictions in October 2020 was associated with increased COVID-19-related distress regarding leisure time and loneliness, with no evidence for a related decrease in mental health. If this association was causal, safe measures to increase social interaction (e.g., virtual encounters and outdoor activities) are highly warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04269005

Untersuchung zur Wasser- und Futteraufnahme beim Zwergkaninchen unter verschiedenen praxisrelevanten Fütterungs- und Tränkeregimes

Kaninchen (Oryctolagus cuniculus) werden häufig als Patienten mit Urolithiasis/Zystitis vorgestellt. Eine hohe Wasseraufnahme und -ausscheidung werden dabei als wichtige Prophylaxefaktoren betrachtet. Zur Untersuchung der Wasseraufnahme wurden 12 Kaninchen verschiedenen praxisrelevanten Fütterungs- und Tränkeregimes unterzogen. Wasser stand über eine Offen- und/oder eine Nippeltränke zur Verfügung. Während je zwei Versuchsphasen war der Wasserzugang auf 6 h bzw. 12 h limitiert; ansonsten stand Wasser zur freien Verfügung. Im Wahlversuch wurde die Offentränke bevorzugt. Unter Wasserrestriktion nahmen die Kaninchen bei Offentränke 20% mehr Wasser auf als bei Angebot über die Nippeltränke; bei ad libitum Wasserzugang ergab sich kein Unterschied. Ein Petersilienanteil von mind. 50% und Heu ad libitum steigerten die Gesamtwasseraufnahme und -ausscheidung auf das Doppelte und führten zu weniger konzentriertem Urin. Diese Fütterung kann zur Harnsteinprophylaxe empfohlen werden. Wasserrestriktion um 12 h verringerte die Wasser- (-11%) und Futteraufnahme (- 7%), liess die Urinkonzentration ansteigen (+25%) und den Kot trockener werden (+11%). Sowohl aus tierschützerischen als auch aus physiologischen Gründen wird daher ein begrenzter Wasserzugang abgelehnt. Um eine optimale Versorgung mit Wasser zu gewährleisten, empfehlen wir aufgrund der Resultate eine Fütterung mit einem hohen Frischfutteranteil sowie Heu ad libitum mit Trinkwasser zur freien Verfügung, angeboten in einer Offentränke. Investigations on water and food intake in dwarf rabbits under conditions simulating private pet husbandry Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are often presented suffering from urolithiasis/cystitis. In the prophylaxis of uroliths a high water intake and output is regarded to be beneficial. With respect to an improvement of water intake a study was performed using 12 rabbits. The animals were subjected to different feed and water regimes with practical relevance. Water was provided by an open dish and/or by a nipple drinker. During some trial periods water access was restricted to 6 h or 12 h; during the remaining trial periods water was accessible ad libitum. In the preference trial open dishes were preferred. With restricted water access rabbits exhibited a 20% higher water intake when open dishes were offered compared to nipple drinkers; there was no such difference when water was accessible ad libitum. At least 50% parsley and hay ad libitum in the feeding doubled total water intake and output and led to less concentrated urine. This feeding can therefore be recommended for urolith prophylaxis. Water restriction to 12 h decreased water (-11%) and food intake (-7%), and increased the dry matter content of urine (+25%) and faeces (+11%). For both animal welfare and physiological reasons, limited water access is therefore rejected. To reach an optimal water provision we recommend feeding with a high proportion of fresh food as well as additional hay ad libitum, with free water access, offered in an open dish

Prevention of psychosocial distress consequences in somatic hospital inpatients via a stepped and collaborative care model: protocol of SomPsyNet, a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial

INTRODUCTION Approximately 30% of somatic hospital inpatients experience psychosocial distress, contributing to increased (re-)hospitalisation rates, treatment resistance, morbidity, and direct and indirect costs. However, such distress often remains unrecognised and unaddressed. We established 'SomPsyNet', a 'stepped and collaborative care model' (SCCM) for somatic hospital inpatients, aiming at alleviating this issue through early identification of distress and provision of appropriate care, providing problem-focused pathways and strengthening collaborative care. We report the protocol of the 'SomPsyNet' study, aiming to evaluate implementation and impact of the SCCM on distressed patients' health-related quality of life. Secondary objectives include assessing efficacy of the screening procedures, influence of SCCM on other health outcomes and associated costs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Our stepped wedge cluster randomised trial conducted at three tertiary hospitals comprises three conditions: treatment as usual (TAU) without screening for distress (phase 0), TAU with screening but without consequences (phase I, main comparator) and TAU with screening and psychosomatic-psychiatric consultations for those distressed (phase II). The time-of-transition between phases I and II was randomised. Sample size target is N=2200-2500 participants, with 6 month follow-up for distressed (anticipated n=640-700) and a subsample of non-distressed (anticipated n=200) patients. Primary outcome is mental health-related quality of life (SF-36 'Mental Health Component Summary score'); secondary outcomes include psychosocial distress, anxiety, depressive and somatic symptoms, symptom burden and distress, resilience, social support and qualitative of life, assessed by internationally accepted instruments, with good psychometric properties. Further, health claims data will be used to assess SCCM's impact on direct and indirect costs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION SomPsyNet adheres to the Helsinki Declaration and is approved by the 'Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz' (2019-01724). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and communicated to participants, healthcare professionals and the public. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal; ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04269005, updated 19.09.2023)

Effects of Storage Time and Thawing Method on Selected Nutrients in Whole Fish for Zoo Animal Nutrition

Piscivores in human care receive whole fish that were frozen, stored and thawed before feeding. Nutrient losses have been documented, but exact changes during storage and with different thawing methods are unknown. Primarily, it was hypothesized that frozen fish lose different vitamins and trace minerals during a storage period of six months. Secondly, that different thawing methods have a significant influence on the degree of vitamin loss. Three fish species, herring (Clupeus harengus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) were analyzed at four time points within a storage period of 6 months at −20 °C. At each time point, three thawing methods were applied: thawing in a refrigerator (R), thawing at room temperature (RT), and thawing under running water (RW). The following nutrients were analyzed: vitamin A, B1, D3 and E, iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se). The statistical method used was a linear mixed effect model. Cu was below detection limits in all analyzed samples, vitamin B1 in most analyzed herring (44/48 samples) and capelin (in 25/36 samples), respectively. In addition, the vitamin D3 concentration was also below detection limits in half of the capelin samples (18/36). No concentration changes of Fe (p = 0.616), Zn (p = 0.686) or Se (p = 0.148) were observed during a storage period of six months, in contrast to a significant decrease in vitamin A (p = 0.019), D3 (p = 0.034) and E (p = 0.003) concentrations. Thawing fish with different thawing methods did not result in concentration changes of Fe (p = 0.821), Zn (p = 0.549) or Se (p = 0.633), but in a significant concentration change of vitamin A (p = 0.002). It is essential to supplement vitamins B1 and E in diets containing whole fish to avoid deficiencies in piscivorous species, and care should be taken not to store fish longer than six months, due to the depletion of vitamins A, D3 and E

Microwear textures associated with experimental near-natural diets suggest that seeds and hard insect body parts cause high enamel surface complexity in small mammals

In mammals, complex dental microwear textures (DMT) representing differently sized and shaped enamel lesions overlaying each other have traditionally been associated with the seeds and kernels in frugivorous diets, as well as with sclerotized insect cuticles. Recently, this notion has been challenged by field observations as well as in vitro experimental data. It remains unclear to what extent each food item contributes to the complexity level and is reflected by the surface texture of the respective tooth position along the molar tooth row. To clarify the potential of seeds and other abrasive dietary items to cause complex microwear textures, we conducted a controlled feeding experiment with rats. Six individual rats each received either a vegetable mix, a fruit mix, a seed mix, whole crickets, whole black soldier fly larvae, or whole day-old-chicks. These diets were subjected to material testing to obtain mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus, yield strength, and food hardness (as indicated by texture profile analysis [TPA] tests). Seeds and crickets caused the highest surface complexity. The fruit mix, seed mix, and crickets caused the deepest wear features. Moreover, several diets resulted in an increasing wear gradient from the first to the second molar, suggesting that increasing bite force along the tooth row affects dental wear in rats on these diets. Mechanical properties of the diets showed different correlations with DMT obtained for the first and second molars. The first molar wear was mostly correlated with maximum TPA hardness, while the second molar wear was strongly correlated with maximum yield stress, mean TPA hardness, and maximum TPA hardness. This indicates a complex relationship between chewing mechanics, food mechanical properties, and observed DMT. Our results show that, in rats, seeds are the main cause of complex microwear textures but that hard insect body parts can also cause high complexity. However, the similarity in parameter values of surface textures resulting from seed and cricket consumption did not allow differentiation between these two diets in our experimental approach