Signs Of Discomfort Research Articles

A First Step Towards Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Welfare by Considering Dietary Regimes (Part I).

The insect farming sector is expanding, but knowledge of insect welfare is still limited. This article aims to optimize the dietary regime for "black soldier fly" (Hermetia illucens L., BSF) larvae by applying a holistic view of welfare. Four diets were tested: control (CONTR, commercial laying hen feed), vegetable (VEG), omnivorous (OMN), and carnivorous (MEAT) diet, conducting experiments at a large (2000 larvae) and small scale (100 larvae). Rearing parameters were calculated including the growth rate, substrate reduction, efficiency of conversion of digested food, waste reduction index, and survival rate. Chemical analyses were conducted on BSF larvae and the residual frass. While the MEAT diet appears to be non-well-performing for the larvae, the VEG diet performed comparably to the control diet. Interestingly, the OMN diet demonstrated improved efficiency when evaluating the growth process at both scales. The chemical composition of larvae and frass highlighted the nutritional adequacy of the OMN diet, with the BSF larvae showing adequate protein and lipid content without nutrient catabolism or signs of discomfort. Applying the five freedoms of Brambell's report as a welfare standard for animal rearing and evaluating performance as an indirect indicator of welfare, the OMN diet appears to promote larval welfare in rearing practices.

Oral behaviour during riding is associated with oral lesions in dressage horses – A field study

The welfare of sports horses is debated both within and outside the horse community. One welfare concern is the frequent occurrence of oral lesions. Lesions may be caused by inappropriate training and ill-fitting equipment. Increased knowledge of behavioural signs of pain, discomfort and frustration (often jointly labelled ‘conflict behaviour’) in horses can increase awareness by riders, trainers, officials, and competition judges, which is a first step towards reducing the occurrence. This study included 11 warmblood dressage horses competing at upper national level (Intermediaire I). The horses were randomly selected (from a total of 22 horses) for an unannounced inspection for oral lesions immediately after leaving the dressage arena. Five of the 11 horses had abrasion of the skin and/or mucosa at one or both commissures of the lips and were eliminated from the competition according to the rules of the national equestrian federation. An experienced observer who was blind regarding the outcome of the inspection, scored behaviour in the 11 horses from official video recordings available online from the event. The frequency of mouth opening ranged from 5 to 59 times in the 11 horses. Horses with oral lesions had a significantly higher frequency of mouth opening compared to horses without oral lesions (t-test, mean ±SEM; lesions: 34.6 ±6.7 vs. no lesions: 12.2 ±2.4, t(9) = 3.4, P = 0.008). The frequency of other conflict behaviours did not differ significantly between the groups (e.g. tail swishing: MWU-test, median [25;75 %]; lesions: 25 [14;27] vs. no lesions: 10 [6,24], U = 7.0, P = 0.18). It is concluded that oral behaviour may be a useful indicator of oral lesions. Further studies are needed to investigate behavioural signs of discomfort and pain in riding horses, as behaviour can be an early predictor of compromised welfare. Increased awareness of subtle behavioural signs is therefore an important first step towards improved sports horse welfare.

Time budgets and weight shifting as indicators of pain in hospitalized horses.

Pain assessment in horses presents a significant challenge due to their nonverbal nature and their tendency to conceal signs of discomfort in the presence of potential threats, including humans. Therefore, this study aimed to identify pain-associated behaviors amenable to automated AI-based detection in video recordings. Additionally, it sought to determine correlations between pain intensity and behavioral and postural parameters by analyzing factors such as time budgets, weight shifting, and unstable resting. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the development of AI-based quantitative tools for pain assessment in horses. A cohort of 20 horses (mean age 15 ± 8) admitted to a university equine hospital underwent 24-h video recording. Behaviors were manually scored and retrospectively analyzed using Loopy® software. Three pain groups were established based on the Pain Score Vetmeduni Vienna : pain-free (P0), mild to moderate pain (P1), and severe pain (P2). Weight shifting emerged as a reliable indicator for discriminating between painful and pain-free horses, with significant differences observed between pain groups (p < 0.001) and before and after administration of analgesia. Additionally, severely painful horses (P2 group) exhibited lower frequencies of feeding and resting standing per hour compared to pain-free horses, while displaying a higher frequency of unstable resting per hour. The significant differences observed in these parameters between pain groups offer promising prospects for AI-based analysis and automated pain assessment in equine medicine. Further investigation is imperative to establish precise thresholds. Leveraging such technology has the potential to enable more effective pain detection and management in horses, ultimately enhancing welfare and informing clinical decision-making in equine medicine.

Advanced techniques for automated emotion recognition in dogs from video data through deep learning

Inter-species emotional relationships, particularly the symbiotic interaction between humans and dogs, are complex and intriguing. Humans and dogs share fundamental mammalian neural mechanisms including mirror neurons, crucial to empathy and social behavior. Mirror neurons are activated during the execution and observation of actions, indicating inherent connections in social dynamics across species despite variations in emotional expression. This study explores the feasibility of using deep-learning Artificial Intelligence systems to accurately recognize canine emotions in general environments, to assist individuals without specialized knowledge or skills in discerning dog behavior, particularly related to aggression or friendliness. Starting with identifying key challenges in classifying pleasant and unpleasant emotions in dogs, we tested advanced deep-learning techniques and aggregated results to distinguish potentially dangerous human--dog interactions. Knowledge transfer is used to fine-tune different networks, and results are compared on original and transformed sets of frames from the Dog Clips dataset to investigate whether DogFACS action codes detailing relevant dog movements can aid the emotion recognition task. Elaborating on challenges and biases, we emphasize the need for bias mitigation to optimize performance, including different image preprocessing strategies for noise mitigation in dog recognition (i.e., face bounding boxes, segmentation of the face or body, isolating the dog on a white background, blurring the original background). Systematic experimental results demonstrate the system’s capability to accurately detect emotions and effectively identify dangerous situations or signs of discomfort in the presence of humans.

Do tight nosebands have an effect on the upper airways of horses?

The public perception relating to the welfare of horses involved with equestrian sports is associated with training methods used and the presentation of horses at events. In this context, very tight nosebands, which are intended to prevent the horse from opening its mouth, also attract a lot of attention. Various studies have evaluated the impact of tight nosebands on stress parameters, whereas the effect of tight nosebands on upper airway function is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study was to use overground endoscopy to evaluate changes in pharyngeal and laryngeal function when a tight noseband is fitted. Moreover, the ridden horse pain ethogram (RHpE) was applied to investigate signs of discomfort (Dyson et al., 2018). A randomized, blinded, and prospective study was performed. Sixteen warmblood horses consisting of twelve mares and four geldings with a mean age of 11.63 ± 3.53 years were ridden on 2 consecutive days with either loose or tight nosebands (two fingers or no space between bridge of the nose and noseband, respectively) and inserted endoscope in a random order. Videos were taken in a riding arena during a standardized exercise protocol involving beginner level tasks for 30 min in all gaits. For video analysis, freeze frames were prepared and analyzed at the beginning of the expiration phase. Pharyngeal diameter was measured using the pharynx-epiglottis ratio. Other findings (swallowing, pharyngeal collapse, soft palate movements, and secretion) were also evaluated. Moreover, the RHpE was applied. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear mixed effects models were used. Results with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. While the pharynx-epiglottis ratio did not change significantly in horses ridden with loose versus tight nosebands, there was an increase in mean grade and total counts of parameters assessed in the pharyngeal region, for example, grade of secretion (1.5 [±SD 0.89] vs. 3.13 [±SD 0.96]; p = 0.0001), axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (0.29 [±SD 0.73] vs. 1.33 [±SD 1.44]; p = 0.01), and pharyngeal collapse (0.69 [±SD 0.87] vs. 1.88 [±SD 1.54]; p = 0.005) in horses ridden with tight nosebands. There was no RHpE score above 8 indicating musculoskeletal pain, but the RHpE scores were significantly higher in horses ridden with tight nosebands (p < 0.001). Video quality was limited when horses showed large amounts of secretion. Another limitation was the small number of horses. Results add to the evidence obtained in other studies that tight nosebands do not only cause adverse reactions based on the RHpE score such as head behind the vertical or intense staring but also contribute to changes in the pharyngeal region, such as increased secretion and collapse of pharyngeal structures. This may provide further support for future decisions regarding regulations on nosebands.

Dynamics of cytomorphological indicators in armwrestlers during the training process and competitive activity

The issue of the functional state of the body of arm wrestlers is poorly studied. There are isolated research data on the improvement of the functional state of the body of arm wrestlers as a result of training. The study of the functional state of the body of these athletes is extremely important, as it determines the athlete's success during competitions and the growth of skill during many years of sports training. The purpose of this work was to determine the cytomorphological indicators of the buccal epithelium of arm wrestlers during the training process and during the performance at the championship of the Lviv region on February 10-11, 2024.&#x0D; As a result of research, we established that the cytomorphological indicators of the buccal epithelium of arm wrestlers, obtained by us during the training process, indicate the absence of discomfort in the body of athletes after training, which is due to the adequacy of physical exertion during training, which is not excessive for athletes of a given age.&#x0D; Changes in the cytomorphological indicators of the buccal epithelium during the Championship of the Lviv Region indicate a significant strain on the body's functional systems, signs of dehydration in the winner who played twelve matches (on both hands). In other athletes, there are certain signs of discomfort and strain on the body's functional systems (cytolysis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, the presence of binucleated cells and leukocytes). The indicators we obtained during the athletes' performance at the Lviv Region Championship show gradual progressive changes in the athletes' bodies (the development of fatigue and dehydration) depending on the duration of their participation in the competition.

Dual Method P6 Acupressure Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting during Early Pregnancy in Indonesia: A Mixed Method Study

INTRODUCTION: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are not only considered to be a sign of discomfort both culturally and clinically but also seen as potential safety risks for mothers and their unborn children. One of the non-pharmacological complementary therapies was the use of acupressure. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness, safety, and satisfaction of the dual method of P6 acupressure as an intervention in affected pregnant women to reduce NVP and explore the method P6 acupressure perception as the intervention of choice in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was conducted which consisted of two phases: quantitative followed by qualitative. The first phase involved the recruitment of 120 pregnant women with moderate to severe NVP symptoms. Six participants were in the intervention group qualitative phase. RESULTS: The Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis PUQE scores of participants in the intervention group were lower compared to that of the control group after the intervention period (p=&lt;0.01). The PUQE score was found to be reduced in the intervention group of having severe into having mild symptoms. There were no adverse effects reported after the intervention. Majority of the participants were satisfied after using the dual P6 acupressure method (Z=1830). Meanwhile, during the qualitative phase, six themes emerged. CONCLUSION: A dual method of P6 acupressure therapy could be effective, safe, and satisfactory in relieving NVP. Therefore, Maternity care providers may consider using this method as a therapeutic alternative for the management of NVP.

Conflict behaviour in Icelandic horses during elite competition

Sport horse welfare is currently under scrutiny. Among other issues, it has been pointed out that behavioural signs of discomfort are frequently overlooked during training and competitions. Previous studies reported a relatively high prevalence of these types of behaviour (e.g., tail swishing, mouth opening – typically jointly labelled ‘conflict behaviour’) in elite level dressage and show jumping warmblood horses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of conflict behaviour in Icelandic horses competing at elite level in breed-specific gait competitions. We used online video recordings from a competition in Iceland, including two different competitions (MD22, Fivegait F1: n = 25, and Loose-rein Tölt T2: n = 24 participating horses). The recordings were viewed at slow speed (x 0.25) enabling a detailed recording of the horses’ behavioural expressions. Mouth opening was the most frequently observed behaviour and occurred more in pace and tölt (Fivegait F1, P<0.001). In T2, mouth opening was more frequent in short-rein tölt than during loose-rein tölt (P<0.001). Sudden head movements, tail swishing and undesired gait changes also occurred, but less frequently. An elongated upper lip was observed in 12 of the 24 participating horses in T2, but only in short-rein tölt, suggesting that upper lip elongation is related to rein tension. We conclude that mouth movements (mouth opening and an elongated upper lip) are common behavioural expressions in Icelandic horses competing at elite level. Further studies are required to reveal the significance of these behaviours in terms of horse welfare.

Rein tensions and behaviour with five rein types in international-level vaulting horses.

Health and performance of vaulting horses cantering with reins might be affected by rein tensions. The primary aim of this present study was to measure rein and lunge line tensions in international-level vaulting horses with several types of reins adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the FEI Vaulting Rules and study the effect of reins types on it. The secondary aim was to evaluate behavioural signs of discomfort under the same conditions and study the effect of reins types on it. The relationship between tensions and behavioural signs of discomfort was then explored. Thirty-nine international-level vaulting horses took part in this study and tested side reins either with an elastic part, all elastic or without elastic, draw reins with an upper adjustment triangle and side reins fixed on the noseband. Tensions of the left and right reins and the lunge line were measured with sensors at a rate of 80 Hz for a canter of 1min30 on a 15-meter circle, without a vaulter, and behavioural analyses (on the locomotion, tail, head, mouth and ears movements) were performed using video filmed by a camera attached to the lunger's chest. Mixed models revealed that the Root mean square (RMS) of the tensions of the left and right reins, of the total, as well as the lunge line, were significantly influenced by rein type (p<0.001) in all cases). Total RMS tension ranged from 6.2 kg to 11.7 kg with a right RMS tension superior to left RMS (p < 0.001). When tension was high, mouth opening increased (p = 0.007). It was with draw reins that total tension (p < 0.05) and mouth openings were lower (p = 0.005), even if a high proportion of variance of these discomfort behaviours could be explained by the individual horse.

Acute and Reversible Hypothalamic Symptoms in a Lateral Head Impact Mouse Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Central autonomic and endocrine dysfunctions following traumatic brain injury (TBI) are believed to involve the hypothalamus; however, underlying mechanisms are unknown. Although chronic deficits might be caused by irreversible tissue damage, various neuroendocrine and autonomic symptoms are only observed transiently, suggesting they might result from a temporary alteration in the activity of hypothalamic neurons. We therefore examined if a mouse model of mild TBI could induce reversible autonomic phenotypes and cause acute changes in c-Fos expression within corresponding regions of the hypothalamus. Adult C57Bl/6 male mice were lightly anesthetized with isoflurane and subjected to TBI by lateral head impact using a Gothenburg impactor. Mice treated the same way, but without the head impact served as controls (shams). We monitored body weight and core body temperature by infrared thermography and performed immunohistochemistry against c-Fos in various regions of the hypothalamus. We determined that a projectile velocity of 9 m/s significantly delayed recovery from the anesthesia without inducing skull fractures and signs of discomfort disappeared within 3 h, as assessed by grimace scale. Compared with shams, TBI mice displayed a rapid decrease in core body temperature which resolved within 48 h. Daily body weight gain was also significantly lower in TBI mice on the day following injury but recovered thereafter. c-Fos analysis revealed a significantly higher density of c-Fos-positive cells in the paraventricular nucleus and a significantly lower density in the median preoptic nucleus and medial preoptic area. We conclude that mild TBI induced by a single lateral head impact in mice at 9 m/s produces acute and reversible symptoms associated with hypothalamic dysfunction accompanied by significant changes in c-Fos expression within relevant areas of the hypothalamus. These findings support the hypothesis that a temporary alteration of neuronal activity may underlie the expression of reversible central autonomic and neuroendocrine symptoms.

Dynamics of indicators of the functional state of the body and cytomorphological changes in wrestlers during the performance at the championship of Ukraine in Ukrainian belt wrestling

The issue of the functional state of the body of Ukrainian belt wrestlers is poorly studied. There are isolated research data on the improvement of the functional state of the body of wrestlers as a result of training. Studying the issues of the functional state of the body of wrestlers of various types of wrestling is extremely important, as it determines the athlete's success during competitions and the growth of skill during many years of sports training. The purpose of this work was to determine the physiological features of the response of the body of Ukrainian belt wrestlers during the Championship of Ukraine on April 29, 2023.&#x0D; As a result of the research, we established that in the pre-start period, the indicators of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system functioning of all examined wrestlers correspond to the physiological state of pre-start readiness of the athlete's body with a predominance of sympathetic vegetative influences. The functional indicators of the wrestlers after the termination of the performance at the Championship of Ukraine for Ukrainian belt wrestling differ depending on the number of matches they have held and the intensity of the physical load. The winner of the competition, having held 4 winning matches without a break between them, was subjected to physical stress at the level of submaximal power. The winners, who played a smaller number of matches with breaks in between, managed to restore the functional state of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system without experiencing such a load. The functional indicators of wrestlers who lost matches and stopped participating in competitions indicate an insufficient functional reserve of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system. The changes in the cytomorphological indicators of the buccal epithelium that we obtained indicate a significant strain on the body's functional systems, signs of dehydration in the winner who played four matches. In other athletes, there are certain signs of discomfort and strain on the body's functional systems (cytolysis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, the presence of binucleated cells and leukocytes).

HELMINTHIASIS IN DOMESTIC MALE CAT

Helminthiasis is also known as parasitic helminth infectious disease. Gastrointestinal helminth parasitic infection is a common disease diagnosed in cats. Some types are known to be zoonotic. The writing of this article aims to report cases of helminthiasis in cats based on history, clinical symptoms, physical examination, and supporting examinations. A four-year-old cat was examined at the Teaching Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University with complaints of anorexia and diarrhea like paste to yellowish liquid. In feces found the presence of two types of adult worms. Checking the status of the presens obtained Capillary Refill Time (CRT) of more than 2 seconds and an increase in breathing frequency. On physical examination, it was found that the abdomen of the case cat had a slight distention and there was residual feces attached to the anus. When the cat's abdomen is palpated, it shows signs of discomfort and sounds of borborygmus when occulted. Anemis oral mucosa, anus, and conjunctiva. The results of fecal examination with the native method found Toxocara cati worm eggs. The results of hematological examination showed that the case cat had hypochromic microcytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Case cats were diagnosed with helminthiasis with the discovery of eggs of Toxocara cati worms, and adult worms of nematodes and cestodes in feces. The prognosis of this case is fausta. Therapy is carried out by administering anthelmintic drugs containing fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoat, and praziquantel (1 tablet / 10 kg body weight, PO) twice with a repeat interval of 14 days and vitamin B complex (1 tablet, PO) for 7 days. Treatment with Caniverm tablets gave good results characterized by significant improvement in clinical condition, fecal intensity from grade 6 to grade 5, and no worm eggs were found on native examination and adult worms on macroscopic examination of feces. Regular deworming of cats is important, and make sure the cat is free of ectoparasites which are intermediate hosts of disease agents.

Effects of feed energy density, daily milking frequency, and a single injection of cabergoline on behavior and welfare in dairy cows at dry-off

Drying off dairy cows may challenge animal welfare due to high milk yields. A total of 111 loose-housed Holstein cows yielding >15 kg/d of milk were included in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design during dry-off to investigate the effects of reduced feeding level (normal vs. reduced energy density), reduced milking frequency (twice vs. once daily), and administration of a dopamine agonist (saline i.m. injection vs. cabergoline i.m. injection) on behavior in the home pen. During the 7 d before dry-off, cows were fed and milked according to 1 of the 4 feeding level and milking frequency combinations. Within 3 h after the last milking, cows were injected i.m. with 5 mL of either saline or a dopamine agonist (5.6 mg of cabergoline; Velactis, Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, France; labeled for use only with abrupt dry-off, i.e., no preceding reduction in feeding level or milking frequency before last milking). Cows' behavior during d -1, 0, and +1 relative to the last milking was recorded via video and leg-attached sensors. Cows on the reduced energy density diet spent more time feeding and showed more attempts to feed from other cows' bins on d -1. Throughout the period of observations, cows on the reduced diet spent a lower percentage of lying time with their head raised, a higher percentage of lying time with their legs bent, and less time standing in a vigilant posture than did cows on the normal lactation diet. Reducing the daily milking frequency from 2 to 1 did not result in any clear behavioral signs of discomfort. On d 0, cows injected with cabergoline lay down longer but had their head raised for a shorter percentage of time while lying, compared with cows injected with saline. Cows injected with cabergoline also spent less time feeding than cows injected with saline on d 0, and reduced the time spent drinking from d -1 to d 0. Finally, fewer cabergoline-injected cows used the brush for self-grooming, and, among cows that did use the brush, the cows injected with cabergoline reduced the time spent using the brush from d -1 to d 0. In conclusion, cows injected with cabergoline showed several behavioral changes compared with control cows injected with saline. The behavioral changes shown by cows injected with cabergoline may be indicative of malaise during the first 24 h after injection, raising concern for animal welfare. No behavioral evidence for reduced udder pain in cows injected with cabergoline compared with control cows injected with saline was found. Drying off by reducing the energy density of the diet caused behavioral changes indicative of hunger before dry-off, whereas reducing the milking frequency had no clear effects on behavior.

Misplaced Pterygoid Implant removed following Surgical Exploration

A 62-year-old male patient had reported to our department with a history of pterygoid implant placement in the right maxillary region. The referring dentist had updated us about the possibility of a misplaced implant. The patient was anxious but showed no clinical signs of discomfort or pain. A CT scan with contrast was done to check for the location of the implant and also visualize the proximity to any vital structures. The CT study revealed an implant seen in the right parapharyngeal space closely abutting the internal carotid artery. The screw of the implant was sharp and since it was closely abutting the internal carotid artery it warranted removal at the earliest. An endoscopic approach was discussed with the ENT surgeons but due to the size of the implant and limited access through the antrum we had to look for an alternative method. The technique of performing an access osteotomy of the maxilla would give better visualization and access to the implant but would require the maxilla to be plated and the patient who was 62 years old was not too keen on the thought of this procedure. Finally, an extraoral submandibular approach was finalized and used. Under general anaesthesia, a submandibular incision was marked and dissection was done, the carotid was first identified and taken control off in case we encountered any bleeding or injury to the internal maxillary artery while removing the implant. Dissection continued towards the mandible and the masseter was split to give access to the pterygoid region. An intraoperative C- arm showed that the implant was in close vicinity. The implant was removed intraorally via the buccal vestibule and the wound sites were closed without any complications.

Efficiency of umbilical vessel water infusion in the management of retained fetal membranes after elective C-section in mares

Cesarian section (C-section) has been described as a potential predisposing factor to retained fetal membranes (RFM) in mares. RFM should be diagnosed quickly, and therapy started to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome (Canisso et. al. JEVS. 2013; 33:570-579). This study aimed to describe the use of umbilical vessel water infusion for the treatment of RFM after elective C-section in mares (License CEUA 019854/2021-51). Pregnant Criollo type-mares (n=9), at 315 days of gestation, were evaluated daily to check their readiness for birth. Mares were submitted to an elective C-section when they showed udder development, waxing of the teats, and the pH of mammary secretions reached ≤ 6.4. All mares had RFM, as defined by the placenta not being expelled within 3 hours after careful extraction of the foal by C-section. Mares were randomly assigned into two groups: “Dutch technique” (n=4): use of low-pressure infusion of 0.9% saline solution into the umbilical vessel (Meijer et. al. AAEP Proceedings. 2015; 61:478-484); or “Counterweight” (n=5): use of small weights (e.g. 500-1000mL bottles of saline) tied to the bottom of the exposed fetal membranes (Turner R. AAEP Proceedings. 2007; 53:305-319). Oxytocin was not used after C-section or during RFM treatment. Mares that showed full separation and expulsion of the fetal membranes within 40 min of treatment starting were classified as responsive to treatment. The index of mares' responses among groups was compared by Fisher's exact test. Continuous data wereanalyzed by a Two sample T-test, and results were expressed as mean ± SD and ranges. Significance was set at p<0.05. There were no differences between gestational length (333±10, 328-360d), foal weight (36±3, 30-40 Kg), the time taken to perform the C-section (124±16, 90-150 min), and the time of uterine manipulation during C-section (57 ± 8, 45-70 min) between groups of treatment. As result, 75% (n=3/4) of mares showed full separation and expulsion of fetal membranes within 40 min of umbilical vasculature infusion. None (0%, n=0/5) of the mares with “tie small counterweights” responded within 40 min (p<0,05). The average time to release the fetal membranes in the Counterweight group was 5h (335±158, 180-600min, n=5) while mares that responded to the Dutch technique took 0.5h (30±10, 20-40min, n=3). Mares that experienced the Dutch technique did not show severe signs of discomfort, pain, or additional secondary side effects (i.e., uterine hemorrhage, uterine prolapse, metritis or colic) after the procedure. In conclusion, umbilical vessel water infusion (Dutch technique) is an effective, safe, and practical method for the treatment of retained fetal membranes after C-section in mares. Acknowledgments. The funding agencies CAPES, FAPERGS and CNPq.

Copious vaginal discharge finally diagnosed as cervical adenocarcinoma: A case report.

Copious vaginal discharge is a frequent manifestation of reproductive tract infections. However, when little effect can obtain treated as vaginitis, cervical disease should be highly suspected. A 41-year-old woman had suffering from abnormally increased vaginal discharge without any other signs of discomfort for the past 4 years. A lot of medical examinations and treatment of vaginosis were administered, resulting in unclear diagnosis and little effect. Cervical adenocarcinoma. Gynecological examination, vaginal microbiome culture, and primary cervical cancer screening were negative, and a positron emission tomography revealed an increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism in the local cervix. After a thorough description, the patient demanded a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histopathological evaluation confirmed adenocarcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix. The correct diagnosis of symptomatic patients with increased vaginal discharge is challenging. Human papillomavirus-negative patients presenting profuse watery vaginal discharge with an abnormal signal of cervix lesion on positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be alert to cervical adenocarcinoma. Deep-seated cervical biopsy, conization, or even hysterectomy is conducive to early diagnosis, treatment and improvement of prognosis.

An automated system for cattle reproductive management under the IoT framework. Part I: the e-Synch system and cow responses

The objective of this manuscript was to present the e-Synch system, integrating an intravaginal electronically controlled hormone delivery and sensing device with an IoT platform for remote programming and monitoring. Secondary objectives were to demonstrate system functionality and cow responses to e-Synch. External components of e-Synch include a 3D-printed case with retention wings, a flexible wideband antenna, and silicone membrane for pressure balancing. Internal components include a central control board, battery, wireless charging coil, and two silicone hormone reservoirs connected to individual peristaltic pumps. An accelerometer and a high-accuracy temperature sensor are integrated in the custom printed circuit board (PCB). The IoT platform includes a gateway consisting of Raspberry PI 3 and a CC1352 radiofrequency module that collects sensor data at 915 mHz. Data is transferred to the Google Cloud utilizing the IoT Core service through TCP/IP, and then is pulled by the Pub/Sub service. After routing to a BigQuery table by the Dataflow service, data visualization is provided by Data Studio. Drug delivery protocols are selected using an IOS device app that connects to e-Synch through Bluetooth. Experiments with lactating Holsteins cows were conducted to demonstrate proof-of-concept system functionality and evaluate cow responses. Despite unstable communication and signal discontinuity because of signal strength attenuation by body tissue, devices (n=6) communicated with the IoT platform in 89% (24/27) of use instances. Temperature and accelerometer data were received for at least one 15 min period during an 8 h insertion period from all devices that communicated with the IoT platform. Variation in accelerometer data (± 8.565 m/s2) was consistent with cow activity during experimentation and mean vaginal temperature of 39.1 °C (range 38.6 to 39.5 °C) demonstrated sensor functionality. Hormone release was confirmed in all instances of device use except for one. Cow behavior evaluated through signs of discomfort and pain, and tail raising scores was mostly unaltered by e-Synch. Vaginal integrity and mucus scores also remained unaltered during and after device insertion. In conclusion, the e-Synch device integrated with a controlling app and IoT platform might be used to automate intravaginal hormone delivery and sensing for controlling the estrous cycle of cattle.

Psychometric Evaluation of GHQ-12 as a Screening Tool for Psychological Impairment of Healthcare Workers Facing COVID-19 Pandemic.

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is a widely used tool, both in clinical and research settings, due to its brevity and easy administration. Researchers often adopt a dichotomous measurement method, considering a total score above or below a certain threshold. This leads to an extreme simplification of the gathered data and therefore to the loss of clinical details. In a multi-step evaluation study aimed at assessing health care workers' mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic, GHQ-12 proved to be the most effective tool to detect psychological distress compared to other scales adopted. These results led to deepen the understanding of GHQ-12 properties through a statistical study by focusing on items' properties and characteristics. GHQ-12 responses were analyzed using Item Response Theory (IRT), a suitable method for scale assessment. Instead of considering the single overall score, in which each item accounts equally, it focuses on individual items' characteristics. Moreover, IRT models were applied combined with the latent class (LC) analysis, aiming to the determination of subgroups of individuals according to their level of psychological distress. GHQ-12 was administered to 990 health-care workers and responses were scored using the binary method (0-0-1-1). We applied the two-parameter logistic (2-PL) model, finding that the items showed different ways of responses and features. The latent class analysis classified subjects into three sub-groups according to their responses to GHQ-12 only: 47% of individuals with general well-being, 38% expressing signs of discomfort without severity and 15% of subjects with a high level of impairment. This result almost reproduces subjects' classification obtained after administering the six questionnaires of the study protocol. Accurate statistical techniques and a deep understanding of the latent factors underlying the GHQ-12 resulted in a more effective usage of such psychometric questionnaire - i.e. a more refined gathering of data and a significant time and resource efficiency. We underlined the need to maximize the extraction of data from questionnaires and the necessity of them being less lengthy and repetitive.

Symptomatic reponible umbilical hernia in the rabbit

A case of umbilical hernia in a 7-month-old female rabbit was presented to the Surgery Clinic of the Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo. The owner noticed inappetence and lethargy four days before arrival at the clinic. Clinical parameters on physical examination were within the physiological range. Bruxism and lethargy were noted as signs of discomfort due to gas accumulation in colon. A reponible, nonpainful mass in the umbilical scar area was palpated but intestinal peristalsis was not altered. General anesthesia was induced by intramuscular administration of ketamine with medetomidine and maintained with isoflurane. Surgical treatment of hernia included the peritoneal sac dissection and amputation, repositioning of small intestines, and correction of abdominal wall defect. Intraoperative multimodal analgesia approach was used to reduce inhalant anesthesia requirements and to prevent pain-related and stress-related complications. In this case report we described a surgical and veterinary treatment of the reponible umbilical hernia in a rabbit.

Iliopsoas bleeds in patients with hemophilia

Background: Iliopsoas bleed is a serious complication in people with hemophilia (PWH), with significant morbidity. Studies examining the profile, incidence, and outcomes in psoas bleeds are scarce and will shed more light and increase awareness about its management. Material and Methods: Data of 453 PWH with confirmed iliopsoas bleed treated at Bangalore Medical College were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Eighty-five (18.8%) PWH presented with total of 154 psoas bleeds. Their mean age was 21.96 years. Common symptoms were thigh/hip/groin pain (100.0%), hip flexion spasm (41.2%), numbness/tingling in quadriceps muscle (5.9%), abdominal tenderness (3.5%), hematuria, and anemia requiring blood transfusion in 2.4% each. Long-term complications were quadriceps atrophy (9.4%), permanent abnormal posture (10.6%), transient paresthesia in the distribution of femoral nerve (3.5%), and pseudo tumor in pelvis (1.2%). The overall average duration of therapy with clotting factor concentrate was 1.7 days with a mean duration of therapy of 1.4 days in patients without inhibitors and 2.8 days in patients with inhibitors (p = 0.010). The overall mean duration of hospitalization was 7.2 days with 5.3 days in PWH without inhibitors and 8.3 days in PWH with inhibitors (p = 0.342). Conclusion: Pain in hip joint/groin/hip flexion spasm suggests the possibility of an iliopsoas hematoma and early factor replacement therapy should be started to prevent complications. Early treatment at first sign of discomfort reduces the duration of treatment, and prevents severe complication and invasive interventions. Patients with inhibitors were overrepresented in the cohort who needed longer duration of factor replacement therapy.