A Smart Textile Band Achieves High-Quality Electrocardiograms in Unrestrained Horses

Electrocardiography (ECG) is an essential tool in assessing equine health and fitness. However, standard ECG devices are expensive and rely on the use of adhesive electrodes, which may become detached and are associated with reduced ECG quality over time. Smart textile electrodes composed of stainless-steel fibers have previously been shown to be a suitable alternative in horses at rest and during exercise. The objective of this study was to compare ECG quality using a smart textile girth band knit with silver and carbon yarns to standard adhesive silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrodes. Simultaneous three-lead ECGs were recorded using a smart textile band and Ag/AgCl electrodes in 22 healthy, mixed-breed horses that were unrestrained in stalls. ECGs were compared using the following quality metrics: Kurtosis (k) value, Kurtosis signal quality index (kSQI), percentage of motion artifacts (%MA), peak signal amplitude, and heart rate (HR). Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison tests was conducted to compare each metric. No significant differences were found in any of the assessed metrics between the smart textile band and Ag/AgCl electrodes, with the exception of peak amplitude. Kurtosis and kSQI values were excellent for both methods (textile mean k = 21.8 ± 6.1, median kSQI = 0.98 [0.92−1.0]; Ag/AgCl k = 21.2 ± 7.6, kSQI = 0.99 [0.97−1.0]) with <0.5% (<1 min) of the recording being corrupted by MAs for both. This study demonstrates that smart textiles are a practical and reliable alternative to the standard electrodes typically used in ECG monitoring of horses.

Estimation of genetic parameters and selection response for reproductive and growth traits in Rideau-Arcott sheep

The goal of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and predict direct and correlated response to selection for lamb growth traits and ewe reproductive traits, based on single-trait selection or combining multiple traits in an optimum index that targets total litter post-weaning weight in the first lambing as the main selection goal. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.04 to 0.19. Genetic correlations between growth and reproductive traits ranged from −0.24 to 0.15. The indirect response to selection for reproductive traits in later lambings, by selecting on first lambing performance, was 11%–25% greater than direct selection. The response to indirect selection for composite reproductive traits, i.e., total weaning weight or total post-weaning weight, by selecting on individual lamb weaning weight or post-weaning weight was 1%–69% greater than direct selection, but it was accompanied by a negative response on litter size. However, combining alternate growth and reproductive traits in optimum selection index resulted in correlated response of up to 96% greater than direct selection response for reproductive traits without a negative response on litter size. Therefore, multiple trait selection using an index of component traits was more effective than direct selection for a composite trait.

Utilisation of extended release quetiapine (Seroquel XL™): Results from an observational cohort study in England

BACKGROUND

A post-authorisation safety study was carried out as part of the EU Risk Management Plan to examine the long-term (up to 12 months) use of quetiapine XL as prescribed in general practice in England.

AIM

To present a description of the drug utilisation characteristics of quetiapine XL.

METHODS

An observational, population-based cohort design using the technique of Modified Prescription-Event Monitoring (M-PEM). Patients were identified from dispensed prescriptions issued by general practitioners (GPs) for quetiapine XL between September 2008 and February 2013. Questionnaires were sent to GPs 12 months following the 1st prescription for each individual patient, requesting drug utilisation information. Cohort accrual was extended to recruit additional elderly patients (special population of interest). Summary descriptive statistics were calculated.

RESULTS

The final M-PEM cohort consisted of 13,276 patients; median age 43 years (IQR: 33, 55) and 59.0% females. Indications for prescribing included bipolar disorder (n=3820), MDD (n=2844), schizophrenia (n=2373) and other (non-licensed) indications (n=3750). Where specified, 59.3% (7869/13,276) were reported to have used quetiapine IR (immediate release formulation) previously at any time. The median start dose was highest for patients with schizophrenia (300 mg/day [IQR 150, 450]). The final elderly cohort consisted of 3127 patients and 28.5% had indications associated with dementia. The median start dose for elderly patients was highest for patients with schizophrenia or BD (both 100mg/day [IQR 50, 300]).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of off-label prescribing in terms of indication and high doses was common, as was use in special populations such as the very elderly. Whilst off-label use may be unavoidable in certain situations, GPs may need to re-evaluate prescribing in circumstances where there may be safety concerns. This study demonstrates the ongoing importance of observational studies such as M-PEM to gather real-world clinical data to support the post-marketing benefit:risk management of new medications, or existing medications for which license extensions have been approved.

Non-additive genetic effects for fertility traits in Canadian Holstein cattle

The effects of additive, dominance, additive by dominance, additive by additive and dominance by dominance genetic effects on age at first service, non-return rates and interval from calving to first service were estimated. Practical considerations of computing additive and dominance relationships using the genomic relationship matrix are discussed. The final strategy utilized several groups of 1000 animals (heifers or cows) in which all animals had a non-zero dominance relationship with at least one other animal in the group. Direct inversion of relationship matrices was possible within the 1000 animal subsets. Estimates of variances were obtained using Bayesian methodology via Gibbs sampling. Estimated non-additive genetic variances were generally as large as or larger than the additive genetic variance in most cases, except for non-return rates and interval from calving to first service for cows. Non-additive genetic effects appear to be of sizeable magnitude for fertility traits and should be included in models intended for estimating additive genetic merit. However, computing additive and dominance relationships for all possible pairs of individuals is very time consuming in populations of more than 200 000 animals.

The impact of psychiatric diagnosis and family system relationship on problems identified by families coping with a mentally ill member

The purpose of this study was to explore how psychiatric diagnosis and family relationships relate to problems identified by participants in three one-day public family psychoeducation workshops for families with a member with a serious mental illness. Workshop participants generated lists of problems they had faced, which were coded into eleven categories. Logistic regression models predicting listing of categories were developed based on ill member (diagnosis, sex, treatment compliance) and family member (sex, age, relationship to the ill member) characteristics. For models predicting content category from ill member characteristics, only denial/noncompliance and interpersonal/social categories were significantly predictive as dependent variables. For models predicting content categories from family member characteristics, only the resources/benefits model was predictive. The significant findings, in conjunction with the important negative results, suggest implications for further development of family intervention models. Building on previous research, groups composed of families coping with more than a single diagnosis and including a variety of family member relationships have the potential to reach consensus on curriculum topics.