New records of Trichinella patagoniensis from Argentina

Trichinella spiralis was long considered the sole Trichinella species in Argentina. However, since 2004, various Trichinella species, including the encapsulated Trichinella patagoniensis and Trichinella britovi, as well as the unencapsulated Trichinella pseudospiralis, have been detected in the country. The present study aimed to identify Trichinella ML at the species level from cougars naturally infected from Argentina. To this end, muscle tissue samples from one cougar each from Córdoba, Neuquén, and Santa Cruz Provinces were individually analysed using the artificial digestion technique. DNA extraction and molecular identification of Trichinella species were conducted on individual muscle larvae by PCR amplification of the ESV region and subsequent PCR amplification and sequencing of the COI gene. Morphological analysis revealed muscle larvae with characteristics consistent with Trichinella genus. PCR revealed a single band of approximately 127 bp for each individual muscle larva. PCR amplification of the COI gene from each isolate generated a 309 bp band. Sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene confirmed the identity of the parasite as T. patagoniensis. The present study documents new occurrences of T. patagoniensis in Puma concolor from Argentina, including the first detection of T. patagoniensis in Puma concolor from Córdoba and Neuquén Province. These findings expand the limited knowledge of T. patagoniensis distribution in Argentina.

South Asian Youth as Vaccine Agents of Change (SAY-VAC): evaluation of a public health programme to mobilise and empower South Asian youth to foster COVID-19 vaccine-related evidence-based dialogue in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Canada

OBJECTIVES

There have been substantial amounts of misinformation surrounding the importance, safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. The impacts of this misinformation may be augmented as they circulate among ethnic communities, who may concurrently face other barriers related to vaccine uptake and access. To combat some of the key sources of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation among the South Asian communities of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), an interdisciplinary team of researchers and marketing experts established the South Asian Youth as Vaccine Agents of Change (SAY-VAC) programme to support and empower South Asian youth to disseminate COVID-19 vaccine information.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional and one-group pretest-post-test design.

SETTING

GTHA.

PARTICIPANTS

South Asian youth (18-29 years).

INTERVENTION

The team partnered with grass-roots South Asian organisations to collaborate on shared objectives, curate key concerns, create video products regarding the COVID-19 vaccine that would resonate with the community, disseminate the products using established social media channels and evaluate the effectiveness of this effort.

OUTCOMES

We assessed the change in self-reported knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine and participant confidence to facilitate a conversation around the COVID-19 vaccine using pre-post surveys, after the implementation of the SAY-VAC programme.

RESULTS

In total, 30 South Asian youth (median age=23.2 years) from the GTHA participated in the programme. After completing the SAY-VAC programme, participants reported an increase in their self-reported knowledge regarding the COVID-19 vaccine from 73.3% to 100.0% (p=0.005), and their self-reported confidence to have a conversation about the vaccine with their unvaccinated community members increased from 63.6% to 100.0% (p=0.002). Overall, 51.9% of the participants reported being able to positively affect an unvaccinated/community member's decision to get vaccinated.

CONCLUSIONS

The SAY-VAC programme highlights the importance of community partnerships in developing and disseminating culturally responsive health communication strategies. A constant assessment of the evidence and utilisation of non-traditional avenues to engage the public are essential.

Effects of Including Gender Pronoun Questions in Surveys

This research examines whether the mere presence of asking about gender pronouns (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them, and ze/zir) in a survey enhances participants’ attitudes and satisfaction of answering the questions. A large sample (N = 1,511) of heterosexual, cisgender, and LGBTQIA+ participants across the United States (US) were surveyed an online “personality test” (as a deception), with the real purpose of examining whether asking a pronoun question enhanced their perceptions of the survey. Three demographic groups were included: (i) heterosexual–cisgender (n = 503), (ii) gay–cisgender (n = 509), and (iii) genderqueer (trans, non-conforming, other, n = 499). Half of each group were randomly given either a survey that included a gender pronoun question (test) or not (control), and then all rated their perceptions of the survey questions. For participants who identified as heterosexual or gay, no major differences were found between survey conditions. However, participants who identified as genderqueer experienced significant increases of satisfaction, comfort level, and perceived relevance of the questions when given a survey that asked their gender pronouns versus the survey that did not. These findings have implications for any surveys that ask about personal demographics, and suggest that any form of written communication should include clarity about gender pronouns.

Urinary chlorine: a potential biomarker of diuretic resistant patients

Background

Natriuresis is gaining growing interest in identifying diuretic resistance (DR) patients. However, it has not been proved useful beyond the first day with intravenous (iv) furosemide. Moreover, data regarding urinary chlorine (uCl) or urinary potassium (uK) are scarce. We sought to assess the urine electrolyte pattern in acute heart failure (AHF) outpatients to identify those who will present DR.

Methods

Single-center prospective registry of outpatients with AHF who need iv furosemide. In visit 1 (V1), baseline spot urine sample was collected. Furosemide iv bolus plus intensification of oral diuretics were performed. In control visit (V2), baseline spot urine sample was collected and congestion data were evaluated. Urine electrolytes were assessed in relation to DR (defined as need of iv furosemide in V2 due to persistent congestion).

Results

From June to December 2019, 76 patients were included: median age of 75.5 years (68.2–82), glomerular filtration 40 ml/min/1.73m2 (29.2–59.2) and NT-proBNP 3340 ng/L (1296–7044).

In V1, DR patients showed higher levels of uK and lower uNa/uK than NDR (p=0.014 and p=0.007, respectively). In V2, after a median of 6 (6–15) days of intensified diuretic treatment, uNa and uCl dropped with adequate decongestion but not in DR patients (p=0.020 and p=0.001, respectively). Thus, DR patients showed in V2 higher uCl and similar uNa than NDR (table).

Conclusions

After several days of intensified diuretic treatment, uCl and uNa dropped during proper decongestion but not in DR patients, showing higher levels of uCl than NDR. Mantained levels of uCl could help to identify patients with persistent congestion.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Forest carbon sink neutralized by pervasive growth-lifespan trade-offs

Land vegetation is currently taking up large amounts of atmospheric CO₂, possibly due to tree growth stimulation. Extant models predict that this growth stimulation will continue to cause a net carbon uptake this century. However, there are indications that increased growth rates may shorten trees' lifespan and thus recent increases in forest carbon stocks may be transient due to lagged increases in mortality. Here we show that growth-lifespan trade-offs are indeed near universal, occurring across almost all species and climates. This trade-off is directly linked to faster growth reducing tree lifespan, and not due to covariance with climate or environment. Thus, current tree growth stimulation will, inevitably, result in a lagged increase in canopy tree mortality, as is indeed widely observed, and eventually neutralise carbon gains due to growth stimulation. Results from a strongly data-based forest simulator confirm these expectations. Extant Earth system model projections of global forest carbon sink persistence are likely too optimistic, increasing the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

THU0181 SOLUBLE VASCULAR BIOMARKERS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: EFFECTS OF ONE-YEAR ANTI-TNF-Α THERAPY

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have been associated with inflammatory atherosclerosis, increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Numerous proteins may serve as biomarkers of inflammatory atherosclerosis. The treatment of arthritis by tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors may decrease the serum concentrations of these biomarkers.

Objectives:

In this study we wished to determine circulating levels of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) - β2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) complexes (AtherOx), anti-hsp60 antibodies, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (sUPAR) and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in sera of RA and AS patients. We also wished to assess the effects of anti-TNF treatment on these biomarkers.

Methods:

Altogether 53 arthritis patients including 36 RA patients treated with either etanercept (ETN) or certolizumab pegol (CZP) and 17 AS patients treated with ETN were included in a 12-month follow-up study.Circulating oxLDL/β2gpI complexes, anti-human Hsp60 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and BNP8-29fragment levels were assessed by ELISA. suPAR levels were assessed by suPARnostic®Quick Triage test. All laboratory assessments were performed at baseline, as well as 6 and 12 months after treatment initiation. Results were associated with DAS28, BASDAI, CRP.

Results:

In the mixed cohort of 53 arthritis patients, the circulating levels of oxLDL/β2gpI significantly decreased after 12 months of anti-TNF therapy (0.20±0.11 U/ml) compared to baseline (0.24±0.10 U/ml; p=0.014). There was a tendency of non-significant decrease after 6 months (0.23±0.14 U/ml) versus baseline. Anti-Hsp60 antibody levels did not change after 6 months (158.6±138.6 AU/ml) and 12 months (167.3±143.3 AU/ml) compared to baseline (170.3±140.4 AU/ml). Among the patients, 21.2% had low, 36.4% “observe”, 9.1% high and 33.3% critical suPAR levels. suPAR levels showed a tendency of non-significant decrease after 6 months (11.3±17.7 ng/ml) and 12 months (10.3±15.3 ng/ml) versus baseline (11.5±16.4 ng/ml). However, when the four serum level categories described above were considered, suPAR concentrations exerted significant decrease in RA patients with critical suPAR levels (>9ng/ml) (p=0.04). Similarly, BNP fragment levels showed only a tendency of decrease after 6 months (518.2±422.4 pmol/l) and 12 months (484.1±418.2 pmol/l) versus baseline (530.8±441.8 pmol/l). However, serum BNP levels at baseline and after 12 months were significantly increased in CCP positive compared to CCP negative RA patients (baseline: 670.6±323.0 versus 138.0±436.4 pmol/l; p=0.030 and 12 months: 652.9±283.2 versus 456.5±423.1 pmol/l; p=0.021), as well as in RF positive compared to RF negative RA patients (baseline: 680.6±381.6 versus 292.9±198.3 pmol/l; p=0.007 and 12 months: 668.9±346.5 versus 312.2±207.0 pmol/l; p=0.001).

Conclusion:

One-year anti-TNF therapy significantly decreased circulating oxLDL/β2gpI complex levels. This therapy also decreased suPAR levels in patients with critically high suPAR. BNP fragment levels were associated with seropositivity in RA. These vascular biomarkers may reflect the effects of TNF inhibition on endothelial activation.

Acknowledgments:

This study was sponsored by an investigator-initiated grant from Pfizer.

Disclosure of Interests:

Anita Pusztai: None declared, Attila Hamar: None declared, Ágnes Horváth: None declared, Edit Végh: None declared, Nóra Bodnár: None declared, György Kerekes: None declared, Monika Czókolyová: None declared, Szilvia Szamosi: None declared, Levente Bodoki: None declared, Katalin Hodosi: None declared, Andrea Domjan: None declared, Gábor Nagy: None declared, Ibolya Szöllösi: None declared, Luis Lopez Employee of: Retired employee of Corgenix Inc., Eiji Matsuura: None declared, Zoltán Prohászka: None declared, Sándor Szántó: None declared, Zoltán Nagy: None declared, Yehuda Shoenfeld: None declared, Zoltán Szekanecz Grant/research support from: Pfizer, UCB, Consultant of: Sanofi, MSD, Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Novertis, Lilly, Gedeon Richter, Amgen, Gabriella Szücs: None declared

International study on nurses' views and experiences of compassion

BACKGROUND

Compassion is considered the cornerstone of nursing practice. However, the recent failures in delivering high-quality compassionate nursing care in the UK's National Health Service have brought the topic of compassion to the attention of the public, service providers, policy makers and academics.

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the nurses' views and experiences of a number of compassion-related issues in nursing and describe similarities and differences at an international level as well as from the different nursing roles of the participating nurses.

METHODS

An exploratory, cross-sectional descriptive study, using the International Online Compassion Questionnaire. A total of 1323 nurses from 15 countries completed the questionnaire.

RESULTS

The majority of participants (59.5%) defined compassion as "Deep awareness of the suffering of others and wish to alleviate it" but definitions of compassion varied by country. Of participants, 69.6% thought compassion was very important in nursing and more than half (59.6%) of them argued that compassion could be taught. However, only 26.8% reported that the correct amount and level of teaching is provided. The majority of the participants (82.6%) stated that their patients prefer knowledgeable nurses with good interpersonal skills. Only 4.3% noted that they are receiving compassion from their managers. A significant relationship was found between nurses' experiences of compassion and their views about teaching of compassion.

CONCLUSION

Our study is unique in identifying the views and experiences of nurses from 15 different countries worldwide. The findings reveal that compassion is neither addressed adequately in nursing education nor supported in the practice environment by managers.

LIMITATIONS

Self-report bias was inherent to our survey study design. Furthermore, the individual cultural differences and similarities in the findings are difficult to extrapolate owing to the fact that our analysis was at country level, as well as at the level of the participating nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

Understanding the influence of culture on nurses' views about compassion is critical in the current multicultural healthcare environment and merits further research. This will potentially drive changes in nursing education (ensuring that compassion is taught to nurses) and in the way healthcare leaders and managers foster a compassionate culture within their organizations (e.g. by leading by example and compassionate to their staff).

Dispersal of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on High-Tunnel Bell Peppers in Presence or Absence of Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae)

Amblyseius swirskiiAthias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite used to control thrips (Thysanoptera), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci Genn., Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and broad mites (BMs) (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks, Acari: Tarsonemidae). Dispersal of A. swirskii, using the ornamental pepper "Explosive Ember" as a banker plant was evaluated for control of BMs in high-tunnel peppers. Open-canopy plants (5 weeks old) versus closed-canopy plants (10-weeks old) were used to evaluate the effect of plant connectedness in A. swirskii dispersal, in the presence (two females per plant) and absence of BMs. Plots consisted of a single central banker plant and four bell peppers extending linearly north and south. Sets of all treatments were destructively sampled 1, 4, and 7 days after releasing A. swirskii Within 24 h, A. swirskii dispersed four plants away from the banker plants (1 m), regardless of the state of the canopy. Canopy connectedness did increase the presence of A. swirskii on the crop plants. Predatory mite numbers on closed-canopy treatments doubled within the 7-day sampling period, whereas no significant increase was observed on open-canopy treatments. The presence of BMs had no significant effect on the movement of A. swirskii The results suggest further experiments with A. swirskii and banker plants for control of BMs is warranted.

Lymphocyte subpopulations and intima media thickness in primary antiphospholipd syndrome

The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible association between lymphocyte subsets and intima media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). We used a cross-sectional study on PAPS patients ( n = 18) and healthy controls ( n = 16). IgG anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL), IgG anti-β2glycoprotein-I (anti-β2GPI), IgG anti-β2glycoprotein-I complexed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and to a specific oxidized moiety of LDL (oxLig1), and β2GPI-oxLDL were measured by ELISA. Lymphocyte immunophenotyping was performed using pairs of monoclonal antibodies directly labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, or phycoerythrin or phycoerythrin-Texas-red-X. Intima media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries was determined by high-resolution sonography. Total peripheral blood lymphocytes did not differ between PAPS and controls. Memory CD4+/CD45RO + T cells were lower in PAPS than controls ( P = 0.0007) as well as CD16+56+ natural killer cells ( P = 0.02). In PAPS memory T CD45RO + cells positively correlated with IgG anti-β2GPI-oxLig1 ( P = 0.002) and to IMT of carotid arteries (common carotid P = 0.02, bifurcation P = 0.007). Naïve CD4+/CD45RA+ T cells inversely correlated with β2GPI-oxLDL ( P = 0.009). The relation between IgG anti-β2GPI-oxLig1 and IMT of carotid arteries with memory CD45RO + T lymphocytes suggests a role for the latter in PAPS related atherogenesis.