Development of the What Matters 2 Adults (WM2A) wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults

PURPOSE

As wellbeing is culturally bound, wellbeing measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be culturally relevant and grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values and preferences. We describe the development of a nationally-relevant and culturally grounded wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: the What Matters to Adults (WM2A) measure.

METHODS

We used a mixed methods approach to measure development, combining Indigenist methodologies and psychometric methods. Candidate items were derived through a large national qualitative study. Think-aloud interviews (n = 17) were conducted to assess comprehension, acceptability, and wording of candidate items. Two national surveys collected data on the item pool (n = 312, n = 354). Items were analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and item response theory (IRT) to test dimensionality, local dependence and item fit. A Collaborative Yarning approach ensured Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices were privileged throughout.

RESULTS

Fifty candidate items were developed, refined, and tested. Using EFA, an eight factor model was developed. All items met pre-specified thresholds for maximum endorsement frequencies, and floor and ceiling effects; no item redundancy was identified. Ten items did not meet thresholds for aggregate adjacent endorsement frequencies. During Collaborative Yarning, six items were removed based on low factor loadings (<0.4) and twelve due to conceptual overlap, high correlations with other items, endorsement frequencies, and/or low IRT item level information. Several items were retained for content validity. The final measure includes 32 items across 10 domains (Balance & control; Hope & resilience; Caring for others; Culture & Country; Spirit & identity; Feeling valued; Connection with others; Access; Racism & worries; Pride & strength).

CONCLUSIONS

The unique combination of Indigenist and psychometric methodologies to develop WM2A ensures a culturally and psychometrically robust measure, relevant across a range of settings and applications.

The SAGES MASTERS program bariatric surgery pathway selects 10 seminal publications on revisional bariatrics

BACKGROUND

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Masters Program designated bariatric surgery as a clinical pathway. Among the tiers of the Masters Program, revisional bariatric surgery is the highest tier of "mastery" within the pathway. This article presents the top 10 seminal studies representing the current landscape of revisional bariatrics.

METHODS

The literature was systematically searched and seminal articles designated by consensus agreement of the SAGES Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery committee using multiple criteria, including impact on the field, citation frequency, and expert opinion. Articles were reviewed by committee members and presented in summarized fashion.

RESULTS

The top 10 papers are presented in grouped thematic categories covering the early evolution of revisional bariatrics, changing criteria for reoperative bariatric surgery, divergence of revision versus conversion bariatric surgery, and recent technologic innovations in revisional bariatric surgery. Each summary is presented with expert appraisal and commentary.

CONCLUSION

These seminal papers represent a snapshot of the dynamic field of revisional bariatric surgery and emphasize the need to not only remain current with contemporary trends but also keep a patient-oriented perspective on patient and intervention selection for optimal success.

What Matters to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth (WM2Y): a study protocol to develop a national youth well-being measure

INTRODUCTION

Adolescents face challenges associated with unprecedented environmental, social and technological changes. The impacts of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, racism and socioeconomic disadvantage intensify these challenges for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents. However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents also have cultural, spiritual, family and community capital that fosters their well-being.To date, little research has focused on understanding and appropriately measuring the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents, a pivotal factor in informing and guiding programmes and interventions that support them. This study will identify the domains of well-being and develop a new preference-based well-being measure based on the values and preferences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (aged 12-17 years).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This project will be conducted across three research phases: (1) qualitative exploration of well-being using PhotoYarning and yarns with adult mentors to develop candidate items; (2) Think Aloud study, quantitative survey, psychometric analysis, validity testing of candidate items and finalisation of the descriptive system; and (3) scoring development using a quantitative preference-based approach. A multinomial (conditional) logit framework will be used to analyse responses and generate a scoring algorithm for the new preference-based well-being measure.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approvals have been obtained from: the Human Research Ethics Committees for each state and territory where data are being collected, the institutions where the research is being conducted and from the relevant Departments of Education. The new well-being measure will have wide applicability and can be used in assessing the effectiveness of programmes and services. This new national measure will ensure benefit and positive impact through the ability to identify and measure the aspects of well-being important to and valued by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. Results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences, and summaries will be provided to the study partner organisations and other relevant organisations.

'There isn't a checklist in the world that's got that on it': Special needs teachers' opinions on the assessment and teaching priorities of pupils on the autism spectrum

Two focus groups were conducted with special needs teachers to: (a) identify barriers to learning for autistic pupils, (b) consider broad assessment domains and specific skills or behaviours which teachers consider important for these pupils, and (c) give their opinions on teacher assessments. Data analysis resulted in six main themes: (a) barriers to learning, (b) teacher priorities for autistic pupils, (c) ways of overcoming barriers, (d) the concept of 'true mastery', (e) assessing the bigger picture, and (f) practicalities of assessment. Results showed that teachers have priorities for the pupils they know well and concerns about the assessments they regularly use. To ensure face and content validity of teacher assessments, and for assessments to be useful to and valued by the teachers who use them, it is recommended that teachers have opportunities to input during various aspects of the assessment development process.

Neuromuscular treatment approach for women with chronic pelvic pain syndrome improving pelvic pain and functionality

AIMS

Reporting the effects of treating underlying myofascial dysfunction and neuropathic pain in women with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

METHODS

Retrospective longitudinal study of 186 women with CPPS treated with ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks and trigger point injections to pelvic floor muscles alongside pelvic floor physical therapy once weekly for 6 weeks in an outpatient setting. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Functional Pelvic Pain Scale (FPPS) questionnaires quantified pain and function in the pelvis. Working, intercourse, sleeping, walking, running, lifting, bladder, and bowel were the function categories. Statistical significance was established by p value less than .05 in paired two-sample t-test.

RESULTS

VAS improved by 2.14 where average VAS before treatment was 6.61 (standard deviation [SD] 2.45; p < .05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.26-6.96) and average VAS after treatment was 4.47 (SD 2.71; p < .05, 95% CI = 4.08-4.86). Total FPPS decreased by 3.38 from 11.26 (SD 6.51; p < .05, 95% CI = 10.32-12.19) before treatment to 7.88 (SD 6.22; p < .05, 95% CI = 6.99-8.78) after treatment. Working, intercourse, and sleeping accounted for the highest statistically significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

Findings support the success of the comprehensive treatment protocol. Patients who had persistent symptoms after a full course of pelvic floor physical therapy experienced improvements in pain levels and function once it was combined with ultrasound-guided nerve blocks and trigger point injections, interactively treating underlying neuromuscular dysfunction.

The preliminary validity and reliability of the Assessment of Barriers to Learning in Education - Autism

BACKGROUND

Few robust autism-specific outcome assessments have been developed specifically for use by teachers in special schools. The Assessment of Barriers to Learning in Education - Autism (ABLE-Autism) is a newly developed teacher assessment to identify and show progress in barriers to learning for pupils on the autism spectrum with coexisting intellectual disabilities.

AIMS

This study aimed to conduct a preliminary validity and reliability evaluation of the ABLE-Autism.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Forty-eight autistic pupils attending special schools were assessed using the ABLE-Autism. Multi-level modelling was used to evaluate test-retest reliability, internal consistency and convergent validity with the Teacher Autism Progress Scale.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Results showed excellent test-retest reliability and internal consistency. A large effect size suggested that the ABLE-Autism is strongly correlated with the Teacher Autism Progress Scale. Teacher feedback was positive and suggested that the ABLE-Autism is easily understood by teachers, relevant to autistic pupils in special schools, and adequately covers the skills and behaviours that teachers believe are important to assess for these pupils.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Although further validation is recommended, the preliminary evaluation of the ABLE-Autism suggests that it is a useful and has the potential to be an effective outcome assessment for autistic pupils in special schools.

0454 Sleep Disruptive Cognitions in Deployment-Related Insomnia

Introduction

Sleep disturbance is common following military deployment, and insomnia is associated with many adverse psychiatric and medical outcomes. Deployment to a threatening environment can engender nocturnal vigilance, which may be a salient feature of sleep disturbance in formerly deployed Veterans. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) is an effective treatment; however, CBTI emphasizes targeting dysfunctional beliefs about sleep (DBAS) and generalized worries rather than vigilance. The goal of the present study was to investigate the role of vigilance, in relation to other potential types of sleep-interfering cognitions in formerly deployed Veterans with sleep disturbance.

Methods

Thirty-nine formerly deployed Veterans with disturbed sleep completed measures prior to an intervention. Insomnia was measured with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and measures derived from actigraphy and morning sleep diaries administered for one week. Measures for sleep interfering cognitions included Dysfunctional Beliefs about Sleep (DBAS), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), a measure of generalized worry, and the Fear of Loss of Vigilance (FLV) subscale of the Fear of Sleep Inventory (FOSI).

Results

All of the measures of sleep-interfering cognitions were significantly associated with ISI score. Generalized worries (PSWQ scores) were strongly and significantly correlated with both FLV and DBAS, which were not significantly correlated with each other. FOSI FLV explained 7.1% more variance in ISI score than DBAS alone (p = .04) while DBAS explained 23.1% additional variance in ISI score over FOSI FLV alone (p &lt; .001).

Conclusion

It may be important to target both nocturnal vigilance and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep in the treatment of insomnia in formerly deployed Veterans.

Support

Supported by W81XWH-14-1-0066 from the Congressionally Directed Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program of the Department of Defense.

0490 Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Brief Intervention for Post-Deployment Insomnia

Introduction

Sleep disturbances are common among previously deployed Veterans. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has shown promise for Veterans but there are limitations and CBT-I may not optimally target the nocturnal vigilance conditioned by threatening environments. We developed and preliminarily evaluated a brief educational/behavioral intervention that combined established behavioral sleep principles with cognitive exercises intended to reduce the impact of vigilant thoughts and behaviors on sleep.

Methods

Participants were 40 Veterans recruited from the community and local VAMC who had been deployed to combat zones or hazardous duty areas. The mean age was 40, and the majority were male, African American, and screened positively for PTSD. They were assigned to the study intervention or an educational control that utilized a pamphlet promoting healthy sleep habits. Assignment at a 2:1 ratio was intended to allow for refinement of the study intervention during the early phase of the trial. Initial assessment was followed by a week of sleep diary collection, then two intervention sessions a week apart, followed by a repeat assessment. Participants of the study intervention were assessed again 3-months later.

Results

Improvements in sleep efficiency, ratings for feeling rested in the morning, and reduced Insomnia Severity Index scores were seen in the post-treatment week but did not differ between groups. At 3-months, these improvements were sustained in the 14 retained participants of the study intervention, engagement in vigilance reducing exercises remained high, and ratings of how rested one felt in the morning were significantly improved over ratings from the post-treatment week.

Conclusion

Brief behavioral intervention for post-deployment insomnia can provide benefits and cognitive exercises to reduce the impact of vigilant thoughts and behaviors warrant further evaluation.

Support

Supported by W81XWH-14-1-0066 from the Congressionally Directed Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program of the Department of Defense

1169 Innovative Exposure to Sleep Medicine for Medical Students

Introduction

Lack of exposure to the field of Sleep Medicine at the medical student level hinders sleep training. Instead of the traditional didactic style, there is a need for innovative collaborative measures to spark interest in the younger generation of learners. The goal of this educational endeavor was to introduce medical students to the field of Sleep Medicine through the platform of Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN).

Methods

An interactive session was conducted for SIGN at the University of Minnesota. 24 second-year medical students were divided into 6 groups. The session consisted of introduction, videos of common sleep disorders and interactive briefing afterward. 5-point Likert scale pre and post-session surveys were administered to measure the level of knowledge regarding sleep, familiarity with diagnostic tools, available education, pathways to Sleep Medicine, learner’s interest and impact of the session. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was performed to compare pre- and post-surveys.

Results

There was a significant improvement in measures of students’ knowledge about sleep diagnostic modalities (p =7.8*10-5), education received (p= 3.2*10-5) and pathways to sleep medicine (p=4.1*10-5). Survey also showed improvement in students’ interest in pursuing a Sleep Medicine career (p=0.07). There was no difference in knowledge about the importance of sleep for health (p=0.69). All of the students found the session to be informative.

Conclusion

Early exposure to sleep disorders in interactive format was well received by the medical students with significant improvement in scores regarding sleep education, awareness of diagnostic modalities, career pathway and interest in sleep medicine (p=0.07). Integration of exposure to Sleep Medicine within the medical curriculum in an innovative format should be done to instigate interest in this field. Further larger studies are warranted to evaluate the changes in the students’ interest in the subspecialty with an introduction in the early stages of their career.

Support

 

A Systematic Review of Behaviour-Related Outcome Assessments for Children on the Autism Spectrum with Intellectual Disabilities in Education Settings

A systematic review was completed to identify assessments used with children with intellectual disabilities to assess adaptive behaviour, challenging behaviour and autism-related behaviour and consider their appropriateness for use by special education teachers with autistic pupils. The findings of this review led to the recommendation that the Pervasive Development Disorder Behavior Inventory, Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist and the Teacher Autism Progress Scale are currently the most appropriate assessments for these purposes, although some limitations of these assessments exist. Additional recommendations included teacher input during the development of robust assessments to show progress for autistic children with intellectual disabilities and further evaluation of commonly used assessments with an appropriate sample in a relevant education setting.

An improved cleaning system to reduce microbial contamination of poultry transport crates in the United Kingdom

AIM

Following previous research on improving the cleaning of crates used to transport broiler chickens from the farm to the abattoir, a demonstration project was undertaken to investigate improvements in crate washing on a commercial scale.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The soak tank of a conventional crate washing system was replaced with a high-performance washer fitted with high-volume, high-pressure nozzles. The wash water could be heated, and a greatly improved filtration system ensured that the nozzles did not lose performance or become blocked. Visual cleanliness scores and microbial counts were determined for naturally contaminated crates which had been randomly assigned to different cleaning protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

When a combination of mechanical energy, heat and chemicals (i.e. detergent and disinfectant) was used, the results showed significant improvements to crate cleaning. Reductions of up to 3·6 and 3·8 log₁₀ CFU per crate base were achieved for Campylobacter and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively, along with a marked improvement in visual cleanliness.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Broiler transport crates may become heavily contaminated with faeces and this may contribute to the spread of disease between farms. The results of this trial may be of use in reducing the spread of zoonotic pathogens in the poultry meat supply chain.

Enumeration of Total Aerobic Microorganisms in Foods by SimPlate® Total Plate Count–Color Indicator Methods and Conventional Culture Methods: Collaborative Study

The relative efficacy of the SimPlate® Total Plate Count–Color Indicator (TPC–CI) method (SimPlate 35°C) was compared with the AOAC Official Method 966.23 (AOAC 35°C) for enumeration of total aerobic microorganisms in foods. The SimPlate TPC–CI method, incubated at 30°C (SimPlate 30°C), was also compared with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4833 method (ISO 30°C). Six food types were analyzed: ground black pepper, flour, nut meats, frozen hamburger patties, frozen fruits, and fresh vegetables. All foods tested were naturally contaminated. Nineteen laboratories throughout North America and Europe participated in the study. Three method comparisons were conducted. In general, there was &lt;0.3 mean log count difference in recovery among the SimPlate methods and their corresponding reference methods. Mean log counts between the 2 reference methods were also very similar. Repeatability (sr) and reproducibility (sR) standard deviations were similar among the 3 method comparisons. The SimPlate method (35°C) and the AOAC method were comparable for enumerating total aerobic microorganisms in foods. Similarly, the SimPlate method (30°C) was comparable to the ISO method when samples were prepared and incubated according to the ISO method.

Use of progression criteria to support monitoring and commissioning decision making of public health services: lessons from Better Start Bradford

BACKGROUND

Commissioning and monitoring of community-based interventions is a challenge due to the complex nature of the environment and the lack of any explicit cut-offs to guide decision making. At what point, for example, is participant enrolment to interventions, course completion or satisfaction deemed to be acceptable or sufficient for continued funding? We aimed to identify and quantify key progression criteria for fourteen early years interventions by (1) agreeing the top three criteria for monitoring of successful implementation and progress; and (2) agreeing boundaries to categorise interventions as 'meeting anticipated target' (green); 'falling short of targets' (amber) and 'targets not being met' (red).

METHODS

We ran three workshops in partnership with the UK's Big Lottery Fund commissioned programme 'Better Start Bradford' (implementing more than 20 interventions to improve the health, wellbeing and development of children aged 0-3) to support decision making by agreeing progression criteria for the interventions being delivered. Workshops included 72 participants, representing a range of professional groups including intervention delivery teams, commissioners, intervention-monitoring teams, academics and community representatives. After discussion and activities, final decisions were submitted using electronic voting devices. All participants were invited to reconsider their responses via a post-workshop questionnaire.

RESULTS

Three key progression criteria were assigned to each of the 14 interventions. Overall, criteria that participants most commonly voted for were recruitment, implementation and reach, but these differed according to each intervention. Cut-off values used to indicate when an intervention moved to 'red' varied by criteria; the lowest being for recruitment, where participants agreed that meeting less than 65% of the targeted recruitment would be deemed as 'red' (falling short of target).

CONCLUSIONS

Our methodology for monitoring the progression of interventions has resulted in a clear pathway which will support commissioners and intervention teams in local decision making within the Better Start Bradford programme and beyond. This work can support others wishing to implement a formal system for monitoring the progression of public health interventions.

The role of the biochemistry department in the diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy

A 47-year-old man presented with severe clinical hypoglycaemia. He had long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes with previously good glycaemic control. Intense headaches and vomiting initiated hospitalization. A brain computed tomography (CT) scan was normal, and a lumbar puncture showed elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein [0.67 g/L; normal range (NR) 0.15-0.45 g/L], suggesting resolving viral meningitis.

Routine thyroid function tests were abnormal (free thyroxine 10.6 pmol/L, NR 9-22.5 pmol/L; thyroid-stimulating hormone 0.16 mU/L, NR 0.35-5 mU/L). In the absence of evident thyroid therapy, the laboratory policy required an urgent cortisol assay to be added; this was very abnormal (42 nmol/L), suggesting hypopituitarism. Later analysis showed that concentrations of gonadotrophins and adrenocorticotrophin were low. An urgent pituitary magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an unsuspected pituitary tumour with recent haemorrhage (pituitary apoplexy). The patient was given intravenous hydrocortisone and then stabilized on oral hydrocortisone, thyroxine and mesterolone. He made a full recovery and the hypoglycaemia resolved.

The normal brain CT scan was falsely reassuring and the CSF protein was not due to viral meningitis but to haemorrhage into the pituitary tumour. If laboratory policy had not required the urgent cortisol assay be added, the diagnosis of hypopituitarism would have been delayed or even missed altogether. This could have led to the death of the patient.

Use of a patient completed iPad questionnaire to improve pre-operative assessment

Developments in healthcare technology could improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. There is a need to facilitate communication and increase efficiency in surgical pre-assessment clinics. This study aimed to develop an iPad application to deliver an electronic patient questionnaire, and to evaluate its use in the pre-assessment environment. Software was developed, MyOp, for a standard iPad that mirrored the paper-based pre-assessment system, with features designed for ease of patient use and remote data transfer. A case-control study was conducted, comparing use of MyOp with paper-based practice, to evaluate feasibility and patient preference. Patients were offered the use of MyOp or paper-based system. Outcomes measured included time to complete iPad questionnaire, consultation duration, and a patient preference questionnaire. MyOp cost £3500 to develop. 104 individuals participated in the study, 53 MyOp and 51 controls. MyOp reduced the median consultation duration by 5.00 min. A reduction was seen in all subgroups except those aged over 70 or urology patients. Patients preferred to complete the form independently, using a touchpad or computer but expressed concerns about data security. Use of an electronic patient questionnaire reduces consultation time delivering greater efficiency of pre-assessment nurse time. Preconceived ideas about the use of technology in older age groups are likely inaccurate and less of a barrier than previously thought. Electronic pre-assessments could be used routinely to reduce demands on healthcare facilities, improve patient care, and triage patients prior to clinic attendance.

Dual-function theranostic nanoparticles for drug delivery and medical imaging contrast: perspectives and challenges for use in lung diseases

Theranostic nanoparticles with both therapeutic and imaging abilities have the promise to revolutionize diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. Early and accurate detection along with swift treatment are the most important steps in the successful treatment of any disease. Over the last decade, a variety of nanotechnology-based platforms have been created in the hope of improving the treatment and diagnosis of a wide variety of diseases. However, significant hurdles still remain before theranostic nanoparticles can bring clinical solutions to the fight against chronic respiratory diseases. Some fundamental issues such as long-term toxicity, a precise understanding of the accumulation, degradation and clearance of these particles, and the correlation between basic physicochemical properties of these nanoparticles and their in vivo behavior have to be fully understood before they can be used clinically. To date, very little theranostic nanoparticle research has focused on the treatment and diagnosis of chronic respiratory illnesses. Nanomedicine approaches incorporating these theranostic nanoparticles could potentially be translated into clinical advances to improve diagnosis and treatment of these chronic respiratory diseases and enhance quality of life for the patients.

Manganese-loaded lipid-micellar theranostics for simultaneous drug and gene delivery to lungs

Gadolinium (Gd) contrast agents are predominantly used for T(1) MR imaging. However, the high toxicity of Gd(3+) and potential side effects including nephrogenic systemic fibrosis have led to the search for alternative T(1) contrast agents. Since manganese (Mn) has paramagnetic properties with five unpaired electrons that permit high spin number, long electronic relaxation times, and labile water exchange, we evaluated Mn as a T(1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent for lung imaging. Here we report on the design and synthesis of multifunctional lipid-micellar nanoparticles (LMNs) containing Mn oxide (M-LMNs) for MRI that can also be used for DNA and drug delivery. Oleic acid-coated MnO nanoparticles were encapsulated in micelles composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG-2000), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), DC-cholesterol, and dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). The particles are taken up in vitro by human embryonic kidney (HEK293), Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1), and A549 cells and are devoid of cytotoxicity. When administered to mice intranasally, they preferentially accumulate in the lungs. In vitro phantom and ex vivo lung MRI results confirmed that M-LMNs are able to enhance T(1) MRI contrast. M-LMNs loaded with plasmid DNA and/or doxorubicin are efficiently taken up by HEK293 cells in vitro and by target cells in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrate that M-LMNs are capable of simultaneously providing MRI contrast and DNA and/or drug delivery to target cells in the lung and therefore may prove useful as a lung theranostic, especially for lung cancers.

Towards a standardised surveillance for Trichinella in the European Union

Each year, more than 167 million pigs in the European Union (EU) are tested for Trichinella spp. under the current meat hygiene regulations. This imposes large economic costs on countries, yet the vast majority of these pigs test negative and the public health risk in many countries is therefore considered very low. This work reviewed the current Trichinella status across the EU as well as the national level of monitoring and reporting. It also reviewed which animal species were affected by Trichinella and in which species it should be surveyed. This information was used to design a cost-effective surveillance programme that enables a standardised monitoring approach within the EU. The proposed surveillance programme relies on identifying sub-populations of animals with a distinct risk. Low-risk pigs are finisher pigs that originate from so-called controlled housing. All other pigs are considered high-risk pigs. Controlled housing is identified by the application of a specific list of management and husbandry practices. We suggest that member states (MS) be categorised into three classes based on the confidence that Trichinella can be considered absent, in the specified sub-population of pigs above a specified design prevalence which we set to 1 per million pigs. A simple and transparent method is proposed to estimate this confidence, based on the sensitivity of the surveillance system, taking into account the sensitivity of testing and the design prevalence. The probability of detecting a positive case, if present, must be high (>95 or >99%) to ensure that there is a low or negligible risk of transmission to humans through the food chain. In MS where the probability of a positive pig is demonstrated to be negligible, testing of fattening pigs from a sub-population consisting of pigs from controlled housing can be considered unnecessary. Furthermore, reduced testing of finishers from the sub-population consisting of pigs from non-controlled housing might even be considered, if conducted in conjunction with a proportionate sampling scheme and a risk-based wildlife surveillance programme where applicable. The proposed surveillance programme specifies the required number of samples to be taken and found negative, in a MS. A MS with no data or positive findings will initially be allocated to class 1, in which all pigs should be tested. When a MS is able to demonstrate a 95% or 99% confidence that Trichinella is absent, the MS will be allocated to class 2 or 3, in which the testing requirement is lower than in class 1.

Genetic isolation and characterization of a splicing mutant of zebrafish dystrophin

Sapje-like (sap(cl100)) was one of eight potential zebrafish muscle mutants isolated as part of an early-pressure screen of 500 families. This mutant shows a muscle tearing phenotype similar to sapje (dys-/-) and both mutants fail to genetically complement suggesting they have a mutation in the same gene. Protein analysis confirms a lack of dystrophin in developing sapje-like embryos. Sequence analysis of the sapje-like dystrophin mRNA shows that exon 62 is missing in the dystrophin transcript causing exon 63 to be translated out of frame terminating translation at a premature stop codon at the end of exon 63. Sequence analysis of sapje-like genomic DNA identified a mutation in the donor splice junction at the end of dystrophin exon 62. This mutation is similar to splicing mutations associated with human forms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sapje-like is the first zebrafish dystrophin splicing mutant identified to date and represents a novel disease model which can be used in future studies to identify therapeutic compounds for treating diseases caused by splicing defects.

Report of Trichinella spiralis in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Northern Ireland

No systematic studies of the occurrence of Trichinella in wildlife have been carried out in Northern Ireland (NI) in recent years, and the last reports of trichinellosis in livestock and human outbreaks in NI date back to 1979 and 1945, respectively. In this study, covering the period 2003/2004 and 2007/2008, a total of 443 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were collected throughout the country and screened for trichinellosis using a modified muscle digest method. One examined animal was found to be infected with larvae from Trichinella spiralis, indicating a national prevalence in NI of Trichinella in foxes of 0.2%. This prevalence compares well to the findings reported from the bordering Republic of Ireland [Rafter, P., Marucci, G., Brangan, P., Pozio, E., 2005. Rediscovery of Trichinella spiralis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Ireland after 30 years of oblivion. J. Infect. 50, 61-65] and could be a further indication for a sylvatic Trichinella life cycle existing independently from the domestic cycle.