Development of the ehive Digital Health App: Protocol for a Centralized Research Platform.

Background: The increasing use of smartphones, wearables, and connected devices has enabled the increasing application of digital technologies for research. Remote digital study platforms comprise a patient-interfacing digital application that enables multimodal data collection from a mobile app and connected sources. They offer an opportunity to recruit at scale, acquire data longitudinally at a high frequency, and engage study participants at any time of the day in any place.

Using videos from social media to study the begging behaviour of peregrine falcon () nestlings.

Unlabelled: In 2013, two papers suggested behavioural biologists to use videos available on social media as a tool for investigating animal behaviour, a methodology referred to as video mining. Here, this approach was applied to the study of specific aspects of peregrine falcon () nestlings' behaviour at critical developmental stages. Special attention was given to food begging behaviour and its development.

A Systematic Review to Evaluate Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for Metastatic Prostate Cancer According to the COnsensus-Based Standard for the Selection of Health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) Methodology.

Introduction: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) represent important endpoints in metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). However, the clinically valid and accurate measurement of health-related quality of life depends on the psychometric properties of the PROMs considered.

Objective: To appraise, compare, and summarize the properties of PROMs in mPCa.

General and species-specific recommendations for minimal requirements for the use of cephalopods in scientific research.

Here we list species-specific recommendations for housing, care and management of cephalopod molluscs employed for research purposes with the aim of contributing to the standardization of minimum requirements for establishments, care and accommodation of these animals in compliance with the principles stated in Directive 2010/63/EU. Maximizing their psychophysical welfare was our priority. General recommendations on water surface area, water depth and tank shape here reported represent the outcome of the combined action of the analysis of the available literature and an expertise-based consensus reached - under the aegis of the COST Action FA1301 - among researchers working with the most commonly used cephalopod species in Europe.

Brain Proteome and Behavioural Analysis in Wild Type, BDNF and BDNF Adult Zebrafish () Exposed to Two Different Temperatures.

Experimental evidence suggests that environmental stress conditions can alter the expression of BDNF and that the expression of this neurotrophin influences behavioural responses in mammalian models. It has been recently demonstrated that exposure to 34 °C for 21 days alters the brain proteome and behaviour in zebrafish. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BDNF in the nervous system of adult zebrafish under control and heat treatment conditions.

Standardising the Assessment of Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Localised Prostate Cancer. A Systematic Review.

Context: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among men worldwide. Urinary, bowel, and sexual function, as well as hormonal symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), were prioritised by patients and professionals as part of a core outcome set for localised PCa regardless of treatment type.

Objective: To systematically review the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used in localised PCa and recommend PROMs for use in routine practice and research settings.

Dopaminergic modulation of the circadian activity and sociability: Dissecting parental inheritance versus maternal styles as determinants of epigenetic influence.

In mammalians, social life and circadian rhythms find their neurobiological basis in a network that includes the dopaminergic system. The malfunctioning of dopamine pathways can lead to various disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and Obsessive/compulsive disorders. A useful research approach is to exploit animal models that carry a functional silencing of SLC6A3 gene, encoding the dopamine transporter (DAT).

When Nerve Growth Factor Met Behavior.

Since its first characterization in the early 1950s, the role of the polypeptidic nerve growth factor (NGF) in controlling behavior remained elusive. Since the mid-1980s, we undertook a series of experiments aimed at elucidating the biological role(s) played by neurotrophins, particularly NGF, in adult rodents. At the beginning, we concentrated on the submandibular salivary gland of the male mouse, which was known to store massive amount of NGF.

Altering the development of the dopaminergic system through social play in rats: Implications for anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and compulsivity.

Dopamine is essential to many functions like reward, motivation, and attention; when its neural pathways do not function properly, various disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, compulsions) can arise.

Use of the Milan Pet Quality of Life Instrument (MPQL) to Measure Pets' Quality of Life during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused lifestyle changes, with unknown effect on pets' quality of life (QoL). Between May and July 2020, we distributed an online survey to investigate the role of several factors on feline and canine QoL, including lockdown-related factors. We used existing scales to measure human and pets' personalities (Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire, RST-PQ; RST-Dog; RST-Cat) and the human-animal relationship (Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, LAPS) and the Milan Pet Quality of Life instrument (MPQL).

Effects of low-dose methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl-derived manganese on the development of diencephalic dopaminergic neurons in zebrafish.

Fuel additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is counted as an organic manganese (Mn)-derived compound. The toxic effects of Mn (alone and complexed) on dopaminergic (DA) neurotransmission have been investigated in both cellular and animal models. However, the impact of environmentally relevant Mn exposure on DA neurodevelopment is rather poorly understood.

Acute environmental temperature variation affects brain protein expression, anxiety and explorative behaviour in adult zebrafish.

This study investigated the effect of 4-d acute thermal treatments at 18 °C, 26 °C (control) and 34 °C on the nervous system of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) using a multidisciplinary approach based on behavioural tests and brain proteomic analysis. The behavioural variations induced by thermal treatment were investigated using five different tests, the novel tank diving, light and dark preference, social preference, mirror biting, and Y-Maze tests, which are standard paradigms specifically tailored for zebrafish to assess their anxiety-like behaviour, boldness, social preference, aggressiveness, and explorative behaviour, respectively. Proteomic data revealed that several proteins involved in energy metabolism, messenger RNA translation, protein synthesis, folding and degradation, cytoskeleton organisation and synaptic vesiculation are regulated differently at extreme temperatures.

A new "sudden fright paradigm" to explore the role of (epi)genetic modulations of the DAT gene in fear-induced avoidance behavior.

Alterations in dopamine (DA) reuptake are involved in several psychiatric disorders whose symptoms can be investigated in knock out rats for the DA transporter (DAT-KO). Recent studies evidenced the role of epigenetic DAT modulation in depressive-like behavior. Accordingly, we used heterozygous (HET) rats born from both HET parents (termed MIX-HET), compared to HET rats born from WT-mother and KO-father (MAT-HET), implementing the role of maternal care on DAT modulation.

Genomic and physiological resilience in extreme environments are associated with a secure attachment style.

Understanding individual capability to adjust to protracted confinement and isolation may inform adaptive plasticity and disease vulnerability/resilience, and may have long-term implications for operations requiring prolonged presence in distant and restricted environments. Individual coping depends on many different factors encompassing psychological dispositional traits, endocrine reactivity and their underlying molecular mechanisms (e.g.

Increase in environmental temperature affects exploratory behaviour, anxiety and social preference in Danio rerio.

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of a temperature increase on the behaviour of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) maintained for 21 days at 34 °C (treatment) and 26 °C (control). The temperatures chosen are within the vital range of zebrafish and correspond to temperatures that this species encounters in the natural environment. Previous results showed that the same treatment affects the brain proteome and the behaviour of adult zebrafish by producing alterations in the proteins involved in neurotransmitter release and synaptic function and impairing fish exploratory behaviour.

Motor Transitions' Peculiarity of Heterozygous DAT Rats When Offspring of an Unconventional KOxWT Mating.

Causal factors of psychiatric diseases are unclear, due to gene × environment interactions. Evaluation of consequences, after a dopamine-transporter (DAT) gene knock-out (DAT-KO), has enhanced our understanding into the pathological dynamics of several brain disorders, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and Bipolar-Affective disorders. Recently, our attention has shifted to DAT hypo-functional (heterozygous, HET) rodents: HET dams display less maternal care and HET females display marked hypo-locomotion if cared by HET dams (Mariano et al.

Endometriotic cell culture contamination and authenticity: a source of bias in in vitro research?

Study Question: Are the primary cell cultures and cell lines used in endometriosis research of sufficient quality?

Summary Answer: Primary cells used in endometriosis research lack purity and phenotypic characterisation, and cell lines are not genotypically authenticated.

What Is Known Already: The poor reproducibility of in vitro research and the lack of authenticity of the cell lines used represent reasons of concern in the field of reproductive biology and endometriosis research.

Study Design, Size, Duration: In the present study, past in vitro research in the field of endometriosis was systematically reviewed to determine whether the appropriate quality controls were considered.

Health and Climate Change: science calls for global action.

Climate changes affect social and environmental health determinants such as clean air, ecosystems health, safe drinking water and safe sufficient food. Globally, people at greatest risk of adverse health effects associated with climate change include children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. Temperature-related death and illness, extreme events, polluted or stressed ecosystems represent relevant issues raising concern for both health and economic consequences.

Prior Activation of 5-HT7 Receptors Modulates the Conditioned Place Preference With Methylphenidate.

The serotonin receptor subtype 7 (5-HT7R) is clearly involved in behavioral functions such as learning/memory, mood regulation and circadian rhythm. Recent discoveries proposed modulatory physiological roles for serotonergic systems in reward-guided behavior. However, the interplay between serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in reward-related behavioral adaptations needs to be further assessed.

Own or dam's genotype? Classical colony breeding may bias spontaneous and stress-challenged activity in DAT-mutant rats.

There is considerable interest in understanding what makes an individual vulnerable or resilient to the deleterious effects of stressful events. From candidate genes, dopamine (DA) and dopamine transporter (DAT) have been linked to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. We investigated role of DAT using the new DAT heterozygous (DAT-HET) and homozygous mutant (DAT-KO) rat models of hyperdopaminergia.