Can an animal welfare risk assessment tool identify livestock at risk of poor welfare outcomes?

If livestock at risk of poor welfare could be identified using a risk assessment tool, more targeted response strategies could be developed by enforcement agencies to facilitate early intervention, prompt welfare improvement and a decrease in reoffending. This study aimed to test the ability of an Animal Welfare Risk Assessment Tool (AWRAT) to identify livestock at risk of poor welfare in extensive farming systems in Australia. Following farm visits for welfare- and non-welfare-related reasons, participants completed a single welfare rating (WR) and an assessment using the AWRAT for the farm just visited.

Are there risk factors commonly observed on Australian farms where the welfare of livestock is poor?

The objective of this study was to identify factors more commonly observed on farms with poor livestock welfare compared to farms with good welfare. Potentially, these factors may be used to develop an animal welfare risk assessment tool (AWRAT) that could be used to identify livestock at risk of poor welfare. Identifying livestock at risk of poor welfare would facilitate early intervention and improve strategies to promptly resolve welfare issues.

Analysis of substantiated welfare investigations in extensive farming systems in Victoria, Australia.

Substantiated incidents of poor welfare affecting cattle, sheep and goats (livestock) in non-dairy extensive farming systems continue to occur. This study sought to describe the common causes of poor welfare of livestock and the associated circumstances, by analysing 39 years of de-identified, livestock welfare investigation records. There were a total of 2179 alleged offenders (AOff), defined as individual/s that had an incident of poor welfare affecting livestock on at least one occasion.

Application of Novosorb biodegradable temporising matrix in wounds of different aetiologies: a case series.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Cost-effectiveness of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) for the prevention of febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients with cancer.

Purpose: Clinical practice guidelines recommend the use of all approved granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs), including filgrastim and pegfilgrastim, as primary febrile neutropenia (FN) prophylaxis in patients receiving high- or intermediate-risk regimens (in those with additional patient risk factors). Previous studies have examined G-CSF cost-effectiveness by cancer type in patients with a high baseline risk of FN. This study evaluated patients with breast cancer (BC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) receiving therapy who were at intermediate risk for FN and compared primary prophylaxis (PP) and secondary prophylaxis (SP) using biosimilar filgrastim or biosimilar pegfilgrastim in Austria, France, and Germany.

An analysis of substantiated complaints made about incidents of poor livestock welfare, in Victoria, Australia.

Incidents of poor welfare on farm in Victoria, Australia, are generally identified during an investigation that follows receipt of a complaint. Using deidentified records of complaints received by the Victoria State Government between 2011 and 2020, this study aimed to describe the source, number and the relationship between rainfall/stock prices and substantiated welfare complaints (SWC). Only incidents involving non-dairy cattle, sheep and goats in extensive farming systems will be considered.

The views of women with bleeding disorders: Results from the Cinderella study.

Introduction: Despite therapeutic advances in bleeding disorder treatment, over the past 20 years women with bleeding disorders have reported delayed diagnosis, impaired quality of life, dismissive attitudes from health professionals and inappropriate care.

Aim: To explore the lived experience of women with a diagnosed bleeding disorder and to improve understanding of their unmet needs.

Methods: Women haemophilia carriers (WHC), women with a diagnosed bleeding disorder (WBD) and women with immune thrombocytopenia (WITP) were invited to complete an online survey.

The lived experience of women with a bleeding disorder: A systematic review.

Background: Research studies have described the morbidity associated with inherited bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease in women, but their effect on daily living has long been underrecognized. This systematic review sought to document the lived experience of women with a bleeding disorder by assessing research findings on quality of health care, socioeconomic factors, and mental health.

Methods: A systematic search was carried out in Web of Science, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PubMed on July 31, 2020.

An exploration of why men with severe haemophilia might not want gene therapy: The exigency study.

Introduction: For many people with haemophilia (PwH) gene therapy offers a potential functional cure. However, some have stated that they do not wish to have gene therapy either now or in the future.

Aim: This sub-study, part of the larger Exigency programme, assesses the attitudes, views and understanding of those who do not wish to undergo gene therapy.

Parental perspectives on gene therapy for children with haemophilia: The Exigency study.

Introduction: Gene therapy is used in life-limiting conditions of childhood. While not a current therapeutic option for children with haemophilia, it may be considered in the future especially for those where access to treatment is limited.

Aim: To assess the attitudes and opinions of parents of children with haemophilia about gene therapy as a potential future treatment, by understanding their awareness about gene therapy and what they need to know now and in the future; gauging levels of interest in gene therapy for their children; and exploring perceived current motivations and barriers.

Disease burden and remaining unmet need in patients with haemophilia A treated with primary prophylaxis.

Aims: There is evidence that people with haemophilia A still experience morbidity and functional limitation due to joint damage despite prophylaxis. This study aimed to compare their quality of life and work-related function with that of the general population and patients with osteoarthritis.

Methods: Data from the Cost of Haemophilia in Europe: a Socioeconomic Survey (CHESS) database were compared with published data from normative populations and patients with osteoarthritis in Europe and the United States.

An open toolkit for tracking open science partnership implementation and impact.

Serious concerns about the way research is organized collectively are increasingly being raised. They include the escalating costs of research and lower research productivity, low public trust in researchers to report the truth, lack of diversity, poor community engagement, ethical concerns over research practices, and irreproducibility. Open science (OS) collaborations comprise of a set of practices including open access publication, open data sharing and the absence of restrictive intellectual property rights with which institutions, firms, governments and communities are experimenting in order to overcome these concerns.

Economic impact model of delayed inhibitor development in patients with hemophilia a receiving emicizumab for the prevention of bleeding events.

Cumulative exogenous factor VIII (FVIII) exposure is an important predictor of developing neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) to FVIII in patients with persons with hemophilia A (PwHA). The aim of this study was to model the costs of emicizumab versus FVIII prophylaxis and total treatment costs for patients with severe HA. An Excel-based decision model was developed to calculate cumulative costs in PwHA over a 20-year time horizon from the US payer perspective.

Warfarin monitoring economic evaluation of point of care self-monitoring compared to clinic settings.

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of home-based point-of-care self-monitoring compared to clinic-based care for patients managed on long-term warfarin medication. Current evidence is inconsistent; results should reduce uncertainty and inform service delivery.

Methods: A Markov model compared self-testing and self-management, using point-of-care devices to usual care in patients with atrial fibrillation and mechanical heart valves.

Mapping breastfeeding services: a method to inform effective implementation and evaluation of evidence-based policy in practice.

This paper aims to introduce a method for mapping local service provision to local demographic and health outcome data, to inform evidence-based policy and practice in public health. A mapping exercise was conducted in London, England with the aims of: (1) describing services provided for breastfeeding women in primary and tertiary health care sectors and government, voluntary and private sectors; and (2) linking this information with routine data on deprivation, breastfeeding rates and health outcomes. Quantitative data on local breastfeeding services were collected via an online questionnaire by a designated 'mapping lead' in each locality.

Health promotion interventions to address climate change using a primary health care approach: a literature review.

Issue Addressed: This project explored the literature in which key concepts in primary health care and health promotion are overtly applied to the problem of climate change. This paper contains a discussion of the literature relevant to health promotion principles and intervention strategies for addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation in the primary health care sector. The concept of primary health care is that used by the World Health Organization, based on the Declaration of Alma Ata and often referred to as comprehensive primary health care to differentiate it from primary medical care.

The effect of microwave treatment on animal fodder.

Preliminary research has suggested that in vitro dry matter disappearance (DMD) of some poor quality animal fodder materials can be improved by microwave treatment. Laboratory scale experiments revealed that dry matter percentage of Lucerne hay increased by 1.7% as microwave treatment time increased from 0 to 80 seconds.

The study of anatomy in England from 1700 to the early 20th century.

The study of anatomy in England during the 18th and 19th century has become infamous for bodysnatching from graveyards to provide a sufficient supply of cadavers. However, recent discoveries have improved our understanding of how and why anatomy was studied during the enlightenment, and allow us to see the context in which dissection of the human body took place. Excavations of infirmary burial grounds and medical school cemeteries, study of hospital archives, and analysis of the content of surviving anatomical collections in medical museums enables us to re-evaluate the field from a fresh perspective.

Effect of housing conditions on activity and lying behaviour of horses.

Housing conditions for horses impose various levels of confinement, which may compromise welfare. Lying behaviour and activity can be used as welfare indicators for domestic animals and rebound behaviour suggests a build-up of motivation resulting from deprivation. The objective of this study was to determine if activity and lying behaviour of horses are affected by housing conditions and to investigate the occurrence of rebound behaviour after release from confinement.

An economic evaluation of valsartan for post-MI patients in the UK who are not suitable for treatment with ACE inhibitors.

Objectives: The overall objective of this study was to estimate the costs and outcomes associated with treatment with valsartan for post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, heart failure, or both, who are not suitable for treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, compared to placebo.

Methods: A Markov model, using data drawn from the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction (VALIANT) trial and other trials, was developed to predict the future health pathways, resource use, and costs for patients who have recently experienced an MI. Patients received either valsartan (mean dose 247 mg) or placebo.

An economic evaluation of sevelamer in patients new to dialysis.

Objective: The overall objective of this study was to estimate the costs and outcomes associated with treatment with sevelamer for hyperphosphataemia compared with calcium-based binders.

Methods: Using published data on mortality and hospitalisation rates, a Markov model was developed to predict health outcomes and associated costs for the treatment of hyperphosphataemia using either sevelamer or calcium binders in chronic kidney disease patients who had recently started haemodialysis. Patient outcomes were modelled for 5 years, and incremental cost-effective ratios (ICERs) were calculated for sevelamer relative to calcium carbonate and calcium acetate binders.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of fluvastatin in patients with diabetes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The Lescol Intervention Prevention Study (LIPS) was a multinational randomized controlled trial that showed a 47% reduction in the relative risk of cardiac death and a 22% reduction in major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) from the routine use of fluvastatin, compared with controls, in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, defined as angioplasty with or without stents). In this study, MACEs included cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and subsequent PCI and coronary artery bypass graft. Diabetes was the greatest risk factor for MACEs.