Udder health, veterinary costs, and antibiotic usage in free stall compared with tie stall dairy housing systems: An optimized matching approach in Switzerland.

Observational studies are important in livestock science. As treatment is not assigned randomly in such studies, selection bias can be a problem. This is often addressed by matching methods.

Influence of Housing and Management on Claw Health in Swiss Dairy Goats.

Due to a rising demand for goat milk and goat milk products worldwide, it is likely that dairy goat production will be intensified in the future, with larger herds per farm. In Switzerland, as in many other countries with intensive farming systems, dairy goats are typically housed on deep litter, with little access to hard abrasive surfaces. Such housing conditions will result in wall horn overgrowth.

The Dignity of Kangal Fish in the Context of the Swiss Animal Protection Act.

Since 2008, the Swiss Animal Protection Act (AniPA) protects not only the welfare but also the dignity of the animal. Weighing of interests plays a crucial role in the implementation of the dignity concept. This article outlines the concept of the dignity of animals and explains the method of weighing of interests in the context of the AniPA.

Self-reported depression symptoms in haemodialysis patients: Bi-factor structures of two common measures and their association with clinical factors.

Objective: To validate the factor structure of two common self-report depression tools in a large sample of haemodialysis (HD) patients and to examine their demographic and clinical correlates, including urine output, history of depression and transplantation.

Methods: Factor structures of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data was utilised from the screening phase (n = 709) of a placebo-controlled feasibility randomised control trial (RCT) of sertraline in HD patients with mild to moderate Major Depressive Disorder.

Effect of rubber mats and perforation in the lying area on claw and limb lesions of fattening pigs.

Claw and leg lesions are frequently observed in finishing pigs and are likely to compromise their welfare. Providing softer than the usual concrete flooring may reduce both the frequency and severity of these lesions. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of rubber mats and floor perforation in the lying area on claw and leg health of finishing pigs.

Depression Symptoms in Haemodialysis Patients Predict All-Cause Mortality but Not Kidney Transplantation: A Cause-Specific Outcome Analysis.

Background: Depression is common in haemodialysis (HD) patients and associated with poor outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate whether depression symptoms predict survival and transplantation in a large sample of haemodialysis patients using cause-specific survival models.

Methods: Survival data was collected between April 2013 and November 2015, as part of the screening phase of a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in HD patients.

Measuring Fatigue Using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20: A Questionable Factor Structure in Haemodialysis Patients.

Background/aims: Fatigue is recognised as a common and burdensome symptom among dialysis patients. A growing body of research is devoted to understanding fatigue in advanced kidney disease, yet its measurement is challenging within this context. Our aim was to evaluate the factor structure underlying the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) and to examine its associations with clinical factors and mood.

Wordless intervention for people with epilepsy and learning disabilities (WIELD): a randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial of a picture booklet to improve quality of life for people with epilepsy and learning disabilities.

Trial Design: A randomised controlled feasibility trial. Randomisation was not blinded and was conducted using a centralised secure database and a blocked 1:1 allocation ratio.

Sertraline Versus Placebo in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized, Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Background And Objectives: Depression is common in patients on hemodialysis, but data on the benefits and risks of antidepressants in this setting are limited. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline over 6 months in patients on hemodialysis with depression to determine study feasibility, safety, and effectiveness.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Patients on hemodialysis at five United Kingdom renal centers completed the Beck Depression Inventory II.

"Sometimes, it just stops me from doing anything": A qualitative exploration of epilepsy management in people with intellectual disabilities and their carers.

Purpose: Epilepsy affects 1 in 5 people with an intellectual disability (ID), but little is known about their experiences of living with epilepsy. A qualitative study was conducted to investigate the impact and management of epilepsy in people with ID.

Materials And Methods: People with epilepsy and ID and their carers were invited to take part in semi-structured interviews.

C reactive protein and depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients: A questionable association.

Introduction: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) on haemodialysis (HD) may have increased C reactive protein (CRP) values and depressive symptoms. There is debate about the strength and nature of previously reported associations. We investigated these issues in a cohort of patients on HD.

Analysis of behavioral changes in dairy cows associated with claw horn lesions.

Detecting lame cows is important in improving animal welfare. Automated tools are potentially useful to enable identification and monitoring of lame cows. The goals of this study were to evaluate the suitability of various physiological and behavioral parameters to automatically detect lameness in dairy cows housed in a cubicle barn.

A study of sertraline in dialysis (ASSertID): a protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of drug treatment for depression in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Background: The prevalence of depression in people receiving haemodialysis is high with estimates varying between 20 and 40 %. There is little research on the effectiveness of antidepressants in dialysis patients with the few clinical trials suffering significant methodological issues. We plan to carry out a study to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial in patients on haemodialysis who have diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder.

Wordless intervention for epilepsy in learning disabilities (WIELD): study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial.

Background: Epilepsy is the most common neurological problem that affects people with learning disabilities. The high seizure frequency, resistance to treatments, associated skills deficit and co-morbidities make the management of epilepsy particularly challenging for people with learning disabilities. The Books Beyond Words booklet for epilepsy uses images to help people with learning disabilities manage their condition and improve quality of life.

Influence of floor surface and access to pasture on claw characteristics in dairy cows kept in cubicle housing systems.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of the floor type used in the walking area of cubicle housing systems and of access to pasture on claw dimensions and claw shape in dairy cows. Data were collected on 36 farms, 12 farms each fitted with mastic asphalt, slatted concrete or solid rubber flooring. With each floor type, cows on half of the farms had access to pasture in summer.

Current attitudes of bovine practitioners, claw-trimmers and farmers in Switzerland to pain and painful interventions in the feet in dairy cattle.

The attitudes of bovine practitioners, claw-trimmers and farmers towards painful therapeutic claw-trimming of dairy cattle were surveyed and differences between the respondents were assessed. A total of 77 farmers and 32 claw-trimmers were interviewed, and 137 bovine practitioners completed an equivalent online survey. No veterinary consultation for common painful interventions in the feet of cattle was reported by 52% of farmers (i.

Travel related illness in short-term volunteers from the UK to developing countries.

People of all ages volunteer in developing countries, but little is known about the health risks they face. InterHealth, a travel clinic, provides a health screening service for short-term overseas volunteers. A cross-sectional study design was used to analyse 413 post-travel health questionnaires completed between February and November 2009.

Influence of floor surface and access to pasture on claw health in dairy cows kept in cubicle housing systems.

In this study, the effects on the claw health of dairy cows of three different floor types and access to pasture were investigated on 35 farms. The farms were fitted with a given floor type in the indoor walking area of a cubicle housing system: a solid rubber, mastic asphalt or slatted concrete floor. Because we chose farms on which the given floor type was in good condition, the data presented show what can be achieved on these types of floors under ideal circumstances.

Quantitative assessment of physiological and behavioural parameters in healthy dairy cows evoked by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the udder.

The pain and distress associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of the udder was evaluated by treating 20 healthy dairy cows with an electrical udder stimulator. This generated a sequence of pulses (frequency: 160±10% impulses per second, duration 250 μs) and provided voltage ranges from 0 to 10 volts (±10%). Trials took place on three consecutive days, twice daily after morning and evening milking.

Effects of frequency and duration of outdoor exercise on the prevalence of hock lesions in tied Swiss dairy cows.

Injuries around the tarsal joint are common in dairy cows kept in tie stalls. This study investigated the influence of the frequency and duration of outdoor exercise on the prevalence of hock lesions in tied Swiss dairy cows. Over a 1-year period (from January to December), cows on 66 farms were examined a total of six times (once every 2 months) for the number and severity of hock lesions (hairless patches, scabs and open wounds, swellings).

Can self-care health books affect amount of contact with the primary health care team? A randomized controlled trial in general practice.

Objective: To investigate the effects of two differently styled self-care health books in general practice on the frequency and duration of patients' consultations and their views of the books.

Design: Random allocation of patients to either a descriptive or a decision-tree based self-care health book, or a no-book control condition. Three- and 12-months follow-up by postal questionnaire and monitoring of consultations.

Meta-analysis of data on costs from trials of counselling in primary care: using individual patient data to overcome sample size limitations in economic analyses.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses of clinical trials through meta-analysis of data on individual patients from multiple trials.

Design: Meta-analysis of individual patient data from trials of counselling in primary care compared with usual care by a general practitioner.

Setting: Primary care.

Is erectile dysfunction a marker for cardiovascular disease?

There is now significant evidence that erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a symptom of cardiovascular disease, and can act as a marker for disease progression. National Health Service (NHS) prescribing restrictions on treatments for ED have recently been reviewed by the Department of Health, and current arrangements will not change. Unrestricted availability of licensed treatments for ED on the NHS, irrespective of the cause of the ED, may encourage men to present for investigation, enabling early detection of cardiovascular disease.