Congenital syndromic Chiari-like malformation (CSCM) in Holstein cattle: towards unravelling of possible genetic causes.

Background: Chiari malformation type II (CMII) was originally reported in humans as a rare disorder characterized by the downward herniation of the hindbrain and towering cerebellum. The congenital brain malformation is usually accompanied by spina bifida, a congenital spinal anomaly resulting from incomplete closure of the dorsal aspect of the spinal neural tube, and occasionally by other lesions. A similar disorder has been reported in several animal species, including cattle, particularly as a congenital syndrome.

Characteristics of unilateral and bilateral bovine twin foetuses.

Twin pregnancy in cattle is undesirable for a number of reasons, including a higher abortion risk compared to pregnancies with a single foetus. Yet, the abortion risk is significantly influenced by the intrauterine location of the foetuses, that is, the abortion risk is several times higher if they are implanted in the same uterine horn (unilateral twin pregnancy) than if they are implanted with one foetus in each uterine horn (bilateral twin pregnancy). The reason for the higher abortion risk in unilateral twin pregnancies is unknown, but it may be related to malnutrition of the outermost foetus due to a limited placental capacity, as is the case for equine twin foetuses.

The aftermath of COVID-19: Mortality impact of the pandemic on older persons in Sweden and other Nordic countries, 2020-2023.

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic hit Sweden harder than the other Nordic countries in the early phase, especially among older persons. We compared the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality especially among older persons during the period 2020-2022 in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, using four different outcome measures.

Methods: We compared publicly available information on reported cases and deaths in COVID-19 from the World Health Organization COVID-19 Dashboard, age-specific mortality rates, life expectancy at age 65 years and excess mortality from Nordic Statistics database and national statistics and health agencies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

The impact of facility and staff characteristics on infection control of COVID-19: Perceptions of elder care home managers in Stockholm, Sweden.

Aim: To examine the perceptions of managers of elder care homes on the impact of facility and staff characteristics on infection control of COVID-19.

Design: Case study.

Methods: Six purposively sampled care home managers in the city of Stockholm were interviewed.