scholarly journals MP35: Acceptability of older patients’ self-assessment in the emergency department (ACCEPTED) – a randomized cross-over trial

CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S55
Author(s):  
V. Boucher ◽  
M. Lamontagne ◽  
J. Lee ◽  
P. Carmichael ◽  
J. Déry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Patient Self Assessment

Introduction: It is recommended that seniors consulting to the Emergency Department (ED) undergo a comprehensive geriatric screening, which is difficult for most EDs. Patient self-assessment using electronic tablet could be an interesting solution to this issue. However, the acceptability of self-assessment by older ED patients remains unknown. Assessing acceptability is a fundamental step in evaluating new interventions. The main objective of this project is to compare the acceptability of older patient self-assessment in the ED to that of a standard assessment made by a professional, according to seniors and their caregivers. Methods: Design: This randomized crossover design cohort study took place between May and July 2018. Participants: 1) Patients aged ≥65 years consulting to the ED, 2) their caregiver, when present. Measurements: Patients performed self-assessment of their frailty, cognitive and functional status using an electronic tablet. Acceptability was measured using the Treatment Acceptability and Preferences (TAP) questionnaires. Analyses: Descriptive analyses were performed for sociodemographic variables. Scores were adjusted for confounding variables using multivariate linear regression. Thematic content analysis was performed by two independent analysts for qualitative data collected in the TAP's open-ended question. Results: A total of 67 patients were included in this study. Mean age was 75.5 ± 8.0 and 55.2% of participants were women. Adjusted mean TAP scores for RA evaluation and patient self-assessment were 2.36 and 2.20, respectively. We found no difference between the two types of evaluations (p = 0.0831). When patients are stratified by age groups, patients aged 85 and over (n = 11) showed a difference between the TAPs scores, 2.27 for RA evaluation and 1.72 for patient self-assessment (p = 0.0053). Our qualitative data shows that this might be attributed to the use of technology, rather than to the self-assessment itself. Data from 9 caregivers showed a 2.42 mean TAP score for RA evaluation and 2.44 for self-assessment. However, this relatively small sample size prevented us to perform statistical tests. Conclusion: Our results show that older patients find self-assessment in the ED using an electronic tablet just as acceptable as a standard evaluation by a professional.

scholarly journals Acceptability of older patients’ self-assessment in the Emergency Department (ACCEPTED)—a randomised cross-over pilot trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 875-880
Author(s):  
Valérie Boucher ◽  
Marie-Eve Lamontagne ◽  
Jacques Lee ◽  
Pierre-Hugues Carmichael ◽  
Julien Déry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Research Assistant ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Clinical Frailty Scale ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Standard Assessment ◽  
Patient Self Assessment

Abstract Background patient self-assessment using electronic tablet could improve the quality of assessment of older Emergency Department(ED) patients. However, the acceptability of this practice remains unknown. Objective to compare the acceptability of self-assessment using a tablet in the ED to a standard assessment by a research assistant (RA), according to seniors and their caregivers. Design randomised crossover pilot study. Setting The Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus (CHU de Québec–Université Laval) (2018/05–2018/07). Subjects (1) ED patients aged ≥65, (2) their caregiver, if present. Methods participants’ frailty, cognitive and functional status were assessed with the Clinical Frailty scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Older American Resources and Services scale and patients self-assessed using a tablet. Test administration order was randomised. The primary outcome, acceptability, was measured using the Treatment Acceptability and Preferences (TAP) scale. Descriptive analyses were performed for sociodemographic variables. TAP scores were adjusted using multivariate linear regression. Thematic content analysis was performed for qualitative data. Results sixty-seven patients were included. Mean age was 75.5 ± 8.0 and 55.2% were women. Adjusted TAP scores for RA evaluation and patient self-assessment were 2.36 and 2.20, respectively (P = 0.08). Patients aged ≥85 showed a difference between the TAP scores (P < 0.05). Qualitative data indicates that this might be attributed to the use of technology. Data from nine caregivers showed a 2.42 mean TAP score for RA evaluation and 2.44 for self-assessment. Conclusions our results show that older patients believe self-assessment in the ED using an electronic tablet as acceptable as a standard evaluation by a research assistant. Patients aged ≥85 find this practice less acceptable.

scholarly journals FDA Analysis of Survival Outcomes in Older Adults with Relapsed-Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) Treated with Novel Drug Regimens

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3194-3194
Author(s):  
Bindu Kanapuru ◽  
Susan Jin ◽  
Kunthel By ◽  
Theresa Carioti ◽  
Yuan-Li Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Survival Outcomes ◽  
Novel Therapies

Background: Multiple novel therapies have been approved for the treatment of RRMM in recent years, resulting in improvements in progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). However, clinical trials in MM often enroll only a small proportion of older patients, particularly patients ≥75 years (Kanapuru 2017). Evaluating the impact of novel therapies, especially triplet therapies, in older adults with RRMM from individual clinical trials is challenging due to the small sample size. Furthermore, significant heterogeneity exists among the older adult population with regards to tolerability of anti-myeloma therapy. In newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients with MM, evidence from pooled analysis indicates that patients >80 years may be at increased risk for adverse clinical outcomes (Palumbo 2015). We evaluated the prognostic impact of age on survival outcomes in patients with RRMM receiving novel therapies. Methods: Data from 10 clinical trials submitted for approval between 2011-2015 were pooled for this analysis. Participants were grouped according to four age strata: <65, 65-74, 75-80, and >80 years. PFS and OS were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method (K-M). Within each age stratum, we conducted a subgroup analysis comparing doublet versus triplet regimens. Cox's proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for gender, race, ISS stage, ECOG status, regimen (only for primary age analysis) and prior transplant. Results: In total, 4766 patients were included in the analysis. Forty-seven percent were <65 years, 39% were 65-74 years, 11% were 75-80 years and only 4% were >80 years of age. The percentage of patients with baseline ISS stage III and ECOG 2 was higher in the 75-80 years (31.0% and 11.0%) and >80 years group (32.0%, 19.0%) compared to 65-74 years (24.0%, 8.0%) and <65 years group (22.0%, 6.0%) respectively. K-M plots for PFS and OS and adjusted HR by age is shown below. Estimated median PFS and OS results by regimen type is displayed in Table 1. Adjusted PFS HR (95% CI) for triplet versus doublet regimens was 0.69 (0.60, 0.79), 0.71 (0.61, 0.83), 0.61 (0.46, 0.81), and 0.62 (0.36, 1.05) for <65, 65-74, 75-80 and >80 years respectively. The HR (95% CI) for OS was 0.70 (0.59, 0.83), 0.86 (0.72, 1.02), 0.55 (0.40, 0.77) and 0.98 (0.56, 1.73). Conclusions: Improvement in PFS with novel therapies, including triplet regimens, appears to extend to older adults including patients >80 years of age. No trend in treatment effect for PFS was observed across the age groups. Overall survival was lower in adults ≥65 years of age compared to patients <65 years although results were not significant for patients >80 years of age. Triplet regimens appear to improve survival over doublet regimens; however, a consistent trend across age groups was not observed. The OS results from this analysis must be interpreted with caution due to immature OS data at the time of submission, differential follow-up for individual trials, and small sample size, particularly in patients >80 years of age. Enrolling a representative population of older adults in MM clinical trials is needed to allow for an accurate assessment of outcomes in this population. Furthermore, considering biologic age rather than chronologic age to identify older patients who can benefit from these therapies would serve to further advance treatment in patients with MM. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

An influence of social isolation on the level of physical activity as well as on well-being and mental state of people during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

2019 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 127-131
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Parfin ◽  
Krystian Wdowiak ◽  
Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk ◽  
Jolanta Herda
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroduction. The COVID-19 is the name of an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). It was first diagnosed in December 2019 in patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The symptoms are dominated by features of respiratory tract infections, in some patients with a very severe course leading to respiratory failure and, in extreme cases to death. Due to the spread of the infection worldwide, the WHO declared a pandemic in March 2020.Aim. An investigation of the impact of social isolation introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic on selected aspects of life. The researchers focused on observing changes in habits related to physical activity and their connections with people’s subjective well-being and emotional state.Material and methods. The study was carried out within the international project of the group „IRG on COVID and exercise”. The research tool was a standardized questionnaire.Results. Based on the data collected and the analysis of the percentage results, it can be observed that the overwhelming majority of people taking up physical activity reported a better mood during the pandemic. However, statistical tests do not confirm these relationships due to the small sample size.Conclusions. Isolation favours physical activity. Future, in-depth studies, by enlarging the population group, are necessary to confirm the above observations.

The impact of a time target on older patients attending the emergency department

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A2.1-A2
Author(s):  
Sue Mason
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Older Patient ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionThe 4 h emergency standard for English acute trusts was introduced in 2003 and became full established by 2008 at 98% for all Emergency Department (ED) patients to be seen and discharged. This study examined the impact of the target for older patients attending departments.MethodsRoutine patient level data was received from 15 English EDs representing 774 095 individual patient attendances during May and June for 2003 to 2006. The data were used to determine the distribution of the total time spent in the EDs. Attendances were compared for older patients (65 years and above) with younger age groups.ResultsA total of 145 596 attendances were for patients aged 65+ years (18.9%). Across each year analysed, these older patients have a significantly longer median total time in the ED than those younger than 65 years (162 min vs 103 min, p<0.001). In addition, older patients are significantly more likely to leave the emergency department in the last 20 min prior to 4 h (12.4% vs 5.2% in those <65 years, p<0.001). This proportion is growing year on year in both the admitted and discharged categories of patients. Finally, older patients are significantly more likely to breach the 4-h than their younger counterparts (16.6% vs 6.3%, p<0.001).ConclusionsThere are some unintended consequences of introducing the 4 h target in UK emergency departments. While the target has reduced overall time in departments, the older patient appears to be disadvantaged relative to younger patients. Older patients are more likely to be ‘rushed through’ to other unmonitored areas of the hospital just prior to the target or to breach the target altogether. This finding calls in to question the benefits that the target is conveying for individual patients, and especially the most vulnerable in society.

Differential Clinical Impact Of Gene Mutations and Their Combinations In Primary Cytogenetically Normal Acute Myeloid Leukemia (CN-AML)

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2540-2540
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Papaioannou ◽  
Kati Maharry ◽  
Krzysztof Mrózek ◽  
Heiko Becker ◽  
Klaus H. Metzeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Meeting ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
Cebpa Mutations ◽  
American Society

Abstract In CN-AML, mutations of specific genes have prognostic significance and are used for treatment guidance. However, these mutations are in general not mutually exclusive and CN-AML patients (pts) frequently harbor mutational combinations with unclear prognostic significance because of the concurrent presence of mutations with favorable (CEBPA, NPM1) and unfavorable (ASXL1, DNMT3A, IDH1, IDH2, FLT3-ITD, MLL-PTD, RUNX1, TET2, WT1) impact on outcome. Here, we report the frequency and clinical significance of isolated mutations and their combinations in 364 CN-AML pts. Younger [<60 years (y); n=163] and older (≥60 y; n=201) pts were intensively treated on frontline CALGB/Alliance protocols and, per protocol, did not undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission (CR). Median follow-up for pts alive was 8.7 y. Pts were analyzed centrally for mutations in the ASXL1, CEBPA, DNMT3A, IDH1, IDH2, NPM1, RUNX1, TET2, and WT1 genes and the presence of FLT3-ITD, FLT3-TKD and MLL-PTD. We found that 99% of pts had ≥1 and 88% ≥2 of the 12 mutations. Specifically, 11% of pts had 1 gene mutated (n1), 40% had 2 (n2), 31% 3 (n3), and 18% harbored ≥4 mutated genes (n4). The distribution of the different n groups in younger and older pts was similar (Fig 1). The expected frequency of each mutated gene in every numerical (n) group was calculated as follows: [no. of pts with the mutated gene] x [total no. of mutations in the n group] / [total no. of mutations in all pts], and compared with the observed frequency. CEBPA, IDH2, NPM1, and RUNX1 mutations were overrepresented in the n1 and n2 groups (P<.001, P<.001, P=.002, P=.02, respectively) and thus likely represent “early” events in leukemogenesis. In contrast, DNMT3A, FLT3-ITD, and TET2 mutations were more frequent in the n3 and n4 groups (P=.008, P<.001, P=.02, respectively) suggesting that they are likely “late” events. The distribution among age groups and clinical impact of the “early” mutations (i.e., CEBPA, NPM1, IDH2) presenting as isolated mutations or in combination with other mutations were then investigated. Isolated RUNX1 mutations could not be evaluated due to small sample size. Younger pts were more likely to harbor an isolated “early” mutated gene than older pts (21% v 12%, P=.03). Specifically, isolated CEBPA and NPM1 mutations were more frequent in younger pts compared with the older (7% v 2%, P=.007; 7% v 3%, P=.07, respectively). In pts with isolated CEBPA mutations, these were always bi-allelic. Single “early” mutated genes varied in their impact on CR achievement (CEBPA: 100%, NPM1: 94%, IDH2: 67%), and overall survival (OS; 3-y OS: CEBPA: 87%, NPM1: 69%, IDH2: 22%). Acquisition of additional mutations adversely modified the prognostic significance of favorable “early” mutations in the CEBPA (Fig 2A) and NPM1 (Fig 2B) genes, but left unchanged the unfavorable effect of IDH2 mutations (Fig 2C). Two mutational combinations were exceptions to this: younger pts with both NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations (8 pts) had an excellent prognosis with 3-y OS of 100%; and older pts with concurrent NPM1 and IDH2 mutations (9 pts; all IDH2 mutations were in codon R140) had a high 3-y OS rate of 67%. We conclude that CEBPA and NPM1 mutations mainly define pts with favorable prognosis when they present as single markers, whereas mutated IDH2 predominantly associates with adverse outcome. The NPM1+DNMT3A and NPM1+IDH2 mutational patterns may define novel favorable molecular subtypes in younger and older CN-AML pts, respectively, but these results require corroboration in larger pt cohorts. Disclosures: Mrózek: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY: I will review abstracls submitted for presentation at the 55th ASH Annual Meeting in the 611 category Other. Eisfeld:AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY: I will review abstracls submitted for presentation at the 55th ASH Annual Meeting in the 608 category Other.

scholarly journals Reversal of Rocuronium-induced Meeting Abstracts with Sugammadex in Pediatric and Adult Surgical Patients

2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Plaud ◽  
Olli Meretoja ◽  
Rainer Hofmockel ◽  
Julien Raft ◽  
Peter A. Stoddart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Blockade ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Dose Range ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Reversal Agent ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Train Of Four

Background Sugammadex reverses neuromuscular blockade by chemical encapsulation of rocuronium. This phase IIIA study explored efficacy and safety of sugammadex in infants (28 days to 23 months), children (2-11 yr), adolescents (12-17 yr), and adults (18-65 yr). Methods Anesthetized patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1-2) received 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium and were randomized to receive sugammadex (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg/kg) or placebo at reappearance of T2. Neuromuscular monitoring was performed using acceleromyography. Primary endpoint was time from sugammadex/placebo administration to recovery of the train-of-four ratio to 0.9. Adverse events and electrocardiograms were recorded, and blood samples were collected for safety and determination of sugammadex and rocuronium plasma concentrations. Results A dose-response relation was demonstrated in children (n = 22), adolescents (n = 28), and adults (n = 26), but not infants because of the small sample size (n = 8). After placebo, median recovery time of train-of-four to 0.9 was 21.0, 19.0, 23.4, and 28.5 min in infants, children, adolescents, and adults, respectively. After 2.0 mg/kg sugammadex train-of-four 0.9 was attained in 0.6, 1.2, 1.1, and 1.2 min, respectively. The sugammadex plasma concentrations were similar for the children, adolescent, and adult age groups across the dose range. Sugammadex was well tolerated: No reoccurrence of blockade, inadequate reversal, significant QT prolongation, or other abnormalities were observed. Conclusions Sugammadex is a new reversal agent that rapidly, effectively, safely, and with similar recovery times reverses rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in children, adolescents, adults, and the small number of infants studied.

scholarly journals Visual attention and inhibitory control in children, teenagers and adults with autism without intellectual disability: results of oculomotor tasks from a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study (InFoR)

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouck Amestoy ◽  
Etienne Guillaud ◽  
Giulia Bucchioni ◽  
Tiziana Zalla ◽  
Daniel Umbricht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Attention Switching ◽  
Follow Up Study

Abstract Background Inhibitory control and attention processing atypicalities are implicated in various diseases, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These cognitive functions can be tested by using visually guided saccade-based paradigms in children, adolescents and adults to determine the time course of such disorders. Methods In this study, using Gap, Step, Overlap and Antisaccade tasks, we analyzed the oculomotor behavior of 82 children, teenagers and adults with high functioning ASD and their peer typically developing (TD) controls in a two-year follow-up study under the auspices of the InFoR-Autism project. Analysis of correlations between oculomotors task measurements and diagnostic assessment of attentional (ADHD-RS and ADHD comorbidity indices) and executive functioning (BRIEF scales) were conducted in order to evaluate their relationship with the oculomotor performance of participants with ASD. Results As indicated by the presence of a Gap and Overlap effects in all age groups, the oculomotor performances of ASD participants showed a preserved capability in overt attention switching. In contrast, the difference in performances of ASD participants in the Antisaccade task, compared to their TD peers, indicated an atypical development of inhibition and executive functions. From correlation analysis between our oculomotor data and ADHD comorbidity index, and scores of attention and executive function difficulties, our findings support the hypothesis that a specific dysfunction of inhibition skills occurs in ASD participants that is independent of the presence of ADHD comorbidity. Limitations These include the relatively small sample size of the ASD group over the study’s two-year period, the absence of an ADHD-only control group and the evaluation of a TD control group solely at the study’s inception. Conclusions Children and teenagers with ASD have greater difficulty in attention switching and inhibiting prepotent stimuli. Adults with ASD can overcome these difficulties, but, similar to teenagers and children with ASD, they make more erroneous and anticipatory saccades and display a greater trial-to-trial variability in all oculomotor tasks compared to their peers. Our results are indicative of a developmental delay in the maturation of executive and attentional functioning in ASD and of a specific impairment in inhibitory control.

scholarly journals Digitizing Dunhuang Cultural Heritage: A User Evaluation of Mogao Cave Panorama Digital Library

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Hu ◽  
Eric M. Y. Ho ◽  
Chen Qiao
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
User Evaluation ◽  
Usability Tests

Abstract Purpose This study is a user evaluation on the usability of the Mogao Cave Panorama Digital Library (DL), aiming to measure its effectiveness from the users’ perspective and to propose suggestions for improvement. Design/methodology/approach Usability tests were conducted based on a framework of evaluation criteria and a set of information seeking tasks designed for the Dunhuang cultural heritage, and interviews were conducted for soliciting in-depth opinions from participants. Findings The results of the usability tests indicate that the DL was more efficient in supporting simple information seeking tasks than those of higher-complexity levels. Statistical tests reveal that there were correlations among dimensions of usability criteria and user effectiveness measures. Moreover, interview discourses exposed specific usability issues of the DL. Research limitations This research is based on a relatively small sample size, resulting in a limited representativeness of user diversity. A larger sample size is needed for a systematic cross group comparison. Practical implications This study evaluated the usability of the Mogao Cave Panorama DL and proposed suggestions for its improvement for better experience. The results also provide a reference to other cultural heritage DLs with panorama functions. Originality/value This study is one of the first evaluating cultural heritage DLs from the perspective of user experience. It provides methodological references for relevant studies: the evaluation framework, the designed information seeking tasks, and the interview questions can be adopted or adapted in evaluating other visually centric DLs of cultural heritage.

scholarly journals Ultra-Brief Crisis IPT-A Based Intervention for Suicidal Children and Adolescents (IPT-A-SCI) Pilot Study Results

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Haruvi Catalan ◽  
Mira Levis Frenk ◽  
Ella Adini Spigelman ◽  
Yair Engelberg ◽  
Shira Barzilay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Study Results

In recent years, suicidal behaviors have shown substantial increase worldwide. This trend is also prominent in Israel and has led to a dramatic increase in mental health treatment demand resulting in long wait times and low treatment acceptance rate. To address the critical need in crisis intervention for children and adolescents at suicidal risk we developed an ultra-brief acute crisis intervention, based on Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). IPT is an evidence-based intervention for various psychopathologies among different age groups. The current adaptation of IPT-A is comprised of five weekly sessions, followed by monthly follow-up caring email contacts to the patients and their parents, over a period of 3 months. This paper aims to review the theoretical foundation of this intervention, describe the research design, and present preliminary results of a pilot study. Preliminary Results from our samples of 26 adolescents indicate meaningful trends for both the suicidal ideation (SIQ) and depression (MFQ) outcome measures. Significant interaction was found concerning suicidal ideation but not for depression. Main limitations include small sample size and stratified controls. The treatment appears to be safe, feasible and acceptable and initial results show promising trends to support further study of the approach.

Estimation of genetic parameters for agonistic behaviour of pigs at different ages

2016 ◽  
Vol 154 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. SCHEFFLER ◽  
E. STAMER ◽  
I. TRAULSEN ◽  
J. KRIETER
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Wide Range

SUMMARYThe mixing of pigs unacquainted with each other in commercial pig production is a standard procedure which leads to agonistic interactions with a wide range of individual pig behaviour. Hence, the aims of the present study were to assess the heritabilities of agonistic behaviour and to estimate correlations between three different age groups (weaned pigs n = 1111, growing pigs n = 446 and breeding gilts n = 279). The behavioural observation analysis included a period of 17 h directly after mixing as weaned pigs, growing pigs and breeding gilts (220 days of age) whereby the following agonistic traits were observed: number of fights (NF), duration of fights (DF), initiated fights (IF), received fights (RF), fights won (FW) and fights lost (FL). The behaviour of the weaned and growing pigs was significantly influenced by cross-fostering, their weight at mixing and litter attributes. Cross-fostered animals showed fewer agonistic interactions as weaned pigs and as growing pigs than non-cross-fostered animals. The influence of weight revealed that heavier pigs had a higher NF score at weaning and as growing pigs. The random litter effect explained up to 0·08 of the total variance in weaned and 0·04 in growing pigs, whereby this could partly be explained by litter size. Pigs from larger litters tended to have more agonistic interactions. The heritabilities of the recorded traits were at a low to medium level but similar between the age groups. There were high correlations between NF and all other traits in weaned pigs. The trait IF showed that the more fights a pig initiated, the more it won. This was also found for growing pigs and breeding gilts. The relationships between the age groups provided no uniform trend. The phenotypic correlations were low and the genetic correlations varied widely, partly due to the small sample size.

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