Evaluation of environment and a feline facial pheromone analogue on physiologic and behavioral measures in cats

Objectives This study assessed behavioral and physiologic stress parameters in cats placed in two environments: home and the veterinary hospital. With a widely used scale, several parameters were assessed, including respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), vagosympathetic responses using calculated intervals (heart rate variability [HRV]10, HRV20 and vasovagal tonus index [VVTI]) and ‘stress attitude’, such as struggling, vocalization and agitation during handling. In addition, we evaluated whether a feline facial pheromone analogue (FFPA) had an effect on any of these measures in either environment. Methods Using a placebo and a pheromone substance, we evaluated 30 adult and healthy cats at home and in veterinary hospitals. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro–Wilk, Kruskal–Wallis, and Dunn or ANOVA and Tukey tests, as well as Spearman’s correlation ( P <0.05). Results We found that exposure to FFPA did not reduce the effects of stress. Some parameters presented differences with regard to environment: the RR was 45 and 70 breaths/min and stress attitude score was 1.3 and 0.0 for cats evaluated at home and at the hospital, respectively. The HR and two vagosympathetic responses were also different between the two environments, with a HR of 160 and 187 beats/min, HRV10 of 14.24 and 14.00, and HRV20 of 14.89 and 14.65 in cats at home and the hospital, respectively. There was no variation in SBP and VVTI parameters between the environments. Conclusions and relevance Exposure to FFPA does not reduce the physiologic and behavioral changes measured in this study. Furthermore, environmental change, physical restraint and manipulation during the physical examination alter RR, HR, HRV and behavior but not SBP and VVTI. This study is relevant because physiologic and behavioral stress can affect the quality and interpretation of physical examination results. This study presents detailed data that show the effects of environment and manipulation on such parameters. Furthermore, this study shows a lack of effect of FFPA on any of these parameters.

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Using Smartphones and Wearable Devices to Monitor Behavioral Changes During COVID-19 (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19992 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shaoxiong Sun ◽

Amos A Folarin ◽

Yatharth Ranjan ◽

Zulqarnain Rashid ◽

Pauline Conde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

United Kingdom ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Educational Background ◽

Wearable Devices ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Low Bmi ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

BACKGROUND In the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19, countries have adopted nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing and full lockdown. An objective and quantitative means of passively monitoring the impact and response of these interventions at a local level is needed. OBJECTIVE We aim to explore the utility of the recently developed open-source mobile health platform Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse (RADAR)–base as a toolbox to rapidly test the effect and response to NPIs intended to limit the spread of COVID-19. METHODS We analyzed data extracted from smartphone and wearable devices, and managed by the RADAR-base from 1062 participants recruited in Italy, Spain, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. We derived nine features on a daily basis including time spent at home, maximum distance travelled from home, the maximum number of Bluetooth-enabled nearby devices (as a proxy for physical distancing), step count, average heart rate, sleep duration, bedtime, phone unlock duration, and social app use duration. We performed Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by post hoc Dunn tests to assess differences in these features among baseline, prelockdown, and during lockdown periods. We also studied behavioral differences by age, gender, BMI, and educational background. RESULTS We were able to quantify expected changes in time spent at home, distance travelled, and the number of nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices between prelockdown and during lockdown periods (P<.001 for all five countries). We saw reduced sociality as measured through mobility features and increased virtual sociality through phone use. People were more active on their phones (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), spending more time using social media apps (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands), particularly around major news events. Furthermore, participants had a lower heart rate (P<.001 for Italy and Spain; P=.02 for Denmark), went to bed later (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands), and slept more (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom). We also found that young people had longer homestay than older people during the lockdown and fewer daily steps. Although there was no significant difference between the high and low BMI groups in time spent at home, the low BMI group walked more. CONCLUSIONS RADAR-base, a freely deployable data collection platform leveraging data from wearables and mobile technologies, can be used to rapidly quantify and provide a holistic view of behavioral changes in response to public health interventions as a result of infectious outbreaks such as COVID-19. RADAR-base may be a viable approach to implementing an early warning system for passively assessing the local compliance to interventions in epidemics and pandemics, and could help countries ease out of lockdown.

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Using Smartphones and Wearable Devices to Monitor Behavioral Changes During COVID-19

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/19992 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. e19992 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Shaoxiong Sun ◽

Amos A Folarin ◽

Yatharth Ranjan ◽

Zulqarnain Rashid ◽

Pauline Conde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

United Kingdom ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Educational Background ◽

Wearable Devices ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Low Bmi ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

Background In the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19, countries have adopted nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing and full lockdown. An objective and quantitative means of passively monitoring the impact and response of these interventions at a local level is needed. Objective We aim to explore the utility of the recently developed open-source mobile health platform Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse (RADAR)–base as a toolbox to rapidly test the effect and response to NPIs intended to limit the spread of COVID-19. Methods We analyzed data extracted from smartphone and wearable devices, and managed by the RADAR-base from 1062 participants recruited in Italy, Spain, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. We derived nine features on a daily basis including time spent at home, maximum distance travelled from home, the maximum number of Bluetooth-enabled nearby devices (as a proxy for physical distancing), step count, average heart rate, sleep duration, bedtime, phone unlock duration, and social app use duration. We performed Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by post hoc Dunn tests to assess differences in these features among baseline, prelockdown, and during lockdown periods. We also studied behavioral differences by age, gender, BMI, and educational background. Results We were able to quantify expected changes in time spent at home, distance travelled, and the number of nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices between prelockdown and during lockdown periods (P<.001 for all five countries). We saw reduced sociality as measured through mobility features and increased virtual sociality through phone use. People were more active on their phones (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), spending more time using social media apps (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands), particularly around major news events. Furthermore, participants had a lower heart rate (P<.001 for Italy and Spain; P=.02 for Denmark), went to bed later (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands), and slept more (P<.001 for Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom). We also found that young people had longer homestay than older people during the lockdown and fewer daily steps. Although there was no significant difference between the high and low BMI groups in time spent at home, the low BMI group walked more. Conclusions RADAR-base, a freely deployable data collection platform leveraging data from wearables and mobile technologies, can be used to rapidly quantify and provide a holistic view of behavioral changes in response to public health interventions as a result of infectious outbreaks such as COVID-19. RADAR-base may be a viable approach to implementing an early warning system for passively assessing the local compliance to interventions in epidemics and pandemics, and could help countries ease out of lockdown.

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The parent-offspring microbiome and neurobehavioral development

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x18002819 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey R. Alberts ◽

Christopher Harshaw ◽

Gregory E. Demas ◽

Cara L. Wellman ◽

Ardythe L. Morrow

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Species ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Neurobehavioral Development ◽

Emotional Function ◽

Neurobehavioral Outcomes ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

And Behavior

Abstract We identify the significance and typical requirements of developmental analyses of the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB) in parents, offspring, and parent-offspring relations, which have particular importance for neurobehavioral outcomes in mammalian species, including humans. We call for a focus on behavioral measures of social-emotional function. Methodological approaches to interpreting relations between the microbiota and behavior are discussed.

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Physical Restraint of Older Adults at Home: Preliminary Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2380 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 683-683

Author(s):

Asa Inagaki ◽

Ayumi Igarashi ◽

Maiko Noguchi-Watanabe ◽

Mariko Sakka ◽

Chie Fukui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Online Survey ◽

Physical Restraint ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Physical Restraints ◽

Care Nurse ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Home Care Nurse ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

At Home

Abstract Our study aimed to explore the prevalence and factors of physical restraints among frail to dependent older adults living at home. We conducted an online survey to ask about the physical/mental conditions, demographics, service utilization, and physical restraints of community-dwelling older adults. Either home care nurse or care managers who were responsible for the older adult answered the survey that were conducted at baseline and one month later. We obtained data from 1,278 individuals. Physical restraint was reported for 53 (4.1%) participants. Multiple logistic regression revealed the factors associated with physical restraints at home: having been restrained at baseline, having pneumonia or heart failure, receiving home bathing, or using rental assistive devices were associated with physical restraints at one month. The findings could be used to promote discussion about which services prevent physical restraints and what we should do to support clients and their family to stay at home safely.

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Exploring Farmers’ Reasons for Antibiotic Use and Misuse in Pig Farms in Brazil

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10030331 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 331

Author(s):

Rita Albernaz-Gonçalves ◽

Gabriela Olmos ◽

Maria José Hötzel

Keyword(s):

Social Factors ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

Foreign Markets ◽

Treatment Length ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Pig Farms ◽

Unrestricted Access ◽

And Behavior

Stressful management that makes farmed pigs susceptible to infections is associated with high antibiotic use (AMU) and resistance (AMR). Pig farmers are key stakeholders to support the international agenda pushing AMU restrictions. We interviewed 58 pig farmers on AMU/AMR, biosecurity, veterinary assistance, disease prevention and treatment, aiming to understand practices and attitudes towards the AMU/AMR problem. Farmers described a reliance on antibiotics to prevent and treat disease while neglecting biosecurity measures. We identified inappropriate AMU practices (high use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, incorrect dosage or treatment length) and unrestricted access to antibiotics, which encouraged imprudent AMU. Nevertheless, most farmers considered this AMU legitimate to guarantee herd productivity and showed unpreparedness and resistance to changing AMU practices, perceiving limitations (economic, sanitary and inspection) more easily than alternatives to reduce AMU. Agro-industries and foreign markets were mentioned, and internal consumers dismissed as potential motivators for behavioral changes. Importantly, farmers’ economic, technical and social factors may limit their autonomy to change practices. We conclude that the observed distancing of pig farmers from the AMU/AMR problem limits the efficiency of policies aiming for a prudent AMU. Our study indicates a need for education, training and behavior change nudging that should include other stakeholders beyond farmers.

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Safety and effectiveness of drug therapy for the acutely agitated patient (Part I)

Italian Journal of Medicine ◽

10.4081/itjm.2010.127 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 127-136

Author(s):

Gianluca Airoldi

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Qt Interval ◽

Physical Restraint ◽

Safety Data ◽

Surrogate Marker ◽

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Torsades De Pointes ◽

Long Qt ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Qt Interval Prolongation

Acute agitation occurs in a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions, and the management of agitated, abusive, or violent patients is a common problem in the emergency department. Rapid control of potentially dangerous behaviors by physical restraint and pharmacologic tranquillization is crucial to ensure the safety of the patient and health-care personnel and to allow diagnostic procedures and treatment of the underlying condition. The purpose of this article (the first in a 2-part series) is to review the extensive safety data published on the antipsychotic medications currently available for managing situations of this type, including older neuroleptics like haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and pimozide as well as a number of the newer atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine, risperidone, ziprasidone). Particular attention is focused on the ability of these drugs to lengthen the QT interval in surface electrocardiograms. This adverse effect is of major concern, especially in light of the reported relation between QT interval and the risk of sudden death. In patients with the congenital long-QT syndrome, a long QT interval is associated with a fatal paroxysmal ventricular arrhythmia knownas torsades de pointes. Therefore, careful evaluation of the QT-prolonging properties and arrhythmogenic potential of antipsychotic drugs is urgently needed. Clinical assessment of drug-induced QT-interval prolongation is strictly dependent on the quality of electrocardiographic data and the appropriateness of electrocardiographic analyses. Unfortunately, measurement imprecision and natural variability preclude a simple use of the actually measured QT interval as a surrogate marker of drug-induced proarrhythmia. Because the QT interval changes with heart rate, a rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) is commonly used when evaluating a drug’s effect. In clinical settings, themost widely used formulas for rate-correction are those of Bazett (QTc=QT/RR^0.5) and Fridericia (QTc=QT/RR^0.33), both of which standardize themeasuredQTinterval to an RRinterval of 1 s (heart rate of 60 bpm).However, QT variability can also be influenced by other factors that are more difficult to measure, including body fat, meals, psycho-physical distress, and circadian and seasonal fluctuations.

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14 Weight load does not affect equine stress as measured by heart rate, salivary cortisol, and behavior

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science ◽

10.1016/j.jevs.2015.03.021 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 388

Author(s):

M.M. Ernst ◽

L.R. Hamm ◽

M.L. Santiago ◽

C.A. Shea Porr

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

And Behavior

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Day-by-Day Variability of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate at Home as a Novel Predictor of Prognosis

Hypertension ◽

10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.104620 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 52 (6) ◽

pp. 1045-1050 ◽

Cited By ~ 258

Author(s):

Masahiro Kikuya ◽

Takayoshi Ohkubo ◽

Hirohito Metoki ◽

Kei Asayama ◽

Azusa Hara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Day By Day ◽

At Home

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Blunted Heart Rate Recovery to Spontaneous Nocturnal Arousals in Short Sleeping Adults

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00329.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jeremy A. Bigalke ◽

Ian M. Greenlund ◽

Jennifer R. Nicevski ◽

Carl A. Smoot ◽

Benjamin Oosterhoff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Recovery ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Sleep Time ◽

Cardiovascular Complications ◽

Female Age ◽

Cardiac Reactivity ◽

Electrocardiogram Ecg ◽

The Relationship ◽

At Home

Chronic insufficient sleep is a common occurrence around the world, and results in numerous physiological detriments and consequences, including cardiovascular complications. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between habitual total sleep time (TST) measured objectively via at-home actigraphy and heart rate (HR) reactivity to nocturnal cortical arousals. We hypothesized that short habitual TST would be associated with exaggerated cardiac reactivity to nocturnal cortical arousals. Participants included in 35 healthy individuals (20 male, 15 female, age: 24 ± 1, BMI: 27 ± 1 kg/m2), and were split using a median analysis into short (SS; n = 17) and normal sleeping (NS; n = 18) adults based on a minimum of 7 days of at-home actigraphy testing. All participants underwent a full overnight laboratory polysomnography (PSG) testing session, including continuous HR (electrocardiogram, ECG) sampling. HR reactivities to all spontaneous cortical arousals were assessed for 20 cardiac cycles following the onset of the arousal in all participants. Baseline HR was not significantly different between groups (P > .05). Spontaneous nocturnal arousal elicited an augmented HR response in the SS group, specifically during the recovery period [F (4.192, 134.134) = 3.413, p = .01]. There were no significant differences in HR reactivity between sexes [F (4.006, 128.189) = .429, p > .05]. These findings offer evidence of nocturnal cardiovascular dysregulation in habitual short sleepers, independent from any diagnosed sleep disorders.

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Tramadol effects on clinical variables and the mechanical nociceptive threshold in horses

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/s0103-84782014000300021 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 517-523 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Leandro Guimarães Franco ◽

Juan Carlos Duque Moreno ◽

Antônio Raphael Teixeira Neto ◽

Moisés Caetano e Souza ◽

Luiz Antônio Franco da Silva

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Arterial Pressure ◽

Respiratory Rate ◽

Analgesic Effect ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

Behavior Changes ◽

Clinical Effects ◽

Nociceptive Threshold ◽

Mechanical Nociceptive Threshold

This study assessed the clinical effects and the mechanical antinociceptive potential of intravenous (IV) tramadol in horses.A blinded and randomized study was designed with 7 horses treated with 1 (Tr1), 2 (Tr2) or 3 (Tr3) mg kg-1 of tramadol IV. The heart rate, respiratory rate (fR), arterial pressure, degree of sedation, gastrointestinal motility (GI), behavior changes and the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) were evaluated. The MNT was determined with von Frey device method.Tr3 had a significant increase in their fR and more pronounced behavioral changes than other treatments.The Tr1 showed a significant increase in arterial pressure. The GI reduced significantly, mainly in Tr2. The tramadol did not change the MNT of the horses.The clinical alterations observed with the different treatments were considered mild and transitory, being most evident in Tr2. However the tramadol did not have any analgesic effect with any of the doses evaluated.

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