The use of predator tags to explain reversal movement patterns in Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.).

Acoustic telemetry has seen a rapid increase in utility and sophistication in recent years and is now used extensively to assess the behavior and survival rates of many aquatic animals, including the Atlantic salmon. As part of the salmon's complex life cycle, salmon smolts are thought to make a unidirectional migration from fresh water to the sea, which is initiated by changes in their physiology. However, some tag movement patterns do not conform with this and can be difficult to explain, particularly if the tagged fish has been eaten by a predator. This study combines the use of predator tags with machine learning techniques to understand the fate of migrating salmon smolts and thereby improve estimates for migration success. Over 3 years between 2020 and 2022, 217 salmon smolts (including wild and hatchery-reared ranched fish) were acoustically tagged and released into an embayment on the west coast of Ireland. Some tagged smolts were observed to return from the estuary back into a saline lagoon through which they had already migrated. To distinguish between the movement of a salmon smolt and that of a predator, predator tags were deployed in migrating smolts in 2021 and 2022. The addition of a temperature sensor in 2022 enabled the determination of predator type causing the returning movement. A significant number of predator tags were triggered, and the patterns of movement associated with these triggered tags were then used with two types of machine learning algorithms (hierarchical cluster analysis and random forest) to identify and validate the behavior of smolts tagged without extra sensors. Both models produced the same outputs, grouping smolts tagged with predator tags with smolts tagged without the additional sensors but showing similar movements. A mammalian predator was identified as the cause of most reversal movement, and hatchery-reared ranched smolts were found to be more likely predated upon by this predator than wild smolts within the lake and the estuary. However, overall migration success estimates were similar for both wild and hatchery-reared ranched fish. This study highlights the value of predator tags as an essential tool in the overall validation of detection data.

Changes in body mass index and risk of adolescent psychopathology: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal body mass index (BMI) has been associated with development of psychopathology. This association in children is well documented, for both overweight and underweight children. However, the association between change in BMI and the development of psychopathology has been less investigated. AIM: To investigate the association between change in BMI between childhood and adolescence and psychopathology in adolescence. METHODS: Data from the Growing Up in Ireland cohort were used. We investigated the '98 cohort (also known as the child cohort) at age 9/13. BMI, defined using internationally recognised definitions as underweight, healthy or overweight, was used as the exposure, and abnormal Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire scores were used as the outcome. Logistic regression was undertaken for the analysis. All analyses were adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: A change to overweight from healthy BMI was significantly associated with increased risk of psychopathology (adjusted OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.19-2.32). Both change from underweight to healthy (adjusted OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.03-0.43) or from overweight to healthy (adjusted OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.79-0.8) was associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing psychopathology. DISCUSSION: As a child's BMI returns to within the healthy range, their risk of adolescent psychopathology is reduced. Interventions to restore healthy BMI, in both underweight and overweight, children may reduce their risk of adolescent psychopathology.

A psychoeducational intervention increases use of a delirium protocol by Neurologists and Neurosurgeons in patients with brain disorders.

OBJECTIVES: Over 50% of inpatients with neurological disorders may present with a co-morbid psychiatric illness. Delirium has a reported point prevalence of 20% in hospital inpatients and is frequently undetected. We aimed to (1) examine inpatient referrals to a Liaison Neuropsychiatry service and (2) review the diagnosis and management of delirium before and after an educational intervention. METHODS: An initial 6-month audit of referrals to the inpatient Liaison Neuropsychiatry service was conducted in 2018. We then undertook a psychoeducational intervention to raise awareness of the diagnosis and management of delirium. We conducted a re-audit of referrals to the service in 2019. RESULTS: On initial audit, of 84 referrals, the most common referral was for mood (38%; n = 32). Just 4% (n = 3) had a specific delirium query. Following assessment by Neuropsychiatry, organic disorders (43%; n = 32), including delirium (33%; n = 25), were the most common diagnoses. On re-audit, of 86 referrals, mood assessment remained the most common reason for referral (38%; n = 33) and 2% (n = 2) were referred for possible delirium. Organic disorders remained the most common diagnoses (53%; n = 45) including delirium (38%; n = 32). We found a significant increase in the use of the delirium protocol from 12% (n = 3) on initial audit to 47% (n = 15); p < 0.01 on re-audit despite no increase in the number of specific delirium queries. CONCLUSIONS: A psychoeducational intervention improves the management of delirium by Neurologists and Neurosurgeons in patients with brain disorders.

Psychiatric and psychosocial morbidity 1 year after epilepsy surgery.

OBJECTIVES: There is a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy. However, the impact of surgical treatment of refractory epilepsy on psychopathology remains under investigation. We aimed to examine the impact of epilepsy surgery on psychopathology and quality of life at 1-year post-surgery in a population of patients with epilepsy refractory to medication. METHODS: This study initially assessed 48 patients with refractory epilepsy using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 89 (QOLIE-89) on admission to an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) as part of their pre-surgical assessment. These patients were again assessed using the SCID-I, QOLIE-89 and HADS at 1-year follow-up post-surgery. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in psychopathology, particularly psychosis, following surgery at 1-year follow-up (p < 0.021). There were no new cases of de novo psychosis and surgery was also associated with a significant improvement in the quality of life scores (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the impact of epilepsy surgery on psychopathology and quality of life in a patient population with refractory surgery. The presence of a psychiatric illness should not be a barrier to access surgical treatment.

A short report of satisfaction levels amongst Irish trainees in psychiatry with out of hours and emergency assessments.

OBJECTIVES: On-call and crisis psychiatry is a very challenging aspect of psychiatric training. This study aimed to describe the experiences of psychiatric trainees on-call in hospitals, emergency departments and psychiatric units in Ireland. METHODS: In total, 193 psychiatric trainees in Ireland were emailed a survey in 2017. The survey included questions regarding the duties expected of the trainee, frequency of on-call obligations, un-rostered hours worked, level of senior support, assessment facilities available and doctors' satisfaction with the on-call experience. RESULTS: Overall, 68 trainees responded to the survey. In total, 35% of respondents reported dissatisfaction with their experience of on-call and crisis psychiatry, 46% reported that they were not provided with training in risk assessment and 21% of respondents stated that there was not a suitable room available to perform their assessments. CONCLUSIONS: This survey has raised important issues facing those on the frontline of psychiatric services in Ireland. Of particular concern are resource issues faced by trainees and the need for further training and support related to risk assessment when on-call. Remedying these issues may lead to a decreased rate of dropout as well as a safer and better environment for patients and doctors alike.

A comparison of undergraduate teaching of psychiatry across medical schools in the Republic of Ireland.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the delivery and assessment of psychiatry at undergraduate level in the six medical schools in the Republic of Ireland offering a medical degree programme. METHODS: A narrative description of the delivery and assessment of psychiatry at undergraduate level by collaborative senior faculty members from all six universities in Ireland. RESULTS: Psychiatry is integrated to varying degrees across all medical schools. Clinical experience in general adult psychiatry and sub-specialities is provided by each medical school; however, the duration of clinical attachment varies, and the provision of some sub-specialities (i.e. forensic psychiatry) is dependent on locally available resources. Five medical schools provide 'live' large group teaching sessions (lectures), and all medical schools provide an array of small group teaching sessions. Continuous assessment encompasses 10-35% of the total assessment marks, depending on the medical school. Only one medical school does not provide a clinical examination in the form of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination with viva examinations occurring at three medical schools. CONCLUSIONS: Many similarities exist in relation to the delivery of psychiatry at undergraduate level in Ireland. Significant variability exists in relation to assessment with differences in continuous assessment, written and clinical exams and the use of vivas noted. The use of e-learning platforms has increased significantly in recent years, with their role envisaged to include cross-disciplinary teaching sessions and analysis of examinations and individual components within examinations which will help refine future examinations and enable greater sharing of resources between medical schools.

Youth mental health in the time of COVID-19.

Youth mental health is a rapidly developing field with a focus on prevention, early identification, treatment innovation and service development. In this perspective piece, we discuss the effects of COVID-19 on young people's mental health. The psychosocial effects of COVID-19 disproportionately affect young people. Both immediate and longer-term factors through which young people are affected include social isolation, changes to the delivery of therapeutic services and almost complete loss of all structured occupations (school, work and training) within this population group. Longer-term mechanisms include the effects of the predicted recession on young people's mental health. Opportunities within this crisis exist for service providers to scale up telehealth and digital services that may benefit service provision for young people's mental health in the future.

Special Issue: Psychosis from early intervention to treatment resistance.

Psychotic disorders are central to mental health service provision and a common theme of academic research programmes in Ireland, which explore the neurobiological and psychosocial risk factors underpinning the development and progression of these illnesses. While we await the discovery of novel pharmacological treatment targets for psychotic disorders, it is important to employ our existing management strategies to optimal effect. In this special issue on psychosis, a selection of clinical research studies and reviews from Irish researchers, and often of Irish populations, are brought together which span the trajectory of psychotic illness from early intervention to treatment resistance. The topics include the characteristics and course of first episode psychosis cohorts, real-world evaluation of early intervention services, management strategies for treatment resistant schizophrenia and neurobiological research into social stress. The current editorial provides an overview of these papers and highlights the initial steps of the Irish Psychosis Research Network towards developing an integrated clinical research network focusing on the treatment and research into psychotic disorders.

Identification of a plasma signature of psychotic disorder in children and adolescents from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort.

The identification of an early biomarker of psychotic disorder is important as early treatment is associated with improved patient outcome. Metabolomic and lipidomic approaches in combination with multivariate statistical analysis were applied to identify plasma alterations in children (age 11) (38 cases vs 67 controls) and adolescents (age 18) (36 cases vs 117 controls) preceeding or coincident with the development of psychotic disorder (PD) at age 18 in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Overall, 179 lipids were identified at age 11, with 32 found to be significantly altered between the control and PD groups. Following correction for multiple comparisons, 8 of these lipids remained significant (lysophosphatidlycholines (LPCs) LPC(18:1), LPC(18:2), LPC(20:3); phosphatidlycholines (PCs) PC(32:2; PC(34:2), PC(36:4), PC(0-34-3) and sphingomyelin (SM) SM(d18:1/24:0)), all of which were elevated in the PD group. At age 18, 23 lipids were significantly different between the control and PD groups, although none remained significant following correction for multiple comparisons. In conclusion, the findings indicate that the lipidome is altered in the blood during childhood, long before the development of psychotic disorder. LPCs in particular are elevated in those who develop PD, indicating inflammatory abnormalities and altered phospholipid metabolism. These findings were not found at age 18, suggesting there may be ongoing alterations in the pathophysiological processes from prodrome to onset of PD.

Proteomic analysis of the postsynaptic density implicates synaptic function and energy pathways in bipolar disorder.

The postsynaptic density (PSD) contains a complex set of proteins of known relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We enriched for this anatomical structure in the anterior cingulate cortex of 16 bipolar disorder samples and 20 controls from the Stanley Medical Research Institute. Unbiased shotgun proteomics incorporating label-free quantitation was used to identify differentially expressed proteins. Quantitative investigation of the PSD identified 2033 proteins, among which 288 were found to be differentially expressed. Validation of expression changes of DNM1, DTNA, NDUFV2, SEPT11 and SSBP was performed by western blotting. Bioinformatics analysis of the differentially expressed proteins implicated metabolic pathways including mitochondrial function, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, protein translation and calcium signaling. The data implicate PSD-associated proteins, and specifically mitochondrial function in bipolar disorder. They relate synaptic function in bipolar disorder and the energy pathways that underpin it. Overall, our findings add to a growing literature linking the PSD and mitochondrial function in psychiatric disorders generally, and suggest that mitochondrial function associated with the PSD is particularly important in bipolar disorder.

Reduced protein synthesis in schizophrenia patient-derived olfactory cells.

Human olfactory neurosphere-derived (ONS) cells have the potential to provide novel insights into the cellular pathology of schizophrenia. We used discovery-based proteomics and targeted functional analyses to reveal reductions in 17 ribosomal proteins, with an 18% decrease in the total ribosomal signal intensity in schizophrenia-patient-derived ONS cells. We quantified the rates of global protein synthesis in vitro and found a significant reduction in the rate of protein synthesis in schizophrenia patient-derived ONS cells compared with control-derived cells. Protein synthesis rates in fibroblast cell lines from the same patients did not differ, suggesting cell type-specific effects. Pathway analysis of dysregulated proteomic and transcriptomic data sets from these ONS cells converged to highlight perturbation of the eIF2α, eIF4 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) translational control pathways, and these pathways were also implicated in an independent induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem model, and cohort, of schizophrenia patients. Analysis in schizophrenia genome-wide association data from the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium specifically implicated eIF2α regulatory kinase EIF2AK2, and confirmed the importance of the eIF2α, eIF4 and mTOR translational control pathways at the level of the genome. Thus, we integrated data from proteomic, transcriptomic, and functional assays from schizophrenia patient-derived ONS cells with genomics data to implicate dysregulated protein synthesis for the first time in schizophrenia.

Increased abundance of translation machinery in stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells from four schizophrenia patients.

The genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to risk for schizophrenia (SZ) remain unresolved. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, perturbed global protein translation in human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived forebrain neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from four SZ patients relative to six unaffected controls. We report increased total protein levels and protein synthesis, together with two independent sets of quantitative mass spectrometry evidence indicating markedly increased levels of ribosomal and translation initiation and elongation factor proteins, in SZ hiPSC NPCs. We posit that perturbed levels of global protein synthesis in SZ hiPSC NPCs represent a novel post-transcriptional mechanism that might contribute to disease progression.

Proteomic and genomic evidence implicates the postsynaptic density in schizophrenia.

The postsynaptic density (PSD) contains a complex set of proteins of known relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders, and schizophrenia specifically. We enriched for this anatomical structure, in the anterior cingulate cortex, of 20 schizophrenia samples and 20 controls from the Stanley Medical Research Institute, and used unbiased shotgun proteomics incorporating label-free quantitation to identify differentially expressed proteins. Quantitative investigation of the PSD revealed more than 700 protein identifications and 143 differentially expressed proteins. Prominent among these were altered expression of proteins involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) (Dynamin-1, adaptor protein 2) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-interacting proteins such as CYFIP2, SYNPO, SHANK3, ESYT and MAPK3 (all P<0.0015). Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed proteins implicated the cellular processes of endocytosis, long-term potentiation and calcium signaling. Both single-gene and gene-set enrichment analyses in genome-wide association data from the largest schizophrenia sample to date of 13,689 cases and 18,226 controls show significant association of HIST1H1E and MAPK3, and enrichment of our PSD proteome. Taken together, our data provide robust evidence implicating PSD-associated proteins and genes in schizophrenia, and suggest that within the PSD, NMDA-interacting and endocytosis-related proteins contribute to disease pathophysiology.

Screening and Recording of Patients' Alcohol-use Habit by Clinicians in a Tertiary Accident and Emergency Unit in Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is widely consumed in Ireland; more so in major urban centers. Alcohol-related problems account for a significant number of Accident and Emergency (A and E) department presentations in Ireland. As a result, the national alcohol policy calls on doctors to be proactive in screening for and addressing alcohol misuse. AIM: The aim of the following study is to determine if patients presenting to a tertiary North Dublin A and E were asked about their alcohol use habit and if it was recorded. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive observational study involving the retrospective review of case-notes for all patients who were assessed at the A and E Department of a North Dublin general hospital over a 1 week period for screening about their alcohol use habit. Data was entered into and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: Only 17% (106/613) of the A and E attendees over the study period were asked about their alcohol use habit or had it recorded. No case-note examined documented use of alcohol screening instruments. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed an inadequacy of enquiry about alcohol use habit. In light of high rates of alcohol misuse in Ireland we suggest the need for improved enquiry/screening and recording of alcohol use among all patients attending A and E's.

Similar Outcomes for Two Anemia Treatment Strategies among Elderly Hemodialysis Patients with Diabetes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare mortality and cardiovascular risk in elderly dialysis patients with diabetes under two clinical strategies of anemia correction: maintaining hematocrit (Hct) between 34.5 and < 39.0% (high Hct strategy), and between 30.0 and <34.5% (low Hct strategy) using intravenous alpha epoetin. METHODS: Observational data were used to emulate a randomized trial in which diabetic patients who initiated hemodialysis in 2006-2008 were assigned to each anemia correction strategy. Inverse-probability weighting was used to adjust for measured time-dependent confounding. RESULTS: Comparing high with low hematocrit strategy, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.07 (0.83, 1.38) for all-cause mortality and 1.00 (0.81, 1.24) for a composite mortality and cardiovascular endpoint. CONCLUSIONS: Among a cohort of elderly hemodialysis patients with diabetes, no differences were found between the low and high hematocrit strategies. A lower target hematocrit - per current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines - appears to be as safe as higher targets among this population.

Compliance with the Data Protection Acts in a psychiatric department: a complete audit cycle.

Aim 1) to assess compliance with the Data Protection Acts (DPA) by a Department of Psychiatry in a general hospital, 2) to implement measures that are likely to maximize compliance with the hospital data protection policy, 3) to close the audit cycle by assessing the impact of such measures on departmental compliance with the DPA over five months period. METHOD: An individual, anonymised staff questionnaire on data collection practices, procedure of disclosure of data to third parties and previous training on DPA was used to collect information from the department staff. The premises were inspected at different times over a week period using structured checklist. Default points were recorded during each inspection. Post-audit interventions included a mixture of educational interventions and practical solutions. A re-audited took place five months later using the same method. RESULTS: The baseline audit demonstrated significant lack of compliance with the DPA among staff members and lack of staff training on the DPA. Following the interventions, staff awareness of the requirements of the act rose which in turn lead to better adherence to recommend practices in data handling and to mean default points dropped significantly. Management of manual files appears to constitute the biggest problem in this audit. Daytime breaks were found to pose higher risk to stored data compared with before and after working hours. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of educational and practical interventions including training of staff on the DPA results in overall improvement in compliance and reduction in default points. However, management of manual (physical) data proves to be more difficult and hence will need more input.

Impact of Lepeophtheirus salmonis infestations on migrating Atlantic salmon , Salmo salar L., smolts at eight locations in Ireland with an analysis of lice-induced marine mortality.

Sea lice infestation as a source of marine mortality of outwardly migrating Atlantic salmon smolts has been investigated by treating groups of ranched salmon, prior to release, with a prophylactic sea lice treatment conferring protection from sea lice infestation. A number of studies have been carried out in Ireland using both established ranched populations and groups of hatchery reared fish imprinted for 5-8 weeks in the sites of experimental releases. In this study, data on 352 142 migrating salmon from twenty-eight releases, at eight locations along Ireland's South and West coasts covering a 9-year period (2001 to 2009) are reviewed. Both published and new data are presented including a previously unpublished time series. The results of a meta-analysis of the combined data suggest that while sea lice-induced mortality on outwardly migrating smolts can be significant, it is a minor and irregular component of marine mortality in the stocks studied and is unlikely to be a significant factor influencing conservation status of salmon stocks.

Hypothesis review: are clathrin-mediated endocytosis and clathrin-dependent membrane and protein trafficking core pathophysiological processes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is the best-characterized mechanism governing cellular membrane and protein trafficking. In this hypothesis review, we integrate recent evidence implicating CME and related cellular trafficking mechanisms in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The evidence includes proteomic and genomic findings implicating proteins and genes of the clathrin interactome. Additionally, several important candidate genes for schizophrenia, such as dysbindin, are involved in processes closely linked to CME and membrane trafficking. We discuss that key aspects of psychosis neuropathology such as synaptic dysfunction, white matter changes and aberrant neurodevelopment are all influenced by clathrin-dependent processes, and that other cellular trafficking mechanisms previously linked to psychoses interact with the clathrin interactome in important ways. Furthermore, many antipsychotic drugs have been shown to affect clathrin-interacting proteins. We propose that the targeted pharmacological manipulation of the clathrin interactome may offer fruitful opportunities for novel treatments of schizophrenia.

Anisakid larvae in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) grilse and post-smolts: molecular identification and histopathology.

The molecular identification and histopathology are described for the parasitic larvae of a nematode species present in the abdominal cavity of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) grilse caught in fish traps on their natal river in the west of Ireland and post-smolts collected during experimental trawls on the continental shelf edge of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Larvae in the adult and juvenile salmon were identified as Anisakis simplex sensu stricto by PCR amplification and RFLP and sequencing of the ITS gene and PCR amplification and sequencing of the cox2 gene. Parasitic nematode larvae in the grilse were either encapsulated in the abdominal mesentery associated with the pyloric ceca or on the serosal surface of the liver and in the vent region. In some fish, larvae were found in the parenchyma of the liver and muscularis circularis of the intestine. In general, the larvae induced a limited cellular response apart from the occurrence of focal melanin macrophage aggregates and individual eosinophilic granular cells in the connective tissue capsule. Melanin macrophage aggregates were also present among the hepatocytes adjacent to encapsulated larvae in the liver. The reaction to the parasites was more severe in the wall of the intestine. Encapsulated nematode larvae caused displacement, vacuolation, and necrosis of the circular muscle fibers. The stratum compactum was also disrupted with focal areas of degeneration. Overall, the intestinal wall had a hypercellular appearance with extensive cellular infiltration comprising eosinophilic granular cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and fibrocytes. The post-smolts were caught in May during the early oceanic phase of their life cycle. In these fish, A. simplex sensu stricto larvae were found lying free on the serosal surface of the intestine and liver without any apparent histologic changes. This is the earliest in the marine migration of Atlantic salmon that A. simplex sensu stricto infection has been recorded.