Highlights This survey collected information about depression, anxiety, and physical activity levels of 1,046 older adults living in North America under current social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary question addressed by the study was whether total physical activity levels and physical activity intensities performed by older adults during COVID-19-related SDG was related to mental health symptoms. The results of this study showed that greater total physical activity levels were associated with lower scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale. Additionally, a hierarchical regression analysis suggests that light and vigorous-intensity physical activity were significant, independent contributors towards depression symptoms in this population. These findings suggest that higher levels of physical activity levels may help alleviate some of the negative mental health symptoms experienced by older adults, while social distancing guidelines are followed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maintenance immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) following renal transplantation is associated with nephrotoxicity and accelerated graft loss. We aimed to assess whether conversion to sirolimusbased immunosuppression would affect the progression of renal impairment.In this single center, randomized controlled trial, 40 renal transplant recipients between 6 months and 8 years post-transplant were randomly assigned to remain on their CNI (cyclosporin or tacrolimus) or to switch to sirolimus. The primary outcome measure was change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement at 12 months. Analysis was by intention-totreat.Of the 40 patients randomized, 2 patients never took the study drugs and were excluded, leaving 19 patients per group. There was a significant change in GFR at 12 months following conversion to sirolimus (12.9 mL/min, 95% CI 6.1-19.7; p < 0.001). Following conversion, the principal adverse events were the development of rashes (68%), particularly acne, and mouth ulcers (32%). No patient in either group experienced an acute rejection episode.In renal transplant recipients, a change in maintenance therapy from CNIs to sirolimus is associated with significant improvement in GFR at 12 months.

Renal impairment is common in patients after liver transplantation and is attributable in large part to the use of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression. We sought to determine whether conversion to sirolimus-based immunosuppression was associated with improved renal function. In a single-center, randomized, controlled trial, 30 patients at least 6 months post liver transplantation were randomized to remain on CNI-based immunosuppression or to switch to sirolimus-based immunosuppression. The primary outcome measure was change in measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between baseline and 12 months. Of 30 patients randomized, 3 were withdrawn at randomization, leaving 14 patients on CNI and 13 on sirolimus. There was a significant improvement in delta GFR following conversion to sirolimus at 3 months (7.7 mL/minute/1.73 m 2 ; 95% confidence interval, 3.5-11.9) and 1 yr (6.1 mL/minute/1.73 m 2 ; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-11.4). The difference in absolute GFR between the 2 study groups was significant at 3 months (P ϭ 0.02), but not at 12 months (P ϭ 0.07). The principal adverse events following conversion were the development of skin rash (9 of 13 patients, 69%) and mouth ulcers (5 of 13 patients, 38%). Two patients developed acute rejection at 2 and 3 months following conversion, 1 in association with low sirolimus levels and 1 having stopped the drug inadvertently. In conclusion, overall, this study suggests that conversion to sirolimus immunosuppression is associated with a modest improvement in renal function. Side effects were common, but tolerable in most patients and controlled with dose reduction.

Caregiver burden has been associated with patient dementia. In this study we tested the hypothesis that caregiver burden and depression are related to patient cognitive impairment. We analyzed records of 127 elderly male patients from a Veterans hospital geriatrics referral clinic. The patients and their informal caregivers had been referred to the clinic because the complexity and multiplicity of their problems were beyond the treatment capability of other clinics. There was a high prevalence of dementia (73%) and depression (69%) in these patients according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III) criteria. Quantitative measures of patient dementia and dependency in activities of daily living were not statistically associated with measures of caregiver depression or burden. In contrast, measures of patient depression were significantly correlated with measures of caregiver depression and burden. We hypothesize that caregivers of chronically ill, elderly men cope better with physical and cognitive incapacity than with affective symptoms. Because caregiver support is the most important factor in maintaining a disabled elder in the community, we suggest evaluating patients and caregivers for depression as part of standard practice in geriatric clinical settings.

Lactating female, primed female, naive female, primed male, and naive male T.O. Swiss mice were tested individually for approach responses to an electronically generated model of a newborn mouse pulse in a small choice chamber. Lactating females and primed females made more responses than did other mice, and priming increased the responsiveness of both males and females. Primed females were then tested with five different electronically generated ultrasonic signals. More approaches were shown to a 65-45 kHz signal than to one of higher or lower frequency but of the same bandwidth. An 80-msec pulse elicited more approach responses than a 15-msec one. In a third experiment the responses of primed female house mice were tested as a comparison with T.O. Swiss mice. They showed a slightly lower response level but, like T.O. Swiss mice, made more approaches to a pulse of 65-45 kHz than to one of 75-55 kHz. It is suggested that the use of electronically generated signals may help to reveal the important features of infant rodent calls that elicit adult approach behavior. The method allows greater flexibility than does the use of replayed tape recordings.

The ultrasonic calls of 10 species of murid rodents including 3 strains of house mice are described and the significance of interspecific similarities and differences is discussed. The calls of newborn murid rodents may be characterized by their gradual onset and cessation, their comparative lack of amplitude and frequency modulation, and, often, by the presence of only 1 frequency component. These common acoustic characteristics may be important in eliciting and/or maintaining various aspects of maternal behavior, both in and out of the nest.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the UK government introduced social distancing measures and identified specific populations at high risk from the virus. People ≥70 were deemed “Clinically Vulnerable.” Distancing measures were introduced to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, these may have a negative impact on older people who are vulnerable to social isolation and may have challenges accessing services and provisions. Objectives: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the lives of older people. Study design and setting: Cross-sectional telephone survey. Participants: Community-dwelling older people, 76–97 years. Outcomes: Health anxiety; General health (RAND Short-form 36 Survey); Physical activity; Depression (PHQ-8); Anxiety (GAD-2); Loneliness; Access to services; Challenges, concerns and positive experiences. Data analysis: Counts (%), means (SDs). Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from open questions. Results: n = 142. 52% did not worry about their health; 76% rated their health as “good”, “very good” or “excellent”. &lt; 10% met the criteria indicative of depression (PHQ-8), or anxiety (GAD-2). 42% were less active than before lockdown. 27% were lonely at least some of the time. Over half of participants identified positive aspects. Conclusions: Most participants reported good health with low levels of health anxiety, anxiety and depression. Many were able to identify positive aspects to lockdown and may be better equipped to deal with lockdown than anticipated. Strategies may be required to ameliorate the negative impact of loneliness for a minority of older people, and help some resume previous activity levels and pursuits.

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