A giant hydronephrotic pelvic kidney mimicking an ovarian cyst in a 34-week pregnancy

Background: A giant hydronephrosis is defined as a dilated pelvi-calyceal system with an amount of urine exceeding one Litre in the urinary tract of an adult. It can mimic several other clinical conditions including a huge ovarian cyst. An ectopic pelvic kidney with hydronephrosis in pregnancy is a rare occurrence.Aim: This study documents a case of giant hydronephrosis that was wrongly diagnosed as an ovarian cyst. Findings: A 36-year old primiparous with a giant hydronephrosis which was initially diagnosed as an ovarian cyst. She was planned for a laparotomy with caesarean section and ovarian cystectomy at 34 weeks gestation. She was delivered of a live female neonate. Further exploration was done which revealed a left ectopic kidney. She had a left simple nephrectomy because the kidney appeared totally unhealthy.Conclusion: There is a need to be careful when dealing with cystic lesions of the abdomen. A high index of suspicion is required and further imaging other than ultrasound scan such as computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary to make accurate diagnosis.Keywords: Caesarean section, ectopic gestation, hydronephrosis, urinary tract, cystectomy, ovarian cyst

Iron toxicity tolerance in rice: Roles of Auxins and Gibberellins

Rice is subjected to high iron (Fe) levels in acidic lowland soils which results in disturbance of basic metabolism, several changes in physiological processes and as a consequence reduction in productivity. In response to Fe toxicity in soils, rice like other plants produce a number of hormones (also known as phytohormones), including auxins, gibberellic acids and cytokinins. These hormones are organic substances that regulates plant growth and development, and play important role in rice defence against Fe toxicity. These hormones are part of signal-transduction pathway that stimulates reactions for Fe toxicity responses. The biosynthesis, transport, redistribution and conjugation of these plant hormones in rice has been shown not only to reduce high Fe inside rice plant tissue, but also to alleviate the adverse effect of Fe toxicity. In the present review, we discuss the conditions that enhances Fe toxicity in rice, effects of Fe toxicity in rice and tolerance strategies to Fe toxicity in rice. A special attention has been paid on the role and mechanism of phytohormones in enhancing tolerance and overcoming Fe toxicity-induced adverse effect

Cryosurvival of goat spermatozoa in tris-egg yolk extender supplemented with vitamin E

The effect of vitamin E supplementation in tris-egg yolk extender on sperm parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks was determined. Tris-egg yolk extenders supplemented with different levels of vitamin E (2, 4, 6 and 8 mM) were diluted with semen samples. The diluted semen samples were cryopreserved for 30 days and thereafter evaluated for sperm quality parameters. The results showed higher (P<0.05) sperm motility, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, live sperm, acrosome reaction and capacitation, and reduced sperm abnormality in extenders supplemented with vitamin E compared to the control. These parameters were better sustained in extenders supplemented with 6 mM and 8 mM (P<0.05). Lower concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed at 6 mM and 8 mM compared to the control (P<0.05). Higher percentages of acrosome reaction and capacitation were observed in extenders supplemented with vitamin E compared to the control (P<0.05). Optimal percent (P<0.05) of acrosome reaction and capacitation were observed in extenders supplemented with 6 mM and 8 mM of vitamin. The findings revealed that supplementation of vitamin E at 6 mM and 8 mM in tris-egg yolk extenders were effective for improving sperm parameters of WAD goat bucks during cryopreservation.Keywords: Antioxidants, bucks, freezing, oxidative stress, sper

Suckling behaviour of West African dwarf goat kids

During suckling, goat kids exhibit different kinds of behavior which could be germane to their general performance. The objective of this study was to determine suckling behaviour of West African dwarf (WAD) goat kids with respect to some behavioural  measurements. A total number of 21 WAD does comprising of 1st and 2nd parity with live weight range of 9.5kg-16.5kg with a total of 26 kids (12males and 14females) in a small holder dairy goat were used. Data on suckling behaviour (suckling bout, duration of suckling and number of butts during suckling) was monitored to investigate the effect of birth type (singleton and twin) and kid sex (male and female). Behaviours were observed twice/day i.e. in the morning (7:00-8.30 am) and evening (4:30-6:00pm), 2 days/week starting from the 2nd week after kidding for 7 weeks. Suckling  bout, duration of suckling and number of butts during suckling was greater in twin than in singleton. Kid sex had no significant effect on all behavioural parameters  monitored. However,  significant positive correlations were observed between suckling bout and number of butts during suckling, between suckling bouts and duration of suckling and between duration of suckling and number of butts during suckling. In conclusion, suckling   behaviours in WAD kids were dependent on the birth type and not sex of the kids. Keywords: parity, sex, suckling behavior, West African dwarf goat

Effects of pyridoxine in combination with different antioxidants on viability and oxidative stress parameters of cryopreserved goat buck semen

The effects of pyridoxine alone or combined with different antioxidants on viability and oxidative stress parameters of cryopreserved sperm of goat bucks were studied. Pooled semen samples diluted with tris-egg yolk extenders were supplemented in the Study I: with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mM of pyridoxine; in the study II with 2 mM of pyridoxine (P) each combined with different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mM) of vitamin E (PE), vitamin C (PC) and melatonin (PM); and in study III: with 2 mM of pyridoxine each supplemented with different combinations of vitamin C, vitamin E and melatonin (PCEM) each at different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mM). The results showed higher (pSe estudiaron los efectos de la piridoxina sola, o en combinación con diferentes antioxidantes, sobre los parámetros de viabilidad y estrés oxidativo de los espermatozoides caprinos criopreservados. Muestras combinadas de semen, diluidas con diluyente yema de huevo-tris se complementaron, en el estudio I con 0, 2, 4, 6 y 8 mM de piridoxina; en el estudio II con 2 mM de piridoxina (P), en combinación con diferentes concentraciones (0, 2, 4, 6 y 8 mM) de vitamina E (PE), vitamina C (PC) o melatonina (PM); y en el estudio III con 2 mM de piridoxina suplementada con combinaciones de vitamina C, vitamina E y melatonina (PCEM) a diferentes concentraciones (0, 2, 4, 6 y 8 mM). Los resultados mostraron mayor (