Population dynamics and secondary production of Donax trunculus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in the Gulf of Annaba (Northeast Algeria)

The population dynamics and secondary production of the wedge clam Donax trunculus were studied in the Gulf of Annaba (Northeast Algeria) monthly for one year at a site close to the Annaba port and the Seybouse river, affected by industrial and agricultural pollution (Sidi Salem), and at a site more distant from major pollution sources, but exploited by fishery (Echatt). The number of individuals (N) was lower at Sidi Salem (36–148 ind m-2) than at Echatt (63–272 ind m-2) in most sampling dates, while the biomass was more variable from one date to another, with no consistent pattern of differences between sites. The condition index (CI), although slightly higher at Sidi Salem than at Echatt, showed at both sites a major increase in March/April, June/July and October, reflecting two main periods of gonads development and increase in the level of stored reserves at the end of the reproductive period. Consistently, the recruitment of D. trunculus ran from April to October with a major peak of abundance in spring and a minor one in early fall. The maximum age of D. trunculus was 3 years and the growth rate was highest in the first year. Annual somatic production (P) was lower at Sidi Salem (0.773 g AFDM m-2 yr-1) than at Echatt (1.262 g AFDM m-2 yr-1), possibly reflecting a lower mean annual biomass at Sidi Salem (1.642 AFDM m-2) than at Echatt (3.046 AFDM m-2), while the annual P/B ratio was similar between the two sites (i.e. 0.471 and 0.414 yr-1, respectively). Lower N and P at Sidi Salem compared to Echatt are consistent with the proximity of Sidi Salem to the industrial port of Annaba and low hydrodynamic conditions which may favor the accumulation of pollutants, such as hydrocarbons. On the other hand, moderate secondary production of D. trunculus at Echatt compared to other Mediterranean sites may be due to excessive harvesting. We suggest that the low secondary production described in this study should be taken into account for the development of sustainable strategies of clam exploitation in the Gulf of Annaba. In particular, effort should be made to reduce land-based pollution and to regulate the collection of D. trunculus according to the life cycle and production potential of this species

Lung transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis in dyskeratosis congenita: Case Report and systematic literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a progressive, multi-system, inherited disorder of telomere biology with high risks of morbidity and mortality from bone marrow failure, hematologic malignancy, solid tumors and pulmonary fibrosis. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cure the bone marrow failure, but it does not eliminate the risks of other complications, for which life-long surveillance is required. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and lethal complication of DC.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this report, we describe a patient with DC who developed pulmonary fibrosis seven years after HSCT for severe aplastic anemia, and was successfully treated with bilateral lung transplantation. We also performed a systematic literature review to understand the burden of pulmonary disease in patients with DC who did or did not receive an HSCT. Including our patient, we identified 49 DC patients with pulmonary disease (12 after HSCT and 37 without HSCT), and 509 with no reported pulmonary complications.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our current case and literature review indicate that pulmonary morbidity is one of the major contributors to poor quality of life and reduced long-term survival in DC. We suggest that lung transplantation be considered for patients with DC who develop pulmonary fibrosis with no concurrent evidence of multi-organ failure.</p