Live Weight Changes and Their Relationship with the Ovarian Status of Maiden Fat-Tailed Barbarine Ewes

The current study assessed the effect of the pattern of live weight change on the ovarian function of maiden Barbarine ewes at approximately 1 year of age. For this purpose, a total of 171 weaned ewe lambs (mean live weight  ± s.d. 34.7±3.07 kg and mean age ± SD 196±10 days at weaning) were selected for the experiment. Adjustment of live weight variation  was used. Based on the slope of the curve, animals were grouped into three classes LWCI (n=46),  LWCII (n=91) and LWCIII (n=34) with live weight loss being highest in LWCI and lowest in LWCIII.  Following laparoscopy at 13 months of age, the proportion of ewe lambs found cycling in LWCIII  (85.3%) was higher in comparison to animals in LWCI (43.4%; P<0.001) and tended to be superior to those in LWCII (61.5%; P<0.05). Following synchronisation with progestagen of the females found cycling, levels of plasma IGF-I concentrations between 6 and 42 hrs after removal of sponges were not significantly different between the three classes of live weight, and respectively averaged 94.2, 90.8 and 89.8 µg/l for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII females. Levels of estradiol were also not significantly different between the three groups (0.73, 0.70 and 0.67 pg/ml for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII ewe lambs, respectively). It was concluded that, in low input systems of semi-arid and arid Tunisia, mating ewe lambs at the approximate age of 1 year is likely to lead to depressed reproductive performance particularly when the summer live weight-loss is elevated

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Live Weight Changes and Their Relationship with the Ovarian Status of Maiden Fat-Tailed Barbarine Ewes

The current study assessed the effect of the pattern of live weight change on the ovarian function of maiden Barbarine ewes at approximately 1 year of age. For this purpose, a total of 171 weaned ewe lambs (mean live weight  ± s.d. 34.7±3.07 kg and mean age ± SD 196±10 days at weaning) were selected for the experiment. Adjustment of live weight variation  was used. Based on the slope of the curve, animals were grouped into three classes LWCI (n=46),  LWCII (n=91) and LWCIII (n=34) with live weight loss being highest in LWCI and lowest in LWCIII.  Following laparoscopy at 13 months of age, the proportion of ewe lambs found cycling in LWCIII  (85.3%) was higher in comparison to animals in LWCI (43.4%; P&lt;0.001) and tended to be superior to those in LWCII (61.5%; P&lt;0.05). Following synchronisation with progestagen of the females found cycling, levels of plasma IGF-I concentrations between 6 and 42 hrs after removal of sponges were not significantly different between the three classes of live weight, and respectively averaged 94.2, 90.8 and 89.8 µg/l for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII females. Levels of estradiol were also not significantly different between the three groups (0.73, 0.70 and 0.67 pg/ml for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII ewe lambs, respectively). It was concluded that, in low input systems of semi-arid and arid Tunisia, mating ewe lambs at the approximate age of 1 year is likely to lead to depressed reproductive performance particularly when the summer live weight-loss is elevated.

Live Weight Changes and Their Relationship with the Ovarian Status of Maiden Fat-Tailed Barbarine Ewes

The current study assessed the effect of the pattern of live weight change on the ovarian function of maiden Barbarine ewes at approximately 1 year of age. For this purpose, a total of 171 weaned ewe lambs (mean live weight  ± s.d. 34.7±3.07 kg and mean age ± SD 196±10 days at weaning) were selected for the experiment. Adjustment of live weight variation  was used. Based on the slope of the curve, animals were grouped into three classes LWCI (n=46),  LWCII (n=91) and LWCIII (n=34) with live weight loss being highest in LWCI and lowest in LWCIII.  Following laparoscopy at 13 months of age, the proportion of ewe lambs found cycling in LWCIII  (85.3%) was higher in comparison to animals in LWCI (43.4%; P<0.001) and tended to be superior to those in LWCII (61.5%; P<0.05). Following synchronisation with progestagen of the females found cycling, levels of plasma IGF-I concentrations between 6 and 42 hrs after removal of sponges were not significantly different between the three classes of live weight, and respectively averaged 94.2, 90.8 and 89.8 µg/l for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII females. Levels of estradiol were also not significantly different between the three groups (0.73, 0.70 and 0.67 pg/ml for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII ewe lambs, respectively). It was concluded that, in low input systems of semi-arid and arid Tunisia, mating ewe lambs at the approximate age of 1 year is likely to lead to depressed reproductive performance particularly when the summer live weight-loss is elevated

Evaluation of working memory in relation to cochlear implant consonant speech discrimination

Abstract Background Speech perception in cochlear implants (CI) is affected by frequency resolution, exposure time, and working memory. Frequency discrimination is especially difficult in CI. Working memory is important for speech and language development and is expected to contribute to the vast variability in CI speech reception and expression outcome. The aim of this study is to evaluate CI patients’ consonants discrimination that varies in voicing, manner, and place of articulation imparting differences in pitch, time, and intensity, and also to evaluate working memory status and its possible effect on consonant discrimination. Results Fifty-five CI patients were included in this study. Their aided thresholds were less than 40 dBHL. Consonant speech discrimination was assessed using Arabic consonant discrimination words. Working memory was assessed using Test of Memory and Learning-2 (TOMAL-2). Subjects were divided according to the onset of hearing loss into prelingual children and postlingual adults and teenagers. Consonant classes studied were fricatives, stops, nasals, and laterals. Performance on the high frequency CVC words was 64.23% ± 17.41 for prelinguals and 61.70% ± 14.47 for postlinguals. These scores were significantly lower than scores on phonetically balanced word list (PBWL) of 79.94% ± 12.69 for prelinguals and 80.80% ± 11.36 for postlinguals. The lowest scores were for the fricatives. Working memory scores were strongly and positively correlated with speech discrimination scores. Conclusions Consonant discrimination using high frequency weighted words can provide a realistic tool for assessment of CI speech perception. Working memory skills showed a strong positive relationship with speech discrimination abilities in CI

Non-genetic factors of variation of the productivity of the Noire de Thibar ewe

An initial database containing growth records of 101,000 lambs obtained within the context of the national meat sheep improvement program was used to quantify reproductive and productivity (total litter weight) traits of ewes of the Noire de Thibar breed, and to determine the influence of non-genetic factors on these traits. A database was then generated: it comprised 64,137 lambings over a 12-year period (1991-2002), and 25 farms and 48 flocks. The mean fertility rate in the flocks was 80.1±12.9% with highly significant effects (p<0.001) of the farm and lambing year. At birth, the average litter size per lambing ewe was 1.32±0.47. It dropped to 1.23±0.55 at 70 days after lambing. All main sources of variation (farm, lambing year, lambing month, and dam age) retained in the model as well as their interactions significantly affected the litter size at different stages after lambing. Survival of all the lambs in the litters between birth and 70 days post-lambing was observed in 89.9% of the ewes. Entire loss of the litter was observed in only 5.8% of the ewes. An analysis of variance revealed that factors such as the lambing year, lambing month, dam age, sex of the litter, and litter size at birth had a highly significant effect on the proportions of ewes with different levels of lambs' survival within litters. On average, the productivity of the Noire de Thibar was 6.6±2.2, 10.3±3.5 and 18.6±6.6 kg at 10, 30 and 70 days after lambing, respectively. The main factors of variation (farm, lambing year, lambing month, dam age, litter size), and some second-level interactions had highly significant effects (p<0.001) on the studied productivity traits. Ewes aged four years and which had male triplets yielded the highest productivities at 70 days after lambing. This preliminary work on the reproductive and productivity traits of Noire de Thibar ewes is essential to develop a ewe selection index as part of a genetic improvement scheme for this breed.Afin de mesurer les performances reproductives et de productivité (poids total de la portée) de la brebis Noire de Thibar, et de déterminer l’influence de facteurs non génétiques sur ces paramètres, une base de données initiale, constituée par 101 000 agneaux contrôlés pour leur croissance dans le cadre du programme national d’amélioration des ovins à viande, a été utilisée. Une base de données indexée par brebis a ensuite été générée avec un total de 64 137 agnelages représentant 12 années (1991-2002), 25 fermes et 48 troupeaux. Le taux de mise bas moyen dans les troupeaux de la race Noire de Thibar a été de 80,1 ± 12,9 p. 100 avec des effets importants (p < 0,001) de la ferme et de l’année de mise bas. A la naissance, la taille de portée moyenne par brebis mettant bas a atteint 1,32 ± 0,47 ; elle a baissé à 1,23 ± 0,55 à 70 jours après l’agnelage. Toutes les principales sources de variation retenues dans le modèle (ferme, année de mise bas, mois de mise bas et âge de la brebis), ainsi que leurs interactions ont significativement affecté la taille de la portée aux différents stades après la mise bas. La survie des agneaux par portée entre la naissance et 70 jours a été observée pour 89,9 p. 100 des brebis ; seulement 5,8 p. 100 des brebis ont perdu la totalité des agneaux de leur portée. Une analyse de la variance a révélé que les facteurs année de mise bas, mois de mise bas, âge de la brebis, sexe de la portée et taille de la portée ont eu un effet très significatif sur les proportions de brebis présentant des niveaux différents de survie des agneaux au sein de la portée. En moyenne, la productivité des brebis Noires de Thibar à 10, 30 et 70 jours après l’agnelage a été respectivement de 6,6 ± 2,2, 10,3 ± 3,5 et 18,6 ± 6,6 kg. Les principales sources de variations (ferme, année de mise bas, mois de mise bas, âge de la brebis et taille de la portée), ainsi que certaines interactions de deuxième niveau ont eu des effets significatifs (p < 0,001) sur les caractères de productivité étudiés. La catégorie des brebis âgées de quatre ans ayant eu des portées de triplets tous mâles a été associée aux niveaux de productivité les plus élevés à 70 jours. Ce travail préliminaire sur les caractères reproductifs et de productivité des brebis Noires de Thibar est essentiel à l’élaboration d’un index de sélection femelle qui pourra être incorporé dans un éventuel schéma d’amélioration génétique de cette race

Assessment of the physiological markers, oxidative stress and neurotoxic effects of nematode Anisakis sp. on the Luciobarbus callensis (Teleosts, Cyprinids) in northeast of Algeria

Our study focused on the effect of parasites on the antioxidant system and their neurotoxic effect in Luciobarbus callensis (Teleosts, Cyprinids). In this context, cellular biomarkers, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase (CAT), molecules H2O2 as well as morphophysiological markers (condition factor (FC), hepatosomatic index (HSI), splenosomatic index (SSI), viscerosomatic index (VSI) were analyzed in fish infested with L3 larvae of Anisakis sp., nematodes of marine organisms, captured in Lake Oubéira (Algeria). The results showed a significant decrease in AChE activities in the heart (68 % p < 0.05) and muscles (81.55 % p < 0.05) in infested fish compared to those recorded in reference fish. In contrast, splenic AChE levels were significantly induced. CAT levels were significantly decreased in the spleen (73 % p < 0.05) and intestine (56 % p < 0.05) of fish parasitized by Anisakis sp. compared to healthy fish. HSI and SSI were significantly higher in healthy fish. On the other hand, Anisakis sp. had no significant effect on FC and VSI at the time of sampling. This study suggests that antioxidant defense disorders (CAT), due to a direct inhibitory action of nematode toxic products on this molecule and an increase in ROS production in these animals, leading to a high pro-oxidant state (H2O2), causing neurological effects (AChE) with enlargement of the spleen and liver of infested barb. In this regard, monitoring the effect of parasitic infections on physiological and biochemical marker profiles can be a crucial means of assessing fish health under natural conditions; to ensure the conservation and sustainability of aquatic biodiversity, including fish farming and artificial production

Coexistence of mal de Meleda and congenital cataract in a consanguineous Tunisian family: two case reports

Abstract Introduction Mal de Meleda is a rare form of palmoplantar keratoderma, with autosomal recessive transmission. It is characterized by diffuse erythema and hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles. Recently, mutations in the ARS (component B) gene (ARS, MIM: 606119) on chromosome 8q24.3 have been identified in families with this disorder. Congenital cataract is a visual disease that may interfere with sharp imaging of the retina. Mutations in the heat-shock transcription factor 4 gene (HSF4; MIM: 602438) may result in both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive congenital cataracts. Case presentation A Tunisian family with two female siblings aged 45 and 30 years, presented with a clinical association of mal de Meleda and congenital cataract. The two patients exhibited diffuse palmoplantar keratodermas. One of them presented with a total posterior subcapsular cataract and had a best corrected visual acuity at 1/20 in the left eye and with the right eye was only able to count fingers at a distance of one foot. The other woman had a slight posterior subcapsular lenticular opacity and her best corrected visual acuity was 8/10 in the right eye and with her left eye she was only able to count fingers at a distance of one foot. A mutational analysis of their ARS gene revealed the presence of the homozygous missense mutation C99Y and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (-55G>C and -60G>C). The splice mutation (c.1327+4A-G) within intron 12 of the HSF4 gene, which has been previously described in Tunisian families with congenital cataract, was not found in the two probands within this family. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, such original clinical association has not been reported previously. The association of these two autosomal recessive diseases might have occurred in this family due to a high degree of inbreeding. The C99Y mutation may be specific to the Tunisian population as it has been exclusively reported so far in only three Tunisian families with mal de Meleda.</p