Heritability estimation for growth-related traits in juvenile wild common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in the south of Caspian Sea

Wild common carp of the Caspian Sea is one of the important fish in the north of Iran, which has been introduced to inland aquaculture. Its genetic characteristics are investigated to set up for breeding programs that are still unknown. Using wild common carp in aquaculture is limited for uncontrolled variation in performance of fish derived from undomesticated breeders. A 7×7 factorial mating design was employed to examine genetic effects of dam and sire on growth and heritability of growth-related traits based on dam half-sib and sire half-sib families. Breeders were obtained originally from the Caspian Sea. A total of 1470 offspring were raised in 49 separate fiberglass tanks with common conditions. Body weight and length were recorded at three different ages of rearing. Estimation of heritability of weights ranged from 0.23±0.05 to 0.30±0.07 for dams and ranged from 0.15±0.03 to 0.26±0.04 for sire. Similar results were obtained with length but with less variation (0.24±0.02 to 0.26±0.01 for dams and 0.20±0.02 to 0.22±0.03 for sire). The broad-sense of weight and length are 0.23±0.04 and 0.23±0.01 respectively. The dam and sire effect on growth were significant, indicating the presence of variations among the native fish of the Caspian Sea. Therefore, it is suggested to use a length for selection that is more reliable and less affected by environment than weight at any time of growth and in respect of high phenotypic correlation (0.87-0.95) observed between weight and length. In the present study we even used wild common carp and the heritability was not higher than the domesticated common carp. It means the genetic variation for quantitative traits, for common carp of the Caspian Sea are low or it may be under pressure of inbreeding which should be studied further

Testosterone enables growth and hypertrophy in fusion impaired myoblasts that display myotube atrophy: deciphering the role of androgen and IGF-I receptors

We have previously highlighted the ability of testosterone to improve differentiation and myotube hypertrophy in fusion impaired myoblasts that display reduced myotube hypertrophy at 72hrs (after transfer to low serum media) via multiple population doublings (PD) vs. their parental controls (CON); an observation which is abrogated via PI3K/Akt inhibition (Deane et al. 2013). However, whether the most predominant molecular mechanism responsible for T induced hypertrophy occurs directly via androgen receptor or indirectly via IGF-IR/PI3K/Akt pathway is currently debated. PD and CON C2C12 muscle cells were exposed to low serum conditions in the presence or absence of T (100 nM) ± inhibitors of AR (flutamide/F, 40 μm) and IGF-IR (Picropodophyllin/PPP, 150 nM) for 72 hrs and 7 days (early/late muscle differentiation respectively). T increased AR and Akt abundance, myogenin expression, and myotube hypertrophy, but not ERK1/2 activity in both CON and PD cell types. Akt activity was not increased significantly in either cell type with T. Testosterone was unable to promote early differentiation in the presence of IGF-IR inhibitor (PPP) yet still able to promote appropriate later increases in myotube hypertrophy and AR abundance despite IGF-IR inhibition. The addition of the AR inhibitor powerfully attenuated all T induced increases in differentiation and myotube hypertrophy with corresponding reductions in AR abundance, phosphorylated Akt, ERK1/2 and gene expression of IGF-I, myoD and myogenin with increases in myostatin mRNA both cell types. Interestingly, despite basally reduced differentiation and myotube hypertrophy, PD cells showed larger increased in AR abundance vs. CON cells, a response abrogated in the presence of AR but not IGF-IR inhibitors. Furthermore, T induced increases in Akt abundance were sustained despite the presence of IGF-IR inhibition in PD cells only. However, flutamide alone reduced IGF-IR mRNA in both cell types across time points, with an observed reduction in activity of ERK and Akt, perhaps suggesting that IGF-IR was transcriptionally regulated by AR. However, where testosterone increased AR protein content there was no increases observed in IGF-IR gene expression. Overall, this suggested that sufficient AR was important to enable normal gene expression of IGF-IR and downstream signalling, yet elevated levels of AR due to testosterone had no further effect on IGF-IR, despite testosterone increasing Akt abundance in the presence of IGF-IR inhibitor. In conclusion, testosterones ability to improve differentiation and myotube hypertrophy occurred predominately via increases in AR and Akt abundance in both CON and PD cells, with fusion impaired cells (PD) showing an increased responsiveness to T induced AR levels. Finally, T induced increases in myotube hypertrophy (but not early differentiation) occurred independently of upstream IGF-IR input, however it appears that normal AR function in basal conditions is required for adequate IGF-IR gene expression and downstream Akt abundance

Genetic parameters estimation of growth in Salmo trutta caspius as a function of body weight and length

There is no available adequate information on the biology and genetics of the Caspian salmon (salmo truta Caspiu) living in the Caspian Sea with other species such as common carp families, sturgeons and etc., therefore we are interested in knowing whether selection for rapid growth rate in salmo trutta Caspius will potentially lead to correlated genetic response in body weight and length. The potential for correlated responses was evaluated by the heritability estimation, estimating heritabilities of body weight and length. The genetic parameter estimations were obtained for different stages of growth from 5400 fish consisting 27 unrelated families that reached maturity at 36 months of age. The parent which used to produce separate family groups had been caught from the Caspian Sea and spawned during the autumn season. The estimated heritability of body weight and length was 0.42±0.13 and 0.49±0.01, respectively based on differential and selection response between parent pairs and their offsprings. Several factors may have affected the creation of this high level of estimation, dominant effect, inherited from different breeders to offspring

The Role of State Flex Programs in Supporting Quality Improvement in CAHs (Policy Brief #16)

This study examined QI activities supported by the Flex Program in nine states, assessed the role of the State Flex Programs in developing and supporting QI activities, and explored the effect of these initiatives on CAH QI efforts. Key Findings: The Flex Program has been instrumental in funding and providing leadership for the development of CAH quality improvement initiatives. Collaborative shared learning strategies have been central to the success of Flex Program QI programs. Scaling QI program activities to the capacity and resources of CAHs is critical to success. Administrative, clinical, and board leadership and buy-in are also critical to the success of CAH QI initiatives. Despite widespread support for these QI initiatives, there is limited hard evidence on their impact. Overlap between the quality measures in Hospital Compare and those used by state and multi-state QI reporting and benchmarking programs offers the opportunity for developing a common set of “rural relevant” hospital quality measures

Pilot testing a Rural Health Clinic quality measurement reporting system

More than 4,000 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) serve the primary care needs of rural communities, and are therefore an important source of primary care and other essential health services for rural residents. Unfortunately, the Rural Health Clinic Program is plagued by a lack of data on the financial, operational, and quality performance of participating clinics. In light of the significant expansion of quality performance reporting and growing use of performance-based payment approaches, it is critically important that RHCs be able to compete in this changing healthcare market. To this end, we piloted the reporting and use of a small set of primary care-relevant quality measures by a geographically diverse sample of RHCs. This policy brief reports on the results of this pilot with a focus on assessing the feasibility and utility of the reporting system and quality measures for the participating RHCs

A study on oogenesis of Liza saliens

In this study, gametogenesis of sharp-nose mullet (Liza saliens) was investigated bassed on morphological and histological characteristics. For this purpose, about 150 specimen of this species were collected from beach-seine nets in the southern Caspian Sea and were transferred to the laboratory for futher examinations on gonads. The gonad development was classified to 6 different stages consist of: stage I: The oocytes small, colourless with a big nucleus. stage II: The low increase in size of oocytes; globular yolk of nucleus appearing. stage III: Blood vessels are appearing on the ovary; the oocytes are in the primary vitellogenesis stages; vacules and zona radiata are seen around them. stage IV: The ovules can be easily observed with naked-eyes, vitellogenesis are complete and oocytes are mature. stage V: Oocytes are in maximum growth, nucleus migrating towards animal pole; spawning occures in this stage. stage VI: This stage is after spawning, ovary contains empty follicles. Based on this study, the stage of I to III were observed in August to April; stage of IV in May and June; stage of V in June and July and stage VI in August

Models for Quality Improvement in CAHs: The Role of State Flex Programs (Briefing Paper #25)

A central goal of the Flex Program, as defined in the original and reauthorizing legislation, is to help Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) develop and sustain effective quality improvement (QI) programs. This study examined the range of multi-CAH QI and performance measurement reporting initiatives supported by the Flex Program in nine states, assessed the role of State Flex Programs in developing and supporting these initiatives, and explored their impact on the QI programs of CAHs. Key Findings: State Flex Program funding was frequently the primary, if not sole, source of funding to support these efforts. Collaboration and shared learning are common Flex Program strategies underlying state QI initiatives. Quality measurement and reporting is a challenge due to a lack of agreement on common measures across state QI and benchmarking systems and a common belief that Hospital Compare measures are not “rurally relevant” (i.e., specific to the needs of CAHs). Administrative, clinical, and board leadership and buy-in were consistently identified as crucial to the success and sustainability of CAH-level QI initiatives. States reported that the scope of their QI has to be scaled to the available resources and capacity of CAHs to avoid QI fatigue among CAH staff. There is limited hard evidence on the impact of the QI initiatives adopted by State Flex Programs; much of the “evidence” supporting these initiatives is anecdotal or based on postconference or webinar evaluations

Ambient air quality standards and policies in eastern mediterranean countries: a review

Objectives: National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) are critical tools for controlling air pollution and protecting public health. We designed this study to 1) gather the NAAQS for six classical air pollutants: PM(2.5), PM(10), O(3), NO(2), SO(2), and CO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries, 2) compare those with the updated World Health Organizations Air Quality Guidelines (WHO AQGs 2021), 3) estimate the potential health benefits of achieving annual PM(2.5) NAAQS and WHO AQGs per country, and 4) gather the information on air quality policies and action plans in the EMR countries. Methods: To gather information on the NAAQS, we searched several bibliographic databases, hand-searched the relevant papers and reports, and analysed unpublished data on NAAQS in the EMR countries reported from these countries to the WHO/Regional office of the Eastern Mediterranean/Climate Change, Health and Environment Unit (WHO/EMR/CHE). To estimate the potential health benefits of reaching the NAAQS and AQG levels for PM(2.5), we used the average of ambient PM(2.5) exposures in the 22 EMR countries in 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) dataset and AirQ+ software. Results: Almost all of the EMR countries have national ambient air quality standards for the critical air pollutants except Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen. However, the current standards for PM(2.5) are up to 10 times higher than the current health-based WHO AQGs. The standards for other considered pollutants exceed AQGs as well. We estimated that the reduction of annual mean PM(2.5) exposure level to the AQG level (5 mug m(-3)) would be associated with a decrease of all natural-cause mortality in adults (age 30+) by 16.9%-42.1% in various EMR countries. All countries would even benefit from the achievement of the Interim Target-2 (25 mug m(-3)) for annual mean PM(2.5): it would reduce all-cause mortality by 3%-37.5%. Less than half of the countries in the Region reported having policies relevant to air quality management, in particular addressing pollution related to sand and desert storms (SDS) such as enhancing the implementation of sustainable land management practices, taking measures to prevent and control the main factors of SDS, and developing early warning systems as tools to combat SDS. Few countries conduct studies on the health effects of air pollution or on a contribution of SDS to pollution levels. Information from air quality monitoring is available for 13 out of the 22 EMR countries. Conclusion: Improvement of air quality management, including international collaboration and prioritization of SDS, supported by an update (or establishment) of NAAQSs and enhanced air quality monitoring are essential elements for reduction of air pollution and its health effects in the EMR

Short Duration Small Sided Football and to a Lesser Extent Whole Body Vibration Exercise Induce Acute Changes in Markers of Bone Turnover.

We aimed to study whether short-duration vibration exercise or football sessions of two different durations acutely changed plasma markers of bone turnover and muscle strain. Inactive premenopausal women (n = 56) were randomized to complete a single bout of short (FG15) or long duration (FG60) small sided football or low magnitude whole body vibration training (VIB). Procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) was increased during exercise for FG15 (51.6 ± 23.0 to 56.5 ± 22.5 μg·L-1, mean ± SD, P 0.05). An increase in osteocalcin was observed 48 h after exercise (P < 0.05), which did not differ between exercise groups. C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen was not affected by exercise. Blood lactate concentration increased during exercise for FG15 (0.6 ± 0.2 to 3.4 ± 1.2 mM) and FG60 (0.6 ± 0.2 to 3.3 ± 2.0 mM), but not for VIB (0.6 ± 0.2 to 0.8 ± 0.4 mM) (P < 0.05). Plasma creatine kinase increased by 55 ± 63% and 137 ± 119% 48 h after FG15 and FG60 (P < 0.05), but not after VIB (26 ± 54%, NS). In contrast to the minor elevation in osteocalcin in response to a single session of vibration exercise, both short and longer durations of small sided football acutely increased plasma P1NP, osteocalcin, and creatine kinase. This may contribute to favorable effects of chronic training on musculoskeletal health

Heritability and selection response estimation of growth rate in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) of Caspian Sea

The Common carp is the most important culture fish in the word, that can be consider as domestic fish. The Common carp of Caspian Sea is one of the economic fish, that have some morphenological differences, resistance in salt water and better quality in meet with domestic once and for using this fish in culture system, it is necessary to establish genetically parameters especially the heritability for selection purpose. The present study have been started from 2007 and lasted 3 years. The breeders were collected from the Gomishan station in south-east of Caspian Sea by fisherman and stocked in S.Rajaei fish restocking center and propagate based on the routine propagation technique in this farm. For heritability estimation a factorial crosses by 7×7 fish were done. Therefore, the fingerlings of 49 crosses were achieved, that kept first separately fiberglass tank and then in pond separately. Weight and length of fish were choice for heritability estimation. The average weight of juvenile common carp in 3 sampling stage of 90, 180 and 360 days, were 5.9, 35.7 and 84.7 gram and length of 9.6, 14.7 and 19.2 cm respectively. The heritability estimation for weight was 0.26 and length 0.25. Selection response based on selection difference by collection the more average breeders among their progeny were 36.4 g that means by selection every generation, there is about 4 percent improving in fish weight