CAG repeat mosaicism is gene specific in spinocerebellar ataxias

Expanded CAG repeats in coding regions of different genes are the most common cause of dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). These repeats are unstable through the germline, and larger repeats lead to earlier onset. We measured somatic expansion in blood samples collected from 30 SCA1, 50 SCA2, 74 SCA3, and 30 SCA7 individuals over a mean interval of 8.5 years, along with postmortem tissues and fetal tissues from SCA1, SCA3, and SCA7 individuals to examine somatic expansion at different stages of life. We showed that somatic mosaicism in the blood increases over time. Expansion levels are significantly different among SCAs and correlate with CAG repeat lengths. The level of expansion is greater in individuals with SCA7 who manifest disease compared to that of those who do not yet display symptoms. Brain tissues from SCA individuals have larger expansions compared to the blood. The cerebellum has the lowest mosaicism among the studied brain regions, along with a high expression of ATXNs and DNA repair genes. This was the opposite in cortices, with the highest mosaicism and lower expression of ATXNs and DNA repair genes. Fetal cortices did not show repeat instability. This study shows that CAG repeats are increasingly unstable during life in the blood and the brain of SCA individuals, with gene- and tissue-specific patterns.

Short communication: Effects of in-ovo injection of endocrine disruptors and methyltransferase inhibitor on quail growth and egg-laying performances

Early experiences, including prenatal environment, are known to influence a wide variety of mechanisms involved in the phenotype elaboration. We investigated the effect of the addition of endocrine disruptors or of a methyltransferase inhibitor during the embryonic development of quails from different genetic backgrounds (four different quail lines) on their growth and egg-laying performances. Fifty-four pairs of parents per line were used and fertilised eggs from each pair were randomly divided into five groups: a control group without any injection, an injected control group treated by injection into the egg of sesame oil, and three groups treated by injection of Genistein, Bisphenol A or 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine. All quails were individually weighed at 8, 21, 36 and 78 days. The age at first egg laid and the number of eggs laid were recorded. These analyses revealed a significant impact of the treatment on growth but no influence on the egg-laying traits. All three molecules significantly affected at least one of the analysed growth traits. In conclusion, we showed that the injection of endocrine disruptors or DNA methyltransferase inhibitor into the egg had significant effects on quail development; these effects were specific to each treatment, but no interaction between line and treatment was observed.

Sonography-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release

During the past 2 decades, increased powerful and quality ultrasound devices have contributed to developing ultrasound surgery more specifically for the hand. Carpal tunnel release under ultrasound now is available as a safe technique. The procedure uses a specific device. A detailed surgical technique is presented. The role of sonography is emphasized. This article discusses the results of the 150 first cases. The author's experience is compared with other ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release procedures. Outcome quality optimized by the ultra-mini-invasive approach and ultrasound should increase its use.

Health crisis: What opportunities for clinical drug research?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the deployment of an unprecedented academic and industrial research effort, the sometimes redundant nature of which is regrettable, as is the lack of both national and international management. However, it must be noted that during this crisis, regulatory procedures were adapted and certain obstacles in the organisation of clinical research were partly removed to contribute to the deployment of trials as close as possible to patients and to facilitate monitoring and control procedures. The digitisation of certain processes and the decentralisation of certain activities were implemented under the cover of a mobilisation of the authorities and all institutional, academic and industrial players. While in the UK, the optimisation of resources through a single platform trial has made it possible to demonstrate or invalidate the efficacy of many treatments, in France the health crisis has highlighted the fragility of the organisation of clinical research, in particular a lack of coordination and funding, difficulties in implementing studies and a certain reluctance to share data. However, the crisis has also revealed the adaptability of the various stakeholders and has led to the improvement of several processes useful for the deployment of therapeutic innovation. Let us hope that the lessons learned during this crisis will allow for greater efficiency in the event of a new pandemic and, above all, that the progress made will continue to apply to all future clinical research activities.

Crise sanitaire : quelles opportunités pour la recherche clinique sur le médicament ?

La pandémie de coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) a conduit au déploiement d’un effort de recherche académique et industriel sans précédent dont on peut regretter le caractère parfois redondant ainsi que le manque de pilotage tant national qu’international. Pourtant, force est de constater qu’à l’occasion de cette crise, les procédures réglementaires ont été adaptées de même que certains freins dans l’organisation de la recherche clinique ont pu être en partie levés pour contribuer au déploiement d’essais au plus près des patients et faciliter les modalités de suivi et de contrôle. La digitalisation de certains processus et la décentralisation de certaines activités ont pu être mises en œuvre sous couvert d’une mobilisation des autorités et de l’ensemble des acteurs institutionnels, académiques ou industriels. Si outre-manche, l’optimisation des ressources, au travers d’un essai de plateforme unique, a permis de montrer ou d’infirmer l’efficacité de nombreux traitements, en France la crise sanitaire a mis en lumière la fragilité de l’organisation de la recherche clinique, notamment un déficit de coordination et de financement, des difficultés dans la mise en œuvre des études ou encore une certaine frilosité concernant le partage des données. Cependant, la crise a aussi révélé les capacités d’adaptation des différents acteurs et permis l’amélioration de plusieurs processus utiles au déploiement de l’innovation thérapeutique. Gageons que les leçons tirées à l’occasion de cette crise permettront une meilleure efficacité en cas de nouvelle pandémie et surtout que les progrès obtenus continueront de s’appliquer à l’ensemble des activités de recherche clinique futures.

Ultrasound-Guided de Quervain's Tendon Release, Feasibility, and First Outcomes

Background  de Quervain's syndrome is one of the main tendonitis of the wrist. The hypothesis of authors was that de Quervain's syndrome could be successfully treated with a specific ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedure, as it is for trigger finger. Surgical Technique  Identification of the subcompartmentalization of the first extensor compartment was performed first, using the Hiranuma's classification, prior to the surgery. Then, we assessed precisely the positions of the sensory branches of the radial nerve and drew the landmarks. Through a continuous ultrasound in-plane control, we performed a percutaneous retrograde section of each part of the first compartment of the extensors, using a dedicated surgical blade. Methods  In a cadaveric study, authors proposed to assess the feasibility and safety of a new and specific procedure and then assessed their first clinical cases. Fourteen specimen wrists were analyzed with ultrasound and the procedure was performed prior to an open control of the efficiency of the release, and safety for the superficial nerves. Then, we reported the results of the 22 first patients included in the clinical series. Results  In a cadaver laboratory, authors were able to identify with ultrasound the type of first compartment septation (subcompartmentalization) in 13 cases ( n  = 14). The misidentification induced one incomplete release. No damages of the superficial radial nerve were observed despite close relationship. In the small series ( n  = 22), the duration of surgery was 8 minutes (range: 4-18 minutes). It was performed in office surgery and no morbidities were noticed. All patients improved, from quickDASH preoperative score of 59 (range: 28-71) to quichDASH postoperative score of 9 (range: 0-25). Conclusion  Ultrasound-guided percutaneous release in the de Quervain's disease is a safe and reliable procedure without specific morbidity. Great care should be taken to avoid sensory nerve injuries and to identify the correct type of subcompartmentalization with a precise ultrasound evaluation.

New objective measurements of semen wave motion are associated with fertility in sheep

In sheep, wave motion in semen is currently used by AI centres to select ejaculates for insemination. Despite its low cost, convenience and established ability to predict fertility, the subjectivity of this assessment is a limiting factor for its applicability. The aims of the present study were to establish an objective method for the analysis of wave motion and to assess the associations of objective parameters with fertility after cervical insemination. Collective sperm motion in undiluted semen was observed by phase contrast microscopy at low magnification in a 100-µm deep glass chamber. Images of moving dark waves over a grey background were recorded and analysed by the optic flow method, producing several velocity-related parameters. Turbulence was assessed from the motion of fluorescent polystyrene beads. Among objective parameters, optical flow entropy and the average speed of beads were both able to discriminate ejaculates suitable for insemination. Two synthetic variables of optic flow and bead motion and a global objective variable were computed from linear combinations of individual parameters and compared with the subjective motion score for their predictive value. These were as efficient as the wave motion score for assessing fertility and can be proposed for the assessment of ram semen in routine AI procedures.

[Palliative care in a paediatric intrahospital mobile team]

Paediatric palliative care has been set up after extensive discussion and observations regarding the need to provide different support to children with a serious and incurable disease as well as their families. The mobile palliative care team support children and their family in this specific process and train caregivers in the palliative approach.

Novel VCP mutations expand the mutational spectrum of frontotemporal dementia

Valosin-containing protein (VCP) mutations are rare causes of autosomal dominant frontotemporal dementias associated with Paget's disease of bone, inclusion body myopathy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We analyzed the VCP gene in a cohort of 199 patients with frontotemporal dementia and identified 7 heterozygous mutations in unrelated families, including 3 novel mutations segregating with dementia. This expands the VCP mutation spectrum and suggests that although VCP mutations are rare (3.5% in this study), the gene should be analyzed even in absence of the full syndromic complex. Reporting genetic variants with convincing arguments for pathogenicity is important considering the large amount of data generated by next-generation sequencing and the growing difficulties to interpret rare genetic variants identified in isolated cases.

Genetic structured antedependence and random regression models applied to the longitudinal feed conversion ratio in growing Large White pigs

The objective of the present study was to compare a random regression model, usually used in genetic analyses of longitudinal data, with the structured antedependence (SAD) model to study the longitudinal feed conversion ratio (FCR) in growing Large White pigs and to propose criteria for animal selection when used for genetic evaluation. The study was based on data from 11,790 weekly FCR measures collected on 1,186 Large White male growing pigs. Random regression (RR) using orthogonal polynomial Legendre and SAD models was used to estimate genetic parameters and predict FCR-based EBV for each of the 10 wk of the test. The results demonstrated that the best SAD model (1 order of antedependence of degree 2 and a polynomial of degree 2 for the innovation variance for the genetic and permanent environmental effects, i.e., 12 parameters) provided a better fit for the data than RR with a quadratic function for the genetic and permanent environmental effects (13 parameters), with Bayesian information criteria values of -10,060 and -9,838, respectively. Heritabilities with the SAD model were higher than those of RR over the first 7 wk of the test. Genetic correlations between weeks were higher than 0.68 for short intervals between weeks and decreased to 0.08 for the SAD model and -0.39 for RR for the longest intervals. These differences in genetic parameters showed that, contrary to the RR approach, the SAD model does not suffer from border effect problems and can handle genetic correlations that tend to 0. Summarized breeding values were proposed for each approach as linear combinations of the individual weekly EBV weighted by the coefficients of the first or second eigenvector computed from the genetic covariance matrix of the additive genetic effects. These summarized breeding values isolated EBV trajectories over time, capturing either the average general value or the slope of the trajectory. Finally, applying the SAD model over a reduced period of time suggested that similar selection choices would result from the use of the records from the first 8 wk of the test. To conclude, the SAD model performed well for the genetic evaluation of longitudinal phenotypes.

Between-population differences in the genetic and maternal components of body mass in roe deer

Background

Understanding the genetic and environmental mechanisms governing variation in morphology or phenology in wild populations is currently an important challenge. While there is a general consensus that selection is stronger under stressful conditions, it remains unclear whether the evolutionary potential of traits should increase or decrease with increasingly stressful conditions. Here, we investigate how contrasting environmental conditions during growth may affect the maternal and genetic components of body mass in roe deer, the most abundant and widespread wild ungulate in Western Europe. Body mass is a key life history trait that strongly influences both survival and reproductive performance in large herbivores. We used pedigrees and animal models to determine the variance components of juvenile and adult winter body mass in two populations experiencing contrasting early-life conditions.

Results

Our analyses showed that roe deer at Chizé, where habitat was poor and unpredictable, exhibited very low genetic variance in juvenile body mass. Instead, variance in mass was mainly driven by among-cohort differences in early-life conditions and maternal environment. In contrast, roe deer at Bogesund, where resource availability during the critical period of fawn rearing was higher, displayed a substantial level of genetic variance in body mass. We discuss the potential role of past demography and viability selection on fawn body mass on the erosion of genetic variance in the poor habitat.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the importance of accounting for both spatial (i.e. between-population variation) and temporal (i.e. cohort variation) heterogeneity in environmental conditions, especially in early life, to understand the potential for adaptive responses of wild populations to selection.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1154-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

How to improve breeding value prediction for feed conversion ratio in the case of incomplete longitudinal body weights

With the development of automatic self-feeders, repeated measurements of feed intake are becoming easier in an increasing number of species. However, the corresponding BW are not always recorded, and these missing values complicate the longitudinal analysis of the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Our aim was to evaluate the impact of missing BW data on estimations of the genetic parameters of FCR and ways to improve the estimations. On the basis of the missing BW profile in French Large White pigs (male pigs weighed weekly, females and castrated males weighed monthly), we compared 2 different ways of predicting missing BW, 1 using a Gompertz model and 1 using a linear interpolation. For the first part of the study, we used 17,398 weekly records of BW and feed intake recorded over 16 consecutive weeks in 1,222 growing male pigs. We performed a simulation study on this data set to mimic missing BW values according to the pattern of weekly proportions of incomplete BW data in females and castrated males. The FCR was then computed for each week using observed data (obser_FCR), data with missing BW (miss_FCR), data with BW predicted using a Gompertz model (Gomp_FCR), and data with BW predicted by linear interpolation (interp_FCR). Heritability (h) was estimated, and the EBV was predicted for each repeated FCR using a random regression model. In the second part of the study, the full data set (males with their complete BW records, castrated males and females with missing BW) was analyzed using the same methods (miss_FCR, Gomp_FCR, and interp_FCR). Results of the simulation study showed that h were overestimated in the case of missing BW and that predicting BW using a linear interpolation provided a more accurate estimation of h and of EBV than a Gompertz model. Over 100 simulations, the correlation between obser_EBV and interp_EBV, Gomp_EBV, and miss_EBV was 0.93 ± 0.02, 0.91 ± 0.01, and 0.79 ± 0.04, respectively. The heritabilities obtained with the full data set were quite similar for miss_FCR, Gomp_FCR, and interp_FCR. In conclusion, when the proportion of missing BW is high, genetic parameters of FCR are not well estimated. In French Large White pigs, in the growing period extending from d 65 to 168, prediction of missing BW using a Gompertz growth model slightly improved the estimations, but the linear interpolation improved the estimation to a greater extent. This result is due to the linear rather than sigmoidal increase in BW over the study period.

Resistance to infectious diseases is a heritable trait in rabbits

Selection for disease resistance is a powerful way to improve the health status of herds and to reduce the use of antibiotics. The objectives of this study were to estimate 1) the genetic parameters for simple visually assessed disease syndromes and for a composite trait of resistance to infectious disease including all syndromes and 2) their genetic correlations with production traits in a rabbit population. Disease symptoms were recorded in the selection herds of 2 commercial paternal rabbit lines during weighing at the end of the test (63 and 70 d of age, respectively). Causes of mortality occurring before these dates were also recorded. Seven disease traits were analyzed: 3 elementary traits visually assessed by technicians on farm (diarrhea, various digestive syndromes, and respiratory syndromes), 2 composite traits (all digestive syndromes and all infectious syndromes), and 2 mortality traits (digestive mortality and infectious mortality). Each animal was assigned only 1 disease trait, corresponding to the main syndrome ( = 153,400). Four production traits were also recorded: live weight the day before the end of test on most animals ( = 137,860) and cold carcass weight, carcass yield, and perirenal fat percentage of the carcass on a subset of slaughtered animals ( = 13,765). Records on both lines were analyzed simultaneously using bivariate linear animal models after validation of consistency with threshold models applied to logit-transformed traits. The heritabilities were low for disease traits, from 0.01 ± 0.002 for various digestive syndromes to 0.04 ± 0.004 for infectious mortality, and moderate to high for production traits. The genetic correlations between digestive syndromes were high and positive, whereas digestive and respiratory syndromes were slightly negatively correlated. The genetic correlations between the composite infectious disease trait and digestive or respiratory syndromes were moderate. Genetic correlations between disease and production traits were favorable. Our results indicate that it is possible to select rabbits using visually assessed disease syndromes without the need for a trade-off between health and production traits. Using a composite criterion that includes all infectious syndromes is easy to implement and heritable and is, therefore, a promising way to improve the general disease resistance in livestock species.

Genetic modeling of feed intake

With the development of automatic self-feeders and electronic identification, automated, repeated measurements of individual feed intake (FI) and BW are becoming available in more species. Consequently, genetic models for longitudinal data need to be applied to study FI or related traits. To handle this type of data, several flexible mixed-model approaches exist such as character process (CPr), structured antedependence (SAD), or random regression (RR) models. The objective of this study was to compare how these different approaches estimate both the covariance structure between successive measurements of FI and genetic parameters and their ability to predict future performances in 3 species (rabbits, ducks, and pigs). Results were consistent between species. It was found that the SAD and CPr models fit the data better than the RR models. Estimations of genetic and phenotypic correlation matrices were quite consistent between SAD and CPr models, whereas correlations estimated with the RR model were not. Structured antedependence and CPr models provided, as expected and in accordance with previous studies, a decrease of the correlations with the time interval between measurements. The changes in heritability with time showed the same trend for the SAD and RR models but not for the CPr model. Our results show that, in comparison with the CPr model, the SAD and RR models have the advantage of providing stable predictions of future phenotypes 1 wk forward whatever the number of observations used to estimate the parameters. Therefore, to study repeated measurements of FI, the SAD approach seems to be very appropriate in terms of genetic selection and real-time managements of animals.

CLIP Test: a new fast, simple and powerful method to distinguish between linked or pleiotropic quantitative trait loci in linkage disequilibria analysis

An important question arises when mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for genetically correlated traits: is the correlation due to pleiotropy (a single QTL affecting more than one trait) and/or close linkage (different QTLs that are physically close to each other and influence the traits)? In this article, we propose the Close Linkage versus Pleiotropism (CLIP) test, a fast, simple and powerful method to distinguish between these two situations. The CLIP test is based on the comparison of the square of the observed correlation between a combination of apparent effects at the marker level to the minimal value it can take under the pleiotropic assumption. A simulation study was performed to estimate the power and alpha risk of the CLIP test and compare it to a test that evaluated whether the confidence intervals of the two QTLs overlapped or not (CI test). On average, the CLIP test showed a higher power (68%) to detect close-linked QTLs than the CI test (43%) and a same alpha risk (4%).

Clinicians' expectations of Web 2.0 as a mechanism for knowledge transfer of stroke best practices

Background

Health professionals are increasingly encouraged to adopt an evidence-based practice to ensure greater efficiency of their services. To promote this practice, several strategies exist: distribution of educational materials, local consensus processes, educational outreach visits, local opinion leaders, and reminders. Despite these strategies, gaps continue to be observed between practice and scientific evidence. Therefore, it is important to implement innovative knowledge transfer strategies that will change health professionals’ practices. Through its interactive capacities, Web 2.0 applications are worth exploring. As an example, virtual communities of practice have already begun to influence professional practice.

Objective

This study was initially developed to help design a Web 2.0 platform for health professionals working with stroke patients. The aim was to gain a better understanding of professionals’ perceptions of Web 2.0 before the development of the platform.

Methods

A qualitative study following a phenomenological approach was chosen. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with clinicians and managers. Interview transcripts were subjected to a content analysis.

Results

Twenty-four female clinicians and managers in Quebec, Canada, aged 28-66 participated. Most participants identified knowledge transfer as the most useful outcome of a Web 2.0 platform. Respondents also expressed their need for a user-friendly platform. Accessibility to a computer and the Internet, features of the Web 2.0 platform, user support, technology skills, and previous technological experience were found to influence perceived ease of use and usefulness. Our results show that the perceived lack of time of health professionals has an influence on perceived behavioral intention to use it despite favorable perception of the usefulness of the Web 2.0 platform.

Conclusions

In conclusion, female health professionals in Quebec believe that Web 2.0 may be a useful mechanism for knowledge transfer. However, lack of time and lack of technological skills may limit their use of a future Web 2.0 platform. Further studies are required with other populations and in other regions to confirm these findings.

Using the product threshold model for estimating separately the effect of temperature on male and female fertility

Animals under environmental thermal stress conditions have reduced fertility due to impairment of some mechanisms involved in their reproductive performance that are different in males and females. As a consequence, the most sensitive periods of time and the magnitude of effect of temperature on fertility can differ between sexes. The objective of this study was to estimate separately the effect of temperature in different periods around the insemination time on male and on female fertility by using the product threshold model. This model assumes that an observed reproduction outcome is the result of the product of 2 unobserved variables corresponding to the unobserved fertilities of the 2 individuals involved in the mating. A total of 7,625 AI records from rabbits belonging to a line selected for growth rate and indoor daily temperature records were used. The average maximum daily temperature and the proportion of days in which the maximum temperature was greater than 25°C were used as temperature descriptors. These descriptors were calculated for several periods around the day of AI. In the case of males, 4 periods of time covered different stages of the spermatogenesis, the transit through the epididymus of the sperm, and the day of AI. For females, 5 periods of time covered the phases of preovulatory follicular maturation including day of AI and ovulation, fertilization and peri-implantational stage of the embryos, embryonic and early fetal periods of gestation, and finally, late gestation until birth. The effect of the different temperature descriptors was estimated in the corresponding male and female liabilities in a set of threshold product models. The temperature of the day of AI seems to be the most relevant temperature descriptor affecting male fertility because greater temperature records on the day of AI caused a decrease in male fertility (-6% in male fertility rate with respect to thermoneutrality). Departures from the thermal zone in temperature descriptors covering several periods before AI until early gestation had a negative effect on female fertility, with the pre- and peri-implantational period of the embryos being especially sensitive (from -5 to -6% in female fertility rate with respect to thermoneutrality). The latest period of gestation was unaffected by the temperature. Overall, magnitude and persistency of the temperatures reached in the conditions of this study do not seem to be great enough to have a large effect on male and female rabbit fertility.

Genetic correlation between female fertility and milk yield in Lacaune sheep

A total of 416,670 lactations for 189,101 ewes from 3,603 sires and distributed across 1,978 herd-year groups were used to estimate genetic and environmental parameters of standardized milk yield (SMY(T)), fertility in ewe lambs (PR(1)), and fertility in adult ewes (PR(A)). Parameters were estimated with a multiple-trait sire linear model. Heritabilities for SMY(T), PR(1), and PR(A) were 0.27 (0.009), 0.04 (0.004), and 0.05 (0.004), respectively. These results were in accordance with the literature. The genetic correlation between PR(1) and PR(A) was 0.55, indicating that fertility is not the same trait in ewe lambs and adult ewes. The genetic correlation between milk yield and lamb fertility was not significantly different from zero. The genetic correlation between milk yield and fertility in adult ewe (-0.23) was in the range of antagonistic correlations reported in dairy cattle. Consequently, these results show that selection for milk yield can induce an indirect decrease in fertility. Nevertheless, no phenotypic decrease in fertility in artificial insemination matings has been observed in this population. This is the first time that correlation between milk yield and fertility is reported in sheep and further investigations are needed to confirm this result.

Genetic and non-genetic parameters of several characteristics of production and semen quality in young bucks

The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic and non-genetic factors influencing characteristics of young buck semen production using a multivariate model that takes into account the longitudinal structure of data. Data were collected from 1989 to 2002 at two French A.I. centres. The data corresponded to 13151 and 9206 ejaculates of 758 Alpine and 535 Saanen bucks respectively, collected at the beginning of the first breeding season (September-December). The semen volume, the total number of spermatozoa, the concentration, the motility score of spermatozoa after freezing and the percentage of motile spermatozoa after freezing were registered for each ejaculate. Within-breed heritabilities and repeatabilities were estimated using a multivariate animal model using a power spatial covariance structure for environmental effect. For all characteristics and the two breeds, the main source of variation was the year-month interaction that interacted with the centre. We observed a decrease in years of motility score after freezing. Age and frequency of collection had a significant effect on semen volume and number of spermatozoa for both breeds, and on concentration of spermatozoa for the Alpine breed. No effect of these factors was found on the characteristics observed after freezing. Heritabilities for concentration, number of spermatozoa, semen volume, motility score after freezing and percentage of motile spermatozoa after freezing per ejaculate were respectively, 0.32, 0.15, 0.25, 0.12 and 0.05 for the Saanen breed and 0.34, 0.25, 0.29, 0.17 and 0.03 for the Alpine breed. Genetic correlations between volume and number of spermatozoa were respectively, 0.74 for the Alpine breed and 0.86 for the Saanen breed. Further study is required to compare the semen characteristics of young bucks with their mature production.

Genetic Analysis of Male and Female Fertility After Artificial Insemination in Sheep: Comparison of Single-Trait and Joint Models

The outcome of an insemination depends on male and female fertility. Nevertheless, few studies have incorporated genetic evaluation of these 2 traits jointly. The aim of this work was to compare genetic parameter estimates of male and female fertility defined as success or failure to artificial insemination (AI), using 8 different models. The first 2 models were simple repeatability models studying fertility of one sex and ignoring any information of the other. Models 3 and 4 took into account the information of the other sex by the inclusion of its random permanent environmental effect, whereas models 5 and 6 included fixed effects of the other sex. Models 7 and 8 were joint genetic evaluation models of male and female fertility ignoring or considering genetic correlation. Data were composed of 147,018 AI of the Manech Tête Rousse breed recorded from 2000 to 2004 corresponding to 79,352 ewes and 963 rams. The pedigree file included 120,989 individuals. Variance component estimates from the different models were quite similar; heritabilities varied from 0.050 to 0.053 for female fertility and were near 0.003 for male fertility. Correlations among estimated breeding values in the same sex using different models were higher than 0.99. The genetic correlation between male and female fertility was not significantly different from 0. These results show that for French dairy sheep with extensive use of AI, estimation of breeding values for male and female fertility might be implemented with quite simple models.

Predictive factors of survival in patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell esophageal carcinoma

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive factors of survival in patients with locally advanced squamous cell esophageal carcinoma (LASCOC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen based on the 5FU/CDDP combination.

METHODS

All patients with LASCOC treated with a definitive CRT using the 5FU/CDDP combination between 1994 and 2000 were retrospectively included. Clinical complete response (CCR) to CRT was assessed by esophageal endoscopy and CT-scan 2 mo after CRT completion. Prognostic factors of survival were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis by the Cox regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients were included in the study. A CCR to CRT was observed in 86/116 (74.1%). The median survival was 20 mo (range 2-114) and the 5-year survival was 9.4%. Median survival of responder patients to CRT was 25 mo (range 3-114) as compared to 9 mo (range 2-81) in non-responder patients (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis, survival was associated with CCR (P < 0.001), WHO performance status < 2 (P = 0.01), tumour length < 6 cm (P = 0.045) and weight loss < 10% was in limit of significance (P = 0.053). In multivariate analysis, survival was dependant to CCR (P < 0.0001), weight loss < 10% (P = 0.034) and WHO performance < 2 (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that survival in patients with LASCOC treated with definitive CRT was correlated to CCR, weight loss and WHO performance status.

Impact of radiation schedule and chemotherapy duration in definitive chemoradiotherapy regimen for esophageal cancer

Impact of radiotherapy (RT) schedule on local response and duration of the 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin (5 FU/CDDP) chemotherapy (CT) on m are still questioning in chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen in esophageal carcinoma.

AIM

Evaluate two RT schedules and two different CT durations by a retrospective comparison of the CRT regimens used by two centres between 1994 and 2000.

METHODS

In centre I (regimen I), patients received 2 CT concomitantly to a continuous RT (50 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks). In centre II (regimen II), patients received 6 CT, 3 were concomitant to a split course RT (20 Gy/10 fractions x 3 courses) and 3 CT were delivered after CRT.

RESULTS

A total of 129 patients were included, 74 in centre I and 55 in centre II respectively. Main patient characteristics were similar between the two groups. Clinical complete response to CRT was significantly more frequent in regimen I (83.8% vs 65.4%; P=0.02). The median overall survival (OS) was 20 months in regimen I and 22 months in regimen II (NS). During follow-up, responder patients to CRT in regimen II experienced significant fewer metastasis (51.6% vs 27.8%; P=0.03) with a trend to an increased 5-year survival (19.4% vs 11.3%) and OS (26.5 vs 21.0 months) (NS). Grade 3-4 toxicities were not different.

CONCLUSION

Clinical complete response to CRT was significantly more frequent with a continuous RT whereas additional CT after CRT significantly reduced metastasis occurrence. CRT regimen in esophageal carcinoma may be more effective using a continuous RT schedule and additional CT courses after CRT completion.

[Benign stenoses of the large respiratory airways]

BACKGROUND

Benign stenoses of main respiratory pathways develop usually in patients after intubation or tracheostomy. Incidence of such states is not known, they are frequently diagnosed too late, and there are different views of their treatment. In order to contribute to the improvement of our knowledge of this serious impairment we followed prospectively all patients with this diagnose at our department since March 1998.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The group of 31 patients with benign stenoses of non-tumorous origin diagnosed and treated at the TRN of the Teaching Hospital Motol in years 1998 to 2000 consisted of 24 males and 7 females, age median was 52 years. Stenosis was caused in 27 patients by intubation, in 4 patients by some other causes. At admission we performed in 30 patients electrocauterization and dilatation of stenosis, one patient was immediately indicated for surgery. Beside two cases we always achieved sufficient patency of stenosis and weighted indication to surgery. We sent for surgery 15 patients, 10 patients were permanently healed using methods of interventional bronchoscopy, including introduction of stent in 6 cases. From the remaining 6 patients, two of them are planned for resection of stenosis, four are inoperable from various reasons, and two died of causes not related to stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our experience we recommend as an optimal management of such patients is the dilatation or removal of stenosis and then always to consider resection of trachea. In inoperable cases methods of interventional bronchoscopy should be used. Authors recommend sending all patients intubated longer than 2 days for bronchoscopic examination in interval of 2 months.

[Perioperative tachyarrhythmia]

Sudden onset of tachyarrhythmias in an operating theatre or an intensive care unit can be a frustrating experience for an attending physician and sometimes even for his patient, not only because of severity of patient's clinical state, but also for the mental stress loaded on him by collaborating surgeons. From that reason, a diagnosis and treatment of such condition should be intensive, simple, effective and safe for the patient. Increased activity of sympathoadrenal system is the main pathophysiological condition in the pathogenesis of perioperative arrhythmias that can provoke sinus tachycardia followed with a transient myocardial ischaemia and other deleterious effects. Sympathetic nervous system stability plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of perioperative arrhythmias. In this review article, the author highlights a basic electrophysiology and molecular pathophysiology of heart rhythm disturbances, and on the background of recent clinical studies he tries to propose a simplified therapeutic algorithm for treatment of these difficult states. Beta-blockers and group III, antiarrhythmics of Vaughan-Williams classification (amidarone) are recommended as the optimal remedies for the treatment of tachyarrhythmias in the perioperative period.

Stability of exploratory eye movements as a marker of schizophrenia--a WHO multi-center study. World Health Organization

The exploratory eye movements of patients with schizophrenia reportedly differ from those of patients without schizophrenia and healthy controls. In an attempt to determine whether exploratory eye movements provide valid markers for schizophrenia, the present collaborative study was conducted in six countries to analyze the stability of and variation in the following parameters of exploratory eye movements: the number of eye fixations (NEFs) and mean eye scanning length (MESL) in a retention task; the cognitive search score (CSS) that indicates how frequently the eye focused on each important area of a figure in order to recognize it in a comparison task; and the responsive search score (RSS), which reflects the frequency of eye fixations on each section of a figure in response to questioning in a comparison task. In addition, we investigated the validity of the currently employed discriminant function to extract a common feature of schizophrenia by applying it to the findings of the present study. The exploratory eye movements of 145 patients with schizophrenia, 116 depressed patients and 124 healthy controls at seven WHO collaborative centers in six countries were measured using eye mark recorders during viewing of stationary S-shaped figures in two sequential tasks. The RSSs of patients with schizophrenia were found to be significantly lower than those of depressed patients or healthy controls irrespective of geographical location, with no significant difference existing between the RSSs for depressed patients and those for healthy controls. By inserting the RSS and NEF data for each subject into the formula used to calculate discriminant function, patients with schizophrenia could be discriminated from depressed patients and healthy controls with a sensitivity of 89.0% and a specificity of 86.7%. The RSS is an exploratory eye movement parameter that detected schizophrenia irrespective of culture, race and various other subject variables. Furthermore, it is indicative of the stable, significant difference that exists between subjects with and without schizophrenia. The results of discriminant analysis confirm the previously reported validity of discriminant function.

[Pulmonary edema caused by laryngospasm]

The authors report on a case of non-cardiac pulmonary oedema that developed in a young athletic man at an operating theatre. This unusual condition resulted from a laryngospasm followed by strenuous ventilation retractions. Diagnostic routine, differential diagnosis and treatment are described.