scholarly journals ​Association of Bio-acoustic Features of Vocal Signals with Age and Semen Quality in Sahiwal Bulls

Author(s):  
Indu Devi ◽  
Kuldeep Dudi ◽  
Ranjana Sinha ◽  
R. Vikram

Background: Bio-acoustic features of animal’s voice can provide meaningful information about their biological and physical characteristics. The present study was conducted to get indicators of age from voice analysis and explore the relationship between voice features and seminal parameters in Sahiwal bulls. Methods: Voice samples were collected from healthy bulls (n=20), maintained at ICAR-NDRI, Karnal. Bulls were classified into two groups i.e. young bulls and adult bulls. The voice signals were analyzed by Adobe Premium software and acoustic features were extracted by using PRAAT software. Result: The mean of acoustic features viz. call duration (sec), mean intensity (dB), total energy (P2S), amplitude (P), pitch (Hz), unvoiced frame (%), jitter (%), bandwidth (Hz) mean N/H ratio (%) have been found significantly different while mean H/N ratio (dB), shimmer (%) and pulses were not found statistically (P greater than 0.05) different between adult and young bulls. The seminal parameters viz mass activity (0-5 scale), individual progressive motility (%), live sperm count (%) and total sperm abnormality (%) were found significantly different between adult and young bulls. No significant association between voice features and semen quality of bulls was observed. Hence, voice signals of male might provide some clues about their age but for semen quality, there is further need to explore the interesting relationship between voice features and fertility of breeding bulls.

Author(s):  
K.H. Parmar ◽  
P.H. Tank ◽  
F.S. Kavani

Background: The quality of the frozen thawed semen is one of the most powerful factor affecting the conception rate in a buffaloes. The season may have its effect on post thaw seminal attributes and fertility. Therefore, current study was aimed to investigate the effect of winter and summer seasons on post thaw seminal attributes and conception rate from semen of Jaffarabadi buffalo bulls.Methods: The study was conducted on four Jaffarabadi breeding bulls, 5-6 years old, to know the post-thaw semen characteristics based on total of 192 semen ejaculates evaluated and cryopreserved over one year period. Result: The mean percentages of post-thaw motility, live sperm, abnormal sperm, HOST reactive sperm, acrosomal integrity and first AI conception rate for semen cryopreserved during winter were 58.85±0.56, 67.06±0.77, 8.62±0.43, 58.52±0.67, 75.22±0.27 and 45.75±0.21, respectively, whereas, corresponding values for semen cryopreserved during summer were 56.35±0.43, 65.62±0.76, 9.08±0.51, 55.43±0.60, 74.29±0.22 and 43.50±0.11. The semen quality of post thawed samples were observed better during winter compared to summer season for artificial insemination with satisfactory first AI conception rate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (03) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
K. H. Parmar ◽  
FS Kavani ◽  
TK Patbandha ◽  
SS Parikh

The study was conducted on four Jafarabadi breeding bulls, 5-6 years old to know the fresh and post-thawed seminal characteristics based on total of 192 semen ejaculates evaluated and cryopreserved over one year period. The mean values of fresh neat seminal characteristics of Jafarabadi bulls, viz., ejaculate volume (ml), colour/density (score), sperm concentration (million/ml), mass activity (score), initial motility (%), live sperm (%), abnormal sperm (%), HOS reactive sperm (%) and acrosomal integrity (%) were 5.19±0.18, 2.38±0.10, 1253.36±24.75, 3.73±0.05, 80.31±0.05, 86.20±0.64, 5.00±0.40, 85.75±0.43 and 93.56±0.56, respectively, whereas the mean post-thawed sperm characteristics, viz., progressive sperm motility, live sperm (%), abnormal sperm (%), HOS reactive sperm (%), acrosomal integrity (%) and first insemination conception rate (%) observed were 57.60±0.36, 66.34±0.53, 8.85±0.33, 56.97±0.46, 75.26±0.17 and 44.63±0.14, respectively. The semen quality of fresh and post-thawed samples observed was within normal limit for use in breeding program with satisfactory first insemination conception rate.


Author(s):  
S. Deori ◽  
B. C. Deka ◽  
R. K. Biswas ◽  
N. Nahardeka ◽  
A. Arangasamy ◽  
...  

Assam Hill goat (AHG) is an important goat germplasm found in Assam and its adjoining areas of India. The study was designed with an objective to study the semen characteristics and freezability of AHG buck semen using Tris -Egg yolk-Citrate-Fructose diluent. The mean values of fresh semen characteristics in AHG bucks viz., ejaculate volume (ml), initial sperm motility (%), sperm concentration (x106/ml), live sperm (%), sperm abnormality (%), HOST-reacted sperm (%) and intact acrosome (%) recorded were 0.39 ± 0.01, 77.97 ± 0.73, 3201.00 ± 143.78, 83.02 ± 0.65, 7.66 ± 0.73, 66.95 ± 0.74 and 93.34 ± 0.51, respectively. Mean values for post-thaw semen characteristics i.e., sperm motility (%), live sperm (%), HOST-reacted sperm (%) and intact acrosome (%) were 55.39 ± 0.97, 71.01 ± 0.78, 54.77 ± 0.55 and 82.16 ± 0.43, respectively. It can be concluded that AHG bucks donate acceptable quality of semen which can be frozen successfully in Tris-Egg yolk-Citrate-Fructose diluents for using in Artificial Insemination.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hossain ◽  
MM Islam ◽  
F Naznin ◽  
RN Ferdousi ◽  
FY Bari ◽  
...  

Semen was collected from four rams, using artificial vagina and viability%, motility% and plasma membrane integrity% were measured. Fresh ejaculates (n = 32) were separated by modified swim-up separation using modified human tubal fluid medium. Four fractions of supernatant were collected at 15-minute intervals. The mean volume, mass activity, concentration, motility%, viability%, normal morphology and membrane integrity% (HOST +ve) of fresh semen were 1.0 ± 0.14, 4.1 ± 0.1 × 109 spermatozoa/ml, 85.0 ± 1.3, 89.4 ± 1.0, 85.5 ± 0.7, 84.7 ± 0.5 respectively. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in fresh semen quality parameters between rams. The motility%, viability% and HOST +ve % of first, second, third and fourth fractions were 53.4 ± 0.5, 68.2 ± 0.3, 74.8 ± 0.3 and 65.5 ± 0.4; 55.5 ± 0.4, 66.2 ± 0.4, 74.5 ± 0.3 and 73.6 ± 0.3 and 66.7 ± 0.5, 66.8 ± 0.5, 65.2 ± 0.4 and 74.7 ± 0.5 respectively. The motility%, viability% and membrane integrity% of separated semen samples differed significantly (P<0.05) between four fractions. The mean motility% and viability% were significantly higher (P<0.05) in third fraction (74.8 ± 0.3%), whereas the mean HOST +ve% was significantly higher (P<0.05) in fourth fraction (74.7 ± 0.5). All quality parameters of separated spermatozoa were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of fresh semen. The pregnancy rates were higher with fresh semen (71%) in comparison to that of separated sample (57%).Bangl. vet. 2016. Vol. 33, No. 2, 62-70


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110073
Author(s):  
Richard M Elias ◽  
Karen M Fischer ◽  
Mustaqeem A Siddiqui ◽  
Trevor Coons ◽  
Cindy A Meyerhofer ◽  
...  

Previous studies show that patient complaints can identify gaps in quality of care, but it is difficult to identify trends without categorization. We conducted a review of complaints relating to admissions on hospital internal medicine (HIM) services over a 26-month period. Data were collected on person characteristics and key features of the complaint. The complaints were also categorized into a previously published taxonomy. Seventy-six unsolicited complaints were identified, (3.5 per 1000 hospital admissions). Complaints were more likely on resident services. The mean duration between encounter and complaint was 18 days, and it took an average of 12 days to resolve the complaint. Most patients (59%) had a complaint in the Relationship domain. Thirty-nine percent of complaints mentioned a specific clinician. When a clinician was mentioned, complaints regarding communication and humaneness predominated (68%). The results indicate that the efforts to reduce patient complaints in HIM should focus on the Relationships domain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1079.1-1079
Author(s):  
I. Yoshii

Background:Boolean remission criteria is one most popular and stringent criteria in treating patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), because it may guarantees a stable clinical course after attaining remission.Objectives:Impact of time span from initiation to achieving Boolean remission on maintaining disease activity, daily activities, and quality of life after attaining Boolean remission was investigated from daily clinical practice data.Methods:685 patients with RA since August 2010 under the T2T strategy were treated. They were monitored for their TJC, SJC, PGA, EGA, CRP, and disease activity indices such as CDAI, SDAI, DAS28, and Boolean criteria at every visit. HAQ-DI score, pain score using visual analog scale (PS-VAS), and EQ-5D were also monitored, and the quality of life score (QOLS) calculated from EQ-5D was determined at every visit from the time of diagnosis (baseline).Of 685 patients, 465 patients had achieved Boolean remission >1 times, and were consecutively followed up for >3 years. These patients were enrolled in the study. Time span from the first visit to first Boolean remission was calculated. The relationship between the time span and each of background parameters, and the relationship between the time span and each of the mean values of the SDAI score, HAQ score, PS-VAS, SHS, and QOLS at the first Boolean remission and thereafter was evaluated statistically.Patients were subsequently divided into the G ≤ 6 and G > 6 groups based on the achievement of first Boolean remission within two groups: time span G ≤ 6 months and G > 6 months. The two groups were compared with regard to the SDAI score, HAQ score, PS-VAS, SHS, and QOLS at first visit and at the time of first Boolean remission, and the mean values of these parameters after remission were evaluated statistically. Moreover, changes of these parameters and the mean Boolean remission rate after the first remission, and SDAI remission rate at the first Boolean remission to thereafter were compared between the two groups statistically.Results:Out of 465 patients, females comprised 343 (73.7%), and the mean age was 67.8 years (range, from 21–95 years). The mean disease duration at first visit was 6.1 years (range, from 1 months–45 years). The mean follow up length was 88.1 months (range: 36–122 months; median: 85 months) and mean time span from the first visit to the first Boolean remission was 8.1 months. The mean SDAI score, HAQ score, PS-VAS, and the QOLS at first visit were 13.3, 0.467, 33.2, and 0.834, respectively. Among the study parameters, PS-VAS and QOLS were significantly correlated with the time span. For parameters at the first Boolean remission, HAQ-DI score, PS-VAS, and QOLS demonstrated significant correlation with the time span, whereas SDAI, HAQ-DI score, PS-VAS, SHS, and QOLS after the Boolean remission demonstrated significant correlation with the time span.The comparison between the G ≤ 6 and the G > 6 groups revealed that the disease duration, HAQ score, and PS-VAS at baseline in the G > 6 were significantly higher than that in the G ≤ 6 group, and QOLS in the G ≤ 6 group was significantly higher than that in the G > 6 group at baseline. Similarly, the HAQ score and PS-VAS at the first Boolean remission in the G > 6 group were significantly higher than that in the G ≤ 6 group, whereas QOLS in the G ≤ 6 group demonstrated no significant difference compared with that in the G > 6 group.The mean value of the SDAI score after the first Boolean remission in the G > 6 group was significantly higher than that in the G ≤ 6 group. Similarly, the SDAI score, HAQ score, and PS-VAS after the first Boolean remission in the G > 6 group were also significantly higher than those in the G ≤ 6 group, and the mean value of the QOLS in the G ≤ 6 group were significantly higher than that in the G > 6 group. The Boolean remission rate and SDAI remission rate after the first Boolean remission were significantly higher in the G ≤ 6 group than those in the G > 6 group.Conclusion:Attaining Boolean remission ≤ 6 months for RA has significant benefit for more stable disease control, that leads good maintenance of ADL.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Cambi ◽  
L Tamburrino ◽  
S Marchiani ◽  
B Olivito ◽  
C Azzari ◽  
...  

Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in many disoders including male infertility. Human spermatozoa are very sensitive targets of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and most sperm functions are impaired in the case of OS. In addition unbalanced production of ROS is considered one of the most important causes of sperm DNA fragmentation, a semen trait of infertile men. The relationship between oxidative damage and semen quality is partially controversial, probably due to the different methods and/or targets used to reveal the OS. In this study, by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, we compared two methods to reveal 8-hydroxy,2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), the hallmark of oxidative DNA damage: an immunofluorescence method and the commercial OxyDNA kit. We found that although both methods localized the labelling in sperm nuclei they yielded different measures, and only with the immunofluorescence method was the labelling specific for sperm 8-OHdG. The immunofluorescence method, coupled to flow cytometry, was thus selected to analyse the 8-OHdG content in semen samples from 94 subfertile patients and to investigate the relationship with semen quality. We found that the percentages of spermatozoa with 8-OHdG (mean±s.d., 11.4±6.9%) were related to sperm count (Pearson's correlation coefficient (r)=−0.27, P=0.04 (ANOVA and student's t-test)), motility (progressive: r=−0.22, P=0.04; non-progressive: r=0.25, P=0.01), and normal morphology (r=−0.27, P=0.01). In conclusion, we demonstrate that immunofluorescence/flow cytometry is a reliable and specific method to detect 8-OHdG at single-cell level and show that oxidative damage only partially overlaps poor semen quality, suggesting that it could provide additional information on male fertility with respect to routine semen analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-394
Author(s):  
Kawoun Seo

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the mediating effects of acceptance action on the relationship between diabetes self-stigma and quality of life in diabetes patients.Methods: For this study a descriptive research approach was used. Patients (237) with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus from a doctor of endocrinology were included. Data collection was done from March 26, to March 28, 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis, and hierarchecal multiple regression.Results: The mean scores for diabetes self-stigma, acceptance action and quality of life were 2.67±0.71, 4.12±0.38, and 3.26±0.48, respectively. Acceptance action was found to partial mediate the relationship between diabetes self-stigma and quality of life (z=-4.20, p<.001), and its explanatory power was 17.6%.Conclusion: To improve the quality of life among patients with diabetes in diabetes self-stigma situations, it is necessary to improve their acceptance action and develop step-by-step and differentiated acceptance action enhancement programs through multidisciplinary collaboration.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Uzark ◽  
Cynthia Smith ◽  
Sunkyung Yu ◽  
Janet Donohue ◽  
Katherine Afton ◽  
...  

Objective: Transition is defined as “the process by which adolescents and young adults with chronic childhood illnesses are prepared to take charge of their lives and their health in adulthood”. We previously reported common knowledge deficits and lack of transition readiness (TR) in 13-25 year olds with congenital or acquired heart disease. The aims of this study were to re-evaluate TR in these patients at follow-up (F/U) and to examine the relationship between changes in TR and quality of life (QOL). Methods: Patients (n=106) completed the TR Assessment and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) utilizing an e-tablet, web-based format at a routine F/U clinic visit. Changes from initial to F/U scores were evaluated. Results: Median patient age was 18.7 yrs at a median F/U time of 1.02 yrs. Average perceived knowledge deficit score (% of items with no knowledge) at F/U was 18.0 ± 15.2%, decreased from 24.7 ± 16.5%, p<.0001. On a 100-point scale, the mean score for self-efficacy increased from 71.4 ± 17.0 to 76.7 ± 18.2 (p=.004) and for self-management increased from 47.9 ± 18.4 to 52.0 ± 20.7 (p=.0004). While physical QOL did not change, the mean psychosocial QOL score increased significantly from 80.2 ± 13.3 to 82.5 ± 12.0, p=.02. A decrease in knowledge deficit score at F/U was significantly associated with an increased psychosocial QOL score, p=.03. An increase in self-efficacy score was associated with an increase in psychosocial QOL score (p=.04), especially social QOL (p=.02). Among patients who reported receiving specific information after initial TR assessment, knowledge deficits decreased related to medication (p=.002), symptoms to call for (p=.02), how to contact heart doctor (p=.02), and health insurance (p=.10). Self-efficacy scores improved in patients reporting receipt of information regarding how to contact the heart doctor (p=.06) and how to communicate with healthcare team (p=.05). Conclusion: While deficits in knowledge and self-management skills persist, TR assessment and recognition of deficits can improve transition readiness with improved psychosocial QOL. Routine TR assessment is important to identify transition needs. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between TR and outcomes in young adults with heart disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
S. N. Shankhwar ◽  
A. A. Mahdi ◽  
A. V. Sharma ◽  
Kishan Pv

Aim. The present study aimed to assess the effects of Nano Leo, a prosexual nutrient formulation, on libido, erection, and orgasm in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods. This was a prospective, single-center, phase IV efficacy study. Patients received two capsules for 7 days and thereafter one capsule through 90 days. Main outcome measures: primary endpoint was change in erectile function assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Secondary endpoints included improvement in testosterone levels, FSH, LH, and prolactin levels; seminal parameters; and overall quality of life (QoL). Results. Our study included 99 men (mean age 32.2 ± 4.71 years). Mean erectile function domain score increased from 18.9 ± 5.67 at baseline to 23.7 ± 4.01 on day 90 (P<0.001). Similar improvements were observed in orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction domains of IIEF score which was seen as early as day 30. Improved IIEF corroborated with improvement in all QoL domains. From baseline to day 90, treatment with Nano Leo increased testosterone levels (5.04 ± 2.22 vs. 5.57 ± 1.53 ng/mL, P<0.001). Seminal parameters like sperm concentration (44.07 ± 48.28 vs. 56.21 ± 50.45 million/mL) and total sperm count per ejaculate (130.40 ± 156.05 vs. 142.5 ± 161.23 million/mL) significantly increased on day 90 compared to baseline. No changes were observed in hepatic and renal function parameters, and no adverse events were reported which promise the safety of the product, Nano Leo. Conclusion. Nano Leo showed improved libido, erection, and orgasm as evaluated by IIEF and QoL and was well tolerated. Therefore, Nano Leo could be an effective and safe pronutrient supplement in managing ED.


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