Prediction of carcass weight using the morphometry of ankle bones in hair goats.

BACGROUND: Morphologic measurements such as body lenght, wither height, heart girth, chest width, body leght, cannon-bone circumference is used to predict carcass weight. For this purpose, estimating carcass weight with measurements of key bones such as ankle bones, which play a significant role in the balance distribution of body weight, seems possible. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to create new regression models for effective carcass weight estimation by using the morphometric data of the talus and calcaneus bones of hair goats. METHODS: Study materials consisted of talus and calcaneus bones obtained from abattoir products of hair goat kids (12-18 months old, 20 female and 20 male) and adult hair goats (36-48 months old, 20 female and 20 male). Morphometric measurements of the talus and calcaneus of each animal were taken by a digital caliper. Using the morphometric measurements, an index and a factor were calculated for each bone. Regression analysis and correlations were examined in IBM SPSS 21 programme. RESULTS: As a result, statistical analysis of GLc, GLt, Bd, Calfactor and Talfactor were statistically significant on predicting carcass weight. CONCLUSION: Specific anatomical structures, such as certain bone measurements, such as talus and calnaneus could serve as indicators of growth performance and also carcass weight performance. In addition new anatomical factors and indices may be produced and new regression methods may be applied with these new parameters to predict carcass weight.

Use of dose-volume histograms for metabolic response prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing transarterial radioembolization with Y-90 resin microspheres.

INTRODUCTION: Voxel-based dosimetry offers improved outcomes in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with transarterial radioembolization (TARE) using glass microspheres. However, the adaptation of voxel-based dosimetry to resin-based microspheres has been poorly studied, and the prognostic relevance of heterogeneous dose distribution remains unclear. This study aims to explore the use of dose-volume histograms for resin microspheres and to determine thresholds for objective metabolic response in HCC patients treated with resin-based TARE. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed HCC patients who underwent TARE with Y-90-loaded resin microspheres in our institution between January 2021 and December 2022. Voxel-based dosimetry was performed on post-treatment Y-90 PET/CT images to extract parameters including mean dose absorbed by the tumor (mTD), the percentage of the targeted tumor volume (pTV), and the minimum doses absorbed by consecutive percentages within the tumor volume (D10, D25, D50, D75, D90). Assessment of metabolic response was done according to PERCIST criteria with F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging at 8-12 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: This study included 35 lesions targeted with 22 TARE sessions in 19 patients (15 males, 4 females, mean age 60 ± 13 years). Objective metabolic response was achieved in 43% of the lesions (n = 15). Responsive lesions had significantly higher mTD, pTV, and D25-D90 values (all p < 0.05). Optimal cut-off values for mTD, pTV, and D50 were 94.6 Gy (sensitivity 73%, specificity 70%, AUC 0.72), 94% (sensitivity 73%, specificity 55%, AUC 0.64), and 91 Gy (sensitivity 80%, specificity 80%, AUC 0.80), respectively. CONCLUSION: Parameters derived from dose-volume histograms could offer valuable insights for predicting objective metabolic response in HCC patients treated with resin-based TARE. If verified with larger prospective cohorts, these parameters could enhance the precision of dose distribution and potentially optimize treatment outcomes.

Interaction of talus and calcaneus morphometric values and estimation of carcass weight in cattle.

In this study, the calcaneus and talus bones of 20 male and female adult Simmental and Angus cattle were used. The age and sex of these animals were recorded before slaughter, and carcass weights were taken after slaughter. Calcaneus and talus morphometric measurements were used to obtain multipliers that allow the estimation of the carcass weight. These multipliers were found to be mean values of 3.346 and 4.642, respectively. Thus, multipliers were obtained that can be used in the evaluation of chronological differences in archaeological cattle size and consequently carcass weight. LSM (Least Square Means) analysis of calcaneus and talus GL values revealed the effect of sex but not of breed. Proportional factors were obtained for calcaneus and talus pairings and associated bone size (GL) estimates.

Assessment of pollution with biomarkers in fish culture.

Biotransformation enzymes are stimulated or inhibited depending on the exposure to xenobiotics and widely used as a biomarker. In this study, EROD activity, GST activity, reduced GSH amount, amount of lipid peroxidation product MDA as oxidative stress parameter, and ACHE inhibition as a neuromuscular parameter were measured in liver and muscle tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced in aquaculture of Kemer Dam and in concrete ponds located in Fethiye. Samples were collected in January and July from fish farming in net cages in Kemer Dam and concrete cages in Fethiye in order to evaluate seasonal changes. Also, physicochemical properties of water samples collected from trout farms were measured and evaluated together with five biomarkers. Significant ACHE inhibition was observed in both stations in parallel with the increase in ammonium nitrogen in the July period (p ≤ 0.05). In parallel with the increase in turbidity in the Kemer Dam, a significant increase in GSH, MDA level, and GST activity was detected (p ≤ 0.05). As a result of the assessment of all data, significant increases were detected in EROD induction, GST activity, MDA level, and ACHE inhibition in concrete cages in Fethiye when compared to Kemer Dam (p ≤ 0,05). It was observed that pollution was at a lower level in July compared to January, and in Kemer Dam compared to Fethiye.

Glycogenic Hepatopathy in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Glycogenic hepatopathy is a rare cause of high transaminase levels in type 1 diabetes mellitus. This condition, characterized by elevated liver enzymes and hepatomegaly, is caused by irreversible and excessive accumulation of glycogen in hepatocytes. This is a case report on a 19-year-old male case, diagnosed with glycogenic hepatopathy. After the diagnosis was documented by liver biopsy, the case was put on glycemic control which led to significant decline in hepatomegaly and liver enzymes. It was emphasized that, in type 1 diabetes mellitus cases, hepatopathy should also be considered in the differential diagnoses of elevated liver enzyme and hepatomegaly.

Analytical solutions for determining residual stresses in two-dimensional domains using the contour method.

The contour method is one of the most prevalent destructive techniques for residual stress measurement. Up to now, the method has involved the use of the finite-element (FE) method to determine the residual stresses from the experimental measurements. This paper presents analytical solutions, obtained for a semi-infinite strip and a finite rectangle, which can be used to calculate the residual stresses directly from the measured data; thereby, eliminating the need for an FE approach. The technique is then used to determine the residual stresses in a variable-polarity plasma-arc welded plate and the results show good agreement with independent neutron diffraction measurements.

Determination of cadmium levels in agricultural areas of Carsamba and Bafra plains.

Cadmium pollution resulted from fertilizer applications were studied by determining cadmium levels in agricultural and non-agricultural soils of Bafra and Carsamba plains. Soil samples of 68 were collected from agricultural (34) and non-agricultural (34) areas. The sample of 2 g was placed in a test tube and digested with hydrochloric acid and nitric acid mixture (3:1, v/v) in an aluminum block. Taking up the evaporated residue was dissolved in 1% nitric acid and total cadmium concentrations were determined with GF-AAS. Mean level of cadmium contents were found in agricultural areas 0.162 +/- 0.078 for Carsamba and 0.433 +/- 0.288 mg kg(-1) for Bafra. The accuracy of the method was tested with determining cadmium contents of standard reference material and cadmium spiked soil samples.