Machine Learning Sensors for Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease Using Routine Blood Values for Internet of Things Application.

Healthcare digitalization requires effective applications of human sensors, when various parameters of the human body are instantly monitored in everyday life due to the Internet of Things (IoT). In particular, machine learning (ML) sensors for the prompt diagnosis of COVID-19 are an important option for IoT application in healthcare and ambient assisted living (AAL). Determining a COVID-19 infected status with various diagnostic tests and imaging results is costly and time-consuming. This study provides a fast, reliable and cost-effective alternative tool for the diagnosis of COVID-19 based on the routine blood values (RBVs) measured at admission. The dataset of the study consists of a total of 5296 patients with the same number of negative and positive COVID-19 test results and 51 routine blood values. In this study, 13 popular classifier machine learning models and the LogNNet neural network model were exanimated. The most successful classifier model in terms of time and accuracy in the detection of the disease was the histogram-based gradient boosting (HGB) (accuracy: 100%, time: 6.39 sec). The HGB classifier identified the 11 most important features (LDL, cholesterol, HDL-C, MCHC, triglyceride, amylase, UA, LDH, CK-MB, ALP and MCH) to detect the disease with 100% accuracy. In addition, the importance of single, double and triple combinations of these features in the diagnosis of the disease was discussed. We propose to use these 11 features and their binary combinations as important biomarkers for ML sensors in the diagnosis of the disease, supporting edge computing on Arduino and cloud IoT service.

Diagnosis and Prognosis of COVID-19 Disease Using Routine Blood Values and LogNNet Neural Network.

Since February 2020, the world has been engaged in an intense struggle with the COVID-19 disease, and health systems have come under tragic pressure as the disease turned into a pandemic. The aim of this study is to obtain the most effective routine blood values (RBV) in the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 using a backward feature elimination algorithm for the LogNNet reservoir neural network. The first dataset in the study consists of a total of 5296 patients with the same number of negative and positive COVID-19 tests. The LogNNet-model achieved the accuracy rate of 99.5% in the diagnosis of the disease with 46 features and the accuracy of 99.17% with only mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and activated partial prothrombin time. The second dataset consists of a total of 3899 patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 who were treated in hospital, of which 203 were severe patients and 3696 were mild patients. The model reached the accuracy rate of 94.4% in determining the prognosis of the disease with 48 features and the accuracy of 82.7% with only erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil count, and C reactive protein features. Our method will reduce the negative pressures on the health sector and help doctors to understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19 using the key features. The method is promising to create mobile health monitoring systems in the Internet of Things.

Adaptive profile of dairy cows in a tropical region.

The objectives of this study were to determine the main variables which act in the adaptive profile and the dynamic of the thermoregulatory responses of Sindi and Girolando dairy cows in tropical conditions using multivariate analyses as the auxiliary method. Thirty dairy cows were evaluated, in which the data were collected monthly during 12 months. Rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured twice a day (morning and afternoon), along with meteorological variables (air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed), and later the Black Globe and Humidity Index and Radiant Heat Load were calculated. Blood samples were collected for estimating the levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), hemoglobin concentration (HC), red blood cells (RBC), packet cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cells (WBC), glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TRI), creatinine (CRE), total protein (TP), urea (URE), albumin (ALB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The more active variables in the adaptive profile for Sindi cows were T4, PCV, RBC, WBC, TRI, CRE, HC, T3, and URE, while PCV, RBC, ALB, TP, RT, RR, URE, ALT, and AST variables were more active for Girolando cows. All animals were classified according to their corresponding group when considering all variables under study. The classification error percentage was > 40% in the Sindi cows when the physiological responses were considered, whereas an 80% success rate was observed in Girolando cows in the winter and summer seasons. The physiological responses of the dairy cows are similar in winter and distinct in summer in tropical conditions.

[Milk raw materials from retrovirus infected cows: questions of safety and quality of produced products].

The comparative evaluation of protein biological value of curd manufactured by the traditional technology and using microbial transglutaminase has been carried out. The biological experiment was conducted at Wistar laboratory rats fed by the analyzed curd samples as the protein (in the amount of 10% of the total calorie content of the diet) composed of semisynthetic diet. Within 22 days the individual rates of feed eating and the rat's body weight gain have been analyzed. During the exchanged period (from 23 to 24 days) besides the listed readings the amount of nitrogen egested with faeces and urine has been considered. The protein biological value of curd produced with transglutaminase and according to the traditional technology was evaluated by determination of protein efficiency coefficient, true nitrogen absorbency, nitrogenous balance. Besides, at the end of the exchanged period the blood immune component and protein catabolism by means of biochemical blood serum analysis has been evaluated. The results of in vitro analyses make it possible to state the assumption regarding the curd biological value improvement and digestibility of curd protein by means of milk proteins fermentative modification. The revealed reliable increase of the total protein concentration (by 4%), urea nitrogen (over 20%) and creatinine level correlated with high protein amount in the tested product consumed by rats within the exchanged period. The detected reduction of leucocytes and lymphocytes amount in blood of rats consuming the tested curd samples testified the reasonability of the additional investigation of immune reactions. The calculation of the indicators characterizing the biological value of curd protein based on its amino acid composition showed the increase of amino acid imbalance in curd produced with transglutaminase mainly due to lysine excess and the corresponding reduction of assimilability by 1.7%.

Psychological wellbeing and physical activity in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease compared to healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) report impairments in daily activities, social interactions and coping. Findings regarding psychological functioning are inconsistent, while limited information is available on objectively assessed physical activity (PA). The aims of the present study were therefore to compare anthropometric dimensions, blood values, psychological functioning and PA of children and adolescents with IBD with healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-seven children and adolescents took part in the study. Of these, 23 were diagnosed with IBD (mean age: 13.88 years, 44% females). The IBD group was divided into a medically well adjusted "remission-group" (n = 14; IBD-RE) and a group with an "active state" of disease (n = 8; IBD-AD). Healthy controls (n = 24; HC) were age- and gender-matched. Participants' anthropometric data, blood values and objective PA were assessed. Further, participants completed questionnaires covering socio-demographic data and psychological functioning. RESULTS: Participants with IBD-AD showed higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) values, haemoglobin, and leukocyte values. IBD-AD had poorer psychological functioning and lower PA (average steps per day) compared to IBD-RE and HC. No mean differences were found between IBD-RE and HC. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of results suggests that effective medical treatment of IBD in children and adolescents is associated with favorable physiological parameters, psychological dimensions and PA. Psychological counselling of children and adolescents in an active state of IBD seem to be advised in addition to standard treatment schedules. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT NCT02264275 ; Registered 8 October 2014.

BIOCHEMISTRY PANEL REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR JUVENILE GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS AURATUS).

Reference intervals for diagnostic tests are vitally important for clinical decision making. Despite the popularity of pet goldfish (Carassius auratus), reference intervals have not been generated for routine biochemistry panel analytes in this species. This study establishes de novo reference intervals for packed cell volume and total solids, using 47 apparently healthy immature goldfish, and for 11 common chemistry panel analytes (albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, calcium, creatine kinase, globulin, blood glucose, sodium, potassium, phosphorous, total protein, and uric acid) using 39 immature goldfish. Robust reference intervals were generated following recommendations of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Linear regression was used to demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between body weight and calcium, albumin, total protein, potassium, packed cell volume, and total solids. The results of this study serve as a useful baseline for future reference interval generation in goldfish.

[Impact of the entry age and veterinary care on the health and performance of veal calves. II. Blood values, performance and carcass quality]. / Einfluss des Einstallalters und der tierärztlichen Betreuung auf die Gesundheit und Leistung von Mastkälbern. II. Blutwerte, Leistungsparameter und Schlachtkörperqualität.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this field study was to investigate the impact of the entry age and of veterinary care on blood values, performance and carcass quality of veal calves in Switzerland. From July 2012 until May 2013 a total of 316 young calves (aged ø 10.8 days), 425 market calves (aged ø 39.5 days), and 65 old calves (aged ø 61.5 days) were observed during the production cycle. As control calves 9'019 veal calves fattened at the same time as the market calves were available. At time of entry the average hemoglobin value of 88.2 g/l in market calves was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in young (96.2 g/l), old (95.0 g/l) and control calves (95.0 g/l). At time of slaughter the hemoglobin of control calves was 101.2 g/l and significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in young (129.6 g/l) and market calves (131.6 g/l). The average daily weight gain reached 1.21 kg in young calves, 1.28 kg in market calves, 1.29 kg in old calves and 1.30 kg in control calves. The premature slaughter rate was 3.4% in control calves, 8.1% young (p < 0.001), 3.4% in commercial and 0% in old calves (p = 0.17). The percentage of the favorite carcass quality was 53.8% in control calves and differed significantly (p < 0.001) from young (43.5%) and market calves (42.8%), but not from old calves (50.8%, p = 0.9). The carcass color with the average photometric L-value of 41.5 in young and 41.6 in market calves differed significantly (p < 0.001) from old (44.4) and control calves (45.4). The intensive veterinary care and the different entry ages had no positive effect on performance and carcass quality. The iron supply resulted in increased hemoglobin values and in reddish carcass color in more than 50% of the investigated calves.

INTRODUCTION: Le but de la présente étude était d'étudier les effets de l'âge de la mise en lot et d'un suivi vétérinaire intensif sur les valeurs sanguines, les performances et la qualité des carcasses de veaux d'engraissement suisses. Entre juillet 2012 et mai 2013, on a suivi de la mise en lot jusqu'à l'abattage 316 jeunes veaux (âge moyen 10.8 jours), 425 veaux en âge usuel de marché (âge moyen 39.5 jours) et 65 veaux plus âgés (âge moyen 61.5 jours). On disposait comme groupe de contrôle de 9019 veaux engraissés conventionnellement, qui avaient été mis en lot au même moment que les veaux en âge usuel de marché. Au début de l'engraissement, la valeur moyenne d'hémoglobine chez les veaux en âge usuel de marché était, avec 88.2 g/l, significativement différente (p.

Hematology and serum chemistry values of sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys): comparison with rhesus monkeys.

BACKGROUND: The sooty mangabey is a vulnerable West African species that naturally harbors simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) without pathological symptoms. We present normative hematology and serum chemistry values for this species. METHODS: Hematology analytes from 136 females and 96 males and serum chemistry analytes from 57 females and 26 males were studied. RESULTS: Values of several analytes fell outside published reference ranges in the rhesus monkey, a laboratory standard for Old World primates. Erythrocyte-related parameters were higher in mangabeys than in rhesus monkeys, while platelet counts were lower. Mangabeys also had higher gamma-glutamyltransferase levels and lower urea nitrogen levels. Males had higher erythrocyte-associated values than females. Albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, calcium, and creatinine changed with age in patterns similar to those reported for the rhesus monkey. CONCLUSIONS: The unique blood profile of the mangabey should be taken into account in clinical and experimental studies of this species.

Circulating Fat-Soluble Vitamin Concentrations and Nutrient Composition of Aquatic Prey Eaten by American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus palliatus) in the Southeastern United States.

The American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus palliatus) is currently listed as a species of high concern by the United States Shorebird Conservation Plan. Because nutritional status directly impacts overall health and reproduction of individuals and populations, adequate management of a wildlife population requires intimate knowledge of a species' diet and nutrient requirements. Fat-soluble vitamin concentrations in blood plasma obtained from American oystercatchers and proximate, vitamin, and mineral composition of various oystercatcher prey species were determined as baseline data to assess nutritional status and nutrient supply. Bird and prey species samples were collected from the Cape Romain region, South Carolina, USA, and the Altamaha River delta islands, Georgia, USA, where breeding populations appear relatively stable in recent years. Vitamin A levels in blood samples were higher than ranges reported as normal for domestic avian species, and vitamin D concentrations were lower than anticipated based on values observed in poultry. Vitamin E levels were within ranges previously reported for avian groups with broadly similar feeding niches such as herons, gulls, and terns (eg, aquatic/estuarine/marine). Prey species (oysters, mussels, clams, blood arks [Anadara ovalis], whelks [ Busycon carica ], false angel wings [ Petricola pholadiformis ]) were similar in water content to vertebrate prey, moderate to high in protein, and moderate to low in crude fat. Ash and macronutrient concentrations in prey species were high compared with requirements of carnivores or avian species. Prey items analyzed appear to meet nutritional requirements for oystercatchers, as estimated by extrapolation from domestic carnivores and poultry species; excesses, imbalances, and toxicities-particularly of minerals and fat-soluble vitamins-may warrant further investigation.

Automatic Detection of Severely and Mildly Infected COVID-19 Patients with Supervised Machine Learning Models.

Objectives: When the prognosis of COVID-19 disease can be detected early, the intense-pressure and loss of workforce in health-services can be partially reduced. The primary-purpose of this article is to determine the feature-dataset consisting of the routine-blood-values (RBV) and demographic-data that affect the prognosis of COVID-19. Second, by applying the feature-dataset to the supervised machine-learning (ML) models, it is to identify severely and mildly infected COVID-19 patients at the time of admission. Material and methods: The sample of this study consists of severely (n = 192) and mildly (n = 4010) infected-patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 between March-September, 2021. The RBV-data measured at the time of admission and age-gender characteristics of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. For the selection of the features, the minimum-redundancy-maximum-relevance (MRMR) method, principal-components-analysis and forward-multiple-logistics-regression analyzes were used. The features set were statistically compared between mild and severe infected-patients. Then, the performances of various supervised-ML-models were compared in identifying severely and mildly infected-patients using the feature set. Results: In this study, 28 RBV-parameters and age-variable were found as the feature-dataset. The effect of features on the prognosis of the disease has been clinically proven. The ML-models with the highest overall-accuracy in identifying patient-groups were found respectively, as follows: local-weighted-learning (LWL)-97.86%, K-star (K*)-96.31%, Naive-Bayes (NB)-95.36% and k-nearest-neighbor (KNN)-94.05%. Also, the most successful models with the highest area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic-curve (AUC) values in identifying patient groups were found respectively, as follows: LWL-0.95%, K*-0.91%, NB-0.85% and KNN-0.75%. Conclusion: The findings in this article have significant a motivation for the healthcare professionals to detect at admission severely and mildly infected COVID-19 patients.

LogNNet model as a fast, simple and economical AI instrument in the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19.

Rapid and effective detection of the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 disease is important in terms of reducing the mortality of the disease and reducing the pressure on health systems. Methods such as PCR testing and computed tomography used for this purpose in current health systems are costly, require an expert team and take time. This study offers a fast, economical and reliable approach for the early diagnosis and prognosis of infectious diseases, especially COVID-19. For this purpose, characteristics of a large population of COVID-19 patients were determined (51 different routine blood values) and calibrated. In order to determine the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease, the calibrated features were run with the LogNNet model. LogNNet has a simple algorithm and performance indicators comparable to the most efficient algorithms available.This approach pointed out that routine blood values contain important information, especially in the detection of COVID-19, and showed that the LogNNet model can be used as an economical, safe and fast alternative tool in the diagnosis of this disease.-In the LogNNet feedforward neural network, a feature vector is passed through a specially designed reservoir matrix and transformed into a new feature vector of a different size, increasing the classification accuracy.-The presented network architecture can achieve 80%-99% classification accuracy using a range of weightings on devices with a total memory size of 1 to 29 kB constrained.-Due to the chaotic mapping procedures, the RAM usage in the LogNNet neural network processing process is greatly reduced. Hence, optimization of chaotic map parameters has an important function in LogNNet neural network application.

Prognostic Factors for the Therapeutic Performance of Cisplatin in Head and Neck Malignancies.

Introduction: For squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC), cisplatin is used as primary or adjuvant (radio)chemotherapy. In terms of dosage, two main regimens are used, weekly 40mg/m2 or 3-weekly 100mg/m2. For an optimal outcome, the highest possible cumulative total dose of cisplatin is aimed for. The selection of the scheme is patient-specific, but the factors for the selection of the optimal scheme have not yet been conclusively researched. The aim of this study was to find correlations between initial laboratory values and the cumulative total dose of cisplatin, as well as any correlations between early laboratory values or their dynamics and later laboratory values or their dynamics to provide support in the selection of the chemo regimen. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical data and laboratory values, namely glomerular filtration rate (GFR), hemoglobin, albumin, leucocyte, erythrocyte and platelet count, over the course of time of 79 patients with HNSCC who had received chemotherapy with cisplatin in our clinic between 2018 and 2021 were evaluated. Results: Patients on 3-weekly regimens achieved a higher mean cumulative total dose of cisplatin than patients on weekly regimens (214.18 ± 65.95 vs 183.33 ± 65.2 mg/m2). Significant positive correlations were seen for total cumulative dose of cisplatin with initial GFR (p=0.001, Pearson's r=0.364), initial hemoglobin (p=0.035, r=0.237), initial erythrocyte (p=0.002, r=0.337), and initial albumin (p=0.002, r=0.337). There were no significant correlations for initial leucocyte or platelets. Regarding the dynamics of the laboratory values under the first chemo administration, no correlation was found with later laboratory values or dynamics. Discussion and Conclusion: As in other prospective studies, our retrospective analysis found a higher cumulative total dose in the 3-weekly regimen. As this seems to correlate positively with patient outcome, superiority of the 3-weekly regimen over the weekly regimen can be assumed. Functioning organ systems, especially of the bone marrow and kidneys, are associated with an increased cumulative total dose and can therefore be regarded as predictive factors. Regular monitoring of laboratory values is nevertheless essential throughout the entire course of chemotherapy.

Influence of Gender on Radiosensitivity during Radiochemotherapy of Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Gender is increasingly recognized as an important factor in medicine, although it has long been neglected in medical research in many areas. We have studied the influence of gender in advanced rectal cancer with a special focus on radiosensitivity. For this purpose, we studied a cohort of 495 men (84.1% ≥ T3, 63.6% N1, 17.6%, M1) and 215 women (84.2% ≥ T3, 56.7% N1, 22.8%, M1) who all suffered from advanced rectal cancer and were treated with radiochemotherapy. The energy deposited, DNA double-strand break (dsb) repair, occurrence of chromosomal aberrations, duration of therapy, tumor regression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, laboratory parameters, quality of life and survival were assessed. The residual DNA dsb damage 24 h after irradiation in lymphocytes was identical in both sexes. Furthermore, chromosomal aberrations accurately reflecting radiosensitivity, were similar in both sexes. There were no gender-dependent differences in tumor regression, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and outcome indicating no differences in the radiosensitivity of cancer cells. The irradiated tumor volume in women was slightly lower than in men, related to body weight, no difference was observed. However, when the total energy deposited was calculated and related to the body weight, women were exposed to higher amounts of ionizing radiation. During radiochemotherapy, decreases in blood lymphocyte counts and albumin and several quality-of-life parameters such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea were significantly worse in women. There is no difference in radiation sensitivity between men and women in both normal tissue and tumors. During radiochemotherapy, the quality of life deteriorates more in women than in men. However, women also recover quickly and there are no long-term differences in quality of life.

Blood count values and ratios for predicting sleep apnea in obese children.

OBJECTIVES: To detect whether the mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are contributing factors in the diagnosis and severity of sleep apnea in obese children. INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a public health problem, and its prevalence increases daily. Although PSG is the gold standard test in the investigation of sleep apnea, the application of this test requires equipment, personnel, time, and cost. There is no simple laboratory test for diagnosing and determining the severity of sleep apnea. Recently, MPV, NLR, and PLR, known as the inflammatory markers in CBC test parameters, have been investigated in some studies. We aim to investigate whether these parameters could provide a method for diagnosing and determining the severity of OSAS in obese children. METHODS: Clinical records of 180 patients were evaluated. All subjects had venous blood samples collected from the antecubital vein in the morning, after an overnight fasting, one day before PSG. Hemoglobin, RDW, MPV, PLT, platelet distribution width (PDW), and WBC count were measured. After anthropometric and laboratory analysis, 127 obese children were assessed for sleep study. Eighty-three patients who met the required polysomnographic criteria were divided into three groups as follows: group A [non-OSAS, apnea-plus-hypopnea index (AHI) < 1], groupB (1 ≤ AHI < 5), and groupC (AHI ≥ 5). RESULTS: Total recording time, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, REM, and NREM sleep stage latency values were not statistically significant among groups. However, the number of awakenings, AHI, oxygen desaturation events, mean oxygen saturation, lowest oxygen saturation, average desaturation, and snoring time values had significant difference among the groups. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of WBC, Hemoglobin, platelets, PDW, neutrophil, and lymphocyte values. However, RDW values showed a statistically significant difference between groups A and C. Although there was no statistically significant difference of MPV values among groups, NLR and PLR values were statistically significant between groups A and C. CONCLUSION: According to our study, NLR, PLR, and RDW were found to be significantly higher in children whose AHI was ≥5 than in children from the other groups. However, no correlation was found between MPV levels and OSAS in children.

A comparison of hematology, plasma chemistry, and injuries in Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris) captured by electrofishing or angling during a spawning run.

BACKGROUND: Declines in Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris) populations in Chesapeake Bay have prompted efforts at captive propagation of wild broodfish for stock enhancement and research. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to evaluate injuries sustained, and immediate and delayed (24 hours) effects on blood variables related to 2 fish capturing methods (electrofishing [EF] and angling). METHODS: Blood specimens were collected from fish immediately following capture by EF and angling (n = 40 per sex and capture method) from the Susquehanna River (MD, USA). Additional fish (n = 25 per sex and capture method) were collected on the same day, placed in holding tanks and bled 24 hours following capture. Blood data that were non-Gaussian in distribution were transformed (Box-Cox), and effects of sex, method of capture, and holding time were tested using ANOVA with general linear models. Fish were evaluated for injuries by necropsy and radiography. RESULTS: Sex-specific differences were observed for RBC, HGB, PCV, MCH, MCHC, total proteins (TP), globulins, glucose, calcium, AST, CK, and lactate, while RBC, HGB, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, TP, albumin, globulins, glucose, potassium, sodium, AST, CK, and lactate differed significantly by fish capturing method. Electrofishing may have induced greater disruption in blood variables, but mortality (4%) was not significantly different compared to angling. CONCLUSIONS: Electrofishing for Hickory shad using a constant DC voltage resulted in numerous hematologic and biochemical changes, with no additional injuries or deaths compared to angling. Capture method must be considered when evaluating fish condition, and blood variables should be partitioned by sex during spawning season.

Physiological status of broiler chicks at pulling time and the relationship to duration of holding period.

Newly hatched chicks may be held longer than 48 h and experience long periods of fasting in commercial hatcheries. Limited information is known about the physiological status of chicks in such situations, due to the difficulty of precisely recording time of hatch. This study investigated the effect of the time from hatch to pulling (holding period) on physiological measures/parameters in 109 broiler chicks. Fertile Ross 308 eggs were incubated in a custom built small-scale incubator. The individual hatching time of each focal chick was determined using eggshell temperature monitoring. At 'pulling' (512 h of incubation time), the quality of focal chicks was assessed using the chick scoring method and physiological parameters were measured including BW, organ (heart, liver and stomach) weights, blood values and plasma corticosterone level. The time from hatch to pulling varied from 7.58 to 44.97 h. Egg weight at setting was significantly correlated with chick BW and weight of organs at pulling, but had no effect on chick quality, blood values and plasma corticosterone. Relative BW at pulling was negatively associated with the duration of holding period (P=0.002). However, there was a positive correlation between relative stomach weight and the duration of the holding period (P<0.001). As the holding period duration increased, there was a trend that blood partial pressure of oxygen, haematocrit and haemoglobin also increased, and blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide, total carbon dioxide and bicarbonate decreased (P<0.05). A wide range of plasma corticosterone was observed from chicks that had experienced different durations of holding period. We conclude that shortening the hatch window and minimising the number of chicks that experience a long holding period before pulling may improve chick quality and physiological status, which may be due to unfavourable environmental conditions that include feed and water deprivation.

The hemogram, serum biochemistry, and electrolyte profile of the free-ranging Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Sixty-four male and 33 female free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) from one of six social groups on the island of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, were surveyed to establish normal values for the hemogram and serum biochemical and electrolytes for the colony. Mean values (± 1 SD) are reported by sex for each of three age groups (2-3, 4-9 and ≥ 10 years). All adult females (≥ 4 years) were pregnant. There were significant differences for a number of variables compared to the range reported in the existing literature, and among the age and sex groups in the sampled population.

Hematological and serum biochemical values in free-ranging Macaca fascicularis of mauritius: Possible diabetes mellitus and correlation with nutrition.

Obtained values are presented from a study of blood biochemistry and hematology of free-ranging crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Mauritius. Normal values are generally comparable to those previously obtained from laboratory populations of this species. Abnormal values included elevated serum glucose and triglycerides in certain individuals that suggested glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus. A high-carbohydrate diet consisting of large proportions of sugar cane and molasses may have unmasked a genetic predisposition to diabetes in these animals.

Determination of hematology and plasma chemistry reference intervals for 3 populations of captive Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus).

BACKGROUND: The imperiled status of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), a large, long-lived, anadromous fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America, has prompted efforts at captive propagation for research and stock enhancement. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish hematology and plasma chemistry reference intervals of captive Atlantic sturgeon maintained under different culture conditions. METHODS: Blood specimens were collected from a total of 119 fish at 3 hatcheries: Lamar, PA (n = 36, ages 10-14 years); Chalk Point, MD (n = 40, siblings of Lamar); and Horn Point, Cambridge, MD (n = 43, mixed population from Chesapeake Bay). Reference intervals (using robust techniques), median, mean, and standard deviations were determined for WBC, RBC, thrombocytes, PCV, HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and absolute counts for lymphocytes (L), neutrophils (N), monocytes, and eosinophils. Chemistry analytes included concentrations of total proteins, albumin, glucose, urea, calcium, phosphate, sodium, potassium, chloride, and globulins, AST, CK, and LDH activities, and osmolality. RESULTS: Mean concentrations of total proteins, albumin, and glucose were at or below the analytic range. Statistical comparisons showed significant differences among hatcheries for each remaining plasma chemistry analyte and for PCV, RBC, MCHC, MCH, eosinophil and monocyte counts, and N:L ratio throughout all 3 groups. Therefore, reference intervals were calculated separately for each population. CONCLUSIONS: Reference intervals for fish maintained under differing conditions should be established per population.

Evaluation of the haematology and biochemistry of Clarias gariepinus as biomakers of environmental pollution in Tiga dam, Nigeria

This study aimed to evaluate the haematological and biochemical changes in Clarias gariepinus as biomarkers of environmental pollution in Tiga dam, Nigeria (wild aquatic environment). Water and fishes were sampled twice, a week apart, from the controlled and the wild aquatic environment. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences between the temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen contents of both aquatic environments. Similarly, there were no significant (p>0.05) changes in the haematological parameters of the reared and wild the C. gariepinus except in their white blood cell counts, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher in wild C. gariepinus. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase (serum enzymes) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the wild C. gariepinus. However, the concentrations of serum total triglyceride (serum metabolite) were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the wild C. gariepinus. The haematological and biochemical alterations in the wild C. gariepinus, which were strongly indicative of cellular damages, might have been a consequence of the toxic pollution of Tiga dam, Nigeria.