Vocal expression of emotions has been observed across species and could provide a non-invasive and reliable means to assess animal emotions. We investigated if pig vocal indicators of emotions ...revealed in previous studies are valid across call types and contexts, and could potentially be used to develop an automated emotion monitoring tool. We performed an analysis of an extensive and unique dataset of low (LF) and high frequency (HF) calls emitted by pigs across numerous commercial contexts from birth to slaughter (7414 calls from 411 pigs). Our results revealed that the valence attributed to the contexts of production (positive versus negative) affected all investigated parameters in both LF and HF. Similarly, the context category affected all parameters. We then tested two different automated methods for call classification; a neural network revealed much higher classification accuracy compared to a permuted discriminant function analysis (pDFA), both for the valence (neural network: 91.5%; pDFA analysis weighted average across LF and HF (cross-classified): 61.7% with a chance level at 50.5%) and context (neural network: 81.5%; pDFA analysis weighted average across LF and HF (cross-classified): 19.4% with a chance level at 14.3%). These results suggest that an automated recognition system can be developed to monitor pig welfare on-farm.
Purpose Pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PHEOs/PGLs) overexpress ă somatostatin receptors and recent studies have already shown excellent ă results in the localization of these tumors using ...Ga-68-labeled ă somatostatin analogs (Ga-68-DOTA-SSA), especially in patients with ă germline succinate dehydrogenase subunit B gene (SDHB) mutations and ă head and neck PGLs (HNPGLs). The value of Ga-68-DOTA-SSA has to be ă established in sporadic cases, including PHEOs. Thus, the aim of this ă study was to compare Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT, F-18-FDOPA PET/CT, and ă conventional imaging in patients with various PHEOs/PGLs with a special ă emphasis on sporadic cases, including those located in the adrenal ă gland. ă Design Ga-68-DOTATATE, F-18-FDOPA PET/CT, and conventional imaging ă (contrast-enhanced CT and MRI with MR angiography sequences) were ă prospectively performed in 30 patients (8 with SDHD mutations, 1 with a ă MAX mutation and 21 sporadic cases) with PHEO/PGL at initial diagnosis ă or relapse. ă Results The patient-based sensitivities were 93 % (28/30), 97 % ă (29/30), and 93 % (28/30) for Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT, F-18-FDOPA PET/CT, ă and conventional imaging, respectively. The lesion-based sensitivities ă were 93 % (43/46), 89 % (41/46), and 76 % (35/46) for Ga-68-DOTATATE ă PET/CT, F-18-FDOPA PET/CT, and conventional imaging respectively (p = ă 0.042). Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT detected a higher number of HNPGLs (30/30) ă than F-18-FDOPA PET/CT (26/30; p = 0.112) and conventional imaging ă (24/30; p = 0.024). Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT missed two PHEOs of a few ă millimeters in size and a large recurrent PHEO. One lesion was ă considered false-positive on Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT and corresponded to a ă typical focal lesion of fibrous dysplasia on MRI. Among the 11 lesions ă missed by conventional imaging, 7 were detected by conventional imaging ă with knowledge of the PET results (4 HNPGLs, 2 LNs, and 1 recurrent ă PHEO). ă Conclusion Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT is the most sensitive tool in the ă detection of HNPGLs, especially SDHD-related tumors, which may be very ă small and fail to concentrate sufficient F-18-FDOPA. The present study ă further expands the use of Ga-68-DOTATATE for all patients with HNPGLs, ă regardless of their genotype. Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT may be inferior to ă F-18-FDOPA PET/CT in the detection PHEOs.
Prenatal sensory experience, notably auditory experience, is a source of fetal memories in many species. The contiguity between sensory stimuli and maternal emotional reactions provides opportunity ...for associative learning in utero but no clear evidence for this associative learning has been presented to date. Understanding this phenomenon would advance our knowledge of fetal sensory learning capacities. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that sounds (human voice) broadcast to pregnant sows while they experienced positive or negative emotional situations influences postnatal reactions of their offspring to these same sounds. The results show that: 1) from the first testing at the age of 2 days, the experimental piglets were less distressed by a social separation than controls if they heard the "familiar" voice, 2) piglets generalized to any human voice although the influence of novel voices was less pronounced, 3) in a challenging situation, piglets were more distressed if they heard the voice that was associated with maternal negative emotional state in utero. These findings open a whole line of new research on the long term effect of in utero associative learning that goes well beyond pigs, providing a framework for reconsidering the importance of sensory and emotional experiences during gestation.
Purpose
With increasing economic pressures to shorten the length of hospital stay, there has been much recent interest in studying risk factors for the development of postoperative hypocalcemia after ...total thyroidectomy.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum calcium and/or PTH levels can predict post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism.
Methods
From January to December 2014, 477 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were included. Corrected calcemia and PTH were systematically performed on postoperative day 1/(POD1). Symptomatic patients were treated on POD1 or POD2 with calcium and vitamin D.
Results
Sixty-eight patients (14.25%) were treated for postoperative hypocalcemia. No patients with calcemia ≥ 2.16 mmol/l and PTH ≥ 1.9 pmol/l were supplemented and therefore were safely discharged on POD1 (specificity = 100%). All patients with calcemia ≤ 1.89 mmol/l were treated regardless the PTH values (
n
= 10) (specificity = 100%). For calcium value between 1.9 and 2.16 mmol/l with a PTH > 4.7 pmol/l, nobody was treated. With a calcemia between 1.9 and 2.16 mmol/l and a PTH > 1.9 pmol/l, 44 patients did not develop any symptom. ROC curve analysis showed that combination of Cac = 2.16 mmol/l and iPTH = 4.7 pmol/l provided a sensitivity of 97.06% and a specificity of 76.53% (
p
< 0.0001). We therefore propose an algorithm that would allow to 70% of patients could have been discharged on POD1 without risk of hypocalcemia or overtreatment.
Conclusion
Combination of corrected calcemia and PTH on POD1 can efficiently predict hypocalcemia and be integrated into clinical practice for personalizing lengths of hospitalization and appropriate treatment.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov PRS. Unique Identifying number or registration ID: NCT04372225
Abstract
Context
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 1 (FHH-1) defines an autosomal dominant disease, related to mutations in the CASR gene, with mild hypercalcemia in most cases. Cases of ...FHH-1 with a short QT interval have not been reported to date.
Objective
Three family members presented with FHH-1 and short QT interval (<360 ms), a condition that could lead to cardiac arrhythmias, and the effects of cinacalcet, an allosteric modulator of the CaSR, in rectifying the abnormal sensitivity of the mutant CaSR and in correcting the short QT interval were determined.
Methods
CASR mutational analysis was performed by next-generation sequencing and functional consequences of the identified CaSR variant (p.Ile555Thr), and effects of cinacalcet were assessed in HEK293 cells expressing wild-type and variant CaSRs. A cinacalcet test consisting of administration of 30 mg cinacalcet (8 Am) followed by hourly measurement of serum calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone during 8 hours and an electrocardiogram was performed.
Results
The CaSR variant (p.Ile555Thr) was confirmed in all 3 FHH-1 patients and was shown to be associated with a loss of function that was ameliorated by cinacalcet. Cinacalcet decreased parathyroid hormone by >50% within two hours, and decreases in serum calcium and increases in serum phosphate occurred within 8 hours, with rectification of the QT interval, which remained normal after 3 months of cinacalcet treatment.
Conclusion
Our results indicate that FHH-1 patients should be assessed for a short QT interval and a cinacalcet test used to select patients who are likely to benefit from this treatment.
Enriching the life of farm animals is a legal obligation in intensive farming conditions in the European Union, though not worldwide. In pigs, manipulable materials are mandatory when no bedding is ...available. Like manipulable objects, positive human interactions might also be considered as enrichment, as they provide the animals with opportunities to interact, increase their activity and lead to positive emotional states. In this study, we investigated how weaned pigs perceived an inanimate manipulable object and a familiar human. After a similar (in length, frequency, and procedure) familiarization to both stimuli, 24 weaned pigs were tested for a potential preference for one of the stimuli and submitted to isolation/reunion tests to evaluate the emotional value of the stimuli. We hypothesized that being reunited with a stimulus would attenuate the stress of social isolation and promote a positive state, especially if the stimulus had a positive emotional value for pigs. Although our behavioral data showed no evidence that pigs spent more time close to, or in contact with, one of the stimuli during a choice test, pigs more often approached the human and were observed lying down only near the human. Using behavioral and bioacoustic data from isolation/reunion tests, we showed that a reunion with the human decreased the time spent in an attentive state and mobility of pigs to a greater extent than a reunion with the object, or isolation. Vocalizations differed between reunions with the object and the human, and were different from those during isolation. The human and object presence led to higher frequency range and more noisy grunts, but only the human led to the production of positive shorter grunts, usually associated with positive situations. In conclusion, pigs seemed to be in a more positive emotional state, or be reassured, in the presence of a familiar human compared to the object after a short period of social isolation. This confirms the potential need for positive pseudo-social interactions with a human to enrich the pigs' environment, at least in or after potentially stressful situations.
Primary hyperparathyroidism/(PHPT) is one of the most common endocrinological conditions. Surgery remains the only curative option. We have evaluated the performance of double isotope ...123I/99mTc-sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy/(PS) with subtraction SPECT/CT in PHP for identifying uniglandular disease.
Ninety PHPT patients undergoing parathyroidectomy (December 2015–August 2016) were included. All patients were evaluated with neck ultrasound/(US), PS and SPECT/CT with a new protocol. Outcomes from imaging modalities were reported as: uniglandular disease/(UGD), multiglandular disease/(MGD), or negative, and were compared to post-operative diagnoses.
Post-operatively, 72 and 18 patients had true UGD and MGD, respectively. Sensitivities and specificities of US, pinhole scintigraphy with subtraction, pinhole and SPECT/CT with subtraction, and all modalities combined were 91.7%/38.9%, 88.9%/72.2%, 93%/66.7% and 84.72%/77.78%, respectively: specificity of US + PS superior to US alone, p = 0.074. SPECT/CT enables reclassification of doubtful uptake foci.
Combination of neck US and PS with subtraction SPECT/CT offers a higher specificity for guiding towards minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.
•18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT has emerged as a second-line imaging for evaluation of PHPT.•Combination of parathyroid US and scintigraphy represents the optimal imaging approach for directing surgery.•Subtraction SPECT/CT enables reclassification of doubtful foci on pinhole image and detects ectopic adenomas.
The SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus deals with the management of thyroid nodules, a condition that is a frequent reason for consultation in endocrinology. In more than 90% of cases, patients are ...euthyroid, with benign non-progressive nodules that do not warrant specific treatment. The clinician's objective is to detect malignant thyroid nodules at risk of recurrence and death, toxic nodules responsible for hyperthyroidism or compressive nodules warranting treatment. The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules requires close collaboration between endocrinologists, nuclear medicine physicians and surgeons, but also involves other specialists. Therefore, this consensus statement was established jointly by 3 societies: the French Society of Endocrinology (SFE), French-speaking Association of Endocrine Surgery (AFCE) and French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN); the various working groups included experts from other specialties (pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, biologists, etc.). This section deals with the surgical management of thyroid nodules.
Background Elevated apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) has been postulated to contribute to the atherogenic dyslipidemia seen in obesity and insulin-resistant states, mainly by impairing plasma ...triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) metabolism. Bariatric surgery is associated with improvements of several obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities, including a reduction in plasma triglycerides (TGs) and an increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Objectives We investigated the specific effect of bariatric surgery on apoC-III concentrations in plasma, non-HDL, and HDL fractions in relation to lipid profile parameters evolution. Methods A total of 132 obese subjects undergoing bariatric surgery, gastric bypass ( n = 61) or sleeve gastrectomy ( n = 71), were studied 1 month before surgery and 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results Plasma apoC-III, non-HDL-apoC-III, and HDL-apoC-III concentrations were markedly reduced after surgery and strongly associated with reduction in plasma TG. This decrease was accompanied by a redistribution of apoC-III from TRL to HDL fractions. In multivariate analysis, plasma apoC-III was the strongest predictor of TG reduction after surgery, and the increase of HDL-C was positively associated with plasma adiponectin and negatively with body mass index. Conclusion Marked reduction of apoC-III and changes in its distribution between TRL and HDL consistent with a better lipid profile are achieved in obese patients after bariatric surgery. These apoC-III beneficial modifications may have implications in dyslipidemia improvement and contribute to cardiovascular risk reduction after surgery.
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