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This article reports the first camera-trap record of twin caracal kittens in Saudi Arabia. The caracal is a widespread wild felid in Arabia, but information on its reproduction in the region is scarce. The camera-trap photographs taken in August 2023 show a female caracal with her twin kittens in the Asir region. The caracal population in Saudi Arabia is considered rare, but recent surveys confirm their presence and breeding in the south-west of the country. The caracal is categorized as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but regional assessments suggest it is threatened or declining in certain areas. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To investigate the association of folic acid (FA) supplementation with birth weight, the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW) in singleton and twin pregnancy.Design: A population-based cross-sectional survey.Setting: Twenty counties and ten districts in Shaanxi Province of northwestern China, 2013.Participants: 28 174 pregnant women with their infants, covering 27 818 single live births and 356 twin live births.Results: The prevalence of FA supplementation in singletons and twins was 63·9 and 66·3 %. The mean birth weight was 3267 (sd 459·1) g, 2525 (sd 534·0) g and 2494 (sd 539·5) g; the prevalence of SGA was 14·3, 51·4 and 53·4 %; the prevalence of LBW was 3·4, 42·4 and 46·6 % among singleton, twin A and twin B, respectively. Compared with non-users, women with FA supplementation were (β 17·3, 95 % CI 6·1, 28·4; β 166·3, 95 % CI 69·1, 263·5) associated with increased birth weight, lower risk of SGA (OR 0·85, 95 % CI 0·80, 0·92; OR 0·45, 95 % CI 0·30, 0·68) and LBW (OR 0·82, 95 % CI 0·71, 0·95; OR 0·50, 95 % CI 0·33, 0·75) in singletons and twins, and more prominent effects in twins. Moreover, there were significant interactions between FA supplementation and plurality on birth weight, SGA and LBW.Conclusions: The present study suggests the association of periconceptional 0·4 mg/d FA supplementation with increased birth weight and reduced risk of SGA and LBW in both singletons and twins, and this association may be more prominent in twins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large hippopotamus I Hippopotamus amphibius i is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. According to data from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), of the 561 recorded births among hippopotamuses in AZA institutions from 1880 to 2021, only 6 (1%) were twins. Given the precarious status of hippopotamuses in Nigeria, our observation of twins is encouraging. [Extracted from the article]

Investigations into the genetic architecture of diet–disease relationships are particularly relevant today with the global epidemic of obesity and chronic disease. Twin studies have demonstrated that genetic makeup plays a significant role in a multitude of dietary phenotypes such as energy and macronutrient intakes, dietary patterns, and specific food group intakes. Besides estimating heritability of dietary assessment, twins provide a naturally unique, case–control experiment. Due to their shared upbringing, matched genes and sex (in the case of monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs), and age, twins provide many advantages over classic epidemiological approaches. Future genetic epidemiological studies could benefit from the twin approach particularly where defining what is ‘normal’ is problematic due to the high inter-individual variability underlying metabolism. Here, we discuss the use of twins to generate heritability estimates of food intake phenotypes. We then highlight the value of discordant MZ pairs to further nutrition research through discovery and validation of biomarkers of intake and health status in collaboration with cutting-edge omics technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ObjectiveTo determine the association between long-term leisure-time physical activity/inactivity and eating behaviours in twin pairs discordant for physical activity for 30 years.DesignCo-twin control design with cross-sectional data collection using questionnaire on eating habits and 5 d food diary. Differences in eating behaviours between physically active and inactive co-twins were analysed with pairwise tests.SettingFinland.SubjectsSixteen same-sex twin pairs (seven monozygotic and nine dizygotic, mean age 60 years) discordant for physical activity, selected from the Finnish Twin Cohort on the basis of physical activity discordance for 30 years, blinded to their possible differences in eating behaviours.ResultsThe eating habits questionnaire revealed that physically active co-twins more frequently reported that it is easy to eat according to need, whereas overeating and/or restrictive eating was more common among the inactive co-twins (P = 0·035). Avoiding calories was more common among the active than inactive co-twins (P = 0·034). Based on food diaries the physically active co-twins had daily energy intake on average 15·5 kJ/kg higher than their inactive co-twins (P = 0·030). The active co-twins also had a higher intake of vitamin C (P = 0·004), total water (P = 0·044), legumes and nuts (P = 0·015) and sweets (P = 0·036), as well as a lower energy-adjusted intake of meat (P = 0·013).ConclusionsThe physically active persons seem to eat more but not necessarily healthier food. However, habitual physical activity may help in eating according to need and in reaching and maintaining a healthy body composition. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate both dietary and physical activity advice into health counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between genetic susceptibility to obesity, physical activity (PA), dietary fibre, sugar and fat intakes and 4-year changes in body mass index (BMI) and attained waist circumference (WC) in a cohort of 287 monozygotic and 189 dizygotic young adult male twin pairs. Increased knowledge about interactions between genes and environment may provide insight into why some individuals are more prone to obesity than others.Design: Information about PA, BMI, dietary habits, WC and potential confounders was collected by questionnaire in 1998 and 2002. The cohort data were analysed by mixed linear models.Results: Twins with low PA attained larger WC than twins with high PA (difference 2.5 cm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 3.6). The twins with the lowest fibre intake were found to have attained the highest WC and to have increased most in BMI (difference between highest and lowest fibre intakes: 1.6 cm, 95% CI 0.4, 2.9 and 0.45 kg m−2, 95% CI 0.15, 0.76, respectively). Furthermore, our results suggested the presence of interactions so that twins with genetic susceptibility to obesity were more prone to have larger WC if sedentary than twins without genetic susceptibility.Conclusion: PA and a diet rich in fibre may be protective against weight gain among younger adult men. An interaction between PA, genes and attained WC is a novel finding which needs confirmation by other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the effectiveness of twins in examining the strength of heredity and environment. Extent of the similarities and differences between twins; Details of the history of twins espoused by scientist Francis Galton; Distinction between identical anf fraternal twin.

Introduction: If death is only an "accident of life", according to the word of Bichat, then it can be brutal, unexpected and traumatic Objectives: We will show here the particular relationship between these particular children and their grandparents which will lead us to understand to a certain extent the trauma of this unexpected death. Methods: Exploitation and analysis of the patient file. Results:M73 years and F 63-years are the grandparents of J and his twin 5 years. J was suffering from recurrent tonsillitis, and his doctor decided to operate on him. The day of the operation, Maccompanied J. A few minutes after the doctor announce the death of J after the anesthesia. It was a shock said M. F was inconsolable and their daughter was stronger. Mand F are received in psychiatric onemonth after the death of J. They have since the death a reviviscence syndrome with flashback of the child playing and dragging in the house. F also presents an anxio-depressive syndrome. Conclusions: M-F took care of their little sons with kindness. The intensity of investment of this relationship with these twins testifies to the shock received by M and his wife to the unexpected and brutal announcement of the death of J on the operating table. F and Msuffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This text, showing the special relationship between these grandparents and their twin little sons, also raises the problem of traumatic death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder-its pathogenesis remains unclear, symptomatology as well as treatment outcomes vary among patients. Objectives: To report different treatment outcomes with different treatment approaches between two female monozygotic twins suffering from schizophrenia. Methods: Patients were clinically observed after diagnosis for five years, approximately twice per year. Their functionality level was evaluated based on daily activities. Results: Both twins were diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia during university (twin A at the age of 23, one year earlier than Twin B). Although twin A experienced a less severe premorbid disorder manifestation than her sister, she was hospitalized and treated with haloperidol, discontinued her education and minimized her social contacts, whereas twin B was treated in an outpatient setting with aripiprazole per os, was stabilized in 3 months' time, continued her studies and had a stable relationship. Twin A had a relapse 13 months after the diagnosis, experienced a second 3-month hospitalization and was discharged with amisulprid 600mg/day, refusing long-acting injectable treatment. After her sister's relapse, twin B decided to start long-acting aripiprazole to reduce the risk of another episode and protect her own functionality. Twin A had 3 more episodes in the following 3 years and is currently on clozapine, 75% disabled and without social contacts. Twin B has successfully graduated university, is married with a 5-month child and is still under long-acting injectable aripiprazole. Conclusions: Different treatment approaches may lead to different treatment outcomes in early onset schizophrenia, evenwhen patients share the same genome and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]