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The effects of maternal nutrition on offspring phenotypes have been mainly documented over the past years in mammals, and are now studied in poultry as well. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a reduced level of dietary Methionine (Met) on laying performances of common laying ducks and their impacts on the phenotype of their mule ducklings. A total of 60 female laying ducks were divided into 2 dietary treatments at 10 wk of age. The restricted group received Met-restricted diets (R group) containing 0.25% of Met whereas the control group received control diets (C group) containing 0.40% of Met that meets Met requirements. The restriction was applied during the growing and laying periods, from 10 to 51 wk of age and a particular focus was put on female breeder traits that might be affected by the Met restriction. Plasma parameters of hepatic and lipid metabolisms were recorded in ducklings. Total weight (P < 0.001), albumen weight (P < 0.001) and albumen percentage of dry matter (P < 0.01) were decreased for eggs laid by female breeders from the R group. Both male and female ducklings from the R group of female breeders showed a reduced BW at hatching (P < 0.001) and a tendency to an increased proportional liver weight (P = 0.07). Finally, the maternal low dietary Met level modified plasma parameters in newborn ducklings regardless of sex: alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities were reduced (P = 0.07 and P = 0.002, respectively), levels of glucose (P = 0.03) and triglycerides (P = 0.01) were higher whereas level of free fatty acids decreased (P = 0.01). It was concluded that feeding female laying ducks with a restricted dietary Met content during the growing and laying periods has a negative effect on egg weight and composition. The ducklings that were restricted in nutrients during their early development, have a reduced BW, and altered lipid and hepatic metabolisms., (© 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for rabbit semen production, semen characteristics and fertilising ability following artificial insemination. It involved five successive batches of 30-36 bucks each, 22 weeks of semen collection, and 11 weeks of semen recording per batch. Semen analyses were based on 2312 ejaculates. A total of 2019 inseminations were performed on 674 females with semen from 236 ejaculates from 128 bucks. Heritability estimates of semen traits ranged from 0.05 to 0.18. At approximately 0.05-0.06 for pH, volume and mass motility, they were higher for concentration (0.10) and the total number of sperms per ejaculate (0.12), and even higher for motility traits based on computer-assisted semen analysis. The percentage of motile sperms had the highest heritability (0.18) and appeared to be a good candidate criterion to select for both sperm number and motility. The heritability estimates were close to zero for all three criteria of fertilising ability: fertility (F), prolificacy (live births, LB) and their product (LB per insemination). A permanent environmental effect of the male seemed to be higher for LB (0.04) than for F (0.01). The rabbit does accounted for approximately 10% of the variance of the three criteria. With respect to the female, the male contribution was negligible for fertility and in a ratio of 4-10 for the number of live births. In our experimental conditions, prolificacy would thus be more highly influenced by the buck than fertility., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between rabbit semen characteristics and semen fertilising ability after insemination, which is generally found to be weak. Our hypothesis was that using high semen dilutions (1 : 19), non-oestrus-stimulated does, and homospermic inseminations would make it easier to predict semen fertilising ability. Semen characteristics were evaluated on 275 ejaculates of 128 INRA1001 bucks, distributed into five successive batches. A total of 1970 inseminations were performed. The continuous semen variables were subdivided into three classes of similar size to account for any non-linear relationship between semen characteristics and fertilising ability. Mass motility was divided into two classes according to the presence or absence of waves under microscope observation. Libido, the presence or absence of gel, volume, percentage of progressive sperms, curvilinear velocity, beat frequency of the flagellum, and straightness and linearity of sperm movement did not affect fertility, prolificacy or productivity. It was confirmed that mass motility, estimated by visual observation under the microscope, significantly influenced fertility as well as the percentage of motile and of rapid sperms, and the amplitude of lateral head displacement, estimated by a computer-assisted semen analysis system. To a lesser extent, the percentage of motile cells and of rapid cells significantly influenced prolificacy. Consequently, mass motility and the percentage of motile cells significantly influenced rabbit doe productivity (+1 live births/AI when the semen showed at least a beginning of wave movement, or when the percentage of motile cells was >84%). Interestingly, a gain of 1.5 rabbits was observed when the percentage of rapid cells changed from 64% to 79%, whereas productivity significantly dropped beyond 83% of rapid cells, reflecting a non-linear relationship.

Background: In mammals, multigenerational environmental effects have been documented by either epidemiological studies in human or animal experiments in rodents. Whether such phenomena also occur in birds for more than one generation is still an open question. The objective of this study was to investigate if a methionine deficiency experienced by a mother (G0) could affect her grand-offspring phenotypes (G2 hybrid mule ducks and G2 purebred Muscovy ducks), through their Muscovy sons (G1). Muscovy drakes are used for the production of mule ducks, which are sterile offspring of female common duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and Muscovy drakes (Cairina moschata). In France, mule ducks are bred mainly for the production of "foie gras", which stems from hepatic steatosis under two weeks of force-feeding (FF). Two groups of female Muscovy ducks received either a methionine deficient diet or a control diet. Their sons were mated to Muscovy or to common duck females to produce Muscovy or Mule ducks, respectively. Several traits were measured in the G2 progenies, concerning growth, feed efficiency during FF, body composition after FF, and quality of foie gras and magret., Results: In the G2 mule duck progeny, grand-maternal methionine deficiency (GMMD) decreased 4, 8, and 12 week body weights but increased weight gain and feed efficiency during FF, and abdominal fat weight. The plasmatic glucose and triglyceride contents at the end of FF were higher in the methionine deficient group. In the G2 purebred Muscovy progeny, GMMD tended to decrease 4 week body weight in both sexes, and decreased weight gain between the ages of 4 and 12 weeks, 12 week body weight, and body weight at the end of FF in male offspring only. GMMD tended to increase liver weight and increased the carcass proportion of liver in both sexes., Conclusion: Altogether, these results show that the mother's diet is able to affect traits linked to growth and to lipid metabolism in the offspring of her sons, in Muscovy ducks. Whether this transmission through the father of information induced in the grand-mother by the environment is epigenetic remains to be demonstrated.

The aim of this study, based on a five-year-long experiment, was to analyse some of the factors that influence rabbit sperm production. A total of 174 bucks between 23 and 44 weeks of age from five successive groups were used for semen collection one day per week, two times, at a 15 min interval (ejaculates of rank 1 and 2), over a period of 21 weeks. Immediately after collection, pH, mass motility, volume and concentration were measured using classical methods, and a set of motility parameters were recorded by a computer-assisted semen analysis system. Between groups, the number of motile sperm per ejaculate, considered as a synthetic criterion combining both qualitative and quantitative aspects of semen characteristics, varied from simple to double (from 150 to 326×10(6)), reflecting the strong influence of uncontrolled environmental factors. Adult (37-43 weeks old) expressed a higher number of motile sperm/ejaculate than younger bucks (300 vs. 205×10(6)). In autumn the number of motile sperm/ejaculate was higher than in summer (287 vs. 188×10(6)). Sperm production was higher on average for the first ejaculate compared to the second one (270 vs. 167×10(6)). For several semen characteristics, the effect of the collector was significant but without any repercussion on sperm production. Bucks born to nulliparous or primiparous does had higher performances. This study highlights the high variability of rabbit semen characteristics and the multitude of factors involved, either controlled or uncontrolled., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Little is known about epigenetic mechanisms in birds with the exception of the phenomenon of dosage compensation of sex chromosomes, although such mechanisms could be involved in the phenotypic variability of birds, as in several livestock species. This paper reviews the literature on epigenetic mechanisms that could contribute significantly to trait variability in birds, and compares the results to the existing knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms in mammals. The main issues addressed in this paper are: (1) Does genomic imprinting exist in birds? (2) How does the embryonic environment influence the adult phenotype in avian species? (3) Does the embryonic environment have an impact on phenotypic variability across several successive generations? The potential for epigenetic studies to improve the performance of individual animals through the implementation of limited changes in breeding conditions or the addition of new parameters in selection models is still an open question.

Ducks (common, Muscovy and mule ducks) are the third most important bird species in animal production for human consumption worldwide. Our study aimed to improve the efficiency of mule duck breeding, thus contributing to the efficiency of food production in general. In the common duck, females can be bred either with males of the same species (i.e. in pure breeding (PB) subscript p) or in inter-generic crossbreeding (CB; subscript c) with Muscovy drakes to produce the hybrid mule duck. The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic parameters of several indicators of duration of fertility, considered to be a trait of the female duck, within and between breeding schemes and, in particular, to estimate the purebred-crossbred genetic correlation (rg pc). These indicators were maximum duration of fertility (MD), that is, the time interval between insemination and the last fertilised egg, the number of fertile eggs (F) and of hatched ducklings (H) after a single artificial insemination (AI), and the fertility rate over days 2 to 12 after AI (F 2,12), taking three sub-periods (F 2,4, F 5,8, F 9,12) into account. A total of 494 females and 2655 inseminations were involved. PB resulted in longer duration of fertility (MD p = 8.1 v. MD c = 6.4 days). Heritability (h 2) was higher for MD p (estimate ± s.e.: 0.27 ± 0.04) than for MD c (0.15 ± 0.04), but both traits were highly correlated with each other (rg pc = 0.85 ± 0.07). F p and F c had similar heritability (h 2 around 0.24) and displayed a high genetic correlation (0.78 ± 0.07). The same was true for H p and H c (h 2 around 0.17 and rg pc = 0.88 ± 0.05). The heritability estimates were 0.24 ± 0.03 for F 2,12p and 0.20 ± 0.04 for F 2,12c, with a 0.80 ± 0.07 genetic correlation between each other. Permanent environmental effects influenced MD p far less than MD c, F p less than F c, but H p and H c to the same extent. The high values for rg pc (>0.78) indicated that the same genes are involved in the duration of fertility for both PB and CB. Unlike CB, initial fertility for PB (F 2,4p) was not correlated to overall fertility rate and to duration of fertility and probably involves different genes, if any. In both breeding schemes, indirect selection on F would be better than direct selection on H to improve H, and easier to implement than selection on MD. Moreover, any gain in one breeding scheme will have its correlated counterpart in the other one, because of the high values of rg pc.

To elucidate the origin and genetic structure of the domesticated duck in Eurasia and North America, we sequenced 114 duck D-loop sequences and retrieved 489 D-loop sequences from GenBank. In total, 603 ducks including 50 duck breeds/populations from eight countries (China, France, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Thailand and USA) were used in this study. One hundred and thirty-four haplotypes and 81 variable sites were detected. H49 was the predominant haplotype, which was considered to be the same dominant haplotype found in the previous studies, and was found in 309 birds. The smallest values for both genetic differentiation index (F(ST), 0.04156) and the number of the net nucleotide substitutions between two populations (D(A), 0.00018) were observed between Eurasian domestic ducks and Eurasian mallards. No geography, breed or population clusters were observed in the Eurasian domestic ducks and mallards. Five haplotypes were shared by USA mallards and Eurasian domestic duck/Eurasian mallards. Only one haplotype (H49) was shared by Eurasian domestic ducks and China spot-billed ducks. By combining phylogenetic analyses, haplotype network profile, genetic distances and shared haplotypes, we can draw two major conclusions: (i) Eurasian and North American mallards show a clear geographic distribution pattern; (ii) Eurasian domestic ducks are derived from the Eurasian mallards, not from the spot-billed ducks., (© 2011 The Authors, Animal Genetics © 2011 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Background: The progressive nature of type 2 diabetes necessitates exogenous insulin use for most patients; basal insulin plus oral anti-diabetes drugs (OADs) is a well-validated way to facilitate insulin initiation. The primary aim of this study was to explore insulin initiation strategies and outcomes for patients using insulin detemir or glargine plus oral anti-diabetes drugs., Methods: LIGHT was a 3-month, longitudinal observational study conducted across 761 French centres in insulin-naïve type 2 diabetes patients managed under routine clinical care conditions, in either primary or secondary care. Endpoints included changes in HbA(1c) , fasting plasma glucose (FPG), rate of hypoglycaemia, weight, and adverse events., Results: Most physicians initiated a basal analogue to improve glycaemic control (97%), with many delaying beginning treatment for several months (9 ± 9.0 months for general practitioners, 10.2 ± 16.2 months for specialists). Most patients continued oral anti-diabetes drug therapy (95%) and lifestyle measures (92%), with 2-3 blood glucose readings per day and follow-up telephone calls for dose optimization. Mean change in HbA(1c) from baseline was - 1.3%, and - 3.1 mmol/L for fasting plasma glucose (both p < 0.0001). Hypoglycaemia increased from 1.4 to 5.6 events/patient/year (p < 0.0001), and weight decreased on average by 0.5 kg with detemir, with no change in glargine. Most patients (93%) reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their insulin., Conclusions: Insulin initiation with detemir or glargine can be successfully managed in both primary and secondary care; the benefits of basal analogues (once-daily dosing, low rates of hypoglycaemia compared with neutral protamine Hagedorn) may have contributed to patient acceptance of the regimen., (Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Genetic parameters of traits related to hepatic lipid metabolism, carcass composition, and product quality of overfed mule ducks were estimated on both parental lines of this hybrid: the common duck line for the maternal side and the Muscovy line for the paternal side. The originality of the statistical model was to include simultaneously the additive genetic effect of the common ducks and that of the Muscovy ducks, revealing a greater genetic determinism in common than in Muscovy. Plasma metabolic indicators (glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol contents) were heritable, in particular at the end of the overfeeding period, and heritabilities increased with the overfeeding stage. Carcass composition traits were highly heritable in the common line, with values ranging from 0.15 for liver weight, 0.21 for carcass weight, and 0.25 for abdominal fat weight to 0.32 for breast muscle weight. Heritabilities of technological outputs were greater for the fatty liver (0.19 and 0.08, respectively, on common and Muscovy sides for liver melting rate) than for the pectoralis major muscle (between 0.02 and 0.05 on both parental sides for cooking losses). Fortunately, the processing industry is mainly facing problems in liver quality, such as too high of a melting rate, than in meat quality. The meat quality appraisal criteria (such as texture and cooking losses), usually dependent on pH and the rate of decline of pH, were also very lowly heritable. This study demonstrated that genetic determinism of meat quality and ability of overfeeding is not similar in the common population and in the Muscovy population; traits related to fattening, muscle development, and BW have heritability values from 2 to 4 times greater on the common line than on the Muscovy line, which is relevant for considering different selection strategies.

Aim: Continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion (CIPII) with the DiaPort system using regular insulin was compared to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) using insulin Lispro, to investigate the frequency of hypoglycemia, blood glucose control, quality of life, and safety., Methods: In this open, randomized, controlled, cross-over, multinational, 12-month study, 60 type 1 diabetic patients with frequent hypoglycemia and/or HbA1c > 7.0% with CSII were randomized to CIPII or CSII. The aim was to obtain the best possible blood glucose while avoiding hypoglycemia., Results: The frequency of any hypoglycemia was similar (CIPII 118.2 (SD 82.6) events / patient year, CSII 115.8 (SD 75.7) p = 0.910). The incidence of severe hypoglycemia with CSII was more than twice the one with CIPII (CIPII 34.8 events / 100 patient years, CSII 86.1, p = 0.013). HbA1c, mean blood glucose, and glucose fluctuations were not statistically different. Treatment-related severe complications occurred mainly during CIPII: port infections (0.47 events / patient year), abdominal pain (0.21 events / patient year), insulin underdelivery (0.14 events / patient year). Weight gain was greater with CSII (+ 1.5 kg vs. - 0.1 kg, p = 0.013), quality of life better with CIPII., Conclusions: In type 1 diabetes CIPII with DiaPort reduces the number of severe episodes of hypoglycemia and improves quality of life with no weight gain. Because of complications, indications for CIPII must be strictly controlled. CIPII with DiaPort is an alternative therapy when CSII is not fully successful and provides an easy method of intraperitoneal therapy.

A total of 540 common duck dams were used for a comparison of duration of fertility and hatchability between eggs issued from common dams inseminated with sperm (175 x 10(6) dose(-1)) from either common (pure-breeding or PB) or Muscovy (crossbreeding or CB) drakes. Artificial inseminations (AI) were performed at 3 periods of the reproductive season (27-35, 39-43 and 49-56 weeks) with 2 alternate inseminations/period at 3-week intervals (one with semen from common and the other from Muscovy). Fertility was estimated from egg candling while early embryo mortality (EEM), medium embryo mortality (MEM) and late embryo mortality (LEM) was estimated on Days 0-6 (PB+CB), Days 7-25 (PB) or Day 28 (CB) of incubation, and after, respectively. Overall fertility from Days 2-12 after AI was 61.1% in PB and 42.8% in CB. The maximum duration of fertility (time interval between AI and last fertile egg) was 8.1 days in PB versus 6.4 days in CB (p<0.05). The age of the dam influenced this interval, particularly in PB, with a longer duration at 40 weeks compared to 50 (p<0.05). On average, EEM represented 2.5% of fertile eggs while MEM accounted for 5% of surviving embryos on Day 6 and LEM, for 11.5% of hatched eggs. MEM was significantly higher in CB (6.3%) compared to PB (3.9%; p<0.05). Overall, an increase in EEM and MEM was observed in both types of eggs at and after 50 weeks of age. An increase in EEM (regardless of dam's age) and in MEM (only in the oldest females) was observed with sperm storage duration. Sex ratio at hatching (49.2% males in PB vs. 53.0% in CB) was particularly unbalanced on the first fertile day (54.7% and 57.1%, respectively).

Objective: Few effective treatments are available for severe forms of bulimia nervosa, which are accompanied by malnutrition, anxiety, and depressive mood. We previously showed in an open study that nasogastric tube feeding (TF) reduced binges and purging in patients with anorexia nervosa., Methods: This prospective randomized trial compared bulimia patients in two treatment groups: one group received TF at home, together with psychotherapy, nutritional counseling and a support group while the control group received only psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and a support group. Patients in the first group underwent TF for 8 weeks (exclusively for 10 days and associated with meals thereafter). Assessment was based on clinical examination, laboratory results, and a variety of questionnaires (our in-house instrument for measuring binge and vomiting episodes, eating disorder inventory, Beck's depression inventory and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety), all performed at the onset of treatment and at 8 days, 8 weeks (i.e., the end of TF), and 3 months after treatment began., Results: Binges and vomiting disappeared faster and more frequently in TF patients than in the control group: 65% versus 29% (p<0.01). Three months later, these remained less frequent in the TF group than among controls (52% versus 33%, p=0.064). Nutritional status, depression, and anxiety improved more among the TF than control subjects (p<0.05)., Conclusion: Tube feeding was effective in these patients with bulimia nervosa, reducing the number of binge and vomiting episodes and improving nutritional status and mood.

In type 1 diabetic patients, the replacement of subcutaneous insulin infusion by intraperitoneal insulin infusion restores the normal physiological gradient between the portal vein and the peripheral circulation, which is likely to modify HDL metabolism. This stable isotope kinetic study was designed to compare HDL apolipoprotein (apo) AI metabolism in seven type 1 diabetic patients first treated by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion by an external pump and then 3 months after the beginning of intraperitoneal insulin infusion by an implantable pump. Glycaemic control was comparable under subcutaneous and intraperitoneal insulin infusion (HbA1c=7.34+/-0.94% versus 7.24+/-1.00%, NS). HDL composition was similar under both insulin regimens (esterified cholesterol=20.1+/-2.5% versus 24.0+/-3.0% (NS), free cholesterol=3.4+/-1.1% versus 3.3+/-0.9% (NS), triglycerides=2.4+/-0.9% versus 2.1+/-0.9% (NS), phospholipids=22.7+/-5.3% versus 25.2+/-6.5% (NS) and proteins=51.2+/-6.3% versus 45.5+/-4.7% (NS)). The replacement of subcutaneous insulin infusion by intraperitoneal insulin infusion induced significant changes neither in apoAI fractional catabolic rate, nor in apoAI production rate, nor in apoAI pool size (respectively, 0.199+/-0.051 pool d(-1) versus 0.211+/-0.017 pool d(-1), 12.0+/-3.2 mg kg(-1)d(-1) versus 12.1+/-1.8 mg kg(-1)d(-1), 60.4+/-5.0 mg kg(-1) versus 57.5+/-7.5 mg kg(-1)). In conclusion, HDL metabolism is not modified by the replacement of subcutaneous insulin infusion by intraperitoneal insulin infusion when glycaemia is well controlled under both insulin regimens. As far as HDL metabolism is concerned there is no advantage in favour of one way of insulin administration or another.

Background & Aims: Despite the high mortality rate in malnourished anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, very few trials have prospectively studied the efficacy of tube feeding., Methods: This open prospective study was conducted in malnourished AN patients, who were randomized in tube feeding (n=41) or control (n=40) groups during a 2-month period. Thereafter, body weight, body mass gain, energy intake, eating behavior and relapse rates were compared during a 1-year follow-up, using paired Student t-test and ANOVA., Results: At the end of the 2-months period, weight gain was 39% higher in the tube feeding group than in the control group (194+/-14 vs 126+/-19g/day; P<0.01). The fat-free mass gain was greater in the tube-feeding group: 109+/-14 vs 61+/-17g/day (P<0.01). Energy intake was higher in the tube feeding group than in the control group (P<0.05), as well as the decrease in bingeing episodes (P<0.01). Most patients thought that CEN improved their eating disorder. After discharge, the relapse-free period was longer in the CEN group than in the control one: 34.3+/-8.2 weeks vs 26.8+/-7.5 weeks (P<0.05)., Conclusion: CEN is helpful in malnourished AN patients for weight restoration, without hindrance on the eating behavior therapy nor inducing a more rapid relapse.

Objective: To establish the equivalence in efficacy (HbA(1c)) of insulin glargine injected at dinner versus bedtime in a large number of patients with type 1 diabetes using a fast-acting analogue (FAA) or regular human insulin (RHI) as prandial insulin in an insulin glargine-bolus regimen., Research Design and Methods: In a 26-week trial, 1178 patients with type 1 diabetes and treated with different basal-bolus regimens were randomized to receive insulin glargine once daily at dinner (n=589) or at bedtime (n=589) while continuing their previous prandial insulin (FAA: 75%; RHI: 25% of patients). The primary objective was to demonstrate equivalence in terms of HbA(1c) levels at endpoint., Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. At endpoint, HbA(1c) (mean+/-standard deviation [S.D.]) had decreased by 0.25+/-0.66% to 7.77+/-0.96% in the dinnertime group (P<0.0001), and by 0.24+/-0.76% to 7.83+/-1.07% in the bedtime group (P<0.0001). The HbA(1c) difference between dinner and bedtime was -0.022% (two-sided 90% confidence interval [CI] -0.09; 0.05), demonstrating statistical equivalence of HbA(1c) at endpoint between the two groups. Equivalence was also demonstrated within prandial groups: HbA(1c) difference between dinner and bedtime was -0.03% (two-sided 90% CI: -0.11; 0.06) for FAAs and -0.04% (two-sided 90% CI: -0.19; 0.11) for RHIs. The incidence of severe hypoglycaemia did not differ between the treatment groups., Conclusion: These data confirm that insulin glargine in combination with either FAA or RHI is equally effective and safe, whether it is administered at dinner or bedtime.

Thirty-one bucks from two lines divergently selected for 63-d body weight (low, L and high, H) were solicited every week (twice at a 15min interval) during 18 weeks resulting in 482 ejaculates. While differing markedly on adult body weight (L: 4650g versus H: 5925g), both lines had the same testis weight. Libido did not differ between the lines. The proportion of ejaculates suitable for insemination was markedly higher in the L line (66.5% versus 44.2%). Mass motility and the volume of the ejaculates were higher in the L line while the sperm concentration was higher in the H line. Overall, the total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was similar in both lines but the efficient number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, a synthetic criterion taking into account the ability of the ejaculate for insemination was higher in the L line (229 versus 170x10(6)). The L line had higher values of average path velocity, linearity and curvilinear velocity but a lower value of beat cross frequency. In the L line, both ejaculates had the same concentration, while in the H line, the first ejaculate was more concentrated than the second one. Some male reproductive traits are therefore genetically related to body weight.

Diabetes is an established major factor of poor prognostis after an acute coronary syndrome. Recent studies have addressed the impact of abnormal glucose metabolism at the acute phase in patients without known diabetes. It has been found that abnormal glycemia regulation is more common than normal regulation in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, whatever the method used to evaluate blood glucose metabolism. High blood glucose at admission, whether fasting or not, are associated with worse outcome after an acute coronary syndrome, ie. by increased mortality and development of severe heart failure. The prognosistic value of glycemia is valuable for both short and long term outcomes. Admission glycemia measurement allows therapeutic strategies at the acute phase. Fasting glycemia and oral glucose tolerance test performed during the hospital stay discloses valuable diagnostic information and provide useful tools for secondary prevention. Moreover, fasting glycemia is a more powerful predictor for short term outcome after myocardial infarction than admission glycemia. The mechanisms by which hyperglycemia deteriorates the cardiovascular prognosis, in particular for left ventricular dysfunction, are not fully understood. Stress hyperglycemia may be a marker of extensive cardiac damage, reflecting a surge of stress hormones such as catecholamines and cortisol that participate to insulinresistance and affect fatty acid and glucose homeostasis. Recent findings also argue for a direct deleterious effect of hyperglycemia on myocardium.

Objective: In type 1 diabetic patients, the replacement of s.c. insulin infusion with i.p. insulin infusion restores the normal physiological gradient between the portal vein and the peripheral circulation, which is likely to modify lipoprotein metabolism., Design: To check this hypothesis, we performed two apolipoprotein (apo) B100 kinetic studies in seven type 1 diabetic patients, first under s.c. insulin infusion and then 3 months after the beginning of i.p. insulin infusion., Results: Glycemic control was similar under s.c. insulin infusion and i.p. insulin infusion, as assessed by glycated hemoglobin A1c and the capillary glycemic curve determined during the kinetic study. Very low-density and intermediate-density lipoprotein apoB100 pool size, production rate, and fractional catabolic rate (FCR) were similar under s.c. insulin infusion and i.p. insulin infusion. The low-density lipoprotein apoB100 FCR tended to decrease under ip insulin (0.45 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.11 pool/d), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (95% confidence interval for the difference, -0.33, 0.11). The low-density lipoprotein apoB100 pool size and production rate remained unchanged under i.p. insulin infusion compared with s.c. insulin infusion., Conclusion: In type 1 diabetic patients, the replacement of s.c. insulin infusion with i.p. insulin infusion does not induce profound modifications of apoB100-containing lipoprotein production and FCRs.

The purpose of this study was to compare fertility and early embryo mortality rates (< or = 5 days of incubation) following artificial insemination (AI) of common duck females (Anas Platyrhynchos) with semen from either common or Muscovy (Cairina Moschata) drakes at various periods of the reproductive season (Period I, 27-35 weeks; Period II, 39-43 weeks and Period III, 49-56 weeks). Based on observations performed by stereomicroscopy on eggs laid from Days 2 to 10 after AI, we confirmed that fertility was significantly lower in the interbred compared to the purebred cross at each of the periods tested (purebred 58.1, 61.2 and 54.2 versus crossbred 31.0, 40.4 and 39.5 at Periods I, II and II, respectively; 0.01 < P < 0.001). In a complementary experiment, we demonstrated that the number of perivitelline spermatozoa (NPS) was markedly lower in mule (crossbred) eggs compared to common (purebred) eggs, a strong indication that initial sperm selection occurring in the lower oviduct is probably more intense after crossbred compared to purebred insemination. Comparison of early embryo mortality (EEM) between mule and common duck eggs indicated that increased levels of EEM in mule embryos corresponded to Stages II-IV of the Eyal-Giladi and Kochav classification (EGK). While a similar age-dependent increase in early embryo mortality was observed in eggs from both genetic origins during the latter periods of the reproductive season, it was also established that embryo mortality due to parental age was related rather to Stages X-XIV of the EGK classification in eggs from both genetic origins. It is concluded that the relative subfertility of mule compared to common duck eggs is probably the consequence of a more intense rate of selection of heterologous than homologous spermatozoa occurring in the vaginal portion of the oviduct while the causal origins of EEM in mule duck eggs can at least in part be identified on the basis of precise staging (by stereomicroscopy) of dead embryos.

Aims/hypothesis: Type 1 diabetic subjects are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and exhibit multiple qualitative abnormalities of apolipoprotein (apo) B100-containing lipoproteins. This stable isotope kinetic experiment was designed to study whether these abnormalities are associated with changes in the synthesis and fractional catabolic rates of VLDL-, IDL- and LDL-apoB100., Methods: Using a bolus followed by a 16-h constant infusion of 13C-leucine, we performed a kinetic study in eight men with type 1 diabetes treated with a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion administered by an external pump and in seven healthy men, in the fed state., Results: The mean HbA1c level in the type 1 diabetic patients was 8.00+/-1.48%. Plasma triglyceride, and total, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were similar in patients and control subjects. VLDL were less triglyceride rich in type 1 diabetic patients than in control subjects (VLDL triglyceride : apoB 6.91+/-0.81 vs 8.29+/-1.24 mmol/g, p=0.05). Conversely, the IDL and LDL of the type 1 diabetic patients contained relatively higher levels of triglycerides (IDL triglycerides : apoB 2.16+/-0.36 vs 1.57+/-0.30 mmol/g, p<0.01; LDL triglycerides : apoB 0.27+/-0.06 vs 0.16+/-0.04 mmol/g, p<0.05). The apoB100 pool size, production and fractional catabolic rates in the two groups of subjects were similar for all lipoprotein fractions., Conclusions/interpretation: Despite qualitative abnormalities, especially abnormalities of triglyceride content, the metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoproteins is not altered in type 1 diabetic men with fair glycaemic control with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. The high risk of atherosclerosis in these patients cannot be explained by kinetic abnormalities of apoB100-containing lipoproteins.

Background: Since the Edmonton trial in 2000, increasing numbers of transplant centers have been implementing islet transplantation programs. Some institutions have elected to associate in multicenter networks, such as the Swiss-French GRAGIL (Groupe Rhin-Rhône-Alpes-Genève pour la Transplantation d'Ilots de Langerhans) consortium., Methods: All pancreata offers to the University of Geneva Cell Isolation and Transplantation Center from within the network in 2002 and 2003 were reviewed. Islet preparations were attributed to the most suitable recipient on a centrally managed waiting list. All shipments were performed by ambulance in less than 5 hr., Results: Over the period of study, 260 pancreata were offered, from a total of 1,304 cadaveric donors in the four allocation regions (20%). Fifty-two patients were on the waiting list at any time during this 2-year period. The percentage of organs offered varied in the range of 0.5% to 42%, depending on region of origin, with a correlation with number of patients on the waiting list in each region. Of these, 104 (40%) were accepted for processing. Ninety-two pancreata were actually processed, resulting in 42 islet preparations being transplanted. The number of international equivalents of transplanted preparations was 378,500+/-16,000 versus 165,400+/-15,400 (P<0.0001) for nontransplanted preparations. Total cold ischemia time was 6+/-0.3 hr for transplanted preparations versus 6.7+/-0.4 hr for nontransplanted preparations (not significant). CONCLUSIONS.: A high rate of pancreas offers, successful isolation, and islet transplantation can be achieved in multicenter networks such as GRAGIL. Such an approach can expand both the donor pool and the recipient population.

Mouse studies indicated that plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) determines the plasma distribution of vitamin E, a potent lipophilic antioxidant. Vitamin E distribution, antioxidant status, and titer of anti-oxidized LDLs (oxLDL) autoantibodies were evaluated in plasma from control subjects (n = 31) and type 2 diabetic patients (n = 31) with elevated plasma PLTP concentration. Unlike diabetic and control HDLs, which displayed similar vitamin E contents, diabetic VLDLs and diabetic LDLs contained fewer vitamin E molecules than normal counterparts. Plasma PLTP concentration in diabetic plasmas correlated negatively with vitamin E in VLDL+LDL, but positively with vitamin E in HDL, with an even stronger correlation with the VLDL+LDL-to-HDL vitamin E ratio. Circulating levels of oxLDL were significantly higher in diabetic plasmas than in control plasmas. Whereas the titer of IgG autoantibodies to modified LDL did not differ significantly between diabetic patients and control subjects, diabetic plasmas showed significantly lower levels of potentially protective IgM autoantibodies. The present observations support a pathophysiological role of PLTP in decreasing the vitamin E content of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, but not of HDL in plasma of type 2 diabetic patients, contributing to a greater potential for LDL oxidation.

The aim of this study was to identify the first abnormalities of apolipoprotein B (apoB) metabolism in HIV-infected patients treated by antiretroviral therapy (ART) with protease inhibitors (PIs). The influence of ART on the metabolism of apoB in VLDL, IDL, and LDL was investigated in six patients receiving dual nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and PI, and in five patients receiving NRTI and nevirapine. None of the patients had lipodystrophy. The study was performed in the fed state. Each subject received an intravenous injection of a 0.7 mg.kg-1 bolus of l-[1-13C]leucine, immediately followed by a 16 h constant infusion at 0.7 mg.kg-1.h-1. The VLDL- and IDL-apoB concentrations were significantly higher in PI-treated patients compared to non-PI-treated patients. The VLDL-apoB and IDL-apoB production rates were markedly higher in PI-treated patients compared to non-PI-treated patients (54.5 +/- 30.1 vs. 30.9 +/- 8.4 mg.kg-1.d-1, P = 0.04; and 43.5 +/- 20.0 vs. 18.7 +/- 7.8 mg.kg-1.d-1, P = 0.04, respectively). In conclusion, our study shows that patients receiving ART with PI present altered metabolism of the VLDL-IDL-LDL chain compared with patients treated without PI. These data confirm that PI therapy is associated with a physiopathological mechanism for dyslipidemia in addition to the effect of lipodystrophy on lipid metabolism.

Objectives: A relationship between chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and lipid metabolism has recently been suggested. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between lipid profile and virology, histologic lesions, and response to alpha interferon therapy in noncirrhotic, nondiabetic patients with hepatitis C., Methods: A total of 109 consecutive untreated chronic hepatitis C patients were studied to assess the following: 1) the effects of HCV genotype, viral load, steatosis, hepatic fibrosis, and body mass index (BMI) on lipid profile; and 2) whether lipid parameters could predict response to antiviral therapy., Results: The control group showed a significantly higher apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentration compared with patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hypobetalipoproteinemia (apo B <0.7 g/L) was found in 27 (24.7%) chronic HCV patients and in five (5.3%) control subjects (p = 0.0002). Levels of apo B were negatively correlated with steatosis and HCV viral load (r = -0.22; p = 0.03). This last correlation was strong for non-1 genotype and genotype 3 (r = -0.48; p = 0.0005, and r = -0.47; p = 0.007, respectively) but was not found in genotype 1. In multivariate analysis, low apo B concentration was significantly associated with fibrosis grade 2 or 3 versus grade 0 or 1 (p < 0.001), steatosis >5% (p < 0.001), low body mass index (p < 0.001), and high HCV viral load (p < 0.014). No correlation was found in the 76 treated patients between apo B and response to interferon therapy., Conclusions: In chronic HCV patients, hypobetalipoproteinemia occurs already in the early stages of HCV infection before the development of liver cirrhosis. The correlation between apo B levels and HCV viral load seems to confirm the interaction between hepatitis C infection and beta-lipoprotein metabolism.

Aim: To study the influence of the severity of depression on the eating disorder's inventory (EDI) scores in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients., Method: We compared by variance analysis the EDI scores from three groups of AN patients: 55 patients having a major depression (as assessed by a Beck's depression inventory (BDI) >/= 16); 77 patients having a less severe depression (BDI < 16); 32 patients with mild or non-existent depression (BDI

Aim of the Study: To determine if thyroïd surgery increase or not the eye symptoms in patients with Graves'ophtalmopathy., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included between 1981 and 2001 two groups of patients: - group 1 : 24 patients who underwent thyroid surgery, - group 2 : 13 patients who were treated only by antithyroid drugs. Eye signs were evaluated according to the "NOSPECS" classification. The effect of the thyroid surgery and the medical treatment were evaluated with the NOSPECS classification modified by Orgiazzi in order to allow quantitative comparative data. The reasons why the patients were refered to surgery were:- the important size of the goitre (n = 10), - a recurrent hyperthyroidy despite an appropriated medical treatment (n = 10), - a pregnancy desire (n = 2), - a worsening of the eye signs (n = 2). Eighteen subtotal thyroidectomies and 6 total thyroidectomies were performed., Results: after thyroid surgery, ophtalmic status was noted to improve in 18 patients, to remain inchanged in 1 patient and to deteriorate in 5 patients. In the non-operated group, the results were quite similar, but the mean goitre size was statistically lower and the ophtalmic lesions were statistically appearing later, these two parameters traducting a less serious disease in this group., Conclusions: This study suggests that thyroidectomy doesn't worsen the eye symptoms in patients with Graves'ophtalmopathy.

1. Genetic parameters of reproductive traits were estimated in a population of common duck, in purebreeding and crossbreeding (with Muscovies) insemination systems. A total of 989 females were studied over three generations as well as 4025 purebred offspring and 4,125 male mule offspring. 2. Traits studied were age at first egg, total number of eggs laid until the age of 48 weeks, fertility and hatchability rates in pure and crossbreds, weight at 6 and 30 weeks of age, average egg weight and body weight of the male mule ducks at 6 weeks of age. 3. Heritability estimates were found to be medium range for reproductive traits (0.15 to 0.47). Heritability value for fertility or hatchability in crossbreds was twice as high as in purebreds (0.32 vs 0.15 for fertility; 0.36 vs 0.16 for hatchability). 4. Fertility in purebreeding and in crossbreeding were two different traits (r(g) = 0.49) while hatchability displayed a high genetic correlation between breeding systems (r(g) = 0.88). 5. Genetic correlations with number of hatched mule ducks were medium or high and favourable. Genetic correlations between reproductive traits and weights were low (< 0.36), the most related trait being the body weight of the male mule duck at 6 weeks of age.

Purpose: To assess the control of corneal hydration in patients with diabetes during a contact lens-induced hypoxia., Methods: Corneal stress was induced in 15 patients with diabetes and 23 healthy patients by having them wear contact lenses for 2 hours. Pachymetries were measured and corneal parameters (percentage recovery per hour [PRPH], time for deswelling [T99%] and induced swelling [IS]) were calculated. In the mean time, tears were collected to assess the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and a specular microscopy (SM) was performed., Results: In patients with diabetes, PRPH, T99%, and LDH activity were statistically significantly modified (p < 0.05), whereas IS and SM were not., Conclusion: This decreased ability to recover the initial corneal thickness after a transient edema caused by hypoxia confirms the enzymatic dysfunction of the endothelial pumps that are partly caused by a shift toward anaerobic metabolism.

Background: Abnormalities in lipid levels and lipodystrophy (LD) have been commonly reported after commencement of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A major mechanism by which plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels may be influenced is via the regulation of hepatic LDL receptor expression. The activity of LDL receptors is under hormonal control. Moreover, HIV infection and HAART are associated with important modifications of hormonal status. As the cause of these adverse reactions is unknown, the effects of HAART and lipodystrophy on LDL receptors were evaluated., Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine HIV treated patients (21 with a protease inhibitor (PI) containing regimen, 18 without PI use) and 22 control subjects were tested for insulin resistance (HOMA model assessment), lipid profile, serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and LDL-R expression. LDL-R on mononuclear cells were quantified by flow cytrometry., Results: Among the 39 HIV infected patients, 14 patients had a lipodystrophy (LD). Patients with LD had significantly higher levels of triglyceride (TG) and insulin resistance compared to patients without LD. There was no significant difference in LDL-R count between patients with or without PI use. In contrast, LDL-R count was significantly lower in patients with LD compared with those without (8504 +/- 3901 vs. 13 200 +/- 4532, P = 0.001). There was no difference in LDL-R count between patients without LD and control subjects. Patients with LD had lower levels of DHEA compared to patients without LD. In HIV-infected patients, we found a significant correlation between LDL-R expression and TG (r = -0.32; P = 0.04) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.33; P = 0.04). In contrast, we did not observe a correlation between DHEA level and LDL-R count or LDL cholesterol level., Conclusions: HIV-lipodystrophy is associated with a lower expression of LDL-R. This decreased expression of LDL-R seems independent of DHEA or insulin secretion.

The effects of human interaction on domestic rabbits were evaluated through the analysis of animals (up to 267) belonging to fancy breeds (22), a commercial breed (1), and selected strains (2). Microsatellite loci and mtDNA polymorphism revealed that the genetic pool of domestic rabbits studied only originated from that available in France. The good conservation of the original diversity was probably ensured through the multiplicity of samplings from wild populations. Selected strains, because of the breeding strategy, keep a fairly high level of diversity compared to other breeds.

The relationships between several rabbit buck semen traits, concerning either the ejaculate or the dose inseminated (volume, mass motility, pH, percentage of motile sperm (PMS), concentration, number of total and motile sperm per ejaculate and per insemination dose) and the reproductive performance of does was investigated in 839 inseminations involving 54 bucks and 111 does. Four genetic types were involved: INRA1601 strain (A), INRA2066 strain (B) and the two reciprocal crossbreds (AB and BA). The mating design was A x A, B x B, (AB or BA) x (AB or BA). Semen was diluted (1:9) and a constant volume of 0.5 ml was inseminated 2-4h after collection. Therefore, the total number of spermatozoa per dose was variable and proportional to the initial concentration. Mass motility significantly influenced the kindling rate. Taken separately, volume, PMS and concentration did not influence the kindling rate but their product, the number of motile sperm per ejaculate, did. Litter size (total born) was significantly influenced by concentration and all variables depending on it, particularly the number of total and motile sperm per dose. However, reproductive performances were predominantly influenced by the physiological status of the does at insemination (lactation stage and receptivity).

Aim of the Study: To evaluate the morbidity and the functional results of subtotal bilateral thyroidectomy in patients (TST) with Graves' disease., Patients and Method: A retrospective study was performed in 128 patients. They were 23 males and 105 females with a median age of 34 years (range: 14-68). Weight of remnant tissue was between 4 and 5 g. Thyroid functional status was evaluated, at 3 months and after a follow-up period ranged from 1 to 5 years, by measurement of serum concentration of free T4 and/or free T3 and TSH., Results: They were no post-operative death. Surgical complications were 2 vocal cord palsies and 17 hypocalcemia (inf. to 2 mmol/L). After a median follow-up of 2 years, they were no longer any cases of vocal cord dysfunction and no case of permanent hypoparathyroidism. Functional results were established in 118 patients: 46 patients had clinical hypothyroidism (39%), 64 patients had latent hypothyroidism or euthyroidism (54.2%), and 8 had recurrent hyperthyroidism (6.8%)., Conclusion: These results suggest that TST with a remnant mass inferior to 5 g provides a low level of recurrent hyperthyroidism and allows to give no drug therapy to half patients. In our opinion, TST is still indicated in Graves' disease.