Search

The karyotypes and other chromosomal characteristics of the Orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) from the Gulf of Thailand (Pacific Ocean) were studied, using conventional cytogenetic analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization using 18 S, 5 S rDNA, together with (CA)15, (GA)15, and (CAA)10 microsatellites as probes. The results showed 2n = 42 (42t; NF = 42) in both male and female fish, and that the sex chromosomes could not be distinguished from one another. The centromeric regions in all the chromosomes showed distinct patterns in the distribution of C-positive heterochromatin. The NORs were localized as single pairs, which coincide with the 18 S rDNA probe's location. At the sub-centromeric region of the telocentric chromosome, the 5 S rDNA probe's bright signal was discovered. The (CA)15, (GA)15, and (CAA)10 microsatellites are sparsely distributed along all the chromosomes. Of these, the (GA)15 sequence, exhibits preferential accumulation at the telomere of chromosome pair 18. The study also suggests that species B. undulatus and Odonus niger are karyotypically similar, necessitating the need for detailed analyses of chromosomal rearrangements with sophisticated cytogenetic techniques to elucidate their further differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feeding habits and reproductive biology of red-toothed triggerfish Odonus niger (Ruppell, 1836) was analysed from 449 specimens collected from the Karnataka coast of the south-eastern Arabian Sea. Of the total stomachs examined, only 54 (12%) were empty and 395 contained food remains. The diet comprised crustacean remains (48.0%), zooplankton (21.4%), algae (16.5%), fish remains (6.1%) and cephalopod remains (5.3%) along with partially digested matter (2.3%) and detritus (0.4%). The species was found to be a generalist feeder and an omnivore. The overall sex ratio between males and females (1: 0.44) was significantly (P < 0.05) different. Histological examination of the ovaries indicated asynchronous ovarian development in females, with males maturing earlier than females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) patterns of males and females, and the presence of ripe ovaries and spermatozoids suggested that April–May is the peak spawning period. The absolute and relative fecundity estimates ranged from 16,464–312,420 eggs and 251–2812 eggs g−1 respectively. Fecundity was positively correlated with total length and body weight. The biological information on diet composition and reproductive traits provided for the first time in this study can facilitate conservation, management and sustainable exploitation of this species in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated glaucoma patients' complications, subjective symptoms, and side effects of continuous 24-h measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP)-related patterns with a contact lens sensor (CLS). We asked the patients to complete a questionnaire about their subjective symptoms after wearing the CLS. Materials and methods: This was an observational single-facility study. We analyzed 56 patients (35 men, 21 women) who underwent 24-h continuous measurement of their IOP-related patterns with a Triggerfish® CLS. The four questionnaire items asked whether blurred vision, ocular pain, conjunctival hyperemia, and sleep disorder were present/absent. All questionnaire items were answered subjectively. We examined the relationship between the patients' questionnaire results and their visual acuity and visual field. Results: The rate of blurred vision was 55%; ocular pain, 30%; conjunctival hyperemia, 14%; sleeping disorder, 29%. Patients with good visual acuity tended to report experiencing blurred vision. Conclusions: When 24-h continuous measurement of IOP-related patterns with a CLS is considered, clinicians should tell the patient about the possibility of blurred vision, ocular pain, conjunctival hyperemia, and/or sleeping disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We examined whether a contact lens sensor (CLS) is useful for the postoperative evaluation of trabectome surgery. We investigated the correlations between the outcomes of trabectome surgery and the output of a CLS. Methods: We examined 24 consecutive eyes of patients with pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma. In each eye, the intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations over 24 h were measured with the SENSIMED Triggerfish CLS before and at 3 months after the trabectome surgery. We divided the patients into success (n = 12 eyes) and failure (n = 12 eyes) groups; success was defined as a postoperative IOP level ≤ 21 mmHg plus an IOP reduction ≥ 20% relative to the preoperative IOP value with or without anti-glaucoma medications. We investigated CLS parameters that correlate with surgical outcomes by performing a Cox hazard regression analysis. We determined the maximum value, minimum value, and range of IOP fluctuation as CLS parameters. Results: The mean follow-up period was 38.0 ± 3.0 months. The success rate was 50%. The postoperative range of IOP fluctuation during the nocturnal period with the CLS was significantly correlated with the surgical results (p = 0.024). Conclusions: A smaller range of IOP fluctuation was significantly correlated with better surgical outcomes. We were able to predict the surgical success after trabectome surgery at 3 months using the CLS. Thus, CLS results could be a new surgical evaluation parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With development of the contact lens sensor (CLS), it has become possible to monitor the intraocular pressure (IOP) for 24 hrs continuously. Wearing of CLS often brings blurred vision with transient aggravation of myopia and changes in corneal shape. The author, a 51-year-old man with myopic astigmatism, wore a CLS for 24 hrs on the right eye, and the fellow eye served as a contra-lateral control eye. After wearing, his corrected visual acuity on the right eye decreased from 20/16 to 20/25 with blurred vision, and subjective spherical power and cylindrical power aggravated. Topographical analysis revealed that the instantaneous power increased on the central cornea but decreased on the mid-peripheral cornea. Differential instantaneous map of pre- and post-wearing CLS showed a specific pattern similar to the central island pattern, which is known as the results of steeper fitting of the orthokeratology lens. A surface imprint was observed on the bulbar conjunctiva, corresponding to the edge of the contact lens. These findings seemed due to orthokeratological effects by the steeper fitting of CLS. All of them resolved within 24 hrs after the removal of the CLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the correlations between 24-h continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement with a contact lens sensor (CLS) and visual field (VF) progression. Methods: We examined 69 eyes of glaucoma patients who were followed > 2 years after the measurement of IOP fluctuation with a CLS. All patients underwent VF examinations > 4 times. VF progression was defined as a deterioration of the mean deviation (MD). We evaluated the original 17 parameters from the data obtained from the CLS output and attempted to identify which of them contributed to the VF progression. We then performed multivariate analyses to identify risk factors for rapid VF progression. Results: The mean follow-up period was 4.0 ± 1.6 years. The mean VF progression rate was − 0.37 ± 0.53 dB/year. The multivariate analysis identified the following as-risk factors for VF progression: more advanced baseline MD value (p = 0.0269); high maximum values during the 24-h (p = 0.0131) and nocturnal (p = 0.0466) periods; large standard deviation of IOP fluctuation during the 24-h (p = 0.0404), diurnal (p = 0.0330), and nocturnal (p = 0.0027) periods; and large range of IOP fluctuation during the nocturnal period (0.0431). Conclusions: Our results suggested that the above CLS parameters might be correlated with rapid progression of VF disorder. These CLS parameters could be used to evaluate the results of CLS in the future. Examination with a CLS could be useful for predicting the VF progression rate within a mere 24-h period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: If intraocular pressure (IOP) is the sole modifiable risk factor for glaucoma progression, glaucoma management should not rely on a vague estimation of its value measured over seconds, out of the 31,536,000 seconds in a year. A technology that would allow continuous and accurate IOP measurement in any situation could drastically enhance the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and advice we give glaucoma patients. Areas covered: This review covers the development history of IOP telemetry devices, from Green and Gilman's first 24-hour telemetry concept in 1974 to the two devices commercially available today: Sensimed's TriggerFish contact lens sensor and Implandata's implantable monitoring device. Through a systematic review of the articles indexed by the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health between November 1969 and July 2019 with the keywords 'telemetry', 'continuous iop' and '24 hour iop', it details the ongoing contribution of telemetry to glaucoma knowledge. Expert opinion: The usage and purpose of the currently available telemetry devices remain specific and targeted. However, we foresee that this is likely to change in the upcoming years, with the advent of new, more versatile devices and ergonomic modules. The future of telemetry may lie in miniaturization, connectivity and new organic measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP) are crucial to the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Goldmann applanation tonometry remains the gold standard in obtaining IOP measurements, but is limited by its inability to obtain measurements outside of the clinical setting or account for diurnal variations in pressures. This review focuses on existing technologies available for measuring diurnal shifts in IOP at home, including portable tonometers and other temporary and permanent devices for continuous IOP monitoring using telemetry. We discuss the deficiencies of home tonometry technologies and present recent advances in telemetry technology that could revolutionize the ability to monitor IOP response to glaucoma therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Predators are important for regulating adult sea urchin densities. Here, we employ remote underwater video cameras to record diurnal predation on tethered sea urchins at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We identified four fish predators of adult sea urchins ( Balistoides viridescens, Balistapus undulatus, Lethrinus atkinsoni and Choerodon schoenleinii). Predator activity appeared to be site-specific. Balistoides viridescens and B. undulatus (f: Balistidae) were the two most important predators of Echinometra mathaei with the former handling E. mathaei significantly faster (mean 0.7 min) than B. undulatus (5.2 min). Balistoides viridescens also successfully preyed on 70 % of detections, while C. schoenleinii, B. undulatus and L. atkinsoni preyed on just 33, 17 and <1 %, respectively. Additionally, B. viridescens were behaviourally dominant among predator species and were observed as aggressors in 30 encounters with B. undulatus and 8 encounters with L. atkinsoni. In only one encounter was B. viridescens the recipient of any aggression (from B. undulatus). In terms of relative vulnerability, of the three sea urchin species examined, E. mathaei were more vulnerable to predation than Diadema setosum or Echinothrix calamaris, with mean handling times of 1.2, 4.8 and 10.3 min, respectively. Balistoides viridescens and B. undulatus both appear to be able to play an important role as predators of sea urchins on the relatively intact coral reefs of Lizard Island. However, B. viridescens emerge as the most efficient predator in terms of handling speed and the proportion of detections preyed upon. They were also the behaviourally dominant predator. This preliminary study of the predators of sea urchins on the GBR highlights the potential significance of relatively scarce but functionally important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted during R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen survey 2005 in the Western Gulf of Guinea. A total of 165 station trawis were taken along the Western Gulf of Guinea from Nigeria-Benin border to Côte d'Ivoire-Liberia border. Of the 165 trawls 23 hauls yielded triggerfish. The study sought to find the distribution, depth range and diet preferences of Balistes capriscus and Balistes punctatus L. after two decades of their apparent disappearance in the area. The species show habitat overlap in the Western Gulf of Guinea. B. capriscus occur at 23 - 60 m depth, whereas B. punctatus occur at 22 - 32 m depth range from Benin to Côte d'lvoire. The gut analysis of B. capriscus and B. punctatus indicates that both triggerfish species are more planktivorous at juvenile stage (12.0-21.9 cm size class) and more benthivorous at later stage in life. It suggests there could be competition for food resources between the two fish species. However, it appears B. capriscus is better adapted in terms of benthic life as the species occurs at deeper depth of coastal waters and therefore, better selected for benthic feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study is to investigate whether the circadian IOP rhythm can be influenced by combined cataract surgery with high frequency deep sclerotomy (HFDS) and whether intraocular pressure (IOP) can be significantly reduced by HFDS. Methods: In our study 10 patients were included, in whom 24 h IOP monitoring was installed before and after HFDS/cataract surgery using a Triggerfish. HFDS is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Results: After performed HFDS combined with cataract surgery, the IOP was reduced from 27.7 ± 2.11 mmHg to 14.4 ± 2.59 mmHg, which is highly significant (p < 0.001). The contact lens sensor (CLS) cosinor analysis pre- and postoperatively showed that the circadian rhythm is not influenced by the surgery, i.e., the circadian IOP rhythm did not show significant differences before and after surgery. Conclusions: HFDS combined with cataract surgery is a potent surgical method that can significantly reduce the IOP. However, the circadian rhythm cannot be changed by the surgery. The acrophase remained during the night in all patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large differences in community structure of sea urchins and finfish have been observed in Kenyan reef lagoons. Differences have been attributed to removal of finfish predators through human fishing activities. This study attempted to determine (i) the major sea urchin finfish predators, (ii) the effect of predation on sea-urchin community structure, and (iii) the possible effect of sea urchin increases and finfish decreases on the lagoonal substrate. Six reefs, two protected and four unprotected, were compared for differences in finfish abundance, sea urchin abundance and diversity and substrate cover, diversity and complexity. Comparisons between protected and unprotected reefs indicated that finfish populations were ca. 4 x denser in protected than unprotected reefs. Sea urchin populations were >100 x denser and predation rates on a sea urchin, Echinometra mathaei, were 4 x lower in unprotected than in protected reefs. The balistidae (triggerfish) was the single sea-urchin finfish predator family which had a higher population density in protected than in unprotected reefs. Balistid density was positively correlated with predation rates on tethered E. mathaei ( r=0.88; p<0.025) and negatively correlated with total sea-urchin density ( r=−0.89; p<0.025) on the six reefs. We conclude from observations that the balistids Balistaphus undulatus and Rhinecanthus aculeatus are the dominant sea-urchin predators. The sea-urchin assemblage had its greatest diversity and species richness at intermediate predation rates and low to intermediate sea-urchin densities. At low predation rates and high sea-urchin density E. mathaei dominated the assemblage's species composition. Preferential predation on the competitive dominant maintains the assemblage's diversity, supporting the compensatory mortality hypothesis (Connell 1978) of coral reef diversity. Protected reefs had greater cover of hard coral, calcareous and coralline algae, and greater substrate diversity and topographic complexity than unprotected reefs which had greater algal turf and sponge cover. Coral cover and topographic complexity were negatively correlated with total sea urchin density. Although experimentation is lacking, these substrate changes may be due to the switch from finfish to sea-urchins as consumers which results from overfishing of finfish. Removal of top invertebrate-eating carnivores appears to have cascading effects on the entire coral reef ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafood products are perceived as healthy foods. However, several species of seafood are still not fully utilized for different reasons or can be valued outside the original locale, if issues with the short shelf-life and/or the preparation/presentation form are overcome, e.g., gray triggerfish, Balistes capriscus. Consumed mostly fresh, its flesh is of excellent quality. We studied the effect of different types of packaging (in air (AIR), vacuum (VP), and modified atmosphere (MAP)) on physicochemical (color and texture, pH, and total volatile basic nitrogen), microbiological (total viable count, psychrotrophic, sulphide-reducing bacteria, and acid-lactic bacteria), and sensory qualities, and shelf-life of gray triggerfish fillets stored at refrigeration temperature for 15 days. The samples were analyzed on days 0 (fresh fish), 5, 10 (8 and 12 for sensory analysis), and 15 after filleting and packaging. During the trial, fillets became lighter (increased L*) and yellower (b* >> 0) with time of storage. Distinct patterns were observed for pH among treatments. Unexpectedly, the increasing trend observed in the texturometer-derived hardness of VP and MAP fillets, contrasted with the sensory assessment, wherein panelists perceived a clear softening of fillets. VP delayed and MAP inhibited the increase in TVB-N contents of fillets compared to fillets packed in AIR. Total viable count and psychrothropic bacteria of fillets in AIR exceeded the conventional limit of 7 log(CFU/g) on day 10, while in fillets packed in VP and MAP, their abundance remained below that limit during the trial. The organoleptic attributes of fillets perceived by a sensory panel changed significantly in all treatments during the storage trial. Willingness to consume the fillets decreased constantly in AIR and MAP, but not in VP fillets. Considering primarily sensory, but also biochemical and microbiological parameters, namely panelists' rejection, total volatile basic nitrogen content, and total viable count and psychrotrophic bacteria abundance, the shelf-life of fillets packed in air was eight days. Vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging extended the shelf-life to 15 and 12 days, and thus can add value to this product. Future research regarding the VP and MAP of gray triggerfish fillets could involve the optimization of mixtures of gases use and/or the application of combined processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]