FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF MUGIL CEPHALUS (LINNE, 1758) FROM GRAND-LAHOU LAGOON (COTE DIVOIRE)

Mugil cephalus is a permanent and abundant fish species in coastal, estuarine or lagoon ecosystems. This species was sampled in the lagoon of Grand-Lahou (Cote dIvoire) for the study of its diet and its feeding ethology. Stomachs were removed and their contents identified using identification keys to determine the diet. 88 specimens of M. cephalus were examined for food and feeding habits. 42 (47.72%) of the fish had empty stomach. Analysis of stomach contents showed that phytoplankton is the most consumed with a numerical percentage of occurrence of 94.98% (Cyanobacteria, Chlorophytes, Diatoms) and a percentage of occurrence is 64.9%. The proportion of zooplankton is 4.98% (cladocerans, copepods, foraminifera, rotifers and nematodes) according to the numerical percentage and 18.77% according to the frequency of occurrence. Detritus has an occurrence percentage of 8.43 %. Diet is mainly composed of diatom.

Clinical Outcomes after Surgery for Linitis Plastica of the Stomach: Analysis of a Population Cancer Registry

Linitis plastica (LP), a subset of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA), has been considered as a fatal disease with few management options. Little evidence has been reported regarding the role for surgical therapy in treating LP. A retrospective review of GA patients with LP from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database (2004–2009) was performed. 29,440 patients with GA were identified, of whom 948 (3.2%) had LP. After matching for American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) stage, LP patients had significantly worse 5-year disease specific survival (DSS) compared with GA (6 vs 34%, P < 0.001). For potentially resectable LP patients (i.e., stage I–III), 5-year DSS was 0 per cent for no treatment and for radiation therapy alone, 18 per cent for both and surgery and radiation, and 20 per cent for surgery alone(P < 0.001). LP is a marker of poor survival in patients with GA. However, surgical resection provides the best oncologic outcomes in these patients with a 20 per cent 5-year DSS in patients with loco-regional disease.

Natural diet and feeding habits of a freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium carcinus: Crustacea, Decapoda) in the estuary of the Amazon River

Macrobrachium carcinus is a Brazilian native prawn with recognized potential for use in aquaculture activities. However, there is little information about the natural diet and feeding habits of this species. The aim of this study was the identification of the diet items of M. carcinus based on the analysis of the stomach contents. Specimens were collected in the Amazon River estuary between January 2009 and January 2010. The stomach analysis was carried out by using the frequency of occurrence (FO), methods of points (MP) and feeding index (FI). It was observed that prawns fed on detritus, animals and plant fragments as the most important food items. Sediment accounted for the main stomach content, accounting for 43.2% by the MP, 44.9% by FI and 100% by the FO. Sexual differences in feeding preferences were not found in this study, and seasonal differences in the frequency of items ingested by M. carcinus were not observed. The results indicated that M. carcinus can be considered omnivorous species, but with an important carnivorous component, similar to that found in other Macrobrachium species.