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One of the basic steps in objective analysis of sperm motility is the subdivision of a motile sperm population into slow, medium and rapid categories based on their velocity. However, for CASA analysis of quail sperm, the velocity values for categorization of slow, medium and rapid sperm have not yet been standardized. To identify the cut-off values of "velocity curvilinear" (VCL) for quail sperm categorization, we captured and analysed 22,300 tracks of quail sperm using SCA -CASA. The median and mean VCL values were 85 and 97 μm/s. To define the VCL cut-off values, we used two methods. In the first, we identified the upper (rapid sperm) and lower (slow sperm) cut-off values using: (i) median VCL ± 25% or ± 50% or ± 75% of median VCL value; (ii) first and third quartile values of VCL data (i.e. 25% cut-off setting); and (iii) 33% and 66% of VCL data. Among these settings, sperm categories and their corresponding motility characteristics recorded using the "25%" setting (i.e. slow ≤36 ≤ medium ≤154 ≤ rapid) were found the most realistic and coherent with male ranking by fertility. In the second method, we calculated heteroscedasticity in the total VCL data using PCA and the two-step clustering method. With this approach, the mean of the high and low clusters was 165 and 51 μm/s, respectively. Together, the mean from two methods suggested that, for SCA -CASA categorization of quail sperm, sperm should be classed as "rapid" at VCL ≥160 μm/s and "slow" at VCL ≤45 μm/s.

For successful breeding programs, it is important to quantify the useful period of a male's reproductive life and it is often done simply by measurement of semen quality. This information is lacking for Japanese quail so we tested whether there is a decline in ejaculate quality and sperm kinematics with age, and whether the decline varies among strains. Nine males (n = 9) from each of 5 strains (A, B, C, D and E) were subjected to 4 semen collections (n = 16 per male) at 8, 16, 26 and 36 weeks of age. Ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate were measured, and sperm kinematics were analysed using a Sperm Class Analyser (SCA®). There was a significant effect of age for ejaculate volume, total sperm per ejaculate and per cent medium sperm. The effect of the interaction between age and strain was significant for percent progressive motile sperm, percent rapid sperm, velocity curvilinear, velocity straight line, velocity average path, linearity, straightness and beat cross frequency. Ejaculate volume peaked at Week 26 in all strains, while peak values for sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate were observed at Week 16 for most strains. There were declines in percent motile sperm, progressive motile sperm and rapid sperm, and in velocity curvilinear velocity, velocity straight line and velocity average path, by Week 16 for most strains. Linearity declined by Week 26 in some strains, and all strains showed a significant decline in beat cross frequency by that age. In conclusion, the ability of CASA to detect age‐related changes in sperm kinematics makes it a valuable tool for identifying the best males and thus improving quail flock fertility. It is essential that breeders understand that age affects both sperm production and sperm kinematics, and that the changes vary with strain.

Background: Hemorrhoids are one of the most frequent anorectal disorders and are responsible for considerable patient suffering and disability. Excisional hemorrhoidectomy is considered the gold standard1 for grade 3 and 4 haemorrhoids. Milligan Morgan haemorrhoidectomy by LigaSure is being investigated by a number of studies in the literature for its comparison with conventional diathermy method in terms of post-operative pain scores. Many studies favor the use of LigaSure in haemorrhoidectomy while other studies have found conventional methods to be either comparable or even superior to Ligasure. The purpose of this study was to know which method is superior, so that the better method would be preferred over the other one to minimize the post-operative pain, the major cause of post-operative morbidity and also to reduce the post-operative analgesia requirement, an important factor influencing the cost-effectiveness of the proposed method. Objective: To compare mean postoperative pain score in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy using Ligasure bipolar vessel sealing system with conventional open diathermy hemorrhoidectomy Methods: Patients aged between 20 to 60 years with symptomatic, third or fourth degree haemorrhoids were included in the study. Randomization to Group A (LigaSure group) or Group B (Diathermy group) was done using sealed envelopes with allocations to either procedure determined just prior to surgery. Perioperative medical treatment was standardized. Operative time was recorded. Patients were inquired about the pain score by using Visual analogue score at 24 hours post-operatively. Numbers of doses of analgesia required in 24 hours were also recorded. Results: Mean age of the patients was 42.05 ± 10.82 years. Study population consisted of 60 % males and 40% females. Mean operative time was significantly lower in Group A (17.10 ± 2.15 min) than Group B (24.63 ± 3.17 min) (P-value ˂ 0.001). Mean VAS score at 24 hours post-operatively was also significantly lower in Group A (2.07± 2.13) versus Group B (4.67± 1.62) (P-value ˂ 0.001). Mean number of doses of analgesia requirement in 24 hours post-operatively was also found to be significantly lower in Group A (0.97± 0.41) compared to Group B (2.17± 0.53) (P-value ˂ 0.001). Conclusion: LigaSure haemorrhoidectomy is significantly better than conventional method of open diathermy haemorrhoidectomy in terms of post-operative pain scores and post-operative analgesia requirement and it can be preferred over the conventional method due to its effect on reducing the morbidity and reducing the cost of analgesia requirement. Keywords: Hemorrhoids, LigaSure, Hemorrhoidectomy, Milligan-Morgan