Exploiting within-breed variability in the autochthonous Reggiana breed identified several candidate genes affecting pigmentation-related traits, stature and udder defects in cattle.

Autochthonous cattle breeds constitute important reservoirs of genetic diversity. Reggiana is an Italian local cattle breed reared in the north of Italy for the production of a mono-breed Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Reggiana cattle usually have a classical solid red coat colour and pale muzzle. As part of the strategies designed for the sustainable conservation of this genetic resource, we investigated at the genome-wise level the within-breed detected variability of three pigmentation-related traits (intensity of red coat colour, based on three classes - light/diluted, normal and dark; spotted patterns/piebaldism that sometime emerge in the breed; muzzle colour - pink/pale, grey and black), stature, presence/absence and number of supernumerary teats and teat length. A total of 1776 Reggiana cattle (about two-thirds of the extant breed population) were genotyped with the GeneSeek GGP Bovine 150k SNP array and single-marker and haplotype-based GWASs were carried out. The results indicated that two main groups of genetic factors affect the intensity of red coat colour: darkening genes (including EDN3 and a few other genes) and diluting genes (including PMEL and a few other genes). Muzzle colour was mainly determined by MC1R gene markers. Piebaldism was mainly associated with KIT gene markers. Stature was associated with BTA6 markers upstream of the NCAPG-LCORL genes. Teat defects were associated with TBX3/TBX5, MCC and LGR5 genes. Overall, the identified genomic regions not only can be directly used in selection plans in the Reggiana breed, but also contribute to clarifying the genetic mechanisms involved in determining exterior traits in cattle.

Genome-wide association studies for the number of teats and teat asymmetry patterns in Large White pigs.

The number of teats is a morphological trait that influences the mothering ability of the sows and thus their reproduction performances. In this study, we carried out GWASs for the total number of teats and other 12 related parameters in 821 Italian Large White heavy pigs. All pigs were genotyped with the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip array. For four investigated parameters (total number of teats, the number of teats of the left line, the number of teats of the right line and the maximum number of teats comparing the two sides), significant markers were identified on SSC7, in the region of the vertnin (VRTN) gene. Significant markers for the numbers of posterior teats and the absolute difference between anterior and posterior teat numbers were consistently identified on SSC6. The most significant SNP for these parameters was an intron variant in the TOX high mobility group box family member 3 (TOX3) gene. For the other four parameters (absolute difference between the two sides; anterior teats; the ratio between the posterior and the anterior number of teats; and the absence or the presence of extra teats) only suggestively significant markers were identified on several other chromosomes. This study further supported the role of the VRTN gene region in affecting the recorded variability of the number of teats in the Italian Large White pig population and identified a genomic region potentially affecting the biological mechanisms controlling the developmental programme of morphological features in pigs.

Lithium prevents cell apoptosis through autophagy induction.

OBJECTIVE: Bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) are widely used as an available source for cell therapy, tissue engineering, and cellular differentiation-based techniques. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a simple method through which BMSCs can be protected from cell apoptosis under tough conditions of cell differentiation. Lithium treatment is one of the simple methods in this regard. METHODS: The isolated BMSCs were divided into three groups: (a) control, (b) serum deprivation and (c) LiCl. Cell proliferation and apoptosis and autophagy markers in the presence and absence of LiCl were evaluated. RESULTS: LiCl has shown to increase survival rate of BMSCs under serum deprivation conditions through autophagy induction (reduced P62 and increased LC3II) and apoptosis inhibition (expression of XIAP), so that the cell survival rate, after 12 hours, was 29 %, 59 %, 83 %, 74 %, 49 % for the groups, which received 0, 1, 5, 10, 20 millimolar of LiCl, respectively, as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: LiCl leads to decreased apoptosis and increased survival rate through autophagy induction under serum deprivation conditions (Ref. 5, Ref. 37).

Obesity and spinal loads; a combined MR imaging and subject-specific modeling investigation.

Epidemiological studies have identified obesity asa possible risk factor for low back disorders. Biomechanical models can help test such hypothesis and shed light on the mechanism involved. A novel subject-specific musculoskeletal-modelling approach is introduced to estimate spinal loads during static activities in five healthy obese (BMI>30kg/m2) and five normal-weight (200.05). Heavier subjects did not necessarily have larger muscle moment arms (e.g., they were larger in 64kg (BMI=20.7kg/m2) subject than 78kg (BMI=24.6kg/m2) subject) or greater T1-L5 trunk weight (e.g., the 97kg (BMI=31kg/m2) subject had similar trunk weight as 109kg (BMI=33.3kg/m2) subject). Obese individuals had in average greater spinal loads than normal-weight ones but heavier subjects did not necessarily have greater spinal loads (117kg (BMI=40.0kg/m2) subject had rather similar L5-S1 compression as 105kg (BMI=34.7kg/m2) subject). Predicted L4-L5 intradiscal pressures for the normal-weight subjects ranged close to the measured values (R2=0.85-0.92). Obese individuals did not necessarily have greater IDPs than normal-weight ones.

Women self-perception of excess hair growth, as a predictor of clinical hirsutism: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: Hirsutism is the most common indicator of hyperandrogenism. Both, the sensitivity of the patients to the serum androgen levels and the responsiveness of women to the perceived excess hair growth vary among different populations. This report elaborates the relationship between the woman's discerned abnormal hair growths with the clinical diagnosis of hirsutism. METHODS: The survey was conducted among 1160 women aged 18-45 and randomly selected from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study for further detailed assessment of Hirsutism; using the m-FG scoring method. Data gathering was performed by interviews and physical examinations. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn and the new cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity and concordance percentage were calculated. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that among 12 androgen-dependent body areas, the chin skin had the highest area under curve of 0.81 (CI; 0.78-0.84). According to the patient's evaluation, a threshold point of 4 had the optimum concordance percentage of 0.77 with the modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: Patient's self-identification of excess terminal hair based on the chin area has great sensitivity and reliability in predicting the clinical hirsutism.

Cross hospital bed management system.

The lack of adequate numbers of hospital beds to accommodate the injured is a main problem in public hospitals. For control of occupancy of bed, we design a dynamic system that announces status of bed when it change with admission or discharge of a patient. This system provide a wide network in country for bed management, especially for ICU and CCU beds that help us to distribute injured patient in the hospitals.

Mass rearing of Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

OBJECTIVE: To carry out an experimental study with the main objective of mass rearing of sheep flies (Lucilia sericata). METHODS: Hand collection and beef- or cattle liver-baited net traps were used for field fly sampling from April, 2010 to November, 2010. The samples collected from different places were placed in properly labeled tubes and sent to the Entomology Laboratory. Since maggot identification is important in inducing mortality, they were kept under insectary condition to develop to adult stage and identified using systematic keys. RESULTS: A total of 218 flies were collected in three rounds of sampling from the field of Tehran and Karaj Counties. In the first generation, 433 flies including 135 (31.17%) male, and 298 (68.82%) female were yielded. The female/male of parent ratio was calculated as 1.72 in Tehran and in Karaj areas, whereas it was 2.20% and 1.81%, respectively in F1 and F2 generations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During this study, the mass rearing of sheep blow fly has been established at the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and can be used for producing flies for maggot therapy.

Aldicarb and carbofuran transport in a Hapludalf influenced by differential antecedent soil water content and irrigation delay.

Pesticide use in agroecosystems can adversely impact groundwater quality via chemical leaching through soils. Few studies have investigated the effects of antecedent soil water content (SWC) and timing of initial irrigation (TII) after chemical application on pesticide transport and degradation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of antecedent soil water content (wet vs dry) and timing of initial irrigation (0h Delay vs 24h Delay) on aldicarb [(EZ)-2-methyl-2-(methylthio)propionaldehyde O-methylcarbamoyloxime] and carbofuran [2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate] transport and degradation parameters at a field site with Menfro silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludalf) soils. Aldicarb and carbofuran were applied to plots near field capacity (wet) or near permanent wilting point (dry). Half of the dry and wet plots received irrigation water immediately after chemical application and the remaining plots were irrigated after a 24h Delay. The transport and degradation parameters were estimated using the method of moments. Statistical significance determined for SWC included averages across TII levels, and significance determined for TII included averages across SWC levels. For the dry treatment, aldicarb was detected 0.10 m deeper (P<0.01) on two of the four sampling dates and carbofuran was detected at least 0.10 m deeper (P<0.05) on all of the sampling dates compared to the wet treatment. Pore water velocity was found to be higher (P<0.10) in the dry vs wet treatments on three of four dates for aldicarb and two of four dates for carbofuran. Retardation coefficients for both pesticides showed similar evidence of reduced values for the dry vs wet treatments. These results indicate deeper pesticide movement in the initially dry treatment. For aldicarb and carbofuran, estimated values of the degradation rate were approximately 40-49% lower in the initially dry plots compared to the initially wet plots, respectively. When the initial irrigation was delayed for 24h, irrespective of antecedent moisture conditions, a 30% reduction in aldicarb degradation occurred. This study illustrates the deeper transport of pesticides and their increased persistence when applied to initially dry soils.

Atrazine and alachlor transport in claypan soils as influenced by differential antecedent soil water content.

Increased attention to ground water contamination has encouraged an interest in mechanisms of solute transport through soils. Few studies have investigated the effect of the initial soil water content on the transport and degradation of herbicides for claypan soils. We investigated the effect of claypan soils at initial field capacity vs. permanent wilting level on atrazine and alachlor transport. The soil studied was Mexico silt loam (fine, smectitic, mesic Aeric Vertic Epiaqualf) with a subsoil clay content, primarily montmorillonite, of >40%. Strontium bromide, atrazine, and alachlor were applied to plots; half were at field capacity (Wet treatment), and half were near the permanent wilting point (Dry treatment). Soil cores were removed at selected depths and times, and cores were analyzed for bromide and herbicide concentrations. Bromide, atrazine, and alachlor were detected at the 0.90-m depth in dry plots within 15 d after experiment initiation. Bromide was detected 0.15 m deeper (P < 0.05) in the Dry compared with the Wet treatment at 1, 7, and 60 d after application and >0.30 m deeper (P < 0.01) in the Dry treatment at 15 and 30 d after application; similar treatment results were found for atrazine and alachlor, although on fewer dates with significant differences. The mobility order of the applied chemicals was bromide > atrazine > alachlor. The atrazine apparent half-life was significantly longer in the Dry plots compared with the Wet plots. The retardation factor determined from the relative velocity of each herbicide to that of bromide was higher for alachlor than for atrazine. This study identifies the impact that shrinkage cracks have for different moisture conditions on preferential transport of herbicides in claypan soils.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of LNAPL movement in stratified media during soil remediation.

The saturation distribution and clean up efficiency of light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) in the strata beneath the earth has been the subject of many studies. Better understanding of LNAPL infiltration into layered soil is important for the effective design of remediation strategies. The objective of this study was to simulate LNAPL movement in homogenous and stratified porous media using gravity assisted inert gas injection (GAIGI) process as a cleaning technique. We used homogeneous and layered sandpacked transparent models that allows for visual observation of LNAPL movement in order to study LNAPL redistribution in a layered porous medium. Pore volume, porosity, absolute permeability, connate water saturation, and oil saturation of the models were determined experimentally. Seasonal water table movement and contaminated zone were established and then, under GAIGI process, clean up efficiency was determined. The downward displacement of LNAPL by gas drive resulted in very high LNAPL clean up efficiency. Using the contaminant production history in the homogeneous model, the LNAPL relative permeability was calculated and the results were extended to layered media. The numerical multi-phase flow model in porous media was validated with regard to the experimental results. This model is able to adequately reproduce the experimental LNAPL saturation profile and clean up efficiency.

Effects of analgesia of the distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa on experimental lameness caused by solar pain in horses.

It has been hypothesized that pain originating from the dorsal margin of the sole of the hoof in horses can be attenuated by analgesia of either the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, or of the navicular bursa (NB). To test this hypothesis, an experimental lameness was induced in the toe region of the left forelimb in six adult horses. After this, both synovial structures were blocked and the effects on the lameness were semi-quantitatively scored. Lameness was induced by creating pressure on the dorsal margin of the sole with the help of set-screws that were screwed into a nut, welded to the inside of each branch of the shoe. Gaits were recorded on a videotape before and after application of the screws, and after application of either a local anaesthetic or saline into the DIP joint or NB. The gaits were independently evaluated by two blinded clinicians and scored. Lameness scores were high after application of the screws and remained high after the administration of saline, but decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after administration of the local anaesthetic. Analgesia of the DIP joint as well as the NB appeared to be able to desensitize a portion of the sole. It was concluded that pain arising from the toe region of the sole should not be excluded as a cause of lameness when lameness is attenuated by analgesia of the DIP joint, or of the NB.

Neurotransmitters in central respiratory control.

A diverse group of processes are involved in central control of ventilation. Both fast acting neurotransmitters and slower acting neuromodulators are involved in the central respiratory drive. This review deals with fast acting neurotransmitters that are essential centrally in the ventilatory response to H(+)/CO(2) and to acute hypoxia. Data are reviewed to show that the central response to H(+)/CO(2) is primarily at sites in the medulla, the most prominent being the ventral medullary surface (VMS), and that acetylcholine is the key neurotransmitter in this process. Genetic abnormalities in the cholinergic system lead to states of hypoventilation in man and that knock out mice for genes responsible for neural crest development have none or diminished CO(2) ventilatory response. In the acute ventilatory response to hypoxia the afferent impulses from the carotid body reach the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) releasing glutamate which stimulates ventilation. Glutamate release also occurs in the VMS. Hypoxia is also associated with release of GABA in the mid-brain and a biphasic change in concentration of another inhibitory amino acid, taurine. Collectively changes in these amino acids can account for the ventilatory output in response to acute hypoxia. Future studies should provide more data on molecular and genetic basis of central respiratory drive and the role of neurotransmitter in this essential function.

Brainstem amino acid neurotransmitters and hypoxic ventilatory response.

The ventilatory response to acute hypoxia in mammalian species is biphasic, an initial hyperventilatory response is followed by a reduction in ventilation within 2-3 min below the peak level (roll-off). Brain amino acid neurotransmitters also change during hypoxia. This study explores the role of neurotransmitters in anesthetized adult Sprague Dawley rats mechanically ventilated during 20 min of 10% O2 breathing. Phrenic nerve activity was recorded, and microdialysate concentrations of selected amino acids were determined at 3- to 5-min intervals in respiratory chemosensitive areas of the ventrolateral medulla (VMS) 1.25-2.00 mm below the surface. Phrenic nerve output was biphasic during hypoxia, concurrent with a rapid glutamate and gradual GABA increase. Taurine first decreased, then increased. In both intact and chemodenervated animals, time-dependent change in phrenic nerve activity during hypoxia was associated with corresponding changes in glutamate, GABA, and taurine concentrations, suggesting that cumulative effects of changes in the concentration of these three amino acids could account for response of the phrenic nerve to hypoxia.

Potential role for imidazole in the rhythmic respiratory activity of the in vitro neonatal rat brainstem.

We used the imidazole-binding agent, diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC), to test the hypothesis that rhythmic respiratory activity of the in vitro neonatal rat brainstem-spinal cord preparation was functionally dependent on imidazole. Neural activity was recorded from spinal nerves (C1-C4) during superfusion with 95%O2/5%CO2 buffer at pH 7.3 and T = 26 degrees C. Superfusate containing DEPC (40 mM) caused cessation of rhythmic activity within minutes. In eight of 33 preparations, microinjection of DEPC (32 nmol) onto the ventral medullary surface (VMS) reduced burst amplitude by at least 50% within 10 min, and in 12 of 33 preparations, microinjection of DEPC produced neural apnea. Therefore, we conclude that proteins containing imidazole near the VMS are critically important for the maintenance of rhythmic respiratory activity in vitro. Furthermore, alphastat regulation of respiration may be an essential trait of this preparation.

Skeletal muscle ECF pH error signal for exercise ventilatory control.

An autonomic reflex linking exercising skeletal muscle metabolism to central ventilatory control is thought to be mediated by neural afferents having free endings that terminate in the interstitial fluid of muscle. To determine whether changes in muscle extracellular fluid pH (pHe) can provide an error signal for exercise ventilatory control, pHe was measured during electrically induced contraction by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the chemical shift of a phosphorylated, pH-sensitive marker that distributes to the extracellular fluid (phenylphosphonic acid). Seven lightly anesthetized rats underwent unilateral continuous 5-Hz sciatic nerve stimulation in an 8.45-T nuclear magnetic resonance magnet, which resulted in a mixed lactic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis, with no net change in arterial pH. Skeletal muscle intracellular pH fell from 7.30 +/- 0.03 units at rest to 6.72 +/- 0.05 units at 2.4 min of stimulation and then rose to 7.05 +/- 0.01 units (P < 0.05), despite ongoing stimulation and muscle contraction. Despite arterial hypocapnia, pHe showed an immediate drop from its resting baseline of 7.40 +/- 0.01 to 7.16 +/- 0.04 units (P < 0.05) and remained acidic throughout the stimulation protocol. During the on- and off-transients for 5-Hz stimulation, changes in the pH gradient between intracellular and extracellular compartments suggested time-dependent recruitment of sarcolemmal ion-transport mechanisms. pHe of exercising skeletal muscle meets temporal and qualitative criteria necessary for a ventilatory metaboreflex mediator in a setting where arterial pH does not.