Genome-wide association mapping of milk production traits in Braunvieh cattle.

A whole-genome association study of milk production traits: milk yield, protein yield, fat yield, protein percentage, and fat percentage, was performed on the population of Braunvieh cattle. Five hundred and fifty-four progeny-tested bulls and 36,219 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA) were included in the analysis. A principal component analysis was conducted to adjust for the effect of population stratification in the analyzed data set. For the principal component analysis, genome-wide relationships between individuals were calculated. Three different criteria (Horn's test, Kaiser's criterion, and Jolliffe's criterion) were tested to determine the number of significant principal components. Estimation of putative associations between SNP and milk production traits was carried out using a linear regression model in R software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Significant principal components, adjusting for population stratification separately for each criterion and family relationships and genotypes at individual SNP were included as fixed effects in the model. The inflation factor λ and quantile-quantile plots were calculated to compare how the different criteria deal with stratification in our mapping population. Based on the analyses on all of the aforementioned criteria, we can conclude that Jolliffe's criterion deals the best with population stratification. Furthermore, significance thresholds for a given genome-wide false discovery rate of 5% were estimated and used for specific traits. Three of the analyzed traits showed genome-wide significant association with SNP. Two SNP had an effect on milk yield on BTA4, 2 SNP affected fat yield on BTA14 and BTA23, and 1 SNP was associated with fat percent on BTA1. Single nucleotide polymorphisms identified in this study as associated with milk production traits will further contribute to the mapping of corresponding quantitative trait loci and investigation of the genes responsible for polymorphisms in milk production traits in dairy cattle. Described comparison of different criteria for determination of significant principal components can provide important information for similar studies in stratified populations.

Genetic parameters and factors influencing survival to twenty-four hours after birth in Danish meat sheep breeds.

In this study, influential factors and (co)variance components for survival to 24 h after birth were determined and estimated for Texel, Shropshire, and Oxford Down, the most common sheep breeds in Denmark. Data from 1992 to 2006 containing 138,813 survival records were extracted from the sheep recording database at the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service. Estimation of (co)variance components was carried out using univariate animal models, applying logistic link functions. The logistic functions were also used for estimation of fixed effects. Both direct and maternal additive genetic effects, as well as common litter effects, were included in the models. The mean survival to 24 h after birth was 92.5, 91.7, and 88.5% for Texel, Shropshire, and Oxford Down, respectively. There was a curvilinear relationship between survival to 24 h after birth and birth weight, with survival less for light and heavy lambs. Male lambs, as well as lambs from ewes in the first parity or with difficult lambing, had the least survival to 24 h after birth. Survival to 24 h after birth was greater in twin-born Texel and Shropshire lambs compared with singletons and vice versa in Oxford Down. Estimates of direct heritability were in the range from 0.05 to 0.07. Maternal heritability estimates were slightly greater (0.06 and 0.07) than direct heritabilities in Texel and Shropshire and less (0.04) in Oxford Down. The estimated genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects for survival to 24 h after birth were negative, which will make breeding for this trait more difficult. However, on the basis of estimated genetic parameters, it can be concluded that it is possible to improve survival to 24 h after birth in meat sheep breeds by accounting for both direct and maternal genetic effects in breeding programs.

[Use of synthetic biodegradable polymers in medicine]. / Vyuzití syntetických biodegradabilních polymeru v medicíne.

Synthetic biodegradable polymers, such as polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polycarbonates, polyphosphoesters, polyphosphazenes, polyesteramides, polyalkylenoxalates, polyalkylcyanoacrylates, etc., are represented as materials which are being tested for use, or which have been already used in surgery, orthopaedics, and pharmacy. A particular attention is devoted to their use in the preparation of systems with prolonged release or with targeted biodistribution of active ingredients.

Release of sodium fluoride from poly (L-lactic acid) implants characterized by thermal history.

The method of injection molding of the melt of poly(L-lactic (PLLA), Mw 11 730, containing 7.5% of particles of sodium fluoride smaller than 1 microm was employed to prepare cylinders of a diameter of 2 and 10 mm in length. These matrices with an insoluble active ingredient with an amorphous structure of the carrier obtained by rapid cooling of the melt were annealed at temperatures from 70 to 140 degrees C in the medium of a hot-air drying plant and liquid paraffin. It has been found that crystallization of PLLA manifested by the rapidity of release of sodium fluoride does not take place at a temperature of 70 degrees C; at a temperature of 75 degrees C the effect of annealing of polyester matrices on the decrease in the rapidity of sodium fluoride release was already perceptible. Also in annealing of matrices at temperatures of 120 and 140 degrees C an identical deceleration of sodium fluoride release as that at 75 degrees C took place; the rapidity of the development of an effective crystalline phase was higher at higher temperatures. The method of interval cooling with the first stage of slow cooling and the second stage of rapid cooling of the melt of PLLA with 15% sodium fluoride fixed the structure achieved till the moment of the change in the rapidity of cooling. This revealed the temperature range of the development of the effective crystalline phase from the viewpoint of sodium fluoride release lying between 92 and 122 degrees C.

Drug interactions due to cytochrome P450.

Cytochrome P450 is a family of isozymes responsible for the biotransformation of several drugs. Drug metabolism via the cytochrome P450 system has emerged as an important determinant in the occurrence of several drug interactions that can result in drug toxicities, reduced pharmacological effect, and adverse drug reactions. Recognizing whether the drugs involved act as enzyme substrates, inducers, or inhibitors can prevent clinically significant interactions from occurring. Avoiding coadministration or anticipating potential problems and adjusting a patient's drug regimen early in the course of therapy can provide optimal response with minimal adverse effects.

Prolonged hypoglycemic crisis associated with glyburide.

An elderly patient taking glyburide 5 mg/day for noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was hospitalized because of severe hypoglycemia. Laboratory results indicated both renal and hepatic abnormalities were present at the time of admission. Despite infusion of 10% dextrose and supplemental boluses of 50% dextrose, the hypoglycemic crisis persisted for 3 days. After it resolved, the patient's diabetes was controlled by diet alone. The patient's age and the presence of hepatic and/or renal impairment must be taken in account in prescribing glyburide. Recognizing patients who may require dosage changes, and educating them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, may help prevent hospitalizations resulting from this complication associated with glyburide.

Possible toxic encephalopathy following high-dose intravenous haloperidol.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of possible toxic encephalopathy in a surgical patient receiving high-dose intravenous haloperidol. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old African-American man was admitted for spinal fusion. His medical history included bipolar disorder and a cerebrovascular accident. His recovery from surgery was complicated by the development of agitation, which was treated with increasing doses of intravenous haloperidol. An electroencephalogram was consistent with toxic encephalopathy. The patient's mental status returned to normal 8 days after discontinuation of haloperidol. DISCUSSION: High-dose intravenous haloperidol for severe agitation has been reported as an effective and safe treatment option for the hospitalized patient. We report the occurrence of toxic encephalopathy in a patient who received high-dose intravenous haloperidol. CONCLUSIONS: Caution should be used when high-dose intravenous haloperidol is used in an agitated patient. If the patient's clinical response is paradoxical to what is anticipated and the resulting agitation is mistakenly attributed to inadequate treatment, increasingly higher doses may only aid in the development of toxic encephalopathy.