Study profile: the Durban Diabetes Study (DDS): a platform for chronic disease research.

The Durban Diabetes Study (DDS) is a population-based cross-sectional survey of an urban black population in the eThekwini Municipality (city of Durban) in South Africa. The survey combines health, lifestyle and socioeconomic questionnaire data with standardised biophysical measurements, biomarkers for non-communicable and infectious diseases, and genetic data. Data collection for the study is currently underway and the target sample size is 10 000 participants. The DDS has an established infrastructure for survey fieldwork, data collection and management, sample processing and storage, managed data sharing and consent for re-approaching participants, which can be utilised for further research studies. As such, the DDS represents a rich platform for investigating the distribution, interrelation and aetiology of chronic diseases and their risk factors, which is critical for developing health care policies for disease management and prevention. For data access enquiries please contact the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR) at data@apcdr.org or the corresponding author.

Short communication: Polymorphism of casein cluster genes in Czech local goat breeds.

The 4 casein loci were evaluated as haplotypes in 2 dairy goat breeds kept in the Czech Republic. Analysis of 41 White Shorthaired (WSH) trio families and 44 Brown Shorthaired (BSH) trio families revealed 14 and 20 haplotypes, respectively. Various genomic techniques were used to type the casein loci. Twenty-two different combinations of these alleles (casein haplotypes, in the order CSN1S1-CSN2-CSN1S2-CSN3) were found. Only 5 haplotypes in the WSH breed and 6 haplotypes in the BSH breed occurred at frequencies >0.05. For the WSH breed, the most common haplotype was FCFB (0.260), whereas for the BSH breed, the most common haplotype was FCFA (0.217). The information on the haplotype variability in both breeds could be used in breeding programs aimed at preserving biodiversity or selecting animals for specific protein production and cheesemaking.

Horse breed discrimination using machine learning methods.

Genetic relationships and population structure of 8 horse breeds in the Czech and Slovak Republics were investigated using classification methods for breed discrimination. To demonstrate genetic differences among these breeds, we used genetic information - genotype data of microsatellite markers and classification algorithms - to perform a probabilistic prediction of an individual's breed. In total, 932 unrelated animals were genotyped for 17 microsatellite markers recommended by the ISAG for parentage testing (AHT4, AHT5, ASB2, HMS3, HMS6, HMS7, HTG4, HTG10, VHL20, HTG6, HMS2, HTG7, ASB17, ASB23, CA425, HMS1, LEX3). Algorithms of classification methods - J48 (decision trees); Naive Bayes, Bayes Net (probability predictors); IB1, IB5 (instance-based machine learning methods); and JRip (decision rules) - were used for analysis of their classification performance and of results of classification on this genotype dataset. Selected classification methods (Naive Bayes, Bayes Net, IB1), based on machine learning and principles of artificial intelligence, appear usable for these tasks.

[Efficiency of cryoembryotransfer using embryos frozen in the pronuclear stage]. / Uspesnost cyklu s prenosem embryí zamrazených ve stadiu prvojader.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate results of cryoembryotransfers in cycles with estrogen-progestin preparation of the endometrium. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Centre of Assisted Reproduction, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Palacký University Medical School, Olomouc. METHODS: The study included 51 patients in whom in the period of January to August 2003 altogether 42 cycles the embryotransfer with frozen and thawed embryos were performed. The embryos for cryopreservation were obtained in the classical IVF (n = 21) or ICSI (n = 30) cycles and were cryopreserved in the pronuclear stage (PN). The storage interval varied from 3 months to 5 years. The endometrial preparation was performed in all cycles with oral estrogen--progestin substitution. Embryos in the PN stage were examined for survival (rate of intact embryos after thawing) and progress of their further development. Endometrial thickness, number of transferred embryos, pregnancy rate (PR), implantation rate (IR) and abortions (AB) were evaluated as outcome parameters. RESULTS: A total of 210 thawed embryos were evaluated. Survival was 79% without regard to the method of fertilization. For 42 cryoembryotransfers 131 embryos (62%) in 6 to 10 blastomeres after 48 hours cultivation in G 1.2 and G 2.2 fy Vitrolife were selected. Further development was more regular in embryos obtained in classical IVF cycles, where 41% of the embryos were in 4 cells stage after 24 hours of cultivation and 36% of the embryos were in 8 cells stage after 48 hours while after ICSI 32% 4 cells embryos and 26% 8 cells embryos respectively. Endometrial thickness in the day of transfer in all patients was 10.9 +/- 1.3 mm, the average number of transferred embryos was 2.4 embryos/transfer, PR was 28.5 (IVF 42.9% and ICSI 20.7%), IR 12.0% (IVF 13.0% and ICSI 11.3%) and AB 41.6% (IVF 33.3% and ICSI 50.0%). CONCLUSION: Improvement of cryopreservation procedures, freezing of embryos in the pronuclear stage and last but not least the optimal endometrial preparation can positively influence the cumulative efficiency of assisted reproduction.

Urinary iodine level as an intake indicator in dairy cows.

Urinary iodine concentrations were determined in 672 dairy cows of 22 herds. Less than 20 micrograms per L, 20 to 50 micrograms per L, 50 to 100 micrograms per L and more than 100 micrograms per L were found in 27.5, 24.6, 16.8, and 31.3% of the cows, respectively. In terms of the ICCIDD grading, moderate iodine deficiency was recorded in 68.9% and normal iodine intake in 31.3% of the cows. The mean urinary iodine concentrations were 94.8 micrograms per L at the peak of the lactation period (n = 300), 82.3 micrograms per L immediately before drying off (n = 122), 92.5 micrograms per L in the cows fed summer rations (n = 267), and 79.2 micrograms per L in those fed winter rations (n = 405). The differences in mean values were nonsignificant. Urinary iodine concentrations were examined in the herd LOS in cows fed iodine-supplemented (LOS E) or nonsupplemented (LOS C) rations. Mean concentrations were 316.2 micrograms per L for LOS E (n = 46) and 52.3 micrograms per L for LOS C (n = 41). The difference was highly significant (P < 0.01). The status of the group LOS C was classified as a medium iodine deficiency. The mean iodine concentrations at the peak of the lactation period and immediately before drying off were also significantly higher (P < 0.01) in this group. The supplementation of iodine resulted in an increase of urinary iodine concentration and, in terms of ICCIDD, the increase of iodine intake to the normal range. Normal intake and moderate, medium and serious deficits were found in three, two, one, and four herds, respectively. Special attention should be paid to herds showing higher grades of iodine deficiency.

[Inorganic anions with a potential goitrogenic effect in drinking water supply for humans and animals]. / Anorganické anionty s mozným strumigenním vlivem v pitných a napjecích vodách.

The levels of inorganic anions (NO3-, NO2-, SO(2-)4, F- and HPO(2-)4 with the following average values (mg/l) were determined isotachophoretically in 82 samples of potable water for humans and animals: 39.7 +/- 53.1 for nitrates, min. 0.0 - max. 363.3; 0.206 +/- 0.954 for nitrites, min. 0.0 - max. 7.82; 37.5 +/- 32.4 for chlorides, min. 0.0 - max. 137.9; 74.2 +/- 74.1 for sulfates, min. 4.2 - max. 369.2; 0.208 +/- 0.138 for fluorides, min. 0.032 - max 0.605 and 0.350 +/- 1.197 for phosphates, min. 0.0 - max. 17.4 (Tabs. I-IV). Within the set of samples examined, 22.0 of samples exceeded the limit value of nitrites; the respective values of nitrites, chlorides, sulfates and phosphates were 13.4, 6.1, 2.4 and 1.2. None of the samples exceeded the limit value of fluorides. 34.1% of samples complied with the value recommended by the standard for nitrites. Nitrate concentrations in drinking water for cows were compared with urine iodine content in some cows in the total of 398 urine samples from 14 iodine content in urine was recorded at some localities. Correlation analysis proved this relationship to be statistically highly significant (P < 0.01), Tab. VIII. The values of nitrate and iodine contents at DYJ locality are expressly different (Tab. VII).

Immunosuppressive activity of angiogenin in comparison with bovine seminal ribonuclease and pancreatic ribonuclease.

Angiogenin, a member of the pancreatic-like ribonuclease family with a special biological action (RISBAses), is a basic protein that induces blood vessel formation. Another member of these special ribonucleases, bovine seminal ribonuclease (BS RNase), displays biological properties, including aspermatogenic, embryotoxic, antitumor and immunosuppressive activities. The effects of two angiogenin preparations tested on the biological activities mentioned above are reported and compared with those of BS RNase and RNase A. In contrast to RNase A, which was ineffective in all biological activities tested, angiogenin suppressed significantly the proliferation of human lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A or by allogenic human lymphocytes (mixed lymphocyte culture). However, angiogenin did not affect the growth of human tumor cell lines, development of cow and mouse embryos and spermatogenicity in mice. On the basis of these results, angiogenin is the first monomeric ribonuclease described so far that displays immunosuppressive activity similar to that of the dimeric BS RNase. The immunosuppressive activity of angiogenin might synergize with the effect on neovascularization of tumor tissues and thus contribute to the development of tumor.

[The effectiveness of the repellents diethyltoluamide and phenylpropandiol in grazing primiparous cows]. / Ucinnost repelentú dietyltoluamidu a fenylpropandiolu u pasených prvotelek.

In practical farming conditions of an agricultural enterprise situated in South-East Moravia, the repellents N,N'-diethyl-m-toluamide and 2-phenyl propanediol 1,3 were tested after their application to grazing first-calves of the Bohemian Pied breed. The experiment was conducted in July and August 1986 and it took 40 days. In the first experimental group, 2-phenyl propanediol 1,3 was applied and in the other group a 1:1 mixture of the repellents N,N'-diethyl-m-toluamide and 2-phenyl propanediol 1,3 in form of a 10% water emulsion in the interval of 48 hours. No flights and bites of annoying insects (gad-flies, black-flies, gnats, midges, symbovine flies) were observed in treated first-calves in the two experimental groups. The economic efficiency of 2-phenyl propanediol 1,3 application in the first experimental group was manifested by the higher milk yield by 1.20% and by the higher milk fat yield by 0.13%; when the mixture of N,N'-diethyl-m-toluamide and 2-phenyl propanediol 1,3 was used, the milk yield increased by 2.27% and the milk fat yield by 0.17%, in comparison with the control group. Considering that some meteorological factors had worse values in the test year, after their mathematico-statistical evaluation they had significantly different values from those recorded in the two preceding years, the differences in milk production and fat percentage were not statistically significant.

Anti-leucocyte antibodies and embryonic mortality in embryo transferred cows.

Cows carrying unrelated transferred embryos (ET) produced anti-leucocyte serum antibodies (aLA) more often than cows carrying their own embryos. Cows carrying the ET showed a higher frequency of cytotoxic reactions against leucocytes from 40-60 randomly chosen cows than individuals carrying their own embryos. The percentage of animals with aLA was higher in cows carrying their second or third transferred embryo than in those with their first transferred embryo. There was no change in the frequency of cytotoxic reactions with repeated pregnancies from transferred embryos. There was no difference in the toxicity of aLA in normal pregnant cows and those carrying transferred embryos. Embryonic mortality (EM) of 35, 73 and 88% was noted during pregnancies from the first, second and third successful ET, respectively. Mortality of 48% occurred in the first pregnancy following an unsuccessful ET. Embryonic mortality of 31% occurred in cows simultaneously carrying their own and a transferred embryo. A direct relationship between the presence of aLA and EM in recipients was not proved. Other fertility problems may lead to EM in cows subjected to repeated transfer of foreign embryos.

[Objective evaluation of the effect of suggestion analgesia on the pain threshold]. / Pokus o objektivní zhodnocení ovlivnení prahu bolesti sugestivní analgézií.

Objectivization of the pain threshold, mean pain and tolerance of painful stimuli in patients with vertebrogenic algic syndrome is so far not a common examination method within the framework of psychological examinations of hospitalized patients. Because of the availability of the examination technique, the ischaemic pain test was selected performed by means of an ordinary tonometer and a rubber dynamometer. In the paper the author publishes for the first time preliminary norms for our population evaluated by the re-test following suggestive analgesia during autogenic training, extended by reflections on possible objectivization of subjective experience--pain, and further trends of clinical research in this area are outlined.

[Decrease in the milk yield in cows casued by dipterous blood-sucking insects and the protection of heifers with Oxamate, a repellent, in the area of Leningrad]. / Ztráty na dojivosti krav, püsobené dvoukrídlým hmyzem sajícím krev, a ochrana skotu repelentem Oxamát v Leningradské oblasti.

Blood-sucking dipterous insects, milk yield losses caused by these insects to cows in the pasture and the possibilities of cattle protection against these insects were investigated in the Leningrad region of the USSR in 1982-1984. The invasion by horse-flies causes the greatest trouble to grazing cattle. Twenty-five horse-fly species were identified during the study. The nine prevailing species constituted more than 85% of the horse-flies invading the animals. The horse-flies flew for 50-55 days from the beginning of June to the beginning of August; mass flights were observed for two weeks starting in the second decade of June. A twelve-hour repelling action was recorded in the Oxamate repellent applied as 20% emulsion. A new portable motor-powered aerosol sprayer was tested during the study. The losses in milk yields caused by horse-flies in the Leningrad region were computed; in the period of the horse-fly flights the milk yields are reduced by 13%. The economic benefit of the treatment of the animals with the Oxamate repellent was 9.11 roubles per rouble invested. Manitoba-type traps attracting the horse-flies to an optical bait (a black ball or cube) were used as an additional method of reducing the occurrence of horse-flies in the pasture.

[The effect of selected preparations for the protection of draft horses against dipterous blood-sucking insects]. / Ucinnost vybraných preparátu k ochrane tazných koní pred dvoukrídlým hmyzem sajícím krev.

Dipterous blood-sucking insects (horseflies, black flies, gnats, midges) have negative impacts on the performance of draught horses in forest enterprises. For the protection of these animals, the following preparations were applied at the interval of 24 hours: diethyltoluamide, Oxamat (N,N-diethyloxamine acid, USSR) and Stomoxin (synthetic pyrethroid, product of the firm Wellcome, England). In the course of 66 working days, the performance of test animals treated with 10% water emulsion of diethyltoluamide increased by 49.25 cu. m. of skidded wood, i.e. by 0.74 cu. m. wood per horse/day (21.65%), as compared with the control group. The daily savings of prime costs per test horse/day made 16.99 Kcs (Czechoslovak crowns). In comparison with the control group, the performance of horses treated with 5% water emulsion of Oxamat increased by 85.50 cu. m. wood, i.e. by 1.29 cu. m. wood per horse/day (38.00%). Stomoxin at the concentration of 0.05% acted as a good insecticide but had no marked repellent effect. The results of this study document that the production of effective repellents should be introduced in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

[Use of culled cows as embryo donors]. / Vyuzití vyrazených krav jako dárcu embryí.

In a trial, 134 donors (cows and first-calvers) culled for slaughter owing to a low performance, udder disease, infertility and other reasons (termination of productive age, foot disease, etc.) were treated with 2000 to 4000 i. u. PMSG (Serum gonadotropin, Bioveta) to induce superovulation. The embryos were obtained post mortem on the sixth to ninth day after the first insemination. Among the donors culled for infertility the proportion of superovulated animals was 53.1% and among those culled for "the other" reasons this proportion was only 46.2%; out of the cows eliminated for a low performance and udder diseases 76.3% and 70.6% were superovulated. The highest stimulation was obtained in cows culled for "the other" reasons (14.58 CL) and for infertility (12.41 CL). The level of embryo gain was good in donors culled for a low performance (57.3% of CL number, 6.82 eggs), for "the other" reasons (59.3%, 8.64 eggs) and for udder diseases (62.6%, 6.83 eggs), it was the lowest in infertile donors (46%; 5.71 eggs-P-insignificant). These donors had the largest proportion of embryos suitable for transfer--66.9% out of the eggs obtained. A good proportion of suitable embryos was also found in donors culled for a low performance (61.7%) and for "the other" reasons (55.8%); the lowest proportion of suitable embryos was obtained in the donors with diseased udders (48.8%). Good proportions of superovulated donors (from 53.5% to 85.7%) and acceptable results of stimulation were kept for about a year after calving.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Health status of cattle in relation to the time of year]. / Zdravotní stav skotu ve vztahu k rocnímu období.

The periodicity of morbidity rate in heifers and dairy cows kept on pasture (278 animals) and in stables (187 animals) was studied in relation to macroclimatic conditions under the assumption of two peaks per annum. The following conditions were used as the parameters of morbidity: purulent inflammations of uterus, sterility, lesions of the female tract and sepsis, dystocia, retention of placenta, mastitis, foot diseases and lying down after parturition. No significant differences were found between the studied groups of animals. A statistically significant up to highly significant dependence was found between the health of the heifers and cows and macroclimatic conditions both in stables and on pasture; an increase in morbidity rate was recorded in spring and autumn.

[Economic importance of protecting draft horses used in forestry against blood-sucking dipterous insects]. / Hospodárský význam ochrany tazných koní v lesních závodech pred dvoukrídlým hmyzem sajícím krev.

The adverse effect of blood-sucking dipterous insects (gadflies, gnats, black flies, midges) was determined and checked, as exerted on the working performance of draft horses working in forests; the possibilities of protecting horses with repellents were studied at the same time. The trial was conducted under field conditions in the territory of the Broumov Forest Establishment in the Náchod and Trutnov districts. A 10% water emulsion of the repellent, diethyltoluamide, was used; the horses were treated with the emulsion in a 24-hour interval. Over the seventy working days from the 1st of July to the 30th of September, 1981, the performance of the test horse increased by 153 m3 wood in the skidding operation (i. e. by 58.06%), as compared with the control group. Recalculated per horse/day, this improvement is 2.19 m3 wood and the saving of prime costs amounts to 35.50 Czechoslovak crowns. The coefficient of loss per untreated horse was 9180 crowns. The effectiveness of the costs (per each crown of the capital expended) was calculated to be 309.07 crowns. The results were statistically significant.

Blood types of twin cattle after embryo transfer to inseminated recipients.

The blood types, together with erythrocyte and plasma protein types were determined in 10 pairs of twins born after embryo transfer to the contralateral uterine horns of previously inseminated recipients. These estimations were carried out at the age of nine weeks. According to the haemolytic test, most of these pairs of twins had identical blood types, ie, no erythrocyte mosaic could be demonstrated and the blood type corresponded to that of the recipient's calf. In the cases where mosaicism could be demonstrated, the recipient calf's blood type predominated. The reason for this bias remains unclear although the suggestion that the recipient's calf had developed further and was thus able to influence the haematopoietic tissues of its co-twin is worth considering.

[The effect of blood-sucking diptera on the weight of grazing heifers]. / Vliv dvoukrídlého hmyzu sajícího krev na hmotnost pasených jalovic.

It was demonstrated experimentally that bloodsucking dipterans (gad-flies, gnats, midges, black flies) influenced negatively weight increments of grazing heifers and that it was suitable to treat the heifers with repellents; 10% water emulsion of the repellent diethyltoluamide was used for heifer spraying in the intervals of 48 hours. Over the 66 days of the experiment, the total live weight of one heifer from the test group increased by 5.00 kg, in comparison with the controls. The coefficient of loss per untreated animal was 105.00 Kcs., the returns of investments per 1.00 Kcs of investment costs were 1.90 Kcs. Owing to worse climatic conditions in the experimental years which significantly differed from meteorological conditions in the previous four years, which ensued from mathematico-statistical evaluation, differences in weight increments over the period of study were statistically insignificant.