Sequence diversity and molecular evolutionary rates between buffalo and cattle.

Identification of genes of importance regarding production traits in buffalo is impaired by a paucity of genomic resources. Choice to fill this gap is to exploit data available for cow. The cross-species application of comparative genomics tools is potential gear to investigate the buffalo genome. However, this is dependent on nucleotide sequences similarity. In this study, gene diversity between buffalo and cattle was determined using 86 gene orthologues. There was approximately 3% difference in all genes in terms of nucleotide diversity and 0.267 ± 0.134 in amino acids, indicating the possibility for successfully using cross-species strategies for genomic studies. There were significantly higher non-synonymous substitutions both in cattle and buffalo; however, there was similar difference in terms of dN- dS (4.414 versus 4.745) in buffalo and cattle, respectively. Higher rate of non-synonymous substitutions at similar level in buffalo and cattle indicated a similar positive selection pressure. Results for relative rate test were assessed with the chi-squared test. There was no significance difference on unique mutations between cattle and buffalo lineages at synonymous sites. However, there was a significance difference on unique mutations for non-synonymous sites, indicating ongoing mutagenic process that generates substitutional mutation at approximately the same rate at silent sites. Moreover, despite of common ancestry, our results indicate a different divergent time among genes of cattle and buffalo. This is the first demonstration that variable rates of molecular evolution may be present within the family Bovidae.

Short communication: Genetic parameters of individual fatty acids in milk of Canadian Holsteins.

The objective of the present study was to estimate heritabilities of milk fatty acids (FA) and genetic and phenotypic correlations among milk FA and milk production traits in Canadian Holsteins. One morning milk sample was collected from each of 3,185 dairy cows between February and June 2010 from 52 commercial herds enrolled in Valacta (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada). Individual FA percentages (g/100 g of total FA) were determined for each sample by gas chromatography. After editing the data, 2,573 cows from 46 herds remained. Genetic parameters were estimated using multitrait animal models fitted under REML. The model included fixed effects of age at calving and stage of lactation each nested within parity and random effects of herd-year-season of calving, animal, and residual. The pedigree of animals with data was traced back 5 generations on both the male and female sides to account for relationships among animals. The estimates of heritability for individual FA ranged from 0.01 to 0.39, with standard errors ranging from 0.01 to 0.06. Generally, monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and saturated FA (SFA) showed higher heritability estimates than polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Overall, SFA were negatively genetically correlated with MUFA and PUFA, whereas genetic correlations between MUFA and PUFA were positive. The SFA showed positive associations with fat yield and fat percentage, whereas unsaturated FA were negatively associated with fat yield and fat percentage. Bovine milk FA composition could be improved through genetic selection, and selection for MUFA or against SFA could alter the bovine milk fat profile in a desirable direction.

Short communication: Estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations among milk fatty acid unsaturation indices in Canadian Holsteins.

The objectives of the present study were to estimate genetic parameters of milk fatty acid unsaturation indices in Canadian Holsteins. Data were available on milk fatty acid composition of 2,573 Canadian Holstein cows from 46 commercial herds enrolled in the Québec Dairy Production Centre of Expertise, Valacta (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada). Individual fatty acid percentages (g/100 g of total fatty acids) were determined for each milk sample by gas chromatography. The unsaturation indices were calculated as the ratio of an unsaturated fatty acid to the sum of that unsaturated fatty acid and its corresponding substrate fatty acid, multiplied by 100. A mixed linear model was fitted under REML for the statistical analysis of milk fatty acid unsaturation indices. The statistical model included the fixed effects of parity, age at calving, and stage of lactation, each nested within parity, and the random effects of herd-year-season of calving, animal, and residual. Estimates of heritabilities for the C14, C16, C18, conjugated linoleic acid, and total unsaturation indices were 0.48, 0.25, 0.29, 0.14, and 0.19, respectively. Phenotypic and genetic correlation estimates among unsaturation indices were all positive and ranged from 0.20 to 0.65 and 0.23 to 0.81, respectively. The estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations for milk fatty acid unsaturation indices suggest that genetic variation exists among cows in milk fatty acid unsaturation, and the proportions of desirable unsaturated fatty acids from a human health point of view may be increased in bovine milk through genetic selection.

Production performance of Dera Din Panah goat under desert range conditions in Pakistan.

Effects of fodder availability and prolificacy on birth weight, weaning weight, weight at 6 and 9 months age, and pre- and post-weaning growth rates of Dera Din Panah goat were determined. A total of 350 records of Dera Din Panah (DDP) goats maintained at Sheep and Goat Development Centre, Rakh Khairewala, District Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan were analyzed using Harvey's Mixed Model Least Squares and Maximum Likelihood computer program. Fodder availability significantly affected (P < 0.05) the birth weight, weaning weight, and pre-weaning daily gain. The effect of prolificacy on the birth weight, weaning weight, pre-weaning growth rate was significant (P < 0.05). Effects of fodder availability and prolificacy on average daily weight gain during different stages, such as from birth to 3 months of age (GR1), 3 to 6 months of age (GR2), 6 to 9 months of age (GR3), 9 to 12 months of age (GR4), and overall growth rate from birth to 12 months of age (GR5) age were determined.

Protocol: systematic review of the association between socio-economic status and survival in adult head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer incidence is increasing worldwide. Despite overall improvements in survival, numerous studies suggest worse survival in more disadvantaged populations; however, this literature has not been systematically reviewed. The aim of this review is to investigate whether lower compared to higher socioeconomic status (SES) influences survival in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and explore possible explanations for any relationship found. METHOD: A systematic strategy will be used to identify articles, appraise their quality and extract data. Online databases including MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, ESBCO Host and Scopus will be used to locate observational studies of adults with a primary diagnosis of head and neck cancer in EU15+ countries (15 members of the EU, Australia, Canada, Norway, USA and New Zealand) where the outcomes report associations between SES and survival. This will be augmented by searching for grey literature and through reference lists. Data will be extracted using a standardised form. Study quality will be assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale and where possible meta-analysis of the pooled data will be conducted. DISCUSSION: This review will quantify the association between SES and survival outcomes for adult head and neck cancer patients in developed countries. The results will help identify gaps in the literature and therefore direct further novel research in the field. Ultimately, this will inform public policy and strategies to reduce the inequalities in HNSCC survival. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42016037019 .

Cleft lip and palate: diagnosis and management.

Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital facial anomaly in children, which can affect appearance, speech, hearing, growth, psychosocial wellbeing and social integration. This article provides an overview of the condition for the benefit of all health-care professionals.

Successful implantation of intravenously administered stem cells correlates with severity of inflammation in murine myocarditis.

The present study was designed to determine whether cardiac inflammation is important for the successful homing of stem cells to the heart after intravenous injection in a murine myocarditis model. Male Bagg albino/c mice were infected with encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) to produce myocarditis. Subgroups of mice received single injections by tail vein of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker at days 3, 14, or 60 after infection; other subgroups without stem cell injections were killed at each of these time points to assess the degree of inflammation present. The surviving mice were killed at day 90 after virus infection and hemodynamics, gross pathology, histology, and inflammatory cytokine production in the hearts were measured. Our results indicate that myocardial inflammation was most severe and cytokine production highest at day 14 after EMCV inoculation, and in particular, was strongly positive for interleukin 6. Mice receiving intravenous ESC injections on day 14 after EMCV inoculation showed the largest number of GFP-positive cells at the time of death and the greatest functional improvement compared to uninfected controls without inflammation. We conclude that factors released from myocardium during inflammation are important for enhancing the homing, migration, and implantation of systemically infused stem cells.