Search

This study evaluated the genetic variationin Dry Matter Intake (DMI) at 6 lactation stages over thefirst 24 lactation weeks in a population including Holstein,Jersey and Red cows. In total, 830 primiparous cows fromSweden and Denmark were included. Genetic parameterswere estimated based on a linear mixed model. Heritability for DMI ranged between 0.16 and 0.35 across lactation stages. The lowest repeatability and heritability were found during the first 4 weeks of lactation, indicating large residual variance and low response to selection for DMI from early lactation. Genetic correlations between DMI across lactation stages ranged from 0.46 to 0.99. The weakest genetic correlation occurred between early and mid lactation, indicating a different genetic basis for DMI along lactation. A potential difference in genetic variation was found between Jersey and the other two breeds, requiring a further study within breed

In-line milk progesterone records (n = 163,145) collected from June 2009 through November 2013 for 2,274 lactations of Holstein-Friesian cows in 12 commercial herds in the Netherlands were analyzed for commencement of luteal activity (CLA), luteal activity during first 60 days in milk (LA60), proportion of samples with luteal activity (PLA), interval from commencement of luteal activity to first service, length of first luteal phase, and number of inter-ovulatory intervals before first service. Heritability (0.13, 0.10, and 0.05) and repeatability estimates (0.26, 0.21, and 0.16) were greatest for CLA, PLA and LA60, respectively, compared with other traits. Genetic correlations were 0.96 to 0.99 between these traits. This study shows that in-line P4 records can be used to define and explore several heritable endocrine fertility traits that can be used in genetic improvement of fertility by selection.

The use of medical substances and nutritional supplements in Olympic athletes is largely unknown, and Drs. Bo Berglund and Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen have made interesting preliminary observations, which are reported below.

International audience; At present, indoor air quality is assessed exclusively by human panels. As this method is time consuming and cost intensive, little attention is paid to indoor air quality in the planning and operation of buildings. In recent years multi-gas sensor systems have been developed in order to mimic the human sense of smell. These systems comprise an array of gas sensors, with sensors of different sensitivity and selectivity, and a data processing unit. Up to now the sensors are not sensitive enough to mimic the perception of a human being. To further the development of these systems, the European research project SysPAQ (Innovative Sensor System for Measuring Perceived Air Quality and Brand Specific Odours) was started in September 2006. It will end in September 2009.

Cell-free circulating DNA isolated from the plasma of individuals with cancer has been shown to harbor cancer-associated changes in DNA methylation, and thus it represents an attractive target for biomarker discovery. However, the reliable detection of DNA methylation changes in body fluids has proven to be technically challenging. Here we describe a novel combination of methods that allows quantitative and sensitive detection of DNA methylation in minute amounts of DNA present in body fluids (quantitative Methylation Analysis of Minute DNA amounts after whole Bisulfitome Amplification, qMAMBA). This method involves genome-wide amplification of bisulphite-modified DNA template followed by quantitative methylation detection using pyrosequencing and allows analysis of multiple genes from a small amount of starting DNA. To validate our method we used qMAMBA assays for four genes and LINE1 repetitive sequences combined with plasma DNA samples as a model system. qMAMBA offered high efficacy in the analysis of methylation levels and patterns in plasma samples with extremely small amounts of DNA and low concentrations of methylated alleles. Therefore, qMAMBA will facilitate methylation studies aiming to discover epigenetic biomarkers, and should prove particularly valuable in profiling a large sample series of body fluids from molecular epidemiology studies as well as in tracking disease in early diagnostics.

Since annoyance reactions of children to environmental noise have rarely been investigated, no source specific exposure-response relations are available. The aim of this paper is to investigate children's reactions to aircraft and road traffic noise and to derive exposure-response relations. To this end, children's annoyance reactions to aircraft and road traffic noise in both the home and the school setting were investigated using the data gathered in a cross-sectional multicenter study, carried out among 2844 children (age 9-11 years) attending 89 primary schools around three European airports. An exposure-response relation was demonstrated between exposure to aircraft noise at school (L(Aeq,7-23 h)) and severe annoyance in children: after adjustment for confounders, the percentage severely annoyed children was predicted to increase from about 5.1% at 50 dB to about 12.1% at 60 dB. The findings were consistent across the three samples. Aircraft noise at home (L(Aeq,7-23 h)) demonstrated a similar relation with severe annoyance. Children attending schools with higher road traffic noise (L(Aeq,7-23 h)) were more annoyed. Although children were less annoyed at levels above 55 dB, the shapes of the exposure-response relations found among children were comparable to those found in their parents.

The serum gastrin response to an infusion of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), with or without simultaneous fundic distension, was studied in healthy volunteers and in patients with duodenal ulcer disease before and after a complete proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV). We also studied the effect of fundic distension alone on gastrin release and intraluminal gastric pressure in healthy volunteers and in patients after PGV. We observed an increased intraluminal pressure in patients after PGV compared with healthy subjects. During fundic distension with 600 ml of air no significant increase in gastrin values was observed in healthy subjects or in duodenal ulcer patients. In healthy subjects fundic distension significantly inhibited the gastrin response to the higher dose of GRP. This inhibitory effect exerted by fundic distension was counteracted by cholinergic blockade. In contrast, fundic distension did not alter the gastrin response to GRP in duodenal ulcer patients, suggesting a defective inhibitory mechanism in duodenal ulcer patients. After PGV, GRP infusion resulted in an enhanced gastrin response, and fundic distension seemed to facilitate the gastrin-stimulatory effect of GRP. This supports the concept of a vagally dependent inhibitory oxyntopyloric mechanism and that fundic distension can elicit both inhibitory and stimulatory secretory mechanisms.

This paper develops hypotheses regarding the interactions among stress, immunity, and chemical sensitivities and gives an overview of the questions and hypotheses generated by a working group exploring the application of psychoneuroimmunology to chemical sensitivities. Consideration is given to prospective longitudinal studies designed to find cases among at-risk exposed populations. Relevant immune parameters to be measured longitudinally and in challenge studies for patients with MCS are discussed. Immune system changes in response to the chronic stress of having MCS and as primary responses to chemical exposure also are considered.