Validation of DNA marker-assisted selection for forage biomass productivity under deficit irrigation in alfalfa.

Drought and limited irrigation resources threaten agricultural sustainability in many regions of the world. Application of genomic-based breeding strategies may benefit crop variety development for these environments. Here, we provide a first report on the effect of deploying DNA marker-assisted selection (MAS) for the drought resilience quantitative trait in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.

Health-related quality of life in children with chronic kidney disease is affected by the number of medications.

Introduction: The number of medications could serve as a surrogate for burden of care at home and may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Using baseline data from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study, we modeled HRQoL scores, self-reported by the child (if ≥ 8 years old) and/or caregiver (all children) on unique counts and administrations of CKD- and non-CKD-related medications, using multivariate linear regression. Heterogeneity of associations between HRQoL and medication burden by age group (≥ 8 vs.

Estimating Time to ESRD in Children With CKD.

Rationale & Objective: The KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guideline for chronic kidney disease (CKD) presented an international classification system that ranks patients' risk for CKD progression. Few data for children informed guideline development.

Study Design: Observational cohort study.

Association of Hepatitis C Virus Infection With CD4/CD8 Ratio in HIV-Positive Women.

Background: Recent studies reported that the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio is inversely associated with biomarkers traditionally used to measure immune activation and systemic inflammation in highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-infected (HIV+) patients. The relation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection with the CD4/CD8 ratio in HIV+ patients is unknown.

Methods: We examined 50,201 CD4/CD8 ratios measured over 20 years in 3 groups of HIV+ women enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study: HCV antibody negative (n = 1734), cleared HCV (n = 231), and chronic HCV (n = 751) in multivariate models.

Can office blood pressure readings predict masked hypertension?

Background: Studies in children with chronic kidney disease indicate a high prevalence of masked hypertension detected by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). However, it is not well known if the frequency of masked hypertension is related to the level of normal casual blood pressure (BP).

Methods/results: We hypothesized that lower levels of normal casual BP are associated with a lower prevalence of masked hypertension.