Inbreeding depression and runs of homozygosity islands in Asturiana de los Valles cattle breed after 30 years of selection.

Inbreeding depression results in a decrease in the average phenotypic values of affected traits. It has been traditionally estimated from pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients. However, with the development of single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, novel methods were developed for calculating the inbreeding coefficient, and consequently, inbreeding depression.

A novel missense variant in endothelin-2 (EDN2) causes a growth and respiratory lethal syndrome in bovine.

The high level of fragmentation of the Spanish Lidia cattle breed, divided into lineages called 'castas' and into herds within lineages based on reproductive isolation, increases the risk of homozygosity and the outbreak of recessive genetic defects. Since 2004, an increasing number of calves have been identified in a Lidia herd with signs of severe growth retardation, respiratory alterations and juvenile lethality, which constitutes a novel inherited syndrome in cattle and was subsequently termed growth and respiratory lethal syndrome. We performed a genome-wide association study on a cohort of 13 affected calves and 24 putative non-carrier parents, mapping the disease to a wide 6 cM region on bovine chromosome 3 (p < 10 ).

Genomic Characterization of a Set of Iberian Peninsula Bovine Local Breeds at Risk of Extinction: Morenas Gallegas.

A set of five local bovine breeds in danger of extinction named Cachena, Caldelá, Limiá, Frieiresa, and Vianesa and included in the group of Morenas Gallegas are located in the Autonomous Community of Galicia at the Northwest of Spain. Local authorities launched a conservation plan at the end of the 21th century in order to preserve this important genetic reservoir. However, Morenas Gallegas bovine breeds never have been analyzed with genomic tools and this information may be crucial to develop conservation plans.

Author Correction: The genetic ancestry of American Creole cattle inferred from uniparental and autosomal genetic markers.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The genetic ancestry of American Creole cattle inferred from uniparental and autosomal genetic markers.

Cattle imported from the Iberian Peninsula spread throughout America in the early years of discovery and colonization to originate Creole breeds, which adapted to a wide diversity of environments and later received influences from other origins, including zebu cattle in more recent years. We analyzed uniparental genetic markers and autosomal microsatellites in DNA samples from 114 cattle breeds distributed worldwide, including 40 Creole breeds representing the whole American continent, and samples from the Iberian Peninsula, British islands, Continental Europe, Africa and American zebu. We show that Creole breeds differ considerably from each other, and most have their own identity or group with others from neighboring regions.

Modeling Intercellular Communication as a Survival Strategy of Cancer Cells: An In Silico Approach on a Flexible Bioinformatics Framework.

Intercellular communication is very important for cell development and allows a group of cells to survive as a population. Cancer cells have a similar behavior, presenting the same mechanisms and characteristics of tissue formation. In this article, we model and simulate the formation of different communication channels that allow an interaction between two cells.

Analysis of conservation priorities of Iberoamerican cattle based on autosomal microsatellite markers.

Background: Determining the value of livestock breeds is essential to define conservation priorities, manage genetic diversity and allocate funds. Within- and between-breed genetic diversity need to be assessed to preserve the highest intra-specific variability. Information on genetic diversity and risk status is still lacking for many Creole cattle breeds from the Americas, despite their distinct evolutionary trajectories and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.

Genetic structure, relationships and admixture with wild relatives in native pig breeds from Iberia and its islands.

Background: Native pig breeds in the Iberian Peninsula are broadly classified as belonging to either the Celtic or the Mediterranean breed groups, but there are other local populations that do not fit into any of these groups. Most of the native pig breeds in Iberia are in danger of extinction, and the assessment of their genetic diversity and population structure, relationships and possible admixture between breeds, and the appraisal of conservation alternatives are crucial to adopt appropriate management strategies.

Methods: A panel of 24 microsatellite markers was used to genotype 844 animals representing the 17 most important native swine breeds and wild populations existing in Portugal and Spain and various statistical tools were applied to analyze the results.

Colombian Creole horse breeds: Same origin but different diversity.

In order to understand the genetic ancestry and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity of current Colombian horse breeds we sequenced a 364-bp fragment of the mitocondrial DNA D-loop in 116 animals belonging to five Spanish horse breeds and the Colombian Paso Fino and Colombian Creole cattle horse breeds. Among Colombian horse breeds, haplogroup D had the highest frequency (53%), followed by haplogroups A (19%), C (8%) and F (6%). The higher frequency of haplogroup D in Colombian horse breeds supports the theory of an ancestral Iberian origin for these breeds.

Genetic footprints of Iberian cattle in America 500 years after the arrival of Columbus.

Background: American Creole cattle presumably descend from animals imported from the Iberian Peninsula during the period of colonization and settlement, through different migration routes, and may have also suffered the influence of cattle directly imported from Africa. The introduction of European cattle, which began in the 18th century, and later of Zebu from India, has threatened the survival of Creole populations, some of which have nearly disappeared or were admixed with exotic breeds. Assessment of the genetic status of Creole cattle is essential for the establishment of conservation programs of these historical resources.

Benign and atypical meningioma metabolic signatures by high-resolution magic-angle spinning molecular profiling.

Meningiomas are neoplasms that arise from the leptomeningeal covering of the brain and spinal cord, accounting for 15%-20% of CNS tumors. The WHO classifies meningiomas into three histological grades: benign, atypical, and anaplasic in accordance with the clinical prognosis. Atypical and anaplasic meningiomas tend to recur.

Inferior vena cava anomalies during laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

Purpose: To report our experience with congenital inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies found during laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (LRPLND).

Patients And Methods: Two men with a mean age of 31.5 years (range 26-37 years) underwent LRPLND because of nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors (NSGCT) between December 2003 and July 2004.

Bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Background And Purpose: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the gold standard in the surgical management of adrenal pathology. Bilateral adrenalectomy is indicated in patients with Cushing's disease secondary to macroadenoma or hypophysial hyperplasia in whom medical treatment and transsphenoid surgery have failed. Also, it is the first choice for bilateral benign tumors and metastatic neoplasia.

Management of diaphragmatic injury during transperitoneal laparoscopic urological procedures.

Introduction: Carbon dioxide pneumothorax is a rare complication in laparoscopic urology, but with the widespread use of laparoscopy and the increasing surgical pathologies managed by this technique this infrequent complication has become a potential risk.

Materials And Methods: A total of 786 laparoscopic transperitoneal urologic operations were reviewed at our institution. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon and included 213 adrenalectomies, 181 simple nephrectomies, 143 lymphadenectomies, 118 radical nephrectomies, 107 partial nephrectomies and 24 nephroureterectomies.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal myelolipoma.

Objective: [corrected] To evaluate the results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal myelolipoma in a single center.

Methods: Between November 1999 and February 2006, 226 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed at our institution. 19 specimens corresponded with adrenal myelolipomas (8%).

Characterization of 37 breed-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in sheep.

We identified 37 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sheep and screened 16 individuals from 8 different sheep breeds selected throughout Europe. Population genetic measures based on the genotyping of about 30 sheep from the same 8 breeds are reported. To date, there are no sheep SNPs documented in the National Center for Biotechnology Information dbSNP database.

First isolation and molecular characterization of Ehrlichia canis in Spain.

This paper reports the first isolation and culture of Ehrlichia canis in Spain from a naturally infected dog using the DH82 cell line. After DNA extraction and PCR amplification, a nearly complete (1412bp) sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the new E. canis strain was obtained.