Genetic analysis on growth and carcass traits in Nelore cattle.

In this study, the objective was to estimate genetic parameters of body weight at 210 (BW210) and 365 (BW365) days of age in relation to rib eye area (REA), subcutaneous back fat thickness (BF) and rump fat (RF), and their respective genetic trends, in Nelore beef cattle. Estimates of genetic parameters and breeding values for the studied traits were obtained using the REML method. The direct and maternal heritability estimates were respectively: 0.

IL-32, a novel proinflammatory cytokine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung, yet the mechanisms that regulate this immune-inflammatory response are not fully understood.

Objectives: We investigated whether IL-32, a newly discovered cytokine, was related to markers of inflammation and clinical progression in COPD.

Methods: Using immunohistochemistry, expression of IL-32 was examined in surgically resected specimens from 40 smokers with COPD (FEV(1) = 39 +/- 4% predicted), 11 smokers with normal lung function, and 9 nonsmoking control subjects.

Nonatopic children with multitrigger wheezing have airway pathology comparable to atopic asthma.

Rationale: Epidemiologic studies have shown that, in atopic children, wheezing is more likely to persist into adulthood, eventually becoming asthma, whereas it appears to resolve by adolescence in nonatopic children.

Objectives: To investigate whether among children with multitrigger wheeze responsive to bronchodilators the airway pathology would be different in nonatopic wheezers, who are often considered nonasthmatic, compared with atopic wheezers, who are more frequently diagnosed as having asthma.

Methods: Bronchial biopsies were obtained from 55 children undergoing bronchoscopy for appropriate clinical indications: 18 nonatopic children with multitrigger wheeze (median age, 5 yr; range, 2-10 yr), 20 atopic children with multitrigger wheeze (medan age, 5 yr; range, 2-15 yr), and 17 control children with no atopy or wheeze (median age, 4; range, 2-14 yr).

Out-patient high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy for palliation of lung cancer: an observational study.

Background And Aim: Out-patient high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) is a possible option in the palliation of symptoms in patients with advanced lung cancer, but literature data is limited and the technique is still under development in Italy. Our aim was to evaluate safety and effectiveness of out-patient HDREB for palliation of malignant endobronchial tumours in the context of a multidisciplinary approach.

Methods: Out-patient HDREB sessions were scheduled at weekly intervals (500-1000 cGy per session) with prior Diodi-laser resection in some cases.