Genetic investigations into the use of sensory evaluation: the case of boar taint discrimination in Pietrain sired crossbreds.

Using genetic selection for raising intact boars, which improves growth and feed efficiency, is a promising alternative to castration for mitigating boar taint. Selective breeding has the potential to help to identify and select genetic lines with a reduced risk of boar taint. Common phenotypes are laboratory measurements of skatole (SKA) and androstenone (ANON) i.

Natural Killer Cell Regulation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells Mediates Metastatic Dormancy.

Patients with breast cancer with estrogen receptor-positive tumors face a constant risk of disease recurrence for the remainder of their lives. Dormant tumor cells residing in tissues such as the bone marrow may generate clinically significant metastases many years after initial diagnosis. Previous studies suggest that dormant cancer cells display "stem-like" properties (cancer stem cell, CSC), which may be regulated by the immune system.

Natural killer cell regulation of breast cancer stem cells mediates metastatic dormancy.

Breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor positive tumors face a constant risk of disease recurrence for the remainder of their lives. Dormant tumor cells residing in tissues such as the bone marrow may generate clinically significant metastases many years after initial diagnosis. Previous studies suggest that dormant cells display "stem like" properties (CSCs), which may be regulated by the immune system.

Single-step genome-wide association analyses for selected infrared-predicted cheese-making traits in Walloon Holstein cows.

This study aimed to perform genome-wide association study to identify genomic regions associated with milk production and cheese-making properties (CMP) in Walloon Holstein cows. The studied traits were milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, casein percentage (CNP), calcium content, somatic cell score (SCS), coagulation time, curd firmness after 30 min from rennet addition, and titratable acidity. The used data have been collected from 2014 to 2020 on 78,073 first-parity (485,218 test-day records), 48,766 second-parity (284,942 test-day records), and 21,948 third-parity (105,112 test-day records) Holstein cows distributed in 671 herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium.

Single-step genome-wide association for selected milk fatty acids in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and identify genomic regions associated with selected individual and groups of milk fatty acids (FA) predicted by milk mid-infrared spectrometry in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows. The used data were 69,349 test-day records of milk yield, fat percentage, and protein percentage along with selected individual and groups FA of milk (g/dL milk) collected from 2007 to 2020 on 7,392 first-parity (40,903 test-day records), and 5,185 second-parity (28,446 test-day records) cows distributed in 104 herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium. Data of 28,466 SNPs, located on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA), of 1,699 animals (639 males and 1,060 females) were used.

A Leak in the System: Addressing the Environmental Impact of Urologic Care.

As urologists we have an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of the procedures we perform. We highlight some areas of interest in urology and potential initiatives to reduce the energy and waste footprint of urology care. Urologists can and should make an impact on the growing climate crisis.

The use of a genomic relationship matrix for breed assignment of cattle breeds: comparison and combination with a machine learning method.

To develop a breed assignment model, three main steps are generally followed: 1) The selection of breed informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP); 2) The training of a model, based on a reference population, that allows to classify animals to their breed of origin; and 3) The validation of the developed model on external animals i.e., that were not used in previous steps.

Estimation of inbreeding, between-breed genomic relatedness and definition of sub-populations in red-pied cattle breeds.

Currently, enhancing the collaboration between related breeds is of main importance to increase the competitivity and the sustainability of local breeds. One type of collaboration is the development of an across-breed reference population that will allow a better management of local breeds. For this purpose, the genomic relatedness between the local target breed and possible breeds to be included in the reference population should be estimated.

Down syndrome screening and diagnosis practices in Europe, United States, Australia, and New Zealand from 1990-2021.

Antenatal screening and diagnostic testing for Down syndrome has greatly advanced over the past 30 years. The goal of this manuscript is to provide a review of the availability and accessibility of prenatal services and selective termination policies across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States for the period 1990-2021. We collected data from academic peer-reviewed journals, governmental documents, not-for-profit organizations, correspondence with experts, and other online sources without language restrictions.

Genome-wide association study for selected cheese-making properties in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows.

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and identify genomic region(s) associated with selected cheese-making properties (CMP) in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue (DPBB) cows. Edited data were 46,301 test-day records of milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, casein percentage, milk calcium content (CC), coagulation time (CT), curd firmness after 30 min from rennet addition (a30), and milk titratable acidity (MTA) collected from 2014 to 2020 on 4,077 first-parity (26,027 test-day records), and 3,258 second-parity DPBB cows (20,274 test-day records) distributed in 124 herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium. Data of 28,266 SNP, located on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA) of 1,699 animals were used.

Genome-wide association for milk urea concentration in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows.

The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters and identify genomic regions associated with milk urea concentration (MU) in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue (DPBB) cows. The data were 29,693 test-day records of milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), protein yield (PY), fat percentage (FP), protein percentage (PP) and MU collected between 2014 and 2020 on 2498 first parity cows (16,935 test-day records) and 1939 second-parity cows (12,758 test-day records) from 49 herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium. Data of 28,266 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), located on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA), on 1699 animals (639 males and 1060 females) were used.

Repertoires of SARS-CoV-2 epitopes targeted by antibodies vary according to severity of COVID-19.

Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are central to recovery and immunity from COVID-19. However, the relationship between disease severity and the repertoire of antibodies against specific SARS-CoV-2 epitopes an individual develops following exposure remains incompletely understood. Here, we studied seroprevalence of antibodies to specific SARS-CoV-2 and other betacoronavirus antigens in a well-annotated, community sample of convalescent and never-infected individuals obtained in August 2020.

The pattern of linkage disequilibrium in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cattle.

Quantifying the level of linkage disequilibrium (LD), non-random association of alleles at two or more loci, is important to determine the number of markers needed for genomic selection. The aims of this study were to evaluate the extent of LD in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue (DPBB) and to compare the level of LD in DPBB with that of Walloon Holstein. Data of 28,427 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), located on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA), of 639 DPBB and 398 Holstein bulls were used.

Development of a genomic tool for breed assignment by comparison of different classification models: Application to three local cattle breeds.

Assignment of individual cattle to a specific breed can often not rely on pedigree information. This is especially the case for local breeds for which the development of genomic assignment tools is required to allow individuals of unknown origin to be included to their herd books. A breed assignment model can be based on two specific stages: (a) the selection of breed-informative markers and (b) the assignment of individuals to a breed with a classification method.

Enabling accurate measurement of activated factor XI (FXIa) in therapeutic immunoglobulin products.

Background And Objectives: In 2010, an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) product was removed from the market due to an association with serious thromboembolic events. Investigations revealed that factor XIa (FXIa) was present as a process-related impurity. This study investigated the ability of two commercial FXIa assays to measure FXIa in immunoglobulin preparations and conducted a survey of FXIa activity in marketed immunoglobulin products.

The traceability of commercial plasma calibrators to the plasma International Standards for factor VIII and factor IX.

Accurate measurement of coagulation factors is essential, especially for diagnosis of deficiency. Clinical laboratories use commercially available plasma calibrators, which should be traceable to the relevant plasma International Standard (IS). This study assessed the relationship between the plasma IS for factors IX (FIX) and VIII (FVIII) and some commonly used commercial calibrators.

Calibration of the 7th British Working Standard for factors II, IX and X, concentrate.

Seven laboratories from 5 different countries participated in the calibration of the 7th British Working Standard (BWS) for blood coagulation factors II, IX and X. The candidate, 15/182, was assayed for Factors II and X potencies against the 4th International Standard (IS) for Factors II and X, Concentrate (11/126) and for Factor IX potency against the 5th IS for Factor IX, Concentrate (14/148). Intra-laboratory GCVs for all 3 factors were less than 10%, with the majority less than 5%.

Potency estimates for recombinant factor IX in the one-stage clotting assay are influenced by more than just the choice of activated partial thromboplastin time reagent.

The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) one-stage clotting (OSC) assay is used to potency label factor IX (FIX) therapeutics and to monitor the treatment of deficient patients. Studies have highlighted differences in potency estimates for FIX therapeutics depending on what activator type the APTT reagent contains. During the study to replace the 4th International Standard (IS) for FIX Concentrate, it was noted that for the recombinant FIX (rFIX) candidates, a potency difference of 20% was obtained by some between laboratories using the reagent DAPTTIN.

Establishment of the World Health Organization First International Standard for Factor XII, Plasma, Human.

Until recently, the role of factor XII (FXII) in hemostasis was not considered to be important since patients with FXII deficiency do not present with bleeding. The activation of FXII by agents including mast cells and platelet polyphosphates suggests that it may have a role in thrombogenesis. The inhibition of FXII therefore presents an option for antithrombotic therapy, and antibodies and inhibitors are already in development.

Establishment of the World Health Organization 2 International Standard for Factor XI, Plasma, Human.

The 1 International Standard (IS) for blood coagulation factor XI (FXI), plasma, has been successfully used for potency labeling of FXI therapeutics and for diagnosis of FXI deficiency in patients. With stocks of the 1 IS near depletion, a replacement is required. In addition to the functional activity value, assignment of an antigen value to the 2 IS would allow harmonization of antigen assay methods and differentiation of patients who have low functional activity but normal antigen FXI levels from patients who have both low functional and antigen FXI levels.

Recombinant factor IX: discrepancies between one-stage clotting and chromogenic assays.

New and modified recombinant factor IX (rFIX) products are in development and accurate potency estimation is important to ensure the consistency of production and efficacy of these therapeutics. Collaborative study data obtained during the replacement of the 3rd International Standard (IS) for FIX concentrate suggested that there was a discrepancy between potency estimates for rFIX using clotting and chromogenic methods, when the rFIX candidate was measured against the plasma-derived FIX (pdFIX) IS. This study explores potential chromogenic and one-stage clotting method discrepancies in more detail.

Partial purification of somatomedin from human plasma.

Fractional precipitation of human plasma using ethanol, followed by chromatography on S.P. Sephadex, yielded a somatomedin-enriched fraction freed from substantial amounts of inhibitory substances.