The use of link provider data to improve national genetic evaluation across weakly connected subpopulations.

Data from 3 prefectures and a nationwide farming corporation were used to assess the usefulness of the "link provider data" in providing indirect genetic links for the national genetic evaluation for carcass weight across weakly connected subpopulations of the Japanese Black cattle. The data from the farming corporation provided genetic links to those of all prefectures and was therefore used as the link provider data. Two national genetic evaluation strategies under an animal model were compared, based on the generalized coefficient of determination (CD) of contrasts between mean EBV of sires or maternal grandsires (MGS) from different prefectures: strategy PA-1 was a pooled analysis of the data sets of the 3 prefectures, and strategy PA-2 was a pooled analysis of the data sets of the 3 prefectures and the farming corporation.

Efficacy of low-dose tacrolimus added to methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan: a retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to assess if low-dose tacrolimus is efficacious for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when combined with methotrexate (MTX). The clinical courses of 32 RA patients who received tacrolimus plus MTX were analyzed retrospectively. Disease activity and clinical response were evaluated by DAS28 (disease activity score of 28 joints) and EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) response criteria.

Abdominal pain as the initial presentation of Takayasu arteritis.

Abdominal pain is rarely described as a clinical manifestation of Takayasu arteritis, although abdominal vascular involvement is common in this disease. We report the case of a 20-year-old female with Takayasu arteritis who complained of chronic and intermittent abdominal pain. Computed tomographic angiography and ultrasonography were useful in evaluating the abdominal arterial involvement.