Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Identifies Four New Disease-Specific Risk Loci

Rationale: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. Together, 6 previously identified risk loci only explain a small proportion of the heritability of AAA. Objective: To identify additional AAA risk loci using data from all available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Methods and Results: Through a meta-analysis of 6 GWAS datasets and a validation study totalling 10,204 cases and 107,766 controls we identified 4 new AAA risk loci: 1q32.3 (SMYD2), 13q12.11 (LINC00540), 20q13.12 (near PCIF1/MMP9/ZNF335), and 21q22.2 (ERG). In various database searches we observed no new associations between the lead AAA SNPs and coronary artery disease, blood pressure, lipids or diabetes. Network analyses identified ERG, IL6R and LDLR as modifiers of MMP9, with a direct interaction between ERG and MMP9. Conclusions: The 4 new risk loci for AAA appear to be specific for AAA compared with other cardiovascular diseases and related traits suggesting that traditional cardiovascular risk factor management may only have limited value in preventing the progression of aneurysmal disease

Insights into deposition of Lower Cretaceous black shales from meager accumulation of organic matter in Albian sediments from ODP site 763, Exmouth Plateau, Northwest Australia

The amount and type of organic matter present in an exceptionally complete upper Aptian to lower Cenomanian sequence of sediments from ODP site 763 on the Exmouth Plateau has been determined. Organic carbon concentrations average 0.2%. Organic matter is marine in origin, and its production and preservation was low over the ca. 20-million-year interval recorded by this sequence. Because this section was tectonically isolated from mainland Australia in the early Aptian, it better represents global oceanic conditions than the many basin-edge locations in which Albian-age black shales have been found. Formation of the basin-edge black shales evidently resulted from rapid, turbiditic burial of organic matter rather than from enhanced oceanic production or from basin-wide anoxia during the Albian.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47134/1/367_2005_Article_BF02202605.pd

Effect of somatotropin on thyroid hormones and cytokines in lactating dairy cows during ad libitum and restricted feed intake

Twelve Holsteins in first lactation were used to investigate the relationship between energy balance and effects of bovine somatotropin (bST) on thyroid hormone metabolism and cytokine concentrations in serum. Six cows were fed for ad libitum intake and six cows were feed restricted to induce negative energy balance during two treatment periods of 6 d. During treatment periods, cows were administered vehicle or 40 mg of bST/d according to a crossover design. Between treatment periods was a 15-d recovery period, during which all cows were fed ad libitum. Cows that were fed ad libitum remained in positive energy balance during control and bST treatments, whereas cows that were fed for restricted intake were in negative energy balance during control and bST treatment periods. In both dietary groups, bST decreased energy balance. Milk production and the fat percentage of milk increased during bST treatment in both dietary groups. Fat-corrected milk yield was increased 13% by bST treatment. Serum concentrations of IGF-I did not differ between dietary groups but were greater during bST than control periods. Serum thyroxine concentration was decreased by bST treatment. Serum triiodothyronine and reverse-triiodothyronine were not altered by hormone treatment, but circulating concentrations of thyroid hormones were apparently reduced by dietary restriction. Neither hepatic nor mammary thyroxine 5'-deiodinase was affected by bST treatment. Plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a potential regulator of thyroxine 5'-deiodinase, was not affected by bST treat-ment. Short-term treatment with bST did not influence thyroid hormone metabolism in lactating cows in positive or negative energy balance