Reproductive performance of Gyr cows: The effect of weaning age of calves and pospartum energy intake

Two nutritional levels following parturition and five weaning ages for the calf were evaluated to study their effect of reproduction in Gyr cows in the savannas of West Central Brazil (Campos Cerrados). Early weaning of calves reduced postpartum weight losses and shortened the postpartum interval to conception. Energy level did not affect cow weight at weaning or conception, the number of days from parturition to first estrus or the number of matings/conception; however, the postpartum period to conception was reduced (116 vs 160 d; P less than .05) for cows on the higher energy diet. Weaning age significantly affected postpartum weight loss in cows. Six months after calving, cows that nursed calves for 1 mo were 89 kg heavier than those that nursed calves for 6 mo (384 vs 295 kg; P less than .05). Cows that were nursed for 1 mo returned to estrus at an average of 40 d postpartum, which was 23 d earlier (P less than .05) than the average of the other groups nursed for longer periods of time. There was no significant difference in the postpartum period to conception among cows that had their calves weaned at 1 mo, 3 mo and cows which were nursed twice daily beginning 30 d after parturition (57, 94 and 97 d, respectively), but was less (P less than .05) for cows nursed for 5 or 6 mo (212 and 231 d, respectively). The results show that Gyr cattle are genetically capable of responding reproductively to improve nutrition and reduced lactation stress achieved through early weaning or controlled nursing

Aplicação foliar de fertilizantes organominerais em cultura de alface Foliar application of organic mineral fertilizer in lettuce

A aplicação de fertilizantes organominerais tem permitido respostas positivas em diversas olerícolas. No presente trabalho avaliou-se a produção de mudas e produção comercial de alface, cultivar Vera, em função da aplicação foliar de fertilizantes organominerais líquidos, de outubro de 2005 a janeiro de 2006. A etapa de produção de mudas foi realizada em viveiro especializado na produção de mudas de hortaliças em Uberlândia e a condução da fase de campo foi realizada em área da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Analisou-se altura e número de folhas, massa fresca da parte aérea e diâmetro de raízes das mudas, massas fresca da parte aérea e de raízes das plantas na fase de campo. Foram empregados os fertilizantes organominerais Aminoagro Raiz, Aminoagro Folha Top, Aminoagro Mol, Nobrico Star, Aminolom Foliar e Lombrico Mol 75. O primeiro experimento utilizando mudas foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 15 repetições. O segundo experimento instalado a campo, foi feito em blocos ao acaso com 4 repetições. O uso exclusivo dos produtos organominerais líquidos, via aplicação foliar foi superior à testemunha para a maioria das variáveis avaliadas nas fases de muda e campo na alface, cultivar Vera.<br>Biofertilizer application provides positive responses of several vegetable crops. The effect of foliar application of liquid biofertilizers on seedling and on commercial production of lettuce cultivar Vera were evaluated from October 2005 to January 2006. Seedling production was carried out in a nursery specialized in the production of vegetable seedlings, in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, and the crop growing was carried out at a field of the Universidade Federal de Uberlandia. Plant height, number of leaves, aboveground part fresh weight and root diameter were evaluated on seedlings and fresh weight of the aboveground part and roots were evaluated on plants in the field. Aminoagro Raiz, Aminoagro Folha Top, Aminoagro Mol, Nobrico Star, Aminolom Foliar and Lombrico Mol 75 were the assessed biofertilizers. The first experiment using seedlings was arranged in a completely randomized design with 15 replications and the second one, which was carried out in the field, was in randomized blocks with four replications. The solely use of liquid organomineral biofertilizers, via foliar application, was superior in comparison to the control treatments for most of the evaluated variables at the plantlet and field stages

NKX2.1-Related Disorders: a novel mutation with mild clinical presentation

BACKGROUND: A highly variable phenotype characterized by thyroid, respiratory and neurological defects has been reported in an already established group of disorders namely NKX2.1-related disorders. We describe here the case of an infant with a novel mutation of the NKX2.1 gene characterized by mild clinical presentation. Aim of the study was to elucidate the genotype-phenotype correlation in our patient. METHODS: We performed genetic analysis of the NKX2.1 gene in an infant with no neonatal respiratory distress and near-normal results at neonatal screening test for congenital hypothyroidism, choreoathetosis, ataxia and delayed independent walking. RESULTS: A novel mutation of the NKX2.1 gene has been identified, that is responsible for a mild framework of congenital hypothyroidism and neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of congenital hypothyroidism cases associated with NKX2.1 mutations is expected to be higher in a subgroup of patients, selected according to the neurological presentation. In these patients the analysis of NKX2.1 mutational status is recommended

Body composition and lung cancer-associated cachexia in TRACERx

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in individuals with non-small cell lung cancer. Key features of CAC include alterations in body composition and body weight. Here, we explore the association between body composition and body weight with survival and delineate potential biological processes and mediators that contribute to the development of CAC. Computed tomography-based body composition analysis of 651 individuals in the TRACERx (TRAcking non-small cell lung Cancer Evolution through therapy (Rx)) study suggested that individuals in the bottom 20th percentile of the distribution of skeletal muscle or adipose tissue area at the time of lung cancer diagnosis, had significantly shorter lung cancer-specific survival and overall survival. This finding was validated in 420 individuals in the independent Boston Lung Cancer Study. Individuals classified as having developed CAC according to one or more features at relapse encompassing loss of adipose or muscle tissue, or body mass index-adjusted weight loss were found to have distinct tumor genomic and transcriptomic profiles compared with individuals who did not develop such features. Primary non-small cell lung cancers from individuals who developed CAC were characterized by enrichment of inflammatory signaling and epithelial–mesenchymal transitional pathways, and differentially expressed genes upregulated in these tumors included cancer-testis antigen MAGEA6 and matrix metalloproteinases, such as ADAMTS3. In an exploratory proteomic analysis of circulating putative mediators of cachexia performed in a subset of 110 individuals from TRACERx, a significant association between circulating GDF15 and loss of body weight, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue was identified at relapse, supporting the potential therapeutic relevance of targeting GDF15 in the management of CAC