Three-step Bayesian factor analysis applied to QTL detection in crosses between outbred pig populations

AbstractMarker assisted selection (MAS) can be used to improve the efficiency of genetic selection of traits for which phenotypic measurements are expensive or cannot be obtained on selection candidates, such as carcass traits. Marker information required for MAS may be acquired through the identification of QTLs. Generally, univariate models are used for QTL detection, although multiple-trait models (MTM) may enhance QTL detection and breeding value estimation. In MTM, however, the number of parameters can be large and, if traits are highly correlated, such as carcass traits, estimates of (co)variance matrices may be close to singular. Because of this, dimension reduction techniques such as Factor Analysis (FA) may be useful. The aim of our project is to evaluate the use of FA for structuring (co)variance matrices in the context of Bayesian models for QTL detection in crosses between outbred populations. In our method, QTL effects are postulated at the level of common factors (CF) rather than the original traits, using a three-step approach. In a first step, a MTM is fitted to arrive at estimates of systematic effects and prediction of breeding values (procedure A) and only systematic effect (procedure B). These estimates/predictions are then used to generate an adjusted phenotype that is further analyzed with a Bayesian FA model. This step yields estimates of factor scores for each animal and CF. In the last step, the scores relative to each CF are analyzed independently using probabilities for the line of origin combination. To illustrate the methodology, data on 416 F2 pigs (Brazilian Piau X commercial) with ten traits (5 fat-related, 2 loin measurements, and 3 carcass classification systems) were analyzed. For each of the three resulting CFs, an independent QTL scan was performed on chromosome 7 considering three models: I) null (i.e., absence of QTL); II) additive effect QTL, and III) additive and dominance effect QTL. The posterior probability (PP) of each model was calculated from Bayes factor for each considered procedures (A and B). A Three-step Bayesian factor analysis allowed us to calculate the probability of QTLs that simultaneously affect a group of carcass traits for each position of SSC 7. The removal of systematic effects in the first step of the evaluation (procedure B) allowed that the factor analysis, which was performed in the second step, identify three distinct factors that explained 85% of the total traits variation. For the common factor that represented fat-related traits (bacon depth, midline lower backfat thickness, higher backfat thickness on the shoulder; midline backfat thickness after the last rib; midline backfat thickness on the last lumbar vertebrae) the third step of the analysis showed that the highest probability of an additive QTL effect at the 65cM position was 86%

Pituitary Carcinoma in a Bitch: Clinical, Tomographic, Histopathological and Immunohistochemistry Findings

Background: Primary pituitary carcinoma is rarely reported in dogs and only few reports describe its malignancy. In veterinary literature, primary pituitary carcinomas correspond up to 2.4% to 3.4% of intracranial neoplasms found in dogs and information regarding its biological behavior is quite limited.  In humans, primary pituitary carcinomas represent less than 1.0% of all tumors found in the pituitary gland. The proposed classification for pituitary carcinoma in humans and dogs determines that the tumor must have its origin in adenohypophyseal region and disseminated metastasis by cerebrospinal fluid or systemically to other organs must be observed. In dogs, a few reports have described primary pituitary carcinoma. The goal of this report was to describe clinical, tomographic, histopathological and immunohistochemistry features of a dog with primary pituitary carcinoma with adjacent invasion. Case: A 7-year-old female spayed Golden Retriever dog was assessed by general practice due progressive weight loss, muscular atrophy, lethargy, blindness, head pressing, and hyporexia for 21 days. Computed tomography (CT) showed a cerebral parenchyma with expansive extra-axial base formation, originating from sella turcica topography, measuring about 2.0 centimeter dorsally, displacing the third ventricle, suggesting the diagnosis of pituitary neoplasia. The hormones thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and total thyroxine (T4) as well as stimulation ACTH test were unremarkable. After 7 days, neurological clinical signs progressed and unfortunately the patient died ten days later after hospitalization. A necropsy exam revealed pituitary gland with increased dimensions (2.5 x 2.0 cm). Histopathological findings revealed tumor proliferation in pituitary gland. The neoplasm showed invasion to the nervous parenchyma and metastatic foci between the brain lobes. Immunohistochemistry was positive for keratin and neuron-specific enolase and negative for epithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, estrogen receptor, CD34, chromogranin, somatostatin, and ACTH. The clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemistry findings supported the diagnosis of primary pituitary carcinoma. Discussion: There is lack information regarding pituitary carcinoma prevalence in dogs, and little is known about its pathological and clinical features. The patient showed a shorter survival time (30 days after the onset of clinical signs) for a non-hormonally functional tumor that presented with acute onset of neurological signs due to local effect of an expanding mass, also described in others pituitary carcinoma reports. It was observed a metastatic focus of pituitary neoplasia between cerebral hemispheres, leading us to conclude to be a pituitary carcinoma. Adjacent infiltration was noticed by the presence of neoplasm invasion to the synoptic nervous parenchyma and metastatic foci between the brain lobes as well as the presence of a non-delimited nodular area of neoplastic implantation between the cerebral hemispheres, and optic nerve compromised by neoplasm cells. The data reported here showed that a negative ACTH receptor in neoplasm with 10% Ki-67 proliferation index with no history of clinical signs of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). Pituitary adenocarcinomas are thought to be more often non-secretors. CT findings reveled a pituitary mass of 2.5 cm in vertical height suggesting a pituitary macrotumor although there is lack of description for pituitary carcinomas in veterinary literature. The animal had a fast deterioration of his clinical condition and quickly came to death, suggesting poor biological behavior of the tumor. Keywords: adrenocorticotropic hormone, case report, dog, pituitary tumors

The Museum Dialogues: the museum and society in critical communication

[EN] The presentation consists of sharing and analyzing in depth the communicative work of the Museum of Popular Culture of the School of History of the National University of Costa Rica, specifically from the virtual dialogue initiative called "#elmuseodialoga", which has potentiated the presence of the museum in academic social networks and has contributed to fostering dialogic links with academics, inside and outside the university, as well as with actors from civil society as a whole. This initiative arose in order to enhance virtual extension and dissemination actions through the use of social networks that the museum has, for example, the YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. To this end, academics who work at the museum and students from the School of History have joined forces to generate a communication alternative in line with the new challenges of virtuality. In this sense, forty editions of virtual dialogue have been promoted over the course of just over a year, with both national and international guests, the latter within the #elmuseodialogainternacional modality. The dialogue space has three transversal axes that allow covering a wide spectrum of thematic possibilities: a) Popular culture, history, art and heritage, b) dissemination of academic work and c) current national and international issues. In the first axis we address everything related to cultural heritage, material and immaterial, traditions, popular cultists, Costa Rican art, among others. From the second axis, we work on disseminating the contribution of academic research from both the UNA and other national and international universities, in order to disclose to wider audiences, the contribution of the knowledge produced by universities to society as a whole. In the case of the third axis, we reinforce the past-present relationship, generating spaces for reading the national and international reality, also opening prospective horizons.[ES] La ponencia consiste en compartir y analizar en profundidad el quehacer comunicativo del Museo de Cultura Popular de la Escuela de Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, específicamente a partir de la iniciativa de diálogo virtual denominada “#elmuseodialoga”, la cual ha potencializado la presencia del museo en las redes sociales académica y ha contribuido a potenciar enlaces dialógicos con académicos, dentro y fuera de la universidad, así como con actores de la sociedad civil en su conjunto. Esta iniciativa surgió con el fin de potencializar acciones de extensión y difusión de carácter virtual por medio del uso de las redes sociales con las que cuenta el museo, por ejemplo, el canal de youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter y linkedin. Para ello, académicos que laboran en el museo y estudiantes de la Escuela de Historia, han aunado esfuerzos en pro de generar una alternativa de comunicación acorde a los nuevos desafíos de la virtualidad. En ese sentido, se ha potenciado a lo largo de poco más de un año, cuarenta ediciones de diálogo virtual, contando con invitados tanto nacionales, como internacionales, esto último dentro de la modalidad #elmuseodialogainternacional. El espacio de diálogo cuenta con tres ejes trasversales que permiten cubrir un amplio espectro de posibilidades temáticas: a) Cultura popular, historia, arte y patrimonio, b) difusión del quehacer académico y c) temas de actualidad nacional e internacional. En el primer eje abordamos todo lo relativo a patrimonio cultural, materia e inmaterial, tradiciones, cultores populares, arte costarricense, entre otros. A partir del segundo eje, trabajamos en difundir el aporte de investigaciones de académicos tanto de la UNA como de otras universidades nacionales e internacional, con el fin de divulgar a públicos más amplios la contribución del conocimiento producido por las universidades a la sociedad en su conjunto. En el caso del tercer eje, reforzamos la relación pasado-presente, generando espacios de lectura de la realidad nacional e internacional, abriendo también horizontes de prospectiva.Orozco Varela, L.; Blanco Ortiz, M.; Campos Fonseca, G.; Cubillo González, M.; Nuñez Marín, J. (2022). El Museo Dialoga: el museo y la sociedad en comunicación crítica. En CIMED22 - II Congreso internacional de museos y estrategias digitales. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIMED22.2022.1564311

Atendimento integral às múltiplas facetas de um paciente com transtorno de personalidade narcisista e depressão

This article aims to discuss some aspects related to Narcissistic Personality Disorder associated with depression and suicide, as well as the comprehensive care of the multiple facets of a patient who presents this condition, through the experience report of a service in a psychiatric nursing office in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in the year 2022. Thus, it is intended to emphasize the importance of comprehensive and technical care, in a specialized and humanized way, to psychiatric patients to provide reception, treatment and reduction of the high suicide rate between individuals. The advances and challenges of the Psychiatric Reform within the scope of the National Mental Health Policy are discussed.Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir alguns aspectos relacionados ao Transtorno de Personalidade Narcisista associado à depressão e ao suicídio, bem como o atendimento integral às múltiplas facetas de um paciente que apresenta esse quadro, por meio do relato de experiência de um atendimento em um consultório de enfermagem psiquiátrica no Município do Rio de Janeiro, no ano de 2022. Assim, pretende-se enfatizar a importância do atendimento integral e técnico, de maneira especializada e humanizada aos pacientes psiquiátricos para proporcionar acolhimento, tratamento e redução do alto índice de suicídio entre os indivíduos. Discute-se os avanços e desafios da Reforma Psiquiátrica no âmbito da Política Nacional de Saúde Mental

Functional oral self-mutilation in children and adolescents: a scoping review

Objective: To present characteristics of publications in the worldwide scientific literature produced on the topic of functional oral self-mutilation in children and adolescents. Methods: This study is a scoping review. The search was made in the following databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, BVS/ LILACS, Web of Science and PsycNet. We used the Kappa test for the agreement analysis. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics presenting both absolute and relative frequencies. Results: 18 articles have been selected, all of which were published in English between the years of 1968 and 2017 in 4 different continents. Most of them were case reports and were conducted in hospitals and universities involved male children. The research area with the highest number of studies was Dentistry, followed by Medicine and Psychology, with clinical examinations as their most utilized diagnostic strategy. Conclusions: The literature on the subject is still quite scarce and has a low level of scientific evidence, which highlights the need for studies with high levels of scientific evidence in order to reach a better understanding of matters that are inherent to this scoping review’s topic

Atendimento integral às múltiplas facetas de um paciente com transtorno de personalidade narcisista e depressão

This article aims to discuss some aspects related to Narcissistic Personality Disorder associated with depression and suicide, as well as the comprehensive care of the multiple facets of a patient who presents this condition, through the experience report of a service in a psychiatric nursing office in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in the year 2022. Thus, it is intended to emphasize the importance of comprehensive and technical care, in a specialized and humanized way, to psychiatric patients to provide reception, treatment and reduction of the high suicide rate between individuals. The advances and challenges of the Psychiatric Reform within the scope of the National Mental Health Policy are discussed.Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir alguns aspectos relacionados ao Transtorno de Personalidade Narcisista associado à depressão e ao suicídio, bem como o atendimento integral às múltiplas facetas de um paciente que apresenta esse quadro, por meio do relato de experiência de um atendimento em um consultório de enfermagem psiquiátrica no Município do Rio de Janeiro, no ano de 2022. Assim, pretende-se enfatizar a importância do atendimento integral e técnico, de maneira especializada e humanizada aos pacientes psiquiátricos para proporcionar acolhimento, tratamento e redução do alto índice de suicídio entre os indivíduos. Discute-se os avanços e desafios da Reforma Psiquiátrica no âmbito da Política Nacional de Saúde Mental

Atributos físico-hídricos do solo sob café conilon orgânico consorciado com espécies arbóreas e frutíferas

The objective of this work was to evaluate the cultivation effects of organic conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) intercropped with tree and fruit species on soil physico-hydraulic properties. Conilon coffee managements in the organic system were: T1, full-sun monoculture; T2, T3, T4, and T5, intercropping with peach palm (Bactris gasipae), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), banana (Musa sp.), and inga (Inga edulis), respectively; and T6, an area of secondary native forest used as a control. The evaluated soil physico-hydraulic properties were: bulk density, porosity, plant-available water capacity, soil-penetration resistance, soil-water content, soil temperature, and least limiting water range. Conilon coffee intercropped with peach palm and gliricidia resulted in lower soil bulk density and penetration resistance, and in higher total porosity, microporosity, and soil-water content. Organic coffee shaded with peach palm and gliricidia improve the soil physico-hydraulic quality, in comparison with the soil under monoculture in full sun and with the soil of secondary native forest.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do cultivo de cafeeiro conilon (Coffea canephora) orgânico consorciado com espécies arbóreas e frutíferas sobre os atributos físico-hídricos do solo. Os manejos do cafeeiro conilon, no sistema orgânico, foram: T1, monocultivo a pleno sol; T2, T3, T4 e T5, consórcios com pupunha (Bactris gasipae), gliricídia (Gliricidia sepium), banana (Musa sp.) e ingá (Inga edulis), respectivamente; e T6, uma área de mata nativa secundária utilizada como controle. Os atributos físico-hídricos do solo avaliados foram: densidade, porosidade, capacidade de água disponível para as plantas, resistência à penetração, conteúdo de água, temperatura e intervalo hídrico ótimo do solo. Os consórcios de café conilon com pupunha e gliricídia resultaram em menores densidade do solo e resistência à penetração, e em maiores valores de porosidade total, microporosidade e conteúdo de água no solo. Cafezais orgânicos sombreados com pupunha e gliricídia melhoram a qualidade físico-hídrica do solo, em comparação ao solo com monocultivo a pleno sol e ao solo de mata secundária

Microtomographic, histomorphometric, and molecular features show a normal alveolar bone healing process in iNOS-deficient mice along a compensatory upregulation of eNOS and nNOS isoforms

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is one of the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which is an important signaling molecule with effects on blood vessels, leukocytes, and bone cells. However, the role of iNOS in alveolar bone healing remains unclear. This study investigated the role of iNOS in alveolar bone healing after tooth extraction in mice. Methodology: C57Bl/6 wild type (WT) and iNOS genetically deficient (iNOS-KO) mice were subjected to upper incision tooth extraction, and alveolar bone healing was evaluated by micro-computed tomography (μCT) and histological/histomorphometric, birefringence, and molecular methods. Results: The expression of iNOS had very low control conditions, whereas a significant increase is observed in healing sites of WT mice, where iNOS mRNA levels peak at 7d time point, followed by a relative decrease at 14d and 21d. Regarding bone healing, both WT and iNOS-KO groups showed the usual phases characterized by the presence of clots, granulation tissue development along the inflammatory cell infiltration, angiogenesis, proliferation of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix synthesis, bone neoformation, and remodeling. The overall micro-computed tomography and histomorphometric and birefringence analyses showed similar bone healing readouts when WT and iNOS-KO strains are compared. Likewise, Real-Time PCR array analysis shows an overall similar gene expression pattern (including bone formation, bone resorption, and inflammatory and immunological markers) in healing sites of WT and iNOS-KO mice. Moreover, molecular analysis shows that nNOS and eNOS were significantly upregulated in the iNOS-KO group, suggesting that other NOS isoforms could compensate the absence of iNOS. Conclusion: The absence of iNOS does not result in a significant modulation of bone healing readouts in iNOS-KO mice. The upregulation of nNOS and eNOS may compensate iNOS absence, explaining the similar bone healing outcome in WT and iNOS-KO strains

Rubus adenotrichus fruit extracts phytochemical characterization and antioxidant power evaluation for dermocosmetic formulations

There are more than 700 species of the genus Rubus, popularly known as Mora (tropical highland blackberry). In Costa Rica, the species Rubus adenotrichus has been characterized by its high content of antioxidant substances, becoming one of the most cultivated species and that may have characteristics to be used in cosmetics or medicine. The objective of the present study is to identify the main phytochemical groups and to quantify the main markers in order to associate them with cosmetic or medicinal functions in pharmaceutical products. Ripe fruits of Rubus adenotrichius were fractionated with solvents of low, medium and high polarity, followed by a phytochemical screening according to the World Health Organization Guidelines for the Control of Quality of Products of Natural Origin. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by means of the H-ORAC and DPPH test; the concentration of total phenols by Folin-Ciocalteau and antocinanins by differential pH was determined. Finally, the physicochemical properties of the aqueous extract, such as pH, specific gravity, Brix grades, conductivity, and osmolarity was determined and an absorption spectrum from 260 to 700 nm was obtained. Phenolic compounds were found as condensed and non-condensed tannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids as major phytochemical groups, a high antioxidant power measured in H-ORAC 311 ± 7.63 μg/mol Trolox Equivalent/g of dry fruit, and EC 50 118.46 mg/L for the aqueous extract. The total phenols found was 20.85 ± 0.27 mg/g of dry sample of gallic acid equivalents which makes the Rubus adenotrichus fruit an excellent component for bacteriostatic, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, nourishing and moisturizing formulations, and the astringent effect also allows its application to small superficial wounds on the skin. Likewise, the acidic pH of 3.55 ± 0.1 is beneficial for maintaining the cutaneous acid mantle thereby favoring the normal flora of the skin, but may be a problem for the formulation of carbomer-based gels or the incorporation of preservatives. The aqueous extract is hyperosmotic (559.66 ± 3.21 mOs/kg) and has a high electrical conductivity (285 ± 2 μS/cm) due to the presence of electrolytes and a considerable amount of sugars, according to Brix degrees (7.543° ± 0.005°). Finally, the 4% w/w aqueous extract shows an absorption of ultraviolet radiation of 25% in the wavelengths from 260 to 400nm, by which it also could be useful for formulating compositions for sun protection.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR