A subjective evaluation of feeder cattle

Data from 687 steer calves of two breed groups, British (Angus, Hereford, Angus X Hereford) and Charolais crosses, formed the basis of this study. The steers were purchased through East Tennessee Graded Feeder Calf sales and represented Prime, Choice and Good grades with a mean weight of 566 lbs. The steers were fed ad libitum com silage for a 3-4-week period while being allowed to adjust and recover from the stresses of weaning and shipment. Following the adjustment period, the steers were weighed, photographed, sonorayed for fat thickness, measured for shoulder width and subjectively evaluated independently by committees of 10, 16 and 14 graders in 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively. All steers were subjec-tively scored on a 1-15 basis for height, length, overall frame size, general trimness, head shape and muscle expression. Fat thickness was estimated in millimeters, age in months and predicted slaughter weight in pounds. For analyses, each year the graders were divided into three categories according to their training and experience. In 1976 and 1977, approximately 30 days prior to the scoring by the committees, the steers were scored by an experienced grader who was a member of the evaluation committee. The 1976 steers were randomly divided within breed and feeder grade into two ration groups of high and medium levels of energy. The steers were weighed and sonorayed for fat thickness at 14-day intervals until they reached 12 mm of fat thickness at which time they were slaughtered. Days on feed were calculated, and the carcass traits of weight, yield grade and quality grade were recorded. It was found by multiple regression analysis that models describing frame, fat and muscle accounted for 58%, 43% and 19% of the variation, respectively. Graders utilized height, depth and fat in estimating frame and fat, while width was the major factor in estimating muscle. Length and weight did not affect graders in their evaluations. There was more agreement among graders within grader category for frame and muscle, while there was greater agreement for fat among grader categories. Increases in R-squares of .01, .01 and .02 for frame, fat and muscle, respectively, were found when height-grader interactions were added to the models. Similar increases of .02, .03 and .03 in R-squares were attained when breed group-grader interactions were added to models for frame, fat and muscle, respectively. These small increases would indi-cate that graders handled the effects of height and breed group in a like manner. Partial regression coefficients indicated that larger framed steers were evaluated as being taller, slightly longer, shallower, narrower and leaner. When estimated fat increased, calves were seen as being lower set, slightly shorter, deeper, wider and fatter. Steers that were scored high for muscle (muscle expression) were evaluated as being lower set, longer, shallower and wider by the graders. Coefficients of correlation among graders were performed on a within-year and within year-breed group basis to further define agree-ment among graders. Coefficients for frame score ranged from .70-.95, .51 .86 and .58-.96 within year and .54-.93, .45-.89 and .56-.96 within year-breed group for 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively. Somewhat less agreement was found for estimated fat where coefficients ranged from .45-.79, .20-.76 and .38-.85 within year and .34-.73, .14-.71 and .29-.83 within year and breed group for 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively. Considerably less agreement was found for muscle score where coefficients ranged from .14-.58, -.07-.57 and .16-.72 within year and .13-.59, -.09-.61 and .16-.70 within year and breed group for 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively. Coefficients of determination between scoring times by one grader in 1976 and 1977 indicated that steers were more accurately redescribed for body dimension rather than for fat, trimness and muscle expression. The failure to accurately describe fat, trimness and muscle expression may be due, in large measure, to weight gain and environmental influences during the 30-day period between evaluations. R-squares for grader predictions of carcass weight and days on feed were .57-.62 and .52-.56, respectively. R-squares for yield grade, .07-.14, and carcass quality grade, .06-.10, were smaller; however, the steers were slaughtered on a fat constant basis, thus reducing the total variation. Although grader experiences and the weighting of variables by the graders varied, similar variation was explained

High-Dose Chemotherapy Followed by Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma—A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION: Patients with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have a poor prognosis. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate whether high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with metastatic RMS has additional benefit or harm compared to standard chemotherapy. METHODS: Systematic literature searches were performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. All databases were searched from inception to February 2010. PubMed was searched in June 2010 for a last update. In addition to randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, case series and case reports were included to complement results from scant data. The primary outcome was overall survival. A meta-analysis was performed using the hazard ratio as primary effect measure, which was estimated from Cox proportional hazard models or from summary statistics of Kaplan Meier product-limit estimations. RESULTS: A total of 40 studies with 287 transplant patients with metastatic RMS (age range 0 to 32 years) were included in the assessment. We identified 3 non-randomized controlled trials. The 3-year overall survival ranged from 22% to 53% in the transplant groups vs. 18% to 55% in the control groups. Meta-analysis on overall survival in controlled trials showed no difference between treatments. Result of meta-analysis of pooled individual survival data of case series and case reports, and results from uncontrolled studies with aggregate data were in the range of those from controlled data. The risk of bias was high in all studies due to methodological flaws. CONCLUSIONS: HDCT followed by autologous HSCT in patients with RMS remains an experimental treatment. At present, it does not appear justifiable to use this treatment except in appropriately designed controlled trials

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Genetic associations at 53 loci highlight cell types and biological pathways relevant for kidney function.

Reduced glomerular filtration rate defines chronic kidney disease and is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), combining data across 133,413 individuals with replication in up to 42,166 individuals. We identify 24 new and confirm 29 previously identified loci. Of these 53 loci, 19 associate with eGFR among individuals with diabetes. Using bioinformatics, we show that identified genes at eGFR loci are enriched for expression in kidney tissues and in pathways relevant for kidney development and transmembrane transporter activity, kidney structure, and regulation of glucose metabolism. Chromatin state mapping and DNase I hypersensitivity analyses across adult tissues demonstrate preferential mapping of associated variants to regulatory regions in kidney but not extra-renal tissues. These findings suggest that genetic determinants of eGFR are mediated largely through direct effects within the kidney and highlight important cell types and biological pathways