Relative contribution of effects included in contemporary groups for adjusted and actual 120-day and 210-day weights in Nelore cattle in Brazil

The objective of this research was to estimate the relative magnitude of effects included in contemporary groups (CG) and their interactions with adjusted and actual 120 d and 210 d weights in 72,731 male and female Nelore calves born from 1985 to 2005 in 40 herds from PMGRN (Genetic Improvement Program of Nelore). Ten models with different CG structures were compared. The analyses were done using the general linear models (GLM) procedure run in SAS software. All of the effects included in the CG for each model were significant (p < 0.001) for the four traits analyzed. Inclusion of semester or trimester of birth as part of a CG was more appropriate than its use as an independent effect in the model because it accounted for interactions with the other effects in the CG. Calf sex (CS) and dam age at calving (DAC) had similar effects across the models, which suggested independence from other effects in these models. The corresponding age deviation effect had a larger impact on actual weight at 120 d than any other effect in all of the models tested. The use of actual weights in models with no CS effect in CG provides an alternative that would allow better genetic connectedness among CGs and greater accuracy in genetic evaluations

Bayesian inference in genetic parameter estimation of visual scores in Nellore beef-cattle

The aim of this study was to estimate the components of variance and genetic parameters for the visual scores which constitute the Morphological Evaluation System (MES), such as body structure (S), precocity (P) and musculature (M) in Nellore beef-cattle at the weaning and yearling stages, by using threshold Bayesian models. The information used for this was gleaned from visual scores of 5,407 animals evaluated at the weaning and 2,649 at the yearling stages. The genetic parameters for visual score traits were estimated through two-trait analysis, using the threshold animal model, with Bayesian statistics methodology and MTGSAM (Multiple Trait Gibbs Sampler for Animal Models) threshold software. Heritability estimates for S, P and M were 0.68, 0.65 and 0.62 (at weaning) and 0.44, 0.38 and 0.32 (at the yearling stage), respectively. Heritability estimates for S, P and M were found to be high, and so it is expected that these traits should respond favorably to direct selection. The visual scores evaluated at the weaning and yearling stages might be used in the composition of new selection indexes, as they presented sufficient genetic variability to promote genetic progress in such morphological traits

Sindrome disfágica Dysphagic syndrome

INTRODUÇÃO: A disfagia é o principal sintoma das doenças do esôfago e é representada pela dificuldade em deglutir o alimento ingerido no trajeto da orofaringe até o estômago. Ela é queixa comum na prática clínica diária envolvendo várias especialidades na sua investigação. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada revisão atualizada da literatura internacional através do Pubmed (www.pubmed.com) e nacional (www.lilacs.br) utilizando-se as seguintes palavras-chave: disfagia e transtornos da deglutição. A extensão do tema foi limitado aos seguintes enfoques: etiologia, diagnóstico e exames complementares mais aplicáveis à exploração propedêutica. CONCLUSÃO: Embora a literatura apresente bom entendimento do processo disfágico, no diagnóstico preciso de sua causa há freqüentemente necessidade de múltiplos exames complementares que associados fazem melhor entender o que acomete o paciente e orientará mais adequadamente a conduta a ser tomada<br>BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is the main symptom of diseases of the esophagus, being manifested by deglutition difficulties, which reaches the oropharynx and stomach pathway. Is a common daily complaint in the clinical practice, involving numerous specialties regarding its investigation. METHODS: An international literature review was made using Pubmed (www.pubmed.com) and a national utilizing (www.lilacs.br) the following keywords: dysphagia and deglutition disorders. The extension of the subject was limited to the following areas: etiology, diagnosis and complementary exams which were aplicable to exploratory propedeutics. CONCLUSION: Eventhough the literature presents a good understanding of the dysphagic process, the need for multiple complementary exams is frequent during diagnosis, developing a better understanding of what the patient has, adequately orienting which conduct should be taken