Ultrasound-Based Selection: Pitfalls and Rewards

Ultrasound has become widely used by the seedstock industry as a selection and evaluation tool. Ultrasound estimates of Ribeye Area, or REA, Intramuscular fat, or %IMF (marbling), and Rump Fat have been used to develop several EPD’s for many breed associations. Despite widespread use by seedstock producers, there is still some apprehension by commercial producers. Additionally, the use of ultrasound for commercial herd replacement decisions, used by some producers, is worth discussing. There are both benefits, as well as cautions, to using ultrasound generated information in a commercial beef herd

Classification of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: An Automated Algorithm Compared With a Physician Reviewer Panel: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

An algorithm to classify heart failure (HF) endpoints inclusive of contemporary measures of biomarkers and echocardiography was recently proposed by an international expert panel. Our objective was to assess agreement of HF classification by this contemporaneous algorithm with that by a standardized physician reviewer panel, when applied to data abstracted from community-based hospital records

Trends in Myocardial Infarction Rates and Case Fatality by Anatomical Location in Four United States Communities, 1987 to 2008 (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study)

Although the incidence of and mortality following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is decreasing, time-trends in anatomical location of STEMI and associated short-term prognosis have not been examined in a population-based community study. We determined 22-year trends in age- and race-adjusted, gender-specific incidence rates and 28-day case fatality of hospitalized STEMI by anatomic infarct location among a stratified random sample of 35-74 year old residents of four communities in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. STEMI infarct location was assessed by 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) from the hospital record, and was coded as anterior, inferior, lateral and multi-location STEMI using the Minnesota Code. Between 1987 and 2008, a total of 4,845 patients had an incident STEMI; 37.2% were inferior STEMI; 32.8% were anterior; 16.8% occurred in multiple infarct locations and 13.2% were lateral STEMI. For inferior, anterior and lateral STEMI in both men and women, significant declines were observed in the age-adjusted annual incidence rate and the associated 28-day case fatality. In contrast, for STEMI in multiple infarct locations, neither the annual incidence rate nor the 28-day case fatality changed over time. The age- and race-adjusted annual incidence rate and associated 28-day case fatality of STEMI in anterior, inferior and lateral infarct locations declined over 22 years of surveillance; however, no decline was observed for STEMI in multiple infarct locations. In conclusion, our findings suggest there is room for improvement in the care of patients with multi-location STEMI

Association of Forced Vital Capacity with the Developmental Gene <i>NCOR2</i>

Background Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) is an important predictor of all-cause mortality in the absence of chronic respiratory conditions. Epidemiological evidence highlights the role of early life factors on adult FVC, pointing to environmental exposures and genes affecting lung development as risk factors for low FVC later in life. Although highly heritable, a small number of genes have been found associated with FVC, and we aimed at identifying further genetic variants by focusing on lung development genes. Methods Per-allele effects of 24,728 SNPs in 403 genes involved in lung development were tested in 7,749 adults from three studies (NFBC1966, ECRHS, EGEA). The most significant SNP for the top 25 genes was followed-up in 46,103 adults (CHARGE and SpiroMeta consortia) and 5,062 chi

Genome-wide association analysis identifies six new loci associated with forced vital capacity

Forced vital capacity (FVC), a spirometric measure of pulmonary function, reflects lung volume and is used to diagnose and monitor lung diseases. We performed genome-wide association study meta-analysis of FVC in 52,253 individuals from 26 studies and followed up the top associations in 32,917 additional individuals of European ancestry. We found six new regions associated at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8) with FVC in or near EFEMP1, BMP6, MIR129-2–HSD17B12, PRDM11, WWOX and KCNJ2. Two loci previously associated with spirometric measures (GSTCD and PTCH1) were related to FVC. Newly implicated regions were followed up in samples from African-American, Korean, Chinese and Hispanic individuals. We detected transcripts for all six newly implicated genes in human lung tissue. The new loci may inform mechanisms involved in lung development and the pathogenesis of restrictive lung disease

Attracting the Best and the Brightest: A Critique of the Current U.S. Immigration System

The United States has long benefited as a leader in attracting the best and brightest immigrants. However, the world has changed since the U.S. immigration system\u27s last major modification in 1990. The United States is no longer the primary destination for many talented immigrants. Many other nations have enacted immigration systems meant to attract the best and brightest immigrants. These immigration systems are often point- based and allow potential immigrants to quickly determine eligibility. By comparison, the U.S. immigration system is slow and complicated. Many now question the United States\u27 ability to attract talented immigrants. This Article first examines how other national immigration systems entice the best and brightest immigrants. It then examines the current U.S. immigration system and its evolution since the Immigration Act of 1990. Finally, the Article suggests how the United States can improve its immigration system to continue to attract talented immigrants

Attracting the Best and the Brightest: A Critique of the Current U.S. Immigration System

38 Fordham Urban Law Journal (2010-11) The United States has long benefited as a leader in attracting the "best and brightest" immigrants. However, the world has changed since the U.S. immigration system's last major modification in 1990. The United States is no longer the primary destination for many talented immigrants. Many other nations have enacted immigration systems meant to attract the best and brightest immigrants. These immigration systems are often point- based and allow potential immigrants to quickly determine eligibility. By comparison, the U.S. immigration system is slow and complicated. Many now question the United States' ability to attract talented immigrants. This Article first examines how other national immigration systems entice the best and brightest immigrants. It then examines the current U.S. immigration system and its evolution since the Immigration Act of 1990. Finally, the Article suggests how the United States can improve its immigration system to continue to attract talented immigrants

Trends in Myocardial Infarction Rates and Case Fatality by Anatomical Location in Four United States Communities, 1987 to 2008 (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study)

Although the incidence of and mortality following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is decreasing, time-trends in anatomical location of STEMI and associated short-term prognosis have not been examined in a population-based community study. We determined 22-year trends in age- and race-adjusted, gender-specific incidence rates and 28-day case fatality of hospitalized STEMI by anatomic infarct location among a stratified random sample of 35-74 year old residents of four communities in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. STEMI infarct location was assessed by 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) from the hospital record, and was coded as anterior, inferior, lateral and multi-location STEMI using the Minnesota Code. Between 1987 and 2008, a total of 4,845 patients had an incident STEMI; 37.2% were inferior STEMI; 32.8% were anterior; 16.8% occurred in multiple infarct locations and 13.2% were lateral STEMI. For inferior, anterior and lateral STEMI in both men and women, significant declines were observed in the age-adjusted annual incidence rate and the associated 28-day case fatality. In contrast, for STEMI in multiple infarct locations, neither the annual incidence rate nor the 28-day case fatality changed over time. The age- and race-adjusted annual incidence rate and associated 28-day case fatality of STEMI in anterior, inferior and lateral infarct locations declined over 22 years of surveillance; however, no decline was observed for STEMI in multiple infarct locations. In conclusion, our findings suggest there is room for improvement in the care of patients with multi-location STEMI