GWAS of QRS duration identifies new loci specific to Hispanic/Latino populations

Background The electrocardiographically quantified QRS duration measures ventricular depolarization and conduction. QRS prolongation has been associated with poor heart failure prognosis and cardiovascular mortality, including sudden death. While previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 32 QRS SNPs across 26 loci among European, African, and Asian-descent populations, the genetics of QRS among Hispanics/Latinos has not been previously explored. Methods We performed a GWAS of QRS duration among Hispanic/Latino ancestry populations (n = 15,124) from four studies using 1000 Genomes imputed genotype data (adjusted for age, sex, global ancestry, clinical and study-specific covariates). Study-specific results were combined using fixed-effects, inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis. Results We identified six loci associated with QRS (P<5x10-8), including two novel loci: MYOCD, a nuclear protein expressed in the heart, and SYT1, an integral membrane protein. The top SNP in the MYOCD locus, intronic SNP rs16946539, was found in Hispanics/Latinos with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of 0.04, but is monomorphic in European and African descent populations. The most significant QRS duration association was with intronic SNP rs3922344 (P = 1.19x10-24) in SCN5A/SCN10A. Three other previously identified loci, CDKN1A, VTI1A, and HAND1, also exceeded the GWAS significance threshold among Hispanics/Latinos. A total of 27 of 32 previously identified QRS duration SNPs were shown to generalize in Hispanics/Latinos. Conclusions Our QRS duration GWAS, the first in Hispanic/Latino populations, identified two new loci, underscoring the utility of extending large scale genomic studies to currently under-examined populations

Comparing the actual and expected persuasiveness of evidence types: How good are lay people at selecting persuasive evidence?

Contains fulltext : 67616.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)15 p

Recria de bovinos nelore em pastos de Brachiaria brizantha com suplementação protéica ou com acesso a banco de proteína de Leucaena lecocephala: desempenho animal Post-weaning nelore cattle grazing Brachiaria brizantha with protein supplement or free access to a protein bank of Leucaena leucocephala: animal performance

Foi avaliado o desempenho de 192 bovinos Nelore recém desmamados em pastos de brachiaria exclusiva (Teste) ou suplementados durante a estação seca (Seca), o ano todo (Ano) ou com acesso a banco de leucaena (Banco), em delineamento de blocos casualisados com quatro repetições. O suplemento fornecido na seca continha 46,9 % de PB, 70 % degradável no rúmen e o das águas 43,9% PB, 60 % degradável. No período das secas, os animais dos tratamentos Ano e Seca tiveram ganhos maiores que os dos tratamentos Banco e Teste (0,534 e 0,486 vs 0,277 e 0,201 kg/d, respectivamente). Nas águas os animais dos tratamentos Ano e Banco ganharam mais peso que os de Seca e Teste (0,782 e 0,741 vs 0,584 e 0,645 kg/d). O ganho de peso vivo por unidade de área apresentou as mesmas tendências que os ganhos médios diários. A suplementação com fontes protéicas pouco degradáveis nas águas e o banco mostraram-se alternativas eficientes a serem exploradas.<br>The performance of 192 weaned Nelore steers grazing on Brachiaria brizantha pastures(Teste), or supplemented during the dry season (Seca), all year around (Ano) or with free access to a leucaena bank (Banco), was evaluated in a random block design with four replications. The dry season supplement had 46.9% CP, 70% rumen degradable, and the wet season supplement, 43.9% CP, 60% degradable. During the dry season, the animals of Ano and Seca showed higher gains than Banco and Teste (.534 and .486 vs .277 and .201 kg/day, respectively). In the wet season animals on Ano and Bank had higher gains than Seca and Teste (.782 and .741 vs .584 and .645 kg/day). The live weight gain per unit of area showed the same behavior of daily gain. Supplements with escape protein or access to a leucaena bank during the wet season showed an efficient alternative

Usability and acceptability of a website that provides tailored advice on falls prevention activities for older people

This article presents the usability and acceptability of a website that provides older people with tailored advice to help motivate them to undertake physical activities that prevent falls. Views on the website from interviews with 16 older people and 26 sheltered housing wardens were analysed thematically. The website was well received with only one usability difficulty with the action plan calendar. The older people selected balance training activities out of interest or enjoyment, and appeared to carefully add them into their current routine. The wardens were motivated to promote the website to their residents, particularly those who owned a computer, had balance problems, or were physically active. However, the participants noted that currently a minority of older people use the Internet. Also, some older people underestimated how much activity was enough to improve balance, and others perceived themselves as too old for the activities