Genotyping of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2 Gene in Holstein Cattle Population

This study was conducted to describe the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) within exon 8 and its intron 9 flanking region within bovine Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) gene and the possible association of these SNPs with the milk productive traits. Blood samples were collected from randomly selected Holstein cattle. Genomic DNA was extracted, and a pair of specific PCR primers was designed to amplify a segment that consists of partial exon 8/partial intron 9 of DGAT2 gene. SSCP experiments were optimized and performed for each amplified PCR fragment. Each set of SSCP resolved bands was sequenced and analyzed. Four SSCP patterns representing four genotypes (BD, BB, CD, and AD) were detected with four alleles. Several novel genetic polymorphisms were discovered. Three SNPs (157 C/A, 158 T/G, and 159 G/A) were found in genotype BD,  while one SNP (94 G/T,  153 C/A, 154 T/A) were found in the genotypes BB, CD, and AD, respectively. The only non-synonymous SNP was found in genotype CD (344 D/Y), and the effect of this missense mutation on the protein three-dimensional structure was visualized. The sequence homology between the bovine DGAT2 gene and other species was also analyzed. The significance of the correlation of each genotype with the productive traits of milk was observed. The Holstein cattle with BD genotype produced significantly more milk for all studied 90 days of lactation, with a significant effect on fat for only the last 30 days of lactation, whereas there was no effect on protein and lactose percentage for the entire lactation period. The results suggest a novel association between bovine DGAT2 genetic variability and the milk yield in Holstein cattle. This opens interesting prospects for future DGAT2 based selection programs and preservation strategies

Genotyping of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2 Gene in Holstein Cattle Population

This study was conducted to describe the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) within exon 8 and its intron 9 flanking region within bovine Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) gene and the possible association of these SNPs with the milk productive traits. Blood samples were collected from randomly selected Holstein cattle. Genomic DNA was extracted, and a pair of specific PCR primers was designed to amplify a segment that consists of partial exon 8/partial intron 9 of DGAT2 gene. SSCP experiments were optimized and performed for each amplified PCR fragment. Each set of SSCP resolved bands was sequenced and analyzed. Four SSCP patterns representing four genotypes (BD, BB, CD, and AD) were detected with four alleles. Several novel genetic polymorphisms were discovered. Three SNPs (157 C/A, 158 T/G, and 159 G/A) were found in genotype BD,  while one SNP (94 G/T,  153 C/A, 154 T/A) were found in the genotypes BB, CD, and AD, respectively. The only non-synonymous SNP was found in genotype CD (344 D/Y), and the effect of this missense mutation on the protein three-dimensional structure was visualized. The sequence homology between the bovine DGAT2 gene and other species was also analyzed. The significance of the correlation of each genotype with the productive traits of milk was observed. The Holstein cattle with BD genotype produced significantly more milk for all studied 90 days of lactation, with a significant effect on fat for only the last 30 days of lactation, whereas there was no effect on protein and lactose percentage for the entire lactation period. The results suggest a novel association between bovine DGAT2 genetic variability and the milk yield in Holstein cattle. This opens interesting prospects for future DGAT2 based selection programs and preservation strategies

Shifting paradigms in the management of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer from static to dynamic risk stratification: A step forward toward precision medicine: Dynamic risk stratification and pediatric thyroid cancer

Introduction This study aimed to assess the usefulness of a risk-adopted management system known as dynamic risk stratification (DRS) in comparison with the American (ATA) and European Thyroid Associations' (ETA) risk classifications in the management of pediatric patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Materials and Methods The current study included 50 pediatric patients with DTC who were treated with total or near total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation whose risk assessment was initially defined according to the ATA and ETA guidelines. During the two years after initial treatment, patients were reclassified according to their DRS. Results The study showed that the ability of the DRS system to predict the final outcome was superior to that of the ATA and ETA guidelines. The observed variance in predicting final outcome was 2.3 for ETA, 14.8 for ATA, and 83.4 for DRS. In intermediate/high-risk patients, according to the ATA/ETA guidelines, an excellent response to initial therapy resulted in a noteworthy reduction (about 40 ) for detection of structural disease at the time of final follow-up. The risk of structural disease at the time of final follow-up was significantly higher in the structural incomplete response group (HR = 23.34, P = 0.00) and biochemical incomplete response group (HR = 13.83, P = 0.03) than in the excellent response group. Conclusion The data documented the significance of re-stratifying pediatric patients with DTC on the basis of the findings obtained at the time of or after their initial therapy (total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation), predominantly in the intermediate/high-risk patients. In addition, DRS helped to better modulate the later follow-up, excluding a large number of intermediate/high risk patients from needless intensive workups, allowing personalization of follow-up management. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York

The role of cognitive group therapy and happiness training on cerebral blood flow using 99mTc-ECD brain perfusion SPECT: A quasi-experimental study of depressed patients

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of cognitive group therapy and happiness training objectively in the local cerebral blood flow of patients with major depression (MD). Patients, material, methods: The present research is semi-experimental to pre- and post-test with a control group. Three groups were formed, and this number was incorporated in each group: 12 patients were chosen randomly; the first group of depressed patients benefited from the combination of pharmacotherapy and sessions of cognitive group therapy; the second group used a combination of pharmaco-therapy and sessions of happiness training; and a third group used only pharmacother-apy. We compared cognitive-behavioural therapy and happiness training efficacy with only pharmacotherapy in MD patients. We performed brain perfusion SPECT in each group, before and after each trial. Results: The study was conducted on 36 patients with MD (32 women and 4 men; mean age: 41.22 ± 9.08; range: 27–65 years). There were significant differences regarding the two trial effects into two experimental groups (p 0.05). In addition, there was significant difference among the regional cerebral blood flow in the frontal and prefrontal regions into two experimental groups before and after trials (p 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated decreased cerebral perfusion in the frontal regions in MD patients, which increased following cognitive group therapy and happiness training. Because of its availability, low costs, easy performance, and the objective semi-quantitative information supplied, brain perfusion SPECT scanning might be useful to assess the diagnosis and therapy efficacy. Further exploration is needed to validate its clinical role. © Schattauer 2014

Factors That Impact Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic Parameters in Myocardial Perfusion Gated SPECT with 16 Frame and 8 Frame Acquisition Models

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the effects of heart cavity volume, presence and absence of perfusion defect, gender and type of study (stress and rest) on the difference of systolic parameters of myocardial perfusion scan in 16 and 8 framing gated SPECT imaging. METHODS: Cardiac gated SPECT in both 16 and 8 framing simultaneously and both stress and rest phases at one-day protocol was performed for 50 patients. Data have been reconstructed by filter back projection (FBP) method and left ventricular (LV) systolic parameters were calculated by using QGS software. The effect of some factors such as LV cavity volume, presence and absence of perfusion defect, gender and type of study on data difference between 8 and 16 frames were evaluated. RESULTS: The differences in ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) in both stress and rest were statistically significant. Difference in both framing was more in stress for EF and ESV, and was more in rest for EDV. Study type had a significant effect on differences in systolic parameters while gender had a significant effect on differences in EF and ESV in rest between both framings. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, results of this study revealed that difference of both 16 and 8 frames data in systolic phase were statistically significant and it seems that because of better efficiency of 16 frames, it cannot be replaced by 8 frames. Further well-designed studies are required to verify these findings

Evaluation of prognostic factors associated with differentiated thyroid carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis

Background: Because one of the major sites for metastasis of thyroid cancers is the lung, studying the pattern of pulmonary metastasis may provide useful information for the effective treatment of these patients. In this study, by assessing the metastasis pattern, we aimed to identify the factors thatmay affect prognosis and response to treatment in patientswith differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with pulmonary metastasis. Methods: This retrospective study included 75 patients with DTC with pulmonary metastasis whowere referred to our nuclear medicine section over a period of 10 years. The data obtained were analyzed with regard to response to treatment to assess the effects of the included factors on prognosis. Results: Of the 1746 patients referred to our section, 75 (4.3%) had pulmonary metastasis. According to the pattern of pulmonary metastasis, they were divided into 4 groups: nodular, diffuse, combined, and other. The mean age of the patients was 43.8 ± 18.5 years. After the follow-up, 58 patients survived, 14 of whom responded to the treatment. The mean number of radioiodine therapy sessions that the patients received was 3.2 ± 2, and the mean cumulative dose was 554.7 ± 387.8 mCi. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that there was no significant difference in the response to treatment between patients with different patterns of pulmonary metastasis (P > 0.3). However, significant differences were reported in the response to treatment between patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and those with follicular thyroid carcinoma (P < 0.03). The 1-, 5-, and 9-year survival rates were reported as 98%, 76%, and 51%, respectively. Conclusions: Patients with DTC with pulmonary metastasis have a relatively favorable prognosis and response rate, as well as longer survival. The type of DTC is the only factor that affects the response to treatment. © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved