Frequency distribution of polymorphisms on k-casein and DGAT1 genes in dairy cattle used in Chilean milk production

Milk solids are very important to transform milk in dairy products like cheese. Several genes and polymorphic variants had been associated with this process, increasing the milk fat and/or protein content or regulating the coagulation milk properties. In the present study, we evaluate the frequency distribution of two major polymorphisms present in DGAT1 and CSN3 genes in 6 dairy biotypes commonly used in southern Chile: Holstein-Friesian (HF), Jersey (JE), Montbeliarde (MB), Overo Colorado (OC), Frisón Negro (FN) and hybrids (HYB). For CSN3 the results revealed that the A variant was predominant (0.57 to 0.71) in all breeds except Jersey which showed a high frequency of the B variant (0.73), one that favors milk transformation, and in MB (0.58). For DGAT1 a similar trend was seen. The A variant predominated (0.64 to 0.96) in all populations except Jersey, which displayed a high frequency (0.70) of the K variant that favors milk solids. The analysis of FIS for both markers gave negative and non-significant values in all populations some exception of OC and HYB, which are not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting an excess of heterozygotes. By another hand, FST analysis suggest a high genetic structure for Jersey. The simultaneous analyses of both markers produced 16 combined genotypes with hybrid animals displaying the highest number (11) whereas Jersey showed a favorable combination (DGAT1 KK and CSN3 BB) renewing their productive orientation to transform milk to cheese. Also, some Holstein animals displayed a heterozygous combined genotype (DGAT1 A/K–CSN3 AB). For decades, Holstein-Friesian has been an important breed used for milk production in southern Chile and during the last time, several farmers have introduced Jersey in order to improve milk quality. In this sense, our results show the presence of potential favorable genotypes for the transformation of milk to dairy products

Variability of cranial morphometrical traits in Suffolk Down Sheep

The widespread use of measures and indices associated with the head for racial analysis suggests that such measures have a strong relationship with the underlying bone structure. Few studies analyse the variability of the bones of the head and the relationship with their external expression. The objective of this work was to identify and measure the magnitudes of the main skull parameters in Suffolk Down adult sheep. This study was carried out on sixteen adult Suffolk Down sheep skulls at INIA Butalcura. Their skeletons were obtained and digital morphometry was performed. Each skull was photographed from dorsal, ventral, lateral and nuchal views with a total of 28 parameters evaluated (10 dorsal, 5 ventral, 6 lateral and 6 nape). The results indicate that the externally observable variability in the cranial zone of a sheep cannot be extrapolated to the rest of the bony components of the cranial zone, either in length, width or height. It was observed that the variability of a cephalic dimension can be contrasted with the variability of individual bones that participate in a certain dimension as part of a plasticity adjustment mechanism independent of the genetic variability of each bone separately. The cranial dimensions are still useful in defining the productive potential of a sheep population; however, they should be taken cautiously for racial definitions, where the individual variability of the bones could be a better reflection of the genetic structure of the population and the dimensionality could be biased by adaptive plasticity

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Aspectos legales del gobierno electrónico en Venezuela

El presente artículo presenta una revisión documental de los principales textos legales que amparan el funcionamiento del Gobierno Electrónico en Venezuela, vigentes al finalizar el primer semestre de 2009. Los resultados sugieren que existen dos grandes bloques legales que sustentan el uso de las TIC por el Gobierno, y tienen que ver, por un lado, con aquellas dirigidas a dotar de eficacia jurídica a las manifestaciones de voluntad por vía electrónica y, por otro, con aquellas pensadas para conseguir eficiencia en el cumplimiento de las funciones del Estado. El análisis de los distintos instrumentos que regulan la implementación de las TIC revela que Venezuela cuenta con una base jurídica en la materia sólida y  avanzada, por lo que la mayoría de las deficiencias que existen se deben más bien a la implementación. Se adopta un concepto amplio de gobierno electrónico, expandiéndolo a todas las ramas del poder público en tanto y en cuanto sus órganos se relacionen con el ciudadano o entre si. Por último se hace un llamado al poder judicial de manera de que se incorpore de manera plena las ventajas de los recursos electrónicos al proceso judicial. This article is a review of the legal regulation of electronic government in Venezuela, as of July 2009. There are basically two types of regulation of the use of ICT by government entities; first those that enable legal effectiveness to acts of will produced electronically and also electronic signatures, and those directed to achieve efficiency of the functions of public administration. The analysis of the legislation reveals that Venezuela has a good and modern legal basis for the implementation of ICT by public entities. Therefore, public administration deficiencies on e-government are due to implementation problems rather than legal issues. The authors adopt a broad concept of e-government in order to include all activities of public offices, regardless of their function as long as they interact with citizens or internally. Finally, there is a suggestion made to the judicial system in order to fully implement ICT in the judicial process

Aspectos legales del gobierno electrónico en Venezuela

El presente artículo presenta una revisión documental de los principales textos legales que amparan el funcionamiento del Gobierno Electrónico en Venezuela, vigentes al finalizar el primer semestre de 2009. Los resultados sugieren que existen dos grandes bloques legales que sustentan el uso de las TIC por el Gobierno, y tienen que ver, por un lado, con aquellas dirigidas a dotar de eficacia jurídica a las manifestaciones de voluntad por vía electrónica y, por otro, con aquellas pensadas para conseguir eficiencia en el cumplimiento de las funciones del Estado. El análisis de los distintos instrumentos que regulan la implementación de las TIC revela que Venezuela cuenta con una base jurídica en la materia sólida y  avanzada, por lo que la mayoría de las deficiencias que existen se deben más bien a la implementación. Se adopta un concepto amplio de gobierno electrónico, expandiéndolo a todas las ramas del poder público en tanto y en cuanto sus órganos se relacionen con el ciudadano o entre si. Por último se hace un llamado al poder judicial de manera de que se incorpore de manera plena las ventajas de los recursos electrónicos al proceso judicial