A genetic and spatial Bayesian analysis of mastitis resistance

A nationwide health card recording system for dairy cattle was introduced in Norway in 1975 (the Norwegian Cattle Health Services). The data base holds information on mastitis occurrences on an individual cow basis. A reduction in mastitis frequency across the population is desired, and for this purpose risk factors are investigated. In this paper a Bayesian proportional hazards model is used for modelling the time to first veterinary treatment of clinical mastitis, including both genetic and environmental covariates. Sire effects were modelled as shared random components, and veterinary district was included as an environmental effect with prior spatial smoothing. A non-informative smoothing prior was assumed for the baseline hazard, and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods (MCMC) were used for inference. We propose a new measure of quality for sires, in terms of their posterior probability of being among the, say 10% best sires. The probability is an easily interpretable measure that can be directly used to rank sires. Estimating these complex probabilities is straightforward in an MCMC setting. The results indicate considerable differences between sires with regards to their daughters disease resistance. A regional effect was also discovered with the lowest risk of disease in the south-eastern parts of Norway.     

The Drosophila ribosomal protein L14-encoding gene, identified by a novel Minute mutation in a dense cluster of previously undescribed genes in cytogenetic region 66D

The Minute phenotype results from mutations at?>50 loci scattered throughout the genome of Drosophila. Common traits of the Minute phenotype are short and thin bristles, slow development, and recessive lethality. Here, we report a novel P-element induced Minute mutation, P{lacW}M(3)66D ¹ , that maps to region 66D on chromosome 3L. Flies heterozygous for P{lacW}M(3)66D ¹ have a strong Minute phenotype. Molecular characterisation of the chromosomal region revealed three previously undescribed Drosophila genes clustered within a 5-kb genomic fragment. Two of the genes have significant sequence homology to genes for the mammalian ribosomal proteins L14 and RD, respectively, and share a joint 240-bp promoter region harbouring the P-element insert. Quantitative Northern blot analyses showed the mutation to affect RPL14 mRNA levels only. Interestingly, the reduction in abundance of RPL14 mRNA is not constitutive, indicating that the promoter function abolished by the inserted P-element is utilised with different efficiencies in different developmental situations. Remobilisation of the P element produced wild-type flies with normal levels of RPL14 mRNA, demonstrating that the mutant phenotype is caused by the insertion. P{lacW}M(3)66D ¹ joins a growing list of Minute mutations associated with ribosomal protein-haploinsufficiency.     

下丘脑外侧区注射TRH对大鼠胃酸分泌的影响

本文采用连续收集胃腔灌流法,观察下丘脑外侧区(LHA)注射促甲状腺激素释放激素(TRH)对大鼠胃酸分泌的影响,并分析TRH在LHA促进胃酸分泌的作用机制。结果表明:(1)LHA注射TRH(1μg)明显地刺激胃酸分泌;(2)预先向LHA注射酚妥拉明(10μg)、美多心安(5μg)及胃泌素抗体1μl(1:640)并不影响TRH的泌酸作用,如预先向LHA注射阿托品(5μg)则可消除TRH的泌酸效应;(3)垂体摘除及肾上腺切除均不影响TRH的泌酸作用;(4)隔下迷走神经切断后,LHA注入TRH的泌酸效应仍然出现,但持续时间显著缩短;腹腔交感神经节摘除后,TRH仍能促进胃酸分泌,但分泌量少而平稳。以上结果提示:LHA是TRH中枢泌酸效应的有关结构之一,其中枢机制是通过胆碱能M受体中介的,腹腔交感神经节和膈下迷走神经是TRH泌酸效应的传出途径。前者引起的泌酸反应出现较早且引起泌酸高峰,但持续时间短;后者则引起低平的持续分泌。     

江苏泗洪下草湾中中新世脊椎动物群——6.鸟纲

本文记述了近年来在江苏泗洪下草湾组中补采到的6种鸟类,其中包括天岗琵鹭 Platalea tiangangensis sp. nov.和松林庄古石鸡 Palaeoalectoris songlinensis gen. et sp. nov.,前者系琵鹭属迄今最早的记录,后者为雉科鹑族目前已知最早的成员.     

Intensive treatment of respiratory failure--personal experiences

Controlled oxygen-therapy was used in 30 out of 49 patients (61%) with the acute respiratory failure or exacerbations of the chronic respiratory failure treated at ICU (Group Y), while artificial ventilation in the remaining 19 patients (39%; Group B). An improvement was achieved in 70% of patients of Group A and 42% in Group B. Overall improvement was achieved in 59% of the treated patients. There were 69% of treated patients with infections. Totally 41% of the treated patients died (30% of Group A and 58% of Group B). An analysis of the results has been carried out in various subgroups of the treated patients, i.e. the acute and exacerbated respiratory failure as well as partial and complete respiratory insufficiency. The result of high risk patients have also been analysed. This subgroup included sudden cardiac arrest, shock and non-compensated acidosis. Favourable effects of the intensive care of patients with infections have been discussed with particular reference to the life hazard in case of septic complications. Emphasis is on the unfavorable effects of therapy in patients with respiratory failure complicated with pulmonary embolism. Indications to the use of respirator and complications of the artificial ventilation have been discussed.     

锌和铜在生长抑素对链佐霉素引起的胰岛B细胞损伤的保护中的作用

我们以前的工作指出,生长抑素可以预防链佐霉素对大鼠胰岛B细胞的损伤。本工作测定给药前后大鼠血清和组织中Zn、Cu含量,以进一步观察链佐霉素破坏大鼠胰岛B细胞后生长抑素预防效应的可能机制。结果为:链佐霉素(STZ)(35mg/kg,ip)注射后24h的大鼠,血清Zn浓度下降,Cu浓度升高,Zn/Cu比值倒置;用生长抑素作预防性注射后,血清Zn浓度与正常对照水平相同,Cu浓度虽稍有升高,但Zn/Cu比值正常。保护组的血清Zn与损伤组比较,差异极为显著。两组的Zn/Cu比值同样也具有显著差异。在给药后72h,血清Zn/Cu比值在各组之间仍呈上述关系,但差异减小。在大鼠胰腺,注射链佐霉素后胰腺组织Zn浓度未见改变,但生长抑素作预防性注射可使组织锌含量增加。上述结果提示,在生长抑素对胰岛B细胞的保护机制中可能有Zn和Cu的参与。预防性注射生长抑素所引起的高Zn状态可能有利于机体细胞含Zn酶类的活性,增强已损伤细胞的修复。     

山西忻州中新世鼠兔科化石

本文记述了山西忻州发现的跑兔属—新种.该种以个体较小, P~2 较简单,无前沟, M~2 后叶无后突, P_3 小,无前内沟与前外沟等特征与属型种 B. forsythmajori 相区别,命名为杨胡跑兔 B. yanghuensis sp. nov..新种在进化水平上较属型种稍原始,但两者显示出较近的系统关系.根据 B. yanghuensis sp. nov. 的进化水平,推断其地质时代可能为中中新世早期,约相当于欧洲 Orleanian 期.