Line differences for open-field behavior in chickens have been observed, and it has been shown that this behavior has a genetic component. The aim of this study was to detect quantitative trait loci ...(QTL) involved in open-field behavior. For this purpose, open-field behavior was studied at 5 and 29 weeks of age in F(2) hens coming from an intercross between two commercial White Leghorn laying lines selected for egg production traits. Latencies, durations, and frequencies of general activity (sitting, standing, walking, and stepping), defecation, and vocalizations were recorded individually for each bird, and a factor score was calculated. All animals (F(0), F(1), and F(2)) were screened with 180 microsatellite markers. Regression interval mapping was applied using both a paternal half-sib analysis and a line-cross analysis method. For general activity at 5 weeks of age, a significant QTL was detected on GGA4 and a suggestive QTL on GGA2 under the line-cross model. For general activity at 29 weeks of age, a significant QTL was detected on GGA4 and two suggestive QTLs were detected on GGA1 and on GGA10, respectively, also using the line-cross analysis. The QTL on GGA4 at 5 weeks of age did not overlap with the QTL on GGA4 at 29 weeks of age. The current study indicated that open-field behavior in young chickens was regulated by QTL that differ from the QTL for open-field behavior in adult chickens.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Given the high risk of systemic relapse following initial therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), improved pretreatment staging is needed. We evaluated the incremental value of
...F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) after standard conventional staging, in the largest cohort of MIBC patients to date. This is a retrospective analysis of 711 consecutive patients with invasive urothelial bladder cancer who underwent staging contrast-enhanced CT (chest and abdomen) and FDG-PET/CT in a tertiary referral center between 2011 and 2020. We recorded the clinical stage before and after FDG-PET/CT and treatment recommendation based on the stage before and after FDG-PET/CT. Clinical stage changed after FDG-PET/CT in 184/711 (26%) patients. Consequently, the recommended treatment strategy based on imaging changed in 127/711 (18%) patients. In 65/711 (9.1%) patients, potential curative treatment changed to palliative treatment because of the detection of distant metastases by FDG-PET/CT. Fifty (7.0%) patients were selected for neoadjuvant/induction chemotherapy based on FDG-PET/CT. Moreover, FDG-PET/CT detected lesions suspicious for second primary tumors in 15%; a second primary malignancy was confirmed in 28/711 (3.9%), leading to treatment change in ten (1.4%) patients. Contrarily 57/711 (8.1%) had false positive secondary findings. In conclusion, FDG-PET/CT provides important incremental staging information, which potentially influences clinical management in 18% of MIBC patients, but leads to false positive results as well. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we investigated the impact of
F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scanning on treatment of bladder cancer patients. We found that FDG-PET/CT potentially influences the treatment of almost one-fifth of patients. We therefore suggest performing FDG-PET/CT as part of bladder cancer staging.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To identify putative persistent bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infections in cattle, seven cattle that had experienced BRSV infections were treated with corticosteroids for two periods of ...5 days. During the 5-day periods and the 3 weeks after treatment, attempts were made to isolate BRSV from lung lavage fluid and nasal swab specimens. Fluorescent antibody tests were used to detect BRSV antigen in lung lavage cells. A BRSV specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed, and was performed on lung lavage samples of all seven cattle as well as on various tissues of five of the cattle. In addition, nasal swabs of 74 over-one-year-old cattle, in a closed dairy herd were also assayed by PCR. The virus or its RNA was not detected in putative carriers, by any of the methods used, whereas all positive controls were positive. After corticosteroid treatment, three of the seven cattle showed a four-fold rise in antibody titre, suggesting induction of virus replication. BRSV-seronegative sentinel calves, that were housed together with each corticosteroid-treated animal, did not develop antibodies to BRSV indicating that BRSV was not shed by corticosteroid-treated cattle, or was shed at a very low level. In addition BRSV was not detected in seropositive cattle in a closed farm in summer. Although we consider the rises in antibody titres against BRSV an indication for persistence of BRSV in cattle, BRSV or its RNA was not detected in infected cattle.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Background and objectives: To establish the infectivity of anti‐HCV ELISA‐positive, but cDNA‐PCR‐negative blood components transfused before the introduction of routine anti‐HCV blood donor ...screening, we enrolled recipients of such blood products in a look‐back programme. Materials and methods: The blood components were donated by (A) RIBA™‐2‐indeterminate and cDNA‐PCR‐negative donors, and (B) RIBA‐2 and cDNA‐PCR‐negative donors. The look‐back comprised 214 blood products from group A donors and 278 from group B. Results: Of 211 recipients of group A components, 66 (31.3%) were available for testing. All other recipients could not be traced, had died, or refused collaboration. Of these 66, 3 patients had independent risk factors for HCV infection and were excluded. All remaining 63 recipients were anti‐HCV ELISA‐negative. Of 274 recipients of group B components, 84 (30.7%) were available for testing. All others could not be traced, had died, or refused collaboration. Of these 84, six patients had an independent risk factor for HCV infection and were excluded. All remaining 78 recipients were anti‐HCV ELISA‐negative. None of the recipients of blood products from previous donations of anti‐HCV ELISA‐positive, cDNA‐PCR‐negative, and RIBA‐2‐indeterminate or negative donors were HCV‐infected. Conclusions: Donors and patients with such reactivities in anti‐HCV ELISA, RIBA‐2, and cDNA‐PCR can be assured that they are not infected with HCV. The donors involved can re‐enter the donor pool, provided that future donations are anti‐HCV ELISA‐negative.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Scalable multiplexed amplification technologies are needed for cost‐effective large‐scale genotyping of genetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We present SNPWaveTM, a novel ...SNP genotyping technology to detect various subsets of sequences in a flexible fashion in a fixed detection format. SNPWave is based on highly multiplexed ligation, followed by amplification of up to 20 ligated probes in a single PCR. Depending on the multiplexing level of the ligation reaction, the latter employs selective amplification using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP®) technology. Detection of SNPWave reaction products is based on size separation on a sequencing instrument with multiple fluorescence labels and short run times. The SNPWave technique is illustrated by a 100‐plex genotyping assay for Arabidopsis, a 40‐plex assay for tomato and a 10‐plex assay for Caenorhabditis elegans, detected on the MegaBACE 1000 capillary sequencer.
Background. The variation in tumor cell differentiation within one renal cell carcinoma, also termed tumor heterogeneity, renders visual tumor grading of these carcinomas difficult. Karyometric ...analysis enables description of nuclear characteristics of multiple tumor areas. Hence, karyometric analysis can be used to quantify tumor heterogeneity and thus may aid in a more objective grading of renal cell carcinoma.
Methods. In 121 patients with renal cell carcinoma (tumors in International Union Against Cancer UICC stages I 5 cases, II 23 cases, III 33 cases, and IV 60 cases), clinical and karyometric features were studied to obtain routinely applicable prognostic factors. Several parts of the tumor were analyzed to obtain a measure of tumor heterogeneity. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to determine the predictive value of karyometric features independent of tumor stage and other clinical characteristics.
Results. The Cox univariate regression analysis showed correlation of several clinical and karyometric characteristics with survival. Of the clinical characteristics, TNM stage, tumor size, weight reduction, and performance status were significantly associated with survival. The karyometric features, especially those measurements associated with tumor heterogeneity (e.g. differences in nuclear size or chromatin texture between tumor subpopulations) were of value in predicting prognosis. In the Cox multivariate regression analysis, the Robson and UICC stages proved to be the most powerful predictors of survival (P <0.0001). Of the clinical features, weight reduction and performance score were the only characteristics offering additional information regarding tumor stage (P < 0.0001). From the karyometric analysis quantification of anisokaryosis in the tumor at time of diagnosis offered additional prognostic information. Moreover, the differences of karyometric features within the tumor presumably associated with tumor heterogeneity correlated with survival. Using the features from the multivariate analysis, prognostic groups could be defined.
Conclusion. We conclude that karyometric analysis offers a useful means for quantifying tumor heterogeneity. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed additional value of a grading system based on karyometric analysis to tumor stage. Karyometric analysis can be a useful tool for stratification of patient populations.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK