Cardiac MRI feature-tracking-derived torsion mechanics in systolic and diastolic dysfunction in systemic light-chain cardiac amyloidosis

AIM

To describe the myocardial torsion mechanics in cardiac amyloidosis (CA), and evaluate the correlations between left ventricle (LV) torsion mechanics and conventional parameters using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging feature tracking (CMR-FT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and thirty-nine patients with light-chain CA (AL-CA) were divided into three groups: group 1 with preserved systolic function (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] ≥50%, n=55), group 2 with mildly reduced systolic function (40% ≤ LVEF <50%, n=51), and group 3 with reduced systolic function (LVEF <40%, n=33), and compared with age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=26). All patients underwent cine imaging and late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE). Cine images were analysed offline using CMR-FT to estimate torsion parameters.

RESULTS

Global torsion, base-mid torsion, and peak diastolic torsion rate (diasTR) were significantly impaired in patients with preserved systolic function (p<0.05 for all), whereas mid-apex torsion and peak systolic torsion rate (sysTR) were preserved (p>0.05 for both) compared with healthy controls. In patients with mildly reduced systolic function, global torsion and base-mid torsion were lower compared to those with preserved systolic function (p<0.05 for both), while mid-apex torsion, sysTR, and diasTR were preserved (p>0.05 for all). In patients with reduced systolic function, only sysTR was significantly worse compared with mildly reduced systolic function (p<0.05). At multivariable analysis, right ventricle (RV) end-systolic volume RVESV index and NYHA class were independently related to global torsion, whereas LVEF was independently related to sysTR. RV ejection fraction (RVEF) was independently related to diasTR. LV global torsion performed well (AUC 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61, 0.77) in discriminating transmural from non-transmural LGE in AL-CA patients.

CONCLUSION

LV torsion mechanics derived by CMR-FT could help to monitor LV systolic and diastolic function in AL-CA patients and function as a new imaging marker for LV dysfunction and LGE transmurality.

Genetic parameters for bull effects on in vitro embryo production (IVP) and relationship between semen quality traits and IVP performance

In vitro production of embryos (IVP) is increasingly applied in dairy cattle breeding and promises widespread use of females of superior genetic merits. One of the current challenges with implementation of IVP is the variability in blastocyst rates. Several factors contribute to these variabilities, among which is known to be the bull used for oocytes fertilization. The extent of genetic control of bulls' effect on IVP performances is yet to be investigated. This study estimates genetic parameters for bull effects on IVP performance traits including blastocyst rate, hatching rate and an index trait combining Blastocyst rate, Kinetic Score, and Morphology score (BL_M_K). The IVP experiments were performed using oocytes aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries from Holstein cows, fertilized with semen from 123 Holstein bulls. A total of 77 in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments with 163 records (different IVF groups) were available for the analysis. The results indicate low to moderate heritability and moderate to high repeatability estimates for bull effects on IVP performance traits. Our study also showed that some semen quality traits had significant effects on IVP performance. This included strong genetic correlations between pre-cryopreservation sperm viability and blastocyst rate as well as BL_M_K score at days 7 and 8. Despite the generally weak bull effect correlations and the high standard errors of the estimates, our results provide initial evidence of a measurable genetic component in the bull's impact on IVP performance traits. However, the high standard errors underscore the need for further studies with a larger sample size.

Annexin A5 derived from matrix vesicles protects against osteoporotic bone loss via mineralization

Matrix vesicles (MVs) have shown strong effects in diseases such as vascular ectopic calcification and pathological calcified osteoarthritis and in wound repair of the skeletal system due to their membranous vesicle characteristics and abundant calcium and phosphorus content. However, the role of MVs in the progression of osteoporosis is poorly understood. Here, we report that annexin A5, an important component of the matrix vesicle membrane, plays a vital role in bone matrix homeostasis in the deterioration of osteoporosis. We first identified annexin A5 from adherent MVs but not dissociative MVs of osteoblasts and found that it could be sharply decreased in the bone matrix during the occurrence of osteoporosis based on ovariectomized mice. We then confirmed its potential in mediating the mineralization of the precursor osteoblast lineage via its initial binding with collagen type I to achieve MV adhesion and the subsequent activation of cellular autophagy. Finally, we proved its protective role in resisting bone loss by applying it to osteoporotic mice. Taken together, these data revealed the importance of annexin A5, originating from adherent MVs of osteoblasts, in bone matrix remodeling of osteoporosis and provided a new strategy for the treatment and intervention of bone loss.

AnnexinA6: a potential therapeutic target gene for extracellular matrix mineralization

The mineralization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential and crucial process for physiological bone formation and pathological calcification. The abnormal function of ECM mineralization contributes to the worldwide risk of developing mineralization-related diseases; for instance, vascular calcification is attributed to the hyperfunction of ECM mineralization, while osteoporosis is due to hypofunction. AnnexinA6 (AnxA6), a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, has been extensively reported as an essential target in mineralization-related diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, osteosarcoma, and calcific aortic valve disease. To date, AnxA6, as the largest member of the Annexin family, has attracted much attention due to its significant contribution to matrix vesicles (MVs) production and release, MVs-ECM interaction, cytoplasmic Ca2+ influx, and maturation of hydroxyapatite, making it an essential target in ECM mineralization. In this review, we outlined the recent advancements in the role of AnxA6 in mineralization-related diseases and the potential mechanisms of AnxA6 under normal and mineralization-related pathological conditions. AnxA6 could promote ECM mineralization for bone regeneration in the manner described previously. Therefore, AnxA6 may be a potential osteogenic target for ECM mineralization.

Multibreed genomic prediction using summary statistics and a breed-origin-of-alleles approach

Because of an increasing interest in crossbreeding between dairy breeds in dairy cattle herds, farmers are requesting breeding values for crossbred animals. However, genomically enhanced breeding values are difficult to predict in crossbred populations because the genetic make-up of crossbred individuals is unlikely to follow the same pattern as for purebreds. Furthermore, sharing genotype and phenotype information between breed populations are not always possible, which means that genetic merit (GM) for crossbred animals may be predicted without the information needed from some pure breeds, resulting in low prediction accuracy. This simulation study investigated the consequences of using summary statistics from single-breed genomic predictions for some or all pure breeds in two- and three-breed rotational crosses, rather than their raw data. A genomic prediction model taking into account the breed-origin of alleles (BOA) was considered. Because of a high genomic correlation between the breeds simulated (0.62-0.87), the prediction accuracies using the BOA approach were similar to a joint model, assuming homogeneous SNP effects for these breeds. Having a reference population with summary statistics available from all pure breeds and full phenotype and genotype information from crossbreds yielded almost as high prediction accuracies (0.720-0.768) as having a reference population with full information from all pure breeds and crossbreds (0.753-0.789). Lacking information from the pure breeds yielded much lower prediction accuracies (0.590-0.676). Furthermore, including crossbred animals in a combined reference population also benefitted prediction accuracies in the purebred animals, especially for the smallest breed population.

Age-dependent genetic and environmental variance of semen quality in Nordic Holstein bulls

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and environmental parameters, across bull's age, for semen quality traits including pre- and postcryopreservation semen concentration, sperm motility, and sperm viability as well as ejaculate volume and number of doses per ejaculate. A data set on 96,595 ejaculates from 2,831 Nordic Holstein bulls collected between 2006 and 2019 was used. Genetic and environmental parameters were estimated using a random regression model and applying the average-information REML approach. Spline functions were chosen to fit the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects across bull's age, and the optimal number of knots was chosen using cross validation. Residual variance heterogeneity was assumed in different bull age classes. The estimated repeatabilities of semen quality traits ranged from 0.16 to 0.85 across different ages of bulls. The estimated heritabilities of semen quality traits ranged from 0.02 to 0.56 across different ages of bulls. The results indicate possibilities for genetic improvement of semen quality traits through selective breeding.

Vascular Calcification: New Insights Into BMP Type I Receptor A

Vascular calcification (VC) is a complex ectopic calcification process and an important indicator of increased risk for diabetes, atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and other diseases. Therefore, clarifying the pathogenesis of VC is of great clinical significance. Numerous studies have shown that the onset and progression of VC are similar to bone formation. Members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family of proteins are considered key molecules in the progression of vascular calcification. BMP type I receptor A (BMPR1A) is a key receptor of BMP factors acting on the cell membrane, is widely expressed in various tissues and cells, and is an important “portal” for BMP to enter cells and exert their biological effect. In recent years, many discoveries have been made regarding the occurrence and treatment of ectopic ossification-related diseases involving BMP signaling targets. Studies have confirmed that BMPR1A is involved in osteogenic differentiation and that its high expression in vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells can lead to vascular calcification. This article reviews the role of BMPR1A in vascular calcification and the possible underlying molecular mechanisms to provide clues for the clinical treatment of such diseases.

Fluid shear stress activates YAP to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated by fluid shear stress (FSS) in the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in driving metastasis of the malignant tumor. As a mechanotransducer, Yes-associated protein (YAP) is known to translocate into the nucleus to initiate transcription of genes involved in cell proliferation upon extracellular biophysical stimuli. Here, we showed that FSS facilitated cytoskeleton rearrangement in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which led to the release of YAP from its binding partner, integrin β subunit, in the cytomembrane. Moreover, we found that upregulation of guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)-H1, a microtubule-associated Rho GEF, is a critical step in the FSS-induced translocation of YAP. Nuclear YAP activated the expression of the EMT-regulating transcription factor SNAI1, but suppressed the expression of N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) modulators; together, this promoted the expression of EMT-related genes. We also observed that FSS-treated HepG2 cells showed markedly increased tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Collectively, our findings unravel the underlying molecular processes by which FSS induces translocation of YAP from the cytomembrane to the nucleus, contributes to EMT and enhances metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Autophagy modulates FSS-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly fatal disease and threatens human health seriously. Fluid shear stress (FSS), which is caused by the leakage of plasma from abnormally permeable tumor blood vessels and insufficient lymphatic drainage, has been identified as contributing pathologically to cancer metastasis. Autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are both reported to be involved in cancer cell migration and invasion, but little has been revealed about the interaction between autophagy and EMT under a tumor mechanical microenvironment. Here, we identified that exposure to 1.4 dyne/cm² FSS could promote the formation of autophagosomes and significantly increase the expressions of autophagy-related markers of beclin1 and ATG7, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ in both of HepG2 and QGY-7703 cells. The FSS loading also elevated the levels of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, Vimentin, Twist, Snail, and β-catenin, while the epithelial markers E-cadherin showed a decrease. Once the autophagy was blocked by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or knocking ATG5 down, the occurrence of FSS-induced EMT was inhibited dramatically according to the expression and translocation of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin. Given the effect of EMT on cell migration, we observed that inhibition of autophagy could impede FSS-induced cell migration. Collectively, this study demonstrated that autophagy played a crucial role in FSS-induced EMT and cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Genetic parameters for rectal temperature, respiration rate, and drooling score in Holstein cattle and their relationships with various fertility, production, body conformation, and health traits

Genetic selection for improved climatic resilience is paramount to increase the long-term sustainability of high-producing dairy cattle, especially in face of climate change. Various physiological indicators, such as rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate score (RR), and drooling score (DS), can be used to genetically identify animals with more effective coping mechanisms in response to heat stress events. In this study, we investigated genetic parameters for RT, RR (score from 1-3), and DS (score from 1-3). Furthermore, we assessed the genetic relationship among these indicators and other economically important traits for the dairy cattle industry. After data editing, 59,265 (RT), 30,290 (RR), and 30,421 (DS) records from 13,592 lactating Holstein cows were used for the analyses. Variance components were estimated based on a multiple-trait repeatability animal model. The heritability ± standard error estimate for RT, RR, and DS was 0.06 ± 0.01, 0.04 ± 0.01, and 0.02 ± 0.01, respectively, whereas their repeatability was 0.19, 0.14, and 0.14, respectively. Moderate genetic correlations of RR with RT and DS (0.26 ± 0.11 and 0.25 ± 0.16) and nonsignificant correlation between RT and DS (-0.11 ± 0.14) were observed. Furthermore, the approximate genetic correlations between RT, RR, and DS with 12 production, 29 conformation, 5 fertility and reproduction, 5 health, and 9 longevity-indicator traits were assessed. In general, the approximate genetic correlations calculated were low to moderate. In summary, 3 physiological indicators of heat stress response were measured in a large number of animals and shown to be lowly heritable. There is a value in developing a selection index including all the 3 indicators to improve heat tolerance in dairy cattle. All the unfavorable genetic relationships observed between heat tolerance and other economically important traits can be accounted for in a selection index to enable improved climatic resilience while also maintaining or increasing productivity in Holstein cattle.

Effect of postprandial hyperglycaemia on culprit plaque rupture in diabetic patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome

Background

Postprandial hyperglycemia was reported to play a key role in established risk factors of coronary artery diseases (CAD) and cardiovascular events. Serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) levels are known to be a clinical marker of postprandial hyperglycemia and short-term glycemic excursions. Low serum 1,5-AG levels have been associated with occurrence of CAD; however, the relationship between 1,5-AG levels and coronary plaque rupture has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate 1,5-AG as a predictor of coronary plaque rupture in diabetic patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods

A total of 132 diabetic patients with NSTE-ACS were included in this study. All patients underwent intravascular ultrasound examination, which revealed 38 patients with plaque rupture and 94 patients without plaque rupture in the culprit lesion. Fasting blood glucose (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and 1,5-AG levels were measured before coronary angiography. Fasting urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) level was measured and corrected by creatinine clearance.

Results

Patients with ruptured plaque had significantly lower serum 1,5-AG levels and a tendency of higher hemoglobin A1c levels than patients without ruptured plaque in our study population. In multivariate analysis, low 1,5-AG levels were an independent predictor of plaque rupture (odds ratio 3.3; p=0.006) in diabetic patients with NSTE-ACS, but HbA1c was not. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for 1,5-AG (0.678, p=0.001) to predict plaque rupture was superior to that for HbA1c (0.618, p=0.034). Levels of 1,5-AG were significantly correlated with urinary 8-iso-PGF2α (r=−0.224, p=0.010).

Conclusions

Postprandial hyperglycaemia appeared to be superior to long-term average blood glucose levels in predicting plaque rupture in culprit lesions, which may be useful to assess the cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Outstanding Clinical Discipline Project of Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Health Special Foundation

Identifying competing interest disclosures in systematic reviews of surgical interventions and devices: a cross-sectional survey

Background

A competing interest is an important source of bias in research and disclosure is frequently employed as a strategy to manage it. Considering the importance of systematic reviews (SRs) and the varying prevalence of competing interests in different research fields, we conducted a survey to identify the range of competing interests in SRs assessing surgical interventions or devices and explored the association between the competing interest disclosures and authors’ conclusions.

Methods

We retrieved SRs of surgical interventions and devices published in 2017 via PubMed. Information regarding general characteristics, funding sources, and competing interest disclosures were extracted. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the studies’ characteristics and compared them between Cochrane SRs (CSRs) and non-Cochrane SRs using the Chi-square test. Results were expressed as odds ratio and their 95% confidence interval.

Results

One hundred fifty-five SRs published in 2017 were included in the study. More than half of the SRs (58.7%) reported their funding sources and 94.2% reported authors’ competing interest disclosures. Among 146 SRs that stated competing interest disclosures, only 35 (22.6%) SRs declared at least one author had a competing interest. More than 40 terms were used to describe competing interests. Cochrane SRs (CSRs) were more likely to provide a detailed description of competing interests compared to those in non-CSRs (48.0% versus 25.4%, P = 0.023). No association between positive conclusions and competing interest disclosures was found (P = 0.484, OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.08, 2.16). In the subgroup analyses, SRs stating no competing interest disclosure were more likely to report positive conclusions than those stating at least one type of competing interest, but the difference is not significantly different (P = 0.406, OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 0.64, 2.98).

Conclusion

In surgical SRs, there is a high percentage of competing interest disclosures but without detailed information. The identification and statement of competing interests with a detailed description, particularly the non-financial ones, needs improvement. Some efficient and effective methods/tools for identifying, quantifying, and minimizing potential competing interests in systematic reviews remains valuable.

Integrated omics analysis of sweat reveals an aberrant amino acid metabolism pathway in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an autoimmune disease leading to visual impairment. Its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our purpose was to investigate the distinctive protein and metabolic profiles of sweat in patients with VKH disease. In the present study, proteomics and metabolomics analysis was performed on 60 sweat samples (30 VKH patients and 30 normal controls) using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis was used to validate the results of our omics analysis. In total, we were able to detect 716 proteins and 175 metabolites. Among them, 116 proteins (99 decreased and 17 increased) were observed to be significantly different in VKH patients when compared to controls. Twenty-one differentially expressed metabolites were identified in VKH patients, of which 18 included choline, L-tryptophan, betaine and L-serine were reduced, while the rest were increased. Our multi-omics strategy reveals an important role for the amino acid metabolic pathway in the pathogenesis of VKH disease. Significant differences in proteins and metabolites were identified in the sweat of VKH patients and, to some extent, an aberrant amino acid metabolism pathway may be a pathogenic factor in the pathogenesis of VKH disease.

[Effects of arsenic trioxide on migration, invasion and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells]

The article aims to explore the optimal concentration of arsenic trioxide (As ₂O ₃) on HepG2 of liver cancer cells, and the effect of As ₂O ₃ on the migration, invasion and apoptosis of HepG2 cells. In this study, the activity of HepG2 cells treated with 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 μmol/L As ₂O ₃ was tested by CCK-8 method, the semi-inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated, and the morphological changes of HepG2 cells were observed after the action of As ₂O ₃ at IC50 concentration for 12, 24, 48 h. The effect of As ₂O ₃ on cell migration and invasion ability was verified by wound healing experiment and Transwell invasion experiment. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the effects of As ₂O ₃ on the gene and protein expression levels related to cell migration, invasion and apoptosis. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the activity of HepG2 cells decreased with the increase of the concentration of As ₂O ₃ treatment, showing a dose-dependent effect, and its IC50 was 7.3 μmol/L. After 24 hours' treatment with 8 μmol/L As ₂O ₃, HepG2 cells underwent significant apoptosis, and its migration and invasion abilities were significantly reduced. In addition, the protein expression levels of RhoA, Cdc42, Rac1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were down-regulated, the protein and mRNA expression levels of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 were significantly down-regulated, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of pro-apoptotic genes Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly up-regulated. The above results indicate that certain concentration of As ₂O ₃ can inhibit the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and promote the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Motherwort Injection for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage in Women with Vaginal Delivery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Evidence

BACKGROUND

Motherwort injection, a common traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which has been found to be potential benefit in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to conduct a rigorous systematic review of randomized evidence to offer a comprehensive overview regarding the efficacy and safety of motherwort injection in maternal women with virginal delivery.

METHODS

We included all randomized controlled trials involving pregnant women in vaginal delivery comparing motherwort injection or combination of motherwort injection and oxytocin with oxytocin alone for preventing postpartum hemorrhage. Paired reviewers independently screened citations, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data. Random-effects model by Mantel-Haenszal method was applied to pool the data. Predefined subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the heterogeneity and robustness of results. The GRADE approach was used to rate the quality of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

37 randomized controlled trials involving 7887 participants were included, all of which were at moderate to high risk of bias. Meta-analyses of eight trials showed no significant difference in blood loss and PPH events between oxytocin versus motherwort injection (very low quality). However, pooling of 29 trials suggested a reduced risk of blood loss (within 2 hours: MD -55.06mL, 95% CI -84.06 to -26.06; within 24 hours: MD -85.57 mL, 95% CI -94.26 to -76.88, very low quality), PPH events (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.39, low quality), and adverse events (Peto OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.70, very low quality) in participants treated with motherwort injection and oxytocin versus oxytocin alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence supports the suggestion that the additional use of motherwort injection on oxytocin had a preferable outcome. However, given that the evidence is not definitive with low quality, further careful designed and conducted randomized controlled trials in larger population are warranted to conform the effects.

Genotype by environment interaction for female fertility traits under conventional and organic production systems in Danish Holsteins

Conventional and organic production systems mainly differ in feeding strategies, outdoor and pasture access, and the use of antibiotic treatments. These environmental differences could lead to a genotype by environment interaction (G × E) and a requirement for including G × E in breeding decisions. The objectives of this study were to estimate variance components and heritabilities for conventional and organic production systems and investigate G × E under these 2 production systems for female fertility traits in Danish Holsteins. The analyzed traits included the interval from calving to first insemination (ICF), the interval from first to last insemination, number of inseminations per conception (NINS), and non-return rate within 56 d after the first insemination. Records of female fertility in heifers and the first 3 lactations in cows as well as grass ratio of feed at herd level were collected during the period from 2011 to 2016. The performances of a trait in heifers and cows (lactation 1 to 3) were considered as different traits. The (co)variance components and the resulting heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated using 2 models. One was a bivariate model treating performances of a trait under organic and conventional production systems as 2 different traits using a reduced data set, and the other was a reaction norm model with random regression on the production system and the grass ratio of feed using a full data set. The full data set comprised records of 37,836 females from 112 organic herds and 513,599 females from 1,224 conventional herds, whereas the reduced data set comprised records from all these 112 organic herds and 92,696 females from 185 convention herds extracted from the full data set with grass ratio of feed lower than 0.20. All female fertility performances of the organic production system were superior to those of the conventional production system. Besides, heterogeneities in additive genetic variances and heritabilities were observed between conventional and organic production systems for all traits. Furthermore, genetic correlations between these 2 production systems ranged from 0.607 to 1.000 estimated from bivariate models and from 0.848 to 0.999 estimated from reaction norm models. Statistically significant G × E were observed for NINS in heifers, non-return rate within 56 d after the first insemination in heifers, and ICF from the bivariate model, and for ICF and NINS in cows from the reaction norm model.

Transcriptome analysis of the endometrium from Chinese Erhualian sows that differ in calcium ion concentration and litter size

Embryonic survival rate, an important factor in the fecundity of sows, is affected by endometrium-secreting histotroph. A higher concentration of calcium ion has been observed in the uterus of highly prolific Erhualian sows (EH) compared with those of less prolific (EL) sows. This suggests that EH sows have better establishment and maintenance of pregnancies, thus increasing embryonic survival rate during the peri-implantation period. To understand the mechanisms of how the endometrium-secreting histotroph affects embryonic survival rate during the Erhualian peri-implantation period, the expression patterns of endometrial mRNA in the EH and EL sows on day 12 of gestation were analyzed using RNA sequencing technology. A total of 164 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (P_adj  < 0.05, |log₂ (FC)| ≥ 1), including 46 upregulated and 118 downregulated genes in EH compared to EL. Gene Ontology enrichment indicated that a subset of DEGs was involved in calcium ion binding and cell adhesion. Solute carrier family 8 member A3 and solute carrier family 24 member 4, identified as upregulated genes (P_adj  < 0.05) in EH, were considered key candidate genes expressed in the endometrium affecting embryonic survival rate during the peri-implantation period. The results improve understanding of the genetic mechanism underlying the variation in litter size of Erhualian pigs during the peri-implantation period.

Fluid shear stress induces cell migration and invasion via activating autophagy in HepG2 cells

Fluid shear stress (FSS) regulates the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we aimed to study the role of autophagy in HCC cells under FSS. The results showed that FSS upregulated the protein markers of autophagy, induced LC3B aggregation and formation of autophagosomes. Inhibition of integrin by Cliengitide (Cli) or inhibition of the microfilaments formation both inhibited the activation of autophagy in HepG2 under FSS. In addition, Cli inhibited the microfilaments formation and expressions of Rac1 and RhoA in HepG2 cells under FSS. Finally, inhibition of autophagy suppressed the cell migration and invasion in HepG2 under FSS. In conclusion, FSS induced autophagy to promote migration and invasion of HepG2 cells via integrin/cytoskeleton pathways.

Genetic analysis of skinfold thickness and its association with body condition score and milk production traits in Chinese Holstein population

The skin has many important roles in dairy cattle, and skinfold thickness could be used as an indicator of body fat deposition. The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters of skinfold thickness and to explore its association with body condition score (BCS) and milk production traits in a Chinese Holstein population. Skinfold thicknesses over the neck (STN) and the last rib (STR), BCS, and test-day records of milk production traits were available for 6,416 lactating Holstein cows in the summers of 2015 and 2016 in Beijing, China. Multi-trait animal models were used to estimate variance and covariance components using the DMU software. The average STN was 7.15 ± 1.28 mm, and the average STR was 11.76 ± 1.95 mm (mean ± standard deviation). Estimated heritability was 0.13 ± 0.03 for STN and 0.26 ± 0.04 for STR. We detected a high genetic correlation (0.79 ± 0.08; heritability ± standard error) between STN and STR. Genetic correlations between skinfold thickness and BCS were low to moderate: 0.18 between STR and BCS, and 0.33 between STN and BCS. Genetic correlations between skinfold thickness and milk yield, milk fat percentage, and milk protein percentage were negligible, ranging from -0.02 to 0.15. Collectively, skinfold thickness is characterized as a trait with moderate heritability. Skinfold thickness is sensitive to changes in body condition or fat deposition across parities and lactation stages in milking cows, and we confirmed the complementary nature of skinfold thickness and BCS genetically as well as phenotypically by comparing their changing trends throughout lactation and across lactations. The use of skinfold thickness, together with BCS, can assist in the monitoring of changes in body fat deposition to achieve higher management precision.

Quality of reporting in randomized controlled trials of therapeutic cardiovascular medical devices

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic medical devices play an important role in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The reliability of the randomized controlled trial, which is the best design for assessing treatment effects, largely depends on the information found in published reports. Limited information regarding the quality of reporting about therapeutic medical devices in trials was provided.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials that tested the effects of therapeutic cardiovascular medical devices. The quality of reporting was assessed against a modified Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist, including 47 items from the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials extension. We also examined the specific items regarding medical devices. Univariable and multivariable linear regressions were undertaken to explore potential factors associated with Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials scores.

RESULT

Some 115 randomized controlled trials were identified. The mean (standard deviation) Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials score was 20.5 (5.0). The extent of compliance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials reporting guideline differed substantially across items: 5 of the 47 items were reported adequately across trials (more than 90%), and 10 were reported adequately in less than 5% of trials. Less than 50% of the trials reported additional items related to the medical device. Multivariable regression analysis showed that trials published in general journals (coefficient 7.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.50-9.38), with larger sample sizes (coefficient 2.30, 95% CI: 0.76-3.83), and multiple-center studies (coefficient 3.14, 95% CI: 1.27-5.01) were associated with a higher quality of reporting.

CONCLUSION

The overall reporting quality in randomized controlled trials of therapeutic medical device trials is suboptimal, particularly in terms of items regarding surgeons and hospitals. We suggest that the existing Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials and extension should be modified to be more applicable to therapeutic medical devices.

Fluid Shear Stress Promotes Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The autophagy in cancer cells is recognized as an essential hallmark of tumors, which can enhance cancer cell migration and invasion, and result in high incidence of tumor metastasis. The fluid shear stress (FSS) in tumor mechanical microenvironment plays a pivotal role in mediating the behaviors and functions of cells. In this study, the hepatocellular carcinoma cells were exposed to 1.4 dyn/cm² FSS to explore whether FSS could induce autophagy. The results of TEM, Ad-mCherry-GFP labeled LC3B, and mRNA and protein expression of autophagy markers confirmed that FSS could induce autophagy in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, the inhibition of autophagy significantly downregulated the expression of PI3K, FAK and Rho GTPases, and attenuated the ability of cell migration, suggesting that FSS-induced autophagy depended on PI3K- FAK-Rho GTPases pathway. This study elucidated the role of FSS in inducing autophagy during tumor progression, which has emerged as a promising clinical strategy for cancer.

Short communication: Improving the accuracy of genomic prediction of body conformation traits in Chinese Holsteins using markers derived from high-density marker panels

This study investigated the efficiency of genomic prediction with adding the markers identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a data set of imputed high-density (HD) markers from 54K markers in Chinese Holsteins. Among 3,056 Chinese Holsteins with imputed HD data, 2,401 individuals born before October 1, 2009, were used for GWAS and a reference population for genomic prediction, and the 220 younger cows were used as a validation population. In total, 1,403, 1,536, and 1,383 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; false discovery rate at 0.05) associated with conformation final score, mammary system, and feet and legs were identified, respectively. About 2 to 3% genetic variance of 3 traits was explained by these significant SNP. Only a very small proportion of significant SNP identified by GWAS was included in the 54K marker panel. Three new marker sets (54K+) were herein produced by adding significant SNP obtained by linear mixed model for each trait into the 54K marker panel. Genomic breeding values were predicted using a Bayesian variable selection (BVS) model. The accuracies of genomic breeding value by BVS based on the 54K+ data were 2.0 to 5.2% higher than those based on the 54K data. The imputed HD markers yielded 1.4% higher accuracy on average (BVS) than the 54K data. Both the 54K+ and HD data generated lower bias of genomic prediction, and the 54K+ data yielded the lowest bias in all situations. Our results show that the imputed HD data were not very useful for improving the accuracy of genomic prediction and that adding the significant markers derived from the imputed HD marker panel could improve the accuracy of genomic prediction and decrease the bias of genomic prediction.

A cyclic voltammetry and PM6 semi-empirical molecular orbital method study of the capacity behaviour of an aluminum-8-hydroxyquinoline complex modified carbon paste electrode

A graphite powder surface was modified by aluminum-8-hydroxyquinoline complex, and functionalised as an electron storage and transfer surface for use as one of the electrodes in an electrochemical capacitor.

Establishment of a blue light damage model of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro

To establish a blue-light damage model of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Fourth-generation human RPE cells were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, cells were exposed to blue light (2000 ± 500 lux) for 0 (control), 3, 6, 9, and 12 h, and cell culture was stopped after 12 h. In group B, cells were exposed to blue light at the same intensity and time periods, but cell culture was stopped after 24 h. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to determine the most suitable illuminating time with apoptotic index. Flow cytometry was used to determine apoptotic ratio of RPEs. In group A, the apoptotic index of cells that received 6, 9 and 12 h of blue light was higher than that of control. The apoptotic index of cells receiving 9 and 12 h was higher than that of 6 h (P = 0.000). In group B, the apoptotic index and RPE cell apoptosis ratio of cells exposed to 6, 9 and 12 h of blue light were higher than that of 3 h (P = 0.000); and cells receiving 9 and 12 h had higher values than that of 6 h. This study demonstrated that the best conditions to establish a blue light damage model of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro are 2000 ± 500 lux light intensity for 6 h, with 24 h of cell culture post-exposure.

Short communication: Improving accuracy of predicting breeding values in Brazilian Holstein population by adding data from Nordic and French Holstein populations

The present study investigated the improvement of prediction reliabilities for 3 production traits in Brazilian Holsteins that had no genotype information by adding information from Nordic and French Holstein bulls that had genotypes. The estimated across-country genetic correlations (ranging from 0.604 to 0.726) indicated that an important genotype by environment interaction exists between Brazilian and Nordic (or Nordic and French) populations. Prediction reliabilities for Brazilian genotyped bulls were greatly increased by including data of Nordic and French bulls, and a 2-trait single-step genomic BLUP performed much better than the corresponding pedigree-based BLUP. However, only a minor improvement in prediction reliabilities was observed in nongenotyped Brazilian cows. The results indicate that although there is a large genotype by environment interaction, inclusion of a foreign reference population can improve accuracy of genetic evaluation for the Brazilian Holstein population. However, a Brazilian reference population is necessary to obtain a more accurate genomic evaluation.

Including different groups of genotyped females for genomic prediction in a Nordic Jersey population

Including genotyped females in a reference population (RP) is an obvious way to increase the RP in genomic selection, especially for dairy breeds of limited population size. However, the incorporation of these females must be conducted cautiously because of the potential preferential treatment of the genotyped cows and lower reliabilities of phenotypes compared with the proven pseudo-phenotypes of bulls. Breeding organizations in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden have implemented a female-genotyping project with the possibility of genotyping entire herds using the low-density (LD) chip. In the present study, 5 scenarios for building an RP were investigated in the Nordic Jersey population: (1) bulls only, (2) bulls with females from the LD project, (3) bulls with females from the LD project plus non-LD project females genotyped before their first calving, (4) bulls with females from the LD project plus non-LD project females genotyped after their first calving, and (5) bulls with all genotyped females. The genomically enhanced breeding value (GEBV) was predicted for 8 traits in the Nordic total merit index through a genomic BLUP model using deregressed proof (DRP) as the response variable in all scenarios. In addition, (daughter) yield deviation and raw phenotypic data were studied as response variables for comparison with the DRP, using stature as a model trait. The validation population was formed using a cut-off birth year of 2005 based on the genotyped Nordic Jersey bulls with DRP. The average increment in reliability of the GEBV across the 8 traits investigated was 1.9 to 4.5 percentage points compared with using only bulls in the RP (scenario 1). The addition of all the genotyped females to the RP resulted in the highest gain in reliability (scenario 5), followed by scenario 3, scenario 2, and scenario 4. All scenarios led to inflated GEBV because the regression coefficients are less than 1. However, scenario 2 and scenario 3 led to less bias of genomic predictions than scenario 5, with regression coefficients showing less deviation from scenario 1. For the study on stature, the daughter yield deviation/daughter yield deviation performed slightly better than the DRP as the response variable in the genomic BLUP (GBLUP) model. Therefore, adding unselected females in the RP could significantly improve the reliabilities and tended to reduce the prediction bias compared with adding selectively genotyped females. Although the DRP has performed robustly so far, the use of raw data is recommended with a single-step model as an optimal solution for future genomic evaluations.

The dissemination mode of drug-resistant genes in Enterobacter cloacae

BACKGROUND

Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae) infection has the highest mortality rate among Enterobacter infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the transmission route of the class I integron, qnr genes, and CTX-M ESBLs genes in clinical isolates and to analyse the association between the prevalence of MDR genes and the antibiotic resistance of E. cloacae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antibiotic susceptibility was tested the agar dilution method. The class I integron, qnr genes, and CTX-M ESBLs genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence data were analysed with the Chi-square test.

RESULTS

In the 100 clinical isolates, the class I integron-positive rate was 65%, with 12% on chromosome, 15% on plasmids and 38% on both. The positive rate of qnr genes was 37% with plasmid location. The positive rates for qnrA, qnrB and qnrS were 6%, 23% and 8%, respectively. The CTX-M ESBLs-positive rate was 34%. For CTX-M-1 ESBLs, 15% were on chromosome, 6% on plasmids and 4% on both; for CTX-M-9 ESBLs, 1% was on chromosome and 7% on plasmid; for CTX-M-25 ESBLs, 3% were on chromosome and 1% on plasmid.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic resistance genes may be horizontally and vertically disseminated among E. cloacae, which helps multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of E. cloacae to be successful nosocomial agents.

Impact of relationships between test and training animals and among training animals on reliability of genomic prediction

One of the factors affecting the reliability of genomic prediction is the relationship among the animals of interest. This study investigated the reliability of genomic prediction in various scenarios with regard to the relationship between test and training animals, and among animals within the training data set. Different training data sets were generated from EuroGenomics data and a group of Nordic Holstein bulls (born in 2005 and afterwards) as a common test data set. Genomic breeding values were predicted using a genomic best linear unbiased prediction model and a Bayesian mixture model. The results showed that a closer relationship between test and training animals led to a higher reliability of genomic predictions for the test animals, while a closer relationship among training animals resulted in a lower reliability. In addition, the Bayesian mixture model in general led to a slightly higher reliability of genomic prediction, especially for the scenario of distant relationships between training and test animals. Therefore, to prevent a decrease in reliability, constant updates of the training population with animals from more recent generations are required. Moreover, a training population consisting of less-related animals is favourable for reliability of genomic prediction.

Quantitative trait loci markers derived from whole genome sequence data increases the reliability of genomic prediction

This study investigated the effect on the reliability of genomic prediction when a small number of significant variants from single marker analysis based on whole genome sequence data were added to the regular 54k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data. The extra markers were selected with the aim of augmenting the custom low-density Illumina BovineLD SNP chip (San Diego, CA) used in the Nordic countries. The single-marker analysis was done breed-wise on all 16 index traits included in the breeding goals for Nordic Holstein, Danish Jersey, and Nordic Red cattle plus the total merit index itself. Depending on the trait's economic weight, 15, 10, or 5 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were selected per trait per breed and 3 to 5 markers were selected to tag each QTL. After removing duplicate markers (same marker selected for more than one trait or breed) and filtering for high pairwise linkage disequilibrium and assaying performance on the array, a total of 1,623 QTL markers were selected for inclusion on the custom chip. Genomic prediction analyses were performed for Nordic and French Holstein and Nordic Red animals using either a genomic BLUP or a Bayesian variable selection model. When using the genomic BLUP model including the QTL markers in the analysis, reliability was increased by up to 4 percentage points for production traits in Nordic Holstein animals, up to 3 percentage points for Nordic Reds, and up to 5 percentage points for French Holstein. Smaller gains of up to 1 percentage point was observed for mastitis, but only a 0.5 percentage point increase was seen for fertility. When using a Bayesian model accuracies were generally higher with only 54k data compared with the genomic BLUP approach, but increases in reliability were relatively smaller when QTL markers were included. Results from this study indicate that the reliability of genomic prediction can be increased by including markers significant in genome-wide association studies on whole genome sequence data alongside the 54k SNP set.

Monitoring of atherosclerosis evolution by detection of inflammatory states of aortae in a rabbit model using 18F-FDG -PET/CT

AIM

In vivo dynamic evaluation of atherosclerosis could be clinically significant in the prevention of cardiovascular events. We aimed to monitor Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake in different stages of atherosclerosis, and investigate the feasibility of detecting vulnerable plaques using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) angiography.

METHODS

Twenty-two male NZW rabbits were divided into two groups: atherosclerosis group (group A, N.=11) and atherosclerosis and statin group (group S, N.=11). The rabbits underwent two pharmacological triggerings to induce thrombus at the 18th week. In vivo PET/CT scans were performed on four time points: before cholesterol diet (baseline, N.=6), at 8th week (the middle-of-feeding, N.=4), at 18th week (the end-of-feeding, N.=22) and after triggering (post-triggering, N.=15). 18F-FDG uptake by the aorta was expressed as maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and mean SUV (SUVmean). SUVs were measured on serial 7.5 mm arterial segments.

RESULTS

SUVmean and SUVmax were 0.449±0.108 and 0.550±0.132 at baseline, 0.694±0.117 and 0.754±0.129 at the middle-of-feeding, 0.788±0.121 and 0.861±0.139 in group A, and 0.651±0.194 and 0.736±0.243 in group S at the end-of feeding before triggering. SUVmean and SUVmax were 1.128±0.420 and 1.302±0.489 in thrombosis group, 0.774±0.159 and 0.859±0.191 in non-thrombosis group after triggering. Thrombus were identified in 10 of 22 rabbits (45.5%): 8 of 11 (72.3%) in group A, and 2 of 11 (18.2%) in group S (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The inflammatory states of atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque can be detected by quantitative analysis of 18F-FDG uptake. PET/CT may be used for predicting thrombosis events in patients with atherosclerotic disease.

Increasing imputation and prediction accuracy for Chinese Holsteins using joint Chinese-Nordic reference population

This study investigated the effect of including Nordic Holsteins in the reference population on the imputation accuracy and prediction accuracy for Chinese Holsteins. The data used in this study include 85 Chinese Holstein bulls genotyped with both 54K chip and 777K (HD) chip, 2862 Chinese cows genotyped with 54K chip, 510 Nordic Holstein bulls genotyped with HD chip, and 4398 Nordic Holstein bulls genotyped with 54K chip and with deregressed proofs for five milk production traits. Based on these data, the accuracy of imputation from 54K to HD marker data and the accuracy of genomic predictions in Chinese Holstein were assessed. The allele correct rate increased around 2.7 and 1.7% in imputation from the 54K to the HD marker data for Chinese Holstein bulls and cows, respectively, when the Nordic HD-genotyped bulls were included in the reference data for imputation. However, the prediction accuracy was improved slightly when using the marker data imputed based on the combined HD reference data, compared with using the marker data imputed based on the Chinese HD reference data only. On the other hand, when using the combined reference population including 4398 Nordic Holstein bulls, the accuracy of genomic predictions increased 6.5 percentage points together with a reduction of prediction bias. The HD markers did not outperform the 54K markers in genomic prediction based on the present data. The results indicate that for Chinese Holsteins, it is necessary to genotype more individuals with 54K chip to increase reference population rather than increasing marker density.

Short communication: Heterosis by environment and genotype by environment interactions for protein yield in Danish Jerseys

Crossing of lines or strains within and between breeds has been demonstrated to be beneficial for dairy cattle performance. However, even within breed, differences between strains may also give rise to heterosis. A key question is whether an interaction exists between heterosis and environment (H × E) that is independent of genotype by environment (G × E) interactions. In this study, H × E and G × E interactions were estimated in a population of approximately 300,000 Danish Jersey cows. The cows were a mixture of pure Danish Jerseys and crosses of US and Danish Jerseys. The phenotype studied was protein yield. A reaction norm model where the unknown environmental covariates are inferred simultaneously with the other parameters in the model was used to analyze the data. When H × E, but not G × E, was included in the model, heterosis was estimated to be 3.8% for the intermediate environmental level. However, when both H × E and G × E were included in the model, heterosis was estimated to be 4.1% for the intermediate environmental level. Furthermore, when only H × E was included in the model, the regression on the unknown environmental covariate was estimated to be 0.15, interpreted as meaning that an increase of average herd-year protein yield by 1 kg of protein led to an increase in heterosis of 0.15 kg above the average heterosis for a first-cross cow. When both H × E and G × E were included in the model, the regression on the unknown environmental covariate was not significantly different from zero, meaning that heterosis was similar in all environments investigated. The genetic correlation of protein yields for different environmental levels ranged from 0.72 to 0.93, which was significantly different from unity, indicating that G × E exist for protein yield.

Determination of visual prognosis in children with open globe injuries

AIMS

To determine the predictive factors of visual outcomes in children with open globe injury and to give guidance to reduce the incidence of open globe injury.

METHODS

One hundred and forty eyes of 137 consecutive open globe injury patients, who were treated at the Eye Center of Second Bethune Hospital affiliated with Jilin University between August 2005 and August 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. Data recorded included demographic characteristics, causes of injury, location and extent of injury, presenting visual acuity, detailed ocular anterior and posterior segment evaluations, details of primary and subsequent surgeries, and postoperative complications and outcomes. The follow-up data included the most recent best-corrected visual acuity, complications, and the duration of follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 137 patients, there were 116 (84.7%) boys and 21 (15.3%) girls. Their ages ranged between 3 and 17 years old (mean=11.57±4.19 years old). Sixty (43.8%) children had a right eye injury, whereas 74 (54.0%) had a left eye injury. Only three (2.2%) children suffered bilateral eye injury. Living utensils, industrial tools, and fireworks contributed to the most common causes of open globe injury. Eighty-one (59.1%) had sharp force injuries, 23 (16.8%) had blunt injuries, and 33 (24.1%) had missile injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Unfavorable visual outcomes were related to a younger age at presentation, poor presenting visual acuity, injuries caused by blunt or missile objects, posterior wound location, hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage, and surgical intervention of pars plana vitrectomy.

Genomic predictions based on a joint reference population for the Nordic Red cattle breeds

The main aim of this study was to compare accuracies of imputation and genomic predictions based on single and joint reference populations for Norwegian Red (NRF) and a composite breed (DFS) consisting of Danish Red, Finnish Ayrshire, and Swedish Red. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for NRF consisted of 2 data sets: one including 25,000 markers (NRF25K) and the other including 50,000 markers (NRF50K). The NRF25K data set had 2,572 bulls, and the NRF50K data set had 1,128 bulls. Four hundred forty-two bulls were genotyped in both data sets (double-genotyped bulls). The DFS data set (DSF50K) included 50,000 markers of 13,472 individuals, of which around 4,700 were progeny-tested bulls. The NRF25K data set was imputed to 50,000 density using the software Beagle. The average error rate for the imputation of NRF25K decreased slightly from 0.023 to 0.021, and the correlation between observed and imputed genotypes changed from 0.935 to 0.936 when comparing the NRF50K reference and the NRF50K-DFS50K joint reference imputations. A genomic BLUP (GBLUP) model and a Bayesian 4-component mixture model were used to predict genomic breeding values for the NRF and DFS bulls based on the single and joint NRF and DFS reference populations. In the multiple population predictions, accuracies of genomic breeding values increased for the 3 production traits (milk, fat, and protein yields) for both NRF and DFS. Accuracies increased by 6 and 1.3 percentage points, on average, for the NRF and DFS bulls, respectively, using the GBLUP model, and by 9.3 and 1.3 percentage points, on average, using the Bayesian 4-component mixture model. However, accuracies for health or reproduction traits did not increase from the multiple population predictions. Among the 3 DFS populations, Swedish Red gained most in accuracies from the multiple population predictions, presumably because Swedish Red has a closer genetic relationship with NRF than Danish Red and Finnish Ayrshire. The Bayesian 4-component mixture model performed better than the GBLUP model for most production traits for both NRF and DFS, whereas no advantage was found for health or reproduction traits. In general, combining NRF and DFS reference populations was useful in genomic predictions for both the NRF and DFS bulls.