TMEM106B is associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration in a clinically diagnosed patient cohort

In a genome-wide association study of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with pathological inclusions of TAR DNA-binding protein, significant association was obtained with three single nucleotide polymorphisms at 7p21.3, in a region encompassing the gene TMEM106B. This study also suggested a potential modifying effect of TMEM106B on disease since the association was strongest in progranulin mutation carriers. Further, the risk effect seemed to correlate with increased TMEM106B expression in patients. In the present study, we sought to replicate these three findings using an independent Flanders–Belgian cohort of primarily clinically diagnosed patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (n = 288). We were able to confirm the association with TMEM106B with a P-value of 0.008 for rs1990622, the top marker from the genome-wide association study [odds ratio 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.61–0.93)]. Further, high-density single nucleotide polymorphism mapping suggested that the association was solely driven by the gene TMEM106B. Homozygous carriers of the TMEM106B protective alleles had a 50% reduced risk of developing frontotemporal lobar degeneration. However, we were unable to detect a modifying effect of the TMEM106B single nucleotide polymorphisms on onset age in progranulin mutation carriers belonging to an extended, clinical and pathological well-documented founder family segregating a progranulin null mutation. Also, we could not observe significant differences in messenger RNA expression between patients and control individuals in lymphoblast cell lines and in brain frontal cortex. In conclusion, we replicated the genetic TMEM106B association in a primarily clinically diagnosed cohort of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration from Flanders–Belgium. Additional studies are needed to unravel the molecular role of TMEM106B in disease onset and pathogenesis.

[The phosphorus supply of swine between 11 and 38 kg. live weight. 2. The phosphorus, calcium and ash deposit in skeletal and soft tissue homogenates during P deprivation and during the use of two different phosphate feedings and different ration conditions]

The influence of phosphorus (P) supply on the content of ash, P and Ca of the skeleton and soft tissue as well on the P deposition in the empty body of pigs (approximately 35 kg live weight) was studied in 3 individual feeding experiments with different diets (P-content 2.97, 2.41 or 3.7 g/kg diet). In each experiment 2 of the 3 groups (7 or 8 animals per group, initial weight approximately 11 kg) were supplemented with the feed grade phosphates "Rükana" or "Cefkaphos". In the experiments the supplemented amount of P as "Rükana" or "Cefkaphos" was 2.50, 2.33 or 0.5 g/kg of the diet. After intake of approximately 65 kg of the diet the animals were slaughtered. Homogenates of bones and soft tissues of the left half of the empty body were analysed for ash, P and Ca. Both of the feed grade phosphates increased these parameters in the skeleton and soft tissues as well the P deposition in the body to the same level. In the middle of the experiments the P deposition per kg live weight gain amounted to 4.6 g ("Rükana") and 4.4 g ("Cefkaphos").

[The performance of weaned piglets after a five week weaning period in relation to the weaning weight, the feed composition and the use of an effective ergotropic]

In a three-factorial experiment with 216 piglets of the same age (33 +/- 4 days) but a different weight (weaning weight from 5.5 to 9 kg) a conventional piglet rearing feed containing 20% crude protein (standard), a high-energy diet and a low-protein diet (16% crude protein) were tested. In three weaning weight classes the three diets were fed without or with Bisergon [2-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-carbamoyl-3-methylquinoxaline-1.4-dioxide] over a period of 21 days. From the 22nd to the 71st day after weaning all the piglets received the standard diet without ergotropic. Among the factors studied the Bisergon supplement had the biggest effect. The additional weight gain varied from 9% in case of heavy piglets fed the high energy diet to 150% in case of light piglets fed the low protein diet. The ergotropic improved feed conversion by 22% and lowered the frequency of gastrointestinal diseases requiring treatment by 28%. At the end of the rearing period the weight of the piglets initially fed with Bisergon (means = 34.6 kg) was significantly higher than that of the control animals (means = 31.6 kg). The weaning weight and the diets influenced the final weight especially in the groups without ergotropic. In this case the piglets fed with the high-energy diet gained 30% more and those fed with the low-protein diet 40% less compared with the standard group. The average live weight gain of the light piglets (weaning weight 6.1 kg) was 30% lower than that of the heavier piglets (weaning weight 8.5 kg). The frequency of treatment against diarrhoea of the heavy piglets was by one third lower than that of the light animals. The piglets fed with the low-protein diet appeared to show a limitation of gastrointestinal diseases, but these animals also had the lowest feed intake. Independent of the Bisergon supplementation the weaning weight clearly influenced the live weight after the 10-week experiment. The initially better development of the animals started with the high-energy diet was compensated. In contrast to this, the piglets weighing 6.1 and 7.2 kg fed with the low-protein diet could not compensate the retarded development in comparison with the piglets fed with the standard or the high-energy diet. This experiment confirms the enormous improvement of the performance and of the health status of weaned piglets caused by the ergotropic Bisergon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)