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This study aimed at identifying genomic regions that affect nine pork quality traits in purebred and crossbred fatteners. A total of 259 fatteners represented by six purebreds/crosses were genotyped for 45556 SNP markers by Illumina Porcine SNP60 BeadChip. The following traits were recorded: glycogen potential (GP), glycogen content (GC), lactate content (LC), pH35, pH24, pH48, drip loss after 48 hours (DL48), colour lightness (L*) and lean meat content (LMC). Multi-Locus Mixed Model methodology was applied to find associations between SNP markers and recorded traits. Several SNPs were found to be significantly associated with some pork quality traits: four SNPs (located on SSC7, SSC10 and SSC14) with GP, three SNPs (SSC10, SSC14) with GC, one SNP (SSC15) with DL48and one SNP with pH48.Genetic variation explained by significant SNPs ranged from 7.6% to 9.1%. Moreover, some genes (e.g. CAPN10, ALDH5A1, PASK, SNITA1 and MYH7B) located in the close vicinity to significant markers are proposed to be candidate genes explaining the genetic background of the traits studied.

Bovine peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLY RP1) is an important receptor that binds to murein peptidoglycans (PGN) of Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria and is, therefore, involved in innate immunity. The SNP T>C rs68268284 located in the 1st exon of the PGLYRP1gene was identified by the PCR-RFLP method in a population of 319 Holstein cows. Somatic cell count (SC) was measured 7–10 times in each of three completed lactations to investigate whether the PGLYRP1polymorphism is associated with SC. Using the GLM model, it was found that cows with the TT genotype showed significantly lower somatic cell counts than those with the CC genotype during the first lactation (P = 0.023). Moreover, during lactations 1–2 and 1–3, cows with the TT genotype reveal significantly lower SCC than CT heterozygotes, at P = 0.025 and P = 0.006, respectively. Computer-aided analysis showed that rs68268284 polymorphism could modify the PGLY RP1 functions because the mutated residue is located in a domain that is important for the binding of other molecules.

Kappa-casein (CSN3) variant B is a widely known marker of milk processing traits. Beta-casein (CSN2) is a source of the opioid-like peptide β-casomorphins-7 (BCM-7), which is yielded by the successive in vitro gastrointestinal proteolytic digestion of the CSN2 A1 variant but not A2. Epidemiological and animal model studies suggest that BCM-7 may be a potential risk factor in the etiology of some human diseases. Because breeding companies and dairy plants have been encouraged to use CSN3 BB bulls for insemination of cows for over 30 yr, it was hypothesized that bulls of CSN3 BB genotype are spreading the undesirable A1 allele of CSN2 in the population of Holstein bulls.

The aim of this study was to predict the genomic breeding value (DGV) of production, selected conformation and reproductive traits, and somatic cell score of dairy cattle in Poland using high-frequency marker haplotypes. The dataset consisted of phenotypic, genotypic, and pedigree data of 1216 Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls. The genotypic data consisted of 54,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The data were divided into two subsets: a test dataset (n= 1064) and a validation dataset (n= 152). Genotypic data were selected using three criteria: the percentage of missing genotypes, minor allele frequency, and linkage disequilibrium. The purpose of the data selection was to identify blocks of SNPs that were then used for the construction of haplotypes. Only haplotypes with a frequency higher than 25% were selected. DGV was predicted using four variants of a linear model with random haplotype effects and deregressed breeding values as the response variables. The accuracy of genomic prediction was checked by comparing DGVs with estimated breeding values (EBVs) using two methods: Pearson’s correlations and the regression of EBV on DGV. The use of high-frequency haplotypes showed a tendency to underestimate DGVs. None of the models tested was clearly superior with regard to the traits studied. DGVs of production and conformation traits as well as somatic cell score (medium or high heritability traits) were more accurate than those estimated for fertility traits (low heritability traits).

AbstractThe footbridge over the Rega, a river in Gryfice (Poland), connects the city centre with the Japanese Garden. The garden constitutes Gryfice’s recreational part and is often frequented by its inhabitants. Traditional Japanese style bridges have been used in the garden. Arch bridges, made of wood or stone, form an integral part of the Japanese garden. The bridges connect different parts of the garden and are a constant source of dynamism of its design. The footbridge leading to the garden was built following a replacement design: a three-span structure with the total span length of 40.5 m. In its style, it refers to already existing Japanese bridges in the garden. The report presents a description of the object, challenges constructors faced during its construction, and the assembly method of the bridge and details of its original timber guard rail that refers to the characteristic Japanese bridges in the Japanese Garden.

Abstract: An increasing number of Holstein calf births exhibiting vertebral deformations has been detected in Denmark since 1999 by a program monitoring the incidence of genetic diseases. Pedigree analysis demonstrated that the affected calves originated from a family afflicted by an autosomally recessively inherited complex vertebral malformation (CVM) syndrome. To determine the actual carrier frequency of the CVM-determining mutation in a population of Polish Holstein-Friesian (=Polish Black-and-White) cattle, we examined 202 proven bulls (active in 2001–2005) used by 4 domestic artificial insemination companies and 403 unproven bulls (under evaluation for breeding value). Out of the 605 bulls examined, 150 T/G heterozygotes were diagnosed, including 118 that were sons of known CVM carriers. Identification of a gene polymorphism in a bovine solute carrier family 35 member 3, termedSLC35A3, was conducted with the use of a new PCR-SSCP method (polymerase chain reaction - single stranded conformation polymorphism), which - due to its ease of use and high reliability - can be applied in widespread screening programs aimed at reducing the incidence of the CVM defect.

Abstract: Proteins in bovine milk are a common source of bioactive peptides. The peptides are released by the digestion of caseins and whey proteins. In vitro the bioactive peptide beta-casomorphin 7 (BCM-7) is yielded by the successive gastrointestinal proteolytic digestion of bovine beta-casein variants A1 and B, but this was not seen in variant A2. In hydrolysed milk with variant A1 of beta-casein, BCM-7 level is 4-fold higher than in A2 milk. Variants A1 and A2 of beta-casein are common among many dairy cattle breeds. A1 is the most frequent in Holstein-Friesian (0.310-0.660), Ayrshire (0.432-0.720) and Red (0.710) cattle. In contrast, a high frequency of A2 is observed in Guernsey (0.880-0.970) and Jersey (0.490-0.721) cattle. BCM-7 may play a role in the aetiology of human diseases. Epidemiological evidence from New Zealand claims that consumption of beta-casein A1 is associated with higher national mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease. It seems that the populations that consume milk containing high levels of beta-casein A2 have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and type 1 diabetes. BCM-7 has also been suggested as a possible cause of sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, neurological disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, seem to be associated with milk consumption and a higher level of BCM-7. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to that protein polymorphism, and deeper research is needed to verify the range and natureof its interactions with the human gastrointestinal tract and whole organism.

Haplotypes of three bovine casein loci were analyzed as a way of determining genetic linkage. A total of 330 individual sperm cells from a triply heterozygous bull were selected by means of a new method involving fixing the sperm cells into low-melting-point agarose gels. The method is simple and very accurate with an efficiency close to 100% for picking sperm cells and producing amplifiable DNA templates, circumventing the complicated statistical analysis mandated by automated cell sorting. The DNA was amplified in a two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to achieve the necessary high specificity of amplification. In the first reaction, primers flanking the polymorphic site at each locus were used. The PCR product from the first reaction was then reamplified in a second PCR using primers that create allele-specific restriction sites (ACRS) in the PCR products for two of the three loci, allowing the alleles to be determined by gel electrophoresis. No recombinants were found among the 330 single sperm cells analyzed, giving a lod score higher than 30 and proving a very strong linkage between bovine casein genes.

A prospective, randomized trial evaluates the effects of two postoperative treatment regimens on survival in 198 adult patients with supratentorial gliomas. All patients were irradiated with 6 000 rads after possibly radical removal of tumors. CCNU administration in the dosis of 100 mg/sq m of body surface every 6–8 weeks following surgery proved to have no significant effect on the survival of patients. The median survival time in patients receiving radiation therapy alone was 61±7 weeks, while in those receiving additional chemotherapy was 56±4 weeks. Tumor histological malignancy and patients age were found to be the only important prognostic factors, irrespective of the treatment modality.

Abstract: The molecular basis of BLAD is the D128G mutation of the gene coding for the CD 18 subunit of beta—2 integrin. This mutation is lethal, since homozygous (BL/BL) animals die before they reach sexual maturity. In the 1990s, BLAD was the most widespread genetic disease in HF cattle worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of BLAD carriers among 4645 young breeding bulls in Poland in 1995–2006. The frequency of carriers of the mutated allele showed a clear decreasing trend. The highest frequency (7.9%) was recorded while implementing the BLAD control program (1995–1997). Regular monitoring has enabled a great reduction of this threat to the tested population. Today only sporadic cases of BL/TL heterozygotes are reported (ca. 0.8% in 2004–2006).

Abstract: Nineteen BAC clones were identified by hybridization of the bovine genomic BAC library CHORI-240 with mixedCSN1S1- andCSN3-specific probes. Two of the clones were shown to contain the genesCSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, STATH andCSN3, and five were proved to include the genesCSN2, STATH, CSN1S2 andCSN3. These data showed that the BAC contig was established for the whole casein cluster, including all known five genes.