bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demographic and clinical correlates of sexual dysfunction among Nigerian male outpatients on conventional antipsychotic medications
Authors: Oyekanmi Aina Kikelomo , Adelufosi Adegoke Oloruntoba , Abayomi Olukayode , Adebowale Timothy Olaolu
Published: June 2012

Background

In psychotic disorders, early intervention with antipsychotic medications increases the likelihood of favourable long-term course. However, the pharmacologic management especially with conventional antipsychotic medications is complicated by a high rate of adverse effects including sexual dysfunction. This study aims to determine the demographic and clinical factors associated with sexual dysfunction among male psychiatric outpatients on conventional antipsychotic medications in South-western Nigeria.

Methods

Two hundred and seventy five consecutive male outpatients with psychotic disorders on conventional antipsychotic medications were interviewed. Data was collected on demographic characteristics, illness-related and medication-related variables. Illness severity was assessed with the Brief psychiatric rating scale. The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire was used to assess for sexual dysfunctions.

Results

A total of 111 (40.4%) respondents had one or more forms of sexual dysfunction. Sexual desire dysfunction was present in 47 (17.1%) of respondents, erectile dysfunction in 95 (34.5%), orgasmic dysfunctions in 51 (18.5%), intercourse dissatisfaction in 72 (26.2%) and overall dissatisfaction in 64 (23.3%). Sexual dysfunction was significantly associated with employment status, age, marital status, haloperidol use, medication dosage, and presence of psychopathology. Unemployment was the only significant independent correlate of sexual dysfunction, with unemployed respondents twice more likely to have sexual dysfunction compared with those employed (Wald = 3.865, Odds Ratio = 2.033, 95% confidence interval = 1.002 - 4.124, p = 0.049).

Conclusions

The high prevalence of sexual dysfunction found in this study suggests a need among clinicians for increased awareness and recognition of the sexual side effects in patients taking conventional antipsychotic medications. This knowledge should guide conventional antipsychotic medication prescription in the at-risk population to improve treatment adherence.
Natural infection of Didelphis aurita (Mammalia: Marsupialia) with Leishmania infantum in Brazil
Authors: Carreira João Carlos Araujo , da Silva Alba Valéria Machado , de Pita Pereira Daniela , Brazil Reginaldo Peçanha
Published: June 2012

Background

The opossum Didelphis have been considered as natural hosts of Leishmania parasites in the New World, suggesting an important role in the epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Among six extant species that belong to the genus Didelphis, only two (D. marsupialis and D. albiventris), have been mentioned as natural hosts of Leishmania infantum in Brazil and Colombia. In the present paper, it is reported for the first time, the observation of intracellular parasites (amastigotes) in tissues of Didelphis aurita naturally infected with Leishmania infantum in Brazil. We also discuss some aspects associated to the relationship between L. infantum and the geographical distribution of some species of the genus Didelphis.

Methods

The opossums studied were caught by wire traps (Tomahawk) in Barra de Guaratiba, a peri-urban area in Rio de Janeiro. The opossums were killed with an overdose of Thiopental sodium.At necropsy, macroscopic alterations were examined and samples from liver, spleen, lymph nodes, ear, abdominal skin, scent glands and bone marrow were collected for parasitological and molecular diagnoses.

Results

Forty-eight opossums were captured in an AVL endemic region, 30 being caught in a mangrove area and eighteen animals in a forest area near to some residential-yards. Among the thirty opossums trapped in the mangrove area, all of them were negative by both imprint and sera samples assayed on Dipstick Tests, that is a test based on a combination of protein-A colloidal gold conjugate and rk39 Leishmania antigen to detect anti-Leishmania antibody in serum or plasma. At the macroscopic examination one out of eighteen opossums, caught close to the forest, presented alterations compatible with spleen hypertrophy and three were positive by Dipstick Tests (16.6%) and presented amastigotes in the spleen and in one of them, the parasites were also observed in a submandibular lymph node. Leishmania infantum infections were confirmed through dot blot hybridization using a L. infantum-specific biotinylated probe.

Conclusions

In the present paper we present the first report of amastigotes in the tissues of Didelphis aurita (Mammalia: Marsupialia) naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. We also attempt to claim the particular role of some opossum species as hosts of Leishmania infantum, contributing at least in part on the description of potential sylvatic reservoirs.
Host feeding patterns and preference of Anopheles minimus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a malaria endemic area of western Thailand: baseline site description
Authors: Tisgratog Rungarun , Tananchai Chatchai , Juntarajumnong Waraporn , Tuntakom Siripun , Bangs Michael J , Corbel Vincent , Chareonviriyaphap Theeraphap
Published: June 2012

Background

Host feeding patterns of Anopheles minimus in relation to ambient environmental conditions were observed during a 2-year period at Tum Sua Village, located in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, in western Thailand, where An. minimus is found in abundance and regarded as the most predominant malaria vector species. Detailed information on mosquito behavior is important for understanding the epidemiology of disease transmission and developing more effective and efficient vector control methods.

Methods

Adult mosquitoes were collected every 2 months for two consecutive nights from 1800 to 0600 hrs. Three collection methods were used; indoor human-landing collections (HLC), outdoor HLC, and outdoor cattle-bait collections (CBC).

Results

A total of 7,663 female Anopheles mosquitoes were collected of which 5,392 were identified as members of 3 different species complexes, the most prevalent being Anopheles minimus complex (50.36%), followed by Anopheles maculatus complex (19.68%) and Anopheles dirus complex (0.33%). An. minimus s.s. comprised virtually all (> 99.8 percent) of Minimus Complex species captured. Blood feeding behavior of An. minimus was more pronounced during the second half of the evening, showing a slight preference to blood feed outdoors (~60%) versus inside structures. Significantly (P < 0.0001) more An. minimus were collected from human-baited methods compared with a tethered cow, indicating a more anthropophilic feeding behavior. Although a significant difference in total number of mosquitoes from the HLC was recorded between the first and second year, the mean biting frequency over the course of the evening hours remained similar.

Conclusions

The Human landing activity of An. minimus in Tum Sua Village showed a stronger preference/attraction for humans compared to a cow-baited collection method. This study supports the incrimination of An. minimus as the primary malaria vector in the area. A better understanding of mosquito behavior related to host preference, and the temporal and spatial blood feeding activity will help facilitate the design of vector control strategies and effectiveness of vector control management programs in Thailand.
Abnormal social reward processing in autism as indexed by pupillary responses to happy faces
Authors: Sepeta Leigh , Tsuchiya Naotsugu , Davies Mari S , Sigman Marian , Bookheimer Susan Y , Dapretto Mirella
Published: June 2012

Background

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) typically show impaired eye contact during social interactions. From a young age, they look less at faces than typically developing (TD) children and tend to avoid direct gaze. However, the reason for this behavior remains controversial; ASD children might avoid eye contact because they perceive the eyes as aversive or because they do not find social engagement through mutual gaze rewarding.

Methods

We monitored pupillary diameter as a measure of autonomic response in children with ASD (n = 20, mean age = 12.4) and TD controls (n = 18, mean age = 13.7) while they looked at faces displaying different emotions. Each face displayed happy, fearful, angry or neutral emotions with the gaze either directed to or averted from the subjects.

Results

Overall, children with ASD and TD controls showed similar pupillary responses; however, they differed significantly in their sensitivity to gaze direction for happy faces. Specifically, pupillary diameter increased among TD children when viewing happy faces with direct gaze as compared to those with averted gaze, whereas children with ASD did not show such sensitivity to gaze direction. We found no group differences in fixation that could explain the differential pupillary responses. There was no effect of gaze direction on pupil diameter for negative affect or neutral faces among either the TD or ASD group.

Conclusions

We interpret the increased pupillary diameter to happy faces with direct gaze in TD children to reflect the intrinsic reward value of a smiling face looking directly at an individual. The lack of this effect in children with ASD is consistent with the hypothesis that individuals with ASD may have reduced sensitivity to the reward value of social stimuli.
Premature expression of a muscle fibrosis axis in chronic HIV infection
Authors: Kusko Rebecca L , Banerjee Camellia , Long Kimberly K , Darcy Ariana , Otis Jeffrey , Sebastiani Paola , Melov Simon , Tarnopolsky Mark , Bhasin Shalender , Montano Monty
Published: June 2012

Background

Despite the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV infected individuals remain at increased risk for frailty and declines in physical function that are more often observed in older uninfected individuals. This may reflect premature or accelerated muscle aging.

Methods

Skeletal muscle gene expression profiles were evaluated in three uninfected independent microarray datasets including young (19 to 29 years old), middle aged (40 to 45 years old) and older (65 to 85 years old) subjects, and a muscle dataset from HIV infected subjects (36 to 51 years old). Using Bayesian analysis, a ten gene muscle aging signature was identified that distinguished young from old uninfected muscle and included the senescence and cell cycle arrest gene p21/Cip1 (CDKN1A). This ten gene signature was then evaluated in muscle specimens from a cohort of middle aged (30 to 55 years old) HIV infected individuals. Expression of p21/Cip1 and related pathways were validated and further analyzed in a rodent model for HIV infection.

Results

We identify and replicate the expression of a set of muscle aging genes that were prematurely expressed in HIV infected, but not uninfected, middle aged subjects. We validated select genes in a rodent model of chronic HIV infection. Because the signature included p21/Cip1, a cell cycle arrest gene previously associated with muscle aging and fibrosis, we explored pathways related to senescence and fibrosis. In addition to p21/Cip1, we observed HIV associated upregulation of the senescence factor p16INK4a (CDKN2A) and fibrosis associated TGFβ1, CTGF, COL1A1 and COL1A2. Fibrosis in muscle tissue was quantified based on collagen deposition and confirmed to be elevated in association with infection status. Fiber type composition was also measured and displayed a significant increase in slow twitch fibers associated with infection.

Conclusions

The expression of genes associated with a muscle aging signature is prematurely upregulated in HIV infection, with a prominent role for fibrotic pathways. Based on these data, therapeutic interventions that promote muscle function and attenuate pro-fibrotic gene expression should be considered in future studies.
Molecular dynamics and mutational analysis of the catalytic and translocation cycle of RNA polymerase
Authors: Kireeva Maria L , Opron Kristopher , Seibold Steve A , Domecq Céline , Cukier Robert I , Coulombe Benoit , Kashlev Mikhail , Burton Zachary F
Published: June 2012

Background

During elongation, multi-subunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) cycle between phosphodiester bond formation and nucleic acid translocation. In the conformation associated with catalysis, the mobile “trigger loop” of the catalytic subunit closes on the nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) substrate. Closing of the trigger loop is expected to exclude water from the active site, and dehydration may contribute to catalysis and fidelity. In the absence of a NTP substrate in the active site, the trigger loop opens, which may enable translocation. Another notable structural element of the RNAP catalytic center is the “bridge helix” that separates the active site from downstream DNA. The bridge helix may participate in translocation by bending against the RNA/DNA hybrid to induce RNAP forward movement and to vacate the active site for the next NTP loading. The transition between catalytic and translocation conformations of RNAP is not evident from static crystallographic snapshots in which macromolecular motions may be restrained by crystal packing.

Results

All atom molecular dynamics simulations of Thermus thermophilus (Tt) RNAP reveal flexible hinges, located within the two helices at the base of the trigger loop, and two glycine hinges clustered near the N-terminal end of the bridge helix. As simulation progresses, these hinges adopt distinct conformations in the closed and open trigger loop structures. A number of residues (described as “switch” residues) trade atomic contacts (ion pairs or hydrogen bonds) in response to changes in hinge orientation. In vivo phenotypes and in vitro activities rendered by mutations in the hinge and switch residues in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) RNAP II support the importance of conformational changes predicted from simulations in catalysis and translocation. During simulation, the elongation complex with an open trigger loop spontaneously translocates forward relative to the elongation complex with a closed trigger loop.

Conclusions

Switching between catalytic and translocating RNAP forms involves closing and opening of the trigger loop and long-range conformational changes in the atomic contacts of amino acid side chains, some located at a considerable distance from the trigger loop and active site. Trigger loop closing appears to support chemistry and the fidelity of RNA synthesis. Trigger loop opening and limited bridge helix bending appears to promote forward nucleic acid translocation.
Induction of the human cathelicidin LL-37 as a novel treatment against bacterial infections
Authors: van der Does Anne M , Bergman Peter , Agerberth Birgitta , Lindbom Lennart
Published: June 2012

Review on endogenous antimicrobial peptide induction by (phenyl)butyrate and vitamin D3 as a new anti-infective strategy.

As traditional antibiotics gradually become inefficient, there is a high demand for development of anti-infectives with a mechanism of action that is different from existing antibiotics. Current antibiotics target the pathogen directly, thereby contributing to the selection of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. AMPs, such as the human cathelicidin LL-37, are small cationic peptides that are part of host defense. They eliminate microbes through diverse mechanisms, thereby contributing to resolution of infections and maintenance of epithelial barrier function. The multiplicity of these mechanisms of action might be a key to restrict the development of resistant bacterial strains. The discovery of LL-37-inducing components, such as butyrate and vitamin D3, has opened new avenues to prevent or treat infections. Butyrate and vitamin D3 are potent inducers of LL-37 but in addition, have many other effects on host immunity. Here, we summarize current data on the effects that LL-37 and its inducers display on the innate immune response and discuss the feasibility for development of these inducers as possible drugs to prevent or treat infections.
Simultaneous sources separation via multidirectional vector-median filtering
Authors: Huo Shoudong , Luo Yi , Kelamis Panos G.
Published: June 2012

Simultaneous source acquisition technology, also referred to as “blended acquisition,” involves recording two or more shots simultaneously. Despite the fact that the recorded data has crosstalk from different shots, conventional processing procedures can still produce acceptable images for interpretation. This is due to the power of the stacking process using blended data with its increased data redundancy and inherent time delays between various shots. It is still desirable to separate the blended data into single shot gathers and reduce the crosstalk noise to achieve the highest seismic image quality and for standard prestack processing, such as filtering, statics computation, and velocity analysis. This study introduced a new and simple multidirectional vector-median filter (MD-VMF) to separate the blended seismic shot gathers. This method extended the well-known conventional median filter from a scalar implementation to a vector version. More specifically, a vector median filter was applied in many trial directions and the median vector was chosen from among these. We demonstrated the effectiveness of our proposed MD-VMF on simulated data generated by blending synthetic and real marine seismic data.
An implicit finite-difference operator for the Helmholtz equation
Authors: Chu Chunlei , Stoffa Paul L.
Published: June 2012

We have developed an implicit finite-difference operator for the Laplacian and applied it to solving the Helmholtz equation for computing the seismic responses in the frequency domain. This implicit operator can greatly improve the accuracy of the simulation results without adding significant extra computational cost, compared with the corresponding conventional explicit finite-difference scheme. We achieved this by taking advantage of the inherently implicit nature of the Helmholtz equation and merging together the two linear systems: one from the implicit finite-difference discretization of the Laplacian and the other from the discretization of the Helmholtz equation itself. The end result of this simple yet important merging manipulation is a single linear system, similar to the one resulting from the conventional explicit finite-difference discretizations, without involving any differentiation matrix inversions. We analyzed grid dispersions of the discrete Helmholtz equation to show the accuracy of this implicit finite-difference operator and used two numerical examples to demonstrate its efficiency. Our method can be extended to solve other frequency domain wave simulation problems straightforwardly.
Genome-wide characterization of Foxa2 targets reveals upregulation of floor plate genes and repression of ventrolateral genes in midbrain dopaminergic progenitors
Authors: Metzakopian Emmanouil , Lin Wei , Salmon-Divon Mali , Dvinge Heidi , Andersson Elisabet , Ericson Johan , Perlmann Thomas , Whitsett Jeffrey A. , Bertone Paul , Ang Siew-Lan
Published: June 2012

The transcription factors Foxa1 and Foxa2 promote the specification of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons and the floor plate. Whether their role is direct has remained unclear as they also regulate the expression of Shh, which has similar roles. We characterized the Foxa2 cis-regulatory network by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing of mDA progenitors. This identified 9160 high-quality Foxa2 binding sites associated with 5409 genes, providing mechanistic insights into Foxa2-mediated positive and negative regulatory events. Foxa2 regulates directly and positively key determinants of mDA neurons, including Lmx1a, Lmx1b, Msx1 and Ferd3l, while negatively inhibiting transcription factors expressed in ventrolateral midbrain such as Helt, Tle4, Otx1, Sox1 and Tal2. Furthermore, Foxa2 negatively regulates extrinsic and intrinsic components of the Shh signaling pathway, possibly by binding to the same enhancer regions of co-regulated genes as Gli1. Foxa2 also regulates the expression of floor plate factors that control axon trajectories around the midline of the embryo, thereby contributing to the axon guidance function of the floor plate. Finally, this study identified multiple Foxa2-regulated enhancers that are active in the floor plate of the midbrain or along the length of the embryo in mouse and chick. This work represents the first comprehensive characterization of Foxa2 targets in mDA progenitors and provides a framework for elaborating gene regulatory networks in a functionally important progenitor population.
L’épigramme de Posidippe sur la statue de Kairos,
AP XVI (Plan.) 275: Image, texte, réalité
Authors: Pordomingo Francisca
Published: June 2012

Epigram AP XVI (Plan.) 275, by Posidippus, contains an ecphrasis of a statue created by the sculptor Lysippus that is an allegory of Kairos – not in expository form but rather in the form of a dialogue of questions and answers, with the aim of revealing the hidden meaning of its peculiar iconographic features. Lysippus’ statue and Posidippus’ epigram are the oldest testimonies existing in art and in the literary sources for Kairos, which was the subject of other descriptions and of a rich iconography starting at the end of the Hellenistic age. They contain discrepancies in the selection of the features characterizing the concept, which possibly derive from a change in the meaning and the role of the allegory. The text provides an indication of the frequency with which certain abstractions were personified and deified in the Hellenistic age, sometimes to the point of becoming an object of worship.
Der englische Phaon und Ovids Sappho (Her. 15). Elijah Fentons Transformation eines Mythos
Authors: Drews Friedemann
Published: June 2012

Elijah Fenton’s (1683–1730) Phaon to Sappho has so far never been in the focus of literary criticism. The article aims at a more detailed understanding of Fenton’s technique of literary reception by means of a close reading of both Phaon to Sappho and Fenton’s model, the (presumably) Ovidian Epistula Sapphus. As will be seen, Fenton offers an unexpected perspective on the ancient myth through the eyes of ‘his’ Phaon: Phaon did not leave Sappho out of faithlessness but was completely unable to entertain any feelings of true love, because he had been cursed by Venus for being unfaithful to his former girl-friend in Malea. Phaon merely enjoyed Sappho’s gift of song as a temporary remedy for the agony within his cursed mind, but had to leave her whenever she stopped singing. At this point Phaon is asking for Sappho’s intercession with Venus on his behalf. Although Fenton makes crucial changes to the plot, he does neither ‘deconstruct’ nor ‘correct’ the myth as such: instead, he meticulously retains all the major motifs developed in Ovid’s epistle and thus achieves a literary transformation of the myth, enabling the reader to regard either perspective on the two protagonists’ relationship as logically possible.
L’opus florentissimum di Alessandro Severo
Authors: Rudoni Elia R.
Published: June 2012

The opus florentissimum mentioned at Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus 24, 5 is to be identified with the thermae Alexandrianae built by Alexander Severus. An emendation is put forward for the textual problem celebrio in the same passage.
Geographic variations in the frequency of thyroid disorders and thyroid peroxidase antibodies in persons without former thyroid disease within Germany
Authors: Meisinger C , Ittermann T , Wallaschofski H , Heier M , Below H , Kramer A , Döring A , Nauck M , Völzke H
Published: June 2012

Objective

To investigate regional variations in the frequency of undiagnosed thyroid disorders among 25- to 88-year-old men and women in two communities in the northeast and the south of Germany. In addition, autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (TPO-Abs) and urinary iodine excretion were determined.

Methods

Two population-based surveys of men and women using a common standardized protocol, the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) in the northeast of Germany (2505 participants) and the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) in the south of Germany (2316 participants), were compared with regard to the frequency of undiagnosed thyroid disorders.

Results

Compared with the northeast of Germany, urinary iodine excretion and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in the south. The median urinary iodine concentration was 110 μg/l (64; 169 μg/l) in SHIP and 151 μg/l (97; 214 μg/l) in KORA, and the median TSH value was 0.81 mIU/l (0.56; 1.15 mIU/l) in SHIP and 1.22 mIU/l (0.84; 1.80 mIU/l) in KORA. The frequency of elevated TSH (TSH ≥2.12 mIU/l) was 4.3% in SHIP and 14.1% in KORA (P<0.001); the corresponding values for suppressed TSH (<0.25 mIU/l) were 3.5 and 1.7% (P<0.001). The proportion of ultrasonographic findings was 55.5% in SHIP and 68.0% in KORA. The frequency of serum TPO-Abs did not differ significantly between northeast and south Germany.

Conclusions

There were considerable regional disparities in the frequency of thyroid disorders within Germany. These differences can be explained not only by different regional histories of natural iodine deficiency but also by current differences in the iodine supply under an identical nationwide iodine fortification program.
RAP1GAP inhibits cytoskeletal remodeling and motility in thyroid cancer cells
Authors: Dong Xiaoyun , Tang Waixing , Stopenski Stephen , Brose Marcia S , Korch Christopher , Meinkoth Judy L
Published: June 2012

The functional significance of decreased RAP1GAP protein expression in human tumors is unclear. To identify targets of RAP1GAP downregulation in the thyroid gland, RAP1 and RAP2 protein expression in human thyroid cells and in primary thyroid tumors were analyzed. RAP1GAP and RAP2 were co-expressed in normal thyroid follicular cells. Intriguingly, RAP1 was not detected in normal thyroid cells, although it was detected in papillary thyroid carcinomas, which also expressed RAP2. Both RAP proteins were detected at the membrane in papillary thyroid tumors, suggesting that they are activated when RAP1GAP is downregulated. To explore the functional significance of RAP1GAP depletion, RAP1GAP was transiently expressed at the lowest level that is sufficient to block endogenous RAP2 activity in papillary and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell lines. RAP1GAP impaired the ability of cells to spread and migrate on collagen. Although RAP1GAP had no effect on protein tyrosine phosphorylation in growing cells, RAP1GAP impaired phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin at sites phosphorylated by SRC in cells acutely plated on collagen. SRC activity was increased in suspended cells, where it was inhibited by RAP1GAP. Inhibition of SRC kinase activity impaired cell spreading and motility. These findings identify SRC as a target of RAP1GAP depletion and suggest that the downregulation of RAP1GAP in thyroid tumors enhances SRC-dependent signals that regulate cellular architecture and motility.
Insulin sensitization with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist prevents adrenocortical lipid infiltration and secretory changes induced by a high-sucrose diet
Authors: Martinez Calejman Camila , Di Gruccio Juan M , Mercau María E , Repetto Esteban M , Astort Francisco , Sanchez Rocío , Pandolfi Matías , Berg Gabriela , Schreier Laura , Arias Pablo , Cymeryng Cora B
Published: June 2012

It has been hypothesized that deviations in glucocorticoid secretion and/or action may contribute to somatic and biochemical changes observed in patients with and animal models of insulin resistance (IR). In this study, we analyzed changes in rat adrenocortical function and morphology associated with the development of IR, generated in male adult rats by the addition of 30% sucrose to the drinking water. Caloric intake, body and adipose tissue weights, and biochemical parameters associated with IR were determined. Expression levels ofStar,Cyp11A1,Mc2r,Pparγ(Pparg), andCd36were evaluated by real-time PCR, histochemical analysis of the adrenal cortex was performed using Masson's trichrome and Sudan III staining, and corticosterone levels were measured by RIA. After 7 weeks of sucrose administration, higher serum glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels and an altered glycemic response to an i.p. insulin test were detected. Adrenal glands showed a neutral lipid infiltration. An increase inStar,Cyp11A1,Mc2r,PpargandCd36and a decrease inMc2rlevels were also found. Furthermore, sucrose-treated animals exhibited higher basal corticosterone levels and a blunted response to ACTH injection. Noteworthy, the adrenocortical (functional and histological) abnormalities were prevented in sucrose-treated rats by the simultaneous administration of an insulin-sensitizing PPARγ agonist. In conclusion, sucrose-induced IR affects adrenocortical morphology and function possibly via the generation of adipokines or lipid metabolites within the adrenal gland. These abnormalities are prevented by the administration of a PPARγ agonist by mechanisms involving both extra- and intra-adrenal effects.
The 2012 Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal
Authors: Wolfner Mariana F , Schedl Tim
Published: June 2012

The Genetics Society of America annually honors members who have made outstanding contributions to genetics. The Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal recognizes a lifetime contribution to the science of genetics. The Genetics Society of America Medal recognizes particularly outstanding contributions to the science of genetics over the past 31 years. The George W. Beadle Medal recognizes distinguished service to the field of genetics and the community of geneticists. The Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education recognizes individuals or groups who have had a significant, sustained impact on genetics education at any level, from kindergarten through graduate school and beyond. The Novitski Prize recognizes an extraordinary level of creativity and intellectual ingenuity in solving significant problems in biological research through the application of genetic methods. We are pleased to announce the 2012 awards.
The Centenary of Janssens’s Chiasmatype Theory
Authors: Koszul Romain , Meselson Matthew , Van Doninck Karine , Vandenhaute Jean , Zickler Denise
Published: June 2012

The segregation and random assortment of characters observed by Mendel have their basis in the behavior of chromosomes in meiosis. But showing this actually to be the case requires a correct understanding of the meiotic behavior of chromosomes. This was achieved only gradually, over several decades, with much dispute and confusion along the way. One crucial step in the understanding of meiosis was provided in 1909 by Frans Alfons Janssens who published in La Cellule an article entitled “La théorie de la Chiasmatypie. Nouvelle interprétation des cinèses de maturation,” which contains the first description of the chiasma structure. He observed that, of the four chromatids present at the connection sites (chiasmata sites) at diplotene or anaphase of the first meiotic division, two crossed each other and two did not. He therefore postulated that the maternal and paternal chromatids that crossed penetrated the other until they broke and rejoined in maternal and paternal segments new ways; the other two chromatids remained free and thus intact. This allowed him also to propose that the chromatids distributed in the four nuclei issued from the second meiotic division had various combinations of maternal and paternal segments of each chromosome. And conversely, permitted the appreciation that the laws of Mendelian segregation required breakage and joining (crossing over) between homologous non-sister chromatids. Although Janssens’s article found a broad appreciative audience and had a large influence on the chromosomal theory at that time, his theory was resisted by both geneticists and cytologists for several decades. This Perspectives aims to highlight the novelty of Janssens’s chiasmatype theory by examining the historical background and our actual understanding of meiotic recombination.
Secrets of the Copiale Cipher
Authors: Knight Kevin , Megyesi Beáta , Schaefer Christiane
Published: June 2012

The Copiale Cipher is a105-pages long, hand-written encrypted manuscript from the mid-eighteenth century. Its code was cracked and the text was deciphered by using modern computational technology combined with philological methods. We describe the book, the features of the text, and give a brief summary of the method by which we deciphered it. Finally, we present the content and the secret society, namely the Oculists, who were hiding behind the cipher.
Stability and persistence of food webs with omnivory: Is there a general pattern?
Authors: Kratina Pavel , LeCraw Robin M. , Ingram Travis , Anholt Bradley R.
Published: June 2012

The relationship between omnivory and stability has been the subject of a longstanding debate in ecology. Early theory predicted that omnivory would decrease the probability of food webs being stable. While early empirical data appeared to support the prediction that omnivory should be rare, detailed study of food webs later revealed that omnivory is ubiquitous across ecosystems and taxa. Recent years have seen renewed interest in the omnivory‐stability debate, and advances in mechanistic non‐equilibrium models demonstrated that omnivory can both increase and decrease stability. Current efforts have therefore focused on identifying biological mechanisms that promote the persistence of food webs with omnivory. We synthesize recent evidence that omnivory often stabilizes food webs when it occurs as life‐history omnivory, when prey experience reduced predation rates due to refuges or adaptive antipredator defences, and when omnivores interfere with each other or feed adaptively. Empirical research has lagged behind theory and there remains a shortage of studies directly measuring the stability of diverse natural communities that vary in the number and strength of omnivorous interactions. Early microcosm experiments indicated a narrow range of conditions for the persistence of simple omnivorous modules, while studies of omnivory embedded within larger natural networks have demonstrated its stabilizing effects. These new findings alter our view of food web dynamics and show that rather than looking for a simple and general omnivory‐stability relationship, we should focus on identifying conditions under which omnivory is a stabilizing feature of more complex natural systems.
Education, Genetic Ancestry, and Blood Pressure in African Americans and Whites
Authors: Non Amy L. , Gravlee Clarence C. , Mulligan Connie J.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We assessed the relative roles of education and genetic ancestry in predicting blood pressure (BP) within African Americans and explored the association between education and BP across racial groups.

Methods. We used t tests and linear regressions to examine the associations of genetic ancestry, estimated from a genomewide set of autosomal markers, and education with BP variation among African Americans in the Family Blood Pressure Program. We also performed linear regressions in self-identified African Americans and Whites to explore the association of education with BP across racial groups.

Results. Education, but not genetic ancestry, significantly predicted BP variation in the African American subsample (b = −0.51 mm Hg per year additional education; P = .001). Although education was inversely associated with BP in the total population, within-group analyses showed that education remained a significant predictor of BP only among the African Americans. We found a significant interaction (b = 3.20; P = .006) between education and self-identified race in predicting BP.

Conclusions. Racial disparities in BP may be better explained by differences in education than by genetic ancestry. Future studies of ancestry and disease should include measures of the social environment.
Urban Sprawl, Physical Activity, and Body Mass Index: Nurses’ Health Study and Nurses’ Health Study II
Authors: James Peter , Troped Philip J. , Hart Jaime E. , Joshu Corinne E. , Colditz Graham A. , Brownson Ross C. , Ewing Reid , Laden Francine
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We evaluated the association between the county sprawl index, a measure of residential density and street accessibility, and physical activity and body mass index (BMI).

Methods. We conducted a multilevel cross-sectional analysis in a sample of Nurses’ Health Study participants living throughout the United States in 2000 to 2001 (n = 136 592).

Results. In analyses adjusted for age, smoking status, race, and husband’s education, a 1-SD (25.7) increase in the county sprawl index (indicating a denser, more compact county) was associated with a 0.13 kilograms per meters squared (95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.18, −0.07) lower BMI and 0.41 (95% CI = 0.17, 0.65) more metabolic equivalent (MET) hours per week of total physical activity, 0.26 (95% CI = 0.19, 0.33) more MET hours per week of walking, and 0.47 (95% CI = 0.34, 0.59) more MET hours per week of walking, bicycling, jogging, and running. We detected potential effect modification for age, previous disease status, husband’s education level (a proxy for socioeconomic status), and race.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that living in a dense, compact county may be conducive to higher levels of physical activity and lower BMI in women.
Race, Place, and Obesity: The Complex Relationships Among Community Racial/Ethnic Composition, Individual Race/Ethnicity, and Obesity in the United States
Authors: Kirby James B. , Liang Lan , Chen Hsin-Jen , Wang Youfa
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We explored the association between community racial/ethnic composition and obesity risk.

Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we used nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey linked to geographic data from the US Decennial Census and Census Business Pattern data.

Results. Living in communities with a high Hispanic concentration (≥ 25%) was associated with a 0.55 and 0.42 increase in body mass index (BMI; defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and 21% and 23% higher odds for obesity for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites, respectively. Living in a community with a high non-Hispanic Asian concentration (≥ 25%) was associated with a 0.68 decrease in BMI and 28% lower odds for obesity for non-Hispanic Whites. We controlled for individual- and community-level social, economic, and demographic variables.

Conclusions. Community racial/ethnic composition is an important correlate of obesity risk, but the relationship differs greatly by individual race/ethnicity. To better understand the obesity epidemic and related racial/ethnic disparities, more must be learned about community-level risk factors, especially how built environment and social norms operate within communities and across racial/ethnic groups.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Utilization of Dental Services Among Children in Iowa: The Latino Experience
Authors: Valencia Alejandra , Damiano Peter , Qian Fang , Warren John J. , Weber-Gasparoni Karin , Jones Michael
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We sought to understand the role of Latino acculturation in dental care utilization in Iowa children.

Methods. We used logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with having a previous-year dental check-up with 2005 Iowa Child and Family Household Health Survey data. We constructed models to examine the association with race/ethnicity and used chosen interview language to measure Latino acculturation.

Results. After we controlled for several factors, having a regular dental care source, having a dental need, dental insurance status, family income, children's dental health rating, children's age, and brushing habits were associated with having a previous-year dental check-up. Race/ethnicity was indirectly associated with use of dental services through other related factors with significant differences for less-acculturated Latinos.

Conclusions. Policymakers and health planners should implement strategies to address individual, community, and system factors affecting racial/ethnic minorities. A regular source of dental care for Latino children that will enhance their access to services should be ensured. Ignoring the needs of the fastest growing segment of children with the poorest oral health and the least access to care will lead to future increase of oral diseases in this population.
Socioeconomic Status and the Black–White Mortality Crossover
Authors: Sautter Jessica M. , Thomas Patricia A. , Dupre Matthew E. , George Linda K.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We investigated associations among age, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and mortality in older persons and whether low SES contributes to the Black–White mortality crossover (when elevated age–specific mortality rates invert).

Methods. We used panel data from the North Carolina Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly to test the main and interactive effects of SES on mortality.

Results. Discrete-time hazard models showed that the association between low education and mortality did not vary by race or age and was only significant for men. For women, the effect of low income diminished with age and had little impact on the crossover. For men, low income varied by race and age, altering the Black–White crossover and producing low–high income crossovers at advanced ages.

Conclusions. Low education and income were associated with increased mortality risk for older adults, but only low income had a differential impact on the Black–White mortality crossover. A primary route to reducing mortality differentials in later life is to prevent the disproportionate selective mortality of Blacks and the poor earlier in the life course.
The Association Between Food Insecurity and Inflammation in the US Adult Population
Authors: Gowda Charitha , Hadley Craig , Aiello Allison E.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. To expand the understanding of potential pathways through which food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes, we investigated whether food insecurity is associated with nutritional levels, inflammatory response, and altered immune function.

Methods. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2006) with 12 191 participants. We assessed food insecurity using the US Department of Agriculture food security scale module and measured clinical biomarkers from blood samples obtained during participants’ visits to mobile examination centers.

Results. Of the study population, 21.5% was food insecure. Food insecurity was associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 1.40) and of white blood cell count (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.11, 1.67). White blood cell count partly mediated the association between food insecurity and C-reactive protein.

Conclusions. These findings show that food insecurity is associated with increased inflammation, a correlate of chronic diseases. Immune response also appears to be a potential mediator in this pathway.
Consistency Between Increasing Trends in Added-Sugar Intake and Body Mass Index Among Adults: The Minnesota Heart Survey, 1980–1982 to 2007–2009
Authors: Wang Huifen , Steffen Lyn M. , Zhou Xia , Harnack Lisa , Luepker Russell V.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We described 27-year secular trends in added-sugar intake and body mass index (BMI) among Americans aged 25 to 74 years.

Methods. The Minnesota Heart Survey (1980–1982 to 2007–2009) is a surveillance study of cardiovascular risk factors among residents of the Minneapolis–St Paul area. We used generalized linear mixed regressions to describe trends in added-sugar intake and BMI by gender and age groups and intake trends by weight status.

Results. BMI increased concurrently with added-sugar intake in both genders and all age and weight groups. Percentage of energy intake from added sugar increased by 54% in women between 1980 to 1982 and 2000 to 2002, but declined somewhat in 2007 to 2009; men followed the same pattern (all P < .001). Added-sugar intake was lower among women than men and higher among younger than older adults. BMI in women paralleled added-sugar intake, but men's BMI increased through 2009. Percentage of energy intake from added sugar was similar among weight groups.

Conclusions. Limiting added-sugar intake should be part of energy balance strategies in response to the obesity epidemic.
Public Health Options for Improving Cardiovascular Health Among Older Americans
Authors: Greenlund Kurt J. , Keenan Nora L. , Clayton Paula F. , Pandey Dilip K. , Hong Yuling
Published: June 2012

Life expectancy at birth has increased from 74 years in 1980 to 78 years in 2006. Older adults (aged 65 years and older) are living longer with cardiovascular conditions, which are leading causes of death and disability and thus an important public health concern. We describe several major issues, including the impact of comorbidities, the role of cognitive health, prevention and intervention approaches, and opportunities for collaboration to strengthen the public health system. Prevention can be effective at any age, including for older adults. Public health models focusing on policy, systems, and environmental change approaches have the goal of providing social and physical environments and promoting healthy choices.
Health Care Provider Recommendation, Human Papillomavirus Vaccination, and Race/Ethnicity in the US National Immunization Survey
Authors: Ylitalo Kelly R. , Lee Hedwig , Mehta Neil K.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, yet HPV vaccination rates remain relatively low. We examined racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of health care provider recommendations for HPV vaccination and the association between recommendation and vaccination.

Methods. We used the 2009 National Immunization Survey–Teen, a nationally representative cross-section of female adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, to assess provider-verified HPV vaccination (≥ 1 dose) and participant-reported health care provider recommendation for the HPV vaccine.

Results. More than half (56.9%) of female adolescents received a recommendation for the HPV vaccine, and adolescents with a recommendation were almost 5 times as likely to receive a vaccine (odds ratio = 4.81; 95% confidence interval = 4.01, 5.77) as those without a recommendation. Racial/ethnic minorities were less likely to receive a recommendation, but the association between recommendation and vaccination appeared strong for all racial/ethnic groups.

Conclusions. Provider recommendations were strongly associated with HPV vaccination. Racial/ethnic minorities and non-Hispanic Whites were equally likely to obtain an HPV vaccine after receiving a recommendation. Vaccine education efforts should target health care providers to increase recommendations, particularly among racial/ethnic minority populations.
Beyond Bioethics: Reckoning With the Public Health Paradigm
Authors: Fairchild Amy L. , Johns David Merritt
Published: June 2012

In the wake of scandal over troubling research abuses, the 1970s witnessed the birth of a new system of ethical oversight. The bioethics framework, with its emphasis on autonomy, assumed a commanding role in debates regarding how to weigh the needs of society against the rights of individuals.

Yet the history of resistance to oversight underscores that some domains of science hewed to a different paradigm of accountability—one that elevated the common good over individual rights.

Federal officials have now proposed to dramatically limit the reach of ethical oversight. The Institute of Medicine has called for a rollback of the federal privacy rule. The changing emphasis makes it imperative to grapple with the history of the public interest paradigm.