scholarly journals Hindlimb abnormality reduces locomotor performance in Pelobates cultripes metamorphs but is not predicted by larval morphometrics

Herpetozoa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho ◽  
Pedro Aragón

Locomotor performance is a fundamental feature commonly related to many animals’ fitness. In most cases, locomotor performance is closely related to morphology of the structures responsible for it, which is therefore under strong selective pressure. Hence, limb abnormality could hinder locomotion and, for that reason, be eradicated by selection, which could explain its overall low prevalence that makes proper research difficult. Here, we took advantage of the moderately high prevalence of hindlimb abnormality in a sample of Iberian spadefoot (Pelobatescultripes) metamorphs developed from tadpoles captured and transferred to the laboratory before selection could act against metamorph abnormality. We tested the hypothesis that limb abnormality impairs locomotor performance. Moreover, we measured several larval and metamorph morphometrics, and checked for differences between normal and abnormal-limbed individuals. We also assessed correlations between hindlimb ratio (hindlimb length/SVL) and jumping performance in normal and abnormal-limbed metamorphs. Larval traits measured could not predict hindlimb abnormality. In metamorphs, only hindlimb ratio differed between normal and abnormal-limbed individuals, being shorter in the latter. Abnormal-limbed metamorphs jumped considerably shorter distances than normal-limbed conspecifics. Therefore, selection against reduced locomotor performance could eliminate limb abnormality from populations. Hindlimb ratio was included in the model as a covariable, and thus controlled for. Consequently, other factors besides shorter hindlimbs, probably hindlimb abnormality itself, could play a role in worse jumping capability of abnormal-limbed individuals. Hindlimb ratio was positively related to jumping distance in both groups, although the relationship was weaker in abnormal-limbed metamorphs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Catalina Quintero-Lopez Quintero-Lopez ◽  
Victor Daniel Gil-Vera ◽  
Andrés Felipe Velez-Vásquez ◽  
Elizabeth Zapata-Lopez ◽  
Luisa Fernanda Sepulveda ◽  
...  

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) showed a broad executive function, as well as visual short-term, working memory (WM), and attention deficits. The inhibitory control and WM deficits may distinguish ASPD from other personality disorders. People with ASPD structure have deficiencies in the maturation of the prefrontal cortex which is evident in various neurocognitive problems, mainly in WM and social cognition (SC). In Colombia there is a high incidence of ASPD in young offenders, which makes the process of rehabilitation and resocialization more difficult. The aim of this paper was to develop a structural equation model (SEM) to identify the relationship between SC and intellectual quotient (IQ) in offenders with ASPD and make a comparative analysis by gender. A representative sample of 120 offenders was used (60 men and 60 women) of a Specialized Attention Center (SAC) in Medellin, Colombia. This paper concludes that there is a higher correlation between SC and IQ in women offenders with ASPD (σxy = 0.62) than in male offenders with ASPD (σxy = 0.54). Epidemiologists suggest that women have a high prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders, which can be explained by internalized behavioral management. In general, men show a higher prevalence of disorders associated with impulse control through externalizing behavioral management. This shows that ASPD has been studied more in men and that ASPD profiles in women are lacking due to its low prevalence. Based on the results of the model developed, a neurocognitive profile of men and women with ASPD is presented.


2010 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 017-022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nimet Gencoglu ◽  
Filiz Namdar Pekiner ◽  
Birsay Gumru ◽  
Dilek Helvacioglu

ABSTRACTObjectives: To investigate the quality of root fillings and coronal restorations and their association with periapical status in an adult Turkish subpopulation.Methods: A total of 400 subjects were examined. Panoramic radiographs of all participants and additional periapical radiographs of affected teeth were processed. The frequency of root canal treatment and the periapical status of all root filled teeth were evaluated. The relationship between the radiographic quality of root fillings and coronal restorations was examined by chi-squared statistical analysis.Results: A total of 9460 teeth were examined. The total number of root filled teeth was 890 (9.39%), and 658 (73.9%) had apical periodontitis (AP). There was a significant correlation between the presence of periapical pathology and inadequate root canal fillings (P <.05). Presence of AP in root filled teeth was associated with inadequate adaptation of the filling (OR=1.097; P=0.54), and with poor radiographic quality of the coronal restoration (OR=0.91; P=0.70), and with poor radiographic quality of the filling restoration (OR=0.97; P=0.92). Only 24.5% of the root fillings were adequate. The highest percentage of root fillings was found in maxillary right first molars (6.9%).Conclusions: The results demonstrate a low prevalence of root-filled teeth and poor quality of coronal restorations and root fillings consistent with a high prevalence of apical periodontitis in a Turkish subpopulation. (Eur J Dent 2010;4:17-22)


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamila S. Al Malki ◽  
Nahed Ahmed Hussien ◽  
Fuad Al Malki

Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis resulting from infection with the Toxoplasma parasite has become an endemic disease worldwide. Recently, a few studies have reported a high prevalence of Toxoplasmosis infections among Saudi Arabian women. This disease could become life threatening for pregnant women and for immunodeficient people. There is evidence that infections during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism disorder represents one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide; it is associated with delayed language development, weak communication interaction, and repetitive behavior. The relationship between prenatal toxoplasmosis and autism in childhood remains unclear. The present study aims to report a link between maternal toxoplasmosis and autistic offspring among Saudi Arabian women. Method Blood samples (36 maternal, 36 from their non-autistic children, and 36 from their autistic children) were collected for serological and molecular evaluation. Results A toxoplasmosis infection was reported for 33.34% of participants using an ELISA assay (5.56% IgG+/IgM+, 11.11% IgG−/IgM+, and 16.67% IgG+/IgM-); however, a nested PCR assay targeting B1 toxoplasmosis specific genes recorded positive tests for 80.56% of the samples. In addition, the present study detected several points of mutation of mtDNA including NADH dehydrogenase (ND1, ND4) and Cyt B genes and the nDNA pyruvate kinase (PK) gene for autistic children infected with toxoplasmosis. Conclusion Considering previous assumptions, we suggest that a maternal toxoplasmosis infection could have a role in the development of childhood autism linked to mtDNA and nDNA impairment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-112
Author(s):  
Richard Larouche ◽  
Nimesh Patel ◽  
Jennifer L. Copeland

The role of infrastructure in encouraging transportation cycling in smaller cities with a low prevalence of cycling remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between the presence of infrastructure and transportation cycling in a small city (Lethbridge, AB, Canada), we interviewed 246 adults along a recently-constructed bicycle boulevard and two comparison streets with no recent changes in cycling infrastructure. One comparison street had a separate multi-use path and the other had no cycling infrastructure. Questions addressed time spent cycling in the past week and 2 years prior and potential socio-demographic and psychosocial correlates of cycling, including safety concerns. Finally, we asked participants what could be done to make cycling safer and more attractive. We examined predictors of cycling using gender-stratified generalized linear models. Women interviewed along the street with a separate path reported cycling more than women on the other streets. A more favorable attitude towards cycling and greater habit strength were associated with more cycling in both men and women. Qualitative data revealed generally positive views about the bicycle boulevard, a need for education about sharing the road and for better cycling infrastructure in general. Our results suggest that, even in smaller cities, cycling infrastructure may encourage cycling, especially among women.


Author(s):  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Satoru Kanamori ◽  
Yasuhiro Miyaguni ◽  
Katsunori Kondo

This study validates the relationship between community-level sports group participation and the frequency of leaving the house and transtheoretical model stages of behavior change for exercise among older individuals who did not participate in a sports group. We used cross-sectional data from the 2016 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. The proportion of sports group participants at the community level was calculated using the data from 157,233 older individuals living in 1000 communities. We conducted a multilevel regression analysis to examine the relationship between the proportion of sports group participants and the frequency of leaving the house (1 day/week or less) and the transtheoretical model stages of behavior change for exercise. A statistically significant relationship was observed between a high prevalence of sports group participation and lower risk of homeboundness (odds ratio: 0.94) and high transtheoretical model stages (partial regression coefficient: 0.06) as estimated by 10 percentage points of participation proportion. Older individuals, even those not participating in a sports group, living in a community with a high prevalence of sports group participation are less likely to be homebound; they are highly interested and have numerous opportunities to engage in exercise.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Felisbino-Mendes ◽  
B Barrozo Siqueira

Abstract Introduction There are gaps in knowledge regarding the neglected and vulnerable subgroups of FP actions in Brazil, such as postpartum women and women in general, regardless of their marital status. Objective To assess changes in the prevalence of use and in the contraceptive pattern of Brazilian women up to two years after pregnancy, between 2006 and 2013. Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study which used secondary data from national surveys. We studied Brazilian women with up to 2 years postpartum, of reproductive age, sexually active, non-pregnant and menstruating, and compared them with all the other women. We estimated the prevalence of use, contraception pattern of contraception and ranking of modern methods. Percentual change in indicators between the years was evaluated by calculating the difference between estimates. Results 85% of Brazilian women used CM, remaining stable in 2006 and 2013, with a high prevalence of modern methods use. An increase in the use of CM was observed among those with up to six months postpartum (71.0% to 89.0%). Pills and condoms accounted for about 60% of modern methods used in the postpartum period in both surveys. There was an increase in dual protection (2.9% to 10.1%) and contraceptive insecurity (1.6% to 5.7%) and a reduction in sterilization (16.2% to 13.4%) and traditional methods (2.1% to 1.4%). Conclusions Even with the maintenance of a high prevalence of use of CM and with the increase in contraception among women with up to six months postpartum, regional inequalities in access to CM and low prevalence of the use of other methods made available by the Unified Health System (SUS) persist, pointing out the maintenance of the insufficient care, failures in the means to regulate fertility and that public policies still hinder to guarantee the sexual and reproductive rights of the most vulnerable population. Key messages Regional inequalities in access to contraceptive methods and low prevalence of other methods made available by the Unified Health System (SUS) persist. There was an increase in contraception use among women with up to six months postpartum in Brazil.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e49991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve M. Taylor ◽  
Steven R. Meshnick ◽  
William Worodria ◽  
Alfred Andama ◽  
Adithya Cattamanchi ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1631-1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. De Usabel Guzmán ◽  
M.J. Mota Rodríguez ◽  
A. Pampin Alfonso ◽  
J.B. Brenlla Gonzalez ◽  
M.J. Núñez ◽  
...  

IntroductionSuicide is a major public health problem in most of the countries because it has a high prevalence in young people. It has been studied that high levels of cortisol are associated with depression and increase of the suicidal risk.ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between cortisol levels in a population of university students and the questionnaire results for the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).MethodThe sample was composed by 106 students of the Nursing School of Santiago de Compostela University. The 88.7% of the sample are women with a mean age of 21.50 + /−2.52, the 99% are unmarried. The protocol consisted in 3 sections: demographic variables, BDI questionnaire with spanish scale and determination of salivary cortisol levels. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 15.ResultsThe are higher levels of salivary cortisol in students with a greater or equal score to 13 on the BDI with statistically significances differences (p = .000). Students with suicidal ideation (item 9 of the BDI) have highest rates of cortisol, with statistically significant differences (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThis study supports other researchs about the association between biological neuroendocrine markers and affective disorders. Explaining suicidal behavior could help us to prevent it by using early intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. They could also identify markers to establish the risk of suicide.


2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 1029-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matija Rijavec ◽  
Maruška Budič ◽  
Peter Mrak ◽  
Manica M�ller-Premru ◽  
Zdravko Podlesek ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Colicin K exhibited pronounced inhibitory activity against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains. Low prevalence of colicin K production and a relatively high prevalence of ColE1-like plasmids were determined among 215 UPEC strains from Slovenia. Sequencing of the colicin K-encoding pColK-K235 revealed a mosaic structure and the presence of the insertion sequence IS2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3116
Author(s):  
Florence Lai ◽  
Nathaniel Mercaldo ◽  
Cassandra M. Wang ◽  
Giovi G. Hersch ◽  
Herminia Diana Rosas

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have an exceptionally high prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD), with an earlier age of onset compared with the neurotypical population. In addition to beta amyloid, immunological processes involved in neuroinflammation and in peripheral inflammatory/autoimmune conditions are thought to play important roles in the pathophysiology of AD. Individuals with DS also have a high prevalence of autoimmune/inflammatory conditions which may contribute to an increased risk of early AD onset, but this has not been studied. Given the wide range in the age of AD onset in those with DS, we sought to evaluate the relationship between the presence of inflammatory conditions and the age of AD onset. We performed a retrospective study on 339 adults with DS, 125 who were cognitively stable (CS) and 214 with a diagnosis of AD. Data were available for six autoimmune conditions (alopecia, celiac disease, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, diabetes and vitamin B12 deficiency) and for one inflammatory condition, gout. Gout was associated with a significant delay in the age of AD onset by more than 2.5 years. Our data suggests that inflammatory conditions may play a role in the age of AD onset in DS. Further studies are warranted.


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