Genetically determined transient edema found in the WB/ReJ mouse strain in a teratogenic survey with acetazolamide

A continuing survey of the genetic variability of different mouse strains to acetazolamide teratogenesis demonstrated the WB/ReJ strain expresses a high frequency of induced subcutaneous edema in day 15 fetuses. In treated WB/ReJ fetuses, the probability of expression of edema is independent of the expression of forelimb ectrodactyly and, with the dosage regime, there is no significant increase in acetazolamide-induced resorption. It was surprising to find a high frequency of spontaneous edema on day 15 in untreated WB/ReJ fetuses. The spontaneous edema is a transient trait with maximum expression (56%) on day 14, and it is resolved by day 17 without apparent consequence to the survival of previously affected fetuses. There is no sex dimorphism in the liability to express the transient edema. Preliminary genetic crosses to investigate the spontaneous edema were made between WB/ReJ and the C57BL/6J strain, which historically had not be observed to express spontaneous edema. A low frequency of spontaneous edema was observed on day 14 in both C57BL/6J and the reciprocal F1 fetuses. The trait is not additive because there is dominance deviation of the BC1 fetuses in the direction of the F1 fetuses. The data were fitted to a threshold model suggesting that the developmental liability to express the difference in transient edema is determined by more than one gene, but the data can be interpreted by a minimum of two loci with duplicate epistasis. The observed differences in frequencies of edema suggest the genetic model can be tested with relatively few test crosses.     

Genetics of Cortisone-Induced Cleft Palate in the Mouse—embryonic and Maternal Effects

Differences between mouse strains in frequency of embryonic, cortisone-induced cleft palate were examined. Probit analysis demonstrated a family of linear and parallel dose-response curves for different inbred and hybrid embryos. Since the differences between genotypes were not in the slopes of the response curves but rather in their location, it is proposed that the median effective dose (ED₅₀) of cortisone required to induce cleft palate (or the tolerance) provides a more appropriate definition of the response trait and its difference than a frequency statement. The tolerance of C57BL/6J is dominant to that of A/J. A maternal effect of A/J relative to C57BL/6J dams caused a two-fold reduction in the embryonic tolerance of cortisone. Cortisone-induced cleft palate and mortality were separate response traits.—In these and previous studies on cortisone- and other glucocorticoid-induced cleft palate in the mouse, the nature of the cleft-palate-response curve appeared to be the same for all glucocorticoids, and within-strain differences in tolerance could be used as measures of potency or bioassays for a particular effect of the glucocorticoids.     

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (Np) in the mouse: Linkage relationship of Np-2 to esterase-10 (Es-10) and Np-1 on chromosome 14

An improved method for detecting four Np-1 (purine nucleoside phosphorylase) alleles in mouse erythrocytes by cellulose acetate electrophoresis is described. The previous linkage of Np-1 and Es-10 (esterase-10) was confirmed, with a map distance of 13.0±2.6 cM. Np-2 was detected by either specific activity assay or starch gel electrophoresis and shown to be linked to Es-10, 15.9 ± 3.1 cM, on chromosome 14. No recombinants between Np-1 and Np-2 were observed in 52 offspring, indicating either that these loci are either closely associated or that Np-2 represents simply a property of existing allelic products of the Np-1 locus.This research was supported by Medical Research Council of Canada grants to F.G.B. and F.F.S.     

Active Video Games and Health Indicators in Children and Youth: A Systematic Review

Background

Active video games (AVGs) have gained interest as a way to increase physical activity in children and youth. The effect of AVGs on acute energy expenditure (EE) has previously been reported; however, the influence of AVGs on other health-related lifestyle indicators remains unclear.

Objective

This systematic review aimed to explain the relationship between AVGs and nine health and behavioural indicators in the pediatric population (aged 0–17 years).

Data sources

Online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, psycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Cochrane Central Database) and personal libraries were searched and content experts were consulted for additional material.

Data selection

Included articles were required to have a measure of AVG and at least one relevant health or behaviour indicator: EE (both habitual and acute), adherence and appeal (i.e., participation and enjoyment), opportunity cost (both time and financial considerations, and adverse events), adiposity, cardiometabolic health, energy intake, adaptation (effects of continued play), learning and rehabilitation, and video game evolution (i.e., sustainability of AVG technology).

Results

51 unique studies, represented in 52 articles were included in the review. Data were available from 1992 participants, aged 3–17 years, from 8 countries, and published from 2006–2012. Overall, AVGs are associated with acute increases in EE, but effects on habitual physical activity are not clear. Further, AVGs show promise when used for learning and rehabilitation within special populations. Evidence related to other indicators was limited and inconclusive.

Conclusions

Controlled studies show that AVGs acutely increase light- to moderate-intensity physical activity; however, the findings about if or how AVG lead to increases in habitual physical activity or decreases in sedentary behaviour are less clear. Although AVGs may elicit some health benefits in special populations, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend AVGs as a means of increasing daily physical activity.     

Expression of Betapapillomavirus Oncogenes Increases the Number of Keratinocytes with Stem Cell-Like Properties

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) of genus Betapapillomavirus (betaPV) are associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer development in epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) and immunosuppressed patients. Epidemiological and molecular studies suggest a carcinogenic activity of betaPV during early stages of cancer development. Since viral oncoproteins delay and perturb keratinocyte differentiation, they may have the capacity to either retain or confer a “stem cell-like” state on oncogene-expressing cells. The aim of this study was to determine (i) whether betaPV alters the expression of cell surface markers, such as CD44 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), that have been associated with epithelial stemness, and (ii) whether this confers functional stem cell-like properties to human cutaneous keratinocytes. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis revealed an increase in the number of cells with high CD44 and EpCAM expression in keratinocyte cultures expressing HPV type 8 (HPV8) oncogenes E2, E6, and E7. Particularly through E7 expression, a distinct increase in clonogenicity and in the formation and size of tumor spheres was observed, accompanied by reduction of the epithelial differentiation marker Calgranulin B. These stem cell-like properties could be attributed to the pool of CD44^high EpCAM^high cells, which was increased within the E7 cultures of HPV5, -8, and -20. Enhanced EpCAM levels were present in organotypic skin cultures of primary keratinocytes expressing E7 of the oncogenic HPV types HPV5, -8, and -16 and in clinical samples from EV patients. In conclusion, our data show that betaPV may increase the number of stem cell-like cells present during early carcinogenesis and thus enable the persistence and accumulation of DNA damage necessary to generate malignant stem cells.     

Pumping Iron in Australia: Prevalence,Trends and Sociodemographic Correlates of Muscle Strengthening Activity Participation from a National Sample of 195,926 Adults

ObjectiveThe current Australian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults engage in regular muscle-strengthening activity (e.g. strength or resistance training). However, public health surveillance studies describing the patterns and trends of population-level muscle-strengthening activity participation are sparse. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence, trends and sociodemographic correlates of muscle-strengthening activity participation in a national-representative sample of Australians aged 15 years and over.MethodsBetween 2001 and 2010, quarterly cross-sectional national telephone surveys were conducted as part of the Australian Sports Commission''s ''Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey''. Pooled population-weighted proportions were calculated for reporting: [i] no muscle-strengthening activity; [ii] insufficient muscle-strengthening activity, and [iii] sufficient muscle-strengthening activity. Associations with sociodemographic variables were assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses.ResultsOut of 195,926 participants, aged 15–98 years, only 10.4% (95% CI: 10.1–10.7) and 9.3% (95% CI: 9.1–9.5) met the muscle-strengthening activity recommendations in the past two weeks and in the past year, respectively. Older adults (50+ years), and those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged, outer regional/remote areas and with lower education were less likely to report sufficient muscle-strengthening activity (p<0.001). Over the 10-year monitoring period, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of sufficient muscle-strengthening activity (6.4% to 12.0%, p-value for linear trend <0.001).ConclusionsA vast majority of Australian adults did not engage in sufficient muscle-strengthening activity. There is a need for public health strategies to support participation in muscle-strengthening activity in this population. Such strategies should target older and lower educated adults, and those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged, outer regional/remote and areas.