A preliminary investigation into the relationship between functional movement screen scores and athletic physical performance in female team sport athletes

There is little research investigating relationships between the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and athletic performance in female athletes. This study analyzed the relationships between FMS (deep squat; hurdle step [HS]; in-line lunge [ILL]; shoulder mobility; active straight-leg raise [ASLR]; trunk stability push-up; rotary stability) scores, and performance tests (bilateral and unilateral sit-and-reach [flexibility]; 20-m sprint [linear speed]; 505 with turns from each leg; modified T-test with movement to left and right [change-of-direction speed]; bilateral and unilateral vertical and standing broad jumps; lateral jumps [leg power]). Nine healthy female recreational team sport athletes (age = 22.67 ± 5.12 years; height = 1.66 ± 0.05 m; body mass = 64.22 ± 4.44 kilograms) were screened in the FMS and completed the afore-mentioned tests. Percentage between-leg differences in unilateral sit-and-reach, 505 turns and the jumps, and difference between the T-test conditions, were also calculated. Spearman''s correlations (p ≤ 0.05) examined relationships between the FMS and performance tests. Stepwise multiple regressions (p ≤ 0.05) were conducted for the performance tests to determine FMS predictors. Unilateral sit-and-reach positive correlated with the left-leg ASLR (r = 0.704-0.725). However, higher-scoring HS, ILL, and ASLR related to poorer 505 and T-test performance (r = 0.722-0.829). A higher-scored left-leg ASLR related to a poorer unilateral vertical and standing broad jump, which were the only significant relationships for jump performance. Predictive data tended to confirm the correlations. The results suggest limitations in using the FMS to identify movement deficiencies that could negatively impact athletic performance in female team sport athletes.     

Genome and Phylogenetic Analyses of Trypanosoma evansi Reveal Extensive Similarity to T. brucei and Multiple Independent Origins for Dyskinetoplasty

Two key biological features distinguish Trypanosoma evansi from the T. brucei group: independence from the tsetse fly as obligatory vector, and independence from the need for functional mitochondrial DNA (kinetoplast or kDNA). In an effort to better understand the molecular causes and consequences of these differences, we sequenced the genome of an akinetoplastic T. evansi strain from China and compared it to the T. b. brucei reference strain. The annotated T. evansi genome shows extensive similarity to the reference, with 94.9% of the predicted T. b. brucei coding sequences (CDS) having an ortholog in T. evansi, and 94.6% of the non-repetitive orthologs having a nucleotide identity of 95% or greater. Interestingly, several procyclin-associated genes (PAGs) were disrupted or not found in this T. evansi strain, suggesting a selective loss of function in the absence of the insect life-cycle stage. Surprisingly, orthologous sequences were found in T. evansi for all 978 nuclear CDS predicted to represent the mitochondrial proteome in T. brucei, although a small number of these may have lost functionality. Consistent with previous results, the F₁F_O-ATP synthase γ subunit was found to have an A281 deletion, which is involved in generation of a mitochondrial membrane potential in the absence of kDNA. Candidates for CDS that are absent from the reference genome were identified in supplementary de novo assemblies of T. evansi reads. Phylogenetic analyses show that the sequenced strain belongs to a dominant group of clonal T. evansi strains with worldwide distribution that also includes isolates classified as T. equiperdum. At least three other types of T. evansi or T. equiperdum have emerged independently. Overall, the elucidation of the T. evansi genome sequence reveals extensive similarity of T. brucei and supports the contention that T. evansi should be classified as a subspecies of T. brucei.     

High Connectivity among Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Populations in the Western South Atlantic

Population connectivity in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus was evaluated along 740 km of the Western South Atlantic coast. Blue crabs are the most exploited portunid in Brazil. Despite their economic importance, few studies report their ecology or population structure. Here we sampled four estuarine areas in southern Brazil during winter 2013 and summer 2014 in order to evaluate diversity, gene flow and structure of these populations. Nine microsatellite markers were evaluated for 213 adult crabs, with identification of seven polymorphic loci and 183 alleles. Pairwise F_ST values indicated low population structure ranging from -0.00023 to 0.01755. A Mantel test revealed that the geographic distance does not influence genetic (r = -0.48), and structure/migration rates confirmed this, showing that even the populations located at the opposite extremities of our covered region presented low F_ST and exchanged migrants. These findings show that there is a significant amount of gene flow between blue crab populations in South Brazil, likely influenced by local current dynamics that allow the transport of a high number of larvae between estuaries. Considering the elevated gene flow, the populations can be considered a single genetic stock. However, further information on population size and dynamics, as well as fishery demands and impacts at different regions, are necessary for harvest management purposes.     

Prevention of recurrence and prolonged survival in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients treated with adjuvant high-dose methylprednisolone

Five patients at risk for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) recurrence were treated with high-dose methylprednisolone, (HDMP) to prevent ‘trafficking’ of malignant lymphocytes into the central nervous system (CNS). HDMP was chosen because of its ability to stabilize the ‘blood brain barrier (BBB)’. Three men with newly diagnosed PCNSL, ages 62, 76 and 78 y, whose survival was projected to be 6.6 months, began treatment after achieving complete response (CR) to initial radiation therapy alone and survived 27, 37 and 59 months after treatment. In none was death from recurrent disease in CNS but one patient did die of systemic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) five years after PCNSL diagnosis. A 20 y old man was treated with HDMP after successful combined modality therapy and is alive 75+months after initial diagnosis without evidence of disease recurrence. A 34 y old man relapsed after combined modality initial treatment and failed to respond to HDMP when treatment was begun after unsuccessful salvage therapy; he died of disease 12 months after initial diagnosis. There were no treatment complications. The promising results in this pilot study from the basis for a North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) 96-73-51, a Phase 2 clinical trial of brain radiotherapy and HDMP for PCNSL patients 70 y of age and older, a group of patients at high risk for toxicity from intensive combined modality therapy.     

Responses of the infaunal peracarid Monokalliapseudes schubarti (Tanaidacea: Kalliapseudidae) to a bottom trawling disturbance and seasonality in an estuary of southern Brazil

The tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti is one of the dominant macrobenthic species in the shallow mudflats of southern Brazil. This species plays an important role in local trophic webs as a primary consumer and as a prey. This work investigated (1) the temporal variations in the population densities and structure of M. schubarti in the Patos Lagoon Estuary and (2) the potential impacts of shrimp trawling on the population densities, population structure and vertical stratification of the species in shallow areas of the estuary. The species exhibited significant temporal variability in its total densities and population structure, with a reproductive period observed during late summer and autumn, following an increase in salinity within the estuary. There were significant differences in M. schubarti densities, which appeared to be associated with variations in sediment texture and salinity. No well-defined pattern of trawling impact was identified; however, after high-impact trawling, decreases in the abundance of males and juveniles in the sediment superficial layer were recorded, and ovigerous females disappeared from the sampled area with relatively higher percentages of medium sand. Changes in the densities of different morphological categories observed after trawling were likely due to mortality, resuspension or rapid movement deeper into their tubes.     

Identification of broadly neutralizing antibody epitopes in the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein using evolutionary models

Background

Identification of the epitopes targeted by antibodies that can neutralize diverse HIV-1 strains can provide important clues for the design of a preventative vaccine.

Methods

We have developed a computational approach that can identify key amino acids within the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein that influence sensitivity to broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies. Given a sequence alignment and neutralization titers for a panel of viruses, the method works by fitting a phylogenetic model that allows the amino acid frequencies at each site to depend on neutralization sensitivities. Sites at which viral evolution influences neutralization sensitivity were identified using Bayes factors (BFs) to compare the fit of this model to that of a null model in which sequences evolved independently of antibody sensitivity. Conformational epitopes were identified with a Metropolis algorithm that searched for a cluster of sites with large Bayes factors on the tertiary structure of the viral envelope.

Results

We applied our method to ID₅₀ neutralization data generated from seven HIV-1 subtype C serum samples with neutralization breadth that had been tested against a multi-clade panel of 225 pseudoviruses for which envelope sequences were also available. For each sample, between two and four sites were identified that were strongly associated with neutralization sensitivity (2ln(BF)?>?6), a subset of which were experimentally confirmed using site-directed mutagenesis.

Conclusions

Our results provide strong support for the use of evolutionary models applied to cross-sectional viral neutralization data to identify the epitopes of serum antibodies that confer neutralization breadth.

     

Castelli risk indexes 1 and 2 are higher in major depression but other characteristics of the metabolic syndrome are not specific to mood disorders

Aims

This study examined whether Castelli risk indexes 1 (total/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) and 2 (low density lipoprotein (LDL)/HDL cholesterol) and other shared metabolic disorders might underpin the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome, major depression or bipolar disorder.

Main methods

This cross-sectional study examined 92 major depressed, 49 bipolar depressed and 201 normal controls in whom the Castelli risk indexes 1 and 2 and key characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, i.e. waist/hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), systolic/diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and homocysteine were assessed.

Key findings

Castelli risk indexes 1 and 2 were significantly higher in major depressed patients than in bipolar disorder patients and controls. There were no significant differences in waist or hip circumference, total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, plasma glucose, insulin, homocysteine and HbA1c between depression and bipolar patients and controls. Bipolar patients had a significantly higher BMI than major depressed patients and normal controls.

Significance

Major depression is accompanied by increased Castelli risk indexes 1 and 2, which may be risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Other key characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, either metabolic biomarkers or central obesity, are not necessarily specific to major depression or bipolar disorder.     

Comparative Estimation of Genetic Diversity in Population Studies using Molecular Sampling and Traditional Sampling Methods

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are efficient biological pest control agents. Population genetics studies on EPN are seldom known. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the significance of molecular sampling method (MSM) for accuracy, time needed, and cost effectiveness over traditional sampling method (TSM). The study was conducted at the Mohican Hills golf course at the state of Ohio where the EPN H. bacteriophora has been monitored for 18 years. The nematode population occupies an area of approximately 3700 m² with density range from 0.25-2 per gram soil. Genetic diversity of EPN was studied by molecular sampling method (MSM) and traditional sampling method (TSM) using the mitochondrial gene pcox1. The MSM picked 88% in compared to TSM with only 30% of sequenced cox 1 gene. All studied genetic polymorphism measures (sequence and haplotype) showed high levels of genetic diversity of MSM over TSM. MSM minimizes the chance of mitochondrial genes amplification from non target organisms (insect or other contaminating microorganisms). Moreover, it allows the sampling of more individuals with a reliable and credible representative sample size. Thus, we show that MSM supersedes TSM in labour intensity, time consumption and requirement of no special experience and efficiency.