Dietary fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: an epidemiological approach

The quality of dietary fat in relation to cardiovascular disease forms the basis of the diet-heart hypothesis. Current recommendations on dietary fat now emphasise quality rather than quantity. The focus of this review is to summarise the results from prospective cohort studies on dietary fat and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Relatively few prospective cohort studies have found an association between dietary fat quality and cardiovascular disease, partly because of limitations in estimating dietary intake. Saturated and trans fatty acids have increased cardiovascular risk in several studies. Both n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Within the n-6 series, linoleic acid seems to decrease cardiovascular risk. Within the n-3 series the long-chain fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids) are associated with decreased risk for especially fatal coronary outcomes, whereas the role of alpha-linolenic acid is less clear. Dietary fat quality also influences the activity of enzymes involved in the desaturation of fatty acids in the body. Serum desaturase indices have been consistently associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Data from metabolic and clinical studies reinforce findings from observational studies supporting recommendations to replace saturated and trans fat with unsaturated fat in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.     

Urban biodiversity in local newspapers: a historical perspective

Due to rapid urbanization the conservation and values of urban wildlife are becoming increasingly important study objects. Unfortunately, the lack of historical data makes it difficult to assess the effects of long-term urban land-use changes and human attitudes on local biodiversity. In this paper we show that old newspapers may in some cases provide useful historical data on both urban wildlife and local attitudes towards it. In the city of Turku, southwest Finland, the leading newspaper published 316 observations or reports on local urban mammals, birds and reptiles in 1890–1920, and in addition to these a lot of information on contemporary attitudes towards urban wildlife. At least 12 species of noncaptive mammals, 32 species of birds, and three reptile species were documented in newspapers. The newspaper data seem fairly reliable, and provide valuable information on the development of urban biodiversity. In the study period animals visiting urban areas were often persecuted, in which both adults and children (mainly schoolboys) participated actively. Birds were persecuted less frequently than mammals or reptiles. Some bird species, especially 'song-birds', were actively supported by winter-feeding and by constructing nest-boxes. According to newspapers local people were interested in local biodiversity, especially on phenological events, and benefited from it by getting esthetic pleasure, pet animals, and information on seasonal changes.     

Detection of Plasmodium falciparum DNA in a microtitration plate-based hybridization test

A rapid DNA-test, depending on the affinity based hybrid collection principle, was developed for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum DNA from clinical specimens. In this method, hybridization takes place in solution and the hybrids are collected onto a solid phase for measurement. Two probes are used, one labelled with an affinity tag (biotin) and the other with a detectable label (32P). In the present test a single oligonucleotide complementary to a 21-base pair sequence which is highly repeated in the parasite genome served both as capture and detector probe. The test is a 2-h hybridization performed in streptavidin coated microtitration plate wells, onto which the labelled hybrids simultaneously bind. The sensitivity of the assay with a crude erythrocyte lysate specimen was 1.6 x 10(9) repeat units corresponding to about 160 parasites in one microliter blood. The results allowed quantification of the repeat sequences and thus estimation of the degree of parasitemia in clinical specimens.     

Molecular taxonomy and subgeneric classification of tapeworms of the genus Moniezia Blanchard, 1891 (Cestoda,Anoplocephalidae) in northern cervids (Alces and Rangifer)

Phylogenetic relationships of tapeworms of the genus Moniezia Blanchard, 1891 (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae) parasitizing the Eurasian elk Alces alces, the moose A. americanus and the reindeer/caribou Rangifer tarandus (Cervidae) were studied using DNA sequences of two mitochondrial genes (cox1 and nad1). Several isolates from domestic ruminants, representing Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1810) sensu lato and M. benedeni (Moniez, 1879) sensu lato, and one unidentified isolate from an African antelope, were also included in the analysis.Both genes identified the same six species of Moniezia, but interspecific phylogenetic relationships were better resolved by the nad1 data. The six species of Moniezia comprised two main clades: clade 1 that originates in bovids, with subsequent colonization of northern cervids in Eurasia, and clade 2 that originates in northern cervids, with subsequent specific divergence within these hosts. Clade 2 has a Holarctic distribution.None of the Moniezia specimens in Alces and Rangifer was conspecific with the species in domestic ruminants, suggesting that the custom of identifying Moniezia spp. in northern cervids either as M. expansa or M. benedeni is incorrect. At least two of the species parasitizing Alces and Rangifer have not been previously recognized. These findings challenge the results of all previous studies concerning the diversity and ecology of Moniezia spp. in northern cervids.The traditional classification into three subgenera (Moniezia Blanchard, 1891, Blanchariezia Skrjabin & Schultz, 1937 and Baeriezia Skrjabin & Schultz, 1937), based on the presence and type of interproglottidal glands, conflicts with the currently observed molecular phylogenetic relationships within the genus Moniezia.     

Phenological sensitivity to climate change is higher in resident than in migrant bird populations among European cavity breeders

Many organisms adjust their reproductive phenology in response to climate change, but phenological sensitivity to temperature may vary between species. For example, resident and migratory birds have vastly different annual cycles, which can cause differential temperature sensitivity at the breeding grounds, and may affect competitive dynamics. Currently, however, adjustment to climate change in resident and migratory birds have been studied separately or at relatively small geographical scales with varying time series durations and methodologies. Here, we studied differential effects of temperature on resident and migratory birds using the mean egg laying initiation dates from 10 European nest box schemes between 1991 and 2015 that had data on at least one resident tit species and at least one migratory flycatcher species. We found that both tits and flycatchers advanced laying in response to spring warming, but resident tit populations advanced more strongly in relation to temperature increases than migratory flycatchers. These different temperature responses have already led to a divergence in laying dates between tits and flycatchers of on average 0.94 days per decade over the current study period. Interestingly, this divergence was stronger at lower latitudes where the interval between tit and flycatcher phenology is smaller and winter conditions can be considered more favorable for resident birds. This could indicate that phenological adjustment to climate change by flycatchers is increasingly hampered by competition with resident species. Indeed, we found that tit laying date had an additional effect on flycatcher laying date after controlling for temperature, and this effect was strongest in areas with the shortest interval between both species groups. Combined, our results suggest that the differential effect of climate change on species groups with overlapping breeding ecology affects the phenological interval between them, potentially affecting interspecific interactions.     

Body Weight and Health Status: Importance of Socioeconomic Position and Working Conditions

Objective: To examine the association between relative body weight and health status and the potential modifying effects of socioeconomic position and working conditions on this association. Research Methods and Procedures: The data were derived from three identical cross‐sectional surveys conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Respondents to postal surveys were middle‐aged employees of the City of Helsinki (7148 women and 1799 men, response rate 67%). BMI was based on self‐reported weight and height. Health status was measured by the Short‐Form 36 subscales and component summaries. Results: Body weight was inversely associated with physical health, but in mental health, differences between BMI categories were small and inconsistent. In women, physical health deteriorated monotonically with increasing BMI, whereas in men, poor physical health was found among the obese only. Socioeconomic position did not modify the association between BMI and health. In women, the association between body weight and physical health became stronger with decreasing job control and increasing physical work load, whereas in men, a similar modifying effect was found for high job demands. Discussion: Body weight was associated with physical health only. Lower levels of relative weight in women than in men may be associated with poor physical health. High body weight combined with adverse working conditions may impose a double burden on physical health.     

Low light reflectance may explain the attraction of birds to defoliated trees

Plants use volatile organic compounds to attract invertebratepredators and parasitoids of their herbivore pests. Recently,it has been suggested that plants, either through visual orolfactory cues, may also "cry for help" from vertebrate predatorssuch as birds. We show that in a laboratory choice test, passerinebirds (Parus major and Cyanistes caeruleus) were attracted tothe intact branches of trees (Betula pendula) suffering fromfoliar damage caused by herbivore larvae (Epirrita autumnata)in nontest branches. Species, age, or sex of the experimentalbird or lighting (ultraviolet [UV] or non-UV) did not affectthe preference. However, the birds made a clear choice betweenthe treatments when the trees came from a forest patch receivingmore sunlight, whereas no obvious choice was observed when thetrees came from a shadier forest patch. Results of the choicetest were supported by the spectral reflectance of tree leaves.In the sunnier forest patch, control trees reflected more visiblelight than the herbivore trees, whereas no such difference wasfound in the shadier forest patch trees. We suggest that avianpredators use their vision within visible wavelengths to findinsect-rich plants even when they do not see the prey itemsor damaged leaves.     

Habitat associations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agathidium pulchellum</Emphasis>, an endangered old-growth forest beetle species living on slime moulds

The beetle genus Agathidium is the largest insect group documented that principally feeds on slime moulds. Agathidium pulchellum, one of the rarest Agathidium species in Europe, is listed in the EU’s Habitats Directive. We studied the habitat associations of A. pulchellum in 44 sites located in old-growth and managed forests in eastern Finland. Agathidium pulchellum occurred exclusively on the slime-mould species Trichia decipiens. The host was associated with mid-decayed aspen, spruce and birch logs, and its incidence grew with both increasing log diameter and stand-level log density of spruce and aspen. We also observed that even if its host was present, the beetle was absent from sites with less than 80 aspen and spruce logs per hectare. All sites with A. pulchellum were natural forests of high conservation value. Our results show that it is possible to systematically survey the occurrence of A. pulchellum.