BODY SIZE,NATURAL SELECTION,AND SPECIATION IN STICKLEBACKS

There is little evidence from nature that divergent natural selection is crucial to speciation. However, divergent selection is implicated if traits conferring adaptation to alternative environments also form the basis of reproductive isolation. We tested the importance of body size differences to premating isolation between two sympatric sticklebacks. The species differ greatly in size, and several lines of evidence indicate that this difference is an adaptation to alternative foraging habitats. Strong assortative mating was evident in laboratory trials, but a few hybridization events occurred. Probability of interspecific mating was strongly correlated with body size: interspecific spawning occurred only between the largest individuals of the smaller species and the smallest individuals of the larger species. Probability of spawning between similar-sized individuals from different species was comparable to spawning rates within species. Disruption of mating between individuals from different species can be traced to increased levels of male aggression and decreased levels of male courtship as size differences increased between paired individuals. Interspecific mate preferences in sympatric sticklebacks appears to be dominated by body size, implicating natural selection in the origin of species.     

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer family members' perceptions about the duty to inform and health professionals' role in disseminating genetic information

This study's aim was to ascertain hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families' views on the duty to inform with particular focus on the role of health professionals in disseminating familial genetic information. Eighty members of 16 families with a clinical or molecular diagnosis of HNPCC completed qualitative interviews regarding views on family members' right to know and who should disseminate familial genetic information. Most indicated that everyone in the family should know about the presence of a mutation in the family, with family members themselves being the preferable informant, supported by health professionals who were seen as helpful in overcoming barriers. All but one respondent indicated that if a parent did not test and presumably did not inform his/her child about the family mutation, the child should be informed by other family members or by a health professional. Many were attuned to confidentiality concerns, but judged them to be outweighed by the importance of family members knowing about the mutation and undertaking proper surveillance. Respondents were more private about the disclosure of individual results to other family members, clearly distinguishing personal results from familial genetic information. These families with a hereditary colon cancer syndrome favor open sharing of genetic information within the family, and desire the supportive involvement of health care professionals in disseminating genetic information.     

Investigation and documentation of hybridization betweenParkinsonia aculeata andCercidium praecox (Leguminosae:Caesalpinioideae)

Morphometric, cytogenetic, geographical and ecological evidence for hybridization betweenParkinsonia aculeata andCercidium praecox is presented. Morphometric investigation using the character count procedure and cytogenetic observations confirm hybrid status. All diagnostic morphometric characters were intermediate in the hybrid. Both parents (2n = 28) show regular tetrad formation and pollen fertility greater than 94%. Hybrids have a chromosome number of 2n = 28 or 2n = 30, and display meiotic abnormalities including lagging chromosomes and micronucleus formation; less than 21% of hybrid pollen was fertile. Ecological and geographical information suggests that hybridization is occurring at increasing frequency due to the expanding range ofP. aculeata associated with cultivation as an ornamental, coupled with ecological disturbance and weediness, and the cultivation ofC. praecox and hybrids as fodder, ornamental and shade trees. Hybrid fertility and phenological observations, in conjunction with F-weighted principal component analysis, suggest that the progeny of F₁ hybrids are established. The hybrid is formally described asP. ×carterae.     

PD98059 enhanced insulin, cytokine, and growth factor activation of xanthine oxidoreductase in epithelial cells involves STAT3 and the glucocorticoid receptor

PD98059 and U0126 are organic compound inhibitors frequently used to block the activity of the MEK-1/2 protein kinase. In the present work, promoter activation analyses of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) in epithelial cells uncovered the unexpected opposite effect of these inhibitors on activation of XOR. Activation of an XOR-luciferase fusion gene was studied in stably transfected epithelial cells. The XOR reporter gene was activated by the epidermal growth factors (EGF), prolactin, and dexamethasone and by the acute phase cytokines (APC) IL-1, IL-6, and TNFalpha as previously reported for its native gene, and insulin further stimulated activation induced with acute phase cytokines or growth factors. Activation of the proximal promoter was blocked by inhibitors of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), p38 MAP kinase, and U0126. Unexpectedly, PD98059 activated the promoter and significantly enhanced expression induced by insulin, APC, or growth factors. Analysis of the XOR upstream DNA and proximal promoter revealed primary roles for the GR and STAT3 in mediating the effects of PD98059 on XOR activation and protein complex formation with the promoter. STAT3 phosphotyrosine-705 was rapidly induced by PD98059, dexamethasone, and insulin. XOR activation by PD98059, dexamethasone, or insulin was superinduced by a constitutively active derivative of STAT3, while a dominant negative derivative of STAT3 blocked the enhancing effect of PD98059 on XOR activation. These data demonstrate a previously unrecognized effect of PD98059 on STAT3 and the GR that could have unanticipated consequences when used to infer the involvement of the MEK-1/2 protein kinase.     

Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid peptide is increased in mice deficient in endothelin-converting enzyme

The abnormal accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) in the brain is an early and invariant feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is believed to play a pivotal role in the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. As such, a major focus of AD research has been the elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for the generation of Abeta. As with any peptide, however, the degree of Abeta accumulation is dependent not only on its production but also on its removal. In cell-based and in vitro models we have previously characterized endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) as an Abeta-degrading enzyme that appears to act intracellularly, thus limiting the amount of Abeta available for secretion. To determine the physiological significance of this activity, we analyzed Abeta levels in the brains of mice deficient for ECE-1 and a closely related enzyme, ECE-2. Significant increases in the levels of both Abeta40 and Abeta42 were found in the brains of these animals when compared with age-matched littermate controls. The increase in Abeta levels in the ECE-deficient mice provides the first direct evidence for a physiological role for both ECE-1 and ECE-2 in limiting Abeta accumulation in the brain and also provides further insight into the factors involved in Abeta clearance in vivo.     

Risk Perception and Risk-Taking Behaviour during Adolescence: The Influence of Personality and Gender

This study investigated the influence of personality characteristics and gender on adolescents’ perception of risk and their risk-taking behaviour. Male and female participants (157 females: 116 males, aged 13–20) completed self-report measures on risk perception, risk-taking and personality. Male participants perceived behaviours as less risky, reportedly took more risks, were less sensitive to negative outcomes and less socially anxious than female participants. Path analysis identified a model in which age, behavioural inhibition and impulsiveness directly influenced risk perception, while age, social anxiety, impulsiveness, sensitivity to reward, behavioural inhibition and risk perception itself were directly or indirectly associated with risk-taking behaviour. Age and behavioural inhibition had direct relationships with social anxiety, and reward sensitivity was associated with impulsiveness. The model was representative for the whole sample and male and female groups separately. The observed relationship between age and social anxiety and the influence this may have on risk-taking behaviour could be key for reducing adolescent risk-taking behaviour. Even though adolescents may understand the riskiness of their behaviour and estimate their vulnerability to risk at a similar level to adults, factors such as anxiety regarding social situations, sensitivity to reward and impulsiveness may exert their influence and make these individuals prone to taking risks. If these associations are proven causal, these factors are, and will continue to be, important targets in prevention and intervention efforts.     

Change in Body Size and Mortality: Results from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study

Background

The association between change in weight or body mass index, and mortality is widely reported, however, both measures fail to account for fat distribution. Change in waist circumference, a measure of central adiposity, in relation to mortality has not been studied extensively.

Methods

We investigated the association between mortality and changes in directly measured waist circumference, hips circumference and weight from baseline (1990–1994) to wave 2 (2003–2007) in a prospective cohort study of people aged 40–69 years at baseline. Cox regression, with age as the time metric and follow-up starting at wave 2, adjusted for confounding variables, was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for change in body size in relation to mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Results

There were 1465 deaths (109 cancer, 242 cardiovascular disease) identified during an average 7.7 years of follow-up from 21 298 participants. Compared to minimal increase in body size, loss of waist circumference (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.09–1.47), weight (1.80; 1.54–2.11), or hips circumference (1.35; 1.15–1.57) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, particularly for older adults. Weight loss was associated with cardiovascular disease mortality (2.40; 1.57–3.65) but change in body size was not associated with obesity-related cancer mortality.

Conclusion

This study confirms the association between weight loss and increased mortality from all-causes for older adults. Based on evidence from observational cohort studies, weight stability may be the recommended option for most adults, especially older adults.