Longitudinal Changes in Total Brain Volume in Schizophrenia: Relation to Symptom Severity,Cognition and Antipsychotic Medication

Studies show evidence of longitudinal brain volume decreases in schizophrenia. We studied brain volume changes and their relation to symptom severity, level of function, cognition, and antipsychotic medication in participants with schizophrenia and control participants from a general population based birth cohort sample in a relatively long follow-up period of almost a decade. All members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 with any psychotic disorder and a random sample not having psychosis were invited for a MRI brain scan, and clinical and cognitive assessment during 1999–2001 at the age of 33–35 years. A follow-up was conducted 9 years later during 2008–2010. Brain scans at both time points were obtained from 33 participants with schizophrenia and 71 control participants. Regression models were used to examine whether brain volume changes predicted clinical and cognitive changes over time, and whether antipsychotic medication predicted brain volume changes. The mean annual whole brain volume reduction was 0.69% in schizophrenia, and 0.49% in controls (p = 0.003, adjusted for gender, educational level, alcohol use and weight gain). The brain volume reduction in schizophrenia patients was found especially in the temporal lobe and periventricular area. Symptom severity, functioning level, and decline in cognition were not associated with brain volume reduction in schizophrenia. The amount of antipsychotic medication (dose years of equivalent to 100 mg daily chlorpromazine) over the follow-up period predicted brain volume loss (p = 0.003 adjusted for symptom level, alcohol use and weight gain). In this population based sample, brain volume reduction continues in schizophrenia patients after the onset of illness, and antipsychotic medications may contribute to these reductions.     

Masculinization of the eruption pattern of permanent mandibular canines in opposite sex twin girls

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of prenatal androgenization on the clinical eruption of permanent teeth expressing dimorphism and bimaturism. The eruption curves of permanent teeth (except third molars), including those that make up the canine complex (permanent canines, lower first premolars), are compared among opposite sex twins (OS twins) relative to single‐born boys and girls. The comparisons are made with regard to three phases of eruption (pierced mucosa, half‐ erupted, and completely erupted) from a cross‐sectional sample of dental casts, using Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox regression analyzes. The casts were collected from 2159 school children from the US Collaborative Perinatal Project, including 39 pairs of OS‐twins, of which 12 pairs (30.8%) were Euro‐Americans and 27 pairs (69.2%) were of African‐American ancestry. The eruption patterns of the incisors, upper first molars, and lower canines were found to be significantly masculinized (delayed) among OS twin girls. The differences in most other teeth were either not significant, or the number of observations of active eruption phases were too few, such as in the upper first molars and incisors, to yield strong evidence and meaningful results. The masculinization of the tooth eruption pattern in OS twin girls is intriguing because of the lower canine responses during puberty, as well as canine primordial formation during early fetal androgenization of their co‐twin during the 8th to 14th gestational weeks. The present results offer a challenge for future research exploring tooth eruption mechanisms, and may also highlight some cases of delayed or ectopic canines, which are biased toward females. Am J Phys Anthropol 151:566–572, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Post-spawn migrations of hatchery-origin Oncorhynchus mykiss kelts in the Central Valley of California

We used acoustic telemetry to study the post-spawn movement of Oncorhynchus mykiss kelts released in April 2005 and 2006 from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery, Anderson, CA. Following release, O. mykiss kelts demonstrated both anadromous and non-anadromous life histories, with some fish alternating life history strategies between years. Anadromy was most common, characterized by a short-term residence near the release site, followed by sustained downstream emigration once initiated. O. mykiss kelts demonstrating anadromy arrived at the Golden Gate Bridge from April to mid-July. Repeat spawning migrations of anadromous O. mykiss kelts began from late-September through October of the year of release. High fidelity back to Battle Creek was observed, occurring from late-September through November. While most O. mykiss kelts were anadromous, at least 10 % remained in freshwater, or residualized. O. mykiss kelts that residualized demonstrated two distinct patterns of movement: 1) residency near the release location, and 2) potamodromy. Overall survival was high with 36 % and 48 % of O. mykiss kelts released making a repeat spawning migration and demonstrating iteroparity in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Increase in body lengths of O. mykiss kelts that returned to the Coleman NFH were significantly greater for anadromous fish, compared to fish that residualized, but survival was higher for fish that residualized. Release of hatchery O. mykiss kelts could result in both positive and negative genetic and ecological effects to hatchery- and naturally-producing salmonids. We believe the benefits of releasing O. mykiss kelts at the Coleman NFH, including increased numbers and size of fish in the recreational fishery and genetic and demographic benefits to the hatchery brood stock outweigh the limited risk to natural populations that would result from predation and competition of the relatively small number of O. mykiss kelts that resided in fresh water.     

FTO Genotype Is Associated With Exercise Training–induced Changes in Body Composition

The fat mass (FM) and obesity‐associated (FTO) gene is the first obesity‐susceptibility gene identified by genome‐wide association scans and confirmed in several follow‐up studies. Homozygotes for the risk allele (A/A) have 1.67 times greater risk of obesity than those who do not have the allele. However, it is not known whether regular exercise‐induced changes in body composition are influenced by the FTO genotype. The purpose of our study was to test whether the FTO genotype is associated with exercise‐induced changes in adiposity. Body composition was derived from underwater weighing before and after a 20‐week endurance training program in 481 previously sedentary white subjects of the HERITAGE Family Study. FTO single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs8050136 was genotyped using Illumina GoldenGate assay. In the sedentary state, the A/A homozygotes were significantly heavier and fatter than the heterozygotes and the C/C homozygotes in men (P = 0.004) but not in women (P = 0.331; gene‐by‐sex interaction P = 0.0053). The FTO genotype was associated with body fat responses to regular exercise (P < 0.005; adjusted for age, sex, and baseline value of response trait): carriers of the C allele showed three times greater FM and %body fat losses than the A/A homozygotes. The FTO genotype explained 2% of the variance in adiposity changes. Our data suggest that the FTO obesity‐susceptibility genotype influences the body fat responses to regular exercise. Resistance to exercise‐induced reduction in total adiposity may represent one mechanism by which the FTO A allele promotes overweight and obesity.     

A novel fed-batch based cultivation method provides high cell-density and improves yield of soluble recombinant proteins in shaken cultures

Background  

Cultivations for recombinant protein production in shake flasks should provide high cell densities, high protein productivity per cell and good protein quality. The methods described in laboratory handbooks often fail to reach these goals due to oxygen depletion, lack of pH control and the necessity to use low induction cell densities. In this article we describe the impact of a novel enzymatically controlled fed-batch cultivation technology on recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli in simple shaken cultures.     

The Human Obesity Gene Map: The 2000 Update

This report constitutes the seventh update of the human obesity gene map incorporating published results up to the end of October 2000. Evidence from the rodent and human obesity cases caused by single‐gene mutations, Mendelian disorders exhibiting obesity as a clinical feature, quantitative trait loci uncovered in human genome‐wide scans and in cross‐breeding experiments in various animal models, and association and linkage studies with candidate genes and other markers are reviewed. Forty‐seven human cases of obesity caused by single‐gene mutations in six different genes have been reported in the literature to date. Twenty‐four Mendelian disorders exhibiting obesity as one of their clinical manifestations have now been mapped. The number of different quantitative trait loci reported from animal models currently reaches 115. Attempts to relate DNA sequence variation in specific genes to obesity phenotypes continue to grow, with 130 studies reporting positive associations with 48 candidate genes. Finally, 59 loci have been linked to obesity indicators in genomic scans and other linkage study designs. The obesity gene map reveals that putative loci affecting obesity‐related phenotypes can be found on all chromosomes except chromosome Y. A total of 54 new loci have been added to the map in the past 12 months and the number of genes, markers, and chromosomal regions that have been associated or linked with human obesity phenotypes is now above 250. Likewise, the number of negative studies, which are only partially reviewed here, is also on the rise.     

Midlife vascular risk factors and Alzheimer's disease in later life: longitudinal,population based study

Objective To examine the relation of midlife raised blood pressure and serum cholesterol concentrations to Alzheimer''s disease in later life.Design Prospective, population based study.SettingPopulations of Kuopio and Joensuu, eastern Finland.ParticipantsParticipants were derived from random, population based samples previously studied in a survey carried out in 1972, 1977, 1982, or 1987. After an average of 21 years'' follow up, a total of 1449 (73%) participants aged 65-79 took part in the re-examination in 1998.Results People with raised systolic blood pressure (⩾160 mm Hg) or high serum cholesterol concentration (⩾6.5 mmol/l) in midlife had a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer''s disease in later life, even after adjustment for age, body mass index, education, vascular events, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, than those with normal systolic blood pressure (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 5.5) or serum cholesterol (odds ratio 2.1, 1.0 to 4.4). Participants with both of these risk factors in midlife had a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer''s disease than those with either of the risk factors alone (odds ratio 3.5, 1.6 to 7.9). Diastolic blood pressure in midlife had no significant effect on the risk of Alzheimer''s disease.Conclusion Raised systolic blood pressure and high serum cholesterol concentration, and in particular the combination of these risks, in midlife increase the risk of Alzheimer''s disease in later life.

What is already known on this topic

Vascular risk factors may play an important part as risk factors for Alzheimer''s diseaseNo population based studies have evaluated prospectively the impact of both midlife blood pressure and cholesterol concentration in both men and women on the subsequent development of Alzheimer''s disease

What this study adds

Raised systolic blood pressure and high serum cholesterol concentration, and in particular the combination of these risks, in midlife increased the risk of Alzheimer''s disease in later lifeRaised systolic blood pressure and hypercholesterolaemia may have a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer''s disease; more emphasis should be placed on identification and appropriate treatment of these conditions     

Towards sustainable land use: identifying and managing the conflicts between human activities and biodiversity conservation in Europe

Conflicts between biodiversity conservation and human activities are becoming increasingly apparent in all European landscapes. The intensification of agricultural and silvicultural practices, land abandonment and other land uses such as recreation and hunting are all potential threats to biodiversity that can lead to conflicts between stakeholder livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. To address the global decline in biodiversity there is, therefore, a need to identify the drivers responsible for conflicts between human activities and the conservation of European biodiversity and to promote the management of these conflicts. Here, the drivers of biodiversity conflicts are analysed in a European context for five habitat types: agricultural landscapes, forests, grasslands, uplands and freshwater habitats. A multi- disciplinary approach to conflict management is described, with active stakeholder involvement at every stage of conflict identification and management as well as a range of other approaches including stakeholder dialogue and education, consumer education, improvement of political and legislative frameworks, financial incentives, and planning infrastructure.