markers Of Vulnerability And Episodes In Paranoid And Nonparanoid Schizophrenics

The vulnerability model of schizophrenia (Zubin & Spring, 1977) postulates that individuals have a certain level of vulnerability to schizophrenia which is a relatively enduring trait. An episode of schizophrenia is hypothesized to be a function of this level and stressful events, either in the environment or as perceived by the person. One way of investigating this model is to locate both markers of vulnerability and episodes by comparing remitted and episodic schizophrenics, to see how they differ (potential episode markers) and how they are similar (potential vulnerability markers).;Schizophrenics in differing phases of illness have demonstrated a letter detection deficit under conditions of rapid processing (Asarnow & MacCrimmon, 1978). It was hypothesized that remitted and episodic paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenics would all show similar performances when compared to normal controls. This hypothesis was not borne out, as the remitted patients\u27 performance tended to fall in between the episodic and normal groups. Consequently, this deficit was found not to be a reliable vulnerability marker.;A decline in coping skills and cognitive appraisal of stressful events was postulated as marking the onset of an episode of illness. Remitted and episodic paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenics were hypothesized to differ in terms of how they appraised and coped with a stressor (noise). Remitted schizophrenics were found to be more socially competent than those who were episodic. For the episodics, the paranoids were more competent than the nonparanoids, as predicted, however, the reverse was true for the remitted group. There were consistent patterns of differences in coping strategies and predictions between paranoid and nonparanoids and it appeared that these tendencies to cope in certain ways may have been more long lasting than the episode itself.;Several vulnerability and episode markers other than those predicted emerged from the study, particularly physiological arousal (heartrate) and changes in measured intelligence as episode markers. Potential vulnerability markers were more difficult to assess, due to the influence of symptoms, but may be different physiological variables and response styles or coping predictions for certain subtypes of schizophrenics

A narnavirus-like element from the trypanosomatid protozoan parasite Leptomonas seymouri

Genome sequences were determined for a novel RNA virus, Leptomonas seymouri Narna-like virus 1 (LepseyNLV1). A 2.9-kb segment encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), while a smaller 1.5-kb segment showed no database search matches. This is the first report of bisegmented Narnaviridae from insect trypanosomatids

Leishmania sexual reproductive strategies as resolved through computational methods designed for aneuploid genomes

A cryptic sexual reproductive cycle i

A novel bunyavirus-like virus of trypanosomatid protist parasites

We report here the sequences for all three segments of a novel RNA virus (LepmorLBV1) from the insect trypanosomatid parasite Leptomonas moramango. This virus belongs to a newly discovered group of bunyavirus-like elements termed Leishbunyaviruses (LBV), the first discovered from protists related to arboviruses infecting humans

A Narnavirus in the trypanosomatid protist plant pathogen Phytomonas serpens

We describe here a new RNA virus (PserNV1) from the plant protist parasite Phytomonas serpens (family Trypanosomatidae, Kinetoplastida, supergroup Excavata). The properties of PserNV1 permit assignment to the genus Narnavirus (Narnaviridae), the first reported from a host other than fungi or oomycetes

Whole genome sequencing of experimental hybrids supports meiosis-like sexual recombination in Leishmania

Hybrid genotypes have been repeatedly described among natural isolates of Leishmania, and the recovery of experimental hybrids from sand flies co-infected with different strains or species of Leishmania has formally demonstrated that members of the genus possess the machinery for genetic exchange. As neither gamete stages nor cell fusion events have been directly observed during parasite development in the vector, we have relied on a classical genetic analysis to determine if Leishmania has a true sexual cycle. Here, we used whole genome sequencing to follow the chromosomal inheritance patterns of experimental hybrids generated within and between different strains of L. major and L. infantum. We also generated and sequenced the first experimental hybrids in L. tropica. We found that in each case the parental somy and allele contributions matched the inheritance patterns expected under meiosis 97–99% of the time. The hybrids were equivalent to F1 progeny, heterozygous throughout most of the genome for the markers that were homozygous and different between the parents. Rare, non-Mendelian patterns of chromosomal inheritance were observed, including a gain or loss of somy, and loss of heterozygosity, that likely arose during meiosis or during mitotic divisions of the progeny clones in the fly or culture. While the interspecies hybrids appeared to be sterile, the intraspecies hybrids were able to produce backcross and outcross progeny. Analysis of 5 backcross and outcross progeny clones generated from an L. major F1 hybrid, as well as 17 progeny clones generated from backcrosses involving a natural hybrid of L. tropica, revealed genome wide patterns of recombination, demonstrating that classical crossing over occurs at meiosis, and allowed us to construct the first physical and genetic maps in Leishmania. Altogether, the findings provide strong evidence for meiosis-like sexual recombination in Leishmania, presenting clear opportunities for forward genetic analysis and positional cloning of important genes.</div

Policy briefs from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health: report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

This major report, a key deliverable of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) to the Australian Government Department of Health, contains 10 policy briefs which overview evidence on mental health, violence and abuse, sexual health, reproductive health, pregnancy and maternal health, weight and weight gain, nutrition, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, chronic conditions and housing and care for older women

Self-hybridization in Leishmania major

Genetic exchange between differen