Candidate Gene Screen in the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium Reveals Six3 as Ancient Regulator of Anterior Median Head and Central Complex Development

Several highly conserved genes play a role in anterior neural plate patterning of vertebrates and in head and brain patterning of insects. However, head involution in Drosophila has impeded a systematic identification of genes required for insect head formation. Therefore, we use the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum in order to comprehensively test the function of orthologs of vertebrate neural plate patterning genes for a function in insect head development. RNAi analysis reveals that most of these genes are indeed required for insect head capsule patterning, and we also identified several genes that had not been implicated in this process before. Furthermore, we show that Tc-six3/optix acts upstream of Tc-wingless, Tc-orthodenticle1, and Tc-eyeless to control anterior median development. Finally, we demonstrate that Tc-six3/optix is the first gene known to be required for the embryonic formation of the central complex, a midline-spanning brain part connected to the neuroendocrine pars intercerebralis. These functions are very likely conserved among bilaterians since vertebrate six3 is required for neuroendocrine and median brain development with certain mutations leading to holoprosencephaly

Anorexia is Independently Associated with Decreased Muscle Mass and Strength in Community Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the association between anorexia and sarcopenia in community dwelling older adults.MethodAnorexia was assessed by Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) and sarcopenia defined by EWSGOP criteria. Study participants consisted of 442 patients from Turkish validation study of the SNAQ. Study is designed as cross-sectional in community dwelling outpatients.MeasurementsMuscle mass was determined by using bioimpedance analysis. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) was calculated as SMM (kg)/height (m)(2). Muscle strength was evaluated by hand grip strength (HGS) with Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Gait speed (GS) was assessed by usual 4 meters speed. Depression and quality of life were assessed by using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Euro-Quality of Life-5D(EQ-5D). Univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis were run to evaluate the association between poor appetite and components of sarcopenia.ResultsPrevalences of low HGS, low gait speed and sarcopenia were higher in group with poor appetite (p=0.001, p<0.0001, p=0.036, respectively). Depression and constipation were more prevalent in participants with poor appetite (p<0.0001, p=0.033, respectively). SNAQ was correlated with SMMI and EQ-5D. Regression analysis showed that lower muscle mass, lower SMMI, and lower HGS were independently associated with poor appetite after adjustment for confounders. Neither gait speed nor diagnosis of sarcopenia was associated with poor appetite in regression analysis models.ConclusionWe observed poor appetite has independent association with lower skeletal muscle mass and decreased muscle strength. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate exact relationship between poor appetite and sarcopenia

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF TURKISH VERSION OF THE SIMPLIFIED NUTRITIONAL APPETITE QUESTIONNAIRE (SNAQ)

Objective: We aimed to investigate reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) in geriatric outpatients.Design/Setting: A cross-sectional study was designed through 2013-2016 years. At first, translation and back translation processes of the SNAQ from English to Turkish languages were done consecutively. Then construct validity was performed. Participants: They were recruited among the outpatients aged >=60 years that were consecutively admitted to the geriatric outpatient clinic of the Istanbul University hospital. Measurements: Demographic data was recorded. SNAQ, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), six-item Katz activities of daily living (ADL) and eight-item Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scales were applied. Results: 442 participants consisted of 305 women and 137 men with a mean age of 77.1 +/- 6.8 years. The SNAQ identified 21.5% (n=95) of the participants with poor appetite. Reliability analysis showed good inter-rater reliability (r=0.693, p<0.05) and test-retest stability (r=0.654, p<0.05). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.522. In terms of construct validity of SNAQ, Cohen's kappa analysis showed fair to moderate agreement between SNAQ and MNA (x = 0,355, p<0.001). Female gender, being illiterate, functional dependency in IADL were significantly associated with poor appetite. The SNAQ score was weakly correlated with scores of MNA-SF and MNA-LF (r=0.392 and r=0.380, respectively, p<0.0001 for both). There was statistically significantbut negligible correlation between the SNAQ and Katz ADL index, Lawton IADL index, and age. Conclusion: Turkish version of the SNAQ is a simple measurement with sufficient reliability and validity to screen poor appetite in community-dwelling older adults

Reliability and Validity of Turkish Version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ)

Objective: We aimed to investigate reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) in geriatric outpatients.Design/Setting: A cross-sectional study was designed through 2013-2016 years. At first, translation and back translation processes of the SNAQ from English to Turkish languages were done consecutively. Then construct validity was performed. Participants: They were recruited among the outpatients aged >=60 years that were consecutively admitted to the geriatric outpatient clinic of the Istanbul University hospital. Measurements: Demographic data was recorded. SNAQ, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), six-item Katz activities of daily living (ADL) and eight-item Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scales were applied. Results: 442 participants consisted of 305 women and 137 men with a mean age of 77.1 +/- 6.8 years. The SNAQ identified 21.5% (n=95) of the participants with poor appetite. Reliability analysis showed good inter-rater reliability (r=0.693, p<0.05) and test-retest stability (r=0.654, p<0.05). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.522. In terms of construct validity of SNAQ, Cohen's kappa analysis showed fair to moderate agreement between SNAQ and MNA (x = 0,355, p<0.001). Female gender, being illiterate, functional dependency in IADL were significantly associated with poor appetite. The SNAQ score was weakly correlated with scores of MNA-SF and MNA-LF (r=0.392 and r=0.380, respectively, p<0.0001 for both). There was statistically significantbut negligible correlation between the SNAQ and Katz ADL index, Lawton IADL index, and age. Conclusion: Turkish version of the SNAQ is a simple measurement with sufficient reliability and validity to screen poor appetite in community-dwelling older adults