The nature and nurture of female receptivity:A study in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Reproductie vergt samenwerking tussen een man en een vrouw om nakomelingen te produceren. Mannetjes initiëren reproductie en verleiden het vrouwtje. Vrouwtjes besluiten of ze hierop ingaan. Vrouwelijke receptiviteit, de ontvankelijkheid tot paring, bepaald dus of een paring plaatsvindt. In dit proefschrift is onderzocht welke interne en externe factoren vrouwelijke receptiviteit beïnvloeden. Wat maakt dat een vrouwtje de verleiding van het mannetje accepteert en welke genen van het vrouwtje zijn belangrijk voor het bepalen van de receptiviteit? In dit proefschrift is beschreven hoe de aanwezigheid van voedsel en sociale context vrouwelijke receptiviteit beïnvloeden en hoe deze worden waargenomen. In omgevingen met grote aanwezigheid van voedsel en andere individuen verhogen vrouwtjes de receptiviteit na paring, maar niet als maagd. Van de genen die vrouwelijke receptiviteit bepalen zijn twee gerelateerde geurreceptoren direct van belang: eentje is alleen belangrijk voor de vrouwelijke receptiviteit na paring en de ander lijkt betrokken bij receptiviteit zowel voor als na paring. Daarnaast laten variatie in receptiviteit en de daarbij behorende genen zien dat de genetische architectuur voor receptiviteit voor en na paring verschillend zijn. Genen betrokken bij variatie in receptiviteit na paring lijken vaker betrokken bij processen voor leren en geheugen, terwijl genen voor maagdelijke receptiviteit betrokken zijn bij geurwaarneming. Samen laten deze resultaten zien dat receptiviteit voor en na paring verschillende mechanismen hebben. De receptiviteit na paring lijkt een complexer gedrag door de betrokkenheid van leren en geheugen en gevoeligheid voor omgevingsfactoren, wellicht om de investering in reproductie overeen te laten komen met de aanwezige bronnen.Reproduction is a cooperation between a male and a female to produce offspring. Males initiates reproduction and seduce the female. Females decide whether they accept the advances of the male. Female receptivity, the likelihood to accept mating, is therefore very influential on whether a mating is taking place. In this thesis, I investigated what internal and external factors influence female receptivity. What factors can persuade a female to accept the male’s advances and which genes of the female are important to determine receptivity? In this thesis, I describe the influence of food availability and social context on female receptivity and how this detected. In environments with high food availability or high social density, females increase receptivity after mating but not as virgin. Of the genes determining female receptivity, two related odorant receptor genes are necessary: one is necessary only for female receptivity after mating, whereas the other might be involved both before and after mating. Additionally, variation in receptivity and the underlying genes show that the genetic architecture of receptivity before and after mating are uncorrelated. Genes underlying variation in receptivity after mating seem more often associated to learning and memory processes, whereas genes for virgin receptivity are related to olfaction. Together these data suggest that receptivity before and after mating have different mechanisms and that receptivity after mating is a more complex behaviour involving learning and memory processes and influenced by environmental factors possibly to match the investment in reproduction to environmental resources

Appendicitis and its associated mortality and morbidity in infants up to 3 months of age:A systematic review

Background and Aims: Although appendicitis is rare in young infants, the reported mortality is high. Primary aim of this systematic review was to provide updated insights in the mortality and morbidity (postoperative complications, Clavien-Dindo grades I–IV) of appendicitis in infants ≤3 months of age. Secondary aims comprised the evaluation of patient characteristics, diagnostic work-up, treatment strategies, comorbidity, and factors associated with poor outcome. Methods: This systematic review was reported according to the PRISMA statement with a search performed in Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science (up to September 5th 2022). Original articles (published in English ≥1980) reporting on infants ≤3 months of age with appendicitis were included. Both patients with abdominal appendicitis and herniated appendicitis (such as Amyand's hernia) were considered. Data were provided descriptively. Results: In total, 131 articles were included encompassing 242 cases after identification of 4294 records. Overall, 184 (76%) of the 242 patients had abdominal and 58 (24%) had herniated appendicitis. Two-hundred (83%) of the patients were newborns (≤28 days) and 42 (17%) were infants between 29 days and ≤3 months of age. Either immediate, or after initial conservative treatment, 236 (98%) patients underwent surgical treatment. Some 168 (69%) patients had perforated appendicitis. Mortality was reported in 20 (8%) patients and morbidity in an additional 18 (8%). All fatal cases had abdominal appendicitis and fatal outcome was relatively more often reported in newborns, term patients, patients with relevant comorbidity, nonperforated appendicitis and those presented from home. Conclusion: Mortality was reported in 20 (8%) infants ≤3 months of age and additional morbidity in 18 (8%). All patients with fatal outcome had abdominal appendicitis. Several patient characteristics were relatively more often reported in infants with poor outcome and adequate monitoring, early recognition and prompt treatment may favour the outcome.</p

Transitional Care for Patients with Congenital Colorectal Diseases:An EUPSA Network Office, ERNICA, and eUROGEN Joint Venture

Background: Transition of care (TOC; from childhood into adulthood) of patients with anorectal malformations (ARM) and Hirschsprung disease (HD) ensures continuation of care for these patients. The aim of this international study was to assess the current status of TOC and adult care (AC) programs for patients with ARM and HD. Methods: A survey was developed by members of EUPSA, ERN eUROGEN, and ERNICA, including patient representatives (ePAGs), comprising of four domains: general information, general questions about transition to adulthood, and disease-specific questions regarding TOC and AC programs. Recruitment of centres was done by the ERNs and EUPSA, using mailing lists and social media accounts. Only descriptive statistics were reported. Results:In total, 82 centres from 21 different countries entered the survey. Approximately half of them were ERN network members. Seventy-two centres (87.8%) had a self-reported area of expertise for both ARM and HD. Specific TOC programs were installed in 44% of the centres and AC programs in 31% of these centres. When comparing centres, wide variation was observed in the content of the programs. Conclusion: Despite the awareness of the importance of TOC and AC programs, these programs were installed in less than 50% of the participating centres. Various transition and AC programs were applied, with considerable heterogeneity in implementation, content and responsible caregivers involved. Sharing best practice examples and taking into account local and National Health Care Programs might lead to a better continuation of care in the future. Level of Evidence: III.</p

Reduced right ventricular function on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is associated with uteroplacental impairment in tetralogy of Fallot

Background: Maternal right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (measured by echocardiography) is associated with impaired uteroplacental circulation, however echocardiography has important limitations in the assessment of RV function. We therefore aimed to investigate the association of pre-pregnancy RV and left ventricular (LV) function measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance with uteroplacental Doppler flow parameters in pregnant women with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). Methods: Women with repaired ToF were examined, who had been enrolled in a prospective multicenter study of pregnant women with congenital heart disease. Clinical data and CMR evaluation before pregnancy were compared with uteroplacental Doppler parameters at 20 and 32 weeks gestation. In particular, pulsatility index (PI) of uterine and umbilical artery were studied. Results: We studied 31 women; mean age 30 years, operated at early age. Univariable analyses showed that reduced RV ejection fraction (RVEF; P = 0.037 and P = 0.001), higher RV end-systolic volume (P = 0.004) and higher LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively) were associated with higher uterine or umbilical artery PI. With multivariable analyses (corrected for maternal age and body mass index), reduced RVEF before pregnancy remained associated with higher umbilical artery PI at 32 weeks (P = 0.002). RVEF was lower in women with high PI compared to women with normal PI during pregnancy (44% vs. 53%, p = 0.022). LV ejection fraction was not associated with uterine or umbilical artery PI. Conclusions: Reduced RV function before pregnancy is associated with abnormal uteroplacental Doppler flow parameters. It could be postulated that reduced RV function on pre-pregnancy CMR (≤2 years) is a predisposing factor for impaired placental function in women with repaired ToF.</p

Predictors of podiatry utilisation in Australia: the North West Adelaide Health Study

Background Foot problems are highly prevalent in the community; however no large population-based studies have examined the characteristics of those who do and do not access podiatry services in Australia. The aim of this study was to explore patterns of podiatry utilisation in a population-based sample of people aged 18 years and over living in the northwest region of Adelaide, South Australia.Methods The North West Adelaide Health Study is a representative longitudinal cohort study of 4,060 people randomly selected and recruited by telephone interview. The interview included questions regarding healthcare service utilisation in the past year. Data were also collected on education, income and major medical conditions.Results Overall, 9.5% of the total sample and 17.7% of those who reported foot pain had attended a podiatrist in the past year. Participants who had accessed podiatry treatment were more likely to be female, be aged over 45 years, be obese, and have major chronic medical conditions (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure). Those who reported foot pain but had not accessed a podiatrist were more likely to be male and be aged 20 to 34 years.Conclusion Only a small proportion of people who report foot pain have accessed podiatry services in the past year. There is a need to further promote podiatry services to the general community, particularly to men and younger people.Hylton B Menz, Tiffany K Gill, Anne W Taylor and Catherine L Hil