Early Diagnosis in Prader-Willi Syndrome Reduces Obesity and Associated Co-Morbidities.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is an imprinting genetic disorder characterized by lack of expression of genes on the paternal chromosome 15q11-q13 region. Growth hormone (GH) replacement positively influences stature and body composition in PWS. Our hypothesis was that early diagnosis delays onset of obesity in PWS. We studied 352 subjects with PWS, recruited from the NIH Rare Disease Clinical Research Network, to determine if age at diagnosis, ethnicity, gender, and PWS molecular class influenced the age they first become heavy, as determined by their primary care providers, and the age they first developed an increased appetite and began seeking food. The median ages that children with PWS became heavy were 10 years, 6 years and 4 years for age at diagnosis < 1 year, between 1 and 3 years, and greater than 3 years of age, respectively. The age of diagnosis and ethnicity were significant factors influencing when PWS children first became heavy (p < 0.01), however gender and the PWS molecular class had no influence. Early diagnosis delayed the onset of becoming heavy in individuals with PWS, permitting early GH and other treatment, thus reducing the risk of obesity-associated co-morbidities. Non-white individuals had an earlier onset of becoming heavy

Spitefulness and moral values

a b s t r a c t The relationship between spitefulness and an individual's sense of morality or lack thereof has been neglected in studies of personality. It seems probable that individuals with higher levels of spitefulness exhibit fewer moral concerns relative to those with lower levels of spite. To examine associations between spitefulness and moral concerns, 436 community participants completed self-report measures concerning their spitefulness, basic personality dimensions, and moral concerns. Spitefulness was negatively associated with individualizing values (i.e., sensitivity to harm and fairness) such that spiteful individuals were less concerned about issues related to avoiding harm or injustice to others when making moral judgments. However, spitefulness was not simply associated with a general reduction in moral concerns as it was not significantly associated with binding values (i.e., concerns about ingroup loyalty, authority, and purity)

Multicentre study of maternal and neonatal outcomes in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.

INTRODUCTION:Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder associated with three different genetic subtypes: deletion of the paternal copy of 15q11-q13, maternal UPD for chromosome 15 and imprinting defect. Patients are typically diagnosed because of neonatal hypotonia, dysmorphism and feeding difficulties; however, data on the prenatal features of PWS are limited. OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study was to identify and compare frequencies of prenatal and neonatal clinical features of PWS among the three genetic subtypes. METHODS:Data from 355 patients with PWS from the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network PWS registry were used to analyse multiple maternal and neonatal factors collected during an 8-year multisite study. RESULTS:Among our cohort of 355 patients with PWS (61% deletion, 36% UPD and 3% imprinting defect) 54% were born by caesarean section, 26% were born prematurely and 34% with a low birth weight (frequencies 32%, 9.6% and 8.1%, respectively, in the general population). Fetal movements were reported as decreased in 72%. All babies were hypotonic, and 99% had feeding difficulties. Low Apgar scores (<7) were noted in 17.7% and 5.6% of patients, respectively, compared with 1% and 1.4%, respectively, in the general population. Maternal age and pre-pregnancy weight were significantly higher in the UPD group (p=0.01 and <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION:We found a higher rate of perinatal complications in PWS syndrome compared with the general population. No significant differences in the genetic subtypes were noted except for a higher maternal age and pre-pregnancy weight in the UPD subgroup

Spitefulness and moral values

a b s t r a c t The relationship between spitefulness and an individual's sense of morality or lack thereof has been neglected in studies of personality. It seems probable that individuals with higher levels of spitefulness exhibit fewer moral concerns relative to those with lower levels of spite. To examine associations between spitefulness and moral concerns, 436 community participants completed self-report measures concerning their spitefulness, basic personality dimensions, and moral concerns. Spitefulness was negatively associated with individualizing values (i.e., sensitivity to harm and fairness) such that spiteful individuals were less concerned about issues related to avoiding harm or injustice to others when making moral judgments. However, spitefulness was not simply associated with a general reduction in moral concerns as it was not significantly associated with binding values (i.e., concerns about ingroup loyalty, authority, and purity)

Nf-κb Inhibition Rescues Cardiac Function By Remodeling Calcium Genes In A Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Model

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder causing progressive muscle degeneration. Although cardiomyopathy is a leading mortality cause in DMD patients, the mechanisms underlying heart failure are not well understood. Previously, we showed that NF-κB exacerbates DMD skeletal muscle pathology by promoting inflammation and impairing new muscle growth. Here, we show that NF-κB is activated in murine dystrophic (mdx) hearts, and that cardiomyocyte ablation of NF-κB rescues cardiac function. This physiological improvement is associated with a signature of upregulated calcium genes, coinciding with global enrichment of permissive H3K27 acetylation chromatin marks and depletion of the transcriptional repressors CCCTC-binding factor, SIN3 transcription regulator family member A, and histone deacetylase 1. In this respect, in DMD hearts, NF-κB acts differently from its established role as a transcriptional activator, instead promoting global changes in the chromatin landscape to regulate calcium genes and cardiac function

Measuring Five Dimensions of Religiosity Across Adolescence

This paper theorizes and tests a latent variable model of adolescent religiosity in which five dimensions of religiosity are interrelated: religious beliefs, religious exclusivity, external religiosity, private practice, and religious salience. Research often theorizes overlapping and independent influences of single items or dimensions of religiosity on outcomes such as adolescent sexual behavior, but rarely operationalizes the dimensions in a measurement model accounting for their associations with each other and across time. We use longitudinal structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables to analyze data from two waves of the National Study of Youth and Religion. We test our hypothesized measurement model as compared to four alternate measurement models and find that our proposed model maintains superior fit. We then discuss the associations between the five dimensions of religiosity we measure and how these change over time. Our findings suggest how future research might better operationalize multiple dimensions of religiosity in studies of the influence of religion in adolescence

Preferences of Peromyscus lecucopus for pupae or larvae of Lymantria dispar and for seed in northern Michigan.

Oak masting affects population density of the white-footed mouse in the eastern U.S. Mouse predation affects gypsy moth population size and may help control gypsy moth outbreaks. In these experiments, we examined whether similar interactions between oak masting, mice, and gypsy moth populations occur in northern Michigan. We used a field experiment to demonstrate that mice consume gypsy moth pupae in the wild, although only two out of 80 pupae provided were eaten. In controlled laboratory experiments conducted in cages, mice chose seed over larvae in 9 of 18 trials (Binomial test, p>0.05). In 18 of 25 trials, a large larvae was eaten prior to a small larvae (Binomial Test, p0.05, df=1).http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54808/1/3249.pdfDescription of 3249.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station

Fusion Fall 2006

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/fusion/4/thumbnail.jp

Conservation management plan for Waldron Fen, Emmet County, Michigan.

In creating conservation goals for Waldron Fen, a variety of existing factors need to be acknowledged and considered. The unique circumstances of the Waldrons are not the same as those of the Fens R Important Conservancy (FRIC). The Waldrons envision the land's primary purpose as a bird sanctuary, while FRIC would like to see the preserve function as much like a natural system as possible. With the latter goal in mind, FRIC recommends conducting research on the native biota and processes of the Waldron Fen and similar fens. The next step would be to design and implement a wetland restoration and enhancement plan. Restoration of the fen includes removing many of the conifers (intended as a Christmas tree plantation by the original landowner) and planting the areas with a more traditional scrub/scrub ground cover found surrounding wetlands. The fen enhancement encompasses the removal of exotic species like Autumn Olive, which was planted to attract birds, and the maintenance of surrounding greenlands. Waldron Fen has not suffered any severe environmental degradation, so long-term monitoring does not appear to be necessary. The do-nothing approach with careful observation of the potential detrimental actions of neighbors will be sufficient. The Waldron Fen is currently in transition from a fen into a bog, as evidenced by the pH and species present in the area. This feature makes the fen especially interesting for research and education about the natural progression of a wetland. FRIC's maintenance of the wetland will allow for this natural change to occur, and will not interfere with the natural processes that accompany this change. For this reason, particular care should be taken in making any changes to the landscape so that the natural integrity of the land may be preserved. Ultimately, FRIC hopes that Waldron Fen will function in the same manner as any healthy wetland -- as a habitat for species both rare and common, an area of recreational value for nature study, bird watching and canoeing, as an area for research and education, and for open space and aesthetics.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54706/1/3147.pdfDescription of 3147.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station