Increased heterozygosity for MHC class II lineages in newborn males.

In plants, fungi and marine invertebrates, there are genetic compatibility systems to ensure diversity in the offspring. The importance of genetic compatibility in gametic union and selective abortion in vertebrate animals has also been appreciated recently. There have been suggestions that the major histocompatibility complex (HLA in humans) may be a compatibility system in vertebrates. HLA class II haplotypes often contain a second expressed DRB locus which can be either DRB3, DRB4 or DRB5. These encode the supertypical specificities and mark the ancestral lineages. The members of each lineage have related DNA sequences at the main class II locus HLA-DRB1. We analysed 415 newborns at all expressed DRB loci by PCR analysis to seek evidence for sex-specific prenatal selection events. While there was no significant change in heterozygosity rates between males and females at DRB1, the proportion of males carrying two DRB1 specificities from different ancestral lineages was significantly increased (53.7% in males vs 39.3% in females, P = 0.003). The genotypes consisting of phylogenetically most distinct ones, namely the DRB3 and DRB4 haplotypes, showed the most striking difference between sexes (P = 0.007). These results suggested a more favourable outcome for male concepti heterozygous for supertypical haplotypes. Heterozygosity for most divergent haplotypical families ensures the highest degree of functional heterozygosity at the main HLA class II locus DRB1 while increasing the likelihood of heterozygosity also at other MHC loci. Our observations agree with the previously reported heterozygote excess in male newborn rats and mice. Correlations between MHC class II heterozygosity and advertised male quality in deer and pheasant as well as increased reproductive success in MHC class II heterozygous male macaques are examples of postnatal benefits of heterozygosity in males that may be behind the development of prenatal selection mechanisms. The MHC-mediated prenatal selection of males may also be one of the selective events suggested by the very high primary (male-to-female) sex ratio at fertilization reaching close to unity at birth in humans. These results provide an appealing working hypothesis for further studies in humans and other vertebrates

Safety and side effects of non-pharmacological interventions as a therapy for cancer

Persons diagnosed with cancer are increasingly using non-pharmacological interventions as a therapy for cancer, either independently or in addition to usual medical treatment. Within mainstream medical systems, information availability and access to these therapies is generally limited and patients’ usage is commonly self-initiated. Self-initiation raises issues regarding personal safety, efficacy of the intervention, and the minimisation of potential side effects. A search was undertaken to identify relevant scientific literature related to the use of 15 non-pharmacological interventions widely used in cancer populations as therapy: acupuncture, biofeedback, exercise, meditation, music, visualization/guided imagery, yoga, kinesiology, massage, reflexology, healing touch, Qigong, Reiki, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. These interventions were classified as mind-body, touch-based or energy-based therapies. This literature search was not intended to be a systematic review, but a comprehensive assessment of current scientific publications relating to the safety and side effects of each intervention. This chapter reveals that such interventions had been used in a number of different countries worldwide, in a variety of cancer populations, to address approximately 23 different symptoms associated with the experience of cancer. For all of the interventions reviewed, the recorded occurrence of side effects was minimal. Safety issues and precautions were rarely discussed in the literature relating to these non-pharmacological therapies, apart from the literature relating to the use of exercise. For hospitals considering the use of non-pharmacological interventions, a framework to facilitate the safe administration of non-pharmacological interventions as a therapy for cancer is presented. There are six main elements of this framework: the considered selection of non-pharmacological interventions, recruitment of quality practitioners, provision of oncology education and preparation for the care of persons with cancer, the use of clinical practice guidelines for each intervention, careful monitoring of persons receiving non-pharmacological interventions, and adherence to the principles of occupational health and safety. It is important that these elements are addressed by hospitals offering non-pharmacological interventions. In addition, the provision of detailed and accurate information to enable patients to continue certain therapies independently and after hospitalisation is also essential