A SCIENTOMETRIC REVIEW ON LEUCISM IN WILD DOLPHINS

ABSTRACTLeucism, a category of partial albinism, has been observed in several marine mammals, including cetaceans. The underlying mutations, however, have not yet been identified, and a severe knowledge gap concerning this condition in these animals, has, therefore, been noted. In this context, the present study performed a scientometric-based review on leucism in dolphins, assessing the distribution of confirmed cases worldwide. Reports ranged from 1929 to 2019, with a total of only 14 records on confirmed leucism cases obtained from the literature. This extremely low number of records confirms the significant knowledge gap for leucism in dolphins, hindering further discussions and insightsinto the ecological and physiological implications of this condition. All records report on leucistic dolphin sightings in the northern hemisphere, except for one, in southeastern Brazil. The potential causes of this condition are discussed for the investigated populations, and the role of citizen science is highlighted as a potential tool to obtain further information on the subject.RESUMOO leucismo, uma categoria de albinismo parcial, tem sido observado em vários mamíferos marinhos, incluindo cetáceos. As mutações subjacentes, no entanto, ainda não foram identificadas, e uma grave lacuna de conhecimento sobre essa condição nesses animais foi observada. Neste contexto, o presente estudo realizou uma revisão baseada em cienciometria acerca de leucismo em golfinhos, avaliando a distribuição de casos confirmados ao redor do mundo. Registros variaram de 1929 a 2019, com um total de apenas 14 registros de casos confirmados de leucismo obtidos na literatura. Este número extremamente baixo de registros confirma a significativa lacuna de conhecimento do leucismo em golfinhos, dificultando discussões e percepções adicionais sobre as implicações ecológicas e fisiológicas dessa condição. Todos os registros relatam avistamentos de golfinhos leucísticos no hemisfério norte, exceto um, no sudeste do Brasil. As causas potenciais dessa condição são discutidas para as populações investigadas, e o papel da ciência cidadã é destacado como uma ferramenta potencial para obter mais informações sobre o assunto.Palavras-chave: Albinismo; Coloração anormal; Cetáceo; Análise cienciométrica; Avistamentos de golfinhos

Assessment of fecal steroid and thyroid hormone metabolites in eastern North Pacific gray whales

Baleen whale fecal samples have high potential for endocrine monitoring, which can be used as a non-invasive tool to identify the physiological response to disturbance events and describe population health and vital rates. In this study, we used commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to validate and quantify fecal steroid (progestins, androgens and glucocorticoids) and thyroid hormone metabolite concentrations in eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) along the Oregon coast, USA, from May to October of 2016–2018. Higher mean progestin metabolite concentrations were observed in postweaning females, followed by pregnant females. Mean androgen, glucocorticoid and thyroid metabolites were higher in mature males. Progestin, glucocorticoids and thyroid fecal metabolites varied significantly by year, with positive correlations between progestin and androgen, and between glucocorticoid and thyroid metabolites. We also present two case studies of a documented injured whale and a mature male displaying reproductive competitive behavior, which provide reference points for physiologically stressed individuals and adult breeding males, respectively. Our methods and findings advance the knowledge of baleen whale physiology, can help guide future research on whale physiology and can inform population management and conservation efforts regarding minimizing the impact of anthropogenic stressors on whales

A systematic review of progranulin concentrations in biofluids in over 7,000 people—assessing the pathogenicity of GRN mutations and other influencing factors

Background: Pathogenic heterozygous mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN) are a key cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), leading to significantly reduced biofluid concentrations of the progranulin protein (PGRN). This has led to a number of ongoing therapeutic trials aiming to treat this form of FTD by increasing PGRN levels in mutation carriers. However, we currently lack a complete understanding of factors that affect PGRN levels and potential variation in measurement methods. Here, we aimed to address this gap in knowledge by systematically reviewing published literature on biofluid PGRN concentrations. Methods: Published data including biofluid PGRN concentration, age, sex, diagnosis and GRN mutation were collected for 7071 individuals from 75 publications. The majority of analyses (72%) had focused on plasma PGRN concentrations, with many of these (56%) measured with a single assay type (Adipogen) and so the influence of mutation type, age at onset, sex, and diagnosis were investigated in this subset of the data. Results: We established a plasma PGRN concentration cut-off between pathogenic mutation carriers and non-carriers of 74.8 ng/mL using the Adipogen assay based on 3301 individuals, with a CSF concentration cut-off of 3.43 ng/mL. Plasma PGRN concentration varied by GRN mutation type as well as by clinical diagnosis in those without a GRN mutation. Plasma PGRN concentration was significantly higher in women than men in GRN mutation carriers (p = 0.007) with a trend in non-carriers (p = 0.062), and there was a significant but weak positive correlation with age in both GRN mutation carriers and non-carriers. No significant association was seen with weight or with TMEM106B rs1990622 genotype. However, higher plasma PGRN levels were seen in those with the GRN rs5848 CC genotype in both GRN mutation carriers and non-carriers. Conclusions: These results further support the usefulness of PGRN concentration for the identification of the large majority of pathogenic mutations in the GRN gene. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of considering additional factors, such as mutation type, sex and age when interpreting PGRN concentrations. This will be particularly important as we enter the era of trials for progranulin-associated FTD.</p

A História da Alimentação: balizas historiográficas

Os M. pretenderam traçar um quadro da História da Alimentação, não como um novo ramo epistemológico da disciplina, mas como um campo em desenvolvimento de práticas e atividades especializadas, incluindo pesquisa, formação, publicações, associações, encontros acadêmicos, etc. Um breve relato das condições em que tal campo se assentou faz-se preceder de um panorama dos estudos de alimentação e temas correia tos, em geral, segundo cinco abardagens Ia biológica, a econômica, a social, a cultural e a filosófica!, assim como da identificação das contribuições mais relevantes da Antropologia, Arqueologia, Sociologia e Geografia. A fim de comentar a multiforme e volumosa bibliografia histórica, foi ela organizada segundo critérios morfológicos. A seguir, alguns tópicos importantes mereceram tratamento à parte: a fome, o alimento e o domínio religioso, as descobertas européias e a difusão mundial de alimentos, gosto e gastronomia. O artigo se encerra com um rápido balanço crítico da historiografia brasileira sobre o tema

Body Condition and Hormone Assessment of Eastern North Pacific Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) and Associations with Ambient Noise

Anthropogenic activities have posed many threats to the oceans and marine life. Understanding how individuals are affected and physiologically respond to these threats is crucial and allows for management and conservation applications. I evaluated the overall health condition of a subpopulation of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) along the Oregon coast, United States, throughout three consecutive foraging seasons (2016-2018). I used an innovative and multifaceted approach, assessing gray whale body condition through drone photogrammetry and stress responses through fecal hormone metabolite (glucocorticoids - GCm) analysis. I also assessed individual identification and steroid and thyroid hormone metabolites (progestins - Pm, androgens – Am, and thyroid - Tm) to account for confounding factors (i.e., age, sex, reproductive state) and investigate inter-relationships between hormone metabolites. I investigated possible associations between gray whale body condition and upwelling remote sensing data (as an oceanographic proxy for prey) and between hormone metabolite concentrations and body condition. Additionally, I also explored possible associations between hormone metabolite concentrations and ambient noise and vessel traffic. A total of 171 individuals were photo-identified, 289 drone flights were conducted, 158 fecal samples were collected, and 1,128 hours of acoustic data were recorded. Gray whale body condition changed according to demographic units, time and upwelling conditions. Calves and pregnant females displayed the best body condition while lactating females exhibited the poorest. Gray whale body condition was significantly better in 2016 compared to 2017 and 2018 when overall body depletion was observed. Relatively low upwelling conditions were detected in 2016 and 2017 when compared to the previous three years or 2018. I hypothesized that the period of poor prey availability caused carry-over effects between foraging success and body condition in subsequent years. As for the hormone metabolites (HM), higher mean Pm concentrations were observed in postweaning and pregnant females while mature males displayed the highest mean Am, GCm and Tm concentrations. All HM, with exception to Am varied by year. Positive correlations were observed between Pm and Am, and between GCm and Tm. I also estimated putative thresholds that indicate pregnancy, maturity in males, active reproduction in males, and stress-related concentrations in gray whales. When investigating possible associations between mature whale body condition (i.e., non-pregnant and non-lactating females) and HM concentrations associated with stress (cortisol) and energy allocation (cortisol and thyroid hormones), I observed that GCm concentrations were explained by body condition, sex, year, and Tm, while Tm concentrations were explained by body condition, sex, year, and GCm. I described a negative correlation between GCm and body condition, which indicates that a poor nutritional condition increases stress-related hormone concentration in gray whales. I also described a positive correlation between GCm and Tm, which may indicate an involvement with common metabolic activities, such as carbohydrate utilization. Lastly, I described a strong correlation between ambient noise and vessel traffic along the coasts of Newport and Depoe Bay, OR. Then, I compared vessel traffic at different temporal scales with GCm concentrations, while accounting for confounding factors. I demonstrated that vessel counts from the previous day of the sample collection and sex displayed significant effects on GCm concentrations. All of these physiological findings and associations to changes in the environment address data gaps on the field and advance our knowledge on baleen whale physiology. Furthermore, these findings can ultimately be used to inform decision-making policies regarding the management and conservation efforts

Effectiveness of the peanut ball use for women with epidural analgesia in labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate, using the best level of evidence, the possible benefits and advantages of using peanut ball (PB) in women with an epidural during labour on the maternal and neonatal outcomes. This research was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PEDro, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases, with no period or language restrictions. The terms ‘labor’ and ‘peanut ball’ were used. Clinical trials (randomised and non-randomised) were included when comparing a group of parturients using PB with a control group under usual care. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomised were eligible for this systematic review. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed the quality of evidence which was evaluated by the GRADE system. Quantitative analysis through meta-analysis was also applied whenever possible. In this updated review, we included four studies with a total of 818 women in labour after the use of pharmacological analgesia. Our GRADE ratings of evidence ranged from high to low quality. Overall, the included studies varied in their risk of bias, in which most were considered with some concerns. There is high evidence that the use of PB after epidural analgesia reduces the duration of the first period of labour by 87 minutes and moderate evidence that it increases the chance of vaginal delivery 11%. However, there is no evidence about other maternal and neonatal outcomes.Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? The peanut ball (PB) is used after the use of pharmacological analgesia, as it favours the opening of the pelvic canal and helps women to adopt more comfortable postures, but its real effects are not clear. What do the results of this study add? Our results suggest that using the PB reduces the duration of the first period of labour after an epidural and increases the chance of a vaginal birth. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? These findings recommend the use of a PB after an epidural and further research with women without the use of pharmacological analgesia