Stability subtypes of callous–unemotional traits and conduct disorder symptoms and their correlates

Callous unemotional traits and conduct disorder symptoms tend to co-occur across development, with existing evidence pointing to individual differences in the co-development of these problems. The current study identified groups of at risk adolescents showing stable (i.e., high on both conduct disorder and callous-unemotional symptoms, high only on either callous-unemotional or conduct disorder symptoms) or increasing conduct disorder and callous-unemotional symptoms. Data were collected from a sample of 2038 community adolescents between 15 and 18 years (1070 females, Mage = 16) of age. A longitudinal design was followed in that adolescent reports were collected at two time points, one year apart. Increases in conduct disorder symptoms and callous-unemotional traits were accompanied by increases in anxiety, depressive symptoms, narcissism, proactive and reactive aggression and decreases in self-esteem. Furthermore, adolescents with high and stable conduct disorder symptoms and callous-unemotional traits were consistently at high risk for individual, behavioral and contextual problems. In contrast, youth high on callous-unemotional traits without conduct disorder symptoms remained at low-risk for anxiety, depressive symptoms, narcissism, and aggression, pointing to a potential protective function of pure callous-unemotional traits against the development of psychopathological problems

Th1 Disabled Function in Response to TLR4 Stimulation of Monocyte-Derived DC from Patients Chronically-Infected by Hepatitis C Virus

Background: Lack of protective antibodies and inefficient cytotoxic responses are characteristics of chronic hepatitis C infection. A defect in dendritic cell (DC) function has thus been suspected, but this remains a controversial issue. Methods and Findings: Here we show that monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) from chronically-infected patients can mature in response to TLR1/2, TLR2/6 or TLR3 ligands. In contrast, when stimulated with the TLR4 ligand LPS, MoDC from patients show a profound defect in inducing IFNc secretion by allogeneic T cells. This defect is not due to defective phenotypic maturation or to the presence of HCV-RNA in DC or monocytes but is correlated to reduced IL-12 secretion by DC. Restoration of DC ability to stimulate IFNc secretion can be obtained by blocking MEK activation in DC, indicating that MEK/ ERK pathway is involved in the Th1 defect of MoDC. Monocytes from HCV patients present increased spontaneous secretion of cytokines and chemokines, especially MIP-1b. Addition of MIP-1b on healthy monocytes during differentiation results in DC that have Th1 defect characteristic of MoDC from HCV patients, suggesting that MIP-1b secretion by HCV monocytes participates in the Th1 defect of DC. Conclusions: Our data indicate that monocytes from HCV patients are activated in vivo. This interferes with their differentiation into DC, leading to deficient TLR4 signaling in these cells that are enable to induce a Th1 response. Thi

Repair of Parastomal Hernias with Biologic Grafts: A Systematic Review

Contains fulltext : 98303.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Biologic grafts are increasingly used instead of synthetic mesh for parastomal hernia repair due to concerns of synthetic mesh-related complications. This systematic review was designed to evaluate the use of these collagen-based scaffolds for the repair of parastomal hernias. METHODS: Studies were retrieved after searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL. The search terms 'paracolostomy', 'paraileostomy', 'parastomal', 'colostomy', 'ileostomy', 'hernia', 'defect', 'closure', 'repair' and 'reconstruction' were used. Selection of studies and assessment of methodological quality were performed with a modified MINORS index. All reports on repair of parastomal hernias using a collagen-based biologic scaffold to reinforce or bridge the defect were included. Outcomes were recurrence rate, mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: Four retrospective studies with a combined enrolment of 57 patients were included. Recurrence occurred in 15.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.8-25.9) of patients and wound-related complications in 26.2% (95% CI 14.7-39.5). No mortality or graft infections were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The use of reinforcing or bridging biologic grafts during parastomal hernia repair results in acceptable rates of recurrence and complications. However, given the similar rates of recurrence and complications achieved using synthetic mesh in this scenario, the evidence does not support use of biologic grafts

The complex genetic landscape of familial MDS and AML reveals pathogenic germline variants.

The inclusion of familial myeloid malignancies as a separate disease entity in the revised WHO classification has renewed efforts to improve the recognition and management of this group of at risk individuals. Here we report a cohort of 86 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) families with 49 harboring germline variants in 16 previously defined loci (57%). Whole exome sequencing in a further 37 uncharacterized families (43%) allowed us to rationalize 65 new candidate loci, including genes mutated in rare hematological syndromes (ADA, GP6, IL17RA, PRF1 and SEC23B), reported in prior MDS/AML or inherited bone marrow failure series (DNAH9, NAPRT1 and SH2B3) or variants at novel loci (DHX34) that appear specific to inherited forms of myeloid malignancies. Altogether, our series of MDS/AML families offer novel insights into the etiology of myeloid malignancies and provide a framework to prioritize variants for inclusion into routine diagnostics and patient management

Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch

Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a pioneer boreal tree that can be induced to flower within 1 year. Its rapid life cycle, small (440-Mb) genome, and advanced germplasm resources make birch an attractive model for forest biotechnology. We assembled and chromosomally anchored the nuclear genome of an inbred B. pendula individual. Gene duplicates from the paleohexaploid event were enriched for transcriptional regulation, whereas tandem duplicates were overrepresented by environmental responses. Population resequencing of 80 individuals showed effective population size crashes at major points of climatic upheaval. Selective sweeps were enriched among polyploid duplicates encoding key developmental and physiological triggering functions, suggesting that local adaptation has tuned the timing of and cross-talk between fundamental plant processes. Variation around the tightly-linked light response genes PHYC and FRS10 correlated with latitude and longitude and temperature, and with precipitation for PHYC. Similar associations characterized the growth-promoting cytokinin response regulator ARR1, and the wood development genes KAK and MED5A.Peer reviewe

La «domestication» du samba. L'expérience écossaise

Le samba (Triplochiton scleroxylon), comme la plupart des arbres forestiers, se bouture bien si les pieds mères sont traités correctement. L'enracinement est lié à l'âge des pieds mères, à leur capacité photosynthétique, à la quantité et la qualité de la lumière, et à la nutrition minérale ; il dépend aussi de l'origine de la bouture, de sa longueur, du nombre de nœuds et de la compétition entre pousses. Un bon enracinement est obtenu sur des boutures disposant d'une feuille de 50 cm2 dans un système amélioré de «poly-propagateur» à hydrométrie élevée (après un traitement d'auxine à raison de 40 μg par bouture) pour obtenir un équilibre raisonnable entre carbone et eau. Au Nigeria de fortes variations clonales de croissance montrent qu'une sélection portant sur 4% des clones apporterait un gain génétique de 100%. Un test simple de prédiction de branchaison peut diminuer rapidement le nombre des génotypes à mettre en expérimentation de terrain et permettre d'opérer un choix précoce sur la forme et la croissance. Des floraisons précoces ont déjà pu être obtenues sous serres en Écosse.The "domestication" of obeche: the Scottish experience. Triplochiton scleroxylon (obeche) is an indigenous hardwood of West Africa (fig 1), which has been widely exploited for timber, but only established in small plantations because of poor seed availability and short seed viability. Techniques have however been developed for low temperature (-18°C) seed storage. In addition, vegetative propagation techniques have been developed to provide an alternative form of planting stock. Single-node cuttings (fig 2A) root well when the stockplanis have been managed correctly. Rooting is enhanced by applications of auxin (fig 3), with an optimum dose of 40 μg per cutting. Trimming the leaf to about 50 cm2 optimises rooting, giving the best balance between photosynthesis and transpiration (ie carbon/water content). Rooting ability is strongly influenced by stockplant condition and physiological status. In addition, the origin of the cutting within a shoot (fig 4) and the position of the shoot within the stockplant pre-determine rooting ability. The differences in the rooting of cuttings from different shoots are affected by the level of competition between shoots for light (fig 5). Both the level of irradiance and its spectral composition influence this pre-conditioning effect of light through influences on leaf and stem morphology and their physiological status. To promote the implementation of these techniques in developing countries, improved, high-humidity non-mist poly-propagators have been developed. Through vegetative propagation, clones are formed, so offering the opportunity for selection of genetic superiority (fig 2B, C). Pronounced clonal variation in yield and form has been identified in Nigeria (fig 6), with the highest-yielding 4% giving a genetic gain of about 100% above the average of unselected material. A simple predictive test for branching habit has been developed (figs 7 and 8). This can greatly reduce the numbers of genotypes that need to be tested in field trials. Precocious flowering of obeche in glasshouses in Scotland indicates that there are opportunities to induce flowering at an early age and give a shorter generation time in a breeding programme. In this way, 2 generations of obeche seed (fig 2D) have been produced in less than 7 years. In conclusion, there are opportunities for highly productive clonal forestry with this species and a number of other West African hardwoods, provided appropriate forms of silviculture are developed