Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO) in Eating Disorders: Evidence for Association of the rs9939609 Obesity Risk Allele with Bulimia nervosa and Anorexia nervosa

Objective: The common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9939609 in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is associated with obesity. As genetic variants associated with weight regulation might also be implicated in the etiology of eating disorders, we evaluated whether SNP rs9939609 is associated with bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN). Methods: Association of rs9939609 with BN and AN was assessed in 689 patients with AN, 477 patients with BN, 984 healthy non-population-based controls, and 3,951 population-based controls (KORA-S4). Based on the familial and premorbid occurrence of obesity in patients with BN, we hypothesized an association of the obesity risk A-allele with BN. Results: In accordance with our hypothesis, we observed evidence for association of the rs9939609 A-allele with BN when compared to the non-population-based controls (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.142, one-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.001-infinity; one-sided p = 0.049) and a trend in the population-based controls (OR = 1.124, one-sided 95% CI 0.932-infinity; one-sided p = 0.056). Interestingly, compared to both control groups, we further detected a nominal association of the rs9939609 A-allele to AN (OR = 1.181, 95% CI 1.027-1.359, two-sided p = 0.020 or OR = 1.673, 95% CI 1.101-2.541, two-sided p = 0.015,). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the obesity-predisposing FTO allele might be relevant in both AN and BN. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger GmbH, Freibur

Partitioning the Heritability of Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Reveals Differences in Genetic Architecture

The direct estimation of heritability from genome-wide common variant data as implemented in the program Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis (GCTA) has provided a means to quantify heritability attributable to all interrogated variants. We have quantified the variance in liability to disease explained

Influência de variedades de cana-de-açúcar, incorporadas em dieta artificial, no desenvolvimento de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) e no seu parasitismo por Cotesia flavipes (Cam.)

Verificou-se a influência de duas variedades de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.), incorparados em dieta artificial, na forma de colmos triturados, no desenvolvimento de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) e no parasitismo de Cotesia flavipes (Cam.). A variedade SP71-1081 foi menos adequada ao desenvolvimento de D. saccharalis comparada à SP71-3146, aumentando os períodos larval e pupal (dias) e, diminuindo o peso larval; não houve diferenças para as viabilidades larval e pupal e peso de pupa. Lagartas oriundas das dietas artificiais e lagartas alojadas no interior dos toletes das variedades de cana, foram igualmente parasitadas por C. flavipes. Lagartas criadas em dieta artificial contendo colmos triturados das variedades testadas, promoveram desenvolvimento semelhante de C. flavipes. A percentagem de parasitismo foi semelhante nas larvas criadas em dietas artificiais contendo colmos das variedades SP 71 - 1081 (84,0%) e SP 71-3146 (81,3%).In this study it was observed the influence of two sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties, that were included in an artificial diet as powdered stem, on development of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) and parasistism by Cotesia flavipes (Cam.). The variety SP71 - 1081 was less suitable (P ≤ 0.05) to D. saccharalis development than SP 71-3146, delaying larval and pupal period and decreasing larval weight; no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed for larval and pupal survival as well as pupal weight. D. saccharalis larvae reared on artificial diet and on sugarcane stem were equally preferred by the parasitoid C. flavipes. Larvae reared on artificial diet with powdered stem of the tested varieties promoted a similar development of C. flavipes. The percent of parasitism in the larvae reared in artificials diets contention of the SP 71-1081 (84.0%) and SP 71-3146 (81.3%) varieties were similar

Age estimation and back-calculation of fish length of the European hake, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) in Sardinian waters

Aim of the present study is to evaluate the growth parameters for the European hake, Merluccius merluccius, in Sardinian waters by means of otolith annual ring analysis, providing also an indirect validation through the use of back-calculation. A total of 283 individuals (of which 150 males, ranging from 8.5 to 42.1 cm TL, and 133 females, that ranged from 11.2 to 83.3 cm TL), collected during the MEDITS survey in 2012 and 2013, were selected for the age reading. The determination of the age was carried out on the whole otolith for fish with total length smaller than 20 cm while for the others a transversal section across the core was prepared. Hyaline rings count was performed twice by two different readers, showing good reproducibility (%CV= 13.9; IAPE= 10.69). The estimated von Bertalanffy parameters (± s.e.) were Linf= 53.26 ± 10.15, k= 0.17 ± 0.06, t0= -1.73 ± 0.26 and Linf= 102.77 ± 13.67, k= 0.09 ± 0.02, t0= -1.46 ± 0.13 respectively for males and females. Back-calculation, carried out on otolith sections through the measurement of the ventral radius of each annulus, has provided an estimation of fish size at each year. Mean length at each age class (1-6 for females, 1-4 for males) obtained with the two methods was compared individually showing no statistically significant differences (t-Student, p-value> 0.05), except for age class 1 for both sexes. This result is probably due to the difficulty, well-known in literature for the European hake, in the identification of the first year annulus, which could be confused with one of the false rings around the nucleus. Nevertheless, this procedure certainly offers a valuable mean for corroboration of the age determination when other validation analysis are not achievable

Diet of common stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca, a shallow water Elasmobranch in the Sardinian waters (Central-Western Mediterranean)

Stomach contents of 204 individuals of the common stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca, caught in the seas surrounding Sardinia (central-western Mediterranean), were analysed to assess the feeding ecology and the ontogenetic shifts in the diet. Specimens, 138 to 377 mm in DW, were collected from 2008 to 2010, during experimental trawl surveys (MEDITS and GRUND) conducted at depths between 27 and 56 m. Of all stomachs analysed, 20 were empty (%Cv = 9.8). In the remaining 184, 7 major prey taxa were found: Crustacea, Osteichthyes, Chondrichthyes, Mollusca, Polychaeta, Echinodermata and Cephalochordata. The low Levin’s index value (Bi = 0.04) indicated a strong stenophagous feeding behavior. Crustaceans (%IRItot = 91.6) were the most common preys. The diet was completed by Osteichthyes (%IRItot = 4.38) and Polychaetes (%IRItot = 3.99), while the other preys were occasional. Mysids, and particularly Gastrosaccus sanctus (%IRI = 58,9) were of fundamental importance among Crustaceans. Trophic level value (TROPH = 3.30 ± 0.43 s.e.) reflected the high relevance of these preys. The ontogenetic analysis of the diet, conducted on three size groups (89 immature, 96 subadults and 19 adults), revealed some differences in the feeding habits. During growth individuals seemed to replace small Crustaceans, as Mysids, with bigger and more mobile preys, as Decapod Crustaceans in subadults and Osteichthyes in adults. However, no statistical differences were found among diets. These ontogenetic shifts were, in fact, too slight to avoid competition, as revealed also by the high values of the Morisita’s index (CH = 0.99 between immature and subadults)

Explorative analysis on Mullus barbatus ageing data variability in Mediterranean basin

The uncertainty in age estimation by otolith reading may be at the root of the large variability in red mullet (Mullus barbatus) growth models in the Mediterranean. In the MEDITS survey, red mullet age data are produced following the same sampling protocol and otolith reading methodology. However, ageing is assigned using different interpretation schemes, including variations in theoretical birthdate and number of false rings considered, in addition to differences in the experience level of readers. The present work analysed the influence of these variations and the geographical location of sampling on red mullet ageing using a multivariate approach (principal component analysis). Reader experience was the most important parameter correlated with the variability. The number of rings considered false showed a significant effect on the variability in the first age groups but had less influence on the older ones. The effect of the theoretical birthdate was low in all age groups. Geographical location had a significant influence, with longitude showing greater effects than latitude. In light of these results, workshops, exchanges and the adoption of a common ageing protocol based on age validation studies are considered fundamental tools for improving precision in red mullet ageing

Spatial variability of Chondrichthyes in the Mediterranean

Thanks to the availability of the MEDITS survey data, a standardized picture of the occurrence and abundance of demersal Chondrichthyes in the northern Mediterranean has been obtained. During the spring-summer period between 2012 and 2015, 41 Chondrichthyes, including 18 sharks (5 orders and 11 families), 22 batoids (3 orders and 4 families) and 1 chimaera, were detected from several geographical sub-areas (GSAs) established by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Batoids had a preferential distribution on the continental shelf (10-200 m depth), while shark species were more frequent on the slope (200-800 m depth). Only three species, the Carcharhiniformes Galeus melastomus and Scylio-rhinus canicula and the Torpediniformes Torpedo marmorata were caught in all GSAs studied. On the continental shelf, the Rajidae family was the most abundant, being represented in primis by Raja clavata and then by R. miraletus, R. polystigmaand R. asterias. The slope was characterized by the prevalence of G. melastomus in all GSAs, followed by S. canicula, E. spinax and Squalus blainville. Areas under higher fishing pressure, such as the Adriatic Sea and the Spanish coast (with the exception of the Balearic Islands), show a low abundance of chondrichthyans, but other areas with a high level of fishing pressure, such as southwestern Sicily, show a high abundance, suggesting that other environmental drivers work together with fishing pressure to shape their distribution. Results of generalized additive models highlighted that depth is one of the most important environmental drivers influencing the distribution of both batoid and shark species, although temperature also showed a significant influence on their distribution. The approach explored in this work shows the possibility of producing maps modelling the distribution of demersal chondrichthyans in the Mediterranean that are useful for the management and conservation of these species at a regional scale. However, because of the vulnerability of these species to fishing exploita-tion, fishing pressure should be further incorporated in these models in addition to these environmental drivers