Female reproductive strategy predicts preferences for sexual dimorphism in male faces

The aim of the current studies was to test an assumption that variation in female preferences for sexually dimorphic male facial characteristics reflects strategic optimisation of investment in offspring. A negative relationship was predicted between ideal number of children and preferences for masculine male face shapes, as the benefits of securing paternal investment should outweigh the benefits of securing good genes as the costs of raising offspring increase. In Study 1 desired number of children and preferences for masculine face shapes were compared in a sample of female students. In study 2, the prediction was tested in a sample with a wider age profile while controlling for relationship status. Preferences for explicit partner characteristics were also assessed. The prediction was supported: women who desired a higher number of children preferred more feminine male face shapes and ranked cues to investment of parental care over cues to immunocompetence in a partner more highly than those who desired fewer children. Results indicate that female mate preferences vary with reproductive strategy and support assumptions that preferences for feminine male faces reflect preferences for “good dads”

Performance of p16INK4a ELISA as a primary cervical cancer screening test among a large cohort of HIV-infected women in western Kenya: a 2-year cross-sectional study.

ObjectiveA biomarker with increased specificity for cervical dysplasia compared with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing would be an attractive option for cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected women in resource-limited settings. p16(INK4a) has been explored as a biomarker for screening in general populations.DesignA 2-year cross-sectional study.Setting2 large HIV primary care clinics in western Kenya.Participants1054 HIV-infected women in western Kenya undergoing cervical cancer screening as part of routine HIV care from October 2010 to November 2012.InterventionsParticipants underwent p16(INK4a) specimen collection and colposcopy. Lesions with unsatisfactory colposcopy or suspicious for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ (CIN2+; including CIN2/3 or invasive cervical cancer) were biopsied. Following biopsy, disease status was determined by histopathological diagnosis.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe measured the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of p16(INK4a) ELISA for CIN2+ detection among HIV-infected women and compared them to the test characteristics of current screening methods used in general as well as HIV-infected populations.ResultsAverage p16(INK4a) concentration in cervical samples was 37.4 U/mL. After colposcopically directed biopsy, 127 (12%) women were determined to have CIN2+. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.664 for p16(INK4a) to detect biopsy-proven CIN2+. At a p16(INK4a) cut-off level of 9 U/mL, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 89.0%, 22.9%, 13.6% and 93.8%, respectively. The overall p16(INK4a) positivity at a cut-off level of 9 U/mL was 828 (78.6%) women. There were 325 (30.8%) cases of correct p16(INK4a) prediction to detect or rule out CIN2+, and 729 (69.2%) cases of incorrect p16(INK4a) prediction.Conclusionsp16(INK4a) ELISA did not perform well as a screening test for CIN2+ detection among HIV-infected women due to low specificity. Our study contributes to the ongoing search for a more specific alternative to HPV testing for CIN2+ detection

Individual differences in preferences for cues to intelligence in the face

Date of acceptance: 03/02/2014We tested for individual differences in women's preferences for cues to intelligence in male faces in accordance with hormonal status (i.e. menstrual cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives), relationship status and context, and self-rated intelligence. There were no effects of hormonal or relationship status (Studies 1 and 2) on preferences. There was, however, a positive relationship between self-rated intelligence and preferences for cues to intelligence in the face in the context of a long-term relationship, suggesting context-specific assortment (Study 3). In Study 4, self-rated partner intelligence correlated with preferences for facial cues to intelligence. We discuss these results in the context of intelligence as a fitness indicator and suggest that future research must control for assortative mating for cognitive traits in order to better understand intelligence in mate choice.PostprintPeer reviewe

Association between genetic polymorphisms and endometrial cancer risk: a systematic review.

Funder: national institute of health researchINTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women. Although there is a hereditary component to endometrial cancer, most cases are thought to be sporadic and lifestyle related. The aim of this study was to systematically review prospective and retrospective case-control studies, meta-analyses and genome-wide association studies to identify genomic variants that may be associated with endometrial cancer risk. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL from 2007 to 2019 without restrictions. We followed PRISMA 2009 guidelines. The search yielded 3015 hits in total. Following duplicate exclusion, 2674 abstracts were screened and 453 full-texts evaluated based on our pre-defined screening criteria. 149 articles were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: We found that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HNF1B, KLF, EIF2AK, CYP19A1, SOX4 and MYC were strongly associated with incident endometrial cancer. Nineteen variants were reported with genome-wide significance and a further five with suggestive significance. No convincing evidence was found for the widely studied MDM2 variant rs2279744. Publication bias and false discovery rates were noted throughout the literature. CONCLUSION: Endometrial cancer risk may be influenced by SNPs in genes involved in cell survival, oestrogen metabolism and transcriptional control. Larger cohorts are needed to identify more variants with genome-wide significance

Pathogenic noncoding variants in the neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis predisposition genes

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2021-03-25, rev-recd 2021-06-16, accepted 2021-07-13, pub-electronic 2021-07-29Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedFunder: U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Congresionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP); Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100014055; Grant(s): W81XWH1910334Funder: Manchester National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre; Grant(s): IS‐BRC‐1215‐20007Abstract: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), type 2 (NF2), and schwannomatosis are a group of autosomal dominant disorders that predispose to the development of nerve sheath tumors. Pathogenic variants (PVs) that cause NF1 and NF2 are located in the NF1 and NF2 loci, respectively. To date, most variants associated with schwannomatosis have been identified in the SMARCB1 and LZTR1 genes, and a missense variant in the DGCR8 gene was recently reported to predispose to schwannomas. In spite of the high detection rate for PVs in NF1 and NF2 (over 90% of non‐mosaic germline variants can be identified by routine genetic screening) underlying PVs for a proportion of clinical cases remain undetected. A higher proportion of non‐NF2 schwannomatosis cases have no detected PV, with PVs currently only identified in around 70%–86% of familial cases and 30%–40% of non‐NF2 sporadic schwannomatosis cases. A number of variants of uncertain significance have been observed for each disorder, many of them located in noncoding, regulatory, or intergenic regions. Here we summarize noncoding variants in this group of genes and discuss their established or potential role in the pathogenesis of NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis

Palliative care specialists' perceptions concerning referral of haematology patients to their services : findings from a qualitative study

Background: Haematological malignancies (leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma) are complex cancers that are relatively common, affect all ages and have divergent outcomes. Although the symptom burden of these diseases is comparable to other cancers, patients do not access specialist palliative care (SPC) services as often as those with other cancers. To determine the reasons for this, we asked SPC practitioners about their perspectives regarding the barriers and facilitators influencing haematology patient referrals. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study, set within the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN: www.hmrn.org), a population-based cohort in the North of England. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 SPC doctors and nurses working in hospital, community and hospice settings between 2012 and 2014. Interviews were digitally audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed for thematic content using the ‘Framework’ method. Results: Study participants identified a range of barriers and facilitators influencing the referral of patients with haematological malignancies to SPC services. Barriers included: the characteristics and pathways of haematological malignancies; the close patient/haematology team relationship; lack of role clarity; late end of life discussions and SPC referrals; policy issues; and organisational issues. The main facilitators identified were: establishment of interdisciplinary working patterns (co-working) and enhanced understanding of roles; timely discussions with patients and early SPC referral; access to information platforms able to support information sharing; and use of indicators to ‘flag’ patients’ needs for SPC. Collaboration between haematology and SPC was perceived as beneficial and desirable, and was said to be increasing over time. Conclusions: This is the first UK study to explore SPC practitioners’ perceptions concerning haematology patient referrals. Numerous factors were found to influence the likelihood of referral, some of which related to the organisation and delivery of SPC services, so were amenable to change, and others relating to the complex and unique characteristics and pathways of haematological cancers. Further research is needed to assess the extent to which palliative care is provided by haematology doctors and nurses and other generalists and ways in which clinical uncertainty could be used as a trigger, rather than a barrier, to referral. Keywords: Cancer, Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma, Haematology, Specialist palliative care, End of life, Hospice, Qualitativ

Community Reinvestment in the City of St. Paul: Are Residents and Businesses Receiving the Financial Services They Need?

A 1990 study of financial institutions in St. Paul looked at whether residents and businesses are receiving the financial services they need. St. Paul neighborhoods, low income people, and minority populations were compared in relation to how available loan money is for buying or improving homes. Data on lending patterns were analyzed. Interviews about financial services were conducted in four districts: Frogtown, the West Side, Hamline-Midway, and St. Anthony Park. A summary of this study appeared in the July 1990 CURA Reporter

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Efforts to Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2005-2007

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938403/pdf/PCD75A109.pd