Polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class II B genes in different carp lines of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Regular observation of survival of the carp breeding lines constituting a living gene bank at the Institute of Ichthyobiology and Aquaculture in Golysz (Poland) over a period of at least 15 years showed different survival rates for various lines. In this study, we have examined the polymorphism of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene class II B in nine carp lines. The class II B gene encodes for the part of the MHC class II molecule which presents peptides from pathogens and protein antigens that are present in the extracellular milieu and have been taken up into the endocytic vesicles of antigen-presenting cells. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify Cyca-DAB gene fragments comprising part of exon 1, complete intron 1 and almost complete exon 2. Exon 2 encodes for the beta(1) domain which is the most polymorphic fragment of MHC class II molecules. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) was applied to detect different MHC class II B haplotypes. The analysis revealed the presence of seven different haplotypes occurring with various frequencies. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS and Ifremer/IRD/Inra/Cemagref. All rights reserved

A comparison of the mother-infant relationship in mothers with and without gestational diabetes mellitus:An analysis of the Growing Up in Scotland cohort

Background: There is an increased risk of depressive symptoms in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Poor maternal mental health can impact the mother-infant relationship which can cause problems in the perinatal period. However there is little research which examines the mother-infant relationship in women with GDM. Aims: To test the hypotheses that (1) GDM is associated with a perceived difficult mother-infant relationship in the first year of an infant's life in a cohort of women recruited in pregnancy compared to mothers who do not have GDM and (2) poor maternal mental health mediates the relationship between GDM and the mother-infant relationship Study design: A retrospective analysis of a Scottish cohort database using mediation analysis. Subjects: The dataset included 5,289 women (n = 204 GDM, n = 5,085 no GDM). Outcome measures: The Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale measured the mother-infant relationship. The SF-12 Mental Health Component Score measured maternal mental health. Results: GDM does not predict maternal mental health (path a). Poor maternal mental health is significantly associated with a perceived difficult mother-infant relationship (path b). The direct effect of GDM on the mother-infant relationship (path c) was not statistically significant. The indirect effect of GDM on the mother-infant relationship via maternal mental health (mediator) was also not significant. Conclusion: This is the first robust study examining the impact of GDM on the mother-infant relationship. The study did not support the hypotheses, however the results are of theoretical value, especially in the context of limited research

The development of imitation in infancy

An overview of existing data on imitation in infancy suggests that changes in the direction of imitation research are underway. The widely accepted view that newborn infants imitate lacks supporting evidence. Instead, existing data suggest that infants do not imitate others until their second year, and that imitation of different kinds of behaviour emerges at different ages. The evidence is consistent with a dynamic systems account in which the ability to imitate is not an inherited, specialized module, but is instead the emergent product of a system of social, cognitive and motor components, each with its own developmental history