STAT Is an Essential Activator of the Zygotic Genome in the Early Drosophila Embryo

In many organisms, transcription of the zygotic genome begins during the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT), which is characterized by a dramatic increase in global transcriptional activities and coincides with embryonic stem cell differentiation. In Drosophila, it has been shown that maternal morphogen gradients and ubiquitously distributed general transcription factors may cooperate to upregulate zygotic genes that are essential for pattern formation in the early embryo. Here, we show that Drosophila STAT (STAT92E) functions as a general transcription factor that, together with the transcription factor Zelda, induces transcription of a large number of early-transcribed zygotic genes during the MZT. STAT92E is present in the early embryo as a maternal product and is active around the MZT. DNA–binding motifs for STAT and Zelda are highly enriched in promoters of early zygotic genes but not in housekeeping genes. Loss of Stat92E in the early embryo, similarly to loss of zelda, preferentially down-regulates early zygotic genes important for pattern formation. We further show that STAT92E and Zelda synergistically regulate transcription. We conclude that STAT92E, in conjunction with Zelda, plays an important role in transcription of the zygotic genome at the onset of embryonic development

A case series of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for reducing symptom interference in functional neurological disorders

There is limited high-quality evidence supporting psychological treatments for functional neurological disorders (FNDs), and what evidence exists suggests that the impact of such treatments could be improved. One way to increase effectiveness is to utilize approaches that can have impact across heterogeneous FND presentations. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) targets a transdiagnostic process called psychological flexibility and is used effectively to integrate multidisciplinary treatments in other clinical contexts. Here, we present a consecutive case series (N = 8) of a relatively brief (6 to 10 sessions) ACT intervention, delivered face to face by a clinical psychologist in an outpatient neuropsychology service. Treatment aimed to reduce symptom interference and improve mood via improvements in psychological flexibility. Service users presented with a range of FND symptoms (e.g., syncope, limb paralysis, and paraesthesia). Following treatment, 5 participants showed reliable improvements in symptom interference (Work and Social Adjustment Scale), 2 to the extent of clinical significance; 4 had reliable improvements in mood (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation—10), and 2 within the range of clinical significance. There were no reliable deteriorations in symptom interference or mood. Marked variation was apparent on the measure of psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II), with 4 reliable improvements, 3 within the range of clinical significance, and also 2 reliable deteriorations. These promising results suggest that further investigation of an ACT approach to FND is warranted. Future studies should include measures of psychological flexibility with greater comprehensibility

The importance of digitized biocollections as a source of trait data and a new VertNet resource

For vast areas of the globe and large parts of the tree of life, data needed to inform trait diversity is incomplete. Such trait data, when fully assembled, however, form the link between the evolutionary history of organisms, their assembly into communities, and the nature and functioning of ecosystems. Recent efforts to close data gaps have focused on collating trait-by-species databases, which only provide species-level, aggregated value ranges for traits of interest and often lack the direct observations on which those ranges are based. Perhaps under-appreciated is that digitized biocollection records collectively contain a vast trove of trait data measured directly from individuals, but this content remains hidden and highly heterogeneous, impeding discoverability and use. We developed and deployed a suite of openly accessible software tools in order to collate a full set of trait descriptions and extract two key traits, body length and mass, from >18 million specimen records in VertNet, a global biodiversity data publisher and aggregator. We tested success rate of these tools against hand-checked validation data sets and characterized quality and quantity. A post-processing toolkit was developed to standardize and harmonize data sets, and to integrate this improved content into VertNet for broadest reuse. The result of this work was to add more than 1.5 million harmonized measurements on vertebrate body mass and length directly to specimen records. Rates of false positives and negatives for extracted data were extremely low. We also created new tools for filtering, querying, and assembling this research-ready vertebrate trait content for view and download. Our work has yielded a novel database and platform for harmonized trait content that will grow as tools introduced here become part of publication workflows. We close by noting how this effort extends to new communities already developing similar digitized content.Fil: Guralnick, Robert P.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Zermoglio, Paula Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universite Francois Rabelais; FranciaFil: Wieczorek, John. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: LaFrance, Raphael. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Bloom, David. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Russell, Laura. University of Florida; Estados Unidos. University of Kansas; Estados Unido

The Prevalence of Radiographic Criteria of Femoral Acetabular Impingement in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroplasty Surgery

Background: Pistol grip deformity of the proximal femur has been reported as a potential cause of hip pain and early-onset arthritis. The exact incidence of patients with osteoarthritis resulting from femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between radiographic markers of FAI in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the radiographs of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty by a single surgeon over a 2-year period. The patients were divided by age, those younger than 65 years and (group A) and those 65 years and older (group B). The radiographs were evaluated for morphology consistent with FAI including an α angle >55°, crossover sign, coxa profunda, acetabular protrusio, and ischial spine sign. Three independent reviewers evaluated all the radiographs. The incidence of CAM, Pincer, and mixed deformities were compared between the 2 groups. Results: A total of 255 patients with 258 hip arthroplasties were included in this analysis. Group A was found to have a greater number of patients with CAM morphology. Linear regression analysis revealed that the α angle was greater in younger patients. Conclusion: Patients undergoing hip arthroplasty exhibit a high incidence of radiographic abnormalities consistent with FAI. The CAM-type morphology occurs more frequently in younger patients with advanced arthritis requiring hip arthroplasty. This morphology is thought to cause a delaminating injury to the cartilage of the acetabulum. This study supports the notion that CAM-type morphology is a risk factor for early development of degenerative arthritis of the hip