Fishing in Macaca fascicularis: A Rarely Observed Innovative Behavior

Observations of fishing behavior in nonhuman primates are rare and isolated, and there is no prior published observation on the behavior in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). We observed fishing behavior in 3 groups of long-tailed macaques from 2 separate study sites in North Sumatra and East Kalimantan, Indonesia. We propose that the behavior is rare and fulfills the requirements for classification as innovation. Further, all of the fishing individuals were watched by other members of their group, with their actions inciting attempts at fishing by them. We consider the possibility that the behavior has the potential to become cultural within the populations

Randomized GH trial with two different dosages in combination with a GnRH analogue in short small for gestational age children: effects on metabolic profile and serum GH, IGF1, and IGFBP3 levels

Background: GnRH analogue (GnRHa) combined with GH treatment has been proposed to increase adult height. Effect on metabolic profile and GH, IGF1, and IGFBP3 levels in short small for gestational age (SGA) children is unknown. Objective: To assess fat mass and lean body mass SDS, percentage trunk fat, blood pressure (BP), insulin sensitivity (Si), beta-cell function (disposition index, DI), lipid profile, and GH, IGF1, and IGFBP3 levels during 2 years of combined treatment. Subjects: Forty-one pubertal short SGA children with a mean (+/- S.D.) age of 12.1 (+/- 1.0) years. Design: Children received 3.75 mg of leuprolide acetate depot subcutaneously every 4 weeks, and they were randomly assigned to receive 1 mg (group A) or 2 mg (group B) of GH/m(2) per day. Results: Percentage trunk fat increased in both groups, but to a lower extent in group B. Lean body mass SDS increased only in group B. Changes in BP, Si, DI, and lipids were similar in both groups. Si significantly decreased, but DI remained unchanged. Lipids remained normal. GH and IGF1 levels were significantly higher in group B. Conclusion: Our study is the first to report that 2 years of combined treatment with a GnRHa and either 1 or 2 mg GH/m(2) per day does not adversely affect body composition and metabolic profile of short SGA children who come under medical attention at the onset of puberty. There was a dose-dependent effect on fat mass SDSheight, percentage trunk fat, lean body mass SDSheight, and GH and IGF1 levels in favor of treatment with GnRHa and the higher GH dose of 2 mg/m(2) per day

Mutations in CCBE1 cause generalized lymph vessel dysplasia in humans.

Lymphedema, lymphangiectasias, mental retardation and unusual facial characteristics define the autosomal recessive Hennekam syndrome. Homozygosity mapping identified a critical chromosomal region containing CCBE1, the human ortholog of a gene essential for lymphangiogenesis in zebrafish. Homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations in seven subjects paired with functional analysis in a zebrafish model identify CCBE1 as one of few genes causing primary generalized lymph-vessel dysplasia in humans.

Eight Years of Growth Hormone Treatment in Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome:Maintaining the Positive Effects

<p>Background: The most important reason for treating children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) with GH is to optimize their body composition.</p><p>Objectives: The aim of this ongoing study was to determine whether long-term GH treatment can counteract the clinical course of increasing obesity in PWS by maintaining the improved body composition brought during early treatment.</p><p>Setting: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study.</p><p>Methods: We have been following 60 prepubertal children for 8 years of continuous GH treatment (1 mg/m(2)/d congruent to 0.035 mg/kg/d) and used the same dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry machine for annual measurements of lean body mass and percent fat.</p><p>Results: After a significant increase during the first year of GH treatment (P <.0001), lean body mass remained stable for 7 years at a level above baseline (P <.0001). After a significant decrease in the first year, percent fat SD score (SDS) and body mass index SDS remained stable at a level not significantly higher than at baseline (P = .06, P = .14, resp.). However, body mass index SDSPWS was significantly lower after 8 years of GH treatment than at baseline (P <.0001). After 8 years of treatment, height SDS and head circumference SDS had completely normalized. IGF-1 SDS increased to +2.36 SDS during the first year of treatment (P <.0001) and remained stable since then. GH treatment did not adversely affect glucose homeostasis, serum lipids, blood pressure, and bone maturation.</p><p>Conclusion: This 8-year study demonstrates that GH treatment is a potent force for counteracting the clinical course of obesity in children with PWS.</p>

Prefazione

Lymphedema, lymphangiectasias, mental retardation and unusual facial characteristics define the autosomal recessive Hennekam syndrome. Homozygosity mapping identified a critical chromosomal region containing CCBE1, the human ortholog of a gene essential for lymphangiogenesis in zebrafish. Homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations in seven subjects paired with functional analysis in a zebrafish model identify CCBE1 as one of few genes causing primary generalized lymph-vessel dysplasia in humans