Determinants of Habitat Selection by Hatchling Australian Freshwater Crocodiles

Animals almost always use habitats non-randomly, but the costs and benefits of using specific habitat types remain unknown for many types of organisms. In a large lake in northwestern Australia (Lake Argyle), most hatchling (<12-month-old) freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) are found in floating vegetation mats or grassy banks rather than the more widely available open banks. Mean body sizes of young crocodiles did not differ among the three habitat types. We tested four potential explanations for non-random habitat selection: proximity to nesting sites, thermal conditions, food availability, and exposure to predation. The three alternative habitat types did not differ in proximity to nesting sites, or in thermal conditions. Habitats with higher food availability harboured more hatchlings, and feeding rates (obtained by stomach-flushing of recently-captured crocodiles) were highest in such areas. Predation risk may also differ among habitats: we were twice as likely to capture a crocodile after seeing it in open-bank sites than in the other two habitat types. Thus, habitat selection of hatchling crocodiles in this system may be driven both by prey availability and by predation risk

Limb proportions show developmental plasticity in response to embryo movement

Animals have evolved limb proportions adapted to different environments, but it is not yet clear to what extent these proportions are directly influenced by the environment during prenatal development. The developing skeleton experiences mechanical loading resulting from embryo movement. We tested the hypothesis that environmentally-induced changes in prenatal movement influence embryonic limb growth to alter proportions. We show that incubation temperature influences motility and limb bone growth in West African Dwarf crocodiles, producing altered limb proportions which may, influence post-hatching performance. Pharmacological immobilisation of embryonic chickens revealed that altered motility, independent of temperature, may underpin this growth regulation. Use of the chick also allowed us to merge histological, immunochemical and cell proliferation labelling studies to evaluate changes in growth plate organisation, and unbiased array profiling to identify specific cellular and transcriptional targets of embryo movement. This disclosed that movement alters limb proportions and regulates chondrocyte proliferation in only specific growth plates. This selective targeting is related to intrinsic mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) pathway activity in individual growth plates. Our findings provide new insights into how environmental factors can be integrated to influence cellular activity in growing bones and ultimately gross limb morphology, to generate phenotypic variation during prenatal development

Prevalence of hallux valgus in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Hallux valgus (HV) is a foot deformity commonly seen in medical practice, often accompanied by significant functional disability and foot pain. Despite frequent mention in a diverse body of literature, a precise estimate of the prevalence of HV is difficult to ascertain. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate prevalence of HV in the overall population and evaluate the influence of age and gender. METHODS: Electronic databases (Medline, Embase, and CINAHL) and reference lists of included papers were searched to June 2009 for papers on HV prevalence without language restriction. MeSH terms and keywords were used relating to HV or bunions, prevalence and various synonyms. Included studies were surveys reporting original data for prevalence of HV or bunions in healthy populations of any age group. Surveys reporting prevalence data grouped with other foot deformities and in specific disease groups (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes) were excluded. Two independent investigators quality rated all included papers on the Epidemiological Appraisal Instrument. Data on raw prevalence, population studied and methodology were extracted. Prevalence proportions and the standard error were calculated, and meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 78 papers reporting results of 76 surveys (total 496,957 participants) were included and grouped by study population for meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence estimates for HV were 23% in adults aged 18-65 years (CI: 16.3 to 29.6) and 35.7% in elderly people aged over 65 years (CI: 29.5 to 42.0). Prevalence increased with age and was higher in females [30% (CI: 22 to 38)] compared to males [13% (CI: 9 to 17)]. Potential sources of bias were sampling method, study quality and method of HV diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Notwithstanding the wide variation in estimates, it is evident that HV is prevalent; more so in females and with increasing age. Methodological quality issues need to be addressed in interpreting reports in the literature and in future research

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-lipid peroxidative effects of <i style="">Rhaphidophora pertusa</i> (Roxb.) Schott. and <i style="">Epipremnum pinnatum </i>(Linn.) Engl. aerial parts

5-10The ethanol extracts of aerial parts of Rhaphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott. and Epipremnum pinnatum (Linn.) Engl. (Family-Araceae) were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in Wistar albino rats and analgesic effects in Swiss albino mice. Both the species produced significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema when compared to the standard drug Indomethacin .They also showed a significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at all the doses studied. The analgesic effect of R. pertusa was almost similar to that caused by the standard drug, aspirin. The ethanol extracts also showed significant anti-lipid peroxidant effects in vitro in rat liver homogenate. The acute toxicity study indicated that R. pertusa and E. pinnatum are fairly non-toxic. The results of the present study support the use of R. pertusa in traditional medicine of Kerala as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent and E. pinnatum may be included in the same category of medicinal plants

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-lipid peroxidative properties of Wattakaka volubilis (Linn.f.) Stapf.

137-141The ethanolic extract of Wattakaka volubilis (Linn.f.) Stapf. was screened for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in animals. The extract showed a significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice compared to the standard anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug, indomethacin. The extract also showed potent in vitro inhibition of FeCl2-ascorbic acid-stimulated mice liver lipid peroxidation

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of <i style="">Justicia gendarussa </i>Burm. f. leaves

456-461The ethanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa Burm.f. leaves was screened for its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity in experimental animals. The extract showed significant inhibition of carrageenan and formalin-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation compared to the standard anti-inflammatory drug, Indomethacin. The extract at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg showed significant inhibition of pain in the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate models in mice when compared to the standard analgesic drug, acetyl salicylic aci