Have female twisted-wing parasites (Insecta: Strepsiptera) evolved tolerance traits as response to traumatic penetration?

Traumatic insemination describes an unusual form of mating during which a male penetrates the body wall of its female partner to inject sperm. Females unable to prevent traumatic insemination have been predicted to develop either traits of tolerance or of resistance, both reducing the fitness costs associated with the male-inflicted injury. The evolution of tolerance traits has previously been suggested for the bed bug. Here we present data suggesting that tolerance traits also evolved in females of the twisted-wing parasite species $\textit{Stylops ovinae}$ and $\textit{Xenos vesparum}$. Using micro-indentation experiments and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found that females of both investigated species possess a uniform resilin-rich integument that is notably thicker at penetration sites than at control sites. As the thickened cuticle does not seem to hamper penetration by males, we hypothesise that thickening of the cuticle resulted in reduced penetration damage and loss of haemolymph and in improved wound sealing. To evaluate the evolutionary relevance of the $\textit{Stylops}$-specific paragenital organ and penis shape variation in the context of inter- and intraspecific competition, we conducted attraction and interspecific mating experiments, as well as a geometric-morphometric analysis of $\textit{S ovinae}$ and $\textit{X vesparum}$ penises. We found that $\textit{S ovinae}$ females indeed attract sympatrically distributed congeneric males. However, only conspecific males were able to mate. In contrast, we did not observe any heterospecific male attraction by $\textit{Xenos}$ females. We therefore hypothesise that the paragenital organ in the genus $\textit{Stylops}$ represents a prezygotic mating barrier that prevents heterospecific matings

Phenotypic characterization of patients with deletions in the 3’-flanking SHOX region

Context. Leri–Weill dyschondrosteosis is a clinically variable skeletal dysplasia, caused by SHOX deletion or mutations, or a deletion of enhancer sequences in the 3’-flanking region. Recently, a 47.5 kb recurrent PAR1 deletion downstream of SHOX was reported, but its frequency and clinical importance are still unknown.Objective. This study aims to compare the clinical features of different sizes of deletions in the 3’-flanking SHOX region in order to determine the relevance of the regulatory sequences in this region.Design. We collected DNA from 28 families with deletions in the 3’-PAR1 region. Clinical data were available from 23 index patients and 21 relatives.Results. In 9 families (20 individuals) a large deletion ( ∼ 200–900 kb) was found and in 19 families (35 individuals) a small deletion was demonstrated, equal to the recently described 47.5 kb PAR1 deletion. Median height SDS, sitting height/height ratio SDS and the presence of Madelung deformity in patients with the 47.5 kb deletion were not significantly different from patients with larger deletions. The index patients had a median height SDS which was slightly lower than in their affected family members (p = 0.08). No significant differences were observed between male and female patients.Conclusions. The phenotype of patients with deletions in the 3’-PAR1 region is remarkably variable. Height, sitting height/height ratio and the presence of Madelung deformity were not significantly different between patients with the 47.5 kb recurrent PAR1 deletion and those with larger deletions, suggesting that this enhancer plays an important role in SHOX expression

A randomized controlled trial of three years growth hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in children with idiopathic short stature and intrauterine growth retardation

We assessed the effectiveness and safety of 3 yr combined GH and GnRH agonist (GnRHa) treatment in a randomized controlled study in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Gonadal suppression, GH reserve, and adrenal development were assessed by hormone measurements in both treated children and controls during the study period. Thirty-six short children, 24 girls (16 ISS/8 IUGR) and 12 boys (8 ISS/4 IUGR), with a height SD score of -2 SD or less in early puberty (girls, B2-3; boys, G2-3), were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 18) with GH (genotropin 4 IU/m(2). day) and GnRHa (triptorelin, 3.75 mg/28 days) or no treatment (n = 18). At the start of the study mean (SD) age was 11.4 (0.56) or 12.2 (1.12) yr whereas bone age was 10.7 (0.87) or 10.9 (0.63) yrs in girls and boys, respectively. During 3 yr of study height SD score for chronological age did not change in both treated children and controls, whereas a decreased rate of bone maturation after treatment was observed [mean (SD) 0.55 (0.21) 'yr'/yr vs. 1.15 (0.37) 'yr'/yr in controls, P < 0.001, girls and boys together]. Height SD score for bone age and predicted adult height increased significantly after 3 yr of treatment; compared with controls the predicted adult height gain was 8.0 cm in girls and 10.4 cm in boys. Furthermore, the ratio between sitting height/height SD score decreased significantly in treated children, whereas body mass index was not influenced by treatment. Puberty was effectively arrested in the treated children, as was confirmed by physical examination and prepubertal testosterone and estradiol levels. GH-dependent hormones including serum insulin-like growth factor I and II, carboxy terminal propeptide of type I collagen, amino terminal propeptide of type III collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin were not different between treated children and controls during the study period. Thus, a GH dose of 4 IU/m(2) seems adequate for stabilization of the GH reserve and growth in these GnRHa-treated children. We conclude that 3 yr treatment with GnRHa was effective in suppressing pubertal development and skeletal maturation, whereas the addition of GH preserved growth velocity during treatment. This resulted in a considerable gain in predicted adult height, without demonstrable side effects. Final height results will provide the definite answer on the effectiveness of this combined treatment

Regulation of chloride transport in cultured normal and cystic fibrobis keratinocytes

Abstract Cultured normal (N) and cystic fibrosis (CF) keratinocytes were evaluated for their Cl−-transport properties by patch-clamp-, Ussing chamber- and isotopic efflux-measurements. Special attention was paid to a 32 pS outwardly rectifying Cl− channel which has been reported to be activated upon activation of cAMP-dependent pathways in N, but not in CF cells. This depolarization-induced Cl− channel was found with a similar incidence in N and CF apical keratininocyte membranes. However, activation of this channel in excised patches by protein kinase (PK)-A or PK-C was not successfull in either N or CF keratinocytes. Forskolin was not able to activate Cl− channels in N and CF cell-attached patches. The Ca2+-ionophore A23187 activated in cell-attached patches a linear 17 pS Cl− channel in both N and CF cells. This channel inactivated upon excision. No relationship between the cell-attached 17 pS and the excised 32 pS channel could be demonstrated. Returning to the measurement of Cl− transport at the macroscopic level, we found that a drastic rise in intracellular cAMP induced by forskolin did in N as well as CF cells not result in a change in the short-circuit current (Isc) or the fractional efflux rates of 36Cl− and 125I−. In contrast, addition of A23187 resulted in an increase of the Isc and in the isotopic anion efflux rates in N and CF cells. We conclude that Cl−-transport in cultured human keratinocytes can be activated by Ca2+, but not by cAMP-dependent pathways

Motives for choosing growth-enhancing hormone treatment in adolescents with idiopathic short stature: a questionnaire and structured interview study

Background Growth-enhancing hormone treatment is considered a possible intervention in short but otherwise healthy adolescents. Although height gain is an obvious measure for evaluating hormone treatment, this may not be the ultimate goal for the person, but rather a means to reach other goals such as the amelioration of current height-related psychosocial problems or the enhancement of future prospects in life and society. The aim of our study was to clarify the motives of adolescents and their parents when choosing to participate in a growth-enhancing trial combining growth hormone and puberty-delaying hormone treatment. Methods Participants were early pubertal adolescents (25 girls, 13 boys) aged from 11 to 13 years (mean age 11.5 years) with a height standard deviation score (SDS) ranging from -1.03 to -3.43. All had been classified as idiopathic short stature or persistent short stature born small for the gestational age (intrauterine growth retardation) on the basis of a height SDS below -2, or had a height SDS between -1 and -2 and a predicted adult height SDS below -2. The adolescents and their parents completed questionnaires and a structured interview on the presence of height-related stressors, parental worries about their child's behavior and future prospects, problems in psychosocial functioning, and treatment expectations. Questionnaire scores were compared to norms of the general Dutch population. Results The adolescents reported normal psychosocial functioning and highly positive expectations of the treatment in terms of height gain, whereas the parents reported that their children encountered some behavioral problems (being anxious/depressed, and social and attention problems) and height-related stressors (being teased and juvenilized). About 40% of the parents were worried about their children's future prospects for finding a spouse or job. The motives of the adolescents and their parents exhibited rather different profiles. The most prevalent parental worries related to the current or future functioning of their children, while a few cases were characterized by no observed motives or by psychosocial problems only reported by the adolescents themselves. Conclusion The motives for participating in a growth-enhancing hormone trial are more obvious in the parents than in the adolescents themselves. Two out of three parents report worries about the future opportunities or observe modest current psychosocial problems in their children. The adolescents want to gain height, but the motivation underlying this remains unclear. Few of the adolescents experience psychosocial problems. Our analyses revealed differences among individuals in terms of motives, which implies that in an evaluation of hormone treatment, the importance of divergent outcome variables will also differ among individuals. Effectiveness evaluations of hormone treatment to increase height and the consequential fulfillment of other goals must be awaited

Voice outcome after unilateral ELS type III or bilateral type II resections for T1-T2 glottic carcinoma: Results after 1 year

Abstract Background: Voice outcome was assessed in patients with extended T1 and limited T2 glottic carcinoma, treated with a unilateral type III or a bilateral type II resection according to the European Laryngological Society (ELS) classification. Methods: Objective evaluation (acoustic and aerodynamic parameters), perceptual evaluation (GRBAS), and patients' self-assessment (voice handicap index [VHI]) were performed before and 1 year after treatment. Results were evaluated according to ELS resection type and the involvement of the anterior commissure. Results: The majority of voice parameters in all resection subgroups showed an improvement of the mean score 1 year postoperatively. Grade of dysphonia varied between 1.15 and 1.66 postoperatively and VHI score varied from 23.3 to 24.5. Conclusion: Voice outcome after ELS unilateral type III or a bilateral type II resection for extended T1 and limited T2 glottic carcinoma is good with mild to very moderate perceptive dysphonia and low self-reported voice impairment

The role of ADAMTS13 in acute myocardial infarction:cause or consequence?

ADAMTS13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13, is a metalloprotease that cleaves von Willebrand factor (VWF). There is considerable evidence that VWF levels increase and ADAMTS13 levels decrease in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. It is unclear whether this contributes to no reflow, infarct size, and intramyocardial haemorrhage (IMH). We aimed to determine the role of ADAMTS13 in STEMI patients and to investigate the benefits of recombinant ADAMTS13 (rADAMTS13) in a porcine model of myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion. In 49 consecutive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-treated STEMI patients, blood samples were collected directly after through 7 days following PCI. Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed 4-6 days after PCI to determine infarct size and IMH. In 23 Yorkshire swine, the circumflex coronary artery was occluded for 75 min. rADAMTS13 or vehicle was administered intracoronary following reperfusion. Myocardial injury and infarct characteristics were assessed using cardiac enzymes, ECG, and histopathology. In patients with IMH, VWF activity and VWF antigen were significantly elevated directly after PCI and for all subsequent measurements, and ADAMTS13 activity significantly decreased at 4 and 7 days following PCI, in comparison with patients without IMH. VWF activity and ADAMTS13 activity were not related to infarct size. In rADAMTS13-treated animals, no differences in infarct size, IMH, or formation of microthrombi were witnessed compared with controls. No correlation was found between VWF/ADAMTS13 and infarct size in patients. However, patients suffering from IMH had significantly higher VWF activity and lower ADAMTS13 activity. Intracoronary administration of rADAMTS13 did not decrease infarct size or IMH in a porcine model of myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion. These data dispute the imbalance in ADAMTS13 and VWF as the cause of no reflow

Teacher professional learning and development in the context of educational innovations in higher education: A typology of practices

Higher education (HE) is engaged in a variety of educational innovations, as well as professional development initiatives (PDIs) to support teachers in attaining the required expertise. To improve teacher professional learning and development (PLD) and innovation processes, it is important to understand whether, how and why different PLD practices work for different innovations, contexts and populations. However, research is characterized by descriptive, single case studies and lacks a common framework to relate research findings. To address this shortcoming, this study collected and compared a wide variety of cases to develop a typology of practices. The results showed that educational innovations and teacher PLD were typically configured in three ways: (1) the focus is on implementing a new form of education and teacher learning is used as a means to this end, (2) the focus is on teachers’ professional learning and the educational innovations are spin-offs, and (3) the focus is on stimulating innovations and teacher learning is a side-effect. These types of configurations differed regarding the educational innovation, required teacher expertise, professional development initiatives, teacher learning, and outcome measures. The typology serves as a framework that may help to reflect on practices, bridge disciplines, and formulate hypotheses for future research