Post-Cranial Osteology of Bats

Fossil bats give few clues to the early evolution of the Chiroptera. Adaptations for flight were well established by early Eocene, and osteological characters of Recent Chiroptera show only minor changes since the Eocene. Examination of the post-cranial skeleton reveals these important general features: (1) arch, anteroposterior compression and partial fusion of the vertebral column; (2) well developed pectoral girdle with large clavicles and a small keel present on the sternum; (3) secondary humeroscapular association; (4) modification of the forearm for flight with the ulna rudimentary and the metacarpals and phalanges elongated to spread the flight membranes; (5) weak hind limbs, incomplete fibula; and (6) well developed hind feet

Comparative Osteology of the Pelvic Girdles of the Phyllostomatidae (Chiroptera; Mammalia)

The Chilonycterinae are the most primitive of the subfamilies of the Phyllostomatidae. Two basic groups comprise this subfamily: the first includes the genera Pteronotus and Chilonycteris; the second, the genus Mormoops. This grouping is based principally upon the characteristics of the humerus and the innominate. Within the subfamily Phyllostomatinae two types are recognized. The Macrotus-type is considered the more primitive, because of its resemblance to the chilonycterines, and the Phyllustomus-type the more advanced. From these two phyllostomatine groups are derived the more advanced lines of the Phyllostomatidae. The phyllonycterine line appears to be derived from the Macrotus-type. The sturnirine-glossophagine line and the stenodcrmine line are derived from the Phyllostomus-type. The Vam pyrops-type of stenodermine shows affinities with the glossophagines and is considered the more primitive stenodermine. The Artibrns-type stenodermine is considered the more advanced. The carolline group shows relationships to the Macrotus-type of phyllostomatine and also shows affinities with the sturnirines. A more thorough study of the genera involved is needed to determine this relationship. The family Phyllostomatidae has its closest affinities with the Desmodontidae, and post-cranial evidence offers little reason to consider these as separate families. Other close relationships of the Phyllostomatidae appear to exist with the Noctilionidae and possibly with the Emballonuridae

Diurnal Retreats of Bats

The forelimbs of bats are so highly modified for flight that they are of little value for terrestrial locomotion. Deprived of all but limited use of the front feet in terrestrial activity, roosts or resting sites are also limited. All bats are primarily nocturnal and most of them spend the day in elevated, secluded retreats. Elevation is critical, for some bats show limited ability to take flight from flat, horizontal surfaces. Many bats, however, do show marked agility on the ground, and are quite capable of gaining flight from flat, horizontal surfaces. There is little correlation between taxonomy and roosting habits, although utilization of vegetation as roosts appears to be the general rule in the Megachiroptera and rather uncommon in the Microchiroptera

Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker as Sole Diabetes Educator: Comparison of CoDE with Similar Culturally Appropriate Interventions

Article discussing the effectiveness of a community health worker as sole diabetes educator

Reply to: New Meta- and Mega-analyses of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Schizophrenia: Do They Really Increase Our Knowledge About the Nature of the Disease Process?

This work was supported by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Grant No. U54EB020403 (to the ENIGMA consortium)

Cortical brain abnormalities in 4474 individuals with schizophrenia and 5098 control subjects via the enhancing neuro Imaging genetics through meta analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium

BACKGROUND: The profile of cortical neuroanatomical abnormalities in schizophrenia is not fully understood, despite hundreds of published structural brain imaging studies. This study presents the first meta-analysis of cortical thickness and surface area abnormalities in schizophrenia conducted by the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Schizophrenia Working Group. METHODS: The study included data from 4474 individuals with schizophrenia (mean age, 32.3 years; range, 11-78 years; 66% male) and 5098 healthy volunteers (mean age, 32.8 years; range, 10-87 years; 53% male) assessed with standardized methods at 39 centers worldwide. RESULTS: Compared with healthy volunteers, individuals with schizophrenia have widespread thinner cortex (left/right hemisphere: Cohen's d = -0.530/-0.516) and smaller surface area (left/right hemisphere: Cohen's d = -0.251/-0.254), with the largest effect sizes for both in frontal and temporal lobe regions. Regional group differences in cortical thickness remained significant when statistically controlling for global cortical thickness, suggesting regional specificity. In contrast, effects for cortical surface area appear global. Case-control, negative, cortical thickness effect sizes were two to three times larger in individuals receiving antipsychotic medication relative to unmedicated individuals. Negative correlations between age and bilateral temporal pole thickness were stronger in individuals with schizophrenia than in healthy volunteers. Regional cortical thickness showed significant negative correlations with normalized medication dose, symptom severity, and duration of illness and positive correlations with age at onset. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the ENIGMA meta-analysis approach can achieve robust findings in clinical neuroscience studies; also, medication effects should be taken into account in future genetic association studies of cortical thickness in schizophrenia

Genetic architecture of subcortical brain structures in 38,851 individuals

Subcortical brain structures are integral to motion, consciousness, emotions and learning. We identified common genetic variation related to the volumes of the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, brainstem, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen and thalamus, using genome-wide association analyses in almost 40,000 individuals from CHARGE, ENIGMA and UK Biobank. We show that variability in subcortical volumes is heritable, and identify 48 significantly associated loci (40 novel at the time of analysis). Annotation of these loci by utilizing gene expression, methylation and neuropathological data identified 199 genes putatively implicated in neurodevelopment, synaptic signaling, axonal transport, apoptosis, inflammation/infection and susceptibility to neurological disorders. This set of genes is significantly enriched for Drosophila orthologs associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, suggesting evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Our findings uncover novel biology and potential drug targets underlying brain development and disease

Genetic architecture of subcortical brain structures in 38,851 individuals

Subcortical brain structures are integral to motion, consciousness, emotions and learning. We identified common genetic variation related to the volumes of the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, brainstem, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen and thalamus, using genome-wide association analyses in almost 40,000 individuals from CHARGE, ENIGMA and UK Biobank. We show that variability in subcortical volumes is heritable, and identify 48 significantly associated loci (40 novel at the time of analysis). Annotation of these loci by utilizing gene expression, methylation and neuropathological data identified 199 genes putatively implicated in neurodevelopment, synaptic signaling, axonal transport, apoptosis, inflammation/infection and susceptibility to neurological disorders. This set of genes is significantly enriched for Drosophila orthologs associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, suggesting evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Our findings uncover novel biology and potential drug targets underlying brain development and disease

Common Genetic Variation And Age at Onset Of Anorexia Nervosa

Background Genetics and biology may influence the age at onset of anorexia nervosa (AN). The aims of this study were to determine whether common genetic variation contributes to AN age at onset and to investigate the genetic associations between age at onset of AN and age at menarche. Methods A secondary analysis of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium genome-wide association study (GWAS) of AN was performed which included 9,335 cases and 31,981 screened controls, all from European ancestries. We conducted GWASs of age at onset, early-onset AN (< 13 years), and typical-onset AN, and genetic correlation, genetic risk score, and Mendelian randomization analyses. Results Two loci were genome-wide significant in the typical-onset AN GWAS. Heritability estimates (SNP-h2) were 0.01-0.04 for age at onset, 0.16-0.25 for early-onset AN, and 0.17-0.25 for typical-onset AN. Early- and typical-onset AN showed distinct genetic correlation patterns with putative risk factors for AN. Specifically, early-onset AN was significantly genetically correlated with younger age at menarche, and typical-onset AN was significantly negatively genetically correlated with anthropometric traits. Genetic risk scores for age at onset and early-onset AN estimated from independent GWASs significantly predicted age at onset. Mendelian randomization analysis suggested a causal link between younger age at menarche and early-onset AN. Conclusions Our results provide evidence consistent with a common variant genetic basis for age at onset and implicate biological pathways regulating menarche and reproduction.Peer reviewe