Are adaptation costs necessary to build up a local adaptation pattern?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ecological specialization is pervasive in phytophagous arthropods. In such specialization mode, limits to host range are imposed by trade-offs preventing adaptation to several hosts. The occurrence of such trade-offs is inferred by a pattern of local adaptation, i.e., a negative correlation between relative performance on different hosts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To establish a causal link between local adaptation and trade-offs, we performed experimental evolution of spider mites on cucumber, tomato and pepper, starting from a population adapted to cucumber. Spider mites adapted to each novel host within 15 generations and no further evolution was observed at generation 25. A pattern of local adaptation was found, as lines evolving on a novel host performed better on that host than lines evolving on other hosts. However, costs of adaptation were absent. Indeed, lines adapted to tomato had similar or higher performance on pepper than lines evolving on the ancestral host (which represent the initial performance of all lines) and the converse was also true, e.g. negatively correlated responses were not observed on the alternative novel host. Moreover, adapting to novel hosts did not result in decreased performance on the ancestral host. Adaptation did not modify host ranking, as all lines performed best on the ancestral host. Furthermore, mites from all lines preferred the ancestral to novel hosts. Mate choice experiments indicated that crosses between individuals from the same or from a different selection regime were equally likely, hence development of reproductive isolation among lines adapted to different hosts is unlikely.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Therefore, performance and preference are not expected to impose limits to host range in our study species. Our results show that the evolution of a local adaptation pattern is not necessarily associated with the evolution of an adaptation cost.</p

Alterations in dual-task walking persist two months after mild traumatic brain injury in young adults

International audienceObjectives: To compare dual-task performance involving different cognitive-locomotor combinations between healthy controls and participants with sub-acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and to correlate dual-task performances to history of prior head injuries. Methods: Eighteen participants having recently sustained mTBI and 15 controls performed nine dual-tasks combining locomotor (level-walking, narrow obstacle, deep obstacle) and cognitive (Stroop task, Verbal fluency, Counting backwards) tasks. Previous history of concussion was also investigated. Results: Slower gait speeds were observed in the mTBI group compared to controls during both single and dual-tasks. Longer response times to cognitive tasks in the mTBI group further suggested the presence of residual impairments two months following injury. No combination of dual-task was more sensitive. Correlations were observed between history of mTBI and several measures of dual-task performance, underlying the need to further consider the effects of multiple injuries in relation to dual-task walking. Conclusion: Dual-tasks using simultaneously locomotor and cognitive functions represent an ecological way for clinicians to detect residual, but subtle, alterations post-mTBI. History of previous mTBI needs to be considered as a personal characteristic which may influence dual-task walking performance

Normative data for the rey auditory verbal learning test in the older French-Quebec population

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish normative data for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, a test assessing verbal episodic memory, in the older French-Quebec population. Method: A total of 432 French-speaking participants aged between 55 and 93 years old, from the Province of Quebec (Canada), were included in the study. Using multiple regression analyses, normative data were developed for five variable of interest, namely scores on trial 1, sum of trials 1 to 5, interference list B, immediate recall of list A, and delayed recall of list A. Results: Results showed that age, education, and sex were associated with performance on all variables. Equations to calculate the expected score for a participant based on sex, age, and education level as well as the Z score were developed. Conclusion: This study provides clinicians with normative data that take into account the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, thus giving a more accurate interpretation of the results

Current learning strategies in fire evacuation for seniors and people with disabilities in private seniors’ residences and long-term care homes: a scoping review

Current strategies for teaching evacuation methods in private seniors’ residences (PSR) and long-term care (LTCH) homes may pose risks to people with disabilities (PWD) and seniors' physical and psychological health. This study aimed to address the following questions: (1) Which are the current fire evacuation learning strategies used with PWD or seniors? (2) What are the barriers and facilitators for PWD and seniors' during fire evacuation and learning strategies in PSR and LTCH? (3) What is the existing equipment that could be used with PWD seniors?. A scoping review of grey and scientific literature was done in six databases and Google scholar. Additional information was found on Québec government websites. This review identified 13 scientific papers and 22 documents. Twenty barriers (personal = 9, environmental = 11), and 14 facilitators (personal = 4, environmental = 10) were extracted. The current fire evacuation learning strategies currently used can be grouped into three categories: drills; training; promotion of a fire safety plan. Six types of evacuation equipment were found; however, their use has been scarcely documented. Safety for seniors during fire evacuation is still an important issue to be improved. Increasing awareness and creating new practices and tools that consider the strengths and difficulties of seniors seems to be a promising avenue for improving evacuation

Reduced AKT activation accompanied with high TP53 expression is implicated in the impaired hematogenesis in Ziegler-Huang syndrome and the Znt7 null mice partially recapitulates the human disease linked to pancytopenia

BackgroundInherited bone marrow failure (IBMF) is a life-threatening condition. Excessive expression of TP53 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in individuals with IBMF. We recently discovered two pathogenic variants, NM_001144884:c.21dup;p.(Asp8ArgfsTer3) and NM_001144884:c.842 + 15 T &gt; C, in ZNT7 associated with IBMF (Ziegler-Huang Syndrome; BMF8). However, the pathophysiologic mechanism of IBMF caused by ZNT7 mutations remained unknown.MethodWe investigated TP53 expression and the activation of its upstream regulator, AKT, in cell lines from affected individuals. We rescued the wild-type phenotype of AKT activation via transduction of wild-type ZNT7 into patient's fibroblasts. We performed fluorescence microscopy to assess co-expression patterns of ZNT7 with hematopoietic cell markers in different human and mouse bone marrow cell types. Finally, we evaluated the hematological features of Znt7 deficient mice.ResultsThe growth of patient's EBV-transformed B (B-EBV) lymphoblasts was impaired. We observed excessive expression of TP53 in the patient's B-EBV lymphoblasts accompanied by a significant decrease in AKT activation. Importantly, overexpression of wild-type ZNT7 in patient's fibroblasts rescued the activation of the AKT pathway by insulin. Additionally, human ZNT7 was expressed in myeloid and lymphoid lineage cells, whereas mouse ZnT7 was mainly expressed in the nucleated hematopoietic cells in the respective bone marrow. Despite these differences, we observed progressive cytopenia in Znt7KO mice, partially recapitulating BMF8 in humans.ConclusionExcessive expression of TP53 and down-regulation of AKT activation induced by ZNT7 deficiency might impair cell survival, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of bone marrow failure in affected individuals with BMF8

Lessons from the development process of the Afghanistan integrated package of essential health services

In 2017, in the middle of the armed conflict with the Taliban, the Ministry of Public Health decided that the Afghan health system needed a well-defined priority package of health services taking into account the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and injuries and benefiting from the latest evidence published by DCP3. This leads to a 2-year process involving data analysis, modelling and national consultations, which produce this Integrated Package of Essential health Services (IPEHS). The IPEHS was finalised just before the takeover by the Taliban and could not be implemented. The Afghanistan experience has highlighted the need to address not only the content of a more comprehensive benefit package, but also its implementation and financing. The IPEHS could be used as a basis to help professionals and the new authorities to define their priorities

DNA Damage Repair Kinase DNA-Pk and cGAS Synergize To Induce Cancer-Related Inflammation in Glioblastoma

Cytosolic DNA promotes inflammatory responses upon detection by the cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS). It has been suggested that cGAS downregulation is an immune escape strategy harnessed by tumor cells. Here, we used glioblastoma cells that show undetectable cGAS levels to address if alternative DNA detection pathways can promote pro-inflammatory signaling. We show that the DNA-PK DNA repair complex (i) drives cGAS-independent IRF3-mediated type I Interferon responses and (ii) that its catalytic activity is required for cGAS-dependent cGAMP production and optimal downstream signaling. We further show that the cooperation between DNA-PK and cGAS favors the expression of chemokines that promote macrophage recruitment in the tumor microenvironment in a glioblastoma model, a process that impairs early tumorigenesis but correlates with poor outcome in glioblastoma patients. Thus, our study supports that cGAS-dependent signaling is acquired during tumorigenesis and that cGAS and DNA-PK activities should be analyzed concertedly to predict the impact of strategies aiming to boost tumor immunogenicity

Characterization of Reemerging Chikungunya Virus

An unprecedented epidemic of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection recently started in countries of the Indian Ocean area, causing an acute and painful syndrome with strong fever, asthenia, skin rash, polyarthritis, and lethal cases of encephalitis. The basis for chikungunya disease and the tropism of CHIKV remain unknown. Here, we describe the replication characteristics of recent clinical CHIKV strains. Human epithelial and endothelial cells, primary fibroblasts and, to a lesser extent, monocyte-derived macrophages, were susceptible to infection and allowed viral production. In contrast, CHIKV did not replicate in lymphoid and monocytoid cell lines, primary lymphocytes and monocytes, or monocyte-derived dendritic cells. CHIKV replication was cytopathic and associated with an induction of apoptosis in infected cells. Chloroquine, bafilomycin-A1, and short hairpin RNAs against dynamin-2 inhibited viral production, indicating that viral entry occurs through pH-dependent endocytosis. CHIKV was highly sensitive to the antiviral activity of type I and II interferons. These results provide a general insight into the interaction between CHIKV and its mammalian host

A collaborative model to implement flexible, accessible and efficient oncogenetic services for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer : the C-MOnGene study

Medical genetic services are facing an unprecedented demand for counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) in a context of limited resources. To help resolve this issue, a collaborative oncogenetic model was recently developed and implemented at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval; Quebec; Canada. Here, we present the protocol of the C-MOnGene (Collaborative Model in OncoGenetics) study, funded to examine the context in which the model was implemented and document the lessons that can be learned to optimize the delivery of oncogenetic services. Within three years of implementation, the model allowed researchers to double the annual number of patients seen in genetic counseling. The average number of days between genetic counseling and disclosure of test results significantly decreased. Group counseling sessions improved participants' understanding of breast cancer risk and increased knowledge of breast cancer and genetics and a large majority of them reported to be overwhelmingly satisfied with the process. These quality and performance indicators suggest this oncogenetic model offers a flexible, patient-centered and efficient genetic counseling and testing for HBOC. By identifying the critical facilitating factors and barriers, our study will provide an evidence base for organizations interested in transitioning to an oncogenetic model integrated into oncology care; including teams that are not specialized but are trained in genetics