Comparing parasitoid life histories

Species and clades are characterized by their unique combinations, or suites, of different life history traits. In parasitoids, traits include a core group common to other organisms, and a parasitoid-specific group. These organize into several sets of mutually covarying traits which overlap a little, but not wholly, with other sets. Across parasitoid species, host size, clutch size and body size tend to covary. Roughly independent of these is a dichotomy between idiobionts (host does not develop after parasitization), which tend to have fast development but slow adult life histories, and koinobionts (hosts develop after parasitization) with the opposite set of traits. Consistent links between the dichotomy and host characteristics remain elusive. A low ovigeny index (low allocation to early reproduction) is found in idiobionts, and is a predictor of some of the dichotomous set, but also more host feeding, egg resorption, solitary development, and larger bodies. Variation in fecundity, in taxonomically-restricted studies, is predicted by the host stage attacked, but this is not reflected in taxonomically-broad studies. The reasons behind trait co-variation are only partly understood. Analyses of evolutionary lability suggest that variation in development mode and body size tends to be clustered within higher taxonomic levels, with variation in other traits such as lifespan, fecundity and egg size more evenly distributed across taxonomic levels. Thus, taxonomically constrained radiations of parasitoids tend to retain a particular suite of traits that revolve around fundamental shifts in hosts and their use that occur relatively rarely. Parasitoids illustrate how the fast-slow continuum can be much less extensive than in mammals, how the ecology of the host affects the life histories of parasitic organisms, how different taxa require different life history theories, and how understanding resource allocation in early adult life can help explain life history variation

Current issues in medically assisted reproduction and genetics in Europe: research, clinical practice, ethics, legal issues and policy. European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

In March 2005, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met to discuss the interface between genetics and assisted reproductive technology (ART), and published an extended background paper, recommendations and two Editorials. Seven years later, in March 2012, a follow-up interdisciplinary workshop was held, involving representatives of both professional societies, including experts from the European Union Eurogentest2 Coordination Action Project. The main goal of this meeting was to discuss developments at the interface between clinical genetics and ARTs. As more genetic causes of reproductive failure are now recognised and an increasing number of patients undergo testing of their genome before conception, either in regular health care or in the context of direct-to-consumer testing, the need for genetic counselling and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) may increase. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) thus far does not have evidence from randomised clinical trials to substantiate that the technique is both effective and efficient. Whole-genome sequencing may create greater challenges both in the technological and interpretational domains, and requires further reflection about the ethics of genetic testing in ART and PGD/PGS. Diagnostic laboratories should be reporting their results according to internationally accepted accreditation standards (International Standards Organisation - ISO 15189). Further studies are needed in order to address issues related to the impact of ART on epigenetic reprogramming of the early embryo. The legal landscape regarding assisted reproduction is evolving but still remains very heterogeneous and often contradictory. The lack of legal harmonisation and uneven access to infertility treatment and PGD/PGS fosters considerable cross-border reproductive care in Europe and beyond. The aim of this paper is to complement previous publications and provide an update of selected topics that have evolved since 2005

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Performance of upper limb entry item to predict forced vital capacity in dysferlin-deficient limb girdle muscular dystrophy

\ua9 2024 The Authors. Dysferlin-deficient limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD R2), also referred to as dysferlinopathy, can be associated with respiratory muscle weakness as the disease progresses. Clinical practice guidelines recommend biennial lung function assessments in patients with dysferlinopathy to screen for respiratory impairment. However, lack of universal access to spirometry equipment and trained specialists makes regular monitoring challenging. This study investigated the use of the Performance of Upper Limb (PUL) clinical scale entry item as a low-cost screening tool to identify patients with dysferlinopathy at risk of respiratory impairment. Using data from 193 patients from the Jain Foundation\u27s International Clinical Outcomes Study, modelling identified a significant positive relationship between the PUL entry item and forced vital capacity (FVC). Eighty-eight percent of patients with the lowest PUL entry item score of 1 presented with FVC % predicted values of &lt;60 %, suggestive of respiratory impairment. By contrast, only 10 % of the remainder of the cohort (PUL entry item of 2 or more) had an FVC of &lt;60 %. This relationship also held true when accounting for ambulatory status, age, and sex as possible confounding factors. In summary, our results suggest that the PUL entry item could be implemented in clinical practice to screen for respiratory impairment where spirometry is not readily available

Early postoperative MRI overestimates residual tumour after resection of gliomas with no or minimal enhancement

Standards for residual tumour measurement after resection of gliomas with no or minimal enhancement have not yet been established. In this study residual volumes on early and late postoperative T2-/FLAIR-weighted MRI are compared. A retrospective cohort included 58 consecutive glioma patients with no or minimal preoperative gadolinium enhancement. Inclusion criteria were first-time resection between 2007 and 2009 with a T2-/FLAIR-based target volume and availability of preoperative, early (<48 h) and late (1-7 months) postoperative MRI. The volumes of non-enhancing T2/FLAIR tissue and diffusion restriction areas were measured. Residual tumour volumes were 22% smaller on late postoperative compared with early postoperative T2-weighted MRI and 49% smaller for FLAIR-weighted imaging. Postoperative restricted diffusion volume correlated with the difference between early and late postoperative FLAIR volumes and with the difference between T2 and FLAIR volumes on early postoperative MRI. We observed a systematic and substantial overestimation of residual non-enhancing volume on MRI within 48 h of resection compared with months postoperatively, in particular for FLAIR imaging. Resection-induced ischaemia contributes to this overestimation, as may other operative effects. This indicates that early postoperative MRI is less reliable to determine the extent of non-enhancing residual glioma and restricted diffusion volumes are imperativ

Natural history of limb girdle muscular dystrophy R9 over 6 years: searching for trial endpoints

OBJECTIVE: Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type R9 (LGMD R9) is an autosomal recessive muscle disease for which there is currently no causative treatment. The development of putative therapies requires sensitive outcome measures for clinical trials in this slowly progressing condition. This study extends functional assessments and MRI muscle fat fraction measurements in an LGMD R9 cohort across 6 years. METHODS: Twenty‐three participants with LGMD R9, previously assessed over a 1‐year period, were re‐enrolled at 6 years. Standardized functional assessments were performed including: myometry, timed tests, and spirometry testing. Quantitative MRI was used to measure fat fraction in lower limb skeletal muscle groups. RESULTS: At 6 years, all 14 muscle groups assessed demonstrated significant increases in fat fraction, compared to eight groups in the 1‐year follow‐up study. In direct contrast to the 1‐year follow‐up, the 6‐min walk test, 10‐m walk or run, timed up and go, stair ascend, stair descend and chair rise demonstrated significant decline. Among the functional tests, only FVC significantly declined over both the 1‐ and 6‐year studies. INTERPRETATION: These results further support fat fraction measurements as a primary outcome measure alongside functional assessments. The most appropriate individual muscles are the vastus lateralis, gracilis, sartorius, and gastrocnemii. Using composite groups of lower leg muscles, thigh muscles, or triceps surae, yielded high standardized response means (SRMs). Over 6 years, quantitative fat fraction assessment demonstrated higher SRM values than seen in functional tests suggesting greater responsiveness to disease progression

Natural history of limb girdle muscular dystrophy R9 over 6 years: searching for trial endpoints

OBJECTIVE: Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type R9 (LGMD R9) is an autosomal recessive muscle disease for which there is currently no causative treatment. The development of putative therapies requires sensitive outcome measures for clinical trials in this slowly progressing condition. This study extends functional assessments and MRI muscle fat fraction measurements in an LGMD R9 cohort across 6 years. METHODS: Twenty‐three participants with LGMD R9, previously assessed over a 1‐year period, were re‐enrolled at 6 years. Standardized functional assessments were performed including: myometry, timed tests, and spirometry testing. Quantitative MRI was used to measure fat fraction in lower limb skeletal muscle groups. RESULTS: At 6 years, all 14 muscle groups assessed demonstrated significant increases in fat fraction, compared to eight groups in the 1‐year follow‐up study. In direct contrast to the 1‐year follow‐up, the 6‐min walk test, 10‐m walk or run, timed up and go, stair ascend, stair descend and chair rise demonstrated significant decline. Among the functional tests, only FVC significantly declined over both the 1‐ and 6‐year studies. INTERPRETATION: These results further support fat fraction measurements as a primary outcome measure alongside functional assessments. The most appropriate individual muscles are the vastus lateralis, gracilis, sartorius, and gastrocnemii. Using composite groups of lower leg muscles, thigh muscles, or triceps surae, yielded high standardized response means (SRMs). Over 6 years, quantitative fat fraction assessment demonstrated higher SRM values than seen in functional tests suggesting greater responsiveness to disease progression

Long-term follow-up after cancer rehabilitation using high-intensity resistance training: persistent improvement of physical performance and quality of life

The short-term beneficial effects of physical rehabilitation programmes after cancer treatment have been described. However, little is known regarding the long-term effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of high-intensity resistance training compared with traditional recovery. A total of 68 cancer survivors who completed an 18-week resistance training programme were followed for 1 year. During the 1-year follow-up, 19 patients dropped out (14 due to recurrence of cancer). The remaining 49 patients of the intervention group were compared with a group of 22 patients treated with chemotherapy in the same period but not participating in any rehabilitation programme. Outcome measures were muscle strength, cardiopulmonary function, fatigue, and health-related quality of life. One year after completion of the rehabilitation programme, the outcome measures in the intervention group were still at the same level as immediately after rehabilitation. Muscle strength at 1 year was significantly higher in patients who completed the resistance training programme than in the comparison group. High-intensity resistance training has persistent effects on muscle strength, cardiopulmonary function, quality of life, and fatigue. Rehabilitation programmes for patients treated with chemotherapy with a curative intention should include high-intensity resistance training in their programme