Stratification by smoking status reveals an association of CHRNA5-A3-B4 genotype with body mass index in never smokers.

We previously used a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CHRNA5-A3-B4 gene cluster associated with heaviness of smoking within smokers to confirm the causal effect of smoking in reducing body mass index (BMI) in a Mendelian randomisation analysis. While seeking to extend these findings in a larger sample we found that this SNP is associated with 0.74% lower body mass index (BMI) per minor allele in current smokers (95% CI -0.97 to -0.51, P = 2.00 × 10(-10)), but also unexpectedly found that it was associated with 0.35% higher BMI in never smokers (95% CI +0.18 to +0.52, P = 6.38 × 10(-5)). An interaction test confirmed that these estimates differed from each other (P = 4.95 × 10(-13)). This difference in effects suggests the variant influences BMI both via pathways unrelated to smoking, and via the weight-reducing effects of smoking. It would therefore be essentially undetectable in an unstratified genome-wide association study of BMI, given the opposite association with BMI in never and current smokers. This demonstrates that novel associations may be obscured by hidden population sub-structure. Stratification on well-characterized environmental factors known to impact on health outcomes may therefore reveal novel genetic associations.

Blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol lowering for prevention of strokes and cognitive decline: a review of available trial evidence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is well established by a large number of randomized controlled trials that lowering blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by drugs are powerful means to reduce stroke incidence, but the optimal BP and LDL-C levels to be achieved are largely uncertain. Concerning BP targets, two hypotheses are being confronted: first, the lower the BP, the better the treatment outcome, and second, the hypothesis that too low BP values are accompanied by a lower benefit and even higher risk. It is also unknown whether BP lowering and LDL-C lowering have additive beneficial effects for the primary and secondary prevention of stroke, and whether these treatments can prevent cognitive decline after stroke. RESULTS: A review of existing data from randomized controlled trials confirms that solid evidence on optimal BP and LDL-C targets is missing, possible interactions between BP and LDL-C lowering treatments have never been directly investigated, and evidence in favour of a beneficial effect of BP or LDL-C lowering on cognitive decline is, at best, very weak. CONCLUSION: A new, large randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the optimal level of BP and LDL-C for the prevention of recurrent stroke and cognitive decline.

Espécies de cigarrinhas (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) em pomares de citros da região de Bebedouro, SP, com descrição de uma espécie nova de Acrogonia Stål

Sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) in citrus groves of the area of Bebedouro, SP, with description of a new species of Acrogonia Stål. Sixteen species of Cicadellidae, subfamily Cicadellinae, were collected and identified: 11 of the tribe Cicadellini and five of the tribe Proconiini. The ten most common species, together with a new species, are characterized based on external morphology and male genitalia: Acrogonia citrina Marucci & Cavichioli sp. nov.; Bucephalogonia xanthophis (Berg, 1879); Dilobopterus costalimai Young, 1977; Ferrariana trivittata (Signoret, 1854); Hortensia similis (Walker, 1851); Macugonalia cavifrons (Stål, 1862); M. leucomelas (Walker, 1851); Oncometopia facialis (Signoret, 1854); Plesiommata corniculata Young, 1977 and P. mollicella (Fowler, 1900). The leafhopper samples were collected in citrus groves and in adjacent habitats (woods, swamp, cultivable plain, spontaneous vegetation of the grove, coffee crop and sugarcane) at the counties of Bebedouro and Monte Azul Paulista and in the district of Turvínia. The collecting methods were: insect net, yellow sticky cards, portable suction trap and Malaise trap. Identification keys were elaborated for the 16 species. There is a great diversity of Cicadellinae species in the citric groves. In the three areas sampled, it was collected a larger number of species of the tribe Cicadellini than of the tribe Proconiini. In the Bebedouro area, the vector species of Xylella fastidiosa, A. citrina sp. nov., B. xanthophis, D. costalimai and O. facialis, were collected in the citrus groves and in all adjacent habitats.

Kanaima Distant, 1909: descrição de uma nova espécie (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae)

Kanaima Distant, 1909: description of a new species (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae). A new species, Kanaima dubia, is described from São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. It is similar, in general aspect, to Kanaima fluvialis (Lallemand, 1924).

Portanus Ball: descrições de dez espécies novas (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Xestocephalinae)

The following new species are described and illustrated from Brazil: Portanus vittatus sp. nov. (Paraná), P. castaneus sp. nov. (Rondônia), P. variatus sp. nov. (Rondônia), P. ocellatus sp. nov. (Mato Grosso), P. cinctus sp. nov. (Mato Grosso), P. bimaculatus sp. nov. (Rondônia), P. eliasi sp. nov. (Rondônia), P. marginatus sp. nov. (Paraná), P. maculatus sp. nov. (Paraná) and P. bicornis sp. nov. (Mato Grosso).

Spinning welfare: The gains from process innovation in cotton and car production

Economists and economic historians want to know how much better life is today than in the past.Fifty years ago economic historians found surprisingly small gains from 19th century US railroads,while more recently economists have found relatively large gains from electricity, computers and cellphones. In each case the implicit or explicit assumption is that researchers were measuring the valueof a new good to society. In this paper we use the same techniques to find the value to society ofmaking existing goods cheaper. Henry Ford did not invent the car, and the inventors of mechanisedcotton spinning in the industrial revolution invented no new product. But both made existing productsdramatically cheaper, bringing them into the reach of many more consumers. That in turn haspotentially large welfare effects. We find that the consumer surplus of Henry Ford s production linewas around 2% by 1923, 15 years after Ford began to implement the moving assembly line, while themechanisation of cotton spinning was worth around 6% by 1820, 34 years after its initial invention.Both are large: of the same order of magnitude as consumer expenditure on these items, and as largeor larger than the value of the internet to consumers. On the social savings measure traditionally usedby economic historians, these process innovations were worth 15% and 18% respectively, makingthem more important than railroads. Our results remind us that process innovations can be at least asimportant for welfare and productivity as the invention of new products.

Portanus Ball: descrição de uma espécie nova (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Xestocephalinae)

Portanus dubius sp. nov. é descrita e ilustrada a partir de espécimens que foram coletados com armadilha Malaise durante um levantamento entomológico no Estado do Paraná, Brasil (PROFAUPAR).

Uma nova espécie de Portanus Ball (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) do Brasil

Uma nova espécie de Portanus Ball, 1932 é descrita a partir de material coletado nos Estados de Rondônia e Mato Grosso, Brasil. A genitália da fêmea também é descrita.

A genome-wide approach accounting for body mass index identifies genetic variants influencing fasting glycemic traits and insulin resistance.

Recent genome-wide association studies have described many loci implicated in type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathophysiology and β-cell dysfunction but have contributed little to the understanding of the genetic basis of insulin resistance. We hypothesized that genes implicated in insulin resistance pathways might be uncovered by accounting for differences in body mass index (BMI) and potential interactions between BMI and genetic variants. We applied a joint meta-analysis approach to test associations with fasting insulin and glucose on a genome-wide scale. We present six previously unknown loci associated with fasting insulin at P < 5 × 10(-8) in combined discovery and follow-up analyses of 52 studies comprising up to 96,496 non-diabetic individuals. Risk variants were associated with higher triglyceride and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, suggesting a role for these loci in insulin resistance pathways. The discovery of these loci will aid further characterization of the role of insulin resistance in T2D pathophysiology.

Revisão taxonômica, análise cladística e descrição de espécies novas de Aglaenita Spinola (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Neocoelidiinae)

Aglaenita e as quatro espécies conhecidas do gênero são redescritas. Nove espécies novas são descritas. Foi realizada uma análise cladística baseada em 22 caracteres morfológicos e 15 táxons terminais, utilizando duas espécies de Biza como grupo externo. A análise mostrou que Aglaenita é um gênero monofilético e o relacionamento entre as espécies foi: (A. spatulata sp. nov. ((A. dubia, A. elegans) ((A. bicornis sp. nov., A. spinipenis sp. nov.) (A. bifurcata sp. nov. (A. affinis sp. nov. ((A. bipunctata (A. similis, A. tridentata sp. nov.)) (A. longicornis sp. nov. (A. coariensis sp. nov., A. unciformis sp. nov.)))))))). As treze espécies são ilustradas, uma chave para identificação das mesmas e sua distribuição geográfica conhecida são fornecidas. A fêmea de A. elegans é descrita pela primeira vez.

Descrição de um gênero novo e cinco espécies novas de Neocoelidiinae (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae)

Um gênero novo de Neocoelidiinae, Paracoelidiana gen. nov., e cinco espécies novas - Paracoelidiana hastata sp. nov., Paracoelidiana lamellata sp. nov., Paracoelidiana longipenis sp. nov., Paracoelidiana morretensis sp. nov. e Paracoelidiana recifensis sp. nov. - são descritos. Esse gênero novo é próximo a Coelidana Oman, 1936, apresentando morfologia externa muito semelhante, sua separação sendo feita apenas com base na morfologia da genitália masculina. As fêmeas do gênero novo não são conhecidas. Todas as espécies são ilustradas, uma chave para identificação das mesmas e sua distribuição geográfica conhecida são fornecidas.

Coronalidia, gênero novo de Neocoelidiinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) do Equador

Um gênero novo de Neocoelidiinae, Coronalidia gen. nov., e duas espécies novas, Coronalidia pictapennis sp. nov. e Coronalidia sagittata sp. nov., são descritos. Coronalidia gen. nov. pode ser separado dos demais gêneros de Neocoelidiinae pela longa sutura coronal, quase atingindo a margem anterior da coroa, pela presença de um processo alongado na base do tubo anal e margem ventral do edeago com dentículos. As fêmeas deste gênero não são conhecidas. Ilustrações e a distribuição geográfica conhecida das espécies estudadas são fornecidas.

Novo gênero e espécie de Portanini Linnavuori, e notas taxonômicas (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Xestocephalinae)

Nove espécies são transferidas de Portanus Ball, 1932 para Paraportanus gen. nov.: Paraportanus longicornis (Osborn, 1923) comb. nov. = Portanus chelatus DeLong, 1976 syn. nov.; Paraportanus elegans (Kramer, 1961) comb. nov.; Paraportanus facetus (Kramer, 1961) comb. nov.; Paraportanus eburatus (Kamer, 1964) comb. nov.; Paraportanus filamentus (DeLong, 1980) comb. nov.; Paraportanus bicornis (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.; Paraportanus bimaculatus (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.; Paraportanus cinctus (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.; Paraportanus variatus (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.. Novos dados de distribuição geográfica são registrados para: P. facetus; P. elegans e P. longicornis. Chave para identificação das espécies é apresentada.

Nota sinonímica em Chinaia Bruner & Metcalf (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Neocoelidiinae)

Uma nova sinonímia é proposta: Chinaia caprella Kramer, 1958 = Neocoelidiana chlorata DeLong & Kolbe, 1975 syn. nov. A espécie é redescrita e ilustrada.

Revalidação de Acocoelidia DeLong (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Neocoelidiinae)

Acocoelidia DeLong, 1953 é removido da sinonímia com Coelidiana Oman, 1936. O gênero e as espécies Acocoelidia anomala DeLong, 1953 e Acocoelidia unipuncta DeLong, 1953 são redescritos. Ilustrações e a distribuição geográfica das espécies são fornecidas.