Weight status and gender-related differences in motor skills and in child care - based physical activity in young children.

Over the last decades, a decline in motor skills and in physical activity and an increase in obesity has been observed in children. However, there is a lack of data in young children. We tested if differences in motor skills and in physical activity according to weight or gender were already present in 2- to 4-year-old children. Fifty-eight child care centers in the French part of Switzerland were randomly selected for the Youp'là bouge study. Motor skills were assessed by an obstacle course including 5 motor skills, derived from the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment test. Physical activity was measured with accelerometers (GT1M, Actigraph, Florida, USA) using age-adapted cut-offs. Weight status was assessed using the International Obesity Task Force criteria (healthy weight vs overweight) for body mass index (BMI). Of the 529 children (49% girls, 3.4 ± 0.6 years, BMI 16.2 ± 1.2 kg/m2), 13% were overweight. There were no significant weight status-related differences in the single skills of the obstacle course, but there was a trend (p = 0.059) for a lower performance of overweight children in the overall motor skills score. No significant weight status-related differences in child care-based physical activity were observed. No gender-related differences were found in the overall motor skills score, but boys performed better than girls in 2 of the 5 motor skills (p ≤ 0.04). Total physical activity as well as time spent in moderate-vigorous and in vigorous activity during child care were 12-25% higher and sedentary activity 5% lower in boys compared to girls (all p < 0.01). At this early age, there were no significant weight status- or gender-related differences in global motor skills. However, in accordance to data in older children, child care-based physical activity was higher in boys compared to girls. These results are important to consider when establishing physical activity recommendations or targeting health promotion interventions in young children.

Respective roles of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMP) in cell surface expression of CRLR/RAMP heterodimeric receptors.

Receptor activity modifying proteins RAMP1, RAMP2, and RAMP3 are responsible for defining affinity to ligands of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR). It has also been proposed that receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMP) are molecular chaperones required for CRLR transport to the cell surface. Here, we have studied the respective roles of CRLR and RAMP in transporting CRLR/RAMP heterodimers to the plasma membrane by using a highly specific binding assay that allows quantitative detection of cell surface-expressed CRLR or RAMP in the Xenopus oocytes expression system. We show that: (i) heterodimer assembly is not a prerequisite for efficient cell surface expression of CRLR, (ii) N-glycosylated RAMP2 and RAMP3 are expressed at the cell surface and their transport to the plasma membrane requires N-glycans, (iii) RAMP1 is not N-glycosylated and is transported to the plasma membrane only upon formation of heterodimers with CRLR, and (iv) introduction of N-glycosylation sites in the RAMP1 sequence (D58N/G60S, Y71N, and K103N/P105S) allows cell surface expression of these mutants at levels similar to that of wild-type RAMP1 co-expressed with CRLR. Our data argue against a chaperone function for RAMP and identify the role of N-glycosylation in targeting these molecules to the cell surface.

Roles of PPARs in health and disease.

In developed societies, chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis and cancer are responsible for most deaths. These ailments have complex causes involving genetic, environmental and nutritional factors. There is evidence that a group of closely related nuclear receptors, called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), may be involved in these diseases. This, together with the fact that PPAR activity can be modulated by drugs such as thiazolidinediones and fibrates, has instigated a huge research effort into PPARs. Here we present the latest developments in the PPAR field, with particular emphasis on the physiological function of PPARs during various nutritional states, and the possible role of PPARs in several chronic diseases.

Bacterial and viral superantigens: roles in autoimmunity?

Superantigens are bacterial, viral, or retroviral proteins which can activate specifically a large proportion of T cells. In contrast with classical peptide antigen recognition, superantigens do not require processing to small peptides but act as complete or partially processed proteins. They can bind to major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and stimulate T cells expressing particular T cell receptor V beta chains. The other polymorphic parts of the T cell receptor, which are crucial for classical antigen recognition, are not important for this interaction. When this strategy is used a large proportion of the host immune system can be activated shortly after infection. The activated cells have a wide variety of antigen specificities. The ability to stimulate polyclonal B (IgG) as well as T cell responses raises possibilities of a role for superantigens in the induction of autoimmune diseases. Superantigens have been a great tool in the hands of immunologists in unravelling some of the basic mechanisms of tolerance and immunity.

Somatosensory motor bodily representation cortical thinning in Tourette : effects of tic severity, age and gender

Introduction: Tourette syndrome (TS) implicates the disinhibition of the cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuitry (CSTC). Previous studies used a volumetric approach to investigate this circuitry with inconsistent findings. Cortical thickness may represent a more reliable measure than volume due to the low variability in the cytoarchitectural structure of the grey matter. Methods: 66 magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 34 TS (age range 10-25, mean 17.19±4.1) and 32 normal controls (NC) (age range 10-20, mean 16.33±3.56). Brain morphology was assessed using the fully automated Civet pipeline at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Results: We report (1) significant cortical thinning in the fronto-parietal and somatosensory-motor cortices in TS relative to NC (p<0.05); (2) TS boys showed thinner cortex relative to TS girls in the fronto-parietal cortical regions (p<0.05); (3) significant decrease in the fronto-parietal mean cortical thickness in TS with age relative to NC and in the pre-central cortex in TS boys relative to TS girls; (4) significant negative correlations between tic severity and the somatosensory-motor cortical thickness. Conclusions: TS revealed important thinning in brain regions particularly involved in the somatosensory/motor bodily representations which may play an important role in tics. Our findings are in agreement with Leckman et al. (1991) hypothesis stating that facial tics would be associated with dysfunction in an orofacial subset of the motor circuit, eye blinking with the occulo-motor circuit, whereas lack of inhibition to a dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex. Gender and age differences may reflect differential etiological factors, which have significant clinical relevance in TS and should be considered in developing and using diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Gender differences in first episode psychotic mania.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper was to delineate the impact of gender on premorbid history, onset, and 18 month outcomes of first episode psychotic mania (FEPM) patients. METHODS: Medical file audit assessment of 118 (male = 71; female = 47) patients with FEPM aged 15 to 29 years was undertaken on clinical and functional measures. RESULTS: Males with FEPM had increased likelihood of substance use (OR = 13.41, p <.001) and forensic issues (OR = 4.71, p = .008), whereas females were more likely to have history of sexual abuse trauma (OR = 7.12, p = .001). At service entry, males were more likely to be using substances, especially cannabis (OR = 2.15, p = .047), had more severe illness (OR = 1.72, p = .037), and poorer functioning (OR = 0.96, p = .045). During treatment males were more likely to decrease substance use (OR = 5.34, p = .008) and were more likely to be living with family (OR = 4.30, p = .009). There were no gender differences in age of onset, psychopathology or functioning at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically meaningful gender differences in FEPM were driven by risk factors possibly associated with poor outcome. For males, substance use might be associated with poorer clinical presentation and functioning. In females with FEPM, the impact of sexual trauma on illness course warrants further consideration.

Archaeology on the Road, July 2010

Not only are we excited that Team Archaeology is back for our third ride, we are energized to be part of a “Human and Natural History” partnership that allows us expanded opportunities to share the story of Iowa’s amazing past. Once again there will be archaeologists along for the ride, as well as at Expo and this year at roadside locations Day One, Five and Six. Don’t hesitate to ask about the history of the first people to travel this landscape as well as the stories of each generation that has contributed to what we know of ourselves today. We will also feature information about the landscape and natural resources of Iowa you will encounter along the route through our partnering colleagues specializing in geology, hydrology, and other earth sciences. Enjoy using this booklet as your guide to the week’s activities and please help yourself to free materials from our outreach booth about our shared past and the natural world we depend on. Ride smart, be safe, and when you get home, be sure to tell your friends and neighbors about Iowa archaeology!

Podocalyxin is a novel polysialylated neural adhesion protein with multiple roles in neural development and synapse formation

Neural development and plasticity are regulated by neural adhesion proteins, including the polysialylated form of NCAM (PSA-NCAM). Podocalyxin (PC) is a renal PSA-containing protein that has been reported to function as an anti-adhesin in kidney podocytes. Here we show that PC is widely expressed in neurons during neural development. Neural PC interacts with the ERM protein family, and with NHERF1/2 and RhoA/G. Experiments in vitro and phenotypic analyses of podxl-deficient mice indicate that PC is involved in neurite growth, branching and axonal fasciculation, and that PC loss-of-function reduces the number of synapses in the CNS and in the neuromuscular system. We also show that whereas some of the brain PC functions require PSA, others depend on PC per se. Our results show that PC, the second highly sialylated neural adhesion protein, plays multiple roles in neural development.

Leisure, work and gender: a sociological study of women's time in France

In this article, I address the question of the relationship between women's labour market position and their `objective' and `subjective' experience of leisure. With reference to a small-scale empirical study of the social time use of mothers in France, I argue that it is misleading to consider women's leisure experience as being determined by their labour market position. I attempt to show that it could prove more fruitful to examine the complex relationship between women's class and gender identities and their simultaneous experience of work, family and leisure.

Foreign migrations and new couples in Spain. Nuptiality and Gender Imbalance in the new century

Nuptiality is not a central item in Migration Research now. In the past, especially for American countries, many scholars were really interested in marriages of immigrants, specially knowing the exchanges between different communities; that is, mixed marriages. Here is the Spanish case in nuptiality between foreign and local people.

Archaeology on the Road Again, July 2009

Team Archaeology is back for a second year to share the history of Iowa with the riders and supporters of RAGBRAI.

Does gender really matter in cathlab

Purpose: Results of some PCI clinical trials indicated more procedure related complications and worse clinical outcomes in women than men, but due to a lower representation of female patients this question still remains open. We aimed toinvestigate characteristics and early and late clinical outcomes in female patients as compared to male when treated in a real life setting with a new generation DES.Methods: Among 3069 consecutive patients treated with Nobori DES, and enrolled in NOBORI 2 study, 675 were female. The primary endpoint of the study is target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, MI and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12 months. Data are entered in an electronic database; all adverse events are adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee and independent corelabs analyse all angiograms.Results: Compared to male patients, female patients were significantly older (68±10 vs ± 63±11 years; p<0.001), had higher incidence of diabetes (37% vs 27%; p<0.001) and hypertension (75% vs 66%; p<0.001), but lower frequency of previous MI, PCI/CABG and smoking history. Lesion characteristics were similar in two genders, except for lesions located at bifurcation which were more frequent inmale patients (22% vs 15% inmale and female patients respectively; p<0.001). Majority of QCA assessed parameters were similar with the exception for RVD, post-procedure MLD in-segment and %DS in-stent which were significantly lower in female patients (p<0.05 for all). In table 1 results at 6 months follow-up are presented and at the time of presentation 1 year results will be available. Table 1. Clinical results at 6 months follow-up Male (n=2394) Female (n=675) P value Cardiac Death 12 (0.5%) 5 (0.7%) 0.5550 MI 5 (2.1%) 4 (1.3%) 0.5089 TLR rate 17 (0.7%) 13 (1.9%) 0.0124 TLF rate 44 (1.8%) 17 (2.5%) 0.2745 Stent Thrombosis 12 (0.5%) 6 (0.9%) 0.2548Conclusions: Results indicate that there are differences in the demographics and risk factors in female and male patient's population. The frequency of adverse events at 6 months is low in both populations, showing trend toward slightly higher rate in female patients, particularly for target lesion revascularization.

Regulatory roles of the GacS/GacA two-component system in plant-associated and other gram-negative bacteria.

The sensor kinase GacS and the response regulator GacA are members of a two-component system that is present in a wide variety of gram-negative bacteria and has been studied mainly in enteric bacteria and fluorescent pseudomonads. The GacS/GacA system controls the production of secondary metabolites and extracellular enzymes involved in pathogenicity to plants and animals, biocontrol of soilborne plant diseases, ecological fitness, or tolerance to stress. A current model proposes that GacS senses a still-unknown signal and activates, via a phosphorelay mechanism, the GacA transcription regulator, which in turn triggers the expression of target genes. The GacS protein belongs to the unorthodox sensor kinases, characterized by an autophosphorylation, a receiver, and an output domain. The periplasmic loop domain of GacS is poorly conserved in diverse bacteria. Thus, a common signal interacting with this domain would be unexpected. Based on a comparison with the transcriptional regulator NarL, a secondary structure can be predicted for the GacA sensor kinases. Certain genes whose expression is regulated by the GacS/GacA system are regulated in parallel by the small RNA binding protein RsmA (CsrA) at a posttranscriptional level. It is suggested that the GacS/GacA system operates a switch between primary and secondary metabolism, with a major involvement of posttranscriptional control mechanisms.