Sexual dimorphism in the dwarf round ray Urotrygon nana.

This paper presents information on the morphological, morphometric, and dental sex differences in the dwarf round ray Urotrygon nana. We recorded 12 morphological traits, sex, the distribution pattern of dermal denticles, the number of tooth rows, and the tooth shape of 466 individuals. The disc width of females ranged from 50 to 172 mm and that of males ranged from 53 to 135 mm. A neuronal classification model and a correspondence analysis showed that female disc width was 21.5% broader, and the distance from the rostrum to the anus was 17.7% longer than that of males, whereas males presented 19.5% greater distance between the nostrils, 9.7% greater preorbital snout length, 6.8% greater cloaca to caudal-fin length, 2.7% greater interorbital distance, and 1.1% greater total length than females. The disc of adult males, including the abdominal cavity area, was densely covered with dermal denticles, which were slightly larger than those observed in females. Females presented homodont dentition with molariform teeth and a smooth lozenge-shaped crown with rounded margins. Males exhibited homodonty but with tooth morphology variations in individuals of different sizes (from molariforms to sharper cusp teeth). There were changes in disc shape (from subcircular to oval), distribution and size of dermal denticles (more abundant and larger), and tooth shape (from molariform to monocuspid teeth) during male development, from neonates to adults. U. nana exhibited sexual dimorphism in size, disc shape, number and shape of teeth, and distribution and size of dermal denticles.

In vivo dissection of Rhoa function in vascular development using zebrafish.

The small monomeric GTPase RHOA acts as a master regulator of signal transduction cascades by activating effectors of cellular signaling, including the Rho-associated protein kinases ROCK1/2. Previous in vitro cell culture studies suggest that RHOA can regulate many critical aspects of vascular endothelial cell (EC) biology, including focal adhesion, stress fiber formation, and angiogenesis. However, the specific in vivo roles of RHOA during vascular development and homeostasis are still not well understood. In this study, we examine the in vivo functions of RHOA in regulating vascular development and integrity in zebrafish. We use zebrafish RHOA-ortholog (rhoaa) mutants, transgenic embryos expressing wild type, dominant negative, or constitutively active forms of rhoaa in ECs, pharmacological inhibitors of RHOA and ROCK1/2, and Rock1 and Rock2a/b dgRNP-injected zebrafish embryos to study the in vivo consequences of RHOA gain- and loss-of-function in the vascular endothelium. Our findings document roles for RHOA in vascular integrity, developmental angiogenesis, and vascular morphogenesis in vivo, showing that either too much or too little RHOA activity leads to vascular dysfunction.

Cognitive representations of intracranial self-stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons depend on stimulation frequency.

Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area support intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), yet the cognitive representations underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Here, 20-Hz stimulation of dopamine neurons, which approximates a physiologically relevant prediction error, was not sufficient to support ICSS beyond a continuously reinforced schedule and did not endow cues with a general or specific value. However, 50-Hz stimulation of dopamine neurons was sufficient to drive robust ICSS and was represented as a specific reward to motivate behavior. The frequency dependence of this effect is due to the rate (not the number) of action potentials produced by dopamine neurons, which differently modulates dopamine release downstream.

Development and validation of a simple questionnaire for the identification of hereditary breast cancer in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a significant public health problem worldwide and the development of tools to identify individuals at-risk for hereditary breast cancer syndromes, where specific interventions can be proposed to reduce risk, has become increasingly relevant. A previous study in Southern Brazil has shown that a family history suggestive of these syndromes may be prevalent at the primary care level. Development of a simple and sensitive instrument, easily applicable in primary care units, would be particularly helpful in underserved communities in which identification and referral of high-risk individuals is difficult. METHODS: A simple 7-question instrument about family history of breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer, FHS-7, was developed to screen for individuals with an increased risk for hereditary breast cancer syndromes. FHS-7 was applied to 9218 women during routine visits to primary care units in Southern Brazil. Two consecutive samples of 885 women and 910 women who answered positively to at least one question and negatively to all questions were included, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were determined. RESULTS: Of the 885 women reporting a positive family history, 211 (23.8%; CI95%: 21.5-26.2) had a pedigree suggestive of a hereditary breast and/or breast and colorectal cancer syndrome. Using as cut point one positive answer, the sensitivity and specificity of the instrument were 87.6% and 56.4%, respectively. Concordance between answers in two different applications was given by a intra-class correlation (ICC) of 0.84 for at least one positive answer. Temporal stability of the instrument was adequate (ICC = 0.65). CONCLUSION: A simple instrument for the identification of the most common hereditary breast cancer syndrome phenotypes, showing good specificity and temporal stability was developed and could be used as a screening tool in primary care to refer at-risk individuals for genetic evaluations.

Factores asociados a la prevalencia de enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico en funcionarios de una universidad pública de Ibagué (Colombia) / Factors associated with the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in officials of a public university of Ibagué (Colombia)

Resumen Objetivo: Determinar la prevalência de enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (ERGE) y los factores asociados en una población defuncionarios administrativos de una Universidad Pública del municipio de Ibagué (Colombia). Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo correlacional, con una muestra de 171 funcionarios administrativos, seleccionados mediante muestreo aleatorio estratificado, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 65 años, durante el segundo semestre de 2016. Se calculó la prevalencia de ERGE; se utilizó la prueba chi2 para determinar la correlación entre la ERGE y variables independientes; se halló el OR y para las variables estadísticamente significativas se utilizaron las medidas de riesgo atribuible (FEp y FEe). Resultados: El 58,5 % (100) eran mujeres; la edad promedio fue de 42,5 años (DE +/-10,3 años) y la moda en el rango de edad fue de 30-39 años; 24,6 % (42) de la población estudiada presentó ERGE; 57,9 % (99) tenía IMC anormal (>25 kg/m 2 ), y 16,4 % (28) tuvo antecedente de tabaquismo. La ERGE se asoció significativamente a IMC anormal (p: 0,016. OR: 2,58 (IC: 1,171-5,459)) y a tabaquismo (p: 0,046, OR: 2,188 (IC: 1,003-4,771); el riesgo atribuible para estas variables fue: IMC anormal (FEp: 0,44 y FEe: 0,60) y tabaquismo (FEp: 0,18 y FEe: 0,54). Conclusiones: El estudio mostró una prevalencia del 24,6 % de ERGE en funcionarios administrativos, lo cual indica que una cuarta parte de la población está afectada. En cuanto a los factores asociados, el IMC anormal y el tabaquismo fueron los más representativos.

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and associated factors in a population of administrative officials of a Public University in the municipality of Ibague (Colombia). Materials and methods: An observational, correlational descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 171 administrative staff, selected by stratified random sampling, aged between 18 and 65 years, during the second half of 2016. The prevalence of GERD was calculated, the chi2 test to determine the correlation between GERD and independent variables, the OR was found and the measures of attributable risk (FEp and FEE) were used for the statistically significant variables. Results: 58.5 % (100) were women, the average age was 42.5 years (SD +/-10.3 years) and the fashion in the age range was 30-39 years, 24.6 % (42) of the study population presented GERD, 57.9 % (99) had abnormal BMI (> 25 kg/m 2 ), and 16.4 % (28) had a history of smoking. GERD was significantly associated with abnormal BMI (p: 0.016, OR: 2.58 (CI: 1.171-5.459)) and smoking (p: 0.046, OR: 2.188 (CI: 1.003-4.771), the attributable risk for these variables was: abnormal BMI (FEp: 0.44 and FEe: 0.60) and smoking (FEp: 0.18 and FEe: 0.54). Conclusions: The study showed a prevalence of 24.6 % of GERD in administrative officials, indicating that a quarter of the population is affected. As for the associated factors, abnormal BMI and smoking were the most representative.

Estimativa de risco de câncer de mama, índice de massa corporal e densidade mamária em uma população de mulheres carentes submetida a rastreamento de mamografia / Breast cancer risk estimates, body mass index and breast density in women submitted to mammographic screening in an underserved population

Vários modelos de estimativa do risco de câncer de mama foram criados e, entre estes, o modelo de Gail é comumente usado; no entanto, em mulheres latino-americanas submetidas a rastreamento mamográfico, não há estudos sobre o seu desempenho. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram estimar o risco de câncer de mama, utilizando o modelo de Gail 2 e verificar a prevalência de fatores de risco para a doença (índice de massa corporal, densidade mamográfica e classificação Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System), e sua relação com a estimativa de risco para câncer de mama (BCRE). Os dados clínicos de 3.665 mulheres (40-69 anos) participantes de um programa de rastreamento mamográfico no Brasil foram obtidos por revisão de prontuários. As BCRE foram calculadas utilizando modelo de Gail 2. A média da estimativa de risco em 5 anos foi de 1,0% (0,4-4,8%; desvio padrão, DP=0,4%) e ao longo da vida foi de 7,9% (2,6-39,0%, DP=2,6%). Em 6,7% da amostra, a BCRE foi ?1,67%. Quando avaliaram-se os fatores de risco não incluídos no modelo de Gail 2, observou-se associação entre aumento da densidade da mama e maior BCRE (p<0,001). As BCRE obtidas foram semelhantes às observadas em outros países. Nenhum dos fatores de risco para câncer de mama incluídos no modelo Gail 2 foram superestimados. A densidade mamográfica aumentada foi observada em mulheres com maior BCRE. A inclusão da densidade mamográfica no modelo de Gail 2 pode aumentar o seu desempenho.