Metapopulation structure modulates sexual antagonism.

Despite the far-reaching evolutionary implications of sexual conflict, the effects of metapopulation structure, when populations are subdivided into several demes connected to some degree by migration, on sexual conflict dynamics are unknown. Here, we used experimental evolution in an insect model system, the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, to assess the independent and interacting effects of selection histories associated with mating system (monogamy vs. polygamy) and population subdivision on sexual conflict evolution. We confirm traditional predictions from sexual conflict theory by revealing increased resistance to male harm in females from populations with a history of intense sexual selection (polygamous populations) compared to females from populations with a history of relaxed sexual selection (monogamous populations). However, selection arising from metapopulation structure reversed the classic pattern of sexually antagonistic coevolution and led to reduced resistance in females from polygamous populations. These results underscore that population spatial structure moderates sexual selection and sexual conflict, and more broadly, that the evolution of sexual conflict is contingent on ecological context. The findings also have implications for population dynamics, conservation biology, and biological control.

Evolvability meets biogeography: evolutionary potential decreases at high and low environmental favourability.

Understanding and forecasting the effects of environmental change on wild populations requires knowledge on a critical question: do populations have the ability to evolve in response to that change? However, our knowledge on how evolution works in wild conditions under different environmental circumstances is extremely limited. We investigated how environmental variation influences the evolutionary potential of phenotypic traits. We used published data to collect or calculate 135 estimates of evolvability of morphological traits of European wild bird populations. We characterized the environmental favourability of each population throughout the species' breeding distribution. Our results suggest that the evolutionary potential of morphological traits decreases as environmental favourability becomes high or low. Strong environmental selection pressures and high intra-specific competition may reduce species' evolutionary potential in low- and high- favourability areas, respectively. This suggests that species may be least able to adapt to new climate conditions at their range margins and at the centre. Our results underscore the need to consider the evolutionary potential of populations when studying the drivers of species distributions, particularly when predicting the effects of environmental change. We discuss the utility of integrating evolutionary dynamics into a biogeographical perspective to understand how environmental variation shapes evolutionary patterns. This approach would also produce more reliable predictions about the effect of environmental change on population persistence and therefore on biodiversity.

The total opportunity for sexual selection and the integration of pre- and post-mating episodes of sexual selection in a complex world.

It is well known that sexual selection can target reproductive traits during successive pre- and post-mating episodes of selection. A key focus of recent studies has been to understand and quantify how these episodes of sexual selection interact to determine overall variance in reproductive success. In this article, we review empirical developments in this field but also highlight the considerable variability in patterns of pre- and post-mating sexual selection, attributable to variation in patterns of resource acquisition and allocation, ecological and social factors, genotype-by-environment interaction and possible methodological factors that might obscure such patterns. Our aim is to highlight how (co)variances in pre- and post-mating sexually selected traits can be sensitive to changes in a range of ecological and environmental variables. We argue that failure to capture this variation when quantifying the opportunity for sexual selection may lead to erroneous conclusions about the strength, direction or form of sexual selection operating on pre- and post-mating traits. Overall, we advocate for approaches that combine measures of pre- and post-mating selection across contrasting environmental or ecological gradients to better understand the dynamics of sexual selection in polyandrous species. We also discuss some directions for future research in this area.

Genetic variation but weak genetic covariation between pre- and post-copulatory episodes of sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster.

When females mate polyandrously, male reproductive success depends both on the male's ability to attain matings and on his ability to outcompete rival males in the fertilization of ova post-copulation. Increased investment in  ejaculate components may trade off with investment in precopulatory traits due to resource allocation. Alternatively, pre- and post-copulatory traits could be positively related if individuals can afford to invest heavily in traits advantageous at both episodes of selection. There is empirical evidence for both positive and negative associations between pre- and post-copulatory episodes, but little is known about the genetic basis of these correlations. In this study, we measured morphological, chemical and behavioural precopulatory male traits and investigated their relationship with measures of male fitness (male mating success, remating inhibition and offensive sperm competitiveness) across 40 isofemale lines of Drosophila melanogaster. We found significant variation among isofemale lines, indicating a genetic basis for most of the traits investigated. However, we found weak evidence for genetic correlations between precopulatory traits and our indices of male fitness. Moreover, pre- and post-copulatory episodes of selection were uncorrelated, suggesting selection may act independently at the different episodes to maximize male reproductive success.

Additive genetic variance in polyandry enables its evolution, but polyandry is unlikely to evolve through sexy or good sperm processes.

Polyandry is widespread despite its costs. The sexually selected sperm hypotheses ('sexy' and 'good' sperm) posit that sperm competition plays a role in the evolution of polyandry. Two poorly studied assumptions of these hypotheses are the presence of additive genetic variance in polyandry and sperm competitiveness. Using a quantitative genetic breeding design in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, we first established the potential for polyandry to respond to selection. We then investigated whether polyandry can evolve through sexually selected sperm processes. We measured lifetime polyandry and offensive sperm competitiveness (P2 ) while controlling for sampling variance due to male × male × female interactions. We also measured additive genetic variance in egg-to-adult viability and controlled for its effect on P2 estimates. Female lifetime polyandry showed significant and substantial additive genetic variance and evolvability. In contrast, we found little genetic variance or evolvability in P2 or egg-to-adult viability. Additive genetic variance in polyandry highlights its potential to respond to selection. However, the low levels of genetic variance in sperm competitiveness suggest that the evolution of polyandry may not be driven by sexy sperm or good sperm processes.

Maternal sexual interactions affect offspring survival and ageing.

In many species, females exposed to increased sexual activity experience reductions in longevity. Here, in Drosophila melanogaster, we report an additional effect on females brought about by sexual interactions, an effect that spans generations. We subjected females to a sexual treatment consisting of different levels of sexual activity and then investigated patterns of mortality in their offspring. We found reduced probabilities of survival, increases in the rate of senescence and a pattern of reduced mean longevities, for offspring produced by mothers that experienced higher levels of sexual interaction. We contend that these effects constitute trans-generational costs of sexual conflict--the existence or implications of which have rarely been considered previously. Our results indicate that ongoing exposure by mothers to male precopulatory interactions is itself sufficient to drive trans-generational effects on offspring mortality. Thus, we show that increases in maternal sexual activity can produce trans-generational effects that permeate through to latter life stages in the offspring. This helps to elucidate the complex interplay between sex and ageing and provides new insights into the dynamics of adaptation under sexual selection.

Male-induced costs of mating for females compensated by offspring viability benefits in an insect.

Sexual conflict facilitates the evolution of traits that increase the reproductive success of males at the expense of components of female fitness. Theory suggests that indirect benefits are unlikely to offset the direct costs to females from antagonistic male adaptations, but empirical studies examining the net fitness pay-offs of the interaction between the sexes are scarce. Here, we investigate whether matings with males that invest intrinsically more into accessory gland tissue undermine female lifetime reproductive success (LRS) in the cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. We found that females incur a longevity cost of mating that is proportional to the partner's absolute investment into the production of accessory gland products. However, male accessory gland weight positively influences embryo survival, and harmful ejaculate-induced effects are cancelled out when these are put in the context of female LRS. The direct costs of mating with males that sire offspring with higher viability are thus compensated by direct and possibly indirect genetic benefits in this species.

Female crickets trade offspring viability for fecundity.

A growing number of studies are suggesting that females can improve the viability of their embryos by mating with multiple males. However, the reason why females should have low rates of embryo viability is puzzling. Here we conduct a quantitative genetic study of maternal effects on embryo viability in the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. After controlling for female body size, we find significant additive genetic variance for ovary weight, a measure of fecundity, and egg hatching success, a measure of embryo viability. Moreover, we show a genetic trade-off between these traits that is predicted from life-history theory. High rates of embryo mortality in this highly fecund species might therefore be explained by selection favouring an optimum balance between fecundity and embryo viability that maximizes maternal fitness. Paternal effects on female fecundity and embryo viability are often seen as benefits driving the evolution of polyandrous behaviour. However, we raise the alternative possibility that paternal effects might shift females from their naturally selected optimum, and present some support for the notion that sexual conflict over a female's optimal fecundity and embryo viability might generate antagonistic coevolution between the sexes.

The evolution of polyandry: intrinsic sire effects contribute to embryo viability.

Females typically mate with more than one male despite the costs incurred, thus questioning Bateman's principle. A series of genetic benefits have been proposed to account for the evolution of polyandry, including the acquisition of viability genes for offspring. The 'intrinsic male quality' hypothesis suggests that polyandry increases the probability that females produce offspring sired by males that bestow high viability on their offspring. Heritable variation in viability is the basic requirement for the occurrence of this genetic benefit. By using a half-sib breeding design with a species of cricket in which polyandry is known to increase hatching success, we present clear experimental evidence that intrinsic male quality contributes to embryo viability. Despite recent support for the evolution of polyandry based on compatibility of genotypes between males and females, we show that hatching success is not determined by an interaction between paternal and maternal genotypes but rather that sons inherit paternal genes that influence the viability of eggs laid by their mates. Moreover, our data implicate a potential role for indirect genetic effects of male accessory gland products on embryo viability. Additive genetic contributions to embryo viability may be an important factor underlying the frequently observed benefits of polyandrous behaviour.

Pólenes alergénicos y polinosis en la ciudad de Burgos / Allergenic pollens and pollinosis in the city of Burgos

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido conocer cuáles son los pólenes que con más probabilidad producen polinosis en el área de la ciudad de Burgos. Método: Para ello se realizaron recuentos de pólenes con un colector Burkard, situado en la terraza del hospital General Yagüe. Se analizaron los taxones cuya media fuera superior al 1% del total de los años 1997, 1998 y del 2001 al 2004. Dentro de un estudio multicéntrico del Comité de Aerobiología de la SEAIC para el estudio de la polinosis, se seleccionaron 147 pacientes de ambos sexos, con clínica de rinitis, asma o ambas estacionales, residentes en nuestra área y con pruebas positivas frente a pólenes. Según el método de estudio se realizaron pruebas cutáneas por la técnica del prick con una batería de 25 pólenes. Resultados: Los pólenes alergénicos más frecuentemente encontrados en la atmósfera de Burgos fueron: cupresáceas (38,87%), especies de Quercus (14,51%), gramíneas (13,58%), especies de Pinus (10%), especies de Urtica (4,74%), especies de Platanus (3,49%), especies de Plantago (3,32%), Populus (2,26%), Olea (2,20%) y chenopoidaceas-amarantaceas (1,26%). Comparado con los pólenes anteriores, los resultados de las pruebas del prick en orden de prevalencia fue: gramíneas (91%), Plantago lanceolata (42,86%), Olea europaea (36,05%), Chenopodium album (26,53%), Urtica dioica (24,49%), Platanus hispanica (21,77%), Cupressus arizonica (19,05%) y Quercus ilex (18,37%). Como se observa en nuestros resultados, la sensibilización frente al polen de las gramíneas es la causa principal de polinosis en nuestro medio

The aim of the study was to know the main pollens with a higher probability of inducing pollinosis in the city of Burgos. Methods: For this purpose, pollen levels were measured by a Burkard collector situated in the terrace of the General Yagüe’s Hospital. Taxons with a mean above 1% of total during 1997, 1998 and 2001-2004 were analyzed. As part of a multicentric study from the SEAIC’s Aerobiology Committee for the study of pollinosis, 147 patients of both sexes with symptoms of seasonal rhinitis and/or asthma, resident in our area and with positive tests to pollens were selected. According to the study’s methodology, prick tests were performed with a panel of 25 pollens. Results: The allergenic pollens more prevalent in the atmosphere of Burgos were: cuppressus (38.87%), Quercus spp (14.51%), grasses (13.58%), Pinus spp (10%), Urtica spp (4.74%), Platanus spp (3.49%), Plantago spp (3.32%), Populus (2.26%), Olea (2.20%) y Chenopoidaceae- Amarantaceae (1.26%). Comparing with previous pollens, the results of prick tests were in order of prevalence: grass (91%), Plantago lanceolata (42.86%), Olea europaea (36.05%), Chenopodium album (26.53%), Urtica dioica (24.49%), Platanus hispanica (21.77%), Cupressus arizonica (19.05%) and Quercus ilex (18.37%). As we can infer from our results, sensitization to grass pollens constitutes the major cause of pollinosis en our area

Estudio de minimización de costes en la prescripción de inhibidores de la bomba de protones intravenosos: pantoprazol versus omeprazol / Cost-minimization study on the prescription of intravenous proton pump inhibitors: pantoprazole versus omeprazole

Objetivo: Comparar y cuantificar el hábito prescriptor del omeprazol frente al del pantoprazol intravenoso en las enfermedades relacionadas con el ácido más frecuentes, enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico, úlcera duodenal y úlcera gástrica. Material y métodos: Diseñamos un estudio de minimización de costes, observacional, longitudinal prospectivo y multicéntrico, realizado en hospitales españoles. Resultados: La pauta de tratamiento de pantoprazol fue de 40 mg/día (mediana), la mitad que la de omeprazol, con 80 mg/día en el conjunto de patologías (p 0,05). El coste que implican dichas pautas hace que los tratamientos con pantoprazol sean un 54 por ciento más baratos que los de omeprazol. Por indicaciones, el coste de los tratamientos de la úlcera duodenal fue un 65 por ciento más barato, y en la úlcera gástrica un 53 por ciento más barato. Conclusiones: Existe una diferencia de coste de aproximadamente la mitad en los tratamientos con pantoprazol, debido fundamentalmente al empleo de dosis superiores a las indicadas en los tratamientos con omeprazol intravenoso. Para reducir el gasto que implica el uso inadecuado de los inhibidores de la bomba de protones por vía intravenosa, se presenta como opción válida la utilización de pantoprazol (AU)

[Cost-minimization study on the prescription of intravenous proton pump inhibitors: pantoprazole versus omeprazole]. / Estudio de minimización de costes en la prescripción de inhibidores de la bomba de protones intravenosos: pantoprazol versus omeprazol.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and quantify intravenous omeprazole versus intravenous pantoprazole prescription habits in common acid-related diseases such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease, duodenal ulcer, and gastric ulcer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We designed an observational, longitudinal prospective and multicenter cost-minimization study to be carried out in Spanish hospitals. RESULTS: The pantoprazole regimen consisted of 40 mg/day (median), one half of that of omeprazole with 80 mg/day overall for these conditions (p < 0.05). This dosage was significantly different for duodenal ulcer (40.0 +/- 0.0 versus 90.6 +/- 22.5 mg/day, p < 0.05), and gastric ulcer (50.3 +/- 17.8 versus 85.8 +/- 39 mg/day, p < 0.05), but not for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (50.9 +/- 18.7 versus 62.2 +/- 21.1, p > 0.05). Costs for these regimens make treatments using pantoprazole 54% less expensive than treatments using omeprazole. By indication, the cost of duodenal ulcer treatment was 65% less expensive, and that of gastric ulcer 53% less expensive. CONCLUSIONS: Cost differences amount to approximately one half in treatments using pantoprazole, which is primarily due to the use of doses higher than indicated in treatments using intravenous omeprazole. To reduce expenses stemming from the inadequate use of intravenous proton pump inhibitors the use of pantoprazole is brought forward as a valid option.

Gastroenteropatía por proteínas de alimentos / Foodstuff protein-induced gastrointestinal disease

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Infiltrados pulmonares eosinófilos / Pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophylia

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Hipersensibilidad al fluido seminal humano / Hypersensitivity to human seminal fluid

La sensibilización al fluido seminal humano (FSH) es una rara causa de anafilaxia. Se presenta un caso de anafilaxia por sensibilización al FSH en una mujer de 48 años con dos hijos y antecedentes de urticaria-angioedema tras la ingesta de crustáceos. Su marido había sido vasectomizado tres años antes. Treinta minutos después del coito presentó urticaria, prurito, dolor genital y disnea. Se demostró un mecanismo de hipersensibilidad tipo I mediante la realización de prick con FSH que fue positivo, determinación de IgE específica clase 1 (0,35 KU/l) e isoelectroenfoque-immunoblotting con fijación de IgE entre punto isoeléctrico (pI) 5,67-6,89 (AU)

Alergia a anestésicos locales / Allergy to local anaesthetics

Desde la introducción de los anestésicos locales del grupo amida y a pesar de su uso, son pocos los casos descritos de sensibilización de contacto a este grupo. Al contrario, los anestésicos del grupo éster se consideran frecuentes sensibilizantes. Se presenta un caso de sensibilización a lidocaína en una paciente que tolera otro anestésico del grupo amida, como la articaína. Se realizaron test epicutáneos con estándar europeo, batería de colirios y esparadrapo de tela y papel con resultado negativo; asimismo, se realizaron pruebas epicutáneas con anestésicos locales del grupo amida y del grupo éster, resultando positivas a lidocaína, mepivacaína y bupivacaína, y negativas a articaína y a anestésicos locales del grupo éster. También se realizaron pruebas en intradermorreacción presentando reacción con lidocaína y mepivacaína, tolerando articaína y procaína (AU)

Reacción tardía a contrastes radiológicos / Delayed reaction to radiological contracts media

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