Characterization of black spot resistance in diploid roses with QTL detection, meta-analysis and candidate-gene identification.

KEY MESSAGE: Two environmentally stable QTLs linked to black spot disease resistance in the Rosa wichurana genetic background were detected, in different connected populations, on linkage groups 3 and 5. Co-localization between R-genes and defense response genes was revealed via meta-analysis. The widespread rose black spot disease (BSD) caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Diplocarpon rosae Wolf. is efficiently controlled with fungicides. However, in the actual context of reducing agrochemical use, the demand for rose bushes with higher levels of resistance has increased. Qualitative resistance conferred by major genes (Rdr genes) has been widely studied but quantitative resistance to BSD requires further investigation. In this study, segregating populations connected through the BSD resistant Rosa wichurana male parent were phenotyped for disease resistance over several years and locations. A pseudo-testcross approach was used, resulting in six parental maps across three populations. A total of 45 individual QTLs with significant effect on BSD resistance were mapped on the male maps (on linkage groups (LG) B3, B4, B5 and B6), and 12 on the female maps (on LG A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5). Two major regions linked to BSD resistance were identified on LG B3 and B5 of the male maps and were integrated into a consensus map built from all three of the male maps. A meta-analysis was used to narrow down the confidence intervals of individual QTLs from three populations by generating meta-QTLs. Two 'hot spots' or meta-QTLs were found per LG, enabling reduction of the confidence interval to 10.42 cM for B3 and 11.47 cM for B5. An expert annotation of NBS-LRR encoding genes of the genome assembly of Hibrand et al. was performed and used to explore potential co-localization with R-genes. Co-localization with defense response genes was also investigated.

A model for making outcomes research standard practice in clinical dietetics.

In today's rapidly changing health care environment, it is imperative that dietitians demonstrate the importance of their role as health care providers by initiating and participating in outcomes research. Patient care should be based on empirical studies, and clinical dietitians should participate in or be at the helm of such investigations. Nutrition research is usually accomplished and reported by persons with MD or PhD degrees who do not have clinical training in nutrition and does not often address situations encountered by dietitians in clinical settings. This article examines the extent to which clinical dietitians are conducting and reporting outcomes research, their attitudes about such research, and how they think they could best acquire the skills needed to incorporate outcomes research into their practice. Results indicate that clinical dietitians are not writing a substantial percentage of articles and that reports of outcomes research are not commonly included in clinical nutrition journals. Clinical dietitians appear to value the inclusion of research in clinical practice, but they are not spending a great amount of time doing research. Dietitians report being comfortable about participating in research but not about designing, conducting, and reporting research. Results from several surveys were used to develop a model for integrating research in clinical practice. This model includes the research process as a basis for clinical practice. A model for collaborative efforts between clinical and academic dietitians is also proposed and emphasizes the responsibility of academic dietetics training programs in the integration of research and clinical practice.

Are weight concerns predictive of smoking cessation? A prospective analysis.

Participants in an 8-session, community based smoking cessation intervention rated whether they would stay quit if they experienced weight gain. The majority reported that they would not relapse to smoking, even after a 20-lb, (9.07-kg) weight gain. Those who were weight concerned were more likely to be female, to weight less and be normal or underweight, and to report chronic dieting. This group was also significantly less likely to be abstinent posttreatment, and at the 1-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Individuals presenting for formal smoking cessation interventions may be less weight concerned than the general population of smokers. However, weight-concerned smokers who do present for treatment are less likely to quit smoking. Implications for recruitment and intervention are discussed.

How much weight gain occurs following smoking cessation? A comparison of weight gain using both continuous and point prevalence abstinence.

Estimates of postcessation weight gain vary widely. This study determined the magnitude of weight gain in a cohort using both point prevalence and continuous abstinence criteria for cessation. Participants were 196 volunteers who participated in a smoking cessation program and who either continuously smoked (n = 118), were continuously abstinent (n = 51), or who were point prevalent abstinent (n = 27) (i.e., quit at the 1-year follow-up visit but not at others). Continuously abstinent participants gained over 13 lbs. (5.90 kg) at 1 year, significantly more than continuously smoking (M = 2.4 lb.) and point prevalent abstinent participants (M = 6.7 lbs., or 3.04 kg). Individual growth curve analysis confirmed that weight gain and the rate of weight gain (pounds per month) were greater among continuously smoking participants and that these effects were independent of gender, baseline weight, smoking and dieting history, age, and education. Results suggest that studies using point prevalence abstinence to estimate postcessation weight gain may be underestimating postcessation weight gain.

Sentinel lymph node uptake of two different technetium-labeled radiocolloids,.

BACKGROUND: The study was designed to compare the uptake of technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin ([99mTc]HSA) and 99mtechnetium-labeled sulfur colloid ([99mTc]SC) in the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). METHODS: Radiocolloid levels in the SLN, femoral lymph node (FLN), ischial lymph node (ILN), spleen (SP), and right rear footpad (RRF) were quantitated over a period of 240 min after injection of [99mTc]SC or [99mTc]HSA into the rear footpad of C57 BL/6 mice. RESULTS: There was a significantly greater (p < 0.001) radioactive count in SLNs after [99mTc]SC (mean cpm 211,084.8) compared to [99mTc]HSA (mean cpm 115,640.8). In contrast, the counts in the FLNs were higher after [99mTc]HSA (mean cpm 11,333.4) than after [99mTc]SC injection (mean cpm 5,065.5). The percent uptake in the SP was higher after [99mTc]HSA than after [99mTc]SC injection. CONCLUSIONS: [99mTc]SC is rapidly and efficiently taken up by lymphatics at the primary injection site, is significantly retained in the SLN, and flows slowly to the next echelon node (FLN or ILN) and to the systemic circulation (SP). [99mTc]HSA tends to accumulate less efficiently in the SLN and to disperse more rapidly to the next echelon nodes and to the systemic circulation. By extrapolation, [99mTc]SC is likely to be a better radiocolloid for the intraoperative detection of SLNs.

Differences in macronutrient selections in users and nonusers of an oral contraceptive.

One of the problems inherent in using women in clinical research is the effect that oral contraceptive (OC) use might have on physical indexes. Although weight gain is frequently reported as a side effect of OC use, there is little empirical evidence that such weight gain actually occurs. The current study investigated differences in energy balance [ie, dietary intake, resting energy expenditure (REE), and physical activity] between groups of users and nonusers of OCs. Each group completed a protocol that covered one menstrual cycle and consisted of daily recording of dietary intake, measurement of REE once during each phase of the menstrual cycle, and reporting of physical activity over the entire cycle. Comparisons indicate that there was a marginal interaction (P = 0.06) of OC use with total energy intake, indicating a different pattern of intake for the two groups. There were qualitative between-group differences such that the OC group consumed a greater percentage of energy as fat (P = 0.02) and a lesser percentage of energy as carbohydrate (P = 0.008). No group differences were found in the percentage of energy consumed as protein, but both groups consumed significantly less protein during menses (P = 0.008). There were no significant differences in REE. Both groups of women reported marginally more activity (P = 0.09) during menses than during the luteal phase.

Interaction of Salmonella typhi strains with cultured human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) provided this laboratory with a tool to develop a primary-cell assay for evaluating the relative virulence of newly constructed Salmonella typhi carrier strains. In this study, the interaction with and survival within MDM were compared for delta aroA143-attenuated strains, wild-type virulent strains, and the current oral-vaccine strain, Ty21a.

Changes in food consumption and body weight associated with smoking cessation across menstrual cycle phase.

Forty women smokers were randomly assigned to smoking cessation for a 10-day period of time, either during the follicular or the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Measurements of dietary intake and body weight were collected during the same phase the previous (smoking as usual) month and during the cessation phase. Physical activity was controlled across the 2 months. Comparisons between the smoking and cessation months indicated that both groups increased their dietary intake during the cessation month, but no interaction occurred between phase and month. That is, women in both groups increased dietary intake to the same degree. All energy nutrients tested (fat, complex carbohydrates, and sugar) increased significantly from baseline to cessation. Conversely, body weight increased by 1.8 kg (4 lb) in the Luteal group, while weight remained stable (0.1 kg change) in the Follicular group.

The relationship between a history of depression and adherence to a multicomponent smoking-cessation program.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a history of depression in female smokers (age 18-65) who did not self-report any current depression was associated with adherence to a multisession, multicomponent smoking-cessation program. Participants in a 13-week cognitive-behavioral group program plus random assignment to nicotine gum, appetite suppressant gum, or placebo chewing gum were grouped by depressive-history and compared on attendance, average expired carbon monoxide after planned cessation, and number of pieces of gum chewed. No significant differences between the depressive history (yes/no) subgroups were found on any of the three measures of adherence. The power to detect a significant difference (alpha = 0.05) was calculated to be 0.89. Group cognitive-behavioral treatment appears to be the basis of an effective smoking-cessation program for women with a history of depression who are not currently depressed.

Precision and estimated accuracy of two short-term food frequency questionnaires compared with recalls and records.

Two widely used food frequency questionnaires (Block FFQ, Willett FFQ) were modified to reflect intake over the past 7 days and compared to intake information gathered from diet records and 24-hr recalls covering the same 7-day period. The Block FFQ and the Willett FFQ were also gathered at the beginning of the assessment period to reflect the 7-day period of time before records and recalls were gathered. Fifty-six subjects were assigned to either recording diet for 3 days, recording diet for 6 days, or providing three 24-hr recalls. Results indicate similar levels of within-method test-retest reliabilities for 3-day RECORDS and 6-day RECORDS, and within the two Block FFQs and within the two Willett FFQs from each subject, while lower reliabilities were seen in 24-hr RECALLS. When the FFQs were compared to the 6-day RECORDS with between-method agreement coefficients, there was a moderate level of agreement, with most values between 0.5 and 0.8 for both FFQs. Significant differences between mean levels of nutrients estimated by the three methods indicated differences only in the estimates of carbohydrate and vitamin A. The use of FFQs to gather short-term intake information is discussed.

Effects of cytokines combined with high-dose gamma irradiation on the expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human ovarian cancers.

Tumor cells from 7 freshly isolated human ovarian tumors and 2 continuous human ovarian cancer cell lines were analyzed for their surface expression of MHC class-1, class 11 and ICAM-1 surface antigens before and after exposure to gamma-irradiation and/or the cytokines TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma. All 7 fresh tumors expressed high levels of MHC class 1 and 1CAM-1 antigens, and levels were markedly up-regulated after exposure to TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma Similarly, class-11 antigens were either induced (3 out of 7 tumors) or significantly up-regulated by TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma. Exposure to high doses of gamma-irradiation also increased the expression of MHC class-1 and ICAM-1 antigens, albeit to a modest degree. MHC class 1 and ICAM-1 antigens expression was much lower on continuous human ovarian cell lines than on the fresh tumors. Exposure of these cells to TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma markedly up-regulated antigen expression to levels comparable to those expressed on the freshly isolated tumors. With the established ovarian cell lines, removal of cytokines caused a rapid down-regulation of antigen expression to basal levels within 6 days, while in the fresh tumors a low level of up-regulation was still present at this time. In contrast, exposure to cytokines followed by high-dose gamma-irradiation resulted in a highly significant and long-lasting expression of each surface antigen which was either up-regulated or induced by the cytokines. These data indicated that the combination of these modalities may be beneficial in generating optimal antigen expression for use of tumor cells in vaccine studies.

Predictors of waist circumference change in healthy young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of a change in waist circumference in a group of healthy young adults. SUBJECTS: Caucasian, 121 women and 109 men, participating in a longitudinal investigation of cardiovascular risk factors in parents and their young children. MEASUREMENTS: Evaluations of body weight, waist and hip circumferences, dietary intake, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake were performed annually. Age was recorded and family history of disease was assessed. RESULTS: For women, covariates and modifiable predictors accounted for 67% of the variance in waist circumference change from Year 1 to Year 3. Women with lower baseline waist girths, lower baseline hip girths, higher baseline body weight, and a greater change in body weight had larger increases in waist girth. For men, covariates and modifiable predictors accounted for 72% of the variance in waist circumference change. Men with lower baseline waist girth, a greater change in hip girth, higher baseline body weight, greater increases in body weight, and less percent of fat in the diet at baseline had larger increases in waist girth. Other non-modifiable variables did not predict change in either gender. CONCLUSION: Reducing excess body weight and decreasing weight gain appear to be the most important factors in preventing the accumulation of upper body fat.

Development and characterization of an IL-4-secreting human ovarian carcinoma cell line.

Human ovarian carcinoma cell lines were genetically engineered to secrete the cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) by retroviral-mediated gene transduction. These cells were transduced with the LXSN retroviral vector containing the human IL-4 gene and the neomycin resistance selection marker. Numerous IL-4-secreting clones were isolated from different papillary serous carcinoma cell lines, including SKOV-3, UCI-101, and UCI-107, and one clone derived from UCI-107 extensively characterized. This clone, termed UCI 107E IL-4 GS, was shown to constitutively express high levels of IL-4 (i.e., 900 to 1300 pg/ml/10(5) cells/48 hr) for over 35 passages and 6 months of study. Like the parental cell line (UCI-107), UCI 107E IL-4 GS cells expressed MHC class I and Her-2/neu surface antigens but did not express detectable MHC class II, ICAM 1, CA 125, or IL-4 receptors. No increase in expression of surface proteins was noted between parental and UCI 107E IL-4 GS. The morphology of this clone did not differ from that of the parental or LXSN vector control cells; however, parental cells had a faster growth rates than transductants. UCI 107E IL-4 GS was sensitive to gamma irradiation since as little as 2500 rad killed most of the cells within 10 days of irradiation. However, after irradiation, IL-4 secretion continued until about Day 8. The potential use of these IL-4-secreting ovarian carcinoma cells as vaccines for woman with advanced ovarian cancer will be discussed.

Who underreports dietary intake in a dietary recall? Evidence from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The present study sought to identify the presence and degree of apparent underreporting of dietary intake in 11,663 participants in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). Self-reported dietary intake was compared with estimated basal metabolic rate. Underreporting was based on cutoff limits that identified plausible levels of energy expenditure for adult individuals. Results indicated that up to 31% of adults in this sample may have underreported dietary intake. Those individuals at greatest risk of underreporting were less well educated and heavier. The Sex x Race interaction indicated that for both ethnic categories, women were more likely to underreport than men, but the difference between men and women was greater among Caucasian participants. It is concluded that such factors as reduced energy needs, deliberate falsification, and measurement error inherent in dietary assessment contribute to apparent underreporting, and this occurs in a large percentage of dietary data.

A longitudinal analysis of accelerated weight gain in preschool children.

The purpose of the current investigation was to determine the dietary, physical activity, family history, and demographic predictors of relative weight change in a cohort of 146 children over a 3-year period. Results indicated that boys of normal-weight parents or who had only one parent overweight showed decreases in their body mass index (BMI) while those with two parents overweight showed increases. Girls with an overweight father showed BMI increases while others experienced decreases in BMI. Additionally, baseline intake of kilocalories from fat as well as decreases in fat intake were related to decreases in BMI. At higher levels of baseline aerobic activity, subsequent changes in BMI decreased. There was also a trend for changes in leisure activity--increases in children's leisure activity was associated with decreases in subsequent weight gain. Modifiable variables (ie, dietary intake, physical activity) accounted for more of the variance in changes in child BMI change than nonmodifiable variables (eg, number of parents obese). These results strongly suggest that encouragement of heart healthy dietary intake patterns and participation in physical activity can decrease accelerated weight gain and obesity, even in preschool children.

Physicians' diagnosis of obesity status in NHANES II.

The aim of this work was to assess the accuracy of physicians' subjective assessments of obesity status. The subjects were participants in The Second National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES II) Survey. The physicians' subjective judgments of obesity were compared to BMI, an objective measure of actual body mass. Subjects with a body mass index (BMI = weight in kg/(height in cm/100)2) less than or equal to 27.5 were classified as normal weight and those with a BMI greater than or equal to 30.4 were considered to be obese. Physicians were accurate in their diagnosis of the normal weight group with only 4.03% being misdiagnosed as obese. However, 12.6% of the obese group was misdiagnosed as normal weight. The odds of an incorrect normal weight diagnosis increased with age. Similarly, as the fat distribution ratio increased, i.e., a more central pattern, the odds of being actually obese but incorrectly diagnosed as normal weight increased. Men were more likely than women to be incorrectly diagnosed as normal weight. Non-Caucasian normal weight persons appear to have been diagnosed more stringently than Caucasians as they were more likely to be misdiagnosed as obese regardless of their gender. There appear to be several variables affecting the physicians' subjective assessment of obesity status in this data set.

Relationship between psychosocial functioning and body fat in preschool children: a longitudinal investigation.

This study examined whether preschool children differed on measures of psychosocial functioning both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. One hundred and thirty-two children who varied in levels of body fat participated in the study along with their natural parents. Results indicated that the children did not differ in levels of self-esteem and family functioning as a function of their body fat. Prospectively, physical self-esteem weakly (but significantly) correlated with body fat at 1 and 2 years, and father's perception of family functioning predicted body fat at 1 year only. Results suggested that childhood obesity may not develop as a result of psychosocial factors.

A prospective study of familial aggregation of blood pressure in young children.

In a prospective study, we evaluated familial aggregation of blood pressure in a sample of 175 normotensive families with children 3 to 6 yr old. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements of parents and children were correlated at 1, 2, and 3 yr intervals. Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients between parents and children were significant for mother-son pairs. In particular, mother-son blood pressure correlation coefficients were significant for systolic blood pressure across all 3 yr and for diastolic blood pressure during yr 2. Further analyses were performed adjusting for body mass index (BMI), age, physical activity, sodium intake, potassium intake, and parental smoking status, and alcohol use. The Spearman correlation coefficients for mother-son pairs remained significant for yr 1 and 3 after adjusting for these blood pressure correlates. These results are consistent with cross-sectional studies and suggest that both genetic and environmental contributions to blood pressure status are important in young children.

Impact of diabetic status, dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking status on body mass index in NHANES II.

Individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) have a higher body mass index (BMI) than nondiabetic individuals and it has been reported that individuals with NIDDM have more difficulty losing excess weight. To assess an independent effect of NIDDM on weight status, analyses were conducted to predict BMI with variables previously associated with weight status. Subjects from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were categorized into three groups: individuals with NIDDM and on oral medication, individuals with diet-controlled NIDDM, and nondiabetic adults. Additionally, planned orthogonal comparisons between these groups were conducted after other predictors were controlled for; 9.18% of the variability was explained for men (P less than 0.001) whereas 12.11% was explained for women (P less than 0.0001), with several variables significantly related in each model. An independent effect for diabetes status was found in both sexes and there were no differences in BMI between NIDDM groups in either sex.