Background: This subanalysis of the ACTION Teens study aimed to assess the effect of gender/age on use of information sources for healthy lifestyles and weight loss/management among adolescents ...living with obesity (ALwO) and caregivers (CGs) of ALwO. Methods: The global, cross-sectional ACTION Teens survey (NCT05013359) assessed perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to effective obesity care in ALwO (aged 12-<18 years y; N=5,275), CGs (N=5,389), and healthcare professionals treating ALwO (N=2,323). Results reported herein were stratified by gender/ age. Proportions were compared with Z-tests; # indicates significant difference (p<0.05). Results: The most important information source for male ALwO was YouTube (reported by 16%) and for female ALwO was social media (reported by 16%). Age group comparisons (12-13 vs. 16-17 y) found greater proportions of female ALwO aged 16-17 y obtained information from YouTube (23 vs. 41%#) and social media (26 vs. 35%#). The percentage of ALwO who considered family/friends as their most important information source was lower in the older age group (1213 vs. 16-17 y: females, 12 vs. 6%#; males, 16 vs. 9%#). The proportion of female ALwO who indicated a doctor was their most important information source was greater among those aged 12-13 vs. 16-17 y (21 vs. 11%#). For CGs, doctors were the most commonly used information source (males: 31%; females: 33%); search engines were used by a greater proportion of females than males (33 vs. 28%#). Seeking information from a doctor and search engines was consistent across CG age groups, but the proportion who used YouTube was lower in the older age group (age 25-34 vs. 55+ y: 35 vs. 24%#). Conclusions: Online channels were the most important source of weight management information for male and female ALwO; fewer female ALwO aged 16-17 y considered doctors to be their most important information source than those aged 12-13 y. Doctors were the most commonly used information source for CGs, with no significant difference by gender/age.
Background: This subanalysis of the ACTION Teens study aimed to assess whether a healthcare professional (HCP)'s level of comfort discussing weight with adolescents living with obesity (ALwO) affects ...their weight management behaviors. Methods: The global, cross-sectional ACTION Teens study (NCT05013359) surveyed 5,275 ALwO (aged 12-<18 years), 5,389 caregivers of ALwO, and 2,323 HCPs involved in ALwO obesity management/treatment. HCPs were categorized based on their selfreported comfort discussing weight with ALwO patients (extremely/ very = 'comfortable'; a little/not at all = 'not comfortable'; somewhat = excluded from analysis). Means were compared with t-tests and proportions with Z-tests; # indicates significance (p<0.05). Results: HCPs (n=2,323; mean age 45 years; 40% female; 57% were primary care practitioners and 43% with other specialties) discussed weight with a mean of 61% of their ALwO patients. Compared with HCPs who were not comfortable discussing weight (n=407; 18%), those who were comfortable doing so (n=1,115; 48%) discussed weight with a greater proportion of ALwO patients (mean: 65 vs. 52%#), more commonly 'always' recorded an obesity diagnosis in the ALwO's medical record (45 vs. 21%#), and scheduled follow-up appointments with a greater proportion of ALwO (mean: 67 vs. 47%#). Among the subset of HCPs who reported ever informing ALwO/their caregivers about the obesity diagnosis (n=2,223), those who were comfortable discussing weight (n=1,083) informed a greater proportion of ALwO/their caregivers about the obesity diagnosis than HCPs who were not comfortable discussing weight (n=378; mean: 83 vs. 71%#). Conclusions: The HCPs surveyed in ACTION Teens - especially those who were not comfortable discussing weight with ALwO - had not discussed weight/the obesity diagnosis or scheduled follow-up appointments with a substantial proportion of their ALwO patients. Addressing HCP discomfort when discussing weight may help to improve obesity management in ALwO.
This is a summary of a research survey called ACTION Teens. In our survey, 12,987 people from 10 countries answered questions about obesity. They were: 5275 teenagers with obesity, 5389 caregivers of ...teenagers with obesity, and 2323 doctors who provide medical care for teenagers with obesity.
Most teenagers with obesity were worried about their weight and thought that losing weight was their responsibility. Many teenagers had already tried to lose weight. For teenagers, wanting to be more fit or in better shape was the top reason for wanting to lose weight. Some caregivers did not realize how worried their teenager was about their own weight. There were also some caregivers who were not aware of their teenager's recent attempts to lose weight. As a group, the doctors did not know the main reasons why teenagers want to lose weight. They also did not know the main reasons preventing teenagers from losing weight.
Teenagers with obesity will be better supported and understood if there is better communication between teenagers, caregivers, and doctors.
: NCT05013359 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Copy number variants (CNVs) play a significant role in disease pathogenesis in a small subset of individuals with schizophrenia (~2.5%). Chromosomal microarray testing is a first-tier genetic test ...for many neurodevelopmental disorders. Similar testing could be useful in schizophrenia.
To determine whether clinically identifiable phenotypic features could be used to successfully model schizophrenia-associated (SCZ-associated) CNV carrier status in a large schizophrenia cohort.
Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves tested the accuracy of readily identifiable phenotypic features in modelling SCZ-associated CNV status in a discovery data-set of 1215 individuals with psychosis. A replication analysis was undertaken in a second psychosis data-set (n = 479).
In the discovery cohort, specific learning disorder (OR = 8.12; 95% CI 1.16-34.88, P = 0.012), developmental delay (OR = 5.19; 95% CI 1.58-14.76, P = 0.003) and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorder (OR = 5.87; 95% CI 1.28-19.69, P = 0.009) were significant independent variables in modelling positive carrier status for a SCZ-associated CNV, with an area under the ROC (AUROC) of 74.2% (95% CI 61.9-86.4%). A model constructed from the discovery cohort including developmental delay and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorder variables resulted in an AUROC of 83% (95% CI 52.0-100.0%) for the replication cohort.
These findings suggest that careful clinical history taking to document specific neurodevelopmental features may be informative in screening for individuals with schizophrenia who are at higher risk of carrying known SCZ-associated CNVs. Identification of genomic disorders in these individuals is likely to have clinical benefits similar to those demonstrated for other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Summary
Background
There is limited evidence regarding the experiences, challenges, and needs of adolescents living with obesity (ALwO), their caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs).
...Objectives
The cross‐sectional, survey‐based global ACTION Teens study aimed to identify perceptions, attitudes, behaviours, and barriers to effective obesity care among ALwO, caregivers of ALwO, and HCPs.
Methods
ALwO (aged 12 to <18 years; N = 5275), caregivers (N = 5389), and HCPs treating ALwO (N = 2323) from 10 countries completed an online survey (August–December 2021).
Results
Most ALwO perceived their weight as above normal (76% vs. 66% of caregivers), were worried about its impact on their health (85% vs. 80% of caregivers), and recently made a weight loss attempt (58%). While 45% of caregivers believed ALwO would slim down with age, only 24% of HCPs agreed. Most commonly reported weight loss motivators for ALwO were wanting to be more fit/in better shape according to ALwO (40%) and caregivers (32%), and improved confidence/social life according to HCPs (69%). ALwO weight loss barriers included lack of hunger control (most commonly reported by ALwO/caregivers), lack of motivation, unhealthy eating habits (most commonly agreed by HCPs), and lack of exercise.
Conclusions
Misalignment between ALwO, caregivers, and HCPs—including caregivers' underestimation of the impact of obesity on ALwO and HCPs' misperception of key motivators/barriers for weight loss—suggests a need for improved communication and education.
The cultivation of macroalgae for biofuels, food and fertilisers has increased dramatically in recent years. The demand for such algal-derived products means that large scale cultivation in coastal ...waters will become necessary to provide sufficient algal biomass. As part of the process of establishing new macroalgal farms, the potential for gene flow between cultivated specimens and natural populations needs to be taken into consideration. Consequently, in the present study we have used a combined population genetic and hydrodynamic modelling approach to determine potential levels and patterns of gene flow in the kelp Saccharina latissima. Microsatellite analysis of 14 populations sampled across the northern part of the Irish Sea indicated four distinct genetic clusters. These were consistent with dispersal patterns indicated by the particle tracking model and show a combination of isolation by distance and genetic structuring due to local hydrodynamic conditions. At smaller scales (less than a few 10s of km), gene flow appears to be fairly extensive, with evidence of local population connectivity due to local currents. At larger scales, however, factors such as freshwater efflux and open water would appear to represent barriers to gene flow. Together, these patterns suggest that factors other than simple geographical distance and proximity need to be taken into account when planning the siting of kelp farms with the aim of minimizing gene flow to and from natural populations.
•Genetic analysis and hydrodynamic modelling indicate restricted dispersal capacity.•Barriers to gene flow most pronounced at larger scales, but no simple relationship.•Many factors need consideration in siting of kelp farms to minimise gene exchange.
In 2010, the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 with the mission of halting biodiversity loss and enhance the benefits it ...provides to people. The 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets (Aichi Targets), which are included in the Strategic Plan, are organized under five Strategic Goals, and provide coherent guidance on how to achieve it. Halfway through the Strategic Plan, it is time to prioritize actions in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the Aichi Targets in 2020. Actions to achieve one target may influence other targets (downstream interactions); in turn a target may be influenced by actions taken to attain other targets (upstream interactions). We explore the interactions among targets and the time-lags between implemented measures and desired outcomes to develop a framework that can reduce the overall burden associated with the implementation of the Strategic Plan. We identified the targets addressing the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss and the targets aimed at enhancing the implementation of the Strategic Plan as having the highest level of downstream interactions. Targets aimed at improving the status of biodiversity and safeguarding ecosystems followed by targets aimed at reducing the direct pressures on biodiversity and enhancing the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services, were identified as having the highest levels of upstream interactions. Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the Strategic Plan is the need to balance actions for its long-term sustainability with the need for urgent actions to halt biodiversity loss.
Im Jahre 2010 fasste die Biodiversitäts-Konvention einen Beschluss zum Schutz der Biodiversität für die Dekade 2011–2020. Das primäre Ziel dieses Strategischen Plans ist es, den Verlust von Biodiversität zu reduzieren, sowie ihre enorme Bedeutung für die Menschen zu veranschaulichen. In diesen Strategischen Plan sind die “20 Aichi – Ziele” integriert, die in fünf Kernziele kategorisiert sind und als Leitfaden zur Realisierung der Aichi-Ziele dienen. Im Rahmen des Strategieplans ist es an der Zeit die Maßnahmen zu priorisieren, welche maximale Erfolge zum Erreichen der “20 Aichi–Ziele” bis 2020 versprechen. Dabei muss betrachtet werden, dass bestimmte Maßnahmen zur Zielführung möglicherweise andere Ziele beeinflussen (s.g. abwärts gerichtete Interaktionen=“downstream interactions”); im Gegensatz dazu können Ziele wiederum die Maßnahmen beeinflussen (s.g. aufwärts gerichtete Interaktionen=“upstream interactions”).
Wir untersuchten die Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Kernzielen und den Zeitintervallen, zwischen den durchgeführten Maßnahmen und dem Eintreten der gewünschten Ergebnisse. Diese Untersuchungen sind notwendig, um die wichtigsten Maßnahmen mit den höchsten Effekten innerhalb aller Ziele zu identifizieren. Dabei identifizierten wir Ziele, welche sich primär mit den Ursachen des Rückgangs biologischer Vielfalt beschäftigen und Ziele, in deren Fokus die Verfolgung des Strategischen Plans steht, als hochgradig abwärts gerichtete Interaktionen. Ziele, die sich vornehmlich mit der Sicherung von Ökosystemen zur Verbesserung der biologischen Vielfalt beschäftigen, gefolgt von denen, deren Schwerpunkt auf der Reduktion von direkten Belastungen auf biologische Vielfalt liegt, und jene, die aufzeigen, welchen Mehrwert biologische Vielfalt und Ökosystemleistungen für alle bieten, weisen die höchsten aufwärts gerichteten Interaktionen auf. Einer der schwierigsten Aspekte bei der Umsetzung des strategischen Plans ist die Notwendigkeit einer Balance zwischen Maßnahmen zur Umsetzung einer langfristigen Nachhaltigkeit und der Umsetzung von notwendigen kurzfristigen Sofortmaßnahmen zu finden, welche den Verlust der biologischen Vielfalt aufhalten.
Genome of the African Trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei Berriman, Matthew; Ghedin, Elodie; Hertz-Fowler, Christiane ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
07/2005, Letnik:
309, Številka:
5733
Journal Article
Recenzirano
African trypanosomes cause human sleeping sickness and livestock trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. We present the sequence and analysis of the 11 megabase-sized chromosomes of Trypanosoma ...brucei. The 26-megabase genome contains 9068 predicted genes, including approximately900 pseudogenes and approximately1700 T. brucei-specific genes. Large subtelomeric arrays contain an archive of 806 variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes used by the parasite to evade the mammalian immune system. Most VSG genes are pseudogenes, which may be used to generate expressed mosaic genes by ectopic recombination. Comparisons of the cytoskeleton and endocytic trafficking systems with those of humans and other eukaryotic organisms reveal major differences. A comparison of metabolic pathways encoded by the genomes of T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania major reveals the least overall metabolic capability in T. brucei and the greatest in L. major. Horizontal transfer of genes of bacterial origin has contributed to some of the metabolic differences in these parasites, and a number of novel potential drug targets have been identified.
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