Phylogenetic patterns of trait and trait plasticity evolution: Insights from amphibian embryos

Environmental variation favors the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. For many species, we understand the costs and benefits of different phenotypes, but we lack a broad understanding of how plastic traits evolve across large clades. Using identical experiments conducted across North America, we examined prey responses to predator cues. We quantified five life-history traits and the magnitude of their plasticity for 23 amphibian species/populations (spanning three families and five genera) when exposed to no cues, crushed-egg cues, and predatory crayfish cues. Embryonic responses varied considerably among species and phylogenetic signal was common among the traits, whereas phylogenetic signal was rare for trait plasticities. Among trait-evolution models, the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) model provided the best fit or was essentially tied with Brownian motion. Using the best fitting model, evolutionary rates for plasticities were higher than traits for three life-history traits and lower for two. These data suggest that the evolution of life-history traits in amphibian embryos is more constrained by a species' position in the phylogeny than is the evolution of life history plasticities. The fact that an OU model of trait evolution was often a good fit to patterns of trait variation may indicate adaptive optima for traits and their plasticities.

Key Factors in Obstetric Delivery Decision-Making among Asian and Pacific Islander Women by English Proficiency

Childbirth is the most common reason women are hospitalized in the United States. Understanding (1) how expectant mothers gather information to decide where to give birth, and (2) who helps make that decision, provides critical health communication and decision-making insights. Diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) perspectives on such topics are understudied, particularly among those with limited English proficiency (LEP). LEP is defined as having a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. To address this research gap, we interviewed 400 women (18+ years) with a recent live birth on O'ahu, Hawai'i. Participants completed a 1-hour, in-person interview in English (n=291), Tagalog (n=42), Chinese (n=36), or Marshallese (n=31). Women were asked (1) what information was most important in deciding where to deliver and why; and (2) who participated in the decision-making and why. Responses were compared by LEP (n=71; 18%) vs English-proficient (n=329; 82%) in qualitative and quantitative analyses. Both LEP and English-proficient participants reported their obstetrician as the most important source of health information. Significantly more LEP participants valued advice from family or acquaintances as important sources of information compared to English-proficient participants. The top three health decision-makers for both those with LEP and English-proficient participants were themselves, their obstetrician, and their spouse, which did not differ significantly by language proficiency. These findings provide insights into health information sources and decision-making across diverse AA/PI populations, including those with LEP, and can help direct health interventions such as disseminating patient education and healthcare quality information.

Toll-like receptor activation by sino-nasal mucus in chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND

The sino-nasal disease chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is primarily an inflammatory condition that manifests in several ways. However, the aetiology of this complex disease is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the association between toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, host immune response and sino-nasal mucus in healthy and diseased patients.

METHODS

The activation of TLR2/1 and TLR4 by sino-nasal mucus from 26 CRS patients and 10 healthy controls was measured. In addition, 7 inflammatory cytokines, bacterial community composition and bacterial abundance within the sino-nasal mucus were measured using molecular and diagnostic tools.

RESULTS

TLR activity was observed in 9/36 samples, including 2 healthy controls. There was a strong, positive correlation between members of the Gammaproteobacteria (Haemophilus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas) and TLR2/1 and TLR4 activity. Bacterial abundance and cytokine (tumour necrosis factor) abundance were also positively correlated with TLR activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that a small proportion (20-30%) of individuals in each sub-group are more predisposed to TLR activity, which may be related to bacterial composition, diversity and abundance in the sinuses.

Efficacy and Safety of Saffron Supplementation: Current Clinical Findings

Saffron (Crocus savitus) is a Middle-Eastern herb with strong antioxidant properties. Its major constituents, safranal, crocin, and crocetin, are also antioxidants and bear structural similarities to other well-known natural antixodant substances, such as zeaxanthin. Given the role of oxidative stress in many diseases, considerable interest has been shown into the potential role of saffron supplementation as a treatment for a range of diseases. In vitro and animal studies have provided evidence that saffron and its constituents may be potent therapies for a range of pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiac ischemia. Whether these findings translate into clinical efficacy, however, has as of yet been incompletely assessed. This makes assessing the role of saffron supplementation in these diseases difficult. Here, we review the current human clinical evidence supporting saffron supplementation as a treatment for a range of pathologies and the underlying science supporting its use.

Portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic gastric plication

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) following laparoscopic surgery including Roux-en-Y bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and Nissen's fundoplication is a rare but recognised complication. Laparoscopic gastric plication in a new procedure that is popular in some parts of the world. We report a case of a patient suffering PVT as a complication of this surgery.

Portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic gastric plication

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) following laparoscopic surgery including Roux-en-Y bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and Nissen's fundoplication is a rare but recognised complication. Laparoscopic gastric plication in a new procedure that is popular in some parts of the world. We report a case of a patient suffering PVT as a complication of this surgery.

Effect of the Clinical Support Nurse Role on Work-related Stress for Nurses on an Inpatient Pediatric Oncology Unit

High patient acuity, heavy workload, and patient deaths can all contribute to work-related stress for pediatric oncology nurses. A new leadership role, the clinical support nurse (CSN), was recently initiated on the oncology unit of a large Canadian pediatric hospital to support frontline staff and reduce some of the stresses related to clinical activity. The CSN assists nurses with complex patient care procedures, provides hands-on education at the bedside, and supports staff in managing challenging family situations. This study explores the effect of the CSN role on the nurses' work-related stress using the Stressor Scale for Pediatric Oncology Nurses. A total of 58 nurses participated in this study for a response rate of 86%. The results show that the intensity of work-related stress experienced by nurses in this study is significantly less (P < .001) on shifts staffed with a CSN compared with shifts without a CSN.