ORCID Profile
0000-0001-8368-9664
Current Organisations
Queensland University of Technology
,
The University of Canberra
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Epigenetics (incl. Genome Methylation and Epigenomics) | Evolutionary Impacts of Climate Change | Population Ecology | Gene Expression (incl. Microarray and other genome-wide approaches) | Proteomics and Intermolecular Interactions (excl. Medical Proteomics) | Ecology | Evolutionary Biology | Biological Adaptation
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change | Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Australia (excl. Social Impacts) | Human Biological Preventatives (e.g. Vaccines) | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales |
Related Links
Publications
MSAP In Tiger Snakes: Island Populations Are Epigenetically More Divergent
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 21-03-2017
DOI: 10.1101/118836
Abstract: Research on changes in phenotypic plasticity within wild animal populations is centuries old, however far fewer studies have investigated the role that epigenetics play in the development or persistence of natural variation in response to environmental change. Tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) are an ideal study organism to investigate the link between epigenetics and phenotypic responses to environmental change, as they live on a range of offshore islands with different environments and prey types while exhibiting gigantism and dwarfism in body and head size. In this study, we have generated methylation sensitive lified polymorphism (MSAP) data and found that, in general, Tiger Snakes are more epigenetically differentiated than genetically differentiated. Each island group has a distinctive epigenetic signal, suggesting the Tiger Snakes on each island group have adapted to their specific environment. This is also supported by the strong positive relationship between epigenetic differentiation and isolation age, as well as between epigenetic/genetic signal and both temperature and precipitation. The Tiger Snakes from Kangaroo Island, which has a complex landscape/environment like the mainland rather than the simple landscape/environment of each of the smaller islands, are both genetically and epigenetically more like the mainland. As the MSAP loci are randomly distributed across the genome, we believe a closer examination of the epigenetic modifications near genes involved in growth, development, and lipid metabolism will allow us to investigate the epigenetic basis for the natural variation in head size and body size on the islands.
Expanding population edge craniometrics and genetics provide insights into dispersal of commensal rats through Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Publisher: Australian Museum
Date: 25-11-2020
Sevelamer: a promising but unproven drug
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-07-2007
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFM561
East African origins for Madagascan chickens as indicated by mitochondrial DNA
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.160787
Abstract: The colonization of Madagascar by Austronesian-speaking people during AD 50–500 represents the most westerly point of the greatest diaspora in prehistory. A range of economically important plants and animals may have accompanied the Austronesians. Domestic chickens ( Gallus gallus ) are found in Madagascar, but it is unclear how they arrived there. Did they accompany the initial Austronesian-speaking populations that reached Madagascar via the Indian Ocean or were they late arrivals with Arabian and African sea-farers? To address this question, we investigated the mitochondrial DNA control region ersity of modern chickens s led from around the Indian Ocean rim (Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Madagascar). In contrast to the linguistic and human genetic evidence indicating dual African and Southeast Asian ancestry of the Malagasy people, we find that chickens in Madagascar only share a common ancestor with East Africa, which together are genetically closer to South Asian chickens than to those in Southeast Asia. This suggests that the earliest expansion of Austronesian-speaking people across the Indian Ocean did not successfully introduce chickens to Madagascar. Our results further demonstrate the complexity of the translocation history of introduced domesticates in Madagascar.
Benefits and Harms of Phosphate Binders in CKD: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2009
A Multi-Gene Region Targeted Capture Approach to Detect Plant DNA in Environmental Samples: A Case Study From Coastal Environments
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 25-10-2021
Abstract: Metabarcoding of plant DNA recovered from environmental s les, termed environmental DNA (eDNA), has been used to detect invasive species, track bio ersity changes, and reconstruct past ecosystems. The P6 loop of the trnL intron is the most widely utilised gene region for metabarcoding plants due to the short fragment length and subsequent ease of recovery from degraded DNA, which is characteristic of environmental s les. However, the taxonomic resolution for this gene region is limited, often precluding species level identification. Additionally, targeting gene regions using universal primers can bias results as some taxa will lify more effectively than others. To increase the ability of DNA metabarcoding to better resolve flowering plant species (angiosperms) within environmental s les, and reduce bias in lification, we developed a multi-gene targeted capture method that simultaneously targets 20 chloroplast gene regions in a single assay across all flowering plant species. Using this approach, we effectively recovered multiple chloroplast gene regions for three species within artificial DNA mixtures down to 0.001 ng/μL of DNA. We tested the detection level of this approach, successfully recovering target genes for 10 flowering plant species. Finally, we applied this approach to sediment s les containing unknown compositions of eDNA and confidently detected plant species that were later verified with observation data. Targeting multiple chloroplast gene regions in environmental s les, enabled species-level information to be recovered from complex DNA mixtures. Thus, the method developed here, confers an improved level of data on community composition, which can be used to better understand flowering plant assemblages in environmental s les.
Molecular genetic evidence for the place of origin of the pacific rat, rattus exulans
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 17-03-2014
High-flux versus low-flux membranes for end-stage kidney disease
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-09-2012
Phylogeography of eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, suggests a mesic refugium in eastern Australia
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-05-2015
Treatment of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2007
DOI: 10.1053/J.AJKD.2007.08.015
Abstract: Peritonitis frequently complicates peritoneal dialysis. Appropriate treatment is essential to reduce adverse outcomes. Available trial evidence about peritoneal dialysis peritonitis treatment was evaluated. The Cochrane CENTRAL Registry (2005 issue), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2006), EMBASE (1985 to February 2006), and reference lists were searched to identify randomized trials of treatments for patients with peritoneal dialysis peritonitis. Trials of antibiotics (comparisons of routes, agents, and dosing regimens), fibrinolytic agents, peritoneal lavage, and intraperitoneal immunoglobulin. Treatment failure, relapse, catheter removal, microbiological eradication, hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and adverse reactions. 36 eligible trials were identified: 30 trials (1,800 patients) of antibiotics 4 trials (229 patients) of urokinase 1 trial of peritoneal lavage (36 patients) and 1 trial of intraperitoneal immunoglobulin (24 patients). No superior antimicrobial class was identified. In particular, glycopeptides and first-generation cephalosporins were equivalent (3 trials, 387 patients relative risk [RR], 1.84 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95 to 3.58). Simultaneous catheter removal/replacement was superior to urokinase at decreasing treatment failures (1 trial, 37 patients RR, 2.35 95% CI, 1.13 to 4.91). Continuous and intermittent intraperitoneal antibiotic dosing were equivalent regarding treatment failure (4 trials, 338 patients RR, 0.69 95% CI, 0.37 to 1.30) and relapse (4 trials, 324 patients RR, 0.93 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.39). One trial showed superiority of intraperitoneal antibiotics over intravenous therapy. The method quality of trials generally was suboptimal and outcome definitions were inconsistent. Small patient numbers led to inadequate power to show an effect. Interventions, such as optimal duration of antibiotic therapy, were not evaluated. Trials did not identify superior antibiotic regimens. Intermittent and continuous antibiotic dosing are equivalent treatment strategies.
Meta-Analysis of Biochemical and Patient-Level Effects of Calcimimetic Therapy
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2006
Genetic diversity and drivers of dwarfism in extinct island emu populations
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 04-2018
Abstract: Australia's iconic emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae novaehollandiae ) is the only living representative of its genus, but fossil evidence and reports from early European explorers suggest that three island forms (at least two of which were dwarfs) became extinct during the nineteenth century. While one of these—the King Island emu—has been found to be conspecific with Australian mainland emus, little is known about how the other two forms—Kangaroo Island and Tasmanian emus—relate to the others, or even the size of Tasmanian emus. We present a comprehensive genetic and morphological analysis of Dromaius ersity, including data from one of the few definitively genuine Tasmanian emu specimens known. Our genetic analyses suggest that all the island populations represent sub-populations of mainland D . novaehollandiae . Further, the size of island emus and those on the mainland appears to scale linearly with island size but not time since isolation, suggesting that island size—and presumably concomitant limitations on resource availability—may be a more important driver of dwarfism in island emus, though its precise contribution to emu dwarfism remains to be confirmed.
Phosphate binders for preventing and treating bone disease in chronic kidney disease patients
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-02-2011
A multi-gene region targeted capture approach to detect plant DNA in environmental samples: A case study from coastal environments
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 04-07-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.03.450983
Abstract: Metabarcoding of plant DNA recovered from environmental s les, termed environmental DNA (eDNA), has been used to detect invasive species, track bio ersity changes and reconstruct past ecosystems. The P6 loop of the trnL intron is the most widely utilized gene region for metabarcoding plants due to the short fragment length and subsequent ease of recovery from degraded DNA, which is characteristic of environmental s les. However, the taxonomic resolution for this gene region is limited, often precluding species level identification. Additionally, targeting gene regions using universal primers can bias results as some taxa will lify more effectively than others. To increase the ability of DNA metabarcoding to better resolve flowering plant species (angiosperms) within environmental s les, and reduce bias in lification, we developed a multi-gene targeted capture method that simultaneously targets 20 chloroplast gene regions in a single assay across all flowering plant species. Using this approach, we effectively recovered multiple chloroplast gene regions for three species within artificial DNA mixtures down to 0.001 ng/µL of DNA. We tested the detection level of this approach, successfully recovering target genes for 10 flowering plant species. Finally, we applied this approach to sediment s les containing unknown compositions of environmental DNA and confidently detected plant species that were later verified with observation data. Targeting multiple chloroplast gene regions in environmental s les enabled species-level information to be recovered from complex DNA mixtures. Thus, the method developed here, confers an improved level of data on community composition, which can be used to better understand flowering plant assemblages in environmental s les.
Taking aim at targets - Editorial Comment
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-02-2009
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFP025
Treatment Options for Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 06-2010
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.09081209
Long-term genetic consequences of mammal reintroductions into an Australian conservation reserve
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2018
Calcimimetics for secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease patients
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 18-10-2006
Commensals/Domesticates on Rapa Nui: What Can Their Phylogeographic Patterns Tell Us About the Discovery and Settlement of the Island?
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2022
Phylogeography of the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus) across tropical northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-10-2016
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.2381
Depression and sexual dysfunction in chronic kidney disease: a narrative review of the evidence in areas of significant unmet need
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 31-08-2012
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFS135
Abstract: People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high symptom burden and experience poorer quality of life than the general population. People with CKD frequently report fatigue, anorexia, pain, sleep disturbance, itching and restless legs. Depression and sexual dysfunction may also be common in CKD, although questions about optimal diagnosis and treatment remain unanswered. People with kidney disease identify lifestyle and the impact of CKD on family and psychosocial supports as key priorities and rate symptoms such as sexual dysfunction and psychological distress as severe. Here, we outline the current state of research underlying depression and sexual dysfunction in this population focusing on prevalence, diagnosis, screening, outcomes and interventions and suggest areas requiring additional specific research.
The Cochrane Library - Immunoglobulins, vaccines or interferon for preventing cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-04-2007
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and combined therapy in patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria and other cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-03-2011
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFQ792
Abstract: A recent clinical trial showed harmful renal effects with the combined use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARB) in people with diabetes or vascular disease. We examined the benefits and risks of these agents in people with albuminuria and one or more cardiovascular risk factors. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Renal Health Library were searched for trials comparing ACEI, ARB or their combination with placebo or with one another in people with albuminuria and one or more cardiovascular risk factor. Eighty-five trials (21,708 patients) were included. There was no significant reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality or fatal cardiac-cerebrovascular outcomes with ACEI versus placebo, ARB versus placebo, ACEI versus ARB or with combined therapy with ACEI + ARB versus monotherapy. There was a significant reduction in the risk of nonfatal cardiovascular events with ACEI versus placebo but not with ARB versus placebo, ACEI versus ARB or with combined therapy with ACEI + ARB versus monotherapy. Development of end-stage kidney disease and progression of microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria were reduced significantly with ACEI versus placebo and ARB versus placebo but not with combined therapy with ACEI + ARB versus monotherapy. ACEI and ARB exert independent renal and nonfatal cardiovascular benefits while their effects on mortality and fatal cardiovascular disease are uncertain. There is a lack of evidence to support the use of combination therapy. A comparative clinical trial with ACE, ARB and its combination in people with albuminuria and a cardiovascular risk factor is warranted.
IgA Nephropathy: A Disease in Search of a Large-Scale Clinical Trial to Reliably Inform Practice
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2009
Island Tiger Snakes (Notechis scutatus) Gain a ‘Head Start’ in Life
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-01-2023
Using genomics and morphometrics to monitor data-poor and commercially exploited octopod populations
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-08-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S00227-023-04270-9
Abstract: Over 150 species of benthic octopods have been described within the ‘catch-all’ Octopus genus (Family: Octopodidae) and yet, many Octopus species harvested by fisheries remain unidentified to species-level due to a lack of distinguishing traits. Within species, there is also limited information on how populations differ genetically and the level of connectivity between populations. Therefore, we s led octopods from commercial fisheries in southeast Australia, in order to identify the species, examine the phylogeographic relationships among species and the level of population genetic structuring within species, as well as to look for any adaptive genetic variation. The mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase subunit III (COIII), was sequenced in 346 octopods along with single nucleotide polymorphisms using double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq). Morphometric traits were also measured in mature specimens. The southern keeled octopus ( ‘Octopus’ berrima ) and pale octopus ( ‘Octopus’ pallidus ) were identified using COIII data. For ‘Octopus’ berrima , we found that some populations whilst being morphologically similar were genetically distinct. In contrast, ‘Octopus’ pallidus populations were both morphologically and genetically distinct across the studied regions. Our results provide key information to better inform conservation and management decisions for developing octopod fisheries in southeast Australia and highlight the importance of genomics tools in the conservation management of commercially and recreationally important species.
Molecular resolution to a morphological controversy: The case of North American fossil muskoxen Bootherium and Symbos.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.YMPEV.2018.08.008
Abstract: The musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) is the only surviving member of a group of Pleistocene North American musk ox genera (Praeovibos, Ovibos, Bootherium, Euceratherium, and Soergelia) whose taxonomy is uncertain. The helmeted musk ox (Bootherium bombifrons) and the woodland musk ox (Symbos cavifrons) have been synonymised as male and female forms of a single Nearctic species found from Alaska, in the north, to Texas, in the south. However, this reclassification has not been tested using molecular data, despite the potential to use ancient DNA to examine these late Pleistocene taxa. In the present study, we sequenced mitochondrial genomes from seven subfossil musk ox specimens (originally identified as Bootherium and/or Symbos), allowing us to evaluate the identity of these muskoxen, explore their phylogeography, and estimate the timeline for their evolution. We also used nuclear genomic data to determine the sex of six of our seven s les. Ultimately, our molecular data support the synonymisation of the North American muskoxen Bootherium and Symbos.
Molecular phylogenetics supports the origin of an endemic Balearic shrew lineage (Nesiotites) coincident with the Messinian Salinity Crisis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.YMPEV.2018.03.028
Abstract: The red-toothed shrews (Soricinae) are the most widespread subfamily of shrews, distributed from northern South America to North America and Eurasia. Within this subfamily, the tribe Nectogalini includes the fossil species Nesiotites hidalgo recorded from the Late Pleistocene to Holocene of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean). Although there is a consensus about the close relationship between the extinct red-toothed shrew genera Nesiotites and Asoriculus based on morphology, molecular data are necessary to further evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of the Balearic fossils. We obtained a near complete mitochondrial genome of N. hidalgo, allowing the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of this species. Analyses based on 15,167 bp of the mitochondrial genome placed N. hidalgo as close relative to the extant Himalayan shrew (Soriculus nigrescens), and a combined analysis using molecular and morphological data confirm that N. hidalgo and Asoriculus gibberodon are sister-taxa with S. nigrescens as the immediate outgroup. Molecular clock and ergence estimates suggest that the split between N. hidalgo and its closest living relative occurred around 6.44 Ma, which is in agreement with the previously proposed colonisation of the Balearic Islands from mainland Europe by nectogaline shrews during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.97-5.33 My ago). Our results highlight that it is possible to retrieve genetic data from extinct small mammals from marginal environments for DNA preservation. Additional finds from the fossil record of Soricinae from the Eurasian Late Miocene/Early Pliocene are needed to shed further light on the still confusing taxonomy and paleobiogeography of this clade.
Reply to Beavan, Bryant, and Storey and Matisoo-Smith: Ancestral polynesian d haplotypes reflect authentic pacific chicken lineages
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 13-08-2014
Evidence of Male-biased dispersal in eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1071/ZO16047
Abstract: Dispersal reduces the likelihood of inbreeding and maintains gene flow among populations. Many polygynous mammals exhibit male-biased dispersal with female philopatry. Previous observational studies of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) suggested female philopatry while genetic studies showed weak structuring. We tested for sex-biased dispersal using two Queensland populations of kangaroos: one in Sundown National Park and the second at Elanda Point, Australia. S les from 25 females and 23 males were collected from Sundown National Park, and analysed for partial mtDNA control region sequences (n = 47) and genotypes based on 12 microsatellite loci (n = 41). S les from 18 males and 22 females from Elanda Point were genotyped at 8 loci and a subset sequenced for mtDNA (n = 19). Analyses showed higher mtDNA haplotype and nucleotide ersity in males than females within both populations, genetic relatedness based on microsatellite data was significantly higher among females, and microsatellite allelic richness was higher in males, suggesting that females are more likely to be philopatric and males more likely to disperse. These findings reinforce the value of including multiple types of genetic markers in dispersal analyses as mtDNA results showed higher male ersity (suggesting male dispersal) but males also contributed microsatellite alleles to the local population, masking differentiation between the sexes and confounding analyses.
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for dialysis patients
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 15-04-2009
Vitamin D compounds for people with chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-10-2009
Haemoglobin targets: we were wrong, time to move on
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2007
Bioindicator snake shows genomic signatures of natural and anthropogenic barriers to gene flow
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-10-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0259124
Abstract: Urbanisation alters landscapes, introduces wildlife to novel stressors, and fragments habitats into remnant ‘islands’. Within these islands, isolated wildlife populations can experience genetic drift and subsequently suffer from inbreeding depression and reduced adaptive potential. The Western tiger snake ( Notechis scutatus occidentalis ) is a predator of wetlands in the Swan Coastal Plain, a unique bioregion that has suffered substantial degradation through the development of the city of Perth, Western Australia. Within the urban matrix, tiger snakes now only persist in a handful of wetlands where they are known to bioaccumulate a suite of contaminants, and have recently been suggested as a relevant bioindicator of ecosystem health. Here, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to explore the contemporary population genomics of seven tiger snake populations across the urban matrix. Specifically, we used population genomic structure and ersity, effective population sizes (N e ), and heterozygosity-fitness correlations to assess fitness of each population with respect to urbanisation. We found that population genomic structure was strongest across the northern and southern sides of a major river system, with the northern cluster of populations exhibiting lower heterozygosities than the southern cluster, likely due to a lack of historical gene flow. We also observed an increasing signal of inbreeding and genetic drift with increasing geographic isolation due to urbanisation. Effective population sizes ( N e ) at most sites were small ( 100), with N e appearing to reflect the area of available habitat rather than the degree of adjacent urbanisation. This suggests that ecosystem management and restoration may be the best method to buffer the further loss of genetic ersity in urban wetlands. If tiger snake populations continue to decline in urban areas, our results provide a baseline measure of genomic ersity, as well as highlighting which ‘islands’ of habitat are most in need of management and protection.
Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Reported Sexual Dysfunction in CKD: A Meta-analysis of Observational Studies
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2010
DOI: 10.1053/J.AJKD.2010.06.016
Abstract: Sexual dysfunction is an under-recognized problem in men and women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence, correlates, and predictors of this condition in patients with CKD have not been evaluated comprehensively. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients treated using dialysis (dialysis patients), patients treated using transplant (transplant recipients), and patients with CKD not treated using dialysis or transplant (nondialysis nontransplant patients with CKD). Observational studies conducted in patients with CKD only or including a control group without CKD. Type of study population. Sexual dysfunction in men and women with CKD using validated tools, such as the International Index of Erectile Function, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), or other measures as reported by study investigators. 50 studies (8,343 patients) of variable size (range, 16-1,023 patients) were included in this review. Almost all studies explored sexual dysfunction in men and specifically erectile dysfunction. The summary estimate of erectile dysfunction in men with CKD was 70% (95% CI, 62%-77% 21 studies, 4,389 patients). Differences in reported prevalence rates of erectile dysfunction between different studies were attributable primarily to age, study populations, and type of study tool used to assess the presence of erectile dysfunction. In women, the reported prevalence of sexual dysfunction was assessed in only 306 patients from 2 studies and ranged from 30%-80%. Compared with the general population, women with CKD had a significantly lower overall FSFI score (8 studies or subgroups, 407 patients mean difference, -9.28 95% CI, -12.92 to -5.64). Increasing age, diabetes mellitus, and depression consistently were found to correlate with sexual dysfunction in 20 in idual studies of patients with CKD using different methods. Suboptimal and lack of uniform assessment of outcome measures. Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in both men and women with CKD, especially among those on dialysis. Larger studies enrolling different ethnic groups, using validated study tools, and analyzing the influence of various factors on the development of sexual dysfunction are needed.
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for dialysis patients
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 08-07-2004
A new species of turtle-headed sea Snake (Emydocephalus: Elapidae) endemic to Western Australia
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Date: 27-03-2020
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4758.1.6
Abstract: We describe a new species of turtle-headed sea snake Emydocephalus orarius sp. nov. (Elapidae) from Western Australia’s Coral Coast, Pilbara and Kimberley regions. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial markers places the new species as the sister lineage to the two currently recognised species in Emydocephalus: E. annulatus from the Timor Sea reefs and Coral Sea, and E. ijimae from the Ryukyu Islands. Analysis of nuclear SNP data from the new species and E. annulatus from Australia and New Caledonia provides additional independent evidence of their evolutionary distinctiveness. The new taxon is usually morphologically diagnosable from its congeners using a combination of scalation and colour pattern characters, and appears to reach greater total lengths ( m in the new species versus typically ~80 cm in E. annulatus/E. ijimae). The new species is known largely from soft-bottomed trawl grounds, unlike E. annulatus and E.ijimae which usually inhabit coral reefs. The discovery of this new species brings the number of sea snake species endemic to Western Australia to six.
Genetic Insights Into the Introduction History of Black Rats Into the Eastern Indian Ocean
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 27-01-2022
Abstract: Islands can be powerful demonstrations of how destructive invasive species can be on endemic faunas and insular ecologies. Oceanic islands in the eastern Indian Ocean have suffered dramatically from the impact of one of the world’s most destructive invasive species, the black rat, causing the loss of endemic terrestrial mammals and ongoing threats to ground-nesting birds. We use molecular genetic methods on both ancient and modern s les to establish the origins and minimum invasion frequencies of black rats on Christmas Island and the Cocos-Keeling Islands. We find that each island group had multiple incursions of black rats from erse geographic and phylogenetic sources. Furthermore, contemporary black rat populations on these islands are highly admixed to the point of potentially obscuring their geographic sources. These hybridisation events between black rat taxa also pose potential dangers to human populations on the islands from novel disease risks. Threats of ongoing introductions from yet additional geographic sources is highlighted by genetic identifications of black rats found on ships, which provides insight into how recent ship-borne human smuggling activity to Christmas Island can negatively impact its endemic species.
Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction in men on chronic haemodialysis: a multinational cross-sectional study
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 29-12-2012
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFR635
Abstract: Factors associated with erectile dysfunction in men on haemodialysis are incompletely identified due to suboptimal existing studies. We determined the prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction and identified combinations of clinical characteristics associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction using recursive partitioning and amalgamation (REPCAM) analysis. We conducted a multinational cross-sectional study in men on haemodialysis within a collaborative network. Erectile dysfunction and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, respectively. Nine hundred and forty-six (59%) of 1611 eligible men provided complete data for erectile dysfunction. Eighty-three per cent reported erectile dysfunction and 47% reported severe erectile dysfunction. Four per cent of those with erectile dysfunction were receiving pharmacological treatment. Depressive symptoms were the strongest correlate of erectile dysfunction [adjusted odds ratio 2.41 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-3.71)]. Erectile dysfunction was also associated with age (1.06, 1.05-1.08), being unemployed (1.80, 1.17-2.79) or receiving a pension (2.05, 1.14-3.69) and interdialytic weight gain (1.9-2.87 kg, 1.92 [CI 1.19-3.09] >2.87 kg, 1.57 [CI 1.00-2.45]). Married men had a lower risk of erectile dysfunction (0.49, 0.31-0.76). The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was highest (94%) in unmarried and unemployed or retired men who have depressive symptoms. Most men on haemodialysis experience erectile dysfunction and are untreated. Given the prevalence of this condition and the relative lack of efficacy data for pharmacological agents, we suggest that large trials of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for erectile dysfunction and depression are needed.
Effects of statins in patients with chronic kidney disease: meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomised controlled trials
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 25-02-2008
A new species ofRattus(Rodentia: Muridae) from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-04-2016
How to conduct a randomized trial
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1797.2010.01433.X
Abstract: Randomized controlled clinical trials represent the gold standard of research into health-care interventions but conducting a randomized trial requires careful planning, structures and procedures. The conduct of a clinical trial is a collaborative effort between investigators, participants and a range of professionals involved both centrally and locally in the coordination and execution of the study. In this article, the key steps to conducting a randomized controlled trial are summarized.
Unraveling the phylogenetic relationships of the extinct bovid Myotragus balearicus Bate 1909 from the Balearic Islands
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
How to design a randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1797.2010.01428.X
Abstract: Randomized controlled trials are the ideal study design to evaluate the effectiveness of health-care interventions. The conduct of a clinical trial is a collaborative effort between participants, investigators and a range of health-care professionals involved both centrally and locally in the coordination and execution of the trial. In this article, the key steps that are required to design a randomized controlled trial are summarized.
Systemic treatment of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer: clinical conundrums and future perspectives.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-05-2014
DOI: 10.1111/AJCO.12207
Abstract: Improvements in the treatment of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer constitute one of the great advances in breast cancer medicine of the last generation. From being a highly aggressive fatal condition, the use of anti-HER2-targeted therapies, in particular trastuzumab, has led to significant improvements in disease outcomes. There are reports of increasing numbers of patients alive and well more than 5 years from diagnosis of metastatic disease. Nevertheless, there remain many complex and clinically difficult scenarios where there is little in the way of randomized evidence or published guidelines to guide decision making. As a companion piece to our review of HER2-targeted therapies in the metastatic setting, we decided to focus on a series of clinical scenarios that fell outside of the standard trial-based settings and where opinions and guidance from experienced clinicians and experts in the field would be considered useful to help develop safe and effective treatment strategies. The following eight cases were put forward by our panel of experts, voted on by their peers to select the most relevant and interesting cases, and the discussions worked on by teams of two followed by review and commentary by another team of two.
Somatic Symptom Disorders in Adolescent Inpatients
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2018.06.026
Abstract: There are only a few reports of adolescents with somatic disorders (SDs) whose symptoms are sufficiently severe to require hospital admission. The aim of this study was to describe the symptom profile, health service utilization, and outcome of adolescents with SDs admitted to a tertiary children's hospital. A retrospective cohort study of all adolescents admitted to the Adolescent Medicine Unit of a tertiary children's hospital was undertaken from July 2013 to June 2014. In a two-stage process, medical records were examined to identify patients who met the diagnostic criteria for SD. Evidence of functional recovery was obtained for the period from 18 to 30 months after discharge and rated as completely recovered, partially recovered, or functionally disabled. A total of 60 admissions (53 patients, 79% female) were identified with SD, accounting for 12% of the unit's admissions and 2% of hospital admissions over 12 years old. Nearly half (45%) the presenting symptoms were neurological and 39% involved pain. In total, 20% of admissions were for complex symptoms involving multiple body systems. The majority (81%) of adolescents with follow-up documentation (n = 37) demonstrated complete or partial recovery. Patients whose families fully accepted the diagnosis were more likely to accept counseling following discharge (p < .001) and were almost 20 times more likely to have completely recovered compared to adolescents whose families partially accepted or rejected the diagnosis (odds ratio 17.36, p = .003). Hospitalized adolescents with SD utilize substantial resources due to the requirement for comprehensive assessment, including multidisciplinary communication. Recovery can be anticipated for the majority, especially if supported by parents.
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for kidney transplant recipients
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 15-04-2009
Ancient DNA from an extinct Mediterranean micromammal-Hypnomys morpheus (Rodentia: Gliridae)-Provides insight into the biogeographic history of insular dormice
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 25-11-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JZS.12343
Horizontal Transposon Transfer and Its Implications for the Ancestral Ecology of Hydrophiine Snakes
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 25-01-2022
Abstract: Transposable elements (TEs), also known as jumping genes, are sequences able to move or copy themselves within a genome. As TEs move throughout genomes they often act as a source of genetic novelty, hence understanding TE evolution within lineages may help in understanding environmental adaptation. Studies into the TE content of lineages of mammals such as bats have uncovered horizontal transposon transfer (HTT) into these lineages, with squamates often also containing the same TEs. Despite the repeated finding of HTT into squamates, little comparative research has examined the evolution of TEs within squamates. Here we examine a erse family of Australo–Melanesian snakes (Hydrophiinae) to examine if the previously identified, order-wide pattern of variable TE content and activity holds true on a smaller scale. Hydrophiinae erged from Asian elapids ~30 Mya and have since rapidly ersified into six hibious, ~60 marine and ~100 terrestrial species that fill a broad range of ecological niches. We find TE ersity and expansion differs between hydrophiines and their Asian relatives and identify multiple HTTs into Hydrophiinae, including three likely transferred into the ancestral hydrophiine from fish. These HTT events provide the first tangible evidence that Hydrophiinae reached Australia from Asia via a marine route.
Treatment for peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 23-01-2008
The Cochrane Library - Antiviral medications for preventing cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 23-04-2008
Potential Causative Mutation for Melanism in Rats Identified in the Agouti Signaling Protein Gene (Asip) of the Rattus rattus Species Complex on Okinawa Island, Japan
Publisher: Zoological Society of Japan
Date: 12-2017
DOI: 10.2108/ZS170027
Abstract: The occurrence of black fur, or melanism, in many mammalian species is known to be linked to DNA sequence variation in the agouti signaling protein (Asip) gene, which is a major determinant of eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments in coat color. We investigated 38 agouti (i.e., banded wildtype) and four melanistic Rattus rattus species complex (RrC) lineage II specimens from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, for genetic variation in three exons and associated flanking regions in the Asip gene. On Okinawa, a predicted loss-of-function mutation caused by a cysteine to serine amino acid change at p.124C>S (c.370T>A) in the highly conserved functional domain of Asip was found in melanistic rats, but was absent in agouti specimens, suggesting that the p.124C>S mutation is responsible for the observed melanism. Phylogeographic analysis found that Asip sequences from Okinawan RrC lineage II, including both agouti and melanistic specimens, differed from: 1) both agouti and melanistic RrC lineage I from Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, and 2) agouti RrC lineages I and II from South Australia. This suggests the possibility of in-situ mutation of the Asip gene, either within the RrC lineage II population on Okinawa or in an uns led RrC lineage II population with biogeographic links to Okinawa, although incomplete lineage sorting could not be ruled out.
Pleistocene Chinese cave hyenas and the recent Eurasian history of the spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-12-2014
DOI: 10.1111/MEC.12576
Abstract: The living hyena species (spotted, brown, striped and aardwolf) are remnants of a formerly erse group of more than 80 fossil species, which peaked in ersity in the Late Miocene (about 7-8 Ma). The fossil history indicates an African origin, and morphological and ancient DNA data have confirmed that living spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) of Africa were closely related to extinct Late Pleistocene cave hyenas from Europe and Asia. The current model used to explain the origins of Eurasian cave hyena populations invokes multiple migrations out of Africa between 3.5-0.35 Ma. We used mitochondrial DNA sequences from radiocarbon-dated Chinese Pleistocene hyena specimens to examine the origin of Asian populations, and temporally calibrate the evolutionary history of spotted hyenas. Our results support a far more recent evolutionary timescale (430-163 kya) and suggest that extinct and living spotted hyena populations originated from a widespread Eurasian population in the Late Pleistocene, which was only subsequently restricted to Africa. We developed statistical tests of the contrasting population models and their fit to the fossil record. Coalescent simulations and Bayes Factor analysis support the new radiocarbon-calibrated timescale and Eurasian origins model. The new Eurasian biogeographic scenario proposed for the hyena emphasizes the role of the vast steppe grasslands of Eurasia in contrast to models only involving Africa. The new methodology for combining genetic and geological data to test contrasting models of population history will be useful for a wide range of taxa where ancient and historic genetic data are available.
Molecular evidence for the first records of facultative parthenogenesis in elapid snakes
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 02-2018
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.171901
Abstract: Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction by which embryos develop from unfertilized eggs. Parthenogenesis occurs in reptiles however, it is not yet known to occur in the widespread elapid snakes (Elapidae), which include well-known taxa such as cobras, mambas, taipans and sea snakes. Here, we describe the production of viable parthenogens in two species of Australo-Papuan elapids with ergent reproductive modes: the oviparous coastal/Papuan taipan ( Oxyuranus scutellatus ) and the viviparous southern death adder ( Acanthophis antarcticus ). Analyses of nuclear SNP data excluded paternity for putative fathers and convincingly demonstrated asexual reproduction, thus representing the first evidence of facultative parthenogenesis in Elapidae. Our finding has broad implications for understanding the evolution of reproductive ersity in snakes, as well as managing the conservation of genetic ersity in wild and captive populations.
A perspective for resolving the systematics of Rattus, the vertebrates with the most influence on human welfare
Publisher: Magnolia Press
Date: 15-08-2018
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4459.3.2
Abstract: The murid rodent genus Rattus Fischer 1803 contains several species that are responsible for massive loss of crops and food, extinction of other species and the spread of zoonotic diseases to humans, as well as a laboratory species used to answer important questions in physiology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, nutrition, behaviour and learning. Despite the well-known significant impacts of Rattus, a definitive evolutionary based systematic framework for the genus is not yet available. The past 75 years have seen more dramatic changes in membership of Rattus than in almost any other genus of mammals. In fact, the Rattus genus has been a receptacle for any generalised Old World murine that lacked morphological specialisation and at one point, has included more than 560 species and/or subspecies, spread across Eurasia, Africa and the Australo-Papuan region. The dissolution of Rattus is ongoing as many of its constituent species and many genera of Rattini remain uns led in any molecular study. To address this s ling limitation, we sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene and examined phylogenetic relationships using both Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood algorithms for an expanded set of taxa within Rattus and among closely related genera. Here we place previously uns led taxa in a phylogenetic context for the first time, including R. burrus, R. hoogerwerfi, R. lugens, and R. mindorensis within the Asian Rattus group, R. facetus within the Australo-Papuan Rattus radiation, and the undescribed ‘Bisa Rat’ described by Flannery as sister to the recently described genus Halmaheramys. We also present an exploratory foray into the wider topic of Rattus phylogenetics and propose that a reorganisation of the Rattus genus should require that it be a monophyletic group, include at least the type species R. norvegicus and R. rattus (plus their close allies) and exclude the Bandicota/Nesokia clade and other such specialised genera.
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 15-04-2009
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists for preventing the progression of diabetic kidney disease
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-10-2006
Sexual Dysfunction in Women with ESRD Requiring Hemodialysis
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 06-2012
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.12601211
Abstract: The few existing studies of sexual dysfunction in women on hemodialysis are limited by small s le size. This large, cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence and correlates of female sexual dysfunction in advanced kidney disease. A total of 1472 women with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis were recruited to a multinational, cross-sectional study conducted within a collaborative dialysis network in Europe and South America. Sexual dysfunction was identified by the Female Sexual Function Index. Correlates of self-reported sexual dysfunction were identified by regression analyses. Of the 1472 women, 659 completed questionnaires (45%). More than half (362 of 659 [55%]) lived with a partner, and 232 of 659 (35%) reported being sexually active. Of these 659 respondents, 555 (84%) reported sexual dysfunction. Women with a partner (282 of 362 [78%]) were less likely to report sexual dysfunction than those without a partner (273 of 297 [92%]) ( P .001). Sexual dysfunction was independently associated with age, depressive symptoms, less education, menopause, diabetes, and diuretic therapy. Nearly all women who were not wait-listed for a kidney transplant and were living without a partner (249 of 260 [96%]) reported sexual dysfunction. More than half (128 of 232 [55%]) of sexually active women reported sexual dysfunction, associated with age, depressive symptoms, menopause, low serum albumin, and diuretic therapy. This descriptive study suggests most women on hemodialysis experience sexual problems. Additional research on the relevance of sexual dysfunction to symptom burden and quality of life in these women is needed.
Non-immunosuppressive treatment for IgA nephropathy
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-03-2011
The effect of folic acid based homocysteine lowering on cardiovascular events in people with kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 13-06-2012
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.E3533
Vitamin D compounds for people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-10-2009
Sunset for Statins after AURORA?
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Date: 02-04-2009
DOI: 10.1056/NEJME0901067
Horizontal transposon transfer and its implications for the ancestral ecology of hydrophiine snakes
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 23-06-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.22.449521
Abstract: Transposable elements (TEs), also known as jumping genes, are sequences able to move or copy themselves within a genome. As TEs move throughout genomes they often act as a source of genetic novelty, hence understanding TE evolution within lineages may help in understanding environmental adaptation. Studies into the TE content of lineages of mammals such as bats have uncovered horizontal transposon transfer (HTT) into these lineages, with squamates often also containing the same TEs. Despite the repeated finding of HTT into squamates, little comparative research has examined the evolution of TEs within squamates. Here we examine a erse family of Australo-Melanesian snakes (Hydrophiinae) to examine if the previously identified, order-wide pattern of variable TE content and activity holds true on a smaller scale. Hydrophiinae erged from Asian elapids ∼30 Mya and have since rapidly ersified into six hibious, ∼60 marine and ∼100 terrestrial species which fill a broad range of ecological niches. We find TE ersity and expansion differs between hydrophiines and their Asian relatives and identify multiple HTTs into Hydrophiinae, including three likely transferred into the ancestral hydrophiine from fish. These HTT events provide the first tangible evidence that Hydrophiinae reached Australia from Asia via a marine route.
Genetic monitoring of the greater stick-nest rat meta-population for strategic supplementation planning
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-08-2020
DOI: 10.1007/S10592-020-01299-X
Abstract: Translocation is an increasingly common component of species conservation efforts. However, translocated populations often suffer from loss of genetic ersity and increased inbreeding, and thus may require active management to establish gene flow across isolated populations. Assisted gene flow can be laborious and costly, so recipient and source populations should be carefully chosen to maximise genetic ersity outcomes. The greater stick-nest rat (GSNR, Leporillus conditor ), a threatened Australian rodent, has been the focus of a translocation program since 1985, resulting in five extant translocated populations (St Peter Island, Reevesby Island, Arid Recovery, Salutation Island and Mt Gibson), all derived from a remnant wild population on the East and West Franklin Islands. We evaluated the genetic ersity in all extant GSNR populations using a large single nucleotide polymorphism dataset with the explicit purpose of informing future translocation planning. Our results show varying levels of genetic ergence, inbreeding and loss of genetic ersity in all translocated populations relative to the remnant source on the Franklin Islands. All translocated populations would benefit from supplementation to increase genetic ersity, but two—Salutation Island and Mt Gibson—are of highest priority. We recommend a targeted admixture approach, in which animals for supplementation are sourced from populations that have low relatedness to the recipient population. Subject to assessment of contemporary genetic ersity, St Peter Island and Arid Recovery are the most appropriate source populations for genetic supplementation. Our study demonstrates an effective use of genetic surveys for data-driven management of threatened species.
European and Asian contribution to the genetic diversity of mainland South American chickens
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 02-2020
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.191558
Abstract: Chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) from the Americas have long been recognized as descendants of European chickens, transported by early Europeans since the fifteenth century. However, in recent years, a possible pre-Columbian introduction of chickens to South America by Polynesian seafarers has also been suggested. Here, we characterize the mitochondrial control region genetic ersity of modern chicken populations from South America and compare this to a worldwide dataset in order to investigate the potential maternal genetic origin of modern-day chicken populations in South America. The genetic analysis of newly generated chicken mitochondrial control region sequences from South America showed that the majority of chickens from the continent belong to mitochondrial haplogroup E. The rest belongs to haplogroups A, B and C, albeit at very low levels. Haplogroup D, a ubiquitous mitochondrial lineage in Island Southeast Asia and on Pacific Islands is not observed in continental South America. Modern-day mainland South American chickens are, therefore, closely allied with European and Asian chickens. Furthermore, we find high levels of genetic contributions from South Asian chickens to those in Europe and South America. Our findings demonstrate that modern-day genetic ersity of mainland South American chickens appear to have clear European and Asian contributions, and less so from Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Furthermore, there is also some indication that South Asia has more genetic contribution to European chickens than any other Asian chicken populations.
A simple ATAC-seq protocol for population epigenetics
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 07-01-2020
DOI: 10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.15552.2
Abstract: We describe here a protocol for the generation of sequence-ready libraries for population epigenomics studies, and the analysis of alignment results. We show that the protocol can be used to monitor chromatin structure changes in populations when exposed to environmental cues. The protocol is a streamlined version of the Assay for transposase accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) that provides a positive display of accessible, presumably euchromatic regions. The protocol is straightforward and can be used with small in iduals such as daphnia and schistosome worms, and probably many other biological s les of comparable size (~10,000 cells), and it requires little molecular biology handling expertise.
Fluid and nutrient intake and risk of chronic kidney disease
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-02-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1797.2010.01415.X
Abstract: We evaluated the association between fluid and nutrient intake and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Two cross-sectional population-based studies. Validated nutrition food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) administered to people >50 years, identified in a door-to-door census of a well-defined suburban area. Based upon nutrition tables we calculated intakes of over 40 nutrients (factors) and total daily energy intake. Primary outcome was CKD. Fluid (total content of fluid and drinks assessed in the FFQ) and nutrient intake was stratified in quintiles and association with CKD analysed by logistic regression, expressed as unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, with testing for linear trend. The proportion of participants who completed the FFQ and had glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measures was 2744/3654 (75.0%) for the first and 2476/3508 (70.6%) for the second survey. CKD was present in 12.4-23.5% men and 14.9-28.7% women (mean ages 66.4-65.4 years), respectively. Participants who had the highest quintile of fluid intake (3.2 L/day) had a significantly lower risk of CKD (odds ratio 0.5, 95%CI 0.32 to 0.77, P for trend = 0.003). These findings were consistent across both study periods, both equations to calculate GFR and both GFR thresholds. Higher intakes of fluid appear to protect against CKD. CKD may be preventable at a population level with low-cost increased fluid intake.
Using ancient DNA to study the origins and dispersal of ancestral Polynesian chickens across the Pacific
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 17-03-2014
Abstract: Ancient DNA sequences from chickens provide an opportunity to study their human-mediated dispersal across the Pacific due to the significant genetic ersity and range of archaeological material available. We analyze ancient and modern material and reveal that previous studies have been impacted by contamination with modern chicken DNA and, that as a result, there is no evidence for Polynesian dispersal of chickens to pre-Columbian South America. We identify genetic markers of authentic ancient Polynesian chickens and use them to model early chicken dispersals across the Pacific. We find connections between chickens in the Micronesian and Bismarck Islands, but no evidence these were involved in dispersals further east. We also find clues about the origins of Polynesian chickens in the Philippines.
A targeted capture approach to generating reference sequence databases for chloroplast gene regions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.8816
Abstract: Metabarcoding has improved the way we understand plants within our environment, from their ecology and conservation to invasive species management. The notion of identifying plant taxa within environmental s les relies on the ability to match unknown sequences to known reference libraries. Without comprehensive reference databases, species can go undetected or be incorrectly assigned, leading to false‐positive and false‐negative detections. To improve our ability to generate reference sequence databases, we developed a targeted capture approach using the OZBaits_CP V1.0 set, designed to capture chloroplast gene regions across the entirety of flowering plant ersity. We focused on generating a reference database for coastal temperate plant species given the lack of reference sequences for these taxa. Our approach was successful across all specimens with a target gene recovery rate of 92%, which was achieved in a single assay (i.e., s les were pooled), thus making this approach much faster and more efficient than standard barcoding. Further testing of this database highlighted 80% of all s les could be discriminated to family level across all gene regions with some genes achieving greater resolution than others—which was also dependent on the taxon of interest. Thus, we demonstrate the importance of generating reference sequences across multiple chloroplast gene regions as no single loci are sufficient to discriminate across all plant groups. The targeted capture approach outlined in this study provides a way forward to achieve this.
Interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-12-2010
The Prehistory of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2022
Chromatin structure changes inDaphniapopulations upon exposure to environmental cues – or – The discovery of Wolterecks “Matrix”
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 30-10-2019
DOI: 10.1101/824789
Abstract: Phenotypic plasticity is an important feature of biological systems that is likely to play a major role in the future adaptation of organisms to the ongoing global changes. It may allow an organism to produce alternative phenotypes in responses to environmental cues. Modifications in the phenotype can be reversible but are sometimes enduring and can even span over generations. The notion of phenotypic plasticity was conceptualized in the early 20 th century by Richard Woltereck. He introduced the idea that the combined relations of a phenotypic character and all environmental gradients that influence on it can be defined as “norm of reaction”. Norms of reaction are specific to species and to lineages within species, and they are heritable. He postulated that reaction norms can progressively be shifted over generations depending on the environmental conditions. One of his biological models was the water-flee daphnia . Woltereck proposed that enduring phenotypic modifications and gene mutations could have similar adaptive effects, and he postulated that their molecular bases would be different. Mutations occurred in genes, while enduring modifications were based on something he called the Matrix . He suggested that this matrix (i) was associated with the chromosomes, (ii) that it was heritable, (iii) it changed during development of the organisms, and (iv) that changes of the matrix could be simple chemical substitutions of an unknown, but probably polymeric molecule. We reasoned that the chromatin has all postulated features of this matrix and revisited Woltereck’s classical experiments with daphnia . We developed a robust and rapid ATAC-seq technique that allows for analyzing chromatin of in idual daphnia and show here (i) that this technique can be used with minimal expertise in molecular biology, and (ii) we used it to identify open chromatin structure in daphnia exposed to different environmental cues. Our result indicates that chromatin structure changes consistently in daphnia upon this exposure confirming Woltereck’s classical postulate.
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Funder: Australia and Pacific Science Foundation
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View Funded ActivityDiscovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100624
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View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP160100189
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