Article
Ecology
Julian Baur, Dorian Jagusch, Piotr Michalak, Mareike Koppik, David Berger
Summary: This study investigated the impact of mating systems on the thermal sensitivity of fertility in seed beetles. Results showed that females had higher thermal sensitivity of fertility compared to males, and this sex difference increased significantly over only two generations under sexual selection. Manipulation of mating systems can generate intraspecific variation in the sex difference in thermal sensitivity of fertility. The study provides a causal link between mating systems and thermal sensitivity of fertility.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fatima C. P. Simao, Carlos Gravato, Ana Luisa Machado, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Joao L. T. Pestana
Summary: The study revealed that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons impaired the reproductive output of planarians and led to behavioral anomalies in newborns. The defects in newborns raised concerns about the long-term consequences of these compounds for natural planarian populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ananda Baskaran Venkatachalam, Bailey Levesque, John C. C. Achenbach, Jane J. J. Pappas, Lee D. D. Ellis
Summary: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications, but their increased manufacture and usage have raised concerns in the fields of aquatic toxicology and environmental biology. The study aimed to assess the effects of environmentally relevant levels of SSRIs on fish development and reproduction. Both long-term and short-term exposure to SSRIs led to reduced stress responses and reproductive capacities in zebrafish.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marlon D. Joseph, Elizabeth E. Hatch, Martha R. Koenig, Michael L. Eisenberg, Tanran R. Wang, Greg J. Sommer, Sherri O. Stuver, Kenneth J. Rothman, Lauren A. Wise
Summary: This study evaluated the association between anthropometric measures and semen parameters, finding that selected anthropometric factors were modestly associated with poorer semen quality. Body mass index and waist circumference were found to have an impact on semen volume and sperm count.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Pincheira-Donoso, Lilly P. Harvey, Florencia Grattarola, Manuel Jara, Sheena C. Cotter, Tom Tregenza, Dave J. Hodgson
Summary: Body size is a crucial factor that impacts fitness within animal populations, with ecological and reproductive pressures driving the evolution of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the diversity of SSD across species, focusing on mate competition, fecundity benefits, niche divergence, and geographical variation. A global-scale study on amphibians reveals that SSD evolution differs between anurans and salamanders, with anuran SSD influenced by climate and nesting site, while salamander SSD is consistent across species occupying similar microhabitats. Ecological and climatic pressures play a key role in driving amphibian SSD, with no significant effects from sexual or fecundity selection detected.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Audrey J. Gaskins, Lidia Minguez-Alarcon, Trang VoPham, Jaime E. Hart, Jorge E. Chavarro, Joel Schwartz, Irene Souter, Francine Laden
Summary: This study found that exposure to higher temperatures was associated with a lower antral follicle count in women, with a stronger negative association in the months of November through June compared to the summer months.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Lvquan Zhao, Zheng Liu, Yuqun Lin, Shouzhu Liu
Summary: Mating disruption is an effective method for pest management, but delayed mating has limited impact on the reproductive fitness of the willow leaf beetle Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting. Additionally, mating age is an important factor affecting mating selection, sexual performance, and fecundity in P. versicolora.
Article
Family Studies
Danielle K. Nadorff, Rachel K. Scott, Rachel Griffin
Summary: This study compared custodial grandchildren with foster children and found that positive parenting practices contribute to higher academic performance, with caregiver role also influencing academic achievement. Custodial grandchildren were rated higher in self-control, persistence, and academic self-efficacy, with fewer instances of behavioral misconduct reported.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Alexandra C. Purdue-Smithe, Keewan Kim, Victoria C. Andriessen, Anna Z. Pollack, Lindsey A. Sjaarda, Robert M. Silver, Enrique F. Schisterman, Sunni L. Mumford
Summary: This study examined whether preconception leukocyte telomere length was associated with fecundability, pregnancy loss, and live birth among women with a history of 1-2 prior pregnancy losses trying to conceive naturally. The results indicated that there was no significant association between preconception telomere length and these pregnancy outcomes.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Joyce C. Harper, Juan Sebastian Botero-Meneses
Summary: The study found that women generally prefer to have children around the age of 30, but many factors hinder them from achieving this desire, such as the need to develop their career. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a relatively small impact on women's views on having children. It is crucial to understand people's attitudes towards childbirth in different countries and to develop appropriate educational resources.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Ya-Ling Wang, Qi-Nian Jin, Xiang-Ping Wang
Summary: Delaying mating has negative effects on the reproduction and population life table parameters of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, leading to reduced preoviposition and oviposition periods in adults, decreased mating success rate, fecundity, fertility, and proportion of hatching eggs, as well as increased population doubling time. This study provides important information for potential pest control strategies in the future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sriya Bhattacharya, Phillip E. MacCallum, Mrunal Dayma, Andrea McGrath-Janes, Brianna King, Laura Dawson, Francis R. Bambico, Mark D. Berry, Qi Yuan, Gerard M. Martin, Evan L. Preisser, Jacqueline J. Blundell
Summary: Traumatic events before conception can have lasting effects on the behavior and physiology of future generations. This study demonstrates that exposure to predator stress prior to conception leads to anxiety-like behavior and hyperarousal in the first and second filial generations. The effects of preconception stress are persistent and determine the behavioral phenotype of offspring.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Carolina Camus, Maribel Solas, Camila Martinez, Jaime Vargas, Cristobal Garces, Patricia Gil-Kodaka, Lydia B. Ladah, Ester A. Serrao, Sylvain Faugeron
Summary: Inbreeding, commonly observed in seaweeds, affects the survival and fecundity of offspring. Experimental manipulation of inbreeding levels in Macrocystis pyrifera populations revealed that male-female kinship significantly influenced female gametophyte fecundity and fertility. Inbreeding also impacted morphological traits of juvenile sporophytes, with a stronger effect observed in high-latitude populations.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hamdi Mbarek, Scott D. Gordon, David L. Duffy, Nikki Hubers, Sally Mortlock, Jeffrey J. Beck, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Rene Pool, Conor Dolan, Ky'Era Actkins, Zachary F. Gerring, Jenny Van Dongen, Erik A. Ehli, William G. Iacono, Matt Mcgue, Daniel Chasman, C. Scott Gallagher, Samantha L. P. Schilit, Cynthia C. Morton, Guillaume Pare, Gonneke Willemsen, David C. Whiteman, Catherine M. Olsen, Catherine Derom, Robert Vlietinck, Daniel Gudbjartsson, Lisa Cannon-Albright, Eva Krapohl, Robert Plomin, Patrik K. E. Magnusson, Nancy L. Pedersen, Pirro Hysi, Massimo Mangino, Timothy D. Spector, Teemu Palviainen, Yuri Milaneschi, Brenda W. Penninnx, Adrian Campos, Ken K. Ong, John R. B. Perry, Cornelis B. Lambalk, Jaakko Kaprio, Isleifur Olafsson, Karine Duroure, Celine Revenu, Miguel E. Renteria, Loic Yengo, Lea Davis, Eske M. Derks, Sarah E. Medland, Hreinn Stefansson, Kari Stefansson, Filippo Del Bene, Bruno Reversade, Grant W. Montgomery, Dorret Boomsma, Nicholas G. Martin
Summary: This study identified four new loci associated with female propensity for giving birth to spontaneous dizygotic twins. The novel loci, GNRH1 and FSHR, have established roles in female reproduction, while ZFPM1 and IPO8 were not previously linked to female fertility. The study also found significant genetic correlations with multiple aspects of female reproduction and body size, suggesting important roles in human evolution.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Shahpar Najmabadi, Karen C. Schliep, Sara E. Simonsen, Christina A. Porucznik, Marlene J. Egger, Joseph B. Stanford
Summary: The study examined the normal range of cervical mucus patterns and days with high probability of pregnancy based on cervical mucus secretion in women without subfertility. It found that parity and age are related to the patterns of cervical mucus, with parous and younger nulliparous women having more peak type mucus days and potentially fertile days. The quality of cervical mucus correlated with cycle fecundability, providing valuable insights into fertility parameters for women.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Ruyue Zhang, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Andreas Birgegard, Henrik Larsson, Paul Lichtenstein, Cynthia M. Bulik, Sarah E. Bergen
Summary: Family co-aggregation studies have shown shared genetic and environmental factors between eating disorders and schizophrenia, but their etiological and clinical relationship remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of schizophrenia family history on clinical outcomes of eating disorders and revealed different patterns of outcomes and illness burden in individuals with and without family histories of schizophrenia。
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Laura Ghirardi, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Erik Pettersson, Amir Sariaslan, Louise Arseneault, Seena Fazel, Brian M. D'Onofrio, Paul Lichtenstein, Henrik Larsson
Summary: This study investigated the association between neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and violent victimization in adolescence and young adulthood. The study found that females with NDs and males with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were at a higher risk of violent victimization. Familial factors and externalizing problems may play important roles in this association.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Tong Gong, Cecilia Lundholm, Sebastian Lundstrom, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Mark J. Taylor, Catarina Almqvist
Summary: This study found evidence of familial co-aggregation between asthma and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting a weak association between these disorders influenced by shared genetics.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tor-Arne Hegvik, Kari Klungsoyr, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Hanna Remes, Jan Haavik, Brian M. D'Onofrio, Niina Metsa-Simola, Anders Engeland, Seena Fazel, Paul Lichtenstein, Pekka Martikainen, Henrik Larsson, Amir Sariaslan
Summary: A recent study suggests a possible association between labor epidural analgesia and increased rates of offspring autism spectrum disorder. However, this cross-national study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that labor epidural analgesia causes either offspring autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as the associations were fully attenuated when comparing full siblings who were differentially exposed to labor epidural analgesia.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Weng Ian Che, Helga Westerlind, Ingrid E. Lundberg, Karin Hellgren, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Marie E. Holmqvist
Summary: The study investigated familial associations between idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and different autoimmune diseases (ADs), finding that patients with IIM had higher odds of having relatives affected by other rheumatic inflammatory diseases (RID) and celiac disease (CeD). Familial associations were also observed for other RIDs, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), and CeD, suggesting shared genetic susceptibility between IIM and various ADs.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jonathan K. L. Mak, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Ge Bai, Linda B. Hassing, Nancy L. Pedersen, Sara Hagg, Juulia Jylhava, Chandra A. Reynolds
Summary: Using data from Swedish twin cohort studies, this research investigates the longitudinal trajectories of frailty in late life and the contributions of genes and environment. The study finds that the heterogeneity of frailty in late life is mainly attributable to environmental influences, highlighting the importance of targeting environmental risk factors to mitigate frailty in older adults.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Wonuola A. Akingbuwa, Anke R. Hammerschlag, Andrea G. Allegrini, Hannah Sallis, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Kaili Rimfeld, Paul Lichtenstein, Sebastian Lundstrom, Marcus R. Munafo, Robert Plomin, Michel G. Nivard, Meike Bartels, Christel M. Middeldorp
Summary: Genetic factors partially explain the associations between childhood psychopathology and adult outcomes. Specific adult traits are genetically associated with childhood psychopathology, such as major depression being associated with ADHD, internalizing problems, and social problems. Additionally, educational attainment, BMI, and neuroticism have genetic associations with specific childhood phenotypes, while bipolar disorder, subjective well-being, and insomnia are not associated with any childhood traits.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART B-NEUROPSYCHIATRIC GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
C. Chen, E. Pettersson, A. G. Summit, K. Boersma, Z. Chang, R. Kuja-Halkola, P. Lichtenstein, P. D. Quinn
Summary: Understanding the relationship between chronic pain and suicidal behavior is important for suicide prevention. The study found that the association between chronic pain and suicidal behavior may be attributed to unmeasured confounding or pain comorbidity. However, the association was not statistically significant within monozygotic twin pairs, suggesting the presence of familial confounding.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yasmina Molero, Sam M. Kaddoura, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Henrik Larsson, Paul Lichtenstein, Brian D'Onofrio, Seena Fazel
Summary: This study found that beta-blockers may not be suitable for treating anxiety, but they may have a positive effect on reducing violent behavior. However, more research is needed to understand the effects of beta-blockers on mental health and behavioral outcomes.
Editorial Material
Psychology, Clinical
Brendan P. Zietsch
Summary: In this study by Xu et al., an elevated risk of depression, substance abuse, and attempted or completed suicide in same-sex married individuals is reported. However, when compared with their opposite-sex married siblings, this elevated risk is substantially reduced, suggesting a significant role of familial common causes. The study's strengths include its large and comprehensive sample and use of objective measures, but limitations are discussed regarding the authors' interpretation of shared familial influences.
JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jonathan K. L. Mak, Christopher E. McMurran, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Per Hall, Kamila Czene, Juulia Jylhaevae, Sara Haegg
Summary: By studying 308,156 UK Biobank participants, researchers found a link between biological age and cancer incidence. Using 18 age-related clinical biomarkers, three biological age measures were calculated and found to be associated with the incidence of any cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and melanoma.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Marica Leone, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Tyra Lagerberg, Johan Bjureberg, Agnieszka Butwicka, Zheng Chang, Henrik Larsson, Brian M. D'Onofrio, Amy Leval, Sarah E. Bergen
Summary: A study in Sweden found that melatonin, commonly used to treat sleep disorders in youth, was associated with a decreased risk of self-harm, especially among females with depression and anxiety.
JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jonathan K. L. Mak, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Yunzhang Wang, Sara Haegg, Juulia Jylhaevae
Summary: The study found that frailty index (FI) and frailty phenotype (FP) scores are associated with the incidence of any cancer and certain common cancers. However, the predictive utility of frailty scores for most cancers is limited.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shengxin Liu, Tyra Lagerberg, Jonas F. Ludvigsson, Mark J. Taylor, Zheng Chang, Brian M. D'Onofrio, Henrik Larsson, Paul Lichtenstein, Soffia Gudbjornsdottir, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Agnieszka Butwicka
Summary: This cohort study examined the trends and patterns of psychotropic medication dispensation among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Sweden from 2006 to 2019. The study found an increasing trend in psychotropic medication dispensation, which was consistently higher than those without T1D. These findings highlight the importance of further investigations into the benefits and risks of psychotropic medications in this population, as well as the integration of pediatric diabetes care and mental health care.
Meeting Abstract
Psychiatry
C. Chen, Z. Chang, R. Kuja-Halkola, B. M. D'Onofrio, H. Larsson, P. Andell, P. Lichtenstein, E. Pettersson
EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)