Strong Cumulative Evidence of Associations of 6 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with Ovarian Cancer Risk: An Umbrella Review.

Background: An increasing number of studies have reported associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk. However, some of the findings were inconsistent. The objective of this umbrella review was to evaluate the associations comprehensively and quantitatively. Methods: The protocol of this review was registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42022332222). We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases to identify related systematic reviews and meta-analyses from inception to 15 October 2021. In addition to estimating the summary effect size by using fixed and random effects models and calculating the 95% prediction interval, we evaluated the cumulative evidence for associations with nominally statistical significance based on the Venice criteria and false positive report probability (FPRP). Results: Forty articles were included in this umbrella review, which referred to a total of 54 SNPs. The median number of original studies per meta-analysis was four, while the median number of total subjects was 3455. All included articles had greater than moderate methodological quality. A total of 18 SNPs were nominally statistically associated with OC risk; 6 SNPs (8 genetic models), 5 SNPs (7 genetic models), and 16 SNPs (25 genetic models) were identified as strong, moderate, and weak cumulative evidence, respectively. Conclusion: This umbrella review revealed associations between SNPs and OC risk and suggested strong cumulative evidence of associations of six SNPs (eight genetic models) with OC risk.

Weather entrainment and multispectral diel activity rhythm of desert hamsters.

The circadian rhythm of animals is an adaptation to predictable variation in environmental conditions. Multiple internal oscillators may allow animals to cope with environmental oscillations in different frequencies. Heat stress and dramatic differences between night and day temperatures are the main selective pressures of the diel activity of desert mammals, particularly small-sized rodents. We tested the hypotheses that the diel activities of desert hamsters (Phodopus roborovskii) would be entrained by ambient humidity and temperature. We predicted that increases in night temperature and humidity would improve the propensity to perform activities of the hamster. We observed hourly activities of desert hamsters under semi natural conditions for 24 consecutive hours, with seven replicates in 7 different days. We fit generalized linear mixed models to observed proportions of active hamsters, temperatures, and relative humidity. Observed diel activities of desert hamsters consisted of three harmonic oscillations in the periodicities of 24 h, 12 h, and 6 h, respectively. Furthermore, probabilities to perform activities were positively related to night temperature and humidity. Therefore, the diel activities of desert hamsters are synchronized by atmospheric humidity, temperatures, and environmental cues of ultradian fluctuations.

Multiple paternities increase genetic diversity of offspring in Brandt's voles.

Mating system and philopatry influence the genetic structure of a social group in mammals. Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) lives in social groups year-round and has male biased dispersal, which makes the vole a model system for studies of genetic consequences of mating system and philopatry. This study aimed to test the hypotheses that: (1) multiple paternity (MP) would exist in Brandt's voles, enhance offspring genetic diversity and reduce genetic relatedness between littermates; (2) promiscuity would occur in this species in that males and females mate with multiple partners; and (3) plural breeders of a social group would be genetically related because of philopatry of female juveniles in Brandt's voles. Paternity analysis indicated that MP occurred in 11 (46%) of 24 social groups examined and that promiscuity existed in this species. Multiple paternity litters had twice the offspring genetic diversity and half the average within-litter genetic relatedness of single paternity litters. We also found plural breeding females in six social groups. Average pairwise genetic relatedness of plural breeders ranged from 0.41 to 0.72 in four social groups, suggesting first-order kinship. Future studies need to investigate effects of reproductive skew and MP on population genetic structure of Brandt's voles.