Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from Octodon degus.

Quantifying genetic kinship and parentage is critical to understanding the adaptive consequences of sociality. To measure fitness in a species with variable group structure, we isolated 14 microsatellite loci from Octodon degus, a semi-fossorial rodent endemic to Chile. The number of alleles per locus ranged from four to 14. Thirteen loci were in Hardy-Weinberg proportions, with values of observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.550 to 0.950. These markers provide the basis for future studies of the direct fitness consequences of sociality in O. degus.

Genetic structure in a solitary rodent (Ctenomys talarum): implications for kinship and dispersal.

The genetic structure of a population provides critical insights into patterns of kinship and dispersal. Although genetic evidence of kin structure has been obtained for multiple species of social vertebrates, this aspect of population biology has received considerably less attention among solitary taxa in which spatial and social relationships are unlikely to be influenced by kin selection. Nevertheless, significant kin structure may occur in solitary species, particularly if ecological or life history traits limit individual vagility. To explore relationships between genetic structure, kinship, and dispersal in a solitary vertebrate, we compared patterns of genetic variation in two demographically distinct populations of the talar tuco-tuco (Ctenomys talarum), a solitary species of subterranean rodent from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Based on previous field studies of C. talarum at Mar de Cobo (MC) and Necochea (NC), we predicted that natal dispersal in these populations is male biased, with dispersal distances for males and females being greater at NC. Analyses of 12 microsatellite loci revealed that in both populations, kin structure was more apparent among females than among males. Between populations, kinship and genetic substructure were more pronounced at MC. Thus, our findings were consistent with predicted patterns of dispersal for these animals. Collectively, these results indicate that populations of this solitary species are characterized by significant kin structure, suggesting that, even in the absence of sociality and kin selection, the spatial distributions and movements of individuals may significantly impact patterns of genetic diversity among conspecifics.

Continuing inequality: gender and social class influences on self perceived health after a heart attack.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of social class and gender on self perceived health status for those recovering from an acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: A longitudinal survey design was used, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data are reported in this article, obtained by questionnaire over the first year after the event. SF-36 and EQ-5D (EuroQol) were used to measure self perceived health status. SETTING: Community based study in a city in the north of England. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample of 229 people discharged from hospital after acute myocardial infarction. MAIN RESULTS: Overall gain in health status was found to be statistically significant over the year. Improvements were greatest in domains relating to role fulfillment and pursuit of normal and social activities. When analysed by gender, women showed poorer improvement than men, particularly in the domains relating to physical and social functioning. Analysed by social class, those without educational qualifications showed poorer improvement in pain experience and vitality. Access to a car was significant in avoiding physical limitations and promoting general health. CONCLUSIONS: Existing gradients between the health of women and men, and between the social classes, are maintained and probably exacerbated by the experience of acute illness, and health professionals need to be made aware of social groups who are at risk of poor rehabilitation.

'I'm still waiting...': barriers to accessing cardiac rehabilitation services.

BACKGROUND: The United Kingdom (UK) National Service Framework for coronary heart disease challenges health services to address existing problems regarding the quality and content of cardiac rehabilitation services. Concern also exists regarding inequalities in access to services. The South Yorkshire Coalfields Health Action Zone (SYCHAZ) funded this study to harness the views and experiences of staff and patients regarding existing services. The intention is to use the information gained to develop acceptable and accessible services for the future. AIMS: To explore what barriers exist for patients in accessing cardiac rehabilitation services within the South Yorkshire Coalfield locality. ETHICAL ISSUES AND APPROVAL: Patients were identified and recruited with the assistance of staff responsible for their care. Informed consent was obtained prior to participation. Approval was obtained from the relevant Ethics Committees. METHODS: Qualitative methods were used, including semi-structured interviews and Framework Analysis techniques. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. INSTRUMENTS: Semi-structured individual interviews of 15 staff and 20 postmyocardial infarction patients. One group interview with seven health visitors and two with lay members of heart support groups. OUTCOMES: Barriers to accessing cardiac rehabilitation. RESULTS: This study revealed a limited service capacity. Big gaps exist between patches of service activity that most patients appear to slip through. Problems in accessing the service were categorized into five themes: absence, waiting, communication, understanding, and appropriateness. Some groups fared worse in terms of access to services, for example women, the elderly and those in traditional working class coalfields communities. Professional and more affluent participants appeared better able to negotiate their way around the system by seeking out advice or 'going private'. LIMITATIONS: The omission of medical staff and ethnic minority patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation in the policy targets in UK will only be met with substantial investment to address the barriers identified here.

Microsatellite variation in solitary and social tuco-tucos: molecular properties and population dynamics.

Variation at 15 microsatellite loci was characterized for a population of the solitary Patagonian tuco-tuco (Ctenomys haigi) and a population of group-living colonial tuco-tuco (C. sociabilis), both of which were located in the Limay River Valley of south western Argentina. All loci examined were characterized by uninterrupted di- or trinucleotide repeats in both species; seven of these loci had been isolated from C. haigi and eight had been isolated from C. sociabilis. Across all loci, there was a significant tendency for both number of alleles and heterozygosity to be greater in C. haigi than in C. sociabilis. Cloning and sequencing of multiple PCR products per locus per population revealed no significant biases in allele length, suggesting that this difference in variability was not due to ascertainment bias or to population-wide differences in rates of microsatellite evolution. Instead, differences in microsatellite variation between C. haigi and C. sociabilis were more consistent with current demographic and suspected historical differences between these populations. In particular, interpopulation differences in the distribution of microsatellite allele sizes and allele frequencies suggested that C. sociabilis has been more subject to historical reductions in population size (e.g. population bottlenecks) than has C. haigi. These findings indicate that analyses of microsatellite structure can yield important insights into the population-level phenomena that contribute to diversity at these markers, including differences in population history that continue to influence levels of genetic variability.

DNA fingerprinting reveals polygyny in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum.

DNA fingerprinting was used to characterize patterns of paternity in two populations of Ctenomys talarum from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The multilocus probe PV47-2 was used to detect variation in genomic DNA extracted from 12 females, their 32 offspring, and 14 putative sires. For 11 out of 12 litters examined, a single male capable of providing all nonmaternal bands was identified. Within each study population, individual males sired more than one litter, suggesting that C. talarum is polygynous. No evidence of multiple paternity of litters was found. High band-sharing values among females suggest that further research is needed to assess the population genetic structure of this species.

Facilitating research-based practice by educational intervention.

The extent of research-based practice in nursing and midwifery has been the subject of much recent debate. Research-mindedness has been seen to be the key to achieving professional status and improving patient care. Educationalists have been urged to develop research awareness in their students, and the teaching of research has taken a high priority since the introduction of Project 2000 and the integration of nurse education into higher education. The extent to which this educational intervention can influence practice is the subject of this article. After a literature review, an ENB 870 course is described which was evaluated 6 months after completion. Written comments indicate a considerable degree of change in practice, with many students reporting innovation and research utilization in practice as a result of the course.

Research utilization in nursing practice--a pilot study.

A low research base and inadequate research utilization are seen as obstacles to acquiring credible professional status for nursing. During recent years there has been some debate, both in Europe and in North America, about the extent to which nurses base their practice on research. This paper reviews recent empirical studies about research utilization, then goes on to describe a small pilot study carried out in the UK to attempt to measure research utilization among general nurses at F/G grade. A large-scale, generalizable survey using similar methods is proposed to build on the knowledge gained from the pilot study. Tentative findings are put forward that show a positive attitude towards research among British clinical nurses. Specialist nurse advisors and research-based protocols are helpful to nurses in accessing research literature. The biggest deterrent to research utilization appears to be lack of perceived autonomy--some nurses feel unable to challenge medical colleagues and organizational managers and so fail to make use of research findings available to them. Significant differences are found between the two hospitals studied in the characteristics of their nursing staff, particularly in relation to their research awareness and degree of perceived autonomy.