Patterns of genetic variation and the role of selection in HTR1A and HTR1B in macaques (Macaca).

Background: Research has increasingly highlighted the role of serotonin in behavior. However, few researchers have examined serotonin in an evolutionary context, although such research could provide insight into the evolution of important behaviors. The genus Macaca represents a useful model to address this, as this genus shows a wide range of behavioral variation.

The evolutionary history of SLC6A4 and the role of plasticity in Macaca.

Serotonin has been repeatedly indicated as a biological marker of behavior. In particular, the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, has been the focus of a large body of research. Interestingly, both rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and humans have independently evolved a number of shared polymorphisms for this gene, which is indicative of parallel evolution between the two species.

Putting pleiotropy and selection into context defines a new paradigm for interpreting genetic data.

Background: Natural selection shapes many human genes, including some related to complex diseases. Understanding how selection affects genes, especially pleiotropic ones, may be important in evaluating disease associations and the role played by environmental variation. This may be of particular interest for genes with antagonistic roles that cause divergent patterns of selection.

Doctor, my tooth hurts: the costs of incomplete dental care in the emergency room.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the charges and frequency of return visits for treating dental health problems in hospital emergency rooms (ERs) in order to provide a basis for policy discussion concerning cost-effective and appropriate treatment for those without access to private dental services.

Methods: Records were abstracted from hospital administrative data systems for dental-related ER visits from five major hospital systems in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area during a 1-year period.