Intergenerational transfer of binge eating-like behavior: The additive impact of juvenile stress.

Binge eating (BE) is consuming large amounts of food in a short time, while experiencing loss of control over eating behavior. BE can be hereditary, and juvenile stress (JS) may contribute to its onset. We examined the impact of JS on BE-like behavior, in an animal model of intergenerational BE.

Fetal endocrine axes mRNA expression levels are related to sex and intrauterine position.

Background: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and -gonadal (HPG) axes are two major pathways that connect the neural and endocrine systems in vertebrates. Factors such as prenatal stress and maternal exposure to exogenous steroids have been shown to affect these pathways during fetal development. Another less studied factor is the transfer of hormones across fetuses in multifetal pregnancies.

Living fast, dying young: Anthropogenic habitat modification influences the fitness and life history traits of a cooperative breeder.

Anthropogenic habitat modification can indirectly effect reproduction and survival in social species by changing the group structure and social interactions. We assessed the impact of habitat modification on the fitness and life history traits of a cooperative breeder, the Arabian babbler (Argya squamiceps). We collected spatial, reproductive and social data on 572 individuals belonging to 21 social groups over 6 years and combined it with remote sensing to characterize group territories in an arid landscape.

Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters: Sex-specific genetic architecture for fetal testosterone in a wild mammal.

Testosterone plays a critical role in mediating fitness-related traits in many species. Although it is highly responsive to environmental and social conditions, evidence from several species show a heritable component to its individual variation. Despite the known effects that in utero testosterone exposure have on adult fitness, the heritable component of individual testosterone variation in fetuses is mostly unexplored.

Evolving Trends and Economic Burden of Benzodiazepine Use: Insights From a 10-Year Predictive Model.

Objectives: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are widely prescribed in Croatia to treat anxiety, insomnia, mood disorders, and epileptic seizures. Long-term BZD use is associated with memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, dependence, addiction, falls in elderly populations, and increased traffic accident risk.

Methods: Drug consumption data were obtained from the Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of Croatia website.