Differentiation in putative male sex pheromone components across and within populations of the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana as a potential driver of reproductive isolation.

Sexual traits are often the most divergent characters among closely related species, suggesting an important role of sexual traits in speciation. However, to prove this, we need to show that sexual trait differences accumulate before or during the speciation process, rather than being a consequence of it. Here, we contrast patterns of divergence among putative male sex pheromone (pMSP) composition and the genetic structure inferred from variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 and nuclear CAD loci in the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana (Butler, 1879) to determine whether the evolution of "pheromonal dialects" occurs before or after the differentiation process.

Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation.

Selection can facilitate diversification by inducing character displacement in mate choice traits that reduce the probability of maladaptive mating between lineages. Although reproductive character displacement (RCD) has been demonstrated in two-taxa case studies, the frequency of this process in nature is still debated. Moreover, studies have focused primarily on visual and acoustic traits, despite the fact that chemical communication is probably the most common means of species recognition.

Morphology and nuclear markers reveal extensive mitochondrial introgressions in the Iberian Wall Lizard species complex.

Mitochondrial markers are still often used alone to identify evolutionary units, despite widespread evidence for processes such as incomplete lineage sorting or introgressive hybridization that may blur past population history. The combination of mitochondrial DNA data with other sources of information (morphology, nuclear genes) is a powerful tool to reveal when and why mitochondrial markers are potentially misleading. In this study, we evaluate the performance of mtDNA markers to unravel the evolutionary history of Spanish lizards from the Podarcis hispanicus species complex.

[Hypertension and age over 70 years are the two most important risk factors for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation].

In a registry of 250 patients treated for atrial fibrillation (160 recurrent, 90 permanent forms), we prospectively looked for associated risk factors for cerebrovascular complications. After a 4-years follow-up, 19 patients had presented a cerebral accident (13 strokes, 4 transient ischemic attacks, 2 cerebral hemorrhages). Prognostic factors for cerebrovascular complications were hypertension, valvular heart disease, and age > or = 70 years.

Economic analysis of Neoral in de novo renal transplant patients in Canada.

This pilot economic evaluation was performed as part of the Canadian arm of an international randomized, controlled, double-blind safety and tolerability trial (OLM-105/NOF-2). The clinical study compared the safety and tolerability of a new microemulsion oral formulation of cyclosporine A (Neoral) with the oral cyclosporine. A preparation currently in use (Sandimmune SGC)/(SGC).