Serum concentrations of lipids, vitamins A and E, vitamin D metabolites, and carotenoids in nine primate species at four zoos

Abstract

Data from population‐based case‐control studies of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma among white men from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota were pooled to evaluate potential risks from environmental exposures in more detail, while controlling for potential confounding factors. These data provided the opportunity to evaluate the risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma from potential exposures to lindane, a pesticide that causes cancer in laboratory animals and has been associated with human cancer in a few epidemiologic investigations. This pooled data set includes 987 individuals with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and 2,895 population‐based controls. Information was obtained by telephone or in person interviews, which included detailed questions on farm practices and agricultural use of chemicals. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age, state of residence, and subject or proxy interviews. Reported use of lindane significantly increased the risk of non‐Hodgkin's's lymphoma by 50%. Some use characteristics were suggestive of an association. ORs were greater among persons who first used the pesticide 20 years before diagnosis (OR = 1.7) than more recently (OR = 1.3), among those who reported more frequent use (OR = 2.0 for use 5 or more days per year versus 1.6 for fewer than five days per year), and from use on crops (OR = 1.9), rather than from use on animals (OR = 1.3), although these differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, ORs were lower when based on direct interviews (OR = 1.3) than on data from proxy respondents (OR = 2.1) and adjustment for potential confounding by use of 2,4‐D and diazinon reduced the ORs associated with lindane use from 1.5 to 1.2 and 1.3, respectively. Lindane does not appear to be a major etiologic factor in the development of non‐Hodgkin's's lymphoma, although a small role cannot be ruled out. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:82–87, 1998. Published 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Evidence for Positive Selection in the C-terminal Domain of the Cholesterol Metabolism Gene PCSK9 Based on Phylogenetic Analysis in 14 Primate Species

“…As mentioned before, monkeys have significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels than Hominoids [22]. It is unknown whether the loss-of-function mutation in the C-terminal domain is a random phenomenon or a common feature that influences cholesterol metabolism.…”

“…Significant differences in lipid profiles occur among primates; for example, New World and Old World monkeys have significantly lower serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol levels than Hominoids [22]. Among Hominoids, gorillas have the highest circulating total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels [22]. Caceres et al [23] found that several genes related to lipid metabolism were differentially expressed in humans and non-human primates.…”

Evaluation of diabetes determinants in woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha)

“…Triacylglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL‐Chol concentrations for the woolly monkeys were within the normal ranges for new and old world monkeys and for humans (Halperin et al., 1968; Cefalu et al., 1993; Crissey et al., 1999; Andrade et al., 2004; Kim et al., 2005; Medline Plus, 2006). However, the HDL‐Chol values appeared to be low (0.8 mmol/l) compared with the reference ranges for primates (Crissey et al., 1999; Medline Plus, 2006). Concentrations of HDL are inversely related to the incidence of cardiovascular disease (Lagua and Claudio, 2004).…”

“… *Numbers in superscript italics refer to the published references as follows: 1 = Brady, 2000; 2 = Simian, 2006; 3 = Ausman and Gallina, 1978; 4 = Lloyd et al., 1995; 5 = Crissey et al., 1999; 6 = Halperin et al., 1968; 7 = Cefalu et al., 1993; 8 = Kim et al., 2005; 9 = Mythili et al., 2005; 10 = Edwards et al., 2004; 11 = Kemnitz et al., 2002; 12 = Andrade et al., 2004; 13 = Guthrie and Guthrie, 2003; 14 = Merck, 1996; 15 = The Expert Committee on the Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus (ECDDM), 2003; 16 = Lagua and Claudio, 2004; 17 = Medline Plus, 2006. …”

Conservation in the 21st Century: Gorillas as a Case Study

“…The contents of a fecal sample, combined with observational data, help the nutritionist better understand what foods are being eaten, during which times of the year and in the captive diet, the effects of variation Deblauwe et al, 2003;Yamagiwa et al, , 2005Remis and Dierenfeld 2004). From a serum sample, the nutritionist measures circulating levels of vitamin metabolites, lipids, and carotenoids, which provide information on the animal's health, nutritional status, and the absorption levels of nutrients (Crissey et al, 1999).…”