Is eating wild rainbow trout safe? The effects of different land-uses on heavy metals content in Chile.

Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb levels were measured in liver and muscle samples of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss collected from three watersheds with different land-uses: native forest, exotic plantation, and agriculture in Chile, during January, April, July, and October 2012. Cd and Pb levels were not detected in the liver and muscle, probably since they are under the detection limits. Higher metal concentrations (liver-muscle tissues) were detected in samples from agriculture and exotic plantation streams, whereas trout from native forest streams had lower metal concentrations. Higher metal concentrations were detected in liver tissue compared to muscle tissue, and both negatively correlated to the length and weight of the fish. This suggest the liver had higher ability to accumulate Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn compared to muscle tissue. The concentration range of Fe and Zn recorded in the muscle are within the range reported by other authors, whereas Mn and Cu concentrations are higher than reported in the literature. However, at all sites the concentration of selected metals were below the limits permitted by current legislation (FAO), and therefore did not put the human population at risk, suggesting that is eating wild rainbow trout safe in Chile.

Microcrustacean assemblages composition and environmental variables in lakes and ponds of the Andean region-South of Chile (37-39° S).

The zooplankton assemblages in Chilean Patagonian lakes are characterised mainly by their low biodiversity and high predominance of calanoids copepods, a pattern that has been studied for large and deep lakes between 38-51° S, and shallow ponds at 51° S. The aim of the present study was analyse the zooplankton assemblages in different water bodies located in coastal zones, middle valleys and mountain zones between 37-39° S. For this purpose, the following variables were considered: maximum depth, latitude, altitude, chlorophyll-a and species number, and to these variables, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied. A co-occurrence null model analysis was also applied for determining the existence of a random process in crustacean species associations. The results denoted low species richness, and different species associations for studied sites, and the null model analysis revealed the absence of a random process as regulator of species associations. Furthermore, a low species/genera ratio was identified, which denotes low productivity of the studied sites. These results were supported by a PCA analysis which denoted that the main determinant factors are chlorophyll concentration and species number that are directly associated. The obtained results are in agreement with descriptions in the literature for species diversity for lakes of Chilean Patagonia that describes oligotrophy as the main regulator of zooplankton assemblages. Other ecological and limnological topics are discussed in the present study.

Microcrustacean assemblages composition and environmental variables in lakes and ponds of the Andean region - South of Chile (37-39° S) / Composição de comunidades de microcustáceos e variáveis ambientais em lagos e lagoas da região andina - sul do Chile (37-39° S)

The zooplankton assemblages in Chilean Patagonian lakes are characterised mainly by their low biodiversity and high predominance of calanoids copepods, a pattern that has been studied for large and deep lakes between 38-51° S, and shallow ponds at 51° S. The aim of the present study was analyse the zooplankton assemblages in different water bodies located in coastal zones, middle valleys and mountain zones between 37-39° S. For this purpose, the following variables were considered: maximum depth, latitude, altitude, chlorophyll-a and species number, and to these variables, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied. A co-occurrence null model analysis was also applied for determining the existence of a random process in crustacean species associations. The results denoted low species richness, and different species associations for studied sites, and the null model analysis revealed the absence of a random process as regulator of species associations. Furthermore, a low species/genera ratio was identified, which denotes low productivity of the studied sites. These results were supported by a PCA analysis which denoted that the main determinant factors are chlorophyll concentration and species number that are directly associated. The obtained results are in agreement with descriptions in the literature for species diversity for lakes of Chilean Patagonia that describes oligotrophy as the main regulator of zooplankton assemblages. Other ecological and limnological topics are discussed in the present study.

As comunidades zooplantônicas em lagos chilenos são caracterizadas, principalmente, por sua baixa biodiversidade e alta predominância de copépodos calanoides, um padrão que tem sido estudado em lagos grandes e profundos entre 38-51° S, e lagoas rasas em 51° S. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar as comunidades zooplantônicas em diferentes corpos de água localizados em zonas costeiras, vales intermediários e regiões de montanhas entre 37-39° S. Para este propósito, as seguintes variáveis foram consideradas: profundidade máxima, latitude, altitude, clorofila "a" e número de espécies, e a estas variáveis, foi aplicada a Análise de Componentes Principais (PCA). Um modelo nulo de coocorrência também foi aplicado para determinar a existência de um processo aleatório na associação de espécies de crustáceos. Os resultados denotam baixa diversidade de espécies e diferentes associações de espécies nos diferentes locais estudados, e o modelo nulo de análises revelou a ausência de um processo aleatório como regulador de associação de espécies. Além disso, a baixa relação espécie/gênero foi identificada, o que denota baixa produtividade dos locais estudados. Estes resultados foram apoiados pelas análises de PCA que mostraram que os fatores determinantes principais como a concentração de clorofila e número de espécies estão diretamente associados. Os resultados obtidos concordam com as descrições na literatura sobre a diversidade de espécies para lagos da Patagônia Chilena, que descreve a oligotrofia como principal regulador de comunidades zooplanctônicas. Outros tópicos ecológicos e limnológicos foram discutidos no presente estudo.

Psychiatric assessment and confirmation of dual disorders in rural substance abusing women.

Accurate diagnosis of a comorbid or dual disorder in substance abusing women is critical to treatment and recovery. However, accurate diagnosis of comorbid disorders is difficult. Factors such as instrumentation and timing of diagnostic interview make results highly variable. This article describes difficulties encountered in screening and diagnosing dual disorders in a sample of rural, substance abusing women. The efficacy of screening and diagnostic measures in detecting depression and substance abuse is evaluated, and factors affecting diagnosis are described. The implications of those findings for case finding and management in psychiatric nursing practice are discussed.

A nursing practice paradigm for depressed rural women: the Women's Affective Illness Treatment Program.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) results from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that act as historical and contemporary antecedents. To promote and maintain recovery from depression women with MDD must understand their depression risk, act to reduce symptoms, and maintain a lifetime program of relapse prevention. This requires self-care skills including self-assessment, stress response reduction, and health behavior modification. The Women's Affective Illness Treatment Program (WAIT) is a skill-based depression recovery program that addresses the complex cause of major depressive disorder in women. WAIT is based on the Nursing Practice Paradigm described in a previously published article.

A nursing practice paradigm for depressed rural women: theoretical basis.

Depression is common among disadvantaged, rural women. Few of these women are treated because of access barriers or because treatment does not meet their needs. A treatment program for major depressive disorder (MDD) was designed based on biopsychosocial perspectives of the cause of MDD and practice roles of psychiatric nurses. The Nursing Practice Paradigm for Depressed Rural Women (NPP) guides a structured short-term nursing care program for MDD, the Women's Affective Illness Treatment Program (WAIT). The NPP and its theoretical basis are described.

Testing innovative nursing care: home intervention with depressed rural women.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is common among women and especially so among the disadvantaged. Despite this, nurses' roles in the treatment of MDD have been described only recently and have received little systematic evaluation. Testing of nursing efficacy in treating MDD is critical because nurses predominate among professionals in health care institutions typically accessed by women. In this article, I describe a research demonstration project to test a short-term nursing intervention for disadvantaged depressed rural women. The Women's Affective Illness Treatment (WAIT) Program has been implemented to eliminate depressive morbidity and develop specific self-care and prevention skills. Impoverished, premenopausal rural women with MDD participate in one of two experimental approaches. Several outcome and treatment effectiveness variables are monitored pre- and posttreatment for a period of 12 months.

Depressive symptoms in young women of the Piedmont: prevalence in rural women.

Depression rates in women are twice that of men. In certain groups of women depression exceeds 40 percent. These groups include urban, poor, young mothers, and women who use primary health care facilities. We hypothesized that rates of depressive symptoms in rural women users of primary care would exceed those reported in population studies. Depressive symptoms were expected to be associated with common risk factors for depression. To test these hypotheses, 181 rural women, ages 18 to 52, were interviewed by telephone using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Of these, 41.4 percent reported depressive symptoms exceeding the cutoff score of 16 on the CES-D. The mean CES-D score for the entire sample was 15.3 and was 27.6 for women scoring over 16 on the CES-D. Young, unemployed, and poorly educated women were most likely to report depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that many rural women are at-risk for depression. High mean CES-D scores in women scoring above the cutoff indicate that rural women experience multiple and persistent depressive symptoms. These findings also show that women with fewer educational and economic resources report more depressive symptoms. Rural health professionals can increase detection of women at risk for depression by considering their age, and their education, and employment status.

Shifting the paradigm: toward integrative research on mothers and children.

The mother-child relationship has been examined extensively but most research has centered on maternal characteristics associated with poor childhood developmental outcomes or maternal response to stressors. The "maternal deficit" model has misdirected research and intervention. Research on maternal depression based on the maternal deficit model has resulted in research designs that do not adequately address maternal outcomes. Research must be conceptualized to address parent-child relationships and situational factors that influence them.

Young women and depression. Origin, outcome, and nursing care.

Depression in young women occurs at a rate twice that of men. Physiologic, psychological, and social phenomena contribute to the development of this multifactorial disorder that interferes with the productivity of women at the height of their work and family careers. Neuroendocrine factors, both menstrually linked and independent of menstrual functioning, have been implicated in gender-biased distribution of affective disorder. Equally salient for women are environmental and cognitive factors that contribute to loss of hope and a sense of helplessness in managing day-to-day responsibilities. Social discrimination and the social roles performed by women may expose them to more stresses or those that are not easily managed. Each of these factors may leave women more vulnerable to the onset of affective disorder. Despite this, there is much nurses can do in the prevention and treatment of depression using a biopsychosocial strategic approach. Psychoeducation, physiologic assessment and intervention, and a maintained caring interaction with the client can promote a return to normal mood and effective functioning for most women with affective illness.

Stress in parents of children with diabetes mellitus.

The level of stress experienced in the parenting role by mothers of 49 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and its relationship to glycemic control was examined with the parenting stress index (PSI). A subsample of the research group of 25 children with diabetes (less than or equal to 11 yr old) was compared with an age-matched control group (n = 21) drawn from the original study of the PSI on total stress, parent- and child-domain, and subdomain scale scores. The two groups differed on one child-domain subscale, whereby children with diabetes are perceived by their mothers as more demanding than healthy controls. Three parent-subscale differences existed between the two groups, with mothers of children with diabetes reporting less attachment to their children, less spousal support, and poorer health. Analysis of the diabetes sample demonstrated significant stress on several of the child- and parent-domain subscales in a large proportion of the sample. Stress, at levels greater than or equal to 70th percentile of the control group, existed on the child scales of acceptability, mood, demanding behavior, and reinforcement for 51% of children with diabetes. Elevations associated with stress in the parenting role were evident on the scales associated with parental attachment, depression, and competence for 33% of parents. No differences in the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) existed between children whose mothers reported high levels of stress in themselves and their children and those whose mothers reported little stress. Hierarchal regression analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between the child stress scale of distractibility, the use of self-monitoring blood glucose assessment, and low levels of HbA1.

DNA repair as regulatory factor in the organotropy of alkylating carcinogens.

Monofunctional alkylating agents which react predominantly at nitrogen atoms in DNA bases (e.g. alkyl methanesulphonates, dialkylsulfates) are generally weak carcinogens whereas compounds which lead extensively to oxygen alkylation (e.g. alkylnitrosoureas, dialkylnitrosamines, dialkyl-aryltriazenes) often exhibit a strong carcinogenic activity. O6-Alkylation of guanine is a promutagenic DNA modification possibly involved in the initiation of malignant transformation. O6-Alkylguanine can be enzymically excised and in the rat the induction of neural, renal and colonic tumors by alkylnitrosoureas, 3,3-dimethyll-phenyltriazene, dimethylnitrosamine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine correlates with an excision repair deficiency in the target tissue. However, species and strain differences in the response to these carcinogens are not paralleled by differences in the excision repair capacity for O6-alkylguanine. Preliminary data suggest that in rat liver there is an inducible enzyme for the removal of O6-alkylguanine from DNA.

DNA alkylation and neuro-oncogenesis by 3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyltriazene.

The role of DNA alkylation by the neurooncogenic agent 3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyltriazene (DMPT) was investigated perinatally and in adult rats. Following a single subcutaneous injection of 14C-DMPT (100 mg/kg) on the 21 day of gestation, the concentration of methylated purines was similar in both fetal liver and brain whereas during postnatal growth this treatment resulted in an increasingly preferential methylation of liver DNA. In 30-day-old and adult rats the concentration of 7-methylguanine in liver was about 8 times higher in brain DNA, suggesting that during prenatal development both liver and brain DNA are transplacentally methylated by a proximate carcinogen produced by maternal organs. Multiple doses of 14C-DMPT (50 mg/kg) to adult rats led to a preferential accumulation of O6-methylguanine in cerebral DNA. This supports the hypothesis that the deficient repair excision capacity of the hypothesis that the deficient repair excision capacity of the central nervous system is a significant factor in the organ-specific carcinogenicity of DMPT and related carcinogens.