Feral dogs in Chitral gol national park, Pakistan: a potential threat to the future of threatened Kashmir Markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis) / Cães ferozes no parque nacional Chitral gol, Paquistão: uma ameaça potencial para o futuro do Markhor da Caxemira ameaçado (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis)

Feral dogs are well-organized hunters of ungulates in many parts of the world, causing great damage to wildlife populations and ultimately to the ecosystem. In Pakistan, the impacts of feral dogs on the wildlife have not been documented yet. In a period of fifteen years (2006-2020), feral dogs have killed hundreds of threatened markhor in Chitral gol national park (CGNP), Pakistan. Despite direct predation other impacts including disturbance and competition with other natural predators, could compromise conservation and management efforts. The population of feral dogs seems to have been increased with the increase of dumping sites by communities. Our findings suggest that there are pressing needs of controlling the feral dogs population and eradicating them from the core zone of CGNP and surrounding buffer communities. Conventional culling of dogs should be coupled with modern techniques like castration and sterilization. Communities should be educated regarding the clean environment, proper disposal of home wastes and, biodiversity conservation.

Os cães ferozes são caçadores bem organizados de ungulados em muitas partes do mundo, causando grandes danos à população de animais selvagens e, em última instância, ao ecossistema. No Paquistão, os impactos dos cães selvagens na vida selvagem ainda não foram documentados. Em um período de 15 anos (2006-2020), cães selvagens mataram centenas de markhor ameaçados no parque nacional Chitral gol (CGNP), Paquistão. Apesar da predação direta, outros impactos, incluindo distúrbios e competições com outros predadores naturais podem comprometer os esforços de conservação e manejo. A população de cães selvagens parece ter aumentado com o aumento dos locais de despejo pelas comunidades. Nossas descobertas sugerem que há necessidades urgentes para controlar a população de cães selvagens e erradicá-los da zona central do CGNP e das comunidades-tampão vizinhas. O abate convencional de cães deve ser combinado com técnicas modernas como castração e esterilização. As comunidades devem ser educadas sobre o meio ambiente limpo, o descarte adequado de resíduos domésticos e a conservação da biodiversidade.

Percepção da sociedade em relação ao controle populacional de vertebrados em condições de sinantropia no município de Niterói, RJ / Perception of society about the management of synanthropic vertebrates populations in the municipality of Niterói, RJ / Percepción de la sociedad sobre el control poblacional de los vertebrados en condiciones sinópticas en el municipio de Niterói, RJ

Esse estudo seccional, realizado no período 2014-2015, com aplicação de questionários, teve por objetivo conhecer a percepção sobre vertebrados em condição de sinantropia e a opinião sobre controle populacional para a população do município de Niterói, RJ. Dentre os 474 entrevistados, 76,8% aceitavam o controle populacional para ratos, 63,3% para pombos, 40,5% para cães, 33,8% para gatos, 25,5% para morcegos, 16,5% para serpentes e 14,1% para gambás. As serpentes foram os animais mais associados ao medo (59,1%) e risco de agressão (47,7%), pombos (89,2%) e morcegos ao risco de doenças (57,4%), ratos à nojo/repulsa (56,6%), gambás à natureza (73,8%), cães à companhia (79,8%), e gatos à amizade (57,4%). O estudo demonstrou que as relações dos humanos com os animais podem ser complexas, ambíguas e paradoxais, e fornece dados que poderão ser utilizados para políticas públicas de manejo dessas espécies.(AU)

This study (sectional investigation), in the 2014-2015, using questionnaires, aimed to understand the perception of vertebrates in synanthropic conditions and the opinion about their population control for the population of the municipality the Niterói, RJ. Among the 474 people interviewed, 76.8% accepted population control for rats, 63.3% for pigeons, 40.5% for dogs, 33.8% for cats, 25.5 % for bats, 16.5% for snakes and 14.1% for possums. Snakes were the animals most associated with the representation of fear (59.1%) and risk of aggression (47.7%), pigeons (89.2%) and bats with risk of disease (57.4%), rats with disgust and repulsion (56.6%), possums with nature (73.8%), dogs with company (79.8%), and cats with friendship (57.4%). In addition to demonstrating how complex human relations with animals can be ambiguous and paradoxical, this study provides data that can be used for public policies for the management of these species.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la percepción de los vertebrados en condiciones de sinantropía y la opinión sobre el control poblacional de la población del municipio de Niterói, RJ. Entre los 474 entrevistados, el 76,8% aceptó el control de la población de ratas, el 63,3% de palomas, el 40,5% de perros, el 33,8% de gatos, el 25,5% de murciélagos, el 16,5% de serpientes y el 14,1% de zarigüeyas. Las serpientes fueron los animales más asociados al miedo (59,1%) y al riesgo de agresión (47,7%), las palomas (89,2%) y los murciélagos al riesgo de enfermedad (57,4%), las ratas al asco/repulsión (56,6%), las zarigüeyas a la naturaleza (73,8%), los perros a la compañía (79,8%) y los gatos a la amistad (57,4%). El estudio demostró que las relaciones de los humanos con los animales pueden ser complejas, ambiguas y paradójicas, y aporta datos que podrían utilizarse para las políticas públicas de gestión de estas especies.(AU)

Application and population control strategy of microbial modular co-culture engineering / 生物工程学报

Traditional methods of microbial synthesis usually rely on a single engineered strain to synthesize the target product through metabolic engineering. The key cofactors, precursors and energy are produced by the introduced complex synthetic pathways. This would increase the physiological burden of engineering strains, resulting in a decrease in the yield of target products. The modular co-culture engineering has become an attractive solution for effective heterologous biosynthesis, where product yield can be greatly improved. In the modular co-culture engineering, the coordination between the population of different modules is essential for increasing the production efficiency. This article summarized recent advances in the application of modular co-culture engineering and population control strategies.

Pombos: distribuição dos problemas registrados no Distrito Federal, Brasil / Pigeons: distribution of problems registered in the Federal District, Brasil

Os animais sinantrópicos, dentre eles os pombos, constituem uma fonte de incômodo e problemas de saúde pública no meio urbano. Encontram-se dispersos por todo o território brasileiro. Devido a sua domesticação e distribuição no ambiente, os pombos-domésticos (Columba livia) levam a queixas por nidificações, infestação por ácaros e notificações de doenças humanas. Diante disto, foi efetuado levantamento documental dos registros de reclamações feitas pela população à Diretoria de Vigilância Ambiental (DIVAL) do Distrito Federal, no período de 2014 a 2016, com o objetivo de mapear as áreas com vulnerabilidade e propor soluções para reduzir a presença desses animais sinantrópicos e a incidência de agravos. Alimento, abrigo e água são elementos essenciais para a aproximação e permanência com o homem. A distribuição das reclamações apresenta expansão principalmente na zona urbana, e outras onde nunca houve notificação, sendo que o número de notificações para estabelecimentos privados se mostrou maior que para públicos. O controle populacional desses animais é complexo e os serviços de controle encontram dificuldades em suas atividades.

Synanthropic animals, including pigeons, are a source of nuisance and public health problems in the urban environment. Dispersedthroughout the Brazilian territory due to their domestication and distribution, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) of the Columbiformes class lead to complaints of mite infestation, nesting and notification of human diseases. In view of this, a documentary survey of the records of complaints made by the population to the Environmental Surveillance Directorate (DIVAL) of the Federal District was carried out, in the period from 2014 to 2016, in order to map the vulnerable areas and propose solutions to reduce the presence of these synanthropic animals and the incidence of injuries. The distribution of complaints is expanding mainly in the urban area, and others where there was never any notification, with the number of notifications for private establishments being higher than for public ones.The population control of these animals is complex and the control services face difficulties in their activities.

Análise do perfil socioeconômico, demográfico e epidemiológico da população do município de Feira de Santana (BA) / Analysis of the socioeconomic, demographic and epidemiological profile of the population of Feira de Santana, Bahia / Análisis del perfil socioeconómico, demográfico y epidemiológico de la población de la cuidad de Feria de Santana, BA, Brasil

O conhecimento do perfil populacional, com suas características demográficas, sociais, econômicas e epidemiológicas, é importante para elaboração e avaliação da efetividade de políticas públicas, auxiliando também no planejamento, dimensionamento das demandas por serviços e destinação de recursos financeiros. Dessa forma, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o perfil socioeconômico, demográfico e epidemiológico da população do município de Feira de Santana (BA). Trata-se de um estudo ecológico que utilizou dados secundários de domínio público, referentes ao período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2019. As análises dos dados foram descritivas, mediante cálculo dos indicadores, distribuição de frequências e percentuais, com organização dos resultados em tabelas e gráficos, comparando-os com a literatura específica. Os resultados apresentaram que a cobertura de esgotamento sanitário foi inferior a 50% dos domicílios. Do total de estabelecimentos de saúde existentes, 71% eram da rede privada. A principal causa de morbidade foram as doenças do aparelho digestivo. As causas mal definidas constituíram a principal causa de mortalidade. Destaca-se a importância da qualificação e corresponsabilização das equipes de saúde para a relevância da notificação e preenchimento de informações referentes à construção dos indicadores de saúde, que devem representar a realidade do município, intensificando, assim, as ações de vigilância em saúde.

Knowledge of the population profile, covering its demographic, social, economic, and epidemiological characteristics, is crucial for elaborating and evaluating the effectiveness of public policies, and in planning and sizing demands for services and allocation of financial resources. As such, this ecological study analyzes the socioeconomic, demographic and epidemiological profile of the population of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. The public domain secondary data collected from January 2000 to December 2019 underwent descriptive analysis, by calculating indicators, frequencies and percentage distributions. Results were organized in tables and charts and later compared with the specific literature. The findings showed that less than 50% of the households have sanitary sewage. Of the total number of healthcare facilities, 71% were private. Main cause of morbidity were digestive tract diseases. Poorly defined causes were the leading cause of mortality. In conclusion, health teams must be qualified and sensitize to the relevance of notifying and filling in information related to the construction of health indicators, which should represent the reality of the municipality, thus improving health surveillance actions.

El conocimiento del perfil de la población, con sus características demográficas, sociales, económicas y epidemiológicas es importante para el desarrollo y la evaluación de la efectividad de políticas públicas, asistiendo también en la planificación, dimensionamiento de las demandas de servicios y la asignación de recursos financieros. Así, este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el perfil económico, demográfico, epidemiológico de la población de la ciudad de Feria de Santana, en Bahía, Brasil. Se Trata de un estudio ecológico, que utilizó datos secundarios de dominio público, referente al período de enero de 2000 a diciembre de 2019. El análisis de los datos fue descriptivo mediante el cálculo de los indicadores, de distribución de la frecuencia y el porcentaje, con la organización de los resultados en tablas y gráficos, comparándolos con la literatura específica. Los resultados mostraron que la cobertura de aguas residuales era inferior al 50% de los hogares. De todos los establecimientos de salud existentes, el 71% eran de la red privada. La principal causa de morbilidad fue las enfermedades del sistema digestivo. Las causas mal definidas fueron la principal causa de mortalidad. Se destaca la importancia de calificar a los equipos de salud para que sean conscientes de la importancia de la notificación y la presentación de información relativa a la construcción de los indicadores de salud, que deben representar la realidad de la ciudad, mejorando así las acciones de vigilancia sanitaria.

A contabilidade de óbitos e a organização social da morte no Brasil / The accounting of deaths and the social organization of death in Brazil

Resumo O artigo visa compreender a formação da contabilidade dos óbitos no Brasil e sua influência no modo como percebemos a morte. Para tanto, analisamos a racionalidade dos sistemas de registro, considerando o seu papel de controle populacional. Em seguida, investigamos como os sucessivos governos criaram e desenvolveram esses mecanismos de monitoramento, considerando o processo modernizador pelo qual o país passa desde finais do século XIX. Por fim, delineamos a disposição das categorias da declaração de óbito e como, por meio desse documento, funciona uma tecnologia inquisitiva que distribui direitos e deveres entre atores e estabelece os elementos preliminares de uma organização social da morte, tendo como campo a cidade de Belo Horizonte.

Abstract The article aims to understand the development of the way deaths are accounted for in Brazil and its influence on how we perceive death. The rationality of registration systems is analyzed, considering their role in population control. The way successive governments have created and developed these monitoring mechanisms is then investigated, considering the modernizing process through which the country has passed since the end of the nineteenth century. Finally, the arrangement of the categories on the death certificate is described, along with how, through this document, an inquisitive technology that distributes rights and duties between actors and establishes the preliminary elements for a given social organization of death works, focusing on the city of Belo Horizonte.

Increased Risk of Osteoporosis in Gastric Cancer Survivors Compared to General Population Control: A Study with Representative Korean Population / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Although several studies have suggested that osteoporosis is common in survivors of gastric cancer (GC), no study to date has directly assessed the risk for osteoporosis in GC survivors compared to matched controls. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relative risk for osteoporosis in survivors of GC compared to general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2008-2011). Patients with a history of GC (n=94) were defined as case among 8,142 individuals over 50 years old who were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Controls (n=470) were matched to cases by age and sex in a 1:5 ratio. Osteopenia (–2.5 < T-score < –1.0) and osteoporosis (T-score ≤ –2.5) were defined. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis in GC survivors was 30.2%, which was significantly greater than that of controls (19.7%). In total, GC survivors had a 3.7-fold increased risk for osteoporosis compared to controls (p=0.021). In addition, the risk for osteoporosis of the total proximal femur total (TF) and femur neck (FN) was significantly increased among GC survivors compared to controls (adjusted relative risk, 4.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 18.6 in TF and adjusted relative risk, 3.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 10.8 in FN). Furthermore, we found sub-optimal daily calcium intake and mean serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in both groups. CONCLUSION: GC survivors are at significantly increased risk for osteoporosis, especially in the femur. Clinically, our finding supports the importance of screening bone health and adequate nutrient supplementation in survivors of GC.

Brazilian spotted fever prevention through a nonlethal capybara population control strategy

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a lethal tick-borne Rickettsioses (2000 - 2018 >600 human deaths) involving synanthropic capybara as host. METHODS: We introduced an alternative to mitigate human-capybara conflicts and epidemiologic concerns of BSF. Complex aspects like transmission dynamics, risk areas, host mobility, and birth rate control, were considered to develop a prevention strategy using an anti-GnRH vaccine. RESULTS: The propositioned immunocontraceptive potentially remove and prevent the spread of BSF from endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the anti-GnRH vaccine as a BSF prevention strategy based on these favorable results.

The assisted reproductive technology subsidy in Korea: criticism from a perspective of reproductive responsibility / El subsidio para la tecnología de reproducción asistida en Corea: crítica desde una perspectiva de responsabilidad reproductiva / A subvenção tecnológica de reprodução assistida na Coreia: uma crítica a partir de uma perspectiva de responsabilidade reprodutiva

The Korean government's new policy of subsidizing assisted reproductive technology (ART) fees to increase the birth rate reflects a lack of concern for future generations and their quality of life. It seems wrong to treat the future child as just a number that contributes to achieving the target birth rate, or as a mere means of solving a problem facing the current generation. However, when one tries to articulate the shortcomings of this new policy, one realizes that the ontological arguments surrounding this issue, namely the non-identity problem is complex. I propose the concept of reproductive responsibility as a response to the possible life. This concept presupposes a relationship between the reproductive agent and the possible new life. Since the concept draws the normative standard from that relationship, it resolves the non-identity problem and makes it possible to criticize the new policy of subsidizing ART.

La nueva política del gobierno de Corea de proporcionar subsidio para los costos de la tecnología de reproducción asistida (TRA), para incrementar el número de nacimientos, refleja falta de preocupación por las futuras generaciones y su calidad de vida. Parece equivocado tratar a un niño futuro como un número que contribuye a lograr la frecuencia de nacimientos objetivo, como un mero medio para resolver un problema que enfrenta la generación presente. Sin embargo, cuando uno trata de articular las deficiencias de esta nueva política, se da cuenta de que los argumentos ontológicos sobre el tema son complejos, principalmente el problema de falta de identidad. Propongo el concepto de "responsabilidad reproductiva" como respuesta a la posible vida. Este concepto presupone una relación entre el agente reproductivo y la posibilidad de nueva vida. Debido a que el concepto extrae su normatividad de esta relación, se resuelve el problema de falta de identidad y hace posible criticar la nueva política de proporcionar subsidio a TRA.

A nova política de governo coreano de subsidiar a tecnologia de reprodução assistida (ART) para aumentar a taxa de natalidade reflete uma falta de preocupação com a geração futura e sua qualidade de vida. Parece errado tratar a futura criança como apenas um número que contribui para atingir a meta de taxa de natalidade, ou como um mero meio de resolver um problema que enfrentam a atual geração. No entanto, quando tenta-se articular as deficiências desta nova política, percebe-se que os argumentos ontológicos em torno desta questão, ou seja o problema da não-identidade é complexo. Eu proponho o conceito de responsabilidade reprodutiva como uma resposta para a vida possível. Este conceito pressupõe uma relação entre o agente reprodutivo e a possível nova vida. Uma vez que o conceito desenha um padrão normativo desta relação, ele resolve o problema da não-identidade e torna possível criticar a nova política de subsidiar ART.

Wildlife population control ­ reproductive physiology under the influence of contraceptive methods in mammalian wildlife, with emphasis on immunocontraception: the best choice? A literature review / Controle da população em animais selvagens ­ fisiologia reprodutiva sob a influência de métodos anticoncepcionais em animais mamíferos, com ênfase na imunocontracepção: a melhor escolha? Uma revisão da literatura

Human-wildlife conflicts, a growing and sad reality worldwide, makes population control of wildlife and feral animals one of the biggest challenges in wildlife management, especially due to the rapidly expanding human population, and consequently the ever-diminishing natural habitats of animals. Human activities and the destruction of nature forcing wildlife to move inevitably into urban and agricultural areas, causing "conflicts", such as the risk of zoonosis and traffic accidents, as well as damage to crops in the search for food, whose losses reach millions of dollars. For decades, science has been engaged in extensive efforts to develop methods of "humane" population control methods, and many techniques are being employed in order to control wildlife population. In this article, we present an overview of applied contraceptive methods with simplified graphic demonstrations of their interactions with reproductive physiology, furthermore relating pro and contra of utilized antifertility agents. These are being compared to a set of desired characteristics for free-ranging wildlife for in-field applications, with emphasis on reversible immunocontraception ­ concluding, therefore, the reasons why this concept is becoming the most appropriate and promising for free-ranging wildlife.(AU)

Os conflitos Humanos-Animais Selvagens são uma realidade crescente e triste no mundo inteiro, tornando o controle populacional da fauna silvestre e animais ferais o maior desafio, principalmente diante do crescimento da população humana e, consequentemente, da diminuição dos habitats naturais dos animais. As atividades humanas e a destruição da natureza, forçam os animais de vida livre a se dirigirem para áreas urbanas e agrícolas, inevitavelmente, causando conflitos, como o risco de zoonoses, acidentes de trânsito, bem como danos às plantações, quando em busca de alimentos, cujo prejuízo chega a milhões de dólares. Durante décadas, a ciência esteve empenhada em esforços extensivos para desenvolver métodos de controle populacional "humano"; e muitas técnicas foram utilizadas, a fim de se realizar um controle populacional destes animais silvestres. Neste artigo será apresentada uma visão geral dos métodos anticoncepcionais aplicados, com demonstrações gráficas simplificadas de suas interações com a fisiologia reprodutiva, bem como relacionando os prós e os contras dos agentes antifertilidade empregados; também serão comparados com um conjunto de características desejadas para as aplicações em fauna a campo, com ênfase em imunocontracepção reversível, concluindo assim, com as razões do porque este conceito torna-se o mais apropriado e promissor para animais silvestres de vida livre.(AU)

Continued Innovation in Respiratory Care: The Importance of Inhaler Devices / 결핵및호흡기질환

When it comes to the use in inhalers in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, there are many options, considerations and challenges, which health care professionals need to address. Considerations for prescribing and dispensing, administering and following up, education, and adherence; all of these factors impact on treatment success and all are intrinsically linked to the device selected. This review brings together relevant evidence, real-life data and practice tools to assist health care professionals in making decisions about the use of inhalers in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It covers some of the key technical device issues to be considered, the evidence behind the role of inhalers in disease control, population studies which link behaviors and adherence to inhaler devices as well as practice advice on inhaler technique education and the advantages and disadvantages in selecting different inhaler devices. Finally, a list of key considerations to aid health care providers in successfully managing the use of inhaler devices are summarized.

“It All Started from Worms”: Korea-Japan Parasite Control Cooperation and Asian Network, 1960s – 1980s / 의사학

The Korea Association of Health Promotion and Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), and Taiwan's Chinese Foundation of Health all originated from parasite control organizations. Currently these organizations hold no apparent relations to parasite control activities. However, many of the senior leaderships of these organizations including presidents, have parasitology as their background. Kunii Chojiro (the founder of Japan Association of Parasite Control (JAPC) and JOICFP) explained it as “it all started from worms.” In 1949, Kunii Chojiro established JAPC after personally experienced intestinal parasite infection. The JAPC people conducted mass examination and mass chemotherapy focusing on school children, which allowed them to have sustainable income. In 1965, the Korea Association of Parasite Eradication (KAPE) requested JAPC to assist Korea's parasite control activity. In 1968, when Korea-Japan cooperation for parasite control activity established, Japan's operating procedures were directly absorbed by KAPE. With support from JAPC and official development aid through Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency in Japan (now Japan International Cooperation Agency), Korea successfully controlled parasite infection. Post-war and cold-war geopolitics had a significant impact on Korea-Japan cooperation. In 1960s the president of KAPE, Chong-Chin Lee and Kunii Chojiro were well known figures in population control network. They did understand the importance of population control, but did not agree with the approaches taken by western population control experts. From their point of view, it had to be self-initiated, economically self sustainable grass-root activities rather than top-down activities, as experienced in their parasite control in Japan and Korea. This lead to a new Asian model named “Integrated Program”. Together with their influence in population control network, Kunii and Lee manage to secure the fund from IPPF. Emergence of Integrated Program showed how collective experience of Asia, as well as overlap of networking formed ‘Asian Model’ of public health activities. Kunii and Lee shared the same agenda to enable people to have better life through public health measures. While they funneled money from global population control network, they were more interested in securing sustainability of the parasite control activities. This paper focuses on activities and experiences of Kunii Chojiro and Chong-Chin Lee to show interplay of Cold War geopolitics in Asia led to emergence of Asian network.

Identification of a Novel BRCA1 Pathogenic Mutation in Korean Patients Following Reclassification of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants According to the ACMG Standards and Guidelines Using Relevant Ethnic Controls / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Comparison of variant frequencies in the general population has become an essential part of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) standards and guidelines for interpreting sequence variants. We determined the optimal number of relevant ethnic controls that should be used to accurately calculate the odds ratio (OR) of genetic variants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the ACMG guidelines, we reclassified BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and variants of unknown significance in 745 Korean patients susceptible to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer compared with 1,314 Korean population controls. RESULTS: We observed that the ORs were falsely inflated when we analyzed several variants using non-Korean population data. Our simulation indicated that the number of controls needed for the lower limit of a 95% confidence interval to exceed 1.0 varied according to the frequency of the variant in each patient group, with more than 820 controls needed for a variant existing in 1% of cases. Using a sufficient number of relevant population data, we could efficiently classify variants and identified the BRCA1 p.Leu1780Pro mutation as a possible pathogenic founder mutation in Korean patients. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that BRCA1 p.Leu1780Pro is a novel pathogenic mutation found in Korean patients. We also determined the optimal number of relevant ethnic controls needed for accurate variant classification according to the ACMG guidelines.

Contraceptive­seeking behavior of women attending antenatal care in a developing country: a veritable tool for slowing population growth

Background: The use of modern contraceptives has been embraced by developed nations as a means of achieving controlled growth rate. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation at 158 million with a growth rate of 2% is expected to grow to 730 million by the end of this century. There is need for regular assessment of the knowledge and practice of contraception among women of childbearing age. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the contraceptiveseeking pattern among women attending antenatal care in an urban city in a developing country and the factors affecting usage. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 430 antenatal women using structured self-administered questionnaires on randomly selected attendees who consented to participate. Results were analyzed using SPSS Version 16 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Although majority of the women 71.2% (306/430) wished to have between 1 and 4 children, only 20% (87/430) had on their own sought for advice on contraception from a health facility. The percentage of women who had a knowledge of contraception was 61.4% (264/430) with highest source of information from antenatal clinics. Among the women, 41.2% (177/430) have used contraception since getting married; 16.1% (69/430) used natural and withdrawal methods while only 25.1% (108/430) used modern contraceptives. Reasons for nonusage of some modern contraceptives given by 340 women include fear of side effect 53.2% (181/340), objection from partner 7.9% (27/340), conflict with religious beliefs 4.1% (14/340) while 34.4% (117/340) had no reason for not using contraceptive. Conclusion: Contraceptive-seeking is low. Programs aimed at encouraging women to deliver in health facilities should be intensified. Health workers should utilize every opportunity to educate on contraceptive choices

Expression of the c-MET, HGF and VEGF biomarkers in intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer in the Brazilian population: a pilot study for the standardization of the quantitative PCR technique

Background: Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the third leading cause of death among malignant tumors worldwide, causing approximately 900,000 deaths/year. Changes in oncogenes that encode tyrosine kinase receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of GC. MET gene is a proto-oncogene that encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor c-MET and it is required for embryonic development and tissue repair. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the only known ligand for c-Met receptor. The MET oncogene activation suppresses apoptosis and promotes the survival, proliferation, migration, differentiation and angiogenesis of cells. Among the angiogenic factors, VEGF is the main regulator. Its biological function includes the promotion of endothelial cells mitosis to stimulate cells proliferation. These biomarkers expression in GC is relatively recent and population-based studies are required to define the expression pattern. The aim of this study was to determine qPCR technical standardization to evaluate quantitatively, in paraffin tissue samples, the presence of gene 23 expression of the MET, HGF and VEGF in diffuse and intestinal GC types. Methods: Twenty GC patients were studied, 10 patients were intestinal-type GC (average age 72.1 years) and 10 diffuse-type (average age 50.1 years). In all patients, tissue samples were analyzed from the tumor and distant areas of the tumor tissue. The relative expressions of the tumor markers c-Met, HGF and VEGF were performed by qPCR technique by comparing tumor and non-tumoral samples and they were normalized with the GAPDH constitutive gene. Statistical analysis was performed through T-test. Results: For c-Met, 18/20 (90%) patients expressed the marker and 9/20 (45%) overexpressed this gene, in which three were intestinal-type GC and six were diffuse-type GC. For HGF, only 7/20 (35%) patients expressed this gene and it was overexpressed in 4/20 (20%), in which two were intestinal-type GC and two were diffuse-type GC. For VEGF, 20/20 (100%) patients expressed this marker and in 12/20 (60%) were observed overexpression, in which eight patients had diffuse-type GC and four had intestinal-type GC. Conclusions: qPCR technique was standardized and suitable for expression analysis of the three biomarkers using paraffin embedded tissue samples. Further studies should be carried out to characterize the expression pattern of these biomarkers in GC in the Brazilian population (AU)

Dinâmica populacional de cães irrestritos: revisão sistemática da literatura e estudo de campo com capturas, marcações, esterilizações e recapturas / Population dynamics of unrestricted dogs: a systematic literature review and field study with catches, markings, sterilizations and recaptures

O conhecimento sobre a estrutura das populações de cães errantes é essencial para o planejamento e monitoramento de diferentes estratégias de controle e de bem-estar animal. Na presente tese, por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, analisamos os métodos já utilizados para se estimar a abundância de cães irrestritos e os padrões obtidos nos resultados. Vinte e seis estudos foram analisados. Sete das oito publicações que utilizaram contagens por meio de censos não consideraram as diferentes probabilidades de detecção dos animais; apenas um estudo utilizou métodos baseados em distâncias; doze executaram procedimentos de captura e recaptura com análises baseadas unicamente em modelos para populações fechadas e, em sua maioria, sem considerar heterogeneidades; e seis aplicaram métodos próprios com diferentes potencialidades e limitações. Susceptibilidades a vieses na condução dos estudos estiveram relacionados com a descrição ou execução inadequada dos procedimentos de captura ou visualização e com inadequações na identificação e registro dos cães. Assim, houve uma predominância de estimativas de abundância e de densidade de baixa validade. Os resultados estimados tiveram grande variabilidade e identificou-se um número maior de cães machos em todos os estudos. Além disso, executamos um estudo de campo que analisou a dinâmica populacional e a eficácia da esterilização de cães irrestritos no município de Divinópolis-MG. Para isto, utilizamos procedimentos de captura e recaptura, com métodos de análise baseados em populações abertas. Realizaram-se, a cada dois meses, durante 14 meses, capturas, marcações, liberações e recapturas de cães em duas regiões. Em uma destas, os animais foram também esterilizados. Estimou-se a presença de 148 fêmeas e 227 machos durante todo o período de estudo. A razão cão/homem média estimada foi de 1 cão para cada 42 e 51 seres humanos, nas áreas sem e com esterilização, respectivamente. Devido ao grande número de entradas de cães, atribuídas principalmente ao abandono, houve uma tendência de aumento do tamanho populacional em ambas as regiões. As taxas de sobrevivência foram baixas, porém, a mortalidade diminuiu com o decorrer do estudo. Houve maior entrada de machos na população, mas não se observaram diferenças na sobrevivência entre os gêneros. Nenhum dos parâmetros analisados apresentou diferença significativa entre as áreas, demonstrando que a esterilização não afetou a dinâmica populacional. Assim, foram produzidas informações relevantes e inéditas para o entendimento da dinâmica de populações caninas irrestritas e levantadas alternativas para o aprimoramento deste campo de estudos.

The understanding of the structure of stray dogs’ populations is of extreme importance for the planning and monitoring of populational control strategies and animal welfare. The methods used to estimate the abundance of this group of dogs are more complex than the ones used with domiciled dogs. In this systematic review, we analyze the techniques and the results obtained in studies that seek to estimate the size of stray dogs’ populations. Twenty-six studies were reviewed. Seven of the eight publications that take a simple count of the animal population did not consider the different probabilities of animal detection; only one study used methods based on distances; twelve relied on capture-recapture models for closed populations without consid-ering heterogeneities in capture probabilities; six studies applied their own methods with different potential and limitations. Potential sources of bias in the studies were related to the inad-equate description or implementation of animal capturing or viewing procedures and to inade-quacies in the identification and registration of dogs. Thus, there was a predominance of esti-mates with low validity. Abundance and density estimates carried high variability, and all studies identified a greater number of male dogs. In addition, we performed a field study analyzing the population dynamics and the effectiveness of the sterilization of unrestrained dogs in the city of Divinopolis-MG. For this, we used capture and recapture procedures with analytical methods based on open populations. The captures were performed in two regions, every two months, for 14 months. In one of these animals were also sterilized. We estimated the presence of 148 females and 227 males throughout the study period. The reason dog / human estimated an average of one dog for every 42 and 51 humans in areas with and without sterilization, respectively. Due to the large number of dogs entries, mainly attributed to the abandon, there was a trend of increase in the population size in both regions. Survival rates were low, however, mortality decreased during the study. There was a greater input of males in the population, but no difference in survival between the genders. None of the examined parameters showed a sig-nificant difference between the areas, demonstrating that sterilization did not affect population dynamics. Thus, our thesis produced relevant and unprecedented information for understanding the dynamics of unrestrained dog populations. Besides that, we raised alternatives to improve this field of study.

Percepção e atitudes do ser humano sobre guarda responsável, zoonoses, controle populacional e cães em vias públicas / Perception and attitudes of the sample population on responsible custody, zoonosis and stray dogs

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a percepção sobre guarda responsável, zoonoses, controle populacional de cães e gatos e a situação de cães de rua, de uma amostra de pessoas pertencentes à Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. Para isso foram enviados questionários online com 22 perguntas. Participaram dessa pesquisa 239 pessoas, a maioria do sexo feminino, com faixa etária entre 25 e 35 anos, com ensino superior completo, residentes principalmente em Curitiba/PR. Possuíam cão ou gato como animal de estimação, 57% dos respondentes, e em relação à quantidade de animais por respondente, o número médio de cães foi de 2,62 ± 1,35 e gatos de 1,56 ± 1,07. Tanto proprietários de cães como gatos, afirmaram praticar com regularidade a vacinação, administração de vermífugos e atendimento veterinário de seus animais. O acesso dos cães à rua foi realizado com coleira e guia por 50,53% dos respondentes. Em relação à zoonose, 62% afirmaram saber o que é e conseguiram citar um exemplo. Sobre a presença de animal solto no seu bairro, 78% dos respondentes afirmaram que sim, 49% observaram que há cães de rua que são mantidos por alguém e 71% afirmaram que o responsável pelo controle desses animais deve ser o governo e a sociedade. Diante das respostas obtidas, foi possível identificar que essa amostra populacional reconheceu seis tipos de zoonoses, percebeu a importância da guarda responsável de cães e gatos e afirmou que não haja um único responsável pelos cães de rua.

This study aimed to evaluate the perception of responsible custody, zoonosis, population control of cats and dogs and the situation of stray dogs in a sample of people belonging to the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná. For this online questionnaires with 22 questions was sent. 239 people participated in this survey, the majority were female, aged between 25-35 years with complete living mainly in Curitiba / PR higher education. They had a dog or cat as a pet, 57% of respondents, and relative to the amount of animals responding by, the average number of dogs was 2.62 ± 1.35 and 1.56 ± 1.07 for cats. Both dog owners like cats, practicing regularly said vaccination administration of wormers and vet care for their animals. The access of the street dogs was held with collar and leash by 50.53% of respondents. Regarding zoonosis, 62% claimed to know what it is and managed to cite an example. About the presence of loose animals in your neighborhood, 78% of respondents said yes, 49% noted that there stray dogs that are kept by someone, and 71% stated that the responsibility for controlling these animals should be the government and society. Given the responses, we found that this sample population recognized six types of zoonosis, realized the importance of responsible dog guard and cats and stated that there is no single responsible for stray dogs.

Avaliação biológica de machos esterilizados por radiação gama, para utilização em programas de controle populacional de Aedes aegypti (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) / Biological evaluation of sterilized males by gamma radiation for use in the Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) population control programs

Este estudo avaliou o desempenho biológico e reprodutivo de machos de Aedes aegypti esterilizados por radiação gama e seu potencial para uso no controle da espécie, através da técnica do inseto estéril (TIE). A eficácia de esterilização de diferentes doses de radiação gama, 30, 40 e 50 Gy, foi avaliada em machos irradiados (MI) na fase de pupa. O seu efeito sobre a longevidade e competitividade de acasalamento dos MI, sobre a fecundidade e fertilidade das fêmeas acasaladas com estes machos, bem como de fêmeas também irradiadas (FI), foram parâmetros analisados. Os testes de competitividade foram conduzidos em gaiolas teladas (2 X 2 m) em condições simuladas de campo, onde foram liberados machos irradiados e machos não irradiados (MNI), nas seguintes proporções: 5:1, 10:1 e 15:1. Os resultados revelaram que o fitness biológico e reprodutivo dos mosquitos são afetados pela radiação, de modo que os efeitos são diretamente proporcionais a dose de radiação utilizada. O parâmetro de longevidade apresentou diferenças significativas, tanto quando os MI foram analisados de forma individual quanto em grupo. Para a maior dose, MI e FI viveram em média 19,6 ± 2,2 dias e 25,8 ± 2,2 dias, respectivamente, enquanto que no grupo controle, estes valores foram de 24,9 ± 2,5 dias e 30,4 ± 2,5 dias...

This study evaluated the biological and reproductiv e performance of Aedes aegyptimales sterilized by gamma radiation and its potential for use in controlling the species through the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). The sterilization efficacy of different doses of gamma radiation, 30, 40 and 50 Gy, was assessed in irradiated males (IM) in the pupal stage. The direct effects of gama radiation on the longevity and competitiveness of IM, as well as the effect on the fecundity and fertility of females mated with these males, and also irradiated females (IF), were analyzed. The competitiveness was examined by tests conducted in large cage (2 x 2 meters) in semi field conditions where irradiated males (IM) and non-irradiated males (NIM) were released in the following proportions: 5:1, 10:1 and 15:1. The results revealed that the biological and reproductive fitness of the mosquitoes are affected by radiation, so that the effects are directly proportional to the radiation dose. The longevity parameter showed significant differences...

Ecos de Marx y Malthus: el camino rocoso desde el control de la población hacia los derechos reproductivos / Echos of Marx and Malthus: the rocky road from populati on control to reproductive rights

En este estudio enlazo debates sobre la regulación de la fertilidad humana y el control de la población con las consideraciones sobre los derechos repro-ductivos de la mujer. Primero, una breve discusión de antiguas rivalidades entre Thomas Robert Malthus y Karl Marx introduce el carácter profunda-mente político de las consideraciones sobre reproducción humana. A con-tinuación me traslado al siglo XX y muestro que ahora reencontramos a Marx y a Malthus vestidos en ropa nueva por rivales políticos que aplicaron antiguas rivalidades a nuevos conflictos políticos. Me concentro en el período posterior a la Segunda Guerra Mundial, cuando los nuevos debates sobre población y derechos reproductivos estaban acompañados por los nuevos pa-radigmas globales de los derechos humanos ­y argumento que la práctica de los derechos estaba comprometida por los enfrentamientos entre políticos de derecha e izquierda­ presentados durante la Guerra Fría. Apoyándome en historias de médicos y planificadores poblacionales activos en Europa y las Américas, me concentro en el estudio del caso de la planificación familiar y los derechos reproductivos en Chile para mostrar los efectos dañinos que los enfrentamientos de la Guerra Fría ­las dicotomías políticas de derecha e izquierda­ tuvieron en las políticas de salud y de derechos reproductivos

n this study, I link key debates about the regulation of human fertility and population control to considerations about women's reproductive rights. First, a brief discussion of old rivalries between Thomas Robert Malthus and Karl Marx introduces the deeply political nature of considerations about hu-man reproduction.Next, I move from the 18th and 19th centuries to the 20th century, and show that we find Marx and Malthus dressed in new clothes by political rivals who applied old competitions to new political conflicts.I focus on the post WW II period, when new debates about population and human reproduction were accompanied by new global paradigms of human rights ­and argue that a twentieth century practice of rights was compromi-sed by competitions between politics of left and right­ set in the Cold War. 141Drawing on histories of medical doctors and population planners who were active in Europe and the Americas, I focus on the case study of family planning and reproductive rights in Chile to show the ill-effects that Cold War competitions ­the political dichotomies of left and right­ had on the politics of health and reproductive rights.