Intervenções psicológicas necessárias: a prática como residente no serviço de medicina fetal / Necessary psychological interventions: the practice as a resident in the fetal medicine service / Intervenciones psicológicas necesarias: la práctica como residente en el servicio de medicina fetal

Com os avanços tecnológicos e o aprimoramento da prática médica via ultrassonografia, já é possível detectar possíveis problemas no feto desde a gestação. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a prática do psicólogo no contexto de gestações que envolvem riscos fetais. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo sob formato de relato de experiência como psicólogo residente no Serviço de Medicina Fetal da Maternidade Escola da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Os registros, feitos por observação participante e diário de campo, foram analisados em dois eixos temáticos: 1) intervenções psicológicas no trabalho em equipe em consulta de pré-natal, exame de ultrassonografia e procedimento de amniocentese; e 2) intervenções psicológicas em casos de bebês incompatíveis com a vida. Os resultados indicaram que o psicólogo nesse serviço é essencial para atuar de forma multiprofissional na assistência pré-natal para gravidezes de alto risco fetal. Ademais, a preceptoria do residente é relevante para sua formação e treinamento para atuação profissional no campo da psicologia perinatal.(AU)

Face to the technological advances and the improvement of medical practice via ultrasound, it is already possible to detect possible problems in the fetus since pregnancy. The objective of this study was to analyze the psychologist's practice in the context of pregnancies which involve fetal risks. It is a qualitative study based on an experience report as a psychologist trainee at the Fetal Medicine Service of the Maternity School of UFRJ. The records, based on the participant observation and field diary, were analyzed in two thematic axes: 1) psychological interventions in the teamwork in the prenatal attendance, ultrasound examination and amniocentesis procedure; and 2) psychological interventions in cases of babies incompatible to the life. The results indicated that the psychologist in this service is essential to work in a multidisciplinary way at the prenatal care for high fetal risk pregnancies. Furthermore, the resident's preceptorship is relevant to their education and training for professional performance in the field of Perinatal Psychology.(AU)

Con los avances tecnológicos y la mejora de la práctica médica a través de la ecografía, ya se puede detectar posibles problemas en el feto desde el embarazo. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la práctica del psicólogo en el contexto de embarazos de riesgos fetal. Es un estudio cualitativo basado en un relato de experiencia como residente de psicología en el Servicio de Medicina Fetal de la Escuela de Maternidad de la Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Los registros, realizados en la observación participante y el diario de campo, se analizaron en dos ejes temáticos: 1) intervenciones psicológicas en el trabajo en equipo, en la consulta prenatal, ecografía y los procedimientos de amniocentesis; y 2) intervenciones psicológicas en casos de bebés incompatibles con la vida. Los resultados señalaron como fundamental la presencia del psicólogo en este servicio trabajando de forma multidisciplinar en la atención prenatal en el contexto de embarazos de alto riesgo fetal. Además, la tutela del residente es relevante para su educación y formación para el desempeño profesional en el campo de la Psicología Perinatal.(AU)

Relatos da pandemia: ser mulher e mãe em tempos de covid-19 / Pandemic reports: being a woman and mother in covid-19 times / Relatos de la pandemia: ser mujer y madre en tiempos del covid-19

Partindo da pergunta "Como tem sido ser mulher e mãe em tempos de pandemia?", o presente estudo convidou mulheres que são mães, em redes sociais virtuais, a partilhar um relato de suas experiências com a readaptação parental em função do distanciamento social causado pela pandemia de covid-19. O objetivo foi refletir sobre a experiência de ser mulher e mãe em tempos de covid-19 e distanciamento social, apontando algumas ressonâncias do cenário pandêmico na subjetividade dessas mulheres. O estudo teve como base o referencial psicanalítico, tanto na construção da pesquisa e análise dos relatos quanto na sua discussão. A análise dos cerca de 340 relatos coletados, os quais variaram de uma breve frase a longos parágrafos, apontou para uma série de questionamentos, pontos de análise e reflexões. A pandemia, e o decorrente distanciamento social, parece ter colocado uma lente de aumento sobre as angústias das mulheres que são mães, evidenciando sentimentos e sofrimentos sempre presentes. Destacaram-se, nos relatos, a sobrecarga das mulheres com as tarefas de cuidado dos filhos e da casa, a culpa, a solidão, a exaustão, e o sentimento de que não havia espaço nesse contexto para "ser mulher", sendo isso entendido especialmente a questões estéticas e de vaidade.(AU)

Starting from the question "How does it feel to be a woman and a mother in pandemic times?", this study invited women who are mothers, in virtual social networks, to share their experiences regarding parental adaptations due to social distancing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to reflect on the experience of being a woman and a mother in the context of COVID-19 and of social distancing, pointing out some resonances of the pandemic scenario in the subjectivity of these women. The study was based on the psychoanalytical framework, both in the construction of the research and analysis of the reports and in their discussion. The analysis of about 340 collected reports, which ranged from a brief sentence to long paragraphs, pointed to a series of questions, analysis topics, and reflections. The pandemic, and the resulting social distancing, seems to have placed a magnifying glass over the anguish of women who are mothers, showing ever-present feelings and suffering. The reports highlighted women's overload with child and house care tasks, the guilt, loneliness, exhaustion, and the feeling that there was no space in this context to "be a woman," and it extends to aesthetic and vanity related questions especially.(AU)

A partir de la pregunta "¿cómo te sientes siendo mujer y madre en tiempos de pandemia?", este estudio invitó por las redes sociales a mujeres que son madres a compartir un relato de sus experiencias sobre la readaptación parental en función del distanciamiento social causado por la pandemia del covid-19. Su objetivo fue reflexionar sobre la experiencia de ser mujer y madre en tiempos del covid-19 y el distanciamiento social, señalando algunas resonancias del escenario pandémico en la subjetividad de estas mujeres. Este estudio se basó en el marco psicoanalítico, tanto en la construcción de la investigación y análisis de los informes como en su discusión. El análisis de los casi 340 relatos, que variaron de una pequeña frase a largos párrafos, generó en las investigadoras una serie de cuestionamientos y reflexiones. La pandemia y el consecuente distanciamiento social parece haber agrandado las angustias de las mujeres que son madres, evidenciando sentimientos y sufrimientos siempre presentes. En los relatos destacan la sobrecarga de las mujeres con las tareas de cuidado de los hijos y del hogar, la culpa, la soledad, el cansancio, así como el sentimiento de que no hay espacio em este contexto para "ser mujer", relacionado principalmente a cuestiones estéticas y de vanidad.(AU)

Notas sobre o pesquisar em cena(s) / Notes on researching in scenes / Notas sobre la investigación en escena(s)

O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar a construção metodológica desenvolvida em uma pesquisa de mestrado, na qual sustentamos a escrita de cenas como método de pesquisa da escuta clínica. As cenas do trabalho em questão foram recolhidas ao longo do tempo, no contorno da experiência de um projeto de extensão universitária de atenção à infância e adolescência em situação de vulnerabilidade social, situado em uma comunidade periférica. Apresentamos, neste texto, as interrogações que se elaboraram em torno da escolha pelo trabalho com cenas, e compartilhamos o resgate histórico dessas como um método de escrever a clínica, bem como a retomada de sua análise a partir da tradição psicanalítica. Amparadas nesta teoria e em leituras e contribuições do filósofo francês Jacques Derrida, embasamos a noção de que a cena se constitui como um lugar de produção, ao engendrar a configuração particular de elementos significantes nos processos de subjetivação e de construção social. A cena não é, então, compreendida aqui como uma representação do que acontece na clínica, mas como um modo de produzir a escuta e os seus processos de investigação.(AU)

This article aims to present the methodological construction developed in a master's research, in which the writing of scenes as a method of clinical listening research was endorsed. The scenes from the study in question were collected over time, from the experience gained in a project conducted within a university extension program on care in childhood and adolescence in social vulnerability, in a peripheral community. In this study, we present some questions that were elaborated surrounding the choices of working with scenes; and we share the historical rescue of this work as a method of writing on clinic practices and resuming their analysis from the psychoanalytic tradition. Based on the psychoanalytic theory and on the readings and contributions of the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, we corroborate the notion that the scene is constituted as a place of production, engendering the particular configuration of significant elements in the processes of subjectivation and social construction. Here, the scene is not a representation of clinical practice but one mode of producing listening and its research processes.(AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar la construcción metodológica desarrollada en una investigación de maestría, en la que sostenemos la escritura de escenas como método de investigación de la escucha clínica. Las escenas del trabajo en cuestión se recogieron a lo largo del tiempo desde la experiencia en un proyecto de extensión universitario de atención a la niñez y adolescencia en situación de vulnerabilidad social aplicado en una comunidad periférica. En este texto, presentamos los interrogantes que se elaboraron en torno a la elección por el trabajo con escenas y compartimos el rescate histórico de las mismas como un método de escribir la clínica y la reanudación del análisis a partir de la tradición psicoanalítica. Amparadas en el psicoanálisis y en lecturas y contribuciones del filósofo francés Jacques Derrida, nos basaremos en la noción de que la escena se constituye como un lugar de producción, engendrando la configuración particular de elementos significantes en los procesos de subjetivación y de construcción social. La escena no es aquí una representación de lo que pasa en la clínica, sino un modo de producir escucha y sus procesos de investigación.(AU)

Implicações para homens do afastamento do(a) filho(a) devido medida protetiva de urgência / Impacto en los hombres del distanciamiento del(la) hijo(a) debido a medida protectora de urgencia / Implications for men of separation from their children due to emergency protective measure

Resumo Objetivo Desvelar as implicações para os homens do afastamento pai-filho(a) em decorrência de medida protetiva por violência conjugal. Métodos Estudo descritivo exploratório, abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido com nove homens que respondiam a processo judicial por violência conjugal junto às 1ª e 2ª Varas de Justiça pela Paz em Casa de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. A pesquisa ocorreu por meio da entrevista semiestruturada, tendo seu conteúdo gravado, transcrito e, em seguida, submetido à validação pelos homens. Os dados foram sistematizados com base nos passos preconizados pela análise de conteúdo temática categorial. Resultados O estudo revela que o afastamento pai-filho em decorrência da medida protetiva de urgência suscita no rompimento do vínculo paterno, fomentando o desenvolvimento de problemas psicoemocionais, como ansiedade, depressão e ideação suicida, muitas vezes somatizados e expressos desde cefaleia até condições que necessitam de cuidados hospitalares. Conclusão O comprometimento do exercício da paternidade viola também o direito de crianças e adolescentes ao convívio com a figura paterna. Deste modo, há grande necessidade de que a Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde dos Homens contemple uma gestão que priorize ações preventivas para a violência, assim como desempenhe acompanhamento psicossocial aos homens.

Resumen Objetivo Revelar el impacto en los hombres del distanciamiento padre-hijo(a) como consecuencia de medidas protectoras por violencia conyugal. Métodos Estudio descriptivo exploratorio, enfoque cualitativo, llevado a cabo con nueve hombres que respondían a juicio por violencia conyugal en el 1º y 2º Juzgado de Justicia por la Paz en Casa de Salvador, estado de Bahia, Brasil. La investigación se realizó a través de encuesta semiestructurada, con grabación y transcripción del contenido, y luego sometido a su validación por los hombres. Los datos fueron sistematizados con base en los pasos preconizados por el análisis de contenido temático de la categoría. Resultados El estudio revela que el distanciamiento padre-hijo como consecuencia de medidas protectoras de urgencia provoca la ruptura del vínculo paterno y fomenta el desarrollo de problemas psicoemocionales, como ansiedad, depresión e ideación suicida, muchas veces somatizados y expresados desde una cefalea hasta condiciones que necesitan cuidados hospitalarios. Conclusión El comprometimiento del ejercicio de la paternidad también viola el derecho de niños y adolescentes a convivir con la figura paterna. De este modo, hay una gran necesidad de que la Política Nacional de Atención Integral a la Salud de los Hombres contemple una gestión que establezca prioridades en acciones preventivas contra la violencia, así como también realice un seguimiento psicosocial de los hombres.

Abstract Objective To unveil the implications for men of father-son estrangement as a result of a protective measure for conjugal violence. Methods This is an exploratory descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, developed with nine men who were responding to a lawsuit for conjugal violence at the 1st and 2nd Courts of Justice of the Peace in Casa de Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The research took place through a semi-structured interview, with its content recorded, transcribed and then submitted for validation by the men. Data were systematized based on the steps recommended by the categorical thematic content analysis. Results The study reveals that the father-son estrangement as a result of an emergency protective measure causes paternal bond rupture, promoting the development of psycho-emotional problems, such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, often somatized and expressed from headache to conditions that require hospital care. Conclusion The commitment to the exercise of paternity also violates the right of children and adolescents to live with their father figure. Thus, there is a great need for the Brazilian National Policy for Comprehensive Care for Men's Health to include a management that prioritizes preventive actions against violence as well as providing psychosocial support to men.

Pollination intensity and paternity in flowering plants.

BACKGROUND: Siring success plays a key role in plant evolution and reproductive ecology, and variation among individuals creates an opportunity for selection to act. Differences in male reproductive success can be caused by processes that occur during two stages, the pollination and post-pollination phases of reproduction. In the pollination phase, heritable variation in floral traits and floral display affect pollinator visitation patterns, which in turn affect variation among plants in the amount of pollen exported and deposited on recipient stigmas. In the post-pollination phase, differences among individuals in pollen grain germination success and pollen tube growth may cause realized paternity to differ from patterns of pollen receipt. The maternal plant can also preferentially provision some developing seeds or fruits to further alter variation in siring success. SCOPE: In this review, we describe studies that advance our understanding of the dynamics of the pollination and post-pollination phases, focusing on how variation in male fitness changes in response to pollen limitation. We then explore the interplay between pollination and post-pollination success, and how these processes respond to ecological factors such as pollination intensity. We also identify pressing questions at the intersection of pollination and paternity and describe novel experimental approaches to elucidate the relative importance of pollination and post-pollination factors in determining male reproductive success. CONCLUSIONS: The relative contribution of pollination and post-pollination processes to variation in male reproductive success may not be constant, but rather may vary with pollination intensity. Studies that quantify the effects of pollination and post-pollination phases in concert will be especially valuable as they will enable researchers to more fully understand the ecological conditions influencing male reproductive success.

Marital status and paternity in patients with Transfusion- Dependent Thalassemia (TDT) and Non Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia (NTDT): an ICET - A survey in different countries.

BACKGROUND: More than five decades ago, thalassemia major (TDT) was fatal in the first decade of life. Survival and quality of life have improved progressively thanks to the implementation of a significant advance in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, consisting mainly of a frequent transfusion program combined with intensive chelation therapy. Improvement also includes imaging methods used to measure liver and cardiac iron overload. Improved survival has led to a growing number of adults requiring specialised care and counselling for specific life events, such as sexual maturity and acquisition of a family. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The main aim is to present the results of a survey on the marital and paternity status in a large population of adult males with TDT and NTDT living in countries with a high prevalence of thalassemia and a review of current literature using a systematic search for published studies. RESULTS: Ten out of 16 Thalassemia Centres (62.5%) of the ICET-A Network, treating a total of 966 male patients, aged above 18 years with ß- thalassemias (738 TDT and 228 NTDT), participated in the study. Of the 966 patients, 240 (24.8%) were married or lived with partners, and 726 (75.2%) unmarried. The mean age at marriage was 29.7 ± 0.3 years. Of 240 patients, 184 (76.6%) had children within the first two years of marriage (2.1 ± 0.1 years, median 2 years, range 1.8 - 2.3 years). The average number of children was 1.32 ± 0.06 (1.27 ± 0.07 in TDT patients and 1.47 ± 0.15 in NTDT patients; p: >0.05). Whatever the modality of conception, 184 patients (76.6%) had one or two children and 1 NTDT patient had 6 children. Nine (4.8%) births were twins. Of 184 patients, 150 (81.5%) had natural conception, 23 (12.5%) required induction of spermatogenesis with gonadotropins (hCG and hMG), 8 (4.3%) needed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and 3 adopted a child. 39 patients with TDT and NTDT asked for medical help as they were unable to father naturally: 7 TDT patients (17.9%) were azoospermic, 17 (37.7%) [13 with TDT and 4 with NTDT] had dysspermia and 15 (33.3%) [13 with TDT and 2 with NTDT] had other "general medical and non-medical conditions". CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides detailed information in a novel area where there are few contemporary data. Understanding the aspects of male reproductive health is important for physicians involved in the care of men with thalassemias to convey the message that prospects for fatherhood are potentially good due to progressive improvements in treatment regimens and supportive care.

Skewed male reproductive success and pollen transfer in a small fragmented population of the heterodichogamous tree Machilus thunbergii.

Heterodichogamy is defined as the presence of two flower morphs that exhibit the male and female functions at different times among individuals within a population. Heterodichogamy is regarded as an adaptation to promote outcrossing through enhanced inter-morph mating, together with a 1:1 morph ratio. However, in highly fragmented populations, the morph ratio may be more likely to be biased by stochastic events. In such a situation, individuals of a minority morph within a population are expected to have higher reproductive success than those of a majority morph, which may suffer from pollen shortages of the minority morph. In this paper, we evaluated mating patterns and male reproductive success in a highly fragmented population of Machilus thunbergii, a putative heterodichogamous evergreen laurel tree. Results of paternity analysis indicated that the selfing rate was not clearly different between the two morphs. In contrast, the proportion of intra-morph mating was higher in the majority-morph (MM) mother trees than in the minority-morph (MF) mother trees. Bayesian estimated male reproductive success indicated that male reproductive success was higher in minority-morph (MF) than in majority-morph (MM) mother trees. These findings indicate that (1) the majority morph mothers, suffering a shortage of the opposite morph pollen, could partly compensate for the reduced reproductive success by intra-morph mating rather than by selfing, and (2) negative-frequency dependent selection may be involved in the maintenance of the two morphs.

The messenger matters: Pollinator functional group influences mating system dynamics.

The incredible diversity of plant mating systems has fuelled research in evolutionary biology for over a century. Currently, there is broad concern about the impact of rapidly changing pollinator communities on plant populations. Very few studies, however, examine patterns and mechanisms associated with multiple paternity from cross-pollen loads. Often, foraging pollinators collect a mixed pollen load that may result in the deposition of pollen from different sires to receptive stigmas. Coincident deposition of self- and cross-pollen leads to interesting mating system dynamics and has been investigated in numerous species. But, mixed pollen loads often consist of a diversity of cross-pollen and result in multiple sires of seeds within a fruit. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Rhodes, Fant, and Skogen () examine how pollinator identity and spatial isolation influence multiple paternity within fruits of a self-incompatible evening primrose. The authors demonstrate that pollen pool diversity varies between two pollinator types, hawkmoths and diurnal solitary bees. Further, progeny from more isolated plants were less likely to have multiple sires regardless of the pollinator type. Moving forward, studies of mating system dynamics should consider the implications of multiple paternity and move beyond the self- and cross-pollination paradigm. Rhodes et al. () demonstrate the importance of understanding the roles that functionally diverse pollinators play in mating system dynamics.

Father involvement and marital relationship during transition to parenthood: differences between dual and single-earner families

Research into the process of becoming mother or father shows very conclusively that this important life transition is accompanied by both a decrease in marital quality and a more traditional division of labour. In this paper these changes are analyzed with special emphasis on the relationships between them and exploring the role played in this process by the mother’s work status. Results showed a significant link between the development of marital quality and violated expectations regarding father involvement on childrearing. Dual-earner families were characterized by a specific pattern of changes, with greater stability than single-earner families in marital and parental roles during transition to parenthood and a significant role played by spouse support as a partner, but not as a parent (AU)

La investigación sobre el proceso de convertirse en madre o en padre muestra, de manera muy concluyente, que esta importante transición evolutiva suele estar caracterizada por un decremento en la calidad de la relación de pareja y por una tradicionalización en la división de las tareas dentro del hogar. En este artículo se analizan ambos tipos de cambios prestando especial atención a la relación entre los mismos, y se explora el papel que juega en ellos el hecho de que la mujer trabaje o no fuera del hogar. Los resultados indican que existe una importante relación entre el desarrollo de la relación de pareja y la violación de expectativas respecto a la implicación del padre en la crianza y el cuidado del bebé. Las parejas en las que ambos miembros trabajan fuera del hogar tienden a estar caracterizadas por una mayor estabilidad en los roles como pareja y como progenitores durante la transición, y por el significativo papel que en este proceso juega el apoyo del cónyuge como pareja y no como progenitor (AU)

Paternal genetic history of the Basque population of Spain.

This study examines the genetic variation in Basque Y chromosome lineages using data on 12 Y-short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a sample of 158 males from four Basque provinces of Spain (Alava, Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa, and Navarre). As reported in previous studies, the Basques are characterized by high frequencies of haplogroup R1b (83%). AMOVA analysis demonstrates genetic homogeneity, with a small but significant amount of genetic structure between provinces (Y-short tandem repeat loci STRs: 1.71%, p = 0.0369). Gene and haplotype diversity levels in the Basque population are on the low end of the European distribution (gene diversity: 0.4268; haplotype diversity: 0.9421). Post-Neolithic contribution to the paternal Basque gene pool was estimated by measuring the proportion of those haplogroups with a Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) previously dated either prior (R1b, I2a2) or subsequent to (E1b1b, G2a, J2a) the Neolithic. Based on these estimates, the Basque provinces show varying degrees of post-Neolithic contribution in the paternal lineages (10.9% in the combined sample).

Reflexões sobre a função paterna no trabalho psicanalítico com crianças / Considerations on father's role in psychoanalytical treatment of children

Importantes reflexões no campo da psicanálise em extensão têm apontado os deslocamentos no lugar conferido ao pai e seus possíveis efeitos nos processos de subjetivação na contemporaneidade. O analista, na sua escuta às crianças, é convocado a pensar nas contingências desta subjetivação e nas suas relações com as construções sintomáticas que tão precocemente se apresentam. No presente artigo, possíveis repercussões psíquicas de impasses relacionados ao pai e às vertentes de sua função foram trabalhadas a partir de fragmentos do percurso analítico de uma criança.

Some important considerations on the psychoanalytical field have pointed to a new role of the father and its possible effects in the subjectivity process taking place in contemporary times. The psychoanalyst, in listening to children, has to approach the contingencies of such subjectivity production as well as its relationship with symptoms which arise in such early age. In the present paper, we develop some possible psychic repercussions of impasses related to the father and his role based on the analytical story of a child.

Paternity testing requested by private parties in Italy: some ethical considerations.

In Italy, judicial and extrajudicial requests for paternity testing have increased in recent years. A retrospective analysis of such private extrajudicial requests received by the legal medicine unit of the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health of Padua University was conducted to identify problem areas most helpful in determining whether to accept private parties' requests for paternity testing. Such testing is most delicate when a presumptive father may be seeking to disown paternity and when testing is wanted without the consent of a member of the mother-child-father triangle. Tests that could establish paternity where none has been recognised are less problematic, as the child will not lose out. Legal and ethical-deontological aspects of consent, of the protection of minors and of children's and parents' need for follow-up interviews to deal with the outcome of such testing are carefully considered by the Padua University team when deciding whether to accept a request for testing. It is argued that because such issues are not dealt with by mail-order laboratories, the use of such services is inappropriate.

DNA-testing for immigration cases: the risk of erroneous conclusions.

Making the correct decision based on results from DNA analyses and other information in family reunification cases can be complicated for a number of reasons. These include stratified populations, cultural differences in family constellations, families with different population origin, and complicated family relations giving complex pedigrees. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of erroneous conclusions in immigration cases and to propose alternative procedures to current methods to reduce the risk of making such errors. A simulation model was used to study different issues. For simplicity, we focus on cases which can be formulated as questions about paternity. We present an overview of error rates (of falsely included men as the true father and of falsely excluded true fathers) for fairly standard computations, and we show how these are affected by different factors. For example, adding more DNA markers to a case will decrease the error rates, as will the inclusion of more children. We found that using inappropriate population frequency databases had just minor effects on the error rates, but the likelihood ratios varied from an underestimation of 100 times up to an overestimation of 100,000 times. To reduce the risk of falsely including a man related to the true father we propose a more refined prior including five hypotheses instead of the two normally used. Simulations showed that this method gave reduced error rates compared with standard computations, even when the prior does not exactly correspond to reality.

Abortion, changed paternity, and risk of preeclampsia in nulliparous women.

A prior birth confers a strong protective effect against preeclampsia, whereas a prior abortion confers a weaker protective effect. Parous women who change partners in a subsequent pregnancy appear to lose the protective effect of a prior birth. This study (Calcium for Preeclampsia Prevention Trial, 1992-1995) examines whether nulliparous women with a prior abortion who change partners also lose the protective effect of the prior pregnancy. A cohort analysis was conducted among participants in this large clinical trial of calcium supplementation to prevent preeclampsia. Subjects were nulliparous, had one prior pregnancy or less, delivered after 20 weeks' gestation, and were interviewed at 5-21 weeks about prior pregnancies and paternity. Women without a history of abortion served as the reference group in logistic regression analyses. Women with a history of abortion who conceived again with the same partner had nearly half the risk of preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio = 0.54, 95 percent confidence interval: 0.31, 0.97). In contrast, women with an abortion history who conceived with a new partner had the same risk of preeclampsia as women without a history of abortion (adjusted odds ratio = 1.03, 95 percent confidence interval: 0.72, 1.47). Thus, the protective effect of a prior abortion operated only among women who conceived again with the same partner. An immune-based etiologic mechanism is proposed, whereby prolonged exposure to fetal antigens from a previous pregnancy protects against preeclampsia in a subsequent pregnancy with the same father.

Population genetic data, comparison of the repeat structure and mutation events of two short STRs.

The short tandem repeat (STR) systems D3S1545 and D7S1517, both small size STRs (fragment lengths <160 bp), were investigated in a population sample of German Caucasoids. New primer sequences more closely flanking the repetitive region were designed for D3S1545. For D3S1545, 7 alleles could be found (heterozygosity 0.68) while 11 alleles could be typed for D7S1517 (heterozygosity 0.83). Additionally, sequencing of selected alleles was carried out to establish the allele nomenclature and to clarify the structure of the tandem repeat arrays. D3S1545 showed a uniform GATA repeat structure but, in contrast, the repeat stretch of D7S1517 showed a compound structure characterised by different numbers of GAAA and CAAA repeats. Two isolated cases of a new mutation could be confirmed for D7S1517. The alleles of these two family constellations were characterised by sequencing and the probable mutational events were demonstrated.

Beyond traditional paternity and identification cases. Selecting the most probable pedigree.

The paper extends on the traditional methodology used to quantify DNA evidence in paternity or identification cases. By extending we imply that there are more than two alternatives to choose between. In a standard paternity case the two competing explanations H(1): "John Doe is the father of the child and H(2): "A random man is the father of the child, are typically considered. A paternity index of 100000 implies that the data is 100000 more likely assuming hypothesis H(1) rather than H(2). If H(2) is replaced by "A brother of John Doe is the father", the LR may change dramatically. The main topic of this paper is to determine the most probable pedigree given a certain set of data including DNA profiles. In the previous example this corresponds to determining the most likely relation between John Doe and the child. Based on DNA obtained from victims of a fire, bodies found in an ancient grave or from individuals seeking to confirm their anticipated family relations, we would like to determine the most probable pedigree. The approach we present provides the possibility to combine non-DNA evidence, say age of individuals, and DNA profiles. The program familias, obtainable as shareware from http://www.nr.no/familias, delivers the probabilities for the various family constellations. More precisely, the information (if any) prior to DNA is combined with the DNA-profiles in a Bayesian manner to deliver the posterior probabilities. We exemplify using the well published Romanov data where the accepted solution emerges among 4536 possibilities considered. Various other applications based on forensic case work are discussed. In addition we have simulated data to resemble an incest case. Since the true family relation is known in this case, we may evaluate the method.

Ancient DNA-typing approaches for the determination of kinship in a disturbed collective burial site.

Several DNA-typing approaches are applied for identification and kinship analysis. Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (STR) typing produces the genetic fingerprint that is unique to an individual. Y-chromosomal STR typing identifies individuals of the same paternal lineage, and sequence analysis of the hypervariable region of the mitochondrion can identify maternally related individuals. The combined approach of these DNA-typing methods allows the determination of kinship even in complex collective burial situations. In a bronze age collective site, the typing methods were tested for applicability to ancient DNA. For each approach, results were obtained, leading to the conclusion that the determination of kinship is achievable.

Paternity and gene dispersal in limber pine (Pinus flexilis James).

This study provides empirical information on intrapopulation gene dispersal via pollen, the size of genetic 'neighbourhoods', and interpopulation gene flow in a long-lived conifer, limber pine (Pinus flexilis). We used allozyme loci for a paternity analysis of 518 seeds produced in an isolated population of limber pine located in north-eastern Colorado, U.S.A., separated by 2 km from the nearest conspecific trees and nearly 100 km from populations in the Rocky Mountains. We also used indirect techniques (FST analyses) to estimate gene flow rates among subdivisions of the study population and among five widely separated populations. Within the main study population limber pine exhibited a polymorphism level of 50%, observed heterozygosity of 0.159, and 2.36 alleles per polymorphic locus. Mountain populations were slightly more variable. The main study population showed significant differentiation in allozymes among neighbouring subpopulations. The mean FST was 0.031 and the gene flow rate among subpopulations was estimated as 7.8 migrants per generation. Among widely separated populations the mean FST was 0.035 and the gene flow rate was estimated as 6.9 migrants per generation. The paternity analysis indicated a best estimate of 6.5% pollen immigration (minimum 1.1%) from populations 2 km to 100+ km away. For 4% of the seeds examined, paternity could be ascribed to a single tree in the study population. Fractional paternity and likelihood methods were used to estimate pollen dispersal distances for the remainder of the seeds. Mean pollen dispersal distance was estimated at 140 m using the fractional method, similar to results from the other techniques. This compares with a mean distance of 172 m between potential mates. These results suggest near-panmictic pollen dispersal over this population, which covers about 15 ha. The observed allozyme differences and surprisingly low estimates of among-subpopulation gene flow are ascribed to a probable restriction of gene dispersal by seeds.

The alloreactivity of human colostral T lymphocytes. II. Specific control of maternal anti-fetal mixed lymphocyte reactivity.

Lymphocytes in human colostrum were examined for evidence of alloreactivity specifically directed against the paternal HLA haplotype. Such reactivity was detected using umbilical cord blood leukocytes as stimulator cells in the mixed lymphocyte reaction, but the responses were reduced when compared to those of the same patient's blood lymphocytes. Analysis of this defect determined that only colostral lymphocyte responses to neonatal alloantigens were impaired and that the phenomenon apparently depended on a non-adherent fetal leukocyte for its expression. Attempts to demonstrate directly colostrum or cord blood-derived cell-mediated suppression failed, and the results suggest that a classical T suppressor cell is probably not involved. These findings indicate that human colostrum contains anti-paternal T cell clones but their reactivity is specifically abrogated when cultured with fetal leukocytes.

Paternidade

A autora comenta que no mundo ocidental ha uma supervalorizacao da maternidade em detrimento da paternidade. Mostra como varios homens de projecao, direta ou indiretamente, sentem necessidade de preencher essa lacuna. Na clinica o fato e evidente ao tratar pacientes idosos. Ilustra seus pontos de vista: a) observando o fato na clinica de orientacao para a infancia; b) cotejando as ultimas palavras proferidas por Cristo na cruz; c) focalizando os trabalhos clinicos de Freud e outros referencias; d) chamando a atencao para seu trabalho sobre o Ego e tambem para o Moises e o Monoteismo, onde mostra claramente, em ambas producoes, que teremos que ir para 'alem do complexo de Edipo'; e) acompanhando, com Sofocles, Edipo de Tebas ate Colona. Conclui sobre a complementariedade do pai e da mae para o nascimento e desenvolvimento do filho.