Repetitive DNAs and chromosome evolution in Megaleporinus obtusidens and M. reinhardti (Characiformes: Anostomidae).

The high dynamism of repetitive DNAs is a major driver of chromosome evolution. In particular, the accumulation of repetitive DNA sequences has been reported as part of the differentiation of sex-specific chromosomes. In turn, the fish species of the genus Megaleporinus are a monophyletic clade in which the presence of differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes represents a synapomorphic condition, thus serving as a suitable model to evaluate the dynamic evolution of repetitive DNA classes. Therefore, transposable elements (TEs) and in tandem repeats were isolated and located on chromosomes of Megaleporinus obtusidens and M. reinhardti to infer their role in chromosome differentiation with emphasis on sex chromosome systems. Despite the conserved karyotype features of both species, the location of repetitive sequences - Rex 1, Rex 3, (TTAGGG)n, (GATA)n, (GA)n, (CA)n, and (A)n - varied both intra and interspecifically, being mainly accumulated in Z and W chromosomes. The physical mapping of repetitive sequences confirmed the remarkable dynamics of repetitive DNA classes on sex chromosomes that might have promoted chromosome diversification and reproductive isolation in Megaleporinus species.

Understanding sexual and reproductive health needs of young women living in Zika affected regions: a qualitative study in northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to Zika's association with microcephaly and other neurological disorders. Brazil was the epicenter of this epidemic and the most affected region has the lowest Human Development Index and the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy. Despite the end of the epidemic, Brazil continues to be the epicenter of Zika illness. This study examined the barriers faced by young women who seek sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care services living in affected areas and their attitudes towards SRH needs and the available services. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 young women, aged 14-24 years in three Zika affected municipalities in the Brazilian Northeast. This qualitative research used thematic analysis for data analysis. RESULTS: Almost half (n = 10) of the participants had their first pregnancy during adolescence (from 12 to 19), all of which were unintended. Lack of information and barriers to access family planning were found to contribute to the unmet need for contraception. Participants reported knowledge gaps about contraception. Zika was not considered a health concern and participants were unaware of the possibility of Zika's sexual transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The young women's knowledge and attitudes towards their SRH needs highlight the barriers to access care. It also implies that comprehensive, biopsychosocial and political, understanding is necessary in order to adequately provide SRH to this population and meet their needs. The government should place women at the center of any public health response to an emergency affecting women of reproductive age and focus on improving access to information and family planning services in a culturally and age appropriate manner.

Engaging Human Rights in the Response to the Evolving Zika Virus Epidemic.

In late 2015, an increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly in poor communities in northeast Brazil prompted investigation of antenatal Zika infection as the cause. Zika now circulates in 69 countries, and has affected pregnancies of women in 29 countries. Public health officials, policymakers, and international organizations are considering interventions to address health consequences of the Zika epidemic. To date, public health responses have focused on mosquito vector eradication, sexual and reproductive health services, knowledge and technology including diagnostic test and vaccine development, and health system preparedness. We summarize responses to date and apply human rights and related principles including nondiscrimination, participation, the legal and policy context, and accountability to identify shortcomings and to offer suggestions for more equitable, effective, and sustainable Zika responses.

Is Nematocharax (Actinopterygii, Characiformes) a monotypic fish genus?

The combination of DNA barcodes and geometric morphometrics is useful to discriminate taxonomically controversial species, providing more precise estimates of biodiversity. Therefore, our goal was to assess the genetic and morphometric diversity in Nematocharax, a controversial monotypic and sexually dimorphic genus of Neotropical fish, based on sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and morphometric analyses in seven populations of N. venustus from coastal rivers in Brazil. The average pairwise intrapopulation divergence in COI ranged from 0 to 2.2%, while the average pairwise interpopulation divergence varied from 0 to 7.5%. The neighbour-joining (NJ) tree resulted in five genetic groups (bootstrap ≥ 97%), which correspond to the five clusters delimited by the BIN System, GMYC, and bPTP, indicating that there might be at least five species (or OTUs) within Nematocharax. Morphometric differences among these genetic lineages were also identified. Apparently, sexual selection, restricted dispersal, and geographic isolation might have acted synergistically to cause the evolutionary split of populations. These data challenge the current view that Nematocharax is a monotypic genus inasmuch as evolutionarily significant units or even distinguished species were identified. Therefore, we recommend that the highly impacted coastal basins in northeastern Brazil should be prioritized in conservation plans.

A unique sex chromosome system in the knifefish Gymnotus bahianus with inferences about chromosomal evolution of Gymnotidae.

Cytogenetic studies in Neotropical electric knifefish of genus Gymnotus have shown a remarkable interspecific variability, including distinct sex chromosome systems. In this study, we present the first chromosomal data in Gymnotus bahianus from Contas River basin, northeastern South America. Based on extensive analyses, the modal diploid values were 2n = 36 (30m/sm + 6st) for females and 2n = 37 (32m/sm + 5st) for males. Therefore, a novel XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system is described for the genus. Single nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) interspersed to GC-rich sites were detected on a subtelocentric pair (7th) for both sexes and confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization with 18S rDNA probes. Heterochromatin was detected at pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes and interspersed to NORs on pair 7 and 5S rDNA cistrons on pair 9. The highly differentiated karyotype of Gymnoytus bahianus, with low diploid numbers and a unique XX/XY1Y2 system, reinforces the independent origin of sex chromosomes in Gymnotiformes and seems to reflect the particular evolutionary history of this species in a small and isolated drainage system. Moreover, in spite of morphological similarities, the present results indicate a remarkable chromosomal divergence in relation to closely related species such as G. sylvius and G. carapo.

Conscientious objection, barriers, and abortion in the case of rape: a study among physicians in Brazil.

In Brazil, to have a legal abortion in the case of rape, the woman's statement that rape has occurred is considered sufficient to guarantee the right to abortion. The aim of this study was to understand the practice and opinions about providing abortion in the case of rape among obstetricians-gynecologists (OBGYNs) in Brazil. A mixed-method study was conducted from April to July 2012 with 1,690 OBGYNs who responded to a structured, electronic, self-completed questionnaire. In the quantitative phase, 81.6% of the physicians required police reports or judicial authorization to guarantee the care requested. In-depth telephone interviews with 50 of these physicians showed that they frequently tested women's rape claim by making them repeat their story to several health professionals; 43.5% of these claimed conscientious objection when they were uncertain whether the woman was telling the truth. The moral environment of illegal abortion alters the purpose of listening to a patient - from providing care to passing judgement on her. The data suggest that women's access to legal abortion is being blocked by these barriers in spite of the law. We recommend that FEBRASGO and the Ministry of Health work together to clarify to physicians that a woman's statement that rape occurred should allow her to access a legal abortion.

Genetic identification of bucktooth parrotfish Sparisoma radians (Valenciennes, 1840) (Labridae, Scarinae) by chromosomal and molecular markers.

Parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) comprise a large marine fish group of difficult identification, particularly during juvenile phase when the typical morphology and coloration of adults are absent. Therefore, the goal of this study was to test cytogenetic markers and DNA barcoding in the identification of bucktooth parrtotfish Sparisoma radians from the northeastern coast of Brazil. Sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) confirmed all studied samples as S. radians, and all showed high similarity (99-100%) with Caribbean populations. The karyotype of this species was divergent from most marine Perciformes, being composed of 2n = 46 chromosomes. These consisted of a large number of metacentric and submetacentric pairs with small amounts of heterochromatin and GC-rich single nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) not syntenic to 5S rDNA clusters. These are the first data about DNA barcoding in parrotfish from the Brazilian province and the first refined chromosomal analysis in Scarinae, providing useful data to a reliable genetic identification of S. radians.

National Abortion Survey - Brazil, 2021.

The National Abortion Survey 2021 (PNA 2021) utilized face-to-face structured interviews and a self-administered questionnaire placed in a sealed box to collect data on abortions in Brazil. Interviews were held with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 women, randomly selected from among literate women ages 18 to 39 residing in urban areas. We compared some of the results with previous waves of the survey, PNA 2010 and PNA 2016. Findings show that abortion is in decline but remains a major public health issue. Around 10% of the women interviewed in 2021 said they had had at least one abortion in their lives (compared to 15% in 2010). We estimate that nearly one in every seven women (15%) have had an abortion by the age of 40. We identified a decline in the proportion of women who needed to be hospitalized to finalize their abortions (55% in 2010; 43% in 2021; p = 0.003) and in the proportion of women who used medication for the abortion (48% in 2010; 39% in 2021; p = 0.028). Abortion is an event that generally happens early on in women's reproductive lives: the PNA 2021 found that 52% of women were 19 years old or younger when they had their first abortion. Higher rates were detected among respondents with lower educational levels, Black and Indigenous women, and women residing in poorer regions.

Abortion and race in Brazil, National Abortion Surveys 2016 to 2021. / Aborto e raça no Brasil, Pesquisa Nacional de Aborto 2016 a 2021.

We examine racial differentials in abortion among women in Brazil using data from three editions of the Brazilian National Abortion Survey (PNA), 2016, 2019 and 2021. We test the difference in means in data from separate surveys, combined surveys without reweighting, and combined and reweighted surveys. We also use logistic models for the chance of having an abortion. The results indicate that there is a consistent racial differential in the three editions of PNA, with the percentage of abortions among Black women being higher than among white women. In the combined and reweighted surveys, among Black women of all ages the probability of having had an abortion is 11.03% while among white women it is 7.55%. This means a difference of 3.5 percentage points, which translates into a 46% higher probability for Black women, statistically significant values for a 5% interval. Logistic regressions produce similar results, with an average predicted probability of 12.61% for Black women and 8.90% for white women, also significant. Racial differences remain statistically significant for various combinations of PNA editions. However, in the separate surveys, the difference in means tests are only statistically significant in 2016. Black refers to the group formed by Black and Brown women (pretas and pardas). Due to the small sample size, it is not possible to say much about the differences with Asian and Indigenous women.

Examinamos a realização do aborto segundo cor ou raça das mulheres no Brasil usando dados de três edições da PNA, 2016, 2019 e 2021. Comparamos diferenciais raciais aplicando testes de diferenças de médias a dados de levantamentos separados, levantamentos combinados sem reponderação, e levantamentos combinados e reponderados. Na comparação usamos ainda modelos logísticos para a chance de realização de aborto. Os resultados indicam que há diferencial racial consistente nas três edições da PNA, com os percentuais de aborto entre as mulheres negras sendo mais elevados do que entre as mulheres brancas. Nos levantamentos combinados e reponderados, entre as mulheres negras de todas as idades a probabilidade de ter feito um aborto é de 11,03% enquanto entre as mulheres brancas é de 7,55%. Isso significa uma diferença de 3,5 pontos percentuais, que se traduz em uma probabilidade 46% maior para as negras, valores estatisticamente significantes para um intervalo de 5%. Regressões logísticas produzem resultados similares, com probabilidade média predita das mulheres negras de 12,61% e das mulheres brancas de 8,90%, também significantes. As diferenças raciais persistem estatisticamente significantes para várias combinações de edições da PNA. Porém, nos levantamentos isolados os testes de diferenças de média são estatisticamente significantes apenas em 2016.