Central African dwarf crocodiles found in syntopy are comparably divergent to South American dwarf caimans.

Recent molecular taxonomic advancements have expanded our understanding of crocodylian diversity, revealing the existence of previously overlooked species, including the Congo dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus osborni) in the central Congo Basin rainforests. This study explores the genomic divergence between O. osborni and its better-known relative, the true dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), shedding light on their evolutionary history. Field research conducted in the northwestern Republic of the Congo uncovered a locality where both species coexist in sympatry/syntopy. Genomic analysis of sympatric individuals reveals a level of divergence comparable to that between ecologically similar South American dwarf caimans (Paleosuchus palpebrosus and Paleosuchus trigonatus), suggesting parallel speciation in the Afrotropics and Neotropics during the Middle to Late Miocene, 10-12 Ma. Comparison of the sympatric and allopatric dwarf crocodiles indicates no gene flow between the analysed sympatric individuals of O. osborni and O. tetraspis. However, a larger sample will be required to answer the question of whether or to what extent these species hybridize. This study emphasizes the need for further research on the biology and conservation status of the Congo dwarf crocodile, highlighting its significance in the unique biodiversity of the Congolian rainforests and thus its potential as a flagship species.

Growth patterns of normo-nourished Afghan, Haitian and Congolese children aged 6-59 months: A comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: International growth charts have been used in the past decades to identify atypical growth and diagnose the nutritional status of individuals. The aim of this study was to construct and compare growth patterns of normo-nourished children between 6-59 months from Afghanistan, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to assess if it would be worth developing growth charts at a national level. METHODS: We used an international sample of 46 466 subjects (53.7% female; 46.3% male) from the aforementioned regions. To create the growth charts, we used different statistical methodologies: the Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS), LMSP, and LMST models, and regression models based on fractional polynomials. The LMSP models were the ones that fitted our data best and were therefore the ones used to make comparisons between countries using percentiles (3rd, 50th, and 97th). RESULTS: We found that Haitian children were both, taller and heavier than their Afghan and Congolese equals of the same ages. Moreover, differences were bigger in the highest percentiles (i.e., 97th percentile). These differences might be the result of the influence that genetics and diverse social and environmental contexts have on growth rates. CONCLUSIONS: Using the same international reference standards for all populations could result in the overestimation or underestimation of the proportion of malnourished children. In light of our results, we recommend the future development of national and regional growth charts to provide health workers with more precise tools to evaluate the nutritional status in the child population.

Assessment of biofilms formation of bacterial and fungal isolates using qualitative Congo red agar and semiquantitative crystal violet microtiter methods / Evaluación de la formación de biopelículas en aislamientos bacterianos y fúngicos por el método semicuantitativo de microtitulación con cristal violeta y el cualitativo de agar con rojo Congo

Introduction. Sixty-five percent of human infections are caused by bacteria or yeasts able to form biofilms. This feature makes them more resistant to antimicrobials and antifungals. Objective. To determine biofilm formation capacity of bacterial and fungal isolates by quantitative crystal violet microtiter and qualitative Congo red agar methods. Materials and methods. Brain-heart infusion, trypticase soy broth and Müeller­Hinton culture media were used in bacterial isolates for the quantitative method; brain-heart infusion broth and Sabouraud dextrose were used for yeasts. The same culture media plus 3% Congo red and 10% dextrose were used to apply the qualitative method in agar. The proposal by Stepanovic, et al. was used as a reference method. Results. We evaluated 103 bacterial isolates and 108 yeasts isolates. We did not recommend substitute brain-heart infusion broth for trypticase soy and Müeller-Hinton broths for biofilm formation assessment in bacterial isolates using the quantitative method. Sabouraud dextrose medium, both broth and agar, can replace brain-heart infusion to assess biofilm formation in yeasts, quantitatively and qualitatively. Conclusion. The study of biofilms in the microbiology laboratory, using Congo red agar qualitative method, is a simple, fast, and inexpensive procedure that provides precise information for the diagnosis and treatment of persistent infections caused by bacteria and yeasts.

Introducción. El 65 % de las infecciones humanas son producidas por bacterias o levaduras, cuya capacidad de formar biopelículas las hace más resistentes a los antimicrobianos y antifúngicos. Objetivo. Determinar la capacidad de formación de biopelículas en aislamientos bacterianos y fúngicos por medio de los métodos cuantitativo de microtitulación con cristal violeta y cualitativo de cultivo en agar con rojo Congo. Materiales y métodos. Con el método cuantitativo, se utilizaron los medios de cultivo infusión cerebro-corazón, tripticasa de soya y Müeller-Hinton para aislamientos bacterianos; para levaduras, se usaron caldo infusión cerebro-corazón y Sabouraud dextrosa. Para el método cualitativo de cultivo en agar, se utilizaron los mismos medios de cultivo más una solución con 3 % de rojo Congo y 10 % de dextrosa. Cómo método de referencia, se utilizó la propuesta de Stepanovic et al. Resultados. Se evaluaron 103 aislamientos bacterianos y 108 de levaduras. No es recomendable sustituir el caldo infusión cerebro-corazón por los caldos tripticasa de soya y Müeller-Hinton en el método cuantitativo, para evaluar la formación de biopelículas en los aislamientos bacterianos. El medio Sabouraud dextrosa, en caldo y agar, puede sustituir al de infusión de cerebro-corazón para evaluar la formación de biopelículas en levaduras, tanto por el método cuantitativo como por el cualitativo. Conclusión. El estudio de las biopelículas en el laboratorio de microbiología, a partir del método cualitativo de cultivo en agar con rojo Congo, es un procedimiento sencillo, rápido y de bajo costo, que proporciona información útil para el diagnóstico y la terapéutica de infecciones persistentes causadas por bacterias y levaduras.

Case-area targeted preventive interventions to interrupt cholera transmission: Current implementation practices and lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: Cholera is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in low-resource and humanitarian settings. It is transmitted by fecal-oral route, and the infection risk is higher to those living in and near cholera cases. Rapid identification of cholera cases and implementation of measures to prevent subsequent transmission around cases may be an efficient strategy to reduce the size and scale of cholera outbreaks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: We investigated implementation of cholera case-area targeted interventions (CATIs) using systematic reviews and case studies. We identified 11 peer-reviewed and eight grey literature articles documenting CATIs and completed 30 key informant interviews in case studies in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. We documented 15 outbreaks in 12 countries where CATIs were used. The team composition and the interventions varied, with water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions implemented more commonly than those of health. Alert systems triggering interventions were diverse ranging from suspected cholera cases to culture confirmed cases. Selection of high-risk households around the case household was inconsistent and ranged from only one case to approximately 100 surrounding households with different methods of selecting them. Coordination among actors and integration between sectors were consistently reported as challenging. Delays in sharing case information impeded rapid implementation of this approach, while evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions varied. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: CATIs appear effective in reducing cholera outbreaks, but there is limited and context specific evidence of their effectiveness in reducing the incidence of cholera cases and lack of guidance for their consistent implementation. We propose to 1) use uniform cholera case definitions considering a local capacity to trigger alert; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of individual or sets of interventions to interrupt cholera, and establish a set of evidence-based interventions; 3) establish criteria to select high-risk households; and 4) improve coordination and data sharing amongst actors and facilitate integration among sectors to strengthen CATI approaches in cholera outbreaks.

Child Mouthing of Feces and Fomites and Animal Contact are Associated with Diarrhea and Impaired Growth Among Young Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort Study (REDUCE Program).

OBJECTIVE: To identify exposure pathways to fecal pathogens that are significant contributors to diarrheal diseases and impaired growth in young children, and to evaluate scalable interventions to reduce fecal contamination from these pathways. STUDY DESIGN: Reducing Enteropathy, Undernutrition, and Contamination in the Environment (REDUCE) was a prospective cohort study of 370 children <5 years of age was conducted in Walungu Territory, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Child mouthing behaviors were assessed through caregiver reports and 5-hour structured observations. Caregiver reports of child contact with animals and child diarrhea were also obtained. Anthropometric measurements were collected at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Children observed putting soil in their mouth during structured observation at baseline had a significantly higher odds of diarrhea at the 6-month follow-up (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.07). Children observed mouthing feces during structured observation had a significant reduction in height-for-age z-score (HAZ) from baseline to the 6-month follow-up (ΔHAZ, -0.69; 95% CI, -1.34 to -0.04). A significant reduction in HAZ was also observed for children with caregiver reports of touching guinea pigs (-0.33; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.08) and rabbits (-0.34; 95% CI, -0.64 to -0.04) and children with feces in their sleeping space during unannounced spot checks (-0.41; 95% CI, -0.74 to -0.09). CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the urgent need for infant water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions targeting child mouthing behaviors, fecal contamination in child living spaces, and child contact with domestic animals to reduce exposure to fecal pathogens among susceptible populations.

Frequency and correlates of anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income countries: A multinational study.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have documented the significant direct and indirect psychological, social, and economic consequences of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in many countries but little is known on its impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) already facing difficult living conditions and having vulnerable health systems that create anxiety among the affected populations. Using a multinational convenience sample from four LMICs (DR Congo, Haiti, Rwanda, and Togo), this study aims to explore the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and associated risk and protective factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 1267 individuals (40.8% of women) completed a questionnaire assessing exposure and stigmatization related to COVID-19, anxiety, and resilience. Analyses were performed to examine the prevalence and predictors of anxiety. RESULTS: Findings showed a pooled prevalence of 24.3% (9.4%, 29.2%, 28.5%, and 16.5% respectively for Togo, Haiti, RDC, and Rwanda, x2 = 32.6, p < .0001). For the pooled data, exposure to COVID-19 (ß = 0.06, p = .005), stigmatization related to COVID-19 (ß = 0.03, p < .001), and resilience (ß = -0.06, p < .001) contributed to the prediction of anxiety scores. Stigmatization related to COVID-19 was significantly associated to anxiety symptoms in all countries (ß = 0.02, p < .00; ß = 0.05, p = .013; ß = 0.03, p = .021; ß = 0.04, p < .001, respectively for the RDC, Rwanda, Haiti, and Togo). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need for health education programs in LMICs to decrease stigmatization and the related fears and anxieties, and increase observance of health instructions. Strength-based mental health programs based on cultural and contextual factors need to be developed to reinforce both individual and community resilience and to address the complexities of local eco-systems.

Predictive Modeling for Perinatal Mortality in Resource-Limited Settings.

Importance: The overwhelming majority of fetal and neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Fetal and neonatal risk assessment tools may be useful to predict the risk of death. Objective: To develop risk prediction models for intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal death. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used data from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research population-based vital registry, including clinical sites in South Asia (India and Pakistan), Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Kenya), and Latin America (Guatemala). A total of 502 648 pregnancies were prospectively enrolled in the registry. Exposures: Risk factors were added sequentially into the data set in 4 scenarios: (1) prenatal, (2) predelivery, (3) delivery and day 1, and (4) postdelivery through day 2. Main Outcomes and Measures: Data sets were randomly divided into 10 groups of 3 analysis data sets including training (60%), test (20%), and validation (20%). Conventional and advanced machine learning modeling techniques were applied to assess predictive abilities using area under the curve (AUC) for intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal mortality. Results: All prenatal and predelivery models had predictive accuracy for both intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal mortality with AUC values 0.71 or less. Five of 6 models for neonatal mortality based on delivery/day 1 and postdelivery/day 2 had increased predictive accuracy with AUC values greater than 0.80. Birth weight was the most important predictor for neonatal death in both postdelivery scenarios with independent predictive ability with AUC values of 0.78 and 0.76, respectively. The addition of 4 other top predictors increased AUC to 0.83 and 0.87 for the postdelivery scenarios, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Models based on prenatal or predelivery data had predictive accuracy for intrapartum stillbirths and neonatal mortality of AUC values 0.71 or less. Models that incorporated delivery data had good predictive accuracy for risk of neonatal mortality. Birth weight was the most important predictor for neonatal mortality.

The role of smoke from cooking indoors over an open flame and parental smoking on the risk of cleft lip and palate: A case- control study in 7 low-resource countries.

BACKGROUND: Cleft is one of the most common birth defects globally and the lack of access to surgery means millions are living untreated. Smoke exposure from cooking occurs infrequently in developed countries but represents a high-proportion of smoke exposure in less-developed regions. We aimed to study if smoke exposure from cooking is associated with an increased risk in cleft, while accounting for other smoke sources. METHODS: We conducted a population-sampled case-control study of children with cleft lip and/or palate and healthy newborns from Vietnam, Philippines, Honduras, Nicaragua, Morocco, Congo, and Madagascar. Multivariable regression models were used to assess associations between maternal cooking during pregnancy, parental smoking, and household tobacco smoke with cleft. RESULTS: 2137 cases and 2014 controls recruited between 2012-2017 were included. While maternal smoking was uncommon (<1%), 58.3% case and 36.1% control mothers cooked over an open fire inside. Children whose mothers reported cook smoke exposure were 49% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-1.8) more likely to have a child with a cleft. This was consistent in five of seven countries. No significant associations were found for any other smoke exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding of maternal cook smoke and cleft in low-resource countries, similar to maternal tobacco smoke in high-resource countries, may reflect a common etiology. This relationship was present across geographically diverse countries with variable socioeconomic statuses and access to care. Exposures specific to low-resource settings must be considered to develop public health strategies that address the populations at increased risk of living with cleft and inform the mechanisms leading to cleft development.

Household spraying in cholera outbreaks: Insights from three exploratory, mixed-methods field effectiveness evaluations.

Household spraying is a commonly implemented, yet an under-researched, cholera response intervention where a response team sprays surfaces in cholera patients' houses with chlorine. We conducted mixed-methods evaluations of three household spraying programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti, including 18 key informant interviews, 14 household surveys and observations, and 418 surface samples collected before spraying, 30 minutes and 24 hours after spraying. The surfaces consistently most contaminated with Vibrio cholerae were food preparation areas, near the patient's bed and the latrine. Effectiveness varied between programs, with statistically significant reductions in V. cholerae concentrations 30 minutes after spraying in two programs. Surface contamination after 24 hours was variable between households and programs. Program challenges included difficulty locating households, transportation and funding limitations, and reaching households quickly after case presentation (disinfection occurred 2-6 days after reported cholera onset). Program advantages included the concurrent deployment of hygiene promotion activities. Further research is indicated on perception, recontamination, cost-effectiveness, viable but nonculturable V. cholerae, and epidemiological coverage. We recommend that, if spraying is implemented, spraying agents should: disinfect surfaces systematically until wet using 0.2/2.0% chlorine solution, including kitchen spaces, patients' beds, and latrines; arrive at households quickly; and, concurrently deploy hygiene promotion activities.

Association between the spread of COVID-19 and weather-climatic parameters.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the climate has played a role in the COVID-19 outbreak, we compared virus lethality in countries closer to the Equator with others. Lethality in European territories and in territories of some nations with a non-temperate climate was also compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lethality was calculated as the rate of deaths in a determinate moment from the outbreak of the pandemic out of the total of identified positives for COVID-19 in a given area/nation, based on the COVID-John Hopkins University website. Lethality of countries located within the 5th parallels North/South on 6 April and 6 May 2020, was compared with that of all the other countries. Lethality in the European areas of The Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom was also compared to the territories of the same nations in areas with a non-temperate climate. RESULTS: A lower lethality rate of COVID-19 was found in Equatorial countries both on April 6 (OR=0.72 CI 95% 0.66-0.80) and on May 6 (OR=0.48, CI 95% 0.47-0.51), with a strengthening over time of the protective effect. A trend of higher risk in European vs. non-temperate areas was found on April 6, but a clear difference was evident one month later: France (OR=0.13, CI 95% 0.10-0.18), The Netherlands (OR=0.5, CI 95% 0.3-0.9) and the UK (OR=0.2, CI 95% 0.01-0.51). This result does not seem to be totally related to the differences in age distribution of different sites. CONCLUSIONS: The study does not seem to exclude that the lethality of COVID-19 may be climate sensitive. Future studies will have to confirm these clues, due to potential confounding factors, such as pollution, population age, and exposure to malaria.

Review of Lepidocyrtinus Börner, 1903 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae): the African species.

Herein Lepidocyrtinus Börner is reviewed based on African species and a new diagnosis to the genus is provided, including the description of intermediary stages of two species and a proposal for the interpretation of the dorsal chaetotaxy based in juveniles. In total, 17 species previously assigned as Seira Lubbock are transferred to Lepidocyrtinus, and three of them are redescribed: L. barnardi Womersley and L. dayi Yosii from South Africa, and L. voeltzkowi (Börner) from Madagascar. Neotypes are designated for these last two species. In addition, nine new species are described from Africa: one from Botswana, two from Republic of the Congo, two from South Africa, and four from Madagascar. Finally, identification keys for the current genera of Seirinae and for the African species of Lepidocyrtinus are provided. After our revision, Lepidocyrtinus has now its generic status revalidated with 36 species, 29 of them from African continent, two from Oceania and five from Brazil.

[Coming from Afar and Rediscovering Oneself: Group Intervention for Immigrant and Refugee Women Having Experienced Violence]. / Venir de loin et se retrouver : intervention de groupe pour femmes immigrantes et réfugiées ayant vécu la violence.

Objectives This paper has a clinical perspective and presents an innovative intervention that could be offered in different institutions and practice environments. The object here is a group intervention addressed specifically to immigrant and refugee women having experienced different forms of violence. The consequences of being exposed to intentional and dehumanizing violence, paired with the challenges associated with migration and forced exile, can fragilize the individuals and challenge their capacity to adapt. Even though psychological and psychosocial support in the years following their arrival could be beneficial, immigrants and refugees rarely use institutional services, and experts point out that the services are not tailored to them. In that respect stems the importance of promoting the development of more meaningful interventions for immigrants and refugees, in accordance with the principle of equity and equality of chances to have access to appropriate services, but also to better equip the specialists by giving them access to safe and culturally sensitive interventions. Following that perspective, a group intervention for immigrants and refugees having experienced violence was created in 2010 with the collaboration of researchers from l'IUPLSSS and social workers from CIUSSS de l'Estrie-Chus. Method Firstly, this article aims to present this group intervention. Innovative features of the proposed program will be highlighted, followed by an overview of the clinical and empirical supports that recommend the use of groups and art to intervene with immigrants and refugees. A more detailed description of the intervention will follow, describing the objectives of the intervention as well as the intervention framework, including some necessary components to assure the therapeutic reach of the groups and the establishment of a safe space. Secondly, the article presents a brief summary of the preliminary results of a current study aiming to evaluate the impacts of the intervention. During this study, qualitative and quantitative data was collected from 3 groups (n = 17) and analyzed with content analysis and non-parametric analyses to measure the changes between pre and post intervention. Results The results of the qualitative and quantitative analyses show that women report positive changes at the end of the group, namely in regard to post-traumatic stress symptoms and different dimensions of their well-being. Conclusion To conclude, the advantages and limits of this intervention will be discussed, but also its relevance for the practice environments. Even if it isn't the only answer for the intervention in a post-violence context, it consists of a good option for providing adapted services to the reality and needs of immigrants and refugees.

Six new species of Stenometopiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with redescription of additional species and new distributional records.

Six new species of Stenometopiini are described: Stirellus paracatalinus sp. nov. from Mexico, Stirellus lesioensis sp. nov. from Republic of Congo, Stirellus paralesioensis sp. nov. from South Africa, Stirellus kitwensis sp. nov. from Zambia, Stirellus madagascarensis sp. nov. from Madagascar, and Stirellus petfordensis sp. nov. from Australia. Ten species are redescribed: Kinonia elongata Ball, Stirellus catalinus (Beamer Tuthill), Stirellus labiatus (Gillette), Stirellus mexicanus (Osborn Ball), Stirellus picinus (Berg), Stirellus laetus (Melichar), Stirellus multipunctatus Duan, Webb Zhang, Stirellus neospeciosus Duan, Webb Zhang, Stirellus rubrolineatus (Distant), and Stirellus sagittarius (Naudé). Kinonia elongata Ball, S. catalinus (Beamer Tuthill) and S. labiatus (Gillette), all described from the Southwestern USA, are recorded from Mexico for the first time. Stirellus picinus (Berg) is recorded from the Virgin Islands (Guana Island) for the first time. Stirellus laetus (Melichar), S. multipunctatus Duan, Webb Zhang, S. neospeciosus Duan, Webb Zhang, and S. rubrolineatus (Distant) are recorded from Thailand for the first time.

Narrativas femininas e saúde mental: a saída da República Democrática do Congo e o refúgio no Rio de Janeiro / Female narratives and mental health: the departure from Democratic Republic of Congo and the refuge in Rio de Janeiro

O objetivo central desta dissertação é refletir sobre o processo de refúgio e a relação deste com a saúde mental de mulheres naturais da República Democrática do Congo (RDC), residentes no Rio de Janeiro. Essa dissertação foi realizada a partir de um estudo qualitativo, de abordagem etnográfica, composto por observação participante e entrevistas, realizado em uma instituição de acolhimento a esta população - a Caritas RJ. A partir das falas dessas mulheres, este trabalho traz ponderações sobre como o Brasil que, até o momento, detém uma legislação favorável à questão do refúgio (lei 9.474 de 1997), na realidade, não apresenta providências de acordo com o que se comprometeu e contribui para a manutenção de vulnerabilidades. Ao analisar as trajetórias das mulheres negras, congolesas, refugiadas em território nacional, me apoio nos conceitos de precarização da vida e sofrimento social, para associar os contextos de violência persistentes e suas interferências em quadros mentais. Neste sentido, foi possível notar a ampla capacidade de resiliência apresentada por elas e sua relação com a religião e a cultura. Entre os adoecimentos, foi observado maior presença de quadros de natureza somatoforme, ansiosa e depressiva (Transtornos Mentais Comuns - TMC). Diante deste contexto, as propostas da Saúde Mental Global (SMG), com tratamentos baseados em evidências e particularizados entre diferentes culturas, podem beneficiar esse grupo

The main goal of this dissertation is to reflect on the refugee process and the relationship between it and the mental health of women from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) residing at Rio de Janeiro. This is a qualitative study with an ethnographic approach composed of participant observation and interviews, performed at a host institution for this population - Caritas RJ. Based on the statements of these women, this work brings forward considerations about how Brazil, which until now has legislation favorable to the issue of refuge (Law 9.474 of 1997), in fact, does not present provisions according to what it has committed and contributes to the maintenance of vulnerabilities. In analyzing the trajectories of black Congolese women refugees in the national territory, I use as a theoretical base the concepts of precariousness of life and social suffering in order to associate persistent contexts of violence and their interference in mental conditions. In this sense, it was possible to note the wide capacity of resilience presented by them and their relation to religion and culture. Among the diseases, there was a greater presence of somatoform, anxious and depressive conditions (Common Mental Disorders - CMD). Given this context, Global Mental Health (MCH) proposals with evidence-based and individualized treatments among different cultures may benefit this group

Immigrant grandmothers' and mothers-in-law's cancer literacy within their family context.

Data from focus groups held in Montréal (Canada) with 13 women born in Cameroon, Colombia, and Democratic Republic of Congo were used to explore cancer knowledge among immigrant grandmothers and mothers-in-law and their influence over family cancer-preventative practices. Thematic analysis identified the following leading themes: cancer literacy and influence over family cancer preventative and early detection practices, cancer literacy in relation to family health behaviors, and barriers to accessing health services. Perceived external causes of cancer and its prevention are countered by healthy eating and exercises. Cancer literacy was contextualized by the development of women's ways of being and doing.

Web-Based Quality Assurance Process Drives Improvements in Obstetric Ultrasound in 5 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

High quality is important in medical imaging, yet in many geographic areas, highly skilled sonographers are in short supply. Advances in Internet capacity along with the development of reliable portable ultrasounds have created an opportunity to provide centralized remote quality assurance (QA) for ultrasound exams performed at rural sites worldwide. We sought to harness these advances by developing a web-based tool to facilitate QA activities for newly trained sonographers who were taking part in a cluster randomized trial investigating the role of limited obstetric ultrasound to improve pregnancy outcomes in 5 low- and middle-income countries. We were challenged by connectivity issues, by country-specific needs for website usability, and by the overall need for a high-throughput system. After systematically addressing these needs, the resulting QA website helped drive ultrasound quality improvement across all 5 countries. It now offers the potential for adoption by future ultrasound- or imaging-based global health initiatives.

Palenque de San Basilio in Colombia: genetic data support an oral history of a paternal ancestry in Congo.

The Palenque, a black community in rural Colombia, have an oral history of fugitive African slaves founding a free village near Cartagena in the seventeenth century. Recently, linguists have identified some 200 words in regular use that originate in a Kikongo language, with Yombe, mainly spoken in the Congo region, being the most likely source. The non-recombining portion of the Y chromosome (NRY) and mitochondrial DNA were analysed to establish whether there was greater similarity between present-day members of the Palenque and Yombe than between the Palenque and 42 other African groups (for all individuals,n= 2799) from which forced slaves might have been taken. NRY data are consistent with the linguistic evidence that Yombe is the most likely group from which the original male settlers of Palenque came. Mitochondrial DNA data suggested substantial maternal sub-Saharan African ancestry and a strong founder effect but did not associate Palenque with any particular African group. In addition, based on cultural data including inhabitants' claims of linguistic differences, it has been hypothesized that the two districts of the village (Abajo and Arriba) have different origins, with Arriba founded by men originating in Congo and Abajo by those born in Colombia. Although significant genetic structuring distinguished the two from each other, no supporting evidence for this hypothesis was found.