A multi-year analysis of kangaroo mother care outcomes in low birth weight babies at a Nyakahanga Hospital in rural Tanzania

Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) requires few specialized resources, reduces mortality, and can be implemented in low resource environments. It is now recommended for implementation around the globe. Objectives: This paper discusses KMC use with low birth weight newborns at a Tanzania hospital providing valuable outcomes assessment of KMC use in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: The research used retrospective records (136 Low Birth Weight (LBW) and 33 Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) ne- onates) supplemented by observations. Data included weights (longitudinal), survival period, and cause of death if it occurred. This hospital’s KMC use and study data began when the mother-baby dyad was referred, usually birth day. Results: This KMC group demonstrated 70% survival, but 77% of deaths occur within 24 hours. After the first 24 hours, KMC survival rate was 92%. Even VLBW neonates (<1000 g) had 37.5% survival among the KMC program. Prematurity and respi- ratory distress caused nearly half of the deaths, but hypothermia (19% of deaths) and infection were factors also. Conclusion: Our study indicates the value of KMC in rural low resource environments. Results are comparable to KMC pro- grams in urban areas where newborns begin KMC after stabilization and better than outcomes reported for comparable popu- lations not practicing KMC in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Kangaroo mother care; low birth weight; neonatal mortality; premature infant.

Investigating alexithymia in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:New research suggests that, rather than representing a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional processing difficulties reflect co-occurring alexithymia. Autistic individuals with alexithymia could therefore represent a specific subgroup of autism who may benefit from tailored interventions. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the nature and prevalence of alexithymia in autism using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS).Methods:Online scientific databases were searched systematically for studies on ASD popu lations using the TAS. Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate differences in scores between the ASD and neurotypical groups, and to determine the prevalence of alexithymia in these populations.Results:15 articles comparing autistic and neurotypical (NT) groups were identified. Autistic people scored significantly higher on all scores compared to the NT group. There was also a higher prevalence of alexithymia in the ASD group (49.93% compared to 4.89%), with a significantly increased risk of alexithymia in autistic participants.Conclusions:This review highlights that alexithymia is common, rather than universal, in ASD, supporting a growing body of evidence that co-occurring autism and alexithymia represents a specific subgroup in the ASD population that may have specific clinical needs. More research is needed to understand the nature and implications of co-occurring ASD and alexithymia.

USAGES TRADITIONNELS ET VALEUR ÉCONOMIQUE DE SYNSEPALUM DULCIFICUM AU SUD-BÉNIN

Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn. Daniell) est un arbuste originaire de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, inscrit sur la liste des espèces vulnérables de l’UICN. Au Bénin, son importance pour les popu- lations locales reste peu documentée. L’étude avait pour objectif d’évaluer les connaissances endogènes, la valeur d’usage et l’importance économique de l’espèce pour les populations locales. Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques et éco- nomiques ont été conduites auprès de 606 personnes réparties dans 13 groupes socioculturels du Sud-Bénin. Des para- mètres ethnobotaniques (fréquence de citation, valeur d’usage ethnobotanique) et économique (revenu moyen réalisé) ont été calculés, et leur significativité éprou- vée par l’ajustement de modèles linéaires généralisés et le test de Kruskal et Wallis. Les résultats ont montré que S. dulcificum était bien connu des populations locales du Sud-Bénin (100 % des enquêtés), qui le cultivaient notamment dans les jardins de case. Toutes les parties de la plante étaient utilisées à des fins médicinales, alimentaires et spirituelles. Les connais- sances et la valeur d’usage de la plante variaient entre les groupes socioculturels du Sud-Bénin, avec un gradient décrois- sant Est-Ouest. Les connaissances et la valeur d’usage variaient suivant le sexe, l’âge et le domaine d’activité, les connais- sances étant concentrées au niveau des hommes, des adultes et personnes âgées, et des praticiens de la médecine tradition- nelle. L’évaluation économique a révélé un circuit de commercialisation relativement court. Le faible revenu moyen réalisé sur la vente des fruits (environ 28 USD par an et par commerçant) illustre la faible valeur économique de l’espèce qui constitue une ressource de subsistance en déclin. La conservation et la valorisation optimale de l’espèce nécessiteront des investigations sur les plans nutritionnel, phytochimique et pharmaceutique, phénologique, mor- phologique et génétique, le développe- ment d’une sylviculture, l’intégration de la plante dans les politiques formelles de conservation, et enfin le développement d’une chaîne de valeurs à travers la mise en place d’une véritable filière.

Prospects of ecological investigations of Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) in poultry industry

Negative impact and consequences of the spread D. gallinae the conditions of production to poultry production and environmental research prospects in Ukraine were analyzed. Systematic position of D. gallinae and its morphological and biological features were presented. It is shown that the environmental assessment of chicken red mite populations is poorly understood in Ukraine today. The rapid development and ability to adapt to different conditions allows D. gallinae rapidly spread to poultry enterprises and cause harm not only to animals but also human causing the dermatitis. The problem of ectoparasites spread in poultry farms are prospective and relevant in turn requires environmental approach to its solution with all the features of population species patterns dynamics, influence of abiotic factors, primarily temperature, which is important in terms of global climate change. It was summarized that optimal environmental parameters are favorable for the development of mite. The data of Ukrainian and foreign researchers on the effect of temperature on the development of populations of D. gallinae phenology and life cycle are given. Any separate mite is a potential concealer several pathogens, is the bearer of transmissible diseases and some viruses (including chickens encephalitis) and can adapt to different acaricides, insecticides and other methods to kill mites. Quick lifecycle D. gallinae gives it the status of a dominant pest industrial poultry. Foreign researchers recommend changing abiotic conditions in poultry houses to reduce populations of D. gallinae. Thus, the environmental assessment of ectoparasites popu- lations for poultry production today requires more in-depth research in the study of synecological and autecological features of their formation.

Dynamics of a combined medea-underdominant population transformation system

Transgenic constructs intended to be stably established at high frequencies in wild popu- lations have been demonstrated to “drive” from low frequencies in experimental insect populations. Link- ing such population transformation constructs to genes which render them unable to transmit pathogens could eventually be used to stop the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Generally, population transformation constructs with only a single transgenic drive mechanism have been envisioned. Using a theoretical modelling approach we describe the predicted properties of a construct combining autosomal Medea and underdominant population transformation systems. We show that when combined they can exhibit synergistic properties which in broad circumstances surpass those of the single systems. With combined systems, intentional population transformation and its reversal can be achieved readily. Combined constructs also enhance the capacity to geographically restrict transgenic constructs to targeted populations. It is anticipated that these properties are likely to be of particular value in attracting regulatory approval and public acceptance of this novel technology.

Balaton környéki biotópokból (Tihany, Külső-Somogy) származó Granaria frumentum (Draparnaud, 1801) héjmorfológiájának klímafüggése (Gastropoda: Chondrinidae)

We present morphometric results for eight popu-lations (680 specimens) collected fom diffrent Granaria fru-mentum habitats from Tihany and Külső-Somogy. Macrocli-matic features of different sampling areas are unchanged, but in spite of the fact we found differences in some instances between size characteristics and distribution curves of the sampled populations. By our opinion these deviatons were genereted by microclimatic differences of the different habi-tats. Therefore morhometry based climate reconstruction re-quires more research and validation.

Scale surface microstructure and scale size in the tooth-carp genus Aphanius (Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae) from endorheic basins in Southwest Iran

A substantial number of species within the tooth-carp Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Cyprinodontidae, Teleostei) has been re-corded from the endorheic drainage systems of Iran, and several isolated populations in these systems may deserve species status. Descriptions of these species and populations have been based mainly on morphological and molecular data; how-ever, the characters related to the fish scales have not up to now been intensively studied and employed for the identifica-tion of the species belonging to this genus. The objective of this study is to test as to whether (i) scale surface morphology, (ii) scale surface microstructure, and (iii) scale size can be used to discriminate species and/or populations and, (iv) to discuss the possible causes of the observed differences. To achieve these objectives, scales of three species of the genus Aphanius from endorheic basins in SW Iran, viz. A. sophiae (nine populations from the Kor River Basin), A. farsicus (four populations from the Maharlu Lake Basin) and A. pluristriatus (a single population from the Mond River Basin) have been studied using SEM images, scale measurements, and uni- and multivariate statistics. It is opined that scale surface mor-phology and microstructure cannot help in distinguishing the species, but can be employed to discriminate certain popu-lations of A. sophiae (those from Safashahr, Kharameh, Tashk, Gol). In addition, scale size and J-indices, respectively, represent a valuable tool for species separation, which corroborates earlier studies for the use of these indices in taxonomy. Major driving forces of the differentiation within A. sophiae probably include habitat fragmentation resulting from the geological history and local adaptations. Thus the differentiation results from a balance between both genetic and envi-ronmental effects.