Vermeidung von Unerwünschten Arzneimittelwirkungen (UAW) - Einbindung einer Risikobewertung einschließlich Pharmakogenetik in die hausärztliche Therapie

Rear entrance artwork for ark A161 or A16

Reproductive biology of lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus): An important key to the conservation of an endangered species

The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), endemic to rainforests of the Western Ghats; in southern India, is an endangered species. Most of its population now lives in fragmented pockets of rainforests. Considerable research has been carried out on its reproductive biology both on wild and captive populations in North America and Europe. We review studies carried out on birth seasonality, life-history parameters, and reproductive physiology and behaviour. The captive populations differ considerably from wild populations on several parameters of reproductive biology. Because of a low population turnover in this species due to a delayed age at first birth and long inter-birth intervals, and further degradation of its natural habitats, rapid population replenishment or augmentation is unlikely. This article shows that the study of reproductive biology may provide an important key to the conservation of this species. It also indicates that several aspects of reproductive biology of lion-tailed macaque still remain to be addressed

Dermatologic investigation of alopecia in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Coat damage has been reported frequently in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and it is a serious health problem because the hair coat functions as an anatomic and physiologic barrier between the animal and the environment. The purpose of this study was to identify the pathogenesis of coat damage in this species and to exclude the most frequent causes of alopecia. The investigation included clinical, hematologic, bacteriologic, mycologic, parasitologic, and histopathologic evaluations. A broad systematic dermatologic investigation was performed on 156 rhesus macaques, kept under variable environmental conditions, at the German Primate Center, Göttingen. In addition, 27 animals from other primate facilities were incorporated into the study. Clinically, 126 animals showed partial alopecia of varying severity, with complete alopecia in the worst cases. In 88% of the cases, the disorder was bilaterally symmetrical. The back and extremities were most commonly affected. No gross clinical changes of the skin surface were detected. Histologic changes consisted predominantly of mild epidermal hyperkeratosis and mild perivascular dermatitis. The presence and severity of histologic lesions were not correlated to coat damage. Parasitic, bacterial, and mycotic causes of alopecia were ruled out. Overviewing these results, disturbances in environment and behavior controlling or influencing hair growth may lead to hair loss in captive rhesus macaques. Future studies should try to identify disturbances in extrinsic or intrinsic factors influencing hair follicle activity in rhesus macaques

Distribution, Demography, and Conservation of Lion-tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus) in the Anamalai Hills Landscape, Western Ghats, India

The status of the endemic and endangered lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) has not been properly assessed in several regions of the Western Ghats of southern India. We conducted a study in Parambikulam Forest Reserve in the state of Kerala to determine the distribution, demography, and status of lion-tailed macaques. We laid 5km2 grid cells on the map of the study area (644km2) and made four replicated walks in each grid cell using GPS. We gathered data on lion-tailed macaque group locations, demography, and site covariates including trail length, duration of walk, proportion of evergreen forest, height of tallest trees, and human disturbance index. We also performed occupancy modeling using PRESENCE ver. 3.0. We estimated a minimum of 17 groups of macaques in these hills. Low detection and occupancy probabilities indicated a low density of lion-tailed macaques in the study area. Height of the tallest trees correlated positively whereas human disturbance and proportion of evergreen forest correlated negatively with occupancy in grid cells. We also used data from earlier studies carried out in the surrounding Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Nelliyampathy Hills to discuss the conservation status in the large Anamalai Hills Landscape. This landscape harbors an estimated population of 1108 individuals of lion-tailed macaques, which is about one third of the entire estimated wild population of this species. A conservation plan for this landscape could be used as a model for conservation in other regions of the Western Ghats

Distribution, population structure, and conservation of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) in the Anaimalai Hills, Western Ghats, India

Abstract The lion-tailed macaque is an endangered species, and hence it is necessary that the remaining populations in the rainforests of the Western Ghats, India, be located and their habitats assessed for effective conservation. The Anaimalai Hills in the state of Tamil Nadu harbor 31 groups of lion-tailed macaques. However, the rainforest in these hills is highly fragmented. Since lion-tailed macaques are typically arboreal, the groups have become isolated. Two large rain-forest complexes in these hills harbor 12 and seven groups, respectively, and the remaining 12 groups inhabit small, isolated forest fragments. Group size ranges from six to 53 individuals, with a mean size of 16.3. In the small forest fragments, the standard deviation (SD) of group size was considerably higher than it was in the larger forest complexes. The disturbed fragments also had a higher variability in group size than the relatively undisturbed habitats. It is believed that fragmentation may impede male migration. We suggest that the fragments be managed in such a way that male migration among groups can be facilitated to overcome the potential effects of isolation. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Medikationsfehler im Fokus der Forschung und Pharmakovigilanz

Unter „Medikationsfehler“ versteht man ein „Abweichen von dem für den Patienten optimalen Medikationsprozess, das zu einer grundsätzlich vermeidbaren Schädigung des Patienten führt oder führen könnte. Medikationsfehler können jeden Schritt des Medikationsprozesses betreffen und von jedem am Medikationsprozess Beteiligten … verursacht werden.“ Sie sind sowohl ein gesundheitsrelevantes als auch ein gesellschaftliches und letztlich auch ein ökonomisches Problem. Aufgrund der prinzipiellen Vermeidbarkeit von Schädigungen für Patienten sind Beachtung und Minimierung von Medikationsfehlern für das öffentliche Gesundheitswesen geboten und für die Forschung von zunehmender Bedeutung