Retracing the history and planning the future of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Ireland using non-invasive genetics

The Eurasian red squirrel’s (Sciurus vulgaris) history in Ireland is largely unknown, but the original population is thought to have been driven to extinction by humans in the 17th Century, and multiple records exist for its subsequent reintroduction in the 19th 4 Century. However, it is currently unknown how these reintroductions affect the red squirrel population today, or may do so in the future. In this study, we report on the development of a DNA toolkit for the non-invasive genetic study of the red squirrel. Non-invasively collected red squirrel samples were combined with other samples collected throughout Ireland and previously published mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data from Ireland, Great Britain and continental Europe to give an insight into population genetics and historical introductions of the red squirrel in Ireland. Our findings demonstrate that the Irish red squirrel population is on a national scale quite genetically diverse, but at a local level contains relatively low levels of genetic diversity and evidence of genetic structure. This is likely an artefact of the introduction of a small number of genetically similar animals to specific sites. A lack of continuous woodland cover in Ireland has prevented further mixing with animals of different origins that may have been introduced even to neighbouring sites. Consequently, some of these genetically isolated populations are or may in the future be at risk of extinction. The Irish red squirrel population contains mtDNA haplotypes of both a British and Continental European origin, the former of which are now extinct or simply not recorded in contemporary Great Britain. The Irish population is therefore important in terms of red squirrel conservation not only in Ireland, but also for Great Britain, and should be appropriately managed

Percepção de médicos e enfermeiros da Estratégia de Saúde da Família sobre terapias complementares

OBJECTIVE: To analyze Estratégia de Saúde da Família (Family Health Strategy) professionals' perception of complementary and integrative therapies. METHODS: A study with 177 doctors and nurses was conducted in 2008, based on a self-administered questionnaire. The outcome variables were "interest in complementary and integrative therapies" and "agreement with the National Policy on Complementary and Integrative Therapies. Sex, age, graduate level of education, postgraduate level of education, length of time since graduation, length of time of work, having children, providing complementary and integrative therapies in the workplace, and using homeopathy or acupuncture comprised the independent variables. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 17 health centers provided complementary and integrative therapies; 12.4% of professionals had a specialization in homeopathy or acupuncture; 43.5% of doctors were specialists in family and community medicine/family health. Of all participants, 88.7% did not know the national directives for this area, although 81.4% agreed with their inclusion in the Sistema Único de Saúde (Unified Health System). The majority (59.9%) showed an interest in qualifications and all agreed that these therapies should be approached during the graduate course. Agreement with the inclusion of such therapies was significantly associated with the fact of being a nurse (p = 0.027) and using homeopathy for oneself (p = 0.019). Interest in complementary therapies was associated with the use of homeopathy for oneself (p = 0.02) and acupuncture by family members (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Complementary and integrative therapies are accepted by the professionals studied. This acceptance is associated with previous contact with such therapies and, probably, with residency/specialization in family and community medicine/family health.OBJETIVO: Analisar a percepção de profissionais da Estratégia de Saúde da Família sobre práticas integrativas e complementares. MÉTODOS: Estudo com 177 médicos e enfermeiros a partir de um questionário auto-aplicado em 2008. As variáveis desfecho foram "interesse pelas práticas integrativas e complementares" e "concordância com a Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares". Sexo, idade, graduação, pós-graduação, tempo de formado e de trabalho, possuir filhos, oferta de práticas integrativas e complementares no local de trabalho e uso de homeopatia ou acupuntura compuseram as variáveis independentes. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste do qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Dezessete centros de saúde ofereciam práticas integrativas e complementares; 12,4% dos profissionais possuíam especialização em homeopatia ou acupuntura; 43,5% dos médicos eram especialistas em medicina de família e comunidade/saúde da família. Dos participantes, 88,7% desconheciam as diretrizes nacionais para a área, embora 81,4% concordassem com sua inclusão no Sistema Único de Saúde. A maioria (59,9%) mostrou interesse em capacitações e todos concordaram que essas práticas deveriam ser abordadas na graduação. A concordância com a inclusão dessas práticas mostrou-se associada significativamente com o fato de ser enfermeiro (p = 0,027) e com o uso de homeopatia para si (p = 0,019). Interesse pelas práticas complementares esteve associado a usar homeopatia para si (p = 0,02) e acupuntura para familiares (p = 0,013). CONCLUSÕES: Existe aceitação das práticas integrativas e complementares pelos profissionais estudados, associada ao contato prévio com elas e possivelmente relacionada à residência/especialização em medicina de família e comunidade/saúde da família.OBJETIVO: Analizar la percepción de profesionales de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia sobre prácticas integrales y complementarias. MÉTODOS: Se realizó estudio con 177 médicos y enfermeros a partir de un cuestionario auto-aplicado en 2008. Las variables consideradas fueron "interés por las prácticas integrales y complementarias" y "concordancia con la Política Nacional de prácticas integrales y complementarias". Sexo, edad, estudio universitario, postgrado, tiempo de formación y de trabajo, poseer hijos, oferta de prácticas integrales y complementarias en el lugar de trabajo y uso de homeopatía o acupuntura conformaron las variables independientes. Los datos fueron analizados por la prueba de chi-cuadrado y la prueba exacta de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Diecisiete centros de salud ofrecían prácticas integrales y complementarias; 12,4% de los profesionales poseían especialización en homeopatía o acupuntura; 43,5% de los médicos eran especialistas en medicina de familia y comunidad/salud de la familia. De los participantes, 88,7% desconocían las directrices nacionales para el área, a pesar de que el 81,4% concordasen con su inclusión en el Sistema Único de Salud. La mayoría (59,9%) mostró interés en capacitaciones y todos concordaran que esas prácticas deberían ser abordadas en el estudio universitario. La concordancia con la inclusión de tales prácticas se mostró asociada significativamente con el hecho de ser enfermero (p=0,027) y con el uso de homeopatía para sí mismo (p=0,019). Interés por las prácticas complementarias estuvo asociado con el uso de homeopatía para sí mismo (p=0,02) y acupuntura para familiares (p=0,013). CONCLUSIONES: Existe aceptación de las prácticas integrales y complementarias por los profesionales estudiados, asociada al contacto previo con las mismas y posiblemente relacionada a la residencia/especialización en medicina de familia y comunidad/salud de la familia