Sexual and reproductive health in local mining contexts in Colombia

Background. Research on the relationship between mining and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is limited, almost exclusively concerned on the HIV spread in mining contexts. Colombia, like other Latin American and Caribbean countries, experienced an unprecedented mining boom since the mid-2000’s with insufficient evidence on its effects on SRH. This dissertation study examined the relationship between the gold-mining boom and fertility—as a comprehensive measure for SRH, in Colombian municipalities, between 2001 and 2015. Methods. I conducted a longitudinal ecological study using a multilevel model of change. I used data of gold-mining production and births of each of the 1112 municipalities of Colombia—excluding ten municipalities created after 2001. For the independent variable, I constructed the time-varying categorical variable Stages of gold-mining boom (SGMB). This variable represented the municipal status regarding a gold-mining boom at each year, by defining categories of pre-boom, boom—rapid increase (boom-up) and rapid decline (boom-down)—, and post-boom. For the dependent variable, I calculated general fertility rates (GFR), age-specific fertility rates (ASFR), and total fertility rates (TFR). I performed multilevel regression models of change to test the association between the stages of gold-mining boom and fertility change, controlling for socioeconomic confounders. I conducted a sensitivity analysis by including only the municipalities with acceptable live birth coverage by 2005 (N=191). Results. The results indicated a positive longitudinal association between the gold-mining boom and fertility, in Colombian municipalities, between 2001 and 2015. Fertility (GFR and TFR) increased in the boom-down and post-boom periods. Among different age-groups, fertility (ASFR) increased in the periods of boom-up (age group 10-14), boom-down (age groups in the range 15-25, and 35-39), and post-boom (age group 15-19). The sensitivity analysis indicated the results were robust. Conclusions. The rapid fertility change (including of adolescent fertility) observed in the short period of the boom stages suggests that SRH is deeply impacted in gold-mining boom contexts. This study provides a baseline for further global research on this critical but neglected topic of public health significance. New investigations must consider the gender dynamics triggered by a mining boom, which may configure contexts of unbalanced gendered power relations

MicroRNAs in systemic rheumatic diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs about 21 nucleotides in length. miRNAs have been shown to regulate gene expression and thus influence a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. Moreover, they are detected in a variety of sources, including tissues, serum, and other body fluids, such as saliva. The role of miRNAs is evident in various malignant and nonmalignant diseases, and there is accumulating evidence also for an important role of miRNAs in systemic rheumatic diseases. Abnormal expression of miRNAs has been reported in autoimmune diseases, mainly in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. miRNAs can be aberrantly expressed even in the different stages of disease progression, allowing miRNAs to be important biomarkers, to help understand the pathogenesis of the disease, and to monitor disease activity and effects of treatment. Different groups have demonstrated a link between miRNA expression and disease activity, as in the case of renal flares in lupus patients. Moreover, miRNAs are emerging as potential targets for new therapeutic strategies of autoimmune disorders. Taken together, recent data demonstrate that miRNAs can influence mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis, relapse, and specific organ involvement of autoimmune diseases. The ultimate goal is the identification of a miRNA target or targets that could be manipulated through specific therapies, aiming at activation or inhibition of specific miRNAs responsible for the development of disease

Barriers for Cervical Cancer Screening in Women Living with HIV: A Systematic Review

Cervical cancer is a prominent cancer in U.S. women caused primarily by the human papilloma virus and its incidence and mortality rates have decreased through screening programs. Certain barriers are perceived to be affecting the rates of cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV (WLWH). A systematic review was conducted to identify and summarize these barriers among WLWH nationwide. There is a need to increase awareness and education among WLWH. Public health programs and community-based interventions should target women of low SES and minority status while assessing the barriers among this population to improve cervical cancer screening rates

Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Arterial Vasomotion, Stiffness and Endothelial Biomarkers in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background: Cardiovascular events are frequent and vascular endothelial function is abnormal in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We demonstrated endothelial dysfunction with vitamin D deficiency in CKD patients; however the impact of cholecalciferol supplementation on vascular stiffness and vasomotor function, endothelial and bone biomarkers in CKD patients with low 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] is unknown, which this study investigated. Methods: We assessed non-diabetic patients with CKD stage 3/4, age 17–80 years and serum 25(OH)D ,75 nmol/L. Brachial artery Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD), Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), Augmentation Index (AI) and circulating blood biomarkers were evaluated at baseline and at 16 weeks. Oral 300,000 units cholecalciferol was administered at baseline and 8-weeks. Results: Clinical characteristics of 26 patients were: age 50614 (mean61SD) years, eGFR 41611 ml/min/1.73 m2, males 73%, dyslipidaemia 36%, smokers 23% and hypertensives 87%. At 16-week serum 25(OH)D and calcium increased (43616 to 84629 nmol/L, p,0.001 and 2.3760.09 to 2.4260.09 mmol/L; p = 0.004, respectively) and parathyroid hormone decreased (10.868.6 to 7.464.4; p = 0.001). FMD improved from 3.163.3% to 6.163.7%, p = 0.001. Endothelial biomarker concentrations decreased: E-Selectin from 566662123 to 525662058 pg/mL; p = 0.032, ICAM-1, 3.4560.01 to 3.1061.04 ng/mL; p = 0.038 and VCAM-1, 54633 to 42633 ng/mL; p = 0.006. eGFR, BP, PWV, AI, hsCRP, von Willebrand factor and Fibroblast Growth Factor-23, remained unchanged. Conclusion: This study demonstrates for the first time improvement of endothelial vasomotor and secretory functions with vitamin D in CKD patients without significant adverse effects on arterial stiffness, serum calcium or FGF-23. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0200571

A Phase I study of the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of navitoclax plus docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors

Aim: This Phase I study investigated safety of navitoclax and docetaxel in patients (n = 41) with advanced solid tumors. Patients & methods: Two navitoclax plus docetaxel dosing schedules (21 and 28 days) were evaluated. Maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities and preliminary antitumor activity were assessed. Results: Ten (24%) patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities; dose-escalation cohorts: n = 7 (21-day schedule: n = 5; 28-day schedule: n = 2) and 21-day expanded safety cohort: n = 3. Navitoclax 150-mg days 1-5 every 21 days with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 day 1 was the maximum tolerated dose and optimal schedule. Adverse events included thrombocytopenia (63%), fatigue (61%), nausea (59%) and neutropenia (51%). Four confirmed partial responses occurred. Conclusion: Navitoclax 150-mg orally once/day was safely administered with docetaxel. Myelosuppression limited dose escalation; antitumor activity was observed. Clinical trial registration: NCT00888108 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Carbon Fibers Coated with Ternary Ni-Co-Se Alloy Particles as Low-cost Counter Electrode for Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

Compared to flat devices based on rigid substrates, cable-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells hold advantages of smaller size, light weight, facile fabrication, flexibility, and low cost, thus a promising direction for applications such as wearable electronic devices. However, most reported fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells use Pt wires as counter electrodes, which are high in cost. Herein, a flexible Pt-free counter electrode is fabricated via depositing ternary nickel cobalt selenide (Ni–Co–Se) particles on the surface of carbon fibers. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to characterize the counter electrode and alloy material. Results from bare and modified carbon fiber counter electrodes reveal that Ni–Co–Se alloy particles greatly enhance electrocatalytic activity, leading to significant improvement in power conversion efficiency, which is comparable with devices using carbon fiber coated with Pt as the counter electrode. The performance increase may be attributed to the improved catalytic property of CoSe2 due to its higher composition ratio and larger crystallite size. Bending and multiple irradiation cycling tests are also performed to show the superior flexibility and durability of the novel device

Difficulties when Assessing Birdsong Learning Programmes under Field Conditions: A Re-Evaluation of Song Repertoire Flexibility in the Great Tit

There is a remarkable diversity of song-learning strategies in songbirds. Establishing whether a species is closed- or open-ended is important to be able to interpret functional and evolutionary consequences of variation in repertoire size. Most of our knowledge regarding the timing of vocal learning is based on laboratory studies, despite the fact that these may not always replicate the complex ecological and social interactions experienced by birds in the wild. Given that field studies cannot provide the experimental control of laboratory studies, it may not be surprising that species such as the great tit that were initially assumed to be closed-ended learners have later been suggested to be open-ended learners. By using an established colour-ringed population, by following a standardized recording protocol, and by taking into account the species' song ecology (using only recordings obtained during peak of singing at dawn), we replicated two previous studies to assess song repertoire learning and flexibility in adult wild great tits elicited by social interactions. First, we performed a playback experiment to test repertoire plasticity elicited by novel versus own songs. Additionally, in a longitudinal study, we followed 30 males in two consecutive years and analysed whether new neighbours influenced any change in the repertoire. Contrary to the previous studies, song repertoire size and composition were found to be highly repeatable both between years and after confrontation with a novel song. Our results suggest that great tits are closed-ended learners and that their song repertoire probably does not change during adulthood. Methodological differences that may have led to an underestimation of the repertoires or population differences may explain the discrepancy in results with previous studies. We argue that a rigorous and standardized assessment of the repertoire is essential when studying age- or playback-induced changes in repertoire size and composition under field conditions