Patterns and trends of malaria in 25 risk districts of Nepal from 2001 to 2017

PURPOSE: Malaria has been one of a major infectious parasitic disease in Nepal. Although the number of cases is gradually getting declined since last decade. Therefore, study aims to identify the trends and spatial patterns of malaria among 25 risk districts of Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study utilized the secondary data of malaria cases from the annual reports (2001–2017) of Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. Linear regression of log-transformed incidence rates model was used for assessing variation of malaria cases for year and districts. RESULTS: There was evidence of decrease in the trend of malaria (2001–2009); however, the upward trend was revealed in 2010, after that, it starts to decline and again in 2017, it started to grow up. The malaria cases were marked variations by location with higher rates occurring in Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, and Jhapa districts, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this regards, malaria cases are still causing the threat in the Terai district of Nepal; however, there were fluctuating patterns of disease noted during the study periods.

Investigation of Maternal Effects, Maternal-Fetal Interactions, and Parent-of-Origin Effects (Imprinting) for Candidate Genes Positioned on Chromosome 18q21, in Probands with Schizophrenia and their First-Degree Relatives

OBJECTIVE: A popular design for the investigation of such effects, including effects of parent-of-origin (imprinting), maternal genotype, and maternal-fetal genotype interactions, is to collect deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from affected offspring and their mothers and to compare with an appropriate control sample. We investigate the effects of estimation of maternal, imprinting and interaction effects using multimodal modeling using parents and their offspring with schizophrenia in Korean population. METHODS: We have recruited 27 probands (with schizophrenia) with their parents and siblings whenever possible. We analyzed 20 SNPs of 7 neuronal genes in chromosome 18. We used EMIM analysis program for the estimation of maternal, imprinting and interaction effects using multimodal modeling. RESULTS: Of analyzed 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), significant SNP (rs 2276186) was suggested in EMIM analysis for child genetics effects (p=0.0225438044) and child genetic effects allowing for maternal genetic effects (p=0.0209453210) with very stringent multiple comparison Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSION: Our results are the pilot study for epigenetic study in mental disorder and help to understanding and use of EMIM statistical genetics analysis program with many limitations including small pedigree numbers.

Evaluation of the micropropagation potential of curauá pineapple hybrids for fiber production / Avaliação do potencial de micropropagação de híbridos do abacaxi curauá para a produção de fibras

Plant fiber is a renewable and biodegradable material that can be used effectively to reinforce various composites. Pineapple hybrids selected for their fiber quality are in the phase of agronomic validation in Brazil by the Embrapa Cassava and Fruits research unit. The selection of a hybrid for large-scale fiber production depends on obtaining a large number of seedlings. This study evaluated the morphogenetic response and propagation potential of eight hybrids of Ananas comosus var. erectifolius, for the purpose of producing high-quality seedlings on a large scale. Stem and crown buds were reduced and placed in MS nutritive medium supplemented with BAP at 0.5 mg L-1, NAA at 0.01 mg L-1 and Phytagel® at 2.5 g L-1. After 45 days, the number of oxidized, contaminated and surviving buds was determined. Swollen buds and plantlets were transferred to a multiplication medium containing MS sucrose, salts and vitamins. The propagation potential was evaluated based on the geometric growth rate among sub-cultures. The FIB-NEG hybrid presented the best results for the establishment phase (40.28%). The best propagative potential was obtained from crown buds with the highest values for FIB-EST (3.93), FIB-MIN (3.91) and FIB-BOY (3.91) hybrids.

A fibra vegetal é uma fonte renovável, biodegradável e de excelente desempenho como reforço em compósitos variados. Híbridos selecionados pela qualidade de suas fibras estão em fase de validação agronômica na Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura e sua adoção para produção de fibra em larga escala depende de um elevado número de mudas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a resposta morfogenética e o potencial propagativo de oito híbridos de Ananas comosus var. erectifolius, com a finalidade de produzir mudas de qualidade em larga escala. Gemas do caule e coroa foram reduzidas, introduzidas em meio nutritivo MS suplementado com BAP a 0,5 mg L-1, ANA a 0,01 mg L-1 e Phytagel® a 2,5 g L-1. Aos 45 dias foram avaliados o número de gemas oxidadas, contaminadas e sobreviventes. Gemas intumescidas e plantas formadas foram transferidas para o meio de multiplicação contendo sacarose, sais e vitaminas MS. Avaliou-se o potencial propagativo a partir de uma taxa de crescimento geométrico entre subcultivos. O híbrido FIB-NEG (40.28%) apresentou os melhores resultados em porcentagem para a fase de estabelecimento. O melhor potencial propagativo foi obtido a partir de gemas de coroa, com os valores mais elevados registrados para os híbridos FIB-EST (3.93), FIB-MIN (3.91) e FIB-BOY (3.91).

Uso de un modelo log-lineal de Poisson para el estudio de los homicidios contra jóvenes inmigrantes nicaragüenses en Costa Rica

Objetivo:Describir la tasa de homicidios de jóvenes inmigrantes nicaragüenses en Costa Rica.Métodos:Se utilizó un modelo de regresión log-lineal de Poisson a nivel cantonal para describir la tasa de homicidios contra jóvenes inmigrantes nicaragüenses en Costa Rica, dadas las covariantes (Agresti, 2002; Cameron y Trivedi, 1998; Neter, Wasserman, Kutner y Nachtsheim, 1996).Resultados:Las razones de incidencia para el porcentaje de hogares pobres, el porcentaje de adultos de 35 años y más, y el porcentaje de la población económicamente activa en el sector terciario son 1.04, 1.05 y 1.05 respectivamente.Conclusiones:La pobreza, la composición de la población y las actividades económicas del sector terciario de la economía son las variables que describen mejor la tasa de homicidios de los jóvenes nicaragüenses.

Objective:To describe the homicides rate for young Nicaraguan immigrants in Costa Rica.Methods:We used a Poisson log-linear regression model at small administrative areas-level to describe the homicides rate for young Nicaraguan immigrants in Costa Rica, given the co-variables (Agresti, 2002; Cameron y Trivedi, 1998; Neter, Wasserman, Kutner & Nachtsheim, 1996).Results: Incidence rate for percentage of poor households, percentage of adults 35 years-old and more, and the percentage of the population on the service sector of the economy are 1.04, 1.05 and 1.05 respectively.Conclusions:Poverty, population structure and economic activities of the service sector of the economy are the co-variables that best describe the homicides rate for young Nicaraguan immigrants in Costa Rica.

Log-linear model used in the hybrid design of case-parents triad/control-mother dyad / 中华流行病学杂志

This study introduced the application of a log-linear model in the hybrid design of case-parents triad/control-mother dyad.Data related to the association between cleft lip with palate (CLP) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene A1298C diversity was analyzed.Log-linear model based on likelihood ratio tests (LRTs) was used to analyze the relationships between mother,offspring genotypes and CLP.Data from our study noticed that children of mothers carrying the CC genotype presented a lower risk of CLP,comparing with the children of mothers carrying the AA genotype,with S2=0.45 (95％CI:0.26-0.79).Offspring that carrying the AC genotype presented a lower risk of CLP,comparing with the offspring that carrying the AA genotype,with R1 =0.69 (95％CI:0.48-0.97).However,no other types of relationships were found.The power of hybrid design was greater than the case-parents study (0.86＞0.78).MTHFR A1298C polymorphism seemed to have played an important role in the etiology on both cleft lip and palate.Data from the hybrid design and the log-linear model could help researchers to explore the effects of genotypes from both mothers and the offspring.This study design would present stronger power than the regular case-parents studies thus suitable for studies on the etiology of diseases in early lives,as birth defects.

Log-linear model used in the hybrid design of case-parents triad/control-mother dyad / 中华流行病学杂志

This study introduced the application of a log-linear model in the hybrid design of case-parents triad/control-mother dyad.Data related to the association between cleft lip with palate (CLP) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene A1298C diversity was analyzed.Log-linear model based on likelihood ratio tests (LRTs) was used to analyze the relationships between mother,offspring genotypes and CLP.Data from our study noticed that children of mothers carrying the CC genotype presented a lower risk of CLP,comparing with the children of mothers carrying the AA genotype,with S2=0.45 (95％CI:0.26-0.79).Offspring that carrying the AC genotype presented a lower risk of CLP,comparing with the offspring that carrying the AA genotype,with R1 =0.69 (95％CI:0.48-0.97).However,no other types of relationships were found.The power of hybrid design was greater than the case-parents study (0.86＞0.78).MTHFR A1298C polymorphism seemed to have played an important role in the etiology on both cleft lip and palate.Data from the hybrid design and the log-linear model could help researchers to explore the effects of genotypes from both mothers and the offspring.This study design would present stronger power than the regular case-parents studies thus suitable for studies on the etiology of diseases in early lives,as birth defects.

Application of log-linear model in the case-parent triad study / 中华流行病学杂志

We were introducing a log-linear model for case-parent triad study.Data from a previous study of the association between MTHFR C677T aud cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) was analyzed,in order to investigate the maternal effect,fetal effect and their interaction,using a series of log-linear models.Our results showed that mothers who were carrying two copies of MTHFR C677T variant alleles appeared to have reduced the risk of CL/P in offspring,comparing to those with homozygous of wild-type allele.With S2=0.43 (95％ CI:0.19-0.95).No significant association was found for fetal genotype and maternal-fetal iuteraction with CL/P.Log-linear model method seemed to be useful in the estimation of maternal effect,fetal effect and maternal-fetal interaction,in the case-parent triad study design.This approach showed specific benefit in studies that related to genetic effects on complex diseases such as pregnancy complications and diseases originated from fetus.