Reflection on Assisted Reproductive Technology Cases based on WAS Syndrome Gene Mutation / 中国医学伦理学

With the development of assisted reproductive technology, there will be more and more complex conflicts of interest issues and challenges. This paper used clinical medicine, legal and ethical analysis of WAS syndrome gene mutation assisted reproductive technology cases, emphasized that the law is the bottom line of morality, strengthen the consulting duty of the ethics committee of reproductive medicine, and pointed out that medical staff must fully perform the obligation of notification, respect their autonomy and provide patients with best medical assistance.

Authors’ conflicts of interest in Nepalese healthcare journals

Most biomedical journals now require authors to declare their conflicts of interest (COI), especially financial ones, before they accept the manuscript for submission. This study aims to examine the COI policies of Nepalese healthcare journals. The sample constituted journals indexed in Nepal Journals Online (NepJOL) as of June 2021. Of the 68 that met our inclusion criteria, 38(55.9%) journals endorsed the COI policy of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Thirty-six (52.9%) journals had a policy for reporting the COI. Financial COI was the only type of COI mentioned. All journals in Nepal are encouraged to request the authors to declare the COI for better transparency.

Patrimônio e memória de interesse público em tempos de pandemia: um estudo sobre a comunicação de memórias e histórias da covid-19 em narrativas digitais / Heritage and memory of public interest in times of pandemic: a study on the communication of memories and stories about covid-19 through digital narratives / Patrimonio y memoria de interés público en tiempos de pandemia: un estudio sobre la comunicación de memorias e historias sobre covid-19 en narrativas digitales

A pandemia da covid-19 gerou aumento de repositórios de dados digitais que registram a memória das pessoas sobre a pandemia, originando diversas comunidades virtuais que promovem a produção de memórias por meio do envio de relatos de histórias de vida em diversas mídias. Com base num estudo exploratório de natureza documental, este trabalho apresenta um levantamento amplo e significativo de plataformas digitais provenientes de diversas ações e instituições universitárias, culturais e de meios de comunicação e associações da sociedade civil que lançaram repositórios digitais para coletar e compartilhar relatos sobre as experiências das pessoas durante a pandemia de covid-19. A análise e a comparação dos registros memoriais existentes em tais repositórios indicam a importância de relatos de histórias de vida integrados às narrativas visuais compostas por fotografias e vídeos para a construção de uma rede de memórias mais inclusiva da pandemia de covid-19, ou seja, uma rede pautada nas vivências de diversos públicos e/ou comunidades, constituindo-se como memória de interesse público e contribuindo para a construção de um patrimônio cultural desse contexto. Os resultados também indicam a importância das novas tecnologias como meios de comunicação e informação desses dados de interesse público, com destaque para as narrativas transmídia, presentes em algumas das plataformas analisadas, como formas narrativas contemporâneas que possibilitam a participação ativa e o engajamento de públicos diversos

The covid-19 pandemic has generated an increase in digital data repositories that record people's memories of the pandemic, giving rise to several virtual communities that promote the production of memories by sending life stories in different media. Based on an exploratory and documental study, this work presents a survey of digital platforms from different actions and university, cultural and media institutions, and civil society associations that have launched digital repositories to collect and share reports about people's experiences about the covid-19 pandemic. The analysis and the comparison of the memorial records of the repositories indicate the importance of life stories integrated with visual narratives composed of photographs and videos to build a more inclusive network of memories of the covid-19 pandemic, that is, a network based on the experiences of different publics and/or communities, constituting itself as a memory of public interest for the construction of a cultural heritage of this context. The results indicate the importance of new technologies as means of communication and information on this data of public interest, with emphasis on transmedia narratives ­ that are present in some of the platforms analyzed ­ as contemporary narrative forms that enable the active participation and engagement of different audiences

La pandemia de covid-19 generó un aumento de los repositorios de datos digitales que registran los recuerdos de las personas sobre la pandemia, dando lugar a varias comunidades virtuales que promueven la producción de memorias a través del envío de historias de vida en diferentes medios. A partir de un estudio exploratorio de carácter documental, este trabajo presenta una amplia y significativa relación de plataformas digitales de diferentes acciones y asociaciones universitarias, culturales, de medios de comunicación y de la sociedad civil que han puesto en marcha repositorios digitales para recopilar y compartir relatos sobre las experiencias de las personas sobre la pandemia de covid-19. El análisis y la comparación de los registros memoriales existentes en dichos repositorios indican la importancia de las historias de vida integradas con narrativas visuales compuestas de fotografías y videos para la construcción de una red de memorias más inclusiva de la pandemia del covid-19, es decir, un red a partir de las experiencias de diferentes públicos y/o comunidades, constituyéndose como una memoria de interés público para la construcción de un patrimonio cultural. Los resultados también indican la importancia de las nuevas tecnologías como medios de comunicación e información sobre estos datos de interés público, con énfasis en las narrativas transmedia, presentes en algunos de los analizados, como formas narrativas contemporáneas, que posibilitan la participación activa y el compromiso de diferentes audiencias

Inviabilidad de un régimen legal especial para la tenencia compartida de niños y niñas con discapacidad en el Perú / Unviability of a special legal regime for the shared custody of children with disabilities in Perú / Inviabilidade de um regime legal especial para a guarda compartilhada de meninos e meninas com incapacidade no Peru

En materia de Derecho de familia, la legislación peruana contempla la posibilidad de una tenencia compartida, regulada expresamente en el Código de los Niños y Adolescentes, sin establecer precisiones sobre las condiciones y formas de aplicación, lo que es similar en el Derecho comparado. Sustentado en principios bioéticos y jurídicos, en el presente artículo se analiza la posibilidad de generar una regulación especial para la tenencia compartida, enfocada en la necesidad de establecer criterios especiales que puedan tener en cuenta los jueces en los casos concretos que involucren a niños y niñas. Estos criterios deben partir de un modelo social dirigido a quebrar las barreras impuestas, dotando de las condiciones más adecuadas para un desarrollo integral y pleno. En esa línea de pensamiento, es fundamental el interés superior del niño, el compromiso de los progenitores y la implementación de ajustes razonables.

In terms of family law, Peruvian legislation contemplates the possibility of shared custody, expressly regulated in the Code of Children and Adolescents, without establishing details on the conditions and forms of application, which is similar in comparative law. Based on bioethical and legal principles, this article analyses the possibility of generating a special regulation for shared custody, focusing on the need to establish special criteria that judges can take into account in specific cases involving children. These criteria should be based on a social model aimed at breaking down the barriers imposed, providing the most appropriate conditions for an integral and full development. In this line of thought, the best interests of the child, the commitment of the parents and the implementation of reasonable accommodations are fundamental.

Em matéria de Direito de família, a legislação peruana contempla a possibilidade de uma guarda compartilhada, regulada expressamente no Código das Crianças e Adolescentes, sem estabelecer especificações sobre as condições e formas de aplicação, o que é similar no Direito comparado. Apoiado em princípios bioéticos e jurídicos, no presente artigo se analisa a possibilidade de gerar uma regulação especial para a guarda compartilhada, focada na necessidade de estabelecer critérios especiais que juízes possam ter em conta nos casos concretos que envolvem meninos e meninas. Esses critérios devem partir de um modelo social dirigido a quebrar as barreiras impostas, dotando as condições mais adequadas para um desenvolvimento integral e pleno. Nessa linha de pensamento, é fundamental o interesse superior da criança, o compromisso dos pais e a implementação de ajustes razoáveis.

Reporting of conflict of interests, source of funding, and ethics committee approval in randomized trials of three clinical specialties published in Spanish language

Background: Confidence in the results reported by randomized clinical trials (RCTs) depends mainly on the internal validity of the trial and its conduct, but also on other aspects related to health research such as the complete reporting of conflicts of interest (COI), funding sources and approval by ethics committees. Bias in the study results may arise from any one of these elements. Prior studies have explored the reporting of these items in the medical literature, but there are no reports on RCTs published in Spanish and Latin American journals. This study aimed to evaluate the reporting of COIs, funding sources, and approval by ethics committees of RCTs published in Spanish and Latin American journals in dentistry, geriatrics and neurology. Methods: We did a systematic retrospective survey of all RCTs published from 1990 to 2018 in dentistry, neurology, and geriatrics journals published in Spain and Latin America and included in the BADERI database (Iberoamerican journals and trials database by its initials in Spanish). We completed with hand searching. We included RCTs with a recoverable full text published between 1990 and 2018. We extracted data on sources of funding, COI statements, and ethics reviews. The extraction of these items in the RCTs included was done independently by two pairs of reviewers and in parallel for each article, with a third independent reviewer resolving discrepancies. We analysed compliance for each item. Results: We identified RCTs in 69 journals from Spain and Latin American countries. Dentistry accounted for 75% (n = 52) of the journals, neurology 20.6% (n = 14), and geriatrics 4.4% (n = 3). Of the total number of RCTs included in this study (n = 392), only 102 (26%) reported the presence or absence of a COI, 103 (26%) studies reported funding, and 43 (36%) included the ethics committee approval. Conclusions: RCTs published in the Spanish language in dentistry, neurology, and geriatrics had poor compliance with the reporting of a COI, source of funding, and ethics committee approval. Future research should evaluate the accuracy and completeness of COI statements and their relationship to the funding source and direction of the results.

Ethical construction of recipients’ rights and interests protection in organ transplantation from expanded criteria donors / 器官移植

Under the background of severe shortage of donor organs and organ donation after citizen's death becoming the main source of donor organs in China, expanded criteria donor (ECD) has been widely applied in clinical practice. However, ECD has the disadvantages of basic diseases, old age, trauma, shock or infection, which will affect the quality of donor organs to varying degrees and become one of critical factors affecting clinical efficacy of organ transplantation. The recipients of ECD organ transplantation will also bear the additional risk and uncertainty of efficacy brought by ECD organs. Hence, it is necessary to pay attention to the protection of the recipients’ rights and interests. In this article, ethical issues faced by ECD organ transplantation in recipient protection and the shortcomings in the ethical review of organ ethics committee were reviewed, and suggestions on the ethical review institution and system construction of the rights and interests of organ transplantation recipients were elucidated, aiming to provide reference for promoting the advancement of ECD organ transplantation.

Analysis and suggestions on conflict of interest in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in medical institutions / 中华医院管理杂志

In recent years, the issue of conflicts of interest in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in medical institutions in China has become prominent, mainly manifested as personal and institutional conflicts of interest, with the characteristics of complexity and sustainability. At present, there were some problems in the conflict management of scientific and technological achievements transformation of medical institutions, such as insufficient support of relevant laws, regulations and policies, insufficient supervision of medical institutions, and the lack of industry management atmosphere. The author suggestted that government departments should strengthen the formulation of relevant policies and regulations, medical institutions should establish an interest conflict management system and an independent management department, and industry associations should give full play to their role in assisting, so as to provide reference for promoting medical institutions to effectively manage interest conflicts in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

Construction of Evaluation Index System of the Interest Conflict for Medical Institution Ethics Committee / 中国医学伦理学

【Objective:】 To preliminary construct a scientific, systematic and applicable evaluation index system of the interest conflict for medical institutions ethics committee. 【Methods:】 Literature retrieval, interpretation of laws and regulations, expert group discussion and Delphi expert letter inquiry were used to screen indicators and determine the evaluation index system of interest conflict and the weight of various indicators. 【Results:】 The response rates of the two rounds of correspondence questionnaire were both 100%, the authority coefficient Cr values of the two rounds were 0.855 and 0.865, and the coordination coefficient W values of the two rounds were 0.817 and 0.826, which were statistically significant (P<0.05). The final formed system included 3 first-level indicators, 10 second-level indicators and 25 third-level indicators. 【Conclusion:】 The evaluation index system of interest conflict for medical institution ethics committee is scientific and reliable.

Further Discussion on Legal Points in Ethical Review of Research Participants’ Informed Consent / 中国医学伦理学

The protection of research participants’ rights and interests is mainly guaranteed through the informed consent system and the ethical review of the Ethics Committee. In practice, some sponsors or researchers misused or mixed legal terms when writing the informed consent forms. More importantly, during the implementation of informed consent by researchers, the phenomenon that insufficient and incomplete notification, and derogation of research participants’ specific rights and interests occurred. This not only affected the scientific nature of the research, but also violated the original intention of clinical trials or medical researchers, and did not fully respect the human dignity and value of research participants. It was urgent for the ethics committee to correct it during the ethical review, and urge the researchers or sponsors to correct and improve it in a timely manner.

Alzheimer's disease classification based on nonlinear high-order features and hypergraph convolutional neural network / 生物医学工程学杂志

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that damages patients' memory and cognitive abilities. Therefore, the diagnosis of AD holds significant importance. The interactions between regions of interest (ROIs) in the brain often involve multiple areas collaborating in a nonlinear manner. Leveraging these nonlinear higher-order interaction features to their fullest potential contributes to enhancing the accuracy of AD diagnosis. To address this, a framework combining nonlinear higher-order feature extraction and three-dimensional (3D) hypergraph neural networks is proposed for computer-assisted diagnosis of AD. First, a support vector machine regression model based on the radial basis function kernel was trained on ROI data to obtain a base estimator. Then, a recursive feature elimination algorithm based on the base estimator was applied to extract nonlinear higher-order features from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. These features were subsequently constructed into a hypergraph, leveraging the complex interactions captured in the data. Finally, a four-dimensional (4D) spatiotemporal hypergraph convolutional neural network model was constructed based on the fMRI data for classification. Experimental results on the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database demonstrated that the proposed framework outperformed the Hyper Graph Convolutional Network (HyperGCN) framework by 8% and traditional two-dimensional (2D) linear feature extraction methods by 12% in the AD/normal control (NC) classification task. In conclusion, this framework demonstrates an improvement in AD classification compared to mainstream deep learning methods, providing valuable evidence for computer-assisted diagnosis of AD.

Reflexiones acerca de las cambiantes narrativas sobre las vacunas contra la COVID-19

Nos propusimos discernir en qué medida las estrategias mediáticas adoptadas en torno a las vacunas contra la COVID-19, a lo largo de los primeros 15 meses desde el comienzo de su aplicación, pueden considerarse aportes legítimos y coherentes para comprender mejor su desempeño, y en qué grado las narrativas elaboradas pudieran responder a intereses económicos de las élites corporativas. Una vez recopilados los elementos más relevantes con que se configuran las narrativas predominantes desde el momento en que se concibieron las vacunas, se identificaron diversas anomalías que resultaron, en mayor o menor medida, invisibilizadas en el proceso de su aprobación y de los resultados de su aplicación. Las más significativas conciernen al manejo de las definiciones, los incumplimientos de compromisos y los conflictos de interés que comprometen la actuación de las empresas comercializadoras y los entes reguladores de las vacunas. Numerosos elementos relacionados con los intereses corporativos han gravitado en la elaboración del relato sobre las vacunas. Entre los que reclaman resignificación se hallan: su capacidad preventiva real de contagios, evoluciones graves y muertes, su eficacia ante nuevas variantes, la duración de la inmunidad que confieren, sus efectos adversos, el papel sinérgico de la inmunidad adquirida y los recursos empleados por las empresas para conseguir un predominio virtualmente monopólico en el mercado.

We set out to discern to what extent the media strategies adopted around the vaccines against covid-19 during the first 15 months since the beginning of their application can be considered as a legitimate and coherent contributions to a better understanding about their performance and to what extent the elaborated discourses could respond to the economic interests of the corporations' elites. Once the most relevant elements that have shaped the predominant narratives from the moment the vaccines were conceived were compiled, several anomalies were identified that were to a greater or lesser extent invisibilized in the process of their approval and the results of their application. The most significant of these concern the handling of definitions, non-compliance with commitments and conflicts of interest that compromise the actions of vaccine marketing companies and regulatory bodies. Many elements related to corporative interests have influenced the narrative concerning vaccines. Among those that require a resignification are: their real preventive capacity against contagions, serious diseases and deaths, their efficacy against new variants, the duration of the immunity they confer, their side effects, the synergic role of acquired immunity, and the resources used by the companies to achieve a virtually market monopolistic predominance.

Propomo-nos discernir em que medida as estratégias mediáticas adotadas em torno das vacinas covid-19, ao longo dos primeiros 15 meses desde o início da sua aplicação, podem dar contribuições legítimas e coerentes para melhor compreender o seu desempenho, e em que medida as narrativas poderiam responder aos interesses econômicos das elites corporativas. Uma vez compilados os elementos mais relevantes com os quais se configuram as narrativas predominantes desde o momento em que as vacinas foram concebidas, foram identificadas diversas anomalias que foram, em maior ou menor medida, invisibilizadas no processo de sua aprovação e nos resultados de sua aplicação . As mais significativas dizem respeito à gestão de definições, descumprimentos de compromissos e conflitos de interesse que comprometem a atuação das empresas comercializadoras e dos órgãos reguladores das vacinas. Inúmeros elementos relacionados a interesses corporativos gravitaram na elaboração da história sobre vacinas. Entre os que demandam ressignificação estão: sua real capacidade preventiva de contágios, evoluções graves e óbitos, sua eficácia contra novas variantes, a duração da imunidade que se consolidou, seus efeitos adversos, o papel sinérgico da imunidade adquirida e os recursos utilizados. empresas para alcançar o domínio do monopólio virtual no mercado.

Conflictos de interés y corrección política. Reflexiones para médicos en tiempos moralmente débi / Conflicts of interest and political correctness. Reflections for doctors in morally weak times

En Medicina, intereses enfrentados a los valoressuperiores que sustentan su práctica con frecuencia nossumergen en desafíos éticos que debemos afrontar: Entretales intereses destacan los de carácter político, económico ymediático. En el presente ensayo se presentan y discuten trescasos de relevancia histórica y se analizan las cuestiones moralesconcernientes a cada uno(AU)

In medicine, interests opposed to the higher values that support its practice oen immerse us in ethical challengesthat we must face: Among such interests, those of a political,economic and media nature stand out. In this essay three casesof historical relevance are presented and discussed and the moralquestions concerning each one are analyzed(AU)

Colonialidad, currículo e interés en la educación musical: el caso del conservatorio del Tolima / Coloniality, curriculum and interest in music education: the case of the conservatory of Tolima / Colonialidade, currículo e interesse pela educação musical: o caso do conservatório de Tolima

RESUMEN Se identifica y analiza el tratamiento curricular dado a las Músicas Colombianas en el programa de Licenciatura en Música del Conservatorio del Tolima en la ciudad de Ibagué - Colombia, el cual tiene entre sus líneas de énfasis este tipo de música; la investigación se soporta en la teoria Modernidad -Colonialidad en diálogo con las categorias de currículo e interés. El método obedece a un estudio de caso con el cual se buscó identificar las Músicas Colombianas incluidas en el currículo, su forma de inclusion, así como los intereses curriculares con los cuales son tratadas. Los hallazgos arrojan que la inclusión de estas prácticas sonoras obedece al patrón de blancura, un tratamiento curricular técnico e instrumental, falta de discusión y cuestionamiento ideológico que propicie una emancipación, así como la existencia de formas de resistencia; en conjunto, estos elementos evidencian que la inclusión acritica y antidialógica propicia la perpetuación de la colonialidad en la educación musical.

ABSTRACT It identifies and analyzes the curricular treatment given to Colombian Music in the Bachelor of Music program of the Conservatory ofTolima in the city of Ibagué - Colombia, which has among its lines of emphasis this type of music; the research is based on the Modernity - Coloniality theory in dialogue with the categories of curriculum and interest. The method is based on a case study which sought to identify the Colombian music included in the curriculum, its form of inclusion, as well as the curricular interests with which it is treated. The findings show that the inclusion of these sound practices obeys the pattern of whiteness, a technical and instrumental curricular treatment, lack of discussion and ideological questioning that would favor emancipation, as well as the existence of forms of resistance; together, these elements show that uncritical and anti-dialogical inclusion favors the perpetuation of coloniality in music education.

RESUMO Este trabalho identifica e analisa o tratamento curricular dado à música colombiana no programa de Bacharelado em Música do Conservatório del Tolima na cidade de Ibagué - Colômbia, que tem entre suas linhas de ênfase este tipo de música; a pesquisa é baseada na teoria da Modernidade-Colonialidade em diálogo com as categorias de currículo e interesse. O método é baseado em um estudo de caso que procura identificar a música colombiana incluída no currículo, a forma como ela é incluída, bem como os interesses curriculares com os quais é tratada. As descobertas mostram que a inclusão destas práticas sãs obedece ao padrão de brancura, um tratamento curricular técnico e instrumental, uma falta de discussão e questionamento ideológico que favorece a emancipação, assim como a existência de formas de resistência; juntos, estes elementos mostram que a inclusão acritica e anti-diáloga favorece a perpetuação da colonialidade na educação musical.

Ensaios clínicos em congressos médicos: estudo sobre conflito de interesses / Clinical trials in medical congresses: a study on conflicts of interest / Ensayos clínicos en congresos médicos: un estudio sobre conflicto de intereses

Resumo Este artigo busca investigar conflitos de interesses envolvendo a apresentação de ensaios clínicos em congressos brasileiros de cinco especialidades médicas, ocorridos entre 2004 e 2018. Foram estudados 407 resumos em 22 anais. Após aplicar critérios de seleção, obteve-se um corpus de 77 ensaios. Detectou-se maior frequência de conflitos de interesses envolvendo ensaios com drogas para as quais não havia genéricos/similares ( p =0,000), sendo que em 48% daqueles em conflito de interesses não houve declaração. Os resultados favoráveis à droga-teste ocorreram em 90,9% do total de ensaios, mas em 48,6% deles não foi reportado valor de p . As categorias terapêuticas mais testadas foram imunossupressores e imunomoduladores, antidiabéticos e antineoplásicos, que, juntas, representaram 68,9% do total de drogas envolvidas. Os resultados apontam conflitos de interesses ocultos, supervalorização de resultados positivos de drogas-testes, nem sempre com evidências suficientes, e concentração de produção em drogas de alto custo.

Abstract This article seeks to investigate conflicts of interest involving the presentation of clinical trials in Brazilian congresses of five medical specialties between 2004 and 2018. A total of 407 abstracts in 22 annals were studied. After applying selection criteria, we reached a corpus of 77 essays. A higher frequency of conflicts of interest was found involving essays with drugs for which no generic/similar option was available (p=0.000), and 48% of those with a conflict of interest declared nothing. Favorable results to the test drug occurred in 90.9% of the total of essays, but 48.6% of them lacked the p-value. The most tested therapeutic categories were immunosuppressors and immunomodulators, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic, which, together, amounted to 68.9% of the total of the involved drugs. The results pointed to hidden conflicts of interest, overvaluing of positive results of test drugs, not always with sufficient evidence, and focus of production on high-cost drugs.

Resumen Este artículo analiza los conflictos de intereses en ensayos clínicos presentados en congresos brasileños de cinco especialidades médicas, realizados entre 2004 y 2018. Se analizaron 407 resúmenes de 22 anales. Tras aplicados los criterios de selección se obtuvo un corpus de 77 ensayos. Hubo una mayor frecuencia de conflictos de intereses en ensayos con medicamentos para los que no había medicaciones genéricas/similares ( p =0,000), y el 48% con conflictos no hubo su declaración. Los resultados favorables para droga prueba están en el 90,9% del total de ensayos, pero el 48,6% de ellos no informó el valor de p . Las categorías terapéuticas más probadas fueron inmunosupresores e inmunomoduladores, antidiabéticos y antineoplásicos, que juntas compusieron el 68,9% del total de fármacos. Los resultados apuntan a conflictos de intereses ocultos, sobreestimación de los resultados positivos de las drogas prueba, no siempre con evidencia suficiente, y concentración de la producción en medicamentos de alto costo.

Volviéndonos mejores: necesidad de acción inmediata ante el reto de la obesidad. Una postura de profesionales de la salud / Becoming better: the need for immediate action to address obesity. A position statement from health professionals

resumen está disponible en el texto completo

Abstract: In recent decades, the growing obesity epidemic in Mexico has become one of the most important public health challenges faced by the country. With support from the World Obesity Federation, we formed a working group in 2021 to identify and summarize priority actions that Mexico can take to face this epidemic. More than 1 000 health professionals joined the development and discussion process. Recommendations from previously published, high-level documents and guidelines were taken into account. In commemoration of World Obesity Day 2022, this statement is presented as input for health care professionals to develop actions to address obesity. The statement includes 10 recommendations that include population-level and individual-level actions. It emphasizes the importance of social participation, comprehensive interventions with a person- centered perspective, planetary sustainability, on improving education and communication campaigns, as well as fostering a built environment that promotes active living, and shielding prevention and control efforts from conflicts of interest. The statement calls for obesity to be treated seriously, based on scientific evidence, in a timely and comprehensive manner, employing a life-course and ethical approach that does not perpetuate weight stigma in society.

Problemas morais e/ou éticos em comitês de ética em pesquisa / Moral and/or ethical issues in research ethics committees / Problemas morales y/o éticos en los comités de ética de investigación

Resumo O objetivo do estudo é analisar problemas morais e/ou éticos vivenciados por membros de comitês de ética em pesquisa durante suas atividades e as estratégias utilizadas para solucionar esses problemas. Trata-se de pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, com participação de 39 membros que atuavam em comitês em Salvador/BA, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados em outubro de 2020 por questionário on-line autoaplicado na plataforma Google Forms. Os resultados evidenciaram: vivências de conflitos de interesses e de valores, bem como dilemas; e utilização de trocas de experiências e compartilhamento de ideias e opiniões como estratégias para solucionar esses problemas. Conclui-se que os membros desses comitês vivenciam problemas morais e/ou éticos e buscam solucioná-los por meio de estratégias que favorecem o desenvolvimento de pesquisas conforme critérios éticos e metodológicos adequados.

Abstract The objective of the study is to analyze moral and/or ethical issues experienced by members of research ethics committees when performing their activities and the strategies used to deal with those issues. This is a qualitative study with 39 individuals that participated in committees in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Data were collected in October 2020 using a self-administered online questionnaire developed using Google Forms. Results showed that participants underwent conflicts of interests and values, and also faced dilemmas, and the strategies used to deal with those issues were exchanging of experiences and sharing of ideas and opinions. It is concluded that members of such committees experience moral and/or ethical issues and seek to deal with them via strategies that favor the development of research according to appropriate ethical and methodological criteria.

Resumen El objetivo del estudio es analizar los problemas morales o éticos experimentados por los miembros de los comités de ética de investigación durante sus actividades y las estrategias que utilizan para resolver dichos problemas. Se trata de una investigación de enfoque cualitativo, con la participación de 39 miembros que actuaban en comités en Salvador, Bahía, Brasil. Los datos se recopilaron en octubre del 2020 por medio de un cuestionario en línea autoadministrado en la plataforma Google Forms. Los resultados mostraron experiencias de conflictos de intereses y valores, así como dilemas; y el intercambio de experiencias, ideas y opiniones como estrategias para solucionar dichos problemas. Se concluye que los miembros de estos comités experimentan problemas morales o éticos y tratan de solucionarlos mediante estrategias que favorezcan el desarrollo de investigaciones de acuerdo con criterios éticos y metodológicos adecuados.

Factores de personalidad y variables mediadoras en su relación con la participación política de estudiantes universitarios/as / Personality traits and mediating variables in their relationship with the political participation of colleges students

Resumen El trabajo busca validar un modelo teórico predictivo que analiza los efectos directos e indirectos de los factores de personalidad (según el modelo de los Cinco Grandes Factores) sobre la participación política (PP), incorporando variables de la hipótesis de la mediación: valores políticos, auto posicionamiento ideológico, eficacia política interna e interés por la política. Se aplicó un cuestionario a N=555 estudiantes universitarios de Córdoba, Argentina, y se realizaron correlaciones bivariadas y un análisis de caminos con las variables en estudio. El trabajo confirma la relación directa de Extraversión y el auto posicionamiento ideológico con la PP, aunque evidencia que los factores de personalidad presentan sobre todo efectos indirectos en la PP, mediados en primer lugar por valores políticos, luego interés por la política, y finalmente la eficacia política interna.

Abstract The paper's main goal is to validate a predictive theoretical model that analyzes the direct and indirect effects of personality factors (according to the Big Five Factors model) on political participation (PP), incorporating variables from the mediation hypothesis: political values, ideological self-placement, internal political efficacy and interest in politics. A questionnaire was applied to N=555 college students from Córdoba, Argentina, and bivariate correlations and path analysis were performed with the variables under study. The study confirms the direct relationship of Extraversion and ideological self-positioning with PP, although it shows that personality factors have mostly indirect effects on PP, mediated first by political values, then interest in politics, and finally the internal political efficacy.

The Past, Present, and Future of Commissioned Ethics Review / 中国医学伦理学

In view of the current realistic demand and existing problems of commissioned ethical review in China, this paper reviewed the changes of relevant laws and regulations of commissioned ethical review in China, summarized the current problems in the implementation of commissioned ethical review, such as the lack of clarity in regulations, non-commissioned review specifications, the lack of criteria for selecting ethics committees, the scope of commissioned review to be defined, the unfamiliarity with research conditions, and the difficulty of continuing review. Based on the exploration of commissioned ethics review in China, it was suggested to solve the problem from the following aspects: formulating ethics committee selection criteria, clarifying the content of commissioned review, standardizing the commissioned review procedures of research, reaching intention, signing agreement, implementing commissioned review procedures, strengthening communication and supervision, managing commissioned review materials, strengthening information system construction, improving conflict of interest management, and learning from domestic pioneers and foreign experience.

Special Interest Group for Promoting Primary Care Research on Social Determinants of Health / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

The third annual meeting of Primary Care Research (PCR) Connect was the start of the Special Interest Group (SIG) initiative addressing research on the social determinants of health. The SIG is important for building networks among researchers to promote primary care research on complex systems.

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants: a mini-review

SARS-CoV-2 has evolved over time with several mutations, especially on the spike protein, which has led to emergence of various variants. With the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 come new challenges in surveillance, effectiveness of preventive and treatment strategies, and outcome of the disease. Despite the lockdowns, mask mandates and other preventive measures put in place, in addition to over 10 million vaccine doses that have been administered globally as of February 2022, COVID-19 cases have risen to over 435 million and resulted in over 5.9 million deaths, largely as a result of the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants. To review the evolution of these variants, we searched different online database sources using keywords such as "source of SARS-CoV-2", "SARS-CoV-2 origin", "evolution of SARS-CoV-2", "SARS-CoV-2 variants", "variants of concern", "variants of interest", and "variants of high consequence". This was to enable us give a good report about the various variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have emerged so far, and the public health challenges posed by them.