Periodical crossing of the laboratory population with the natural population would improve fitness in S. sunia ( Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Background: The research focused on evaluating the biological and reproductive parameters of the species Spodoptera sunia with the introduction of field genetic material, in the Noctuid Insect Breeding Laboratory. Methods: The experiment consisted of three treatments and three repetitions involving 30 individuals each. Field-collected S. sunia population was reared in the laboratory under semi-controlled conditions of temperature and humidity for three generations. The progeny of the third generation was crossed with the laboratory population and the resulting progeny was observed for growth and reproductive fitness. Results: The results revealed that the hybrid progeny (T3) has a sex ratio (F: M) of 0.82, as against 1.22 and 0.76 observed in the field (T1) and lab populations (T2) respectively. The T1 females oviposited 196 egg masses as against 160 and 59 egg masses by T3 and T2 females respectively. The larval growth was more in hybrid progeny with shorter larval duration. However, no variation was observed in the incubation and pupal periods. Conclusions: Since the most optimal results were obtained in T2 and T3, it is recommended to introduce genetic material every six months to maintain a good laboratory population of the insect host under study and better breeding of its natural enemies.

A real-life overview of a hematopoietic cell transplant program throughout a four-year period, including prospective registry, exclusion causes and final donor selection.

Traceability of patients who are candidates for Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is crucial to ensure HCT program quality. Continuous knowledge of both a detailed registry from a HCT program and final exclusion causes can contribute to promoting a real-life vision and optimizing patient and donor selection. We analyzed epidemiological data reported in a 4 year-monocentric prospective registry, which included all patients presented as candidates for autologous (Auto) and/or allogeneic (Allo) HCT. A total of 543 patients were considered for HCT: 252 (42.4%) for Allo and 291 (57.6%) for Auto. A total of 98 (38.9%) patients were excluded from AlloHCT due to basal disease progression more commonly (18.2%). Seventy-six (30.2%) patients had an HLA identical sibling, whereas 147 (58.3%) patients had only Haplo. UD research was performed in 106 (42%) cases, significantly more often in myeloid than lymphoid malignancies (57% vs 28.7%, p < 0.001) but 61.3% were finally canceled, due to donor or disease causes in 72.4%. With respect to Auto candidates, a total of 60 (20.6%) patients were finally excluded; progression was the most common cause (12%). Currently, Haplo is the most frequent donor type. The high cancellation rate of UD research should be revised to optimize further donor algorithms.

[Primary health care in Ecuador: services provided by the Ministry of Health and Rural Social security Services]. / La atención primaria de salud en el Ecuador: los servicios del Ministerio de Salud y de la Seguridad Social Rural.

The present study will examine three common premises in the field of international public health: that the primary care services offered by agencies of the Ministries of Health (MH) are less costly than those offered by Social Security institutions, that the former services are inferior to the latter, and that funds are distributed more equitably by the MH centers among their various recipient populations. The 1986 study compared the costs, quality, and equity of the services in 15 primary care centers in Ecuador--eight Ministry of Health centers and seven rural Social Security (RSS) centers--examining budgetary data from 1985 and obtaining information through a questionnaire and interviews with the personnel at those centers. Average costs were calculated by standardized accounting techniques, and it was confirmed that for several important services, especially medical consultations, these costs were much lower in the Ministry centers than in the Social Security centers. However, no differences in the cost of dental care were detected. The evaluation of quality, based on an analysis of the production structure and process, did not yield uniform results. On the one hand, the distribution of personnel and the allocation of funds for drugs and other supplies indicated that the RSS agencies provided better quality services. On the other hand, a questionnaire revealed that the MH health workers' knowledge of various principles of primary care was superior to that of the RSS workers. Upon comparing the per capita budget of the two types of entities, it was confirmed that the Ministry of Health had more equitable per capita coverage than rural Social Security. The implications of these findings for Ecuador and other developing countries are discussed and several recommendations made.

Primary health services in Ecuador: comparative costs, quality, and equity of care in Ministry of Health and rural social security facilities.

This study of costs, quality and financial equity of primary health services in Ecuador, based on 1985 data, examines three assumptions, common in international health, concerning Ministry of Health (MOH) and Social Security (SS) programs. The assumptions are that MOH services are less costly than SS services, that they are of lower quality than SS services, and that MOH programs are more equitable in terms of the distribution of funds available for PHC among different population groups. Full costs of a range of primary health services were estimated by standard accounting techniques for 15 typical health care establishments, 8 operated by the MOH and 7 by the rural SS program (RSSP), serving rural and peri-urban populations in the two major geographical regions of Ecuador. Consistent with the conventional premise, MOH average costs were much lower than RSSP costs for several important types of services, especially those provided by physicians. Little difference was found for dental care. The lower MOH physician service costs appeared to be attributable primarily to lower personnel compensation (only partially offset by lesser productivity) and to greater economies of scope. Several measures of the quality of care were applied, with varying results. Based on staff differences and patterns of expenditures on resource inputs, notably drugs, RSSP quality appeared higher, as assumed. However, contrary to expectation, a questionnaire assessment of staff knowledge and procedures favored the MOH for quality. Program equity was judged in terms of per capita budgeted expenditures (additional measures, such as the likelihood of receiving necessary care, would have required household survey data beyond the scope of this program-based study). The results support the assumption of greater MOH financial equity, as its program reveals less variation in budgeted expenditures between different population groups covered. Additional evidence of equity, using other indicators, would be helpful in future research. The paper's findings have policy implications not only for Ecuador's health sector but also for policy-makers in other countries at similar levels of socioeconomic development. These implications are spelled out in order to guide officials wrestling with issues of efficiency, quality, and equity as they search for the best use of scarce resources to promote health.

Career choices of general preventive medicine residency graduates: 1981-1986.

To identify career choices made by recent graduates of general preventive medicine residency programs, all funded residency programs in general preventive medicine (excluding federal and military programs) were surveyed. Eighty-two percent of programs responded and reported on the career choices of 241 graduates who graduated from 1981 to 1986. In order of preference, the categories of career choice were: program activities (36.5%), teaching (19.1%), clinical services (17.0%), and research (6.2%). About one-fifth (21.2%) chose other activities. The number of graduates more than doubled between the periods 1981-1983 and 1984-1986. There was a threefold increase in the percentage of graduates involved primarily in research; however, there was a 33% decrease in the percentage of graduates who became professional academicians.

A travelers' clinic in an academic setting.

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona has operated a travelers' clinic since 1983, staffed primarily by faculty and residents from the sections of preventive medicine, occupational medicine, and family medicine. We describe the clinic experience in providing preventive medical services to international travelers. Summer months are the busiest. Destinations of the travelers show a clear predominance of travel to less-developed countries, and this is reflected in the immunizations and prescriptions provided. After their trips, travelers reported a low incidence of diarrhea of generally low severity. The travelers' clinic is also a positive experience for resident physicians who help staff it, particularly those specializing in general preventive medicine.

Pulmonary toxicity studies of bleomycin and talisomycin.

The comparative pulmonary toxicity induced by bleomycin and talisomycin (former trivial name: tallysomycin A) was evaluated by measuring lung hydroxyproline content. Based on published subacute toxicity data, in which talisomycin was found to be four times as toxic as bleomycin, the following doses of each drug were given sc to BDF1 male mice twice weekly for 4 weeks: 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg of bleomycin and 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 mg/kg of talisomycin. Equivalent dose-related effects in body weight were produced by bleomycin and talisomycin at a respective dose ratio of 4:1. Similarly, equivalent dose-dependent increases in lung hydroxyproline content, an index of collagen, were produced by bleomycin and talisomycin. Neither drug caused deaths at the doses used.