Assessing Sustainable Development Goal Target Indicator 3.5.2: Trends in alcohol per capita consumption in the Americas 1990-2016.

The objective of this study was to estimate trends in alcohol per capita consumption from 1990 to 2016 in the Region of the Americas, covering 35 Member States. Data from the WHO Global Information System on Alcohol and Health were used to calculate the annual percent change of alcohol per capita consumption in each of the 35 countries of the Americas. The Americas as a whole showed no change in the total period, with a slight decrease in the period 2010-2016. From 1990 to 2016, all the countries that presented a trend of annual increase in annual percent change of alcohol per capita consumption were in the Caribbean and Central America. Large increases were found in the recent years in Cuba, Colombia, Uruguay, El Salvador, and several countries of the Non-Latin Caribbean. In conclusion, alcohol use remains a significant obstacle to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3.5. To date, the policy response has been inadequate in protecting the people in the Americas from alcohol-attributable harms. Improving country capacity to collect and analyze data on alcohol per capita consumption is urgently needed to monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and to serve to promote proven alcohol policies for reducing the harmful use of alcohol.

El objetivo de este estudio es estimar las tendencias en el consumo per cápita de alcohol desde 1990 hasta el 2016 en 35 Estados Miembros de la Región de las Américas. Se emplearon datos del Sistema Mundial de Información sobre el Alcohol y la Salud de la OMS para calcular la variación porcentual por año del consumo per cápita de alcohol en cada uno de los 35 países de la Región. En general, la Región no mostró cambio en todo el período, salvo una disminución leve entre el 2010 y el 2016. De 1990 al 2016, todos los países que registraron una tendencia al alza en la variación anual porcentual del consumo per cápita de alcohol se encontraban en el Caribe y Centroamérica. En los últimos años se observó un aumento importante en Cuba, Colombia, Uruguay, El Salvador y varios países del Caribe no latino. En conclusión, el consumo de alcohol sigue siendo un obstáculo significativo para lograr el Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 3.5. Hasta la fecha, la respuesta de las políticas ha sido inadecuada para proteger a la población de la Región de los daños atribuibles al alcohol. Es necesario mejorar de manera urgente la capacidad a nivel de país para recopilar y analizar datos sobre el consumo per cápita de alcohol a fin de monitorear el progreso de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y promover políticas relativas al alcohol cuya eficacia en cuanto a la reducción del consumo nocivo ha sido comprobada.

O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar as tendências do consumo de álcool per capita de 1990 a 2016 na Região das Américas, cobrindo os 35 Estados Membros. Dados do Sistema Mundial de Informação sobre Álcool e Saúde da OMS foram usados para calcular a mudança percentual anual do consumo de álcool per capita de cada um dos 35 países das Américas. As Américas, como um todo, não mostraram mudança alguma no período total, com uma diminuição leve no período entre 2010 e 2016. De 1990 a 2016, todos os países que apresentaram uma tendência de aumento anual na mudança percentual anual do consumo de álcool per capita estão no Caribe e na América Central. Um grande aumento foi encontrado nos anos recentes em Cuba, Colômbia, Uruguai, El Salvador e vários países não latinos do Caribe. Em conclusão, o consumo de álcool continua sendo um obstáculo significativo para o cumprimento do Objetivo de Desenvolvimento Sustentável 3.5. Até o momento, a resposta política foi inadequada para proteger a população nas Américas dos danos atribuíveis ao álcool. Melhorar a capacidade dos países de coletar e analisar dados sobre o consumo de álcool per capita é urgentemente necessário para monitorar o progresso dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e para promover políticas comprovadas de redução do consumo nocivo de álcool.

Assessing Sustainable Development Goal Target Indicator 3.5.2: Trends in alcohol per capita consumption in the Americas 1990–2016

[ABSTRACT]. The objective of this study was to estimate trends in alcohol per capita consumption from 1990 to 2016 in the Region of the Americas, covering 35 Member States. Data from the WHO Global Information System on Alcohol and Health were used to calculate the annual percent change of alcohol per capita consumption in each of the 35 countries of the Americas. The Americas as a whole showed no change in the total period, with a slight decrease in the period 2010–2016. From 1990 to 2016, all the countries that presented a trend of annual increase in annual percent change of alcohol per capita consumption were in the Caribbean and Central America. Large increases were found in the recent years in Cuba, Colombia, Uruguay, El Salvador, and several countries of the Non-Latin Caribbean. In conclusion, alcohol use remains a significant obstacle to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3.5. To date, the policy response has been inadequate in protecting the people in the Americas from alcohol-attributable harms. Improving country capacity to collect and analyze data on alcohol per capita consumption is urgently needed to monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and to serve to promote proven alcohol policies for reducing the harmful use of alcohol.

[RESUMEN]. El objetivo de este estudio es estimar las tendencias en el consumo per cápita de alcohol desde 1990 hasta el 2016 en 35 Estados Miembros de la Región de las Américas. Se emplearon datos del Sistema Mundial de Información sobre el Alcohol y la Salud de la OMS para calcular la variación porcentual por año del consumo per cápita de alcohol en cada uno de los 35 países de la Región. En general, la Región no mostró cambio en todo el período, salvo una disminución leve entre el 2010 y el 2016. De 1990 al 2016, todos los países que registraron una tendencia al alza en la variación anual porcentual del consumo per cápita de alcohol se encontraban en el Caribe y Centroamérica. En los últimos años se observó un aumento importante en Cuba, Colombia, Uruguay, El Salvador y varios países del Caribe no latino. En conclusión, el consumo de alcohol sigue siendo un obstáculo significativo para lograr el Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 3.5. Hasta la fecha, la respuesta de las políticas ha sido inadecuada para proteger a la población de la Región de los daños atribuibles al alcohol. Es necesario mejorar de manera urgente la capacidad a nivel de país para recopilar y analizar datos sobre el consumo per cápita de alcohol a fin de monitorear el progreso de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y promover políticas relativas al alcohol cuya eficacia en cuanto a la reducción del consumo nocivo ha sido comprobada.

[RESUMO]. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar as tendências do consumo de álcool per capita de 1990 a 2016 na Região das Américas, cobrindo os 35 Estados Membros. Dados do Sistema Mundial de Informação sobre Álcool e Saúde da OMS foram usados para calcular a mudança percentual anual do consumo de álcool per capita de cada um dos 35 países das Américas. As Américas, como um todo, não mostraram mudança alguma no período total, com uma diminuição leve no período entre 2010 e 2016. De 1990 a 2016, todos os países que apresentaram uma tendência de aumento anual na mudança percentual anual do consumo de álcool per capita estão no Caribe e na América Central. Um grande aumento foi encontrado nos anos recentes em Cuba, Colômbia, Uruguai, El Salvador e vários países não latinos do Caribe. Em conclusão, o consumo de álcool continua sendo um obstáculo significativo para o cumprimento do Objetivo de Desenvolvimento Sustentável 3.5. Até o momento, a resposta política foi inadequada para proteger a população nas Américas dos danos atribuíveis ao álcool. Melhorar a capacidade dos países de coletar e analisar dados sobre o consumo de álcool per capita é urgentemente necessário para monitorar o progresso dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e para promover políticas comprovadas de redução do consumo nocivo de álcool.

Mnemonic strategy training modulates functional connectivity at rest in mild cognitive impairment: Results from a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Mnemonic strategy training (MST) has been shown to improve cognitive performance and increase brain activation in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, little is known regarding the effects of MST on functional connectivity (FC) at rest. The aim of the present study was to investigate the MST focused on face-name associations effect on resting-state FC in those with MCI. METHODS: Twenty-six amnestic MCI participants were randomized in MST (N = 14) and Education Program (active control; N = 12). Interventions occurred twice a week over two consecutive weeks (ie, four sessions). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was collected at pre- and post-intervention. Regions of interest (ROIs) were selected based on areas that previously showed task-related activation changes after MST. Changes were examined through ROI-to-ROI analysis and significant results were corrected for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: At post-intervention, only the MST group showed increased FC, whereas the control group showed decreased or no change in FC. After MST, there was an increased FC between the left middle temporal gyrus and right orbitofrontal cortex. In addition, a time-by-group interaction indicated that the MST group showed greater increased FC between the right inferior frontal gyrus and left brain regions, such as fusiform gyrus, temporal pole, and orbitofrontal cortex relative to controls. DISCUSSION: MST enhanced FC in regions that are functionally relevant for the training; however, not in all ROIs investigated. Our findings suggest that MST-induced changes are reflected in task-specific conditions, as previously reported, but also in general innate connectivity. Our results both enhance knowledge about the mechanisms underlying MST effects and may provide neurophysiological evidence of training transfer.

Training gains and transfer effects after mnemonic strategy training in mild cognitive impairment: A fMRI study.

Prior work has revealed that mnemonic strategy training (MST) can enhance memory for specific content and engages regions in the frontoparietal cognitive control network. Evidence of transfer to novel content is less clear. Here, we provide secondary analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired during a randomized controlled trial that compared MST to an active education control condition in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI). In the trial, thirty participants with a-MCI were randomized to the education program (EP) or MST, where they learned to apply the technique to face-name associations during four intervening hour long training sessions. Participants underwent pre- and post-training fMRI scans, during which they encoded both the trained (i.e., those used during the four training sessions) and untrained ('novel') face-name associations. The primary cognitive outcome measures revealed significantly improved memory for both trained and novel stimuli - effects supporting near transfer of MST. Relative to pre-training, there were significant and highly similar increases in activation for both trained and novel stimuli, especially in regions associated with the frontoparietal cognitive control network bilaterally, but also in temporal areas related to social cognition and emotional processing. Critically, this pattern of activation was notably different from the EP group. Thus, the changes in activation were consistent with the strategies trained and, combined with the cognitively-based near transfer effects, suggest that MST focused on face-name association enhances performance by engaging cognitive control and social/emotional processing. Finally, our data indicated that our MST is a relevant and efficient intervention to a-MCI.

Cognitive and Brain Activity Changes After Mnemonic Strategy Training in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Mnemonic strategy training (MST) has been shown to improve cognitive performance in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI), however, several questions remain unresolved. The goal of the present study was to replicate earlier pilot study findings using a randomized controlled design and to evaluate transfer effects and changes in brain activation. Methods: Thirty patients with a-MCI were randomized into MST or education program. At baseline, participants completed clinical and neuropsychological assessments as well as structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Interventions were administered individually and comprised four sessions, over 2 weeks. MST taught patients to use a three-step process to learn and recall face-name associations. Post-treatment assessment included fMRI, a separate face-name association task, neuropsychological tests, and measures of metamemory. Behavioral (i.e., non-fMRI) measures were repeated after one and 3-months. Results: Participants in the MST condition showed greater improvement on measures of face-name memory, and increased associative strategy use; effects that were accompanied by increased fMRI activation in the left anterior temporal lobe. While all participants reported greater contentment with their everyday memory following intervention, only the MST group reported significant improvements in their memory abilities. There was no clear indication of far-transfer effects to other neuropsychological tests. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that patients with a-MCI not only show stimulus specific benefits of MST, but that they appear capable of transferring training to at least some other cognitive tasks. MST also facilitated the use of brain regions that are involved in face processing, episodic and semantic memory, and social cognition, which are consonant with the cognitive processes engaged by training.

The Male Produced Aggregation Pheromone of a Strawberry Sap Beetle, Lobiopa insularis (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae).

The nitidulid beetle Lobiopa insularis is an important pest of strawberry crops in the United States and Brazil. Both larvae and adults feed on ripe strawberries, causing 20-70% loss in production during serious infestations. Aiming at the development of efficient, clean, and highly specific pest management systems, semiochemicals, especially pheromones, are particularly useful. Analyses of the extracts of both males and females obtained from aeration of live beetles showed the presence of three male specific compounds, 2-nonanone, 2-undecanone, and 2-undecanol (in an enantiomeric ratio of S:R = 3.5:1). This is the first record of ketones and an alcohol as pheromone components in Nitidulidae. These compounds were emitted by males in amounts of 0.3:6:1.5 ng per insect within 24 h (1:30:3), respectively, during the scotophase, indicating nocturnal sexual activity. Field tests with pitfall traps containing different mixtures of compounds and ripe strawberries as a co-attractant summed up to five treatments with 25 replications. As a result, 59% males and 41% females (1:0.7) were caught, indicating the L. insularis pheromone to cause aggregation of both sexes. Results of the field tests showed that the attractivity of the binary mixture of ketones (T3) differed from the control (T5), from traps with 2-undecanone alone (T4), and from the mixture of 2-undecanone and racemic 2-undecanol (T2). Moreover, the activity of the ternary mixture of compounds (T1) was not different from that of T3, indicating that the racemic alcohol did not positively influence trap catches. In future applications, a mixture of synthetic strawberry-derived compounds that are attractive to L. insularis may substitute rapidly decaying fruit in the field, maintaining catches for longer periods. Because of its efficiency and low cost, a mixture of 2-undecanone and 2-nonanone is recommended to catch adult L. insularis in the field.

Cognitive training for schizophrenia in developing countries: a pilot trial in Brazil.

Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia can massively impact functionality and quality of life, furthering the importance of cognitive training. Despite the development of the field in Europe and in the United States, no programmes have been developed and tested in developing countries. Different cultural backgrounds, budget restrictions, and other difficulties may render treatment packages created in high income countries difficult for adoption by developing nations. We performed a pilot double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in order to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of an attention and memory training programme specially created in a developing nation. The intervention used simple, widely available materials, required minimal infrastructure, and was conducted in groups. The sample included seventeen stable Brazilians with schizophrenia. Sessions were conducted weekly during five months. The cognitive training group showed significant improvements in inhibitory control and set-shifting over time. Both groups showed improvements in symptoms, processing speed, selective attention, executive function, and long-term visual memory. Improvements were found in the control group in long-term verbal memory and concentration. Our findings reinforce the idea that cognitive training in schizophrenia can be constructed using simple resources and infrastructure, facilitating its adoption by developing countries, and it may improve cognition.

Volatile organic compounds of conspecific-damaged Eucalyptus benthamii influence responses of mated females of Thaumastocoris peregrinus.

Plants respond to herbivory by synthesizing and releasing novel blends of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Natural enemies are attracted to these VOCs, but little is known about the effects of these chemicals on the herbivores themselves. We studied the effect of Thaumastocoris peregrinus herbivory on VOCs released by Eucalyptus benthamii plants and the responses of this herbivore to the VOCs. In total, 12 compounds released by E. benthamii were identified. Five compounds (ß-pinene, linalool, 9-epi-(E)-caryophyllene, viridiflorol, and one unidentified compound) emitted after herbivore and mechanical damage were not detected in collections from undamaged plants. The three most abundant VOCs, α-pinene, aromadendrene, and globulol, were released in greater quantities from herbivore-damaged plants compared to plants with mechanical damage, which, in turn, released greater amounts than undamaged (control) plants. The VOCs emitted after herbivore damage did not differ during the photophase and scotophase in either quantity or quality. In an olfactometer, mated female T. peregrinus showed a preference for undamaged plants over herbivore-damaged plants, and also for hexane over α-pinene at an amount equivalent to that released by a herbivore-damaged plant. In the olfactometer, virgin females did not exhibit any preference between conspecific-damaged or undamaged plants.

Validation of a treatment algorithm for major depression in an older Brazilian sample.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a modified version of the Duke Somatic Algorithm Treatment for Geriatric Depression (STAGED) in a Brazilian sample of older patients with major depression. Besides, we aimed to investigate possible baseline predictive factors for remission in this sample. METHODS: Sixty-seven depressed individuals were treated according to STAGED over 24 weeks in a prospective cohort design with follow-up. All patients had criteria for major depression and were at least 60 years of age at baseline enrollment. RESULTS: During this follow-up, 56 patients could be classified in remitted or not remitted group, 42.85% reached remission, and 57.14% did not reach remission. These results are even better than those found in the original study, probably due to the lower baseline depression severity of our sample. When baseline characteristics were compared between remitted and not remitted groups, scores of Mini Mental State Examination and Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG) were the only variables with statistical significant difference (p < 0.05) between groups. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to try to predict remission and statistical significance (p < 0.05) was found only for baseline MMSE scores. It may mean that patients with mixed cognitive disorders and mood disorders have a worse course of depression. CONCLUSIONS: This version of STAGED seems to be a useful strategy for treatment of depression in late life. Baseline general cognitive performance might be useful to predict remission of depression in older patients with mild to moderate depression. Further research with different population characteristics should be conducted in order to evaluate its usefulness and feasibility in different settings.

Scanning electron micrographs of Oryzophagus oryzae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), plastron structure and swimming behavior.

The morphological structures that permit Oryzophagus oryzae aquatic activities and swimming behavior were studied and compared with various weevils and other relevant species. The use of scanning electron microscopy facilitated the recognition of three different hydrofuge scales and sensilla. Based on the microscopic observations of behavior, morphological evidence, and comparisons with other curculionid species, it was supported that the gas exchange in O. oryzae adults relies on a subelytral air store maintained by hydrofuge scales and a ribbed margin on the adult elytra. The plastron structure is identical to Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus supporting the application of similar control measures for both species.

Harmonia axyridis: a threat to Brazilian Coccinellidae? / Harmonia axyridis: uma ameaça aos Coccinellidae brasileiros?

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) is a polyphagous Asian species, well-known as a classical biological control agent of aphids around the world, introduced probably accidentally in Brazil, sampled for the first time in 2002. It is an important intraguild predator, competing for food with native coccinellids. It was studied H. axyridis alimentary sources and host plants, its abundance compared with native and established species, the influence of abiotic factors and the seasons over the abundance of H. axyridis throughout one year, and discussed the mechanisms which influence the displacement of species. Harmonia axyridis was found in 38 plant species, among them 20 were new records, feeding on 20 aphid species, eight of them new alimentary records. Between 2006/2007, eight Coccinellidae species were collected and H. axyridis was the most abundant (91.23 percent). Harmonia axyridis peak of abundance occurred in August and September 2007, probably influenced by the temperature and food availability. From 1999 to 2007 a reduction and variation in the diversity of collected species of Coccinellidae were observed with the predominance of H. axyridis, which may indicate their displacement.

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) é uma espécie asiática, polífaga e reconhecida como agente de controle biológico de afídeos pelo mundo, provavelmente introduzida acidentalmente no Brasil, coletada pela primeira vez em 2002. É um importante predador intraguilda, pois compete por alimento com as espécies nativas de coccinelídeos. Foram estudadas as fontes alimentares de H. axyridis e suas plantas hospedeiras, sua abundância em relação às espécies nativas e estabelecidas, a influência dos fatores abióticos e as estações do ano sobre sua abundância durante um ano e discutidos os mecanismos que influenciam no deslocamento das espécies nativas de Coccinellidae. Além disso, foi testada a influência dos fatores abióticos e as estações do ano sobre sua abundância durante um ano. Harmonia axyridis foi encontrada em 38 espécies de plantas, sendo 20 delas novos registros, alimentando-se de 20 espécies de afídeos, oito novos registros alimentares. Entre os anos de 2006/2007, oito espécies de Coccinellidae foram coletadas e H. axyridis foi a mais abundante (91,23 por cento). O pico de abundância de H. axyridis ocorreu em agosto e setembro de 2007, provavelmente influenciado pela temperatura e disponibilidade de alimento. Entre 1999 e 2007, foram observadas a redução e variação na diversidade de espécies de Coccinellidae coletadas, com a predominância de H. axyridis, o que pode indicar o desalojamento destas espécies.