Evaluating the impact of modeling the family effect for clonal selection in potato-breeding programs.

Because of its wide distribution, high yield potential, and short cycle, the potato has become essential for global food security. However, the complexity of tetrasomic inheritance, the high level of heterozygosity of the parents, the low multiplication rate of tubers, and the genotype-by-environment interactions impose severe challenges on tetraploid potato-breeding programs. The initial stages of selection take place in experiments with low selection accuracy for many of the quantitative traits of interest, for example, tuber yield. The goal of this study was to investigate the contribution of incorporating a family effect in the estimation of the total genotypic effect and selection of clones in the initial stage of a potato-breeding program. The evaluation included single trials (STs) and multi-environment trials (METs). A total of 1,280 clones from 67 full-sib families from the potato-breeding program at Universidade Federal de Lavras were evaluated for the traits total tuber yield and specific gravity. These clones were distributed in six evaluated trials that varied according to the heat stress level: without heat stress, moderate heat stress, and high heat stress. To verify the importance of the family effect, models with and without the family effect were compared for the analysis of ST and MET data for both traits. The models that included the family effect were better adjusted in the ST and MET data analyses for both traits, except when the family effect was not significant. Furthermore, the inclusion of the family effect increased the selective efficiency of clones in both ST and MET analyses via an increase in the accuracy of the total genotypic value. These same models also allowed the prediction of clone effects more realistically, as the variance components associated with family and clone effects within a family were not confounded. Thus, clonal selection based on the total genotypic value, combining the effects of family and clones within a family, proved to be a good alternative for potato-breeding programs that can accommodate the logistic and data tracking required in the breeding program.

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo en el consumo: relación salud-alimentación-escolaridad como determinante para los programas de salud / Impact of the Universal Allowance per Child on consumption: health-food-education as a determinant for health programs

INTRODUCCION: En Argentina, la Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH) es una política que amplía derechos de trabajadores informales o desempleados, aumentando el ingreso de los hogares beneficiariosOBJETIVO: Indagar acerca del uso de la asignación en los consumos familiares y analizar su impacto en la salud, así como en la calidad y condiciones de vida.METODOS: Se usaron métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos (triangulación), trabajando con las bases estadísticas pertenecientes a la Encuesta Nacional de Gasto de los Hogares y la Encuesta Permanente de Hogares de 1996 y 2009, últimas realizadas en Argentina antes de implementarse la AUH. El trabajo cualitativo, que se desarrolló en distritos del Gran Buenos Aires y en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, utilizó grupos de discusión con beneficiarios y entrevistas semi-estructuradas.RESULTADOS: En los hogares más pobres (decil 1) se verificó un aumento del 81% en el ingreso medio a partir de la AUH. Junto con este aumento se registraron cambios en los consumos alimentarios y de salud. Los beneficiarios lograron: 1) agregar una comida en la dieta diaria familiar; 2) aumentar el consumo de carne; 3) mejorar la calidad de los alimentos a través de la sustitución de determinadas marcas; 4) aumentar la autoestima mediante el consumo de alimentos costosos; 5) añadir productos de higiene y limpieza, que mejoran la salud en el hogar; 6) aumentar y reforzar las redes sociales de contención, que resultan económicamente importantes para los sectores más pobres; 7) acceder a créditos formales e informales gracias al aumento de ingresos; 8) reinsertarse en los sistemas de salud y educación; 9) planificar el consumo diferido, incluyendo una dimensión de futuro más allá de las necesidades diarias.CONCLUSIONES: La AUH tiene un fuerte efecto en las condiciones de vida. Impacta positivamente en la situación de salud de la población beneficiaria y en su calidad de vida por medio de la mejora subjetiva del consumo.

INTRODUCTION: In Argentina, the Universal Allowance per Child (UAC) is a policy that expands rights of informal workers and unemployed people, increasing the household income of beneficiaries.OBJECTIVE: To study the use of the allowance in family consumption, analyzing the impact on health as well as on life quality and conditions.METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative methods (triangulation) were used, based on the statistical databases National Survey of Household Expenditure and the Household Permanent Survey from 1996 and 2009, the last ones performed in Argentina before implementing the UAC. The qualitative study was conducted in districts belonging to the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. It used focus groups with beneficiaries and semi-structured interviews.RESULTS: In the poorest households (decile 1) there was an increase of 81% in average income due to UAC. This increase was associated with changes regarding food and health consumption. The beneficiaries were able to: 1) add an extra meal in the family daily diet; 2) increase the consumption of meat; 3) improve the quality of food by replacing certain brands; 4) increase self.esteem through the consumption of expensive foods; 5) add cleaning and hygiene products that improve health at home; 6) increase and strengthen social networks of containment, which are economically important for poor people; 7) access formal and informal credit due to increased income; 8) come back to health and education systems; 9) plan deferred consumption, including a future dimension beyond the daily needs.CONCLUSIONS: The UAC has an important effect on living conditions. The subjective improvement in consumption impacts positively on both the health of the target population and its quality of life.

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo en el consumo: relación salud-alimentación-escolaridad como determinante para los programas de salud / Impact of the Universal Allowance per Child on consumption: health-food-education as a determinant for health programs

INTRODUCCION: En Argentina, la Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH) es una política que amplía derechos de trabajadores informales o desempleados, aumentando el ingreso de los hogares beneficiariosOBJETIVO: Indagar acerca del uso de la asignación en los consumos familiares y analizar su impacto en la salud, así como en la calidad y condiciones de vida.METODOS: Se usaron métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos (triangulación), trabajando con las bases estadísticas pertenecientes a la Encuesta Nacional de Gasto de los Hogares y la Encuesta Permanente de Hogares de 1996 y 2009, últimas realizadas en Argentina antes de implementarse la AUH. El trabajo cualitativo, que se desarrolló en distritos del Gran Buenos Aires y en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, utilizó grupos de discusión con beneficiarios y entrevistas semi-estructuradas.RESULTADOS: En los hogares más pobres (decil 1) se verificó un aumento del 81% en el ingreso medio a partir de la AUH. Junto con este aumento se registraron cambios en los consumos alimentarios y de salud. Los beneficiarios lograron: 1) agregar una comida en la dieta diaria familiar; 2) aumentar el consumo de carne; 3) mejorar la calidad de los alimentos a través de la sustitución de determinadas marcas; 4) aumentar la autoestima mediante el consumo de alimentos costosos; 5) añadir productos de higiene y limpieza, que mejoran la salud en el hogar; 6) aumentar y reforzar las redes sociales de contención, que resultan económicamente importantes para los sectores más pobres; 7) acceder a créditos formales e informales gracias al aumento de ingresos; 8) reinsertarse en los sistemas de salud y educación; 9) planificar el consumo diferido, incluyendo una dimensión de futuro más allá de las necesidades diarias.CONCLUSIONES: La AUH tiene un fuerte efecto en las condiciones de vida. Impacta positivamente en la situación de salud de la población beneficiaria y en su calidad de vida por medio de la mejora subjetiva del consumo.

INTRODUCTION: In Argentina, the Universal Allowance per Child (UAC) is a policy that expands rights of informal workers and unemployed people, increasing the household income of beneficiaries.OBJECTIVE: To study the use of the allowance in family consumption, analyzing the impact on health as well as on life quality and conditions.METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative methods (triangulation) were used, based on the statistical databases National Survey of Household Expenditure and the Household Permanent Survey from 1996 and 2009, the last ones performed in Argentina before implementing the UAC. The qualitative study was conducted in districts belonging to the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. It used focus groups with beneficiaries and semi-structured interviews.RESULTS: In the poorest households (decile 1) there was an increase of 81% in average income due to UAC. This increase was associated with changes regarding food and health consumption. The beneficiaries were able to: 1) add an extra meal in the family daily diet; 2) increase the consumption of meat; 3) improve the quality of food by replacing certain brands; 4) increase self.esteem through the consumption of expensive foods; 5) add cleaning and hygiene products that improve health at home; 6) increase and strengthen social networks of containment, which are economically important for poor people; 7) access formal and informal credit due to increased income; 8) come back to health and education systems; 9) plan deferred consumption, including a future dimension beyond the daily needs.CONCLUSIONS: The UAC has an important effect on living conditions. The subjective improvement in consumption impacts positively on both the health of the target population and its quality of life.

Pulmonary embolism and sudden-unexpected death: prospective study on 2477 forensic autopsies performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Seville.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) are clinical manifestations of the same entity, venous thromboembolic disease (VTD). In approximately 25% of patients, the first manifestation of PE is sudden-unexpected death. We carried out a prospective study at the forensic pathology service of the Institute of Legal Medicine in Seville with the aim to know the incidence of PE as well as to describe the epidemiological, pathological and clinical characteristics of these deaths and associated risk factors. In the study period (32 months) 32 cases of PE were registered from a total of 2447 completed autopsies. Three cases were considered accidental deaths and the remaining 29 cases were sudden natural deaths, which represents 1.3% of the total autopsies, 2.6% of natural deaths and 4.3% of sudden deaths. Nineteen cases (59%) were men (mean age 50.3+/-13.8, range 22-74 years) and 13 cases (41%) were women (mean age 50.3+/-13.8, range 18-87 years). In 78% of cases death occurred at home or during transfer to a health care centre, mainly during the fall or winter (69%) and between 8a.m. and 4p.m. (47%). Pulmonary infarction was associated only in two cases (6%). Nine cases (28%) had been immobilized but only three (9%) received anticoagulant therapy. Surgical interventions had occurred in seven cases (22%). A history of psychiatric pathology was found in 31%. Overweight or obesity was found in 75%. The most frequent symptoms prior to death were dyspnea (31%) and chest pain (19%), and 19% of patients were examined in an Emergencies Department for symptoms compatible with deep vein thrombosis and/or PE, but this diagnosis was not suspected in any case. PE frequently makes its first appearance as sudden death. In addition to the classic risk factors, this study highlights that 75% of the cases were overweight/obese as well as 31% having had a history of psychiatric disorders and treatment as to support that this association should be considered as a risk factor. PE continues to be under diagnosed in Emergencies Department patients, which hinders the application of adequate therapeutic measures to prevent these deaths.

Depressão refratária: estudo clínico em quatro pacientes / Refractory depression: clinical study in four patients

A depressão refratária é tida como um quadro depressivo que não responde a tratamento antidepressivo farmacológico supostamente eficaz. A cada dia surgem mais opções farmacológicas para o tratamento da Depressão, sendo que diversos fatores podem provocar esta refratariedade, como o uso incorreto da medicação, coðmorbidade e tolerância. Em um estudo clínico com quatro pacientes com diagnóstico de Depressão Maior segundo os critérios da DSMðIIIðR, considerados refratários, foi usada fluoxetina como opção terapêutica inicial, na dose de 40mg/dia por oito semanas. Os pacientes foram avaliados pela Escala de Hamilton para Depressão, Impressão Clínica Global do Paciente e pela Entrevista Estruturada para DSM-III-R para transtorno da personalidade (SCIDðII). Do grupo, dois pacientes apresentaram intolerância à fluoxetina. Os outros dois melhoraram e foram acompanhados por 12 semanas, verificandoðse recidiva dos sintomas em um paciente. A refratariedade na Depressão é um estado transitório até que se encontrou a solução terapêutica

Depressao refrataria: estudo clinico em quatro pacientes

A depressao refrataria e tida como um quadro depressivo que nao responde a tratamento antidepressivo farmacologico supostamente eficaz. A cada dia surgem mais opcoes farmacologicas para o tratamento da Depressao, sendo que diversos fatores podem provocar esta refratariedade, como o uso incorreto da medicacao, co-morbidade e tolerancia. Em um estudo clinico com quatro pacientes com diagnostico de Depressao Maior segundo os criterios da DSM-III-R, considerados refratarios, foi usada fluoxetina como opcao terapeutica inicial, na dose de 40mg/dia por oito semanas. Os pacientes foram avaliados pela Escala de Hamilton para Depressao, Impressao Clinica Global do Paciente e pela Entrevista Estruturada para DSM-III-R para transtorno da personalidade (SCID-II). Do grupo, dois pacientes apresentaram intolerancia a fluoxetina. Os outros dois melhoraram e foram acompanhados por 12 semanas, verificando-se recidiva dos sintomas em um paciente. A refratariedade na Depressao e um estado transitorio ate que se encontrou a solucao terapeutica.