Participatory capacities and vulnerabilities assessment: Towards the realisation of community-based early warning system for deep-seated landslides.

Existing frameworks of community-based early warning systems (CBEWS) lack focus on its actual implementation. Furthermore, they do not describe how a top-down early warning system (EWS) can be transformed into a CBEWS. Hence, to support the establishment of a community-based early warning system for deep-seated landslides (CBEWS-L), this study aimed to assess the capacities and vulnerabilities of five barangays in the Philippines. The CBEWS-L to be established is envisioned to be information and communication technology (ICT)-based. An ICT4D perspective was therefore taken in conducting this participatory study. Stakeholder mapping, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to gather data. Validation was also done through triangulation and post-analysis consultations. The results showed that there are varying sets of capacities and vulnerabilities existing in each community. Moreover, ICT capacities are lacking and are outnumbered by vulnerabilities. Yet, site-specific action points to enhance capacities and resolve vulnerabilities were determined. Still, overall strategies were not uncovered. Furthermore, compounding the capacities and vulnerabilities in each site are indirect factors which, if examined thoroughly, may lead to more complex socio-political issues. It is therefore recommended that in establishing a CBEWS, a comprehensive community risk assessment is first conducted to exhaust all possible action points that can be used in formulating site-specific strategies. Moreover, development of technological solutions must be modular to allow flexibility in accommodating complex community capacities and vulnerabilities. Keywords: Early warning systems; community risk assessment; participatory research; information and communication technology or development; community-based disaster risk reduction and management.

Helmintic infections in water buffaloes on Italian farms: a spatial analysis.

The present paper reports the results of a cross-sectional survey aimed at obtaining up-to-date information on the spatial distribution of different groups and/or species of helminths in water buffaloes from central Italy. Geographical information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis were used to plan the sampling procedures, to display the results as maps and to detect spatial clusters of helminths in the study area. The survey was conducted on 127 water buffalo farms, which were selected in the study area using a grid sampling approach, followed by proportional allocation. Faecal samples (n. = 1,883) collected from the 127 farms were examined using the Flotac dual technique. Gastrointestinal strongyles were the most frequent helminths (33.1%) on the tested farms, followed by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica (7.1%), the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi (7.1%), the nematode Strongyloides spp. (3.1%), the lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2.4%) and the tapeworm Moniezia spp. (2.4%). In order to display the spatial distribution of the various helminths detected on the water buffalo farms (used as epidemiological unit in our study), point maps were drawn within the GIS. In addition, for each helminth, clustering of test-positive farms were investigated based on location determined by exact coordinates. Using spatial scan statistic, spatial clusters were found for the flukes F. hepatica and C. daubneyi and the cestode Moniezia spp.; these findings are consistent with the life cycle of these parasites, which have strong environmental determinants. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that, with the appropriate survey-based data at hand, GIS is a useful tool to study epidemiological patterns of infections in veterinary health, in particular in water buffaloes.

Possible synergistic effect of metformin and enalapril on the development of hyperkaliemic lactic acidosis.

A 71 year old hypertensive, non insulin-dependent diabetic patient with moderate renal insufficiency taking 500 mg/d of metformin and 5 mg/d of enalapril, developed metabolic acidosis characterized by fairly elevated anion gap, hyperchloremia, severe hyperkaliemia, normal plasma level of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, absence of ketonuria and high plasma level of lactic acid. This biochemical feature allowed us to ascribe the pathogenesis of metabolic acidosis, both to the increased plasma level of lactic acid and to the type IV renal tubular acidosis syndrome, the precipitating factor being an infection of urinary tract (as we assumed on the basis of the urine culture). The patient was dehydrated and lethargic; the ECG revealed the presence of nonparoxysmal junctional tachycardia. The clinical evolution was favorable under the treatment with an infusion of isotonic saline solutions, mild alkalinizing solutions, low-dose regular insulin and antibiotics. It is likely that metformin and enalapril, regularly taken by this nephropathic patient, could have played an iatrogenic role, even if the doses were low. This case highlights the importance of complying with the contraindications of these drugs, to avoid the rare but reported life-threatening complications of metformin administration.