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Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Cross-Country Measures for Monitoring Epilepsy Care

EPILEPSIA, Issue 5 2007
Charles E. Begley
Summary:,Purpose: The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Commission on Healthcare Policy in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO) examined the applicability and usefulness of various measures for monitoring epilepsy healthcare services and systems across countries. The goal is to provide planners and policymakers with tools to analyze the impact of healthcare services and systems and evaluate efforts to improve performance. Methods: Commission members conducted a systematic literature review and consulted with experts to assess the nature, strengths, and limitations of the treatment gap and resource availability measures that are currently used to assess the adequacy of epilepsy care. We also conducted a pilot study to determine the feasibility and applicability of using new measures to assess epilepsy care developed by the WHO including Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), responsiveness, and financial fairness. Results: The existing measures that are frequently used to assess the adequacy of epilepsy care focus on structural or process factors whose relationship to outcomes are indirect and may vary across regions. The WHO measures are conceptually superior because of their breadth and connection to articulated and agreed upon outcomes for health systems. However, the WHO measures require data that are not readily available in developing countries and most developed countries as well. Conclusion: The epilepsy field should consider adopting the WHO measures in country assessments of epilepsy burden and healthcare performance whenever data permit. Efforts should be made to develop the data elements to estimate the measures. [source]

A hybrid zone provides evidence for incipient ecological speciation in Heliconius butterflies

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 21 2008
CARLOS F. ARIAS
Abstract In Heliconius butterflies, it has been proposed that speciation occurs through a combination of divergence in ecological habitat preferences and mimetic colour patterns. Here we test this hypothesis by investigating a parapatric form of the widespread species Heliconius erato. Mendelian (colour patterns) and molecular genetic data permit us to address hypotheses about introgression and genetic differentiation between different populations. Combined analysis of colour pattern, microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA showed that Heliconius erato venus and Heliconius erato chestertonii form a bimodal hybrid zone implying partial reproductive isolation. In a sample of 121 individuals collected in sympatry, 25% were hybrids representing a significant deficit of heterozygotes compared to the Hardy,Weinberg expectation. Seven microsatellite loci, analysed for a subset of these individuals, showed marked differentiation between the parental taxa, and unambiguously identified two genotypic clusters concordant with our phenotypic classification of individuals. Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed H. erato venus as a monophyletic group well differentiated from H. erato chestertonii, implying a lack of historical introgression between the populations. Heliconius erato chestertonii is therefore an incipient species that maintains its integrity despite high levels of hybridization. Moreover, H. erato chestertonii is found at higher altitudes than other races of H. erato and has a distinct colour pattern and mimetic relationship. Hence, there are now two examples of parapatric incipient species related to H. erato, H. himera and H. erato chestertonii, both of which are associated with higher altitudes, more arid habitats and distinct mimetic relationships. This implies that parapatric habitat adaptation is a likely cause of speciation in this group. [source]

Electron Beam Computed Tomographic Scanning in Preventive Medicine

PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
David G. King BSc
Undetected coronary atherosclerosis is present in the majority of patients suffering myocardial infarction or sudden death. Electron beam computed tomography affords noninvasive scanning of the heart to detect and measure coronary calcification. These data permit dramatically improved assessment of both short term and future risk for cardiac and other events. Knowledge of this risk gives the physician an opportunity for timely and cost-effective interventions. [source]

Recent tectonics in the Turkana Rift (North Kenya): an integrated approach from drainage network, satellite imagery and reflection seismic analyses

BASIN RESEARCH, Issue 2 2004
W. Vétel
The Turkana rifted zone in northern Kenya is a long-lived and polyphased rift system where the lack of well-marked rift morphology makes it difficult to identify the zone of active deformation. A high-density river network is exceptionally well developed over the study area and shows evidence of drainage anomalies that suggest recent fault-induced movements at various scales. Correlation of surface drainage anomalies with Landsat remote sensing and deep seismic reflection data permits to characterize the deep geometry of the inferred fault structures. Seismic stratigraphy further allows distinction between the inherited (Oligocene,Pliocene) and the newly formed (<3.7 Ma) origin of the recent deformation. Evidence for neotectonics are observed (1) along a large-scale transverse (EW) fault rooted at depth along a steep basement discontinuity (Turkwell), (2) along a rift-parallel (NS) fault zone probably emplaced during the Pliocene,Pleistocene and currently bounding the Napedet volcanic plateau to the west and (3) over a round-shaped uplifted zone caused by positive inversion tectonics (Kalabata). The major contribution of this work is the recognition of a broad (80 km wide) zone of recent/active extensional deformation in the Turkana Rift in contrast with the narrow (20 km wide) N10°E-trending axial trough forming the Suguta valley to the south, and the Chew Bahir faulted basin to the north. These along-strike variations in structural style are partly controlled by the occurrence of rejuvenated Oligocene,Miocene rift faults and long-lived transverse discontinuities in the Turkana Rift area. More generally, this study has implications for the use of river drainage network about recent/active extensional domains with subdued topography and slow deformation rate. [source]