Infection by Schistosoma mansoni sambon 1907 in the first four months of life of Biomphalaria straminea (Dunker, 1848) in Brazil

Compatibility between Schistosoma mansoni and Biomphalaria straminea when exposed to the parasite on the first four months of age was assessed for five parasitological aspects: indices of infection and mortality, duration of precercarial and cercarial periods, and rate of cercarial emission. Infections were made on molluscs from laboratory colonies, at the following ages: 8, 13, 18, 21, 53, 83 and 114 days. Two B. straminea colonies were used (Camorim, PE and Picos, PI), and one B. glabrata colony (Ressaca, MG) was used as control. The main results are as follows: (I) infection was significantly associated with mollusc age, being proportionally higher in sexually immature than in mature molluscs for the three colonies; (II) for B. straminea from Camorim, mortality did not differ significantly between infected and non-infected snails; for B. straminea from Picos significantly more deaths occurred among infected than among non-infected snails, while the opposite was observed for B. glabrata from Ressaca; (III) for the three colonies, the precercarial period was significantly shorter for immature molluscs than for mature ones; (IV) the duration of the cercarial period was extremely variable for the three colonies; (V) sexual maturity did not influence cercarial emission for the three colonies.

First Report of Lappetascaris lutjani Rasheed, 1965 (Nematoda, Ascaridoidea, Anisakidae) Parasitizing Trachipterus arawatae (Pisces, Lampridiformes) on the Atlantic Coast of Brazil

New host and geographical records are reported for the nematode Lappetascaris lutjani Rasheed, 1965, parasitizing the marine fish Trachipterus arawatae Clark, 1881 in Brazilian waters. Morphometric data and illustrations of the parasites are included.

Children First

The Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy

Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer - First Report 1999 (PDF 73 KB)

The Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer Services (RACC) was established in 1997. Its purpose is to advise the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Campbell Report Cancer Services: Investing for the Future and on the development and delivery of cancer services in Northern Ireland. The remit and functions of RACC are set out in Annex 1. The 28 members of RACC come from the Health and Social Services Councils (which represent the interests of the public), primary care, Trusts, Boards and the DHSS. The Chief Medical Officer attends as an observer. The full membership of the committee is listed in Annex 2. 1.3 RACC held its first meeting in June 1997 and has continued to meet twice a year since then. This is its first report. åÊ åÊ

Health Survey Northern Ireland: First Results 2013/14

This report presents results from the 2013/14 Health Survey Northern Ireland. It includes information on general health, mental health and wellbeing, diet and nutrition, physical activity, obesity, smoking, drinking and sexual health. Differences reported are those that are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. The fieldwork for this survey was conducted from April 2013 to March 2014. Results are based on responses of 4,509 individuals, with a response rate of 66% achieved. åÊ

Implementation of Recommendations of The Commission on Nursing - First Annual Progress Report of Monitoring Committee

The focus of this first annual report is on the progress made during 2000 in implementing the recommendations contained in the priority Action Plan. However, the Monitoring Committee acknowledges that certain other key recommendations of the Commission were implemented in 1998/1999. A summary of these are included in this report in order to provide a comprehensive overview of all that has been achieved since the Commission’s report was launched. Download the Report here

A First Record of Phlebotominae from Argentinean Patagonia (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

A species of the Lutzomyia oswaldoi group is recorded from the Valcheta stream basin, Somuncura plateau, Patagonia. It represents the World southermost record of a species of Phlebotominae, apparently supporting the hypothesis about the relictual character of several components of the Somuncura plateau biota, particularly for those species belonging to the Paranaense lineages.

An evaluation of the first phase of the Irish Cervical Screening Programme from the woman's perspective

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First characterization of Candida albicans by random amplified polymorphic DNA method in Nicaragua and comparison of the diagnosis methods for vaginal candidiasis in Nicaraguan women

A total of 106 women with vaginitis in Nicaragua were studied. The positive rate for the identification of Candida species was 41% (44 positive cultures out of 106 women with vaginitis). The sensitivity of microscopic examination of wet mount with the potassium hydroxide (KOH) was 61% and 70% with Gram's stain when using the culture of vaginal fluid as gold standard for diagnosis of candidiasis. Among the 44 positives cultures, isolated species of yeast from vaginal swabs were C. albicans (59%), C. tropicalis (23%), C. glabrata (14%) and C. krusei (4%). This study reports the first characterization of 26 C. albicans stocks from Nicaragua by the random amplified polymorphic DNA method. The genetic analysis in this small C. albicans population showed the existence of linkage disequilibrium, which is consistent with the hypothesis that C. albicans undergoes a clonal propagation.

First report on the presence of Biomphalaria straminea in the municipality of Jaboticatubas, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

This is the first report on occurrence of Biomphalaria straminea in the district of São José de Almeida (municipality of Jaboticatubas) State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The presence of B. glabrata and B. tenagophila had already been reported in this area. Such municipality is part of the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte and comprises 60% of the Tourist Complex of Serra do Cipó. Since the 1950s throughout the 1990s, a schistosomiasis prevalence ranging from 15 to 40% has been observed. Although no B. straminea specimen has been found naturally infected in the region, descendants of these snails collected in the area, showed to be experimentally susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni infection reaching rates from 14.6 to 28.6%. Even not being found naturally infected, in the State of Minas Gerais, the possibility that the species B. straminea may keep endemicity foci of schistosomiasis should be regarded, as in the Northeastern region of Brazil where the high density of this planorbid and the social-economic and sanitary conditions enable to the transmission.

First Annual Report of the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body (2006)

First Annual Report of the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body (2006) In December 2005 the Minister for Health and Children set up the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body (the Monitoring Body) to oversee the implementation of and adherence to the Voluntary Codes of Practice to limit the exposure of young people to alcohol advertising. These Codes were agreed between the Department of Health and Children and representatives of the advertising, drinks and mediacommunications industries. Click here to download PDF 139kb

First Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group on "A Vision for Change"

First Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group on “A Vision for Change” In January 2006, the Government adopted the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy "A Vision for Change"Âù as the basis for the future development of mental health services. In March 2006, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Mr Tim Oâ?TMalley, T.D., with special responsibility for mental health services, established the independent Monitoring Group to monitor progress on the implementation of the report recommendations. Click here to download PDF 255kb

History of offending behavior in first episode psychosis patients: A marker of specific clinical needs and a call for early detection strategies among young offenders.

OBJECTIVES: Previous literature suggests that early psychosis (EP) patients with a history of offending behavior (HOB) have specific clinical needs. The aims of this study were to assess: (1) the prevalence of HOB in a representative sample of EP; (2) the premorbid and baseline characteristics of patients with HOB, and (3) the potential differences in short-term outcome of such patients when compared to patients without HOB. METHODS: The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) admitted 786 EP patients between 1998 and 2000. Data were collected from patients' files using a standardized questionnaire. Data of 647 patients could be analyzed. RESULTS: HOB patients (29% of the sample) were more likely to be male with lower level of premorbid functioning and education, have used illicit substances and have attempted suicide. They presented with a more complex clinical picture and had poorer 18-month outcome. Most importantly, they had a significantly longer duration of untreated psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the high prevalence and specific features of EP patients with HOB, our study confirms a need for additional research in this domain and for the development of specific treatment strategies. Most importantly, it suggests a need for the promotion of early detection strategies among the populations of young offenders, considering that some of them may be going through the early phases of a psychotic disorder and that reduction of treatment delay and provision of well adapted interventions may have a significant impact at numerous levels in such patients.

First Quarterly Progress Report of the Implementation Steering Group on recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

First Quarterly Progress Report of the Implementation Steering Group on recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance Click here to download PDF 56kb