Evaluation of genotoxicity and oxidative damage in painters exposed to low levels of toluene

Toluene is an organic solvent used in numerous processes and products, including industrial paints. Toluene neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity are well recognized: however, its genotoxicity is still under discussion, and toluene is not classified as a carcinogenic solvent. Using the comet assay and the micronucleus test for detection of possible genotoxic effects of toluene, we monitored industrial painters from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The putative involvement of oxidative stress in genetic damage and the influences of age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exposure time were also assessed. Although all biomarkers of toluene exposure were below the biological exposure limits, painters presented significantly higher DNA damage (comet assay) than the control group; however, in the micronucleus assay, no significant difference was observed. Painters also showed alterations in hepatic enzymes and albumin levels, as well as oxidative damage, suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress. According to multiple linear regression analysis, blood toluene levels may account for the increased DNA damage in painters. In summary, this study showed that low levels of toluene exposure can cause genetic damage, and this is related to oxidative stress, age, and time of exposure. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Materno-infantilism, feminism and maternal health policy in Brazil

In the last days of 2011, President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff issued a provisional measure (or draft law) entitled "National Surveillance and Monitoring Registration System for the Prevention of Maternal Mortality" (MP 557), as part of a new maternal health programme. It was supposed to address the pressing issue of maternal morbidity and mortality in Brazil, but instead it caused an explosive controversy because it used terms such as nascituro (unborn child) and proposed the compulsory registration of every pregnancy. After intense protests by feminist and human rights groups that this law was unconstitutional, violated women's right to privacy and threatened our already limited reproductive rights, the measure was revised in January 2012, omitting "the unborn child" but not the mandatory registration of pregnancy. Unfortunately, neither version of the draft law addresses the two main problems with maternal health in Brazil: the over-medicalisation of childbirth and its adverse effects, and the need for safe, legal abortion. The content of this measure itself reflects the conflictive nature of public policies on reproductive health in Brazil and how they are shaped by close links between different levels of government and political parties, and religious and professional sectors. (C) 2012 Reproductive Health Matters

Glycosaminoglycan profiles in the uterus of adult ovariectomized rats treated with estrogen and progestagen

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of conjugated equine estrogens (CE) alone or in combination with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the cervix and horns of the rat uterus. Study design: Thirty days after ovariectomy, adult rats were randomly divided into four groups: Cl, control (treated with drug vehicle); GII CE (50 mu g/kg per day); GIII, MPA (0.2 mg/kg per day), and GIV, CE + MPA (doses as in GII and Gill). Drugs and vehicle were given by gavage during 28 days. Afterwards the animals were anesthetized, the cervix and uterine horns were dissected out and the middle portion fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution; other portions were fixed in acetone for histological examination and glycosaminoglycan quantification, respectively. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used for sulfated GAG analyses, and hyaluronic acid was assayed with an ELISA-like method. Statistical analysis was done by the Student's t test and the Tukey-Kramer test (P < 0.05). Results: The cervix and uterine horn structures presented signs of atrophy in the control group (GI). The other groups, mainly groups III and IV, had histological aspects of proliferation. In all groups the concentration of sulfated GAGs (especially dermatan sulfate) was higher than that of non-sulfated GAGs, both in cervix and in uterine horns. Estrogens increased sulfated GAG concentration at the cervix and the horn, whereas in uterine horns the amounts of sulfated GAGs were decreased after estrogens plus MPA treatment. The concentration of hyaluronic acid in uterine horns was higher than in cervices. Conclusions: The profiling and amounts of glycosaminoglycans in the two portions of the rat uterus are uneven. Dermatan sulfate occurs in higher concentrations in both cervix and uterine horns. Sulfated GAGs in rat cervix were increased by estrogens plus MPA, but were decreased by MPA alone in uterine horns. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hierarquias reprodutivas: maternidade e desigualdades no exercício de direitos humanos pelas mulheres

A partir da concepção contemporânea de direitos humanos, o texto discute os direitos reprodutivos e o exercício da maternidade. Após histórico e definição dos direitos reprodutivos e dos direitos sexuais, o artigo trata da maternidade voluntária, segura, socialmente amparada e prazerosa, para propor uma reflexão sobre 'hierarquias reprodutivas'. Defende-se que diferentes aspectos das mães - tal como raça, classe social, idade e parceria sexual - determinam a legitimidade e aceitação social destas maternidades, e, portanto, suas vivências. Quanto maior o número de aspectos 'negativos' presentes na mulher (ou casal) ao exercitar a maternidade e/ou a reprodução e cuidado com os filhos, mais próxima da base da pirâmide hierárquica estará e, ainda, maior dificuldade encontrará no exercício de seus direitos humanos. O texto conclui que são necessárias políticas públicas de suporte social à maternidade para as mulheres que assim escolham, indistintamente, visando promover o exercício de seus direitos humanos.

Reproductive phenology of three species of Gelidiales (Rhodophyta) in two macroalgal communities from Tenerife (Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands, Spain)

[EN] The reproductive phenology of three species of Gelidiales, Gelidium canariense, Gelidium arbuscula and Pterocladiella capillacea, was analysed seasonally for a period of one year in two localities on the West coast of Tenerife Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands, Spain. Considerations are provided on sex ratio, maximum length and branch order of uprights and on the length of the thalli for each sexual and asexual phase of the Canary Islands populations. The three species were characterized by a high percentage of tetrasporophytes, while female and male gametophytes have been observed only in little proportion. Only G. canariense showed gametophytes in all seasons while the occurrence of gametophytes in G. arbuscula and Pterocladiella capillacea demonstrated a clear seasonality.

Reproduction of Mediterranean zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate scleractinian corals along environmental gradients

Despite extensive studies focus mainly on sexual reproductive characteristics in tropical scleractinian species, there is limited knowledge on temperate regions. The Mediterranean is a biodiversity hotspot under intense pressure from anthropogenic impacts. Climatic models further predict that the Mediterranean basin will be one of the most impacted regions by the ongoing warming trend. This makes it a potential model of more global patterns to occur in the world’s marine biota, and a natural focus of interest for research on climate. The present research contributed to increase data on reproductive modes and sexuality of temperate scleractinian corals, highlighting their developmental plasticity, showing different forms of propagation and different responses to environmental change. For the first time, sexuality and reproductive mode in Caryophyllia inornata were determined. An unusual embryogenesis without a clear seasonal pattern was observed, suggesting the possibility of an asexual origin. Sexual reproduction of Astroides calycularis was governed by annual changes in seawater temperature, as observed for other Mediterranean dendrophylliids. Defining the reproductive biology of these species is the starting point for studying their potential response to variations of environmental parameters, on a global climate change context. The results on the influence of temperature on reproductive output of the zooxanthellate (symbiosis with unicellular algae) Balanophyllia europaea and the non-zooxanthellate Leptopsammia pruvoti suggest that the latter may be quite tolerant to temperature increase, since the zooxanthellate species resulted less efficient at warm temperatures. A possible explanation could be related to their different trophic system. In B. europaea thermal tolerance is primarily governed by the symbiotic algae, making it more sensitive to temperature changes. On the contrary, the absence of symbionts in L. pruvoti might make it more resistant to temperature. In a progressively warming Mediterranean, the efficiency on scleractinian reproduction could be influenced in different ways, reflecting their extraordinary adaptability.

Social inclusion of vulnerable groups through participatory and emancipatory approaches. Implementing active citizenship and socially innovative actions in the framework of civil & human rights model of disability

The research hypothesis of the thesis is that “an open participation in the co-creation of the services and environments, makes life easier for vulnerable groups”; assuming that the participatory and emancipatory approaches are processes of possible actions and changes aimed at facilitating people’s lives. The adoption of these approaches is put forward as the common denominator of social innovative practices that supporting inclusive processes allow a shift from a medical model to a civil and human rights approach to disability. The theoretical basis of this assumption finds support in many principles of Inclusive Education and the main focus of the hypothesis of research is on participation and emancipation as approaches aimed at facing emerging and existing problems related to inclusion. The framework of reference for the research is represented by the perspectives adopted by several international documents concerning policies and interventions to promote and support the leadership and participation of vulnerable groups. In the first part an in-depth analysis of the main academic publications on the central themes of the thesis has been carried out. After investigating the framework of reference, the analysis focuses on the main tools of participatory and emancipatory approaches, which are able to connect with the concepts of active citizenship and social innovation. In the second part two case studies concerning participatory and emancipatory approaches in the areas of concern are presented and analyzed as example of the improvement of inclusion, through the involvement and participation of persons with disability. The research has been developed using a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, aimed at providing a knowledge-base that fosters a shift from a situation of passivity and care towards a new scenario based on the person’s commitment in the elaboration of his/her own project of life.

Effect Of Yolk Testosterone On Gonadal Testosterone And Aromatase Activity In The Pre-Optic Area Of The Brain In Male Domestic C

Maternal effects are a mother¿s non-genetic contributions to development that alter phenotypic traits in offspring. Maternal effects can take the form of prenatal allocation of resources, such as the deposition of androgens into egg yolks. For example, elevated yolk testosterone increases male sexual behaviors such as copulation solicitation and courtship displays in some avian species, in addition to aggressive behaviors like pecks and intimidating postures towards same-sex competitors. However, the mechanism connecting in ovo testosterone exposure with changes in sexual and aggressive behaviors has yet to be elucidated. While testosterone released by the gonads is important in the activation of sexual behaviors, it must undergo conversion to estrogen by the enzyme aromatase in the pre-optic area (POA) of the avian brain for full expression of sexual activity. POA aromatase is also necessary for the activation of aggressive behaviors in male birds. This experiment tested the hypothesis that elevated yolk testosterone leads to changes in POA aromatase activity and levels of gonadal testosterone, as these two endocrine parameters may mediate the effect of yolk testosterone on the frequency of sexual and aggressive behaviors. The effect of elevated yolk testosterone on gonadal testosterone levels and aromatase activity in the POA of 3-day-old domestic chickens Gallus gallus domesticus was investigated. Unincubated eggs were injected with either 10 ng testosterone in 50 ¿L sesame oil (¿T chicks¿) or 50 ¿L sesame oil (¿C chicks¿). At 3 days post-hatch, gonadal testosterone content was measured after steroid extraction using an EIA, and aromatase activity in the POA was quantified by measuring the production of tritiated water from [1ß-3H]-androstenedione. I predicted that gonadal testosterone levels and brain aromatase activity would be higher in T chicks, however found no difference between treatments. Though juvenile T production peaks at 3 days post-hatch, it is possible that the reproductive systems, including the testes and POA, are not fully developed at this time.

The Effects of Apomorphine on Sexual Behavior and Aggression in Male Golden Hamsters

The general dopamine agonist apomorphine has been shown to have mostly facilitative effects on sexual behavior in rodents (Domingues & Hull, 2005; Bitran & Hull, 1987). A study looking at the effectsof apomorphine on sexual behavior in male golden hamsters observed that after systemic injections of apomorphine the males became aggressive towards the estrous females (Floody, unpublished). Studies on aggressive behavior have shown that apomorphine has facilitative effects on aggression in rodents (Nelson & Trainor, 2007; van Erp & Miczek, 2000; Ferrari, van Erp, Tornatzky, & Miczek, 2003). The studies presented here attempt to unravel the effects that apomorphine has on sexual and aggressive behavior in male golden hamsters. Studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 focused on the effects of apomorphine on aggression and Study 5 focused on the effects of apomorphine on sexual behavior. It was important for the purposes ofthis study to have separate, specific measures of aggression and sexual behavior that did not involve a social context that would involve multiple behaviors and motivations. The measure used to assessaggression was flank marking behavior. The measure used to assess sexual behavior was the number of vocalizations in response to sexual stimuli. The results from Studies 1, 2, and 3 suggested thatapomorphine increased aggressive motivation in a dose-dependent manner. In Studies 1 and 2 there was a high occurrence of stereotyped cheek pouching that interfered with the flank marking behavior. In Study 3 the procedure was modified to prevent cheek pouching and flank marking was observed uninhibited. Study 5 suggested a decrease in vocalizations after apomorphine treatment. However, this decrease may have been a result of the increase in stereotyped licking behavior. Results suggested that systemic apomorphine treatments increase aggressive motivation in hamsters. The increase in aggressive motivation may confuse the perception of the sensory signals that the males receive from the estrous females. They may haveperceived the estrous female as a nonestrous female which they would normally associate with an aggressive interaction (Lehman, Powers, & Winans, 1983).

Paleoenvironment and Paleoecology of a Late Paleocene High-Latitude Terrestrial Succession, Arkose Ridge Formation at Box Canyon, Southern Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska

Paleogene sedimentary rocks of the Arkose Ridge Formation (Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska) preserve a record of a fluvial-lacustrine depositional environment and its forested ecosystem in an active basin among the convergent margin tectonic processes that shaped southern Alaska. An -800 m measured succession at Box Canyon indicates braid-plain deposition with predominantly gravelly deposits low in the exposure to sandy and muddy facies associations below an overlying lava flow sequence. U-Pb geochronology on zircons from a tuff and a sandstone within the measured section, as well as an Ar/Ar date from the overlying lava constrain the age of the sedimentary succession to between similar to 59 Ma and 48 Ma Fossil plant remains occur throughout the Arkose Ridge Formation as poorly-preserved coalified woody debris and fragmentary leaf impressions. At Box Canyon, however, a thin la-custrine depositional lens of rhythmically laminated mudrocks yielded fish fossils and a well-preserved floral assemblage including foliage and reproductive organs representing conifers, sphenopsids, monocots, and dicots. Leaf physiognomic methods to estimate paleoclimate were applied to the dicot leaf collection and indicate warm temperate paleotemperatures (-11-15 +/- -4 degrees C MAT) and elevated paleoprecipitation (-120 cm/yr MAP) estimates as compared to modem conditions; results that are parallel with previously published estimates from the partly coeval Chickaloon Formation deposited in more distal depositional environments in the same basin. The low abundance of leaf herbivory in the Box Canyon dicot assemblage (-9% of leaves damaged) is also similar to the results from assemblages in the meander-plain depositional systems of the Chickaloon. This new suite of data informs models of the tectonostratigraphic evolution of southern Alaska and the developing understanding of terrestrial paleoecology and paleoclimate at high latitudes during the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene greenhouse climate phase. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ten novel mutations in the NR5A1 gene cause disordered sex development in 46,XY and ovarian insufficiency in 46,XX individuals

Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1/NR5A1) is a nuclear receptor that regulates adrenal and reproductive development and function. NR5A1 mutations have been detected in 46,XY individuals with disorders of sexual development (DSD) but apparently normal adrenal function and in 46,XX women with normal sexual development yet primary ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Prolapse and sexual function 8 years after neovagina according to Shears: a study of 43 cases with Mayer-von Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome

To investigate sexual and anatomical outcome after Shears neovagina in patients with Mayer-von Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH).

Species-Specific Relationships between Water Transparency and Male Coloration within and between Two Closely Related Lake Victoria Cichlid Species

Environmental variation in signalling conditions affects animal communication traits, with possible consequences for sexual selection and reproductive isolation. Using spectrophotometry, we studied how male coloration within and between populations of two closely related Lake Victoria cichlid species (Pundamilia pundamilia and P. nyererei) covaries with water transparency. Focusing on coloration patches implicated in sexual selection, we predicted that in clear waters, with broad-spectrum light, (1) colours should become more saturated and (2) shift in hue away from the dominant ambient wavelengths, compared to more turbid waters. We found support for these predictions for the red and yellow coloration of P. nyererei but not the blue coloration of P. pundamilia. This may be explained by the species difference in depth distribution, which generates a steeper gradient in visual conditions for P. nyererei compared to P. pundamilia. Alternatively, the importance of male coloration in intraspecific sexual selection may differ between the species. We also found that anal fin spots, that is, the orange spots on male haplochromine anal fins that presumably mimic eggs, covaried with water transparency in a similar way for both species. This is in contrast to the other body regions studied and suggests that, while indeed functioning as signals, these spots may not play a role in species differentiation.

Gynaecological operations: do they improve sexual life?

Aim of the study was to determine if gynaecological operations have an effect on sexual function using the current medlined literature. We performed a Medline search using the terms "sexual life/function after operative gynaecological treatment", "sexual life/function after operations for gynaecological problems", "sexual life/function after hysterectomy", "sexual life/function, incontinence" and "sexual life/function, pelvic organ prolapse". Reviews were excluded. We divided the operations into four groups of (1) combined prolapse and incontinence operations, (2) prolapse operations only, (3) incontinence operations only and (4) hysterectomy and compared pre-to postoperative sexual outcome. Thirty-six articles including 4534 patients were identified. Only 13 studies used a validated questionnaire. The other authors used self-designed and non-validated questionnaires or orally posed questions by the examiner to determine sexual function. Prolapse operations particularly posterior repair using levator plication seem to deteriorate sexual function, incontinence procedure have some worsening effect on sexual function and hysterectomy seems to improve sexual function with no differences between subtotal or total hysterectomy. Gynaecological operations do influence sexual function. However, little validated data are available to come to this conclusion.