The response of native Australian rodents to predator odours varies seasonally: a by-product of life history variation?

Small mammals are subject to predation from mammalian, avian and reptilian predators. There is an obvious advantage for prey species to detect the presence of predators in their environment, enabling them to make decisions about movement and foraging behaviour based on perceived risk of predation. We examined the effect of faecal odours from marsupial and eutherian predators, and a native reptilian predator, on the behaviour of three endemic Australian rodent species (the fawn-footed melomys, Melomys cervinipes, the bush rat, Rattus fuscipes, and the giant white-tailed rat, Uromys caudimaculatus) in rainforest remnants on the Atherton Tableland, North Queensland, Australia. Infrared camera traps were used to assess visit rates of rodents to odour stations containing faecal and control odours. Rodents avoided odour stations containing predator faeces, but did not avoid herbivore or control odours. The responses of the three prey species differed: in the late wet season U. caudimaculatus avoided predator odours, whereas R. fuscipes and M. cervinipes did not. In contrast, in the late dry season all three species avoided odour stations containing predator odours. We speculate that these different responses may result from variation in life history traits between the species. (c) 2006 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transdermal estrogen therapy effects on fibrinogen levels in women with a past history of venous thromboembolism: a pilot study

Objective: To evaluate thromboelastographic parameters and fibrinogen levels in women treated with transdermal 17 beta estradiol. Methods: 29 menopausal women with a history of venous thromboembolic disease were included. Nine patients composed the treatment (HT) group and 20 the control group. Coagulation was assessed by thromboelastography in samples of whole blood and platelet-poor plasma (PPP). The following thromboelastographic variables were measured: time for initial coagulation (R), blood clotting speed (K and the a angle), clot tensile strength (MA and G), global index of coagulation (Cl) and fibrinolysis (LY30) and fibrinogen levels. Results: There were no differences in the other parameters comparing both groups. Fibrinogen levels showed a 13.77 +/- 19.94% reduction in the HT group and a 5.51 +/- 8.09% increase in the control group after 6 months. Conclusions: Our data suggested that transdermal estrogen may not increase blood coagulability, but that it reduces fibrinogen levels in FIT women.

Common mental disorders during pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors among low-income women in Sao Paulo, Brazil

To estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and factors associated with these disorders among pregnant women of low socio-economic status (SES) in Sao Paulo. We performed a cross-sectional study with 831 women in their 20th to 30th weeks of pregnancy, who were attending antenatal clinics in primary care in Sao Paulo, Brazil. CMD were assessed with the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% CI were calculated to examine the association between CMD and exposure variables. The prevalence of CMD was 20.2% (95% CI 17.5 to 23.0). Age at current pregnancy and at first delivery, current obstetric complications, not having friends in the community, living in a crowded household, lower occupational status and history of previous psychiatric treatment were all independently associated with increased prevalence of CMD. CMD is highly prevalent among pregnant women of low SES seen in primary care settings in Sao Paulo. A combination of distal and proximal psychosocial factors increase the risk for CMD. Primary health care professionals need to be aware of how common CMD in such settings and properly trained to deal with CMD during pregnancy.

Family history of cancer: Pooled analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium

Alcohol and tobacco consumption are well-recognized risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC). Evidence suggests that genetic predisposition may also play a role. Only a few epidemiologic studies, however, have considered the relation between HNC risk and family history of HNC and other cancers. We pooled individual-level data across 12 case-control studies including 8,967 HNC cases and 13,627 controls. We obtained pooled odds ratios (OR) using fixed and random effect models and adjusting for potential confounding factors. All statistical tests were two-sided. A family history of HNC in first-degree relatives increased the risk of HNC (OR = 1.7, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.2-2.3). The risk was higher when the affected relative was a sibling (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.1) rather than a parent (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-1.8) and for more distal HNC anatomic sites (hypopharynx and larynx). The risk was also higher, or limited to, in subjects exposed to tobacco. The OR rose to 7.2 (95% CI 5.5-9.5) among subjects with family history, who were alcohol and tobacco users. A weak but significant association (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2) emerged for family history of other tobacco-related neoplasms, particularly with laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5). No association was observed for family history of nontobacco-related neoplasms and the risk of HNC (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1). Familial factors play a role in the etiology of HNC. In both subjects with and without family history of HNC, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol exposure may be the best way to avoid HNC. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc,