Building a comprehensive mentoring academy for schools of health.

Formal mentoring programs are increasingly recognized as critical for faculty career development. We describe a mentoring academy (MA) developed for faculty across tracks (i.e., researchers, clinicians, educators) within a "school of health" encompassing schools of medicine and nursing. The program is anchored dually in a clinical and translational science center and a school of health. The structure includes the involvement of departmental and center mentoring directors to achieve widespread uptake and oversight. A fundamental resource provided by the MA includes providing workshops to enhance mentoring skills. Initiatives for junior faculty emphasize establishing and maintaining strong mentoring relationships and implementing individual development plans (IDPs) for career planning. We present self-report data on competency improvement from mentor workshops and data on resources and barriers identified by junior faculty (n = 222) in their IDPs. Mentors reported statistically significantly improved mentoring competency after workshop participation. Junior faculty most frequently identified mentors (61%) and collaborators (23%) as resources for goal attainment. Top barriers included insufficient time and time-management issues (57%), funding limitations (18%), work-life balance issues (18%), including inadequate time for self-care and career development activities. Our MA can serve as a model and roadmap for providing resources to faculty across traditional tracks within medical schools

Social policies and emotions in Latin America: A theoretical approach to their analysis

This article aims at making a conceptual analysis of the links between social policies, emotions and World Images. It tries to frame the theoretical and epistemic plots of subjacent assumptions that involve (and activate) State interventions on "the social". The following is the argumentative strategy that has been chosen: firstly, we will account for the links between social policies and the capitalist regime of accumulation; secondly, we will explain the proposed theoretical links between World Image and policies of emotions; thirdly, we will offer some arguments which show the analytical richness of linking social policies and policies of emotions through the concept of World Image; fourthly, as an example, we will frame the massiveness of social policies as a World Image that transmits emotionalities linked to the reproduction of the regime of accumulation. Lastly, as a conclusion, we ask and warn about some components of social policies which make them stand as tools for coloniality

Aborto inseguro: determinantes sociais e iniquidades em saúde em uma população vulnerável, São Paulo, Brasil

This cross-sectional population-based study in a peripheral low-income community in São Paulo, Brazil, aimed to estimate the prevalence of unsafe abortion and identify the socio-demographic characteristics associated with it and its morbidity. The article discusses the study's results, based on univariate and multiple multinomial logistic regression analyses. The final regression models included: age at first intercourse 2 sex partners in the previous year (OR = 3.63); more live born children than the woman's self-reported ideal number (OR = 3.09); acceptance of the abortion due to insufficient economic conditions (OR = 4.07); black ethnicity/color (OR = 2.67); and low schooling (OR = 2.46), all with p 2 (OR = 3,63); número de filhos nascidos vivos > ideal (OR = 3,09); aceitação do aborto por falta de condições econômicas (OR = 4,07); etnia negra/cor preta (OR = 2,67); e escolaridade baixa (OR = 2,46), todos com p < 0,05. Foi utilizada na discussão uma abordagem voltada aos determinantes sociais da saúde, segundo conceito e modelo adotados pela WHO, e às iniquidades em saúde por esses geradas na ocorrência do aborto inseguro. Verificou-se que o aborto inseguro e características sociodemográficas são influenciados pelos determinantes sociais da saúde descritos, gerando nessa população iniquidades em saúde de proporções diversas.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Prevalência e características sociodemográficas de mulheres com aborto provocado em uma amostra da população da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil

Objectives:This study aims at estimating the prevalence of women with induced abortion among women of childbearing age (15-49 years) who had any previous pregnancy, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in the last quarter of 2008, and identifying the sociodemographic characteristics (SC) associated with it. Methods:A cross-sectional survey was carried out. The dependent variable was dichotomized as: no abortion and induced abortion. The independent variables were: age, paid work/activity, familial monthly income, schooling, marital status, contraceptive use and number of live births. Statistical analysis was performed using log-binomial regression models with approximation of Poisson to estimate the prevalance ratios (PR). Results:Of all women with any previous pregnancy (n = 683), 4.5% (n = 31) reported induced abortion. The final multivariate model showed that having now between 40 and 44 years (PR = 2.76, p = 0.0043), being single (PR = 2.79, p = 0.0159), having 5 or more live births (PR = 3.97, p = 0.0013), current oral contraception or IUD use (PR = 2.70, p = 0.454) and using a non effective (or of low efficacy) contraceptive method (PR = 4.18, p = 0.0009) were sociodemographic characteristics associated with induced abortion in this population. Conclusions:Induced abortion seems to be used to limit fertility, more precisely after having reached the desired number of children. The inadequate use or non-use of effective contraceptive methods, and / or the use of contraceptivenon effective, exposed also the women to the risk of unintended pregnancies and, therefore, induced abortions. In addition, when faced with a pregnancy, single women were more likely to have an abortion than married women.Objetivos:O presente estudo busca estimar a prevalência de mulheres com aborto provocado dentre as mulheres em idade fértil (15 a 49 anos de idade) que apresentaram alguma gestação prévia, residentes na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil, no último trimestre de 2008, bem como identificar essa ocorrência em função de algumas características sociodemográficas (CSD).Métodos:Trata-se de um estudo transversal. A variável dependente aborto foi dicotomizada em: aborto provocado (AP) e nenhum aborto (NA). As variáveis independentes utilizadas foram: idade, atividade remunerada, renda mensal familiar, escolaridade, estado conjugal, uso de método(s) contraceptivo(s) e número de filhos nascidos vivos. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de modelos de regressão log-binomial com aproximação de Poisson para avaliar as razões de prevalência (RP).Resultados:Dentre o total de mulheres com alguma gestação prévia (n = 683), 4,5% (n = 31) declararam algum AP. O modelo log-binomial final mostrou que idade atual entre 40 e 44 anos de idade (RP = 2,76; p = 0,0043), estado conjugal solteira (RP = 2,79; p = 0,0159), número de filhos nascidos vivos igual ou maior que 5 (RP = 3,97; p = 0,0013, uso de contraceptivo não eficaz ou de baixa eficácia (RP = 4,18; p = 0,0009) e uso atual de contraceptivo oral ou dispositivo intrauterino (RP = 2,70; p = 0,454) foram as características que se apresentaram mais fortemente associadas à ocorrência de AP entre as mulheres dessa população.Conclusões:O aborto provocado é utilizado para limitar a fecundidade, mais precisamente após atingir-se o número desejado de filhos. O uso inadequado, ou o não-uso, de contraceptivos eficazes e/ou a utilização de contraceptivos não eficazes, ou de baixa eficácia, também promovem a resolução pelo aborto, assim como o fato de as mulheres solteiras enfrentarem uma gestação sozinhas.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of Preventive MedicineCentro Universitário de GuaxupéUNIFESP, Department of Preventive MedicineSciEL

New zebrafish models of neurodegeneration

In modern biomedicine, the increasing need to develop experimental models to further our understanding of disease conditions and delineate innovative treatments has found in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) an experimental model, and indeed a valuable asset, to close the gap between in vitro and in vivo assays. Translation of ideas at a faster pace is vital in the field of neurodegeneration, with the attempt to slow or prevent the dramatic impact on the society's welfare being an essential priority. Our research group has pioneered the use of zebrafish to contribute to the quest for faster and improved understanding and treatment of neurodegeneration in concert with, and inspired by, many others who have primed the study of the zebrafish to understand and search for a cure for disorders of the nervous system. Aware of the many advantages this vertebrate model holds, here, we present an update on the recent zebrafish models available to study neurodegeneration with the goal of stimulating further interest and increasing the number of diseases and applications for which they can be exploited. We shall do so by citing and commenting on recent breakthroughs made possible via zebrafish, highlighting their benefits for the testing of therapeutics and dissecting of disease mechanisms

Assessing temporal genetic variation in a cougar population: influence of harvest and neighboring populations

The geography of the Black Hills region of South Dakota and Wyoming may limit connectivity for many species. For species with large energetic demands and large home ranges or species at low densities this can create viability concerns. Carnivores in this region, such as cougars (Puma concolor), have the additive effect of natural and human-induced mortality; this may act to decrease long-term viability. In this study we set out to explore genetic diversity among cougar populations in the Black Hills and surrounding areas. Specifically, our objectives were to first compare genetic variation and effective number of breeders of cougars in the Black Hills during three harvest regimes: pre (2003–2006), moderate (2007–2010), and heavy (2011–2013), to determine if harvest impacted genetic variation. Second, we compared genetic structure of the Black Hills cougar population with cougar populations in neighboring eastern Wyoming and North Dakota. Using 20 microsatellite loci, we conducted genetic analysis on DNA samples from cougars in the Black Hills (n = 675), North Dakota (n = 113), and eastern Wyoming (n = 62) collected from 2001–2013. Here we report that the Black Hills cougar population maintained genetic variation over the three time periods. Our substructure analysis suggests that the maintenance of genetic variation was due to immigration from eastern Wyoming and possibly North Dakota

Prescription refill, patient self-report and physician report in assessing adherence to oral endocrine therapy in early breast cancer patients: a restrospective cohort study in Catalonia, Spain.

AIMS: To compare different methods in order to assess adherence and persistence with oral endocrine therapy in women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) in Catalonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study covered all women newly diagnosed with stage I, II or IIIa BC and positive hormone receptors at six hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) in 2004. Adherence was assessed on the basis of physician report and patient self-report using a telephone questionnaire. Persistence was measured by refill prescriptions. We used the Kappa index to compare adherence measures and logistic regression to evaluate adherence-related risk factors. RESULTS: The study covered a total of 692 women. Adherence ranged from 92% (self-report) to 94.7% (physician report), depending on the measure used; persistence was 74.7% at 5 years of follow-up. Low concordance between measures was observed (Kappa range: 0.018-0.267). Patients aged 50-74 years showed higher adherence than those aged <50 years. Adherence was also associated with: adjuvant chemotherapy and sequential hormonal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Concordance between the different measures was remarkably low, indicating the need for further research. Adherence is an issue in the management of BC patients taking oral drugs, and should be assessed in clinical practice

Ears of the Armadillo: Global Health Research and Neglected Diseases in Texas

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have\ud been recently identified as significant public\ud health problems in Texas and elsewhere in\ud the American South. A one-day forum on the\ud landscape of research and development and\ud the hidden burden of NTDs in Texas\ud explored the next steps to coordinate advocacy,\ud public health, and research into a\ud cogent health policy framework for the\ud American NTDs. It also highlighted how\ud U.S.-funded global health research can serve\ud to combat these health disparities in the\ud United States, in addition to benefiting\ud communities abroad

Selection of endurance capabilities and the trade-off between pressure and volume in the evolution of the human heart

Chimpanzees and gorillas, when not inactive, engage primarily in short bursts of resistance physical activity (RPA), such as climbing and fighting, that creates pressure stress on the cardiovascular system. In contrast, to initially hunt and gather and later to farm, it is thought that preindustrial human survival was dependent on lifelong moderate-intensity endurance physical activity (EPA), which creates a cardiovascular volume stress. Although derived musculoskeletal and thermoregulatory adaptations for EPA in humans have been documented, it is unknown if selection acted similarly on the heart. To test this hypothesis, we compared left ventricular (LV) structure and function across semiwild sanctuary chimpanzees, gorillas, and a sample of humans exposed to markedly different physical activity patterns. We show the human LV possesses derived features that help augment cardiac output (CO) thereby enabling EPA. However, the human LV also demonstrates phenotypic plasticity and, hence, variability, across a wide range of habitual physical activity. We show that the human LV’s propensity to remodel differentially in response to chronic pressure or volume stimuli associated with intense RPA and EPA as well as physical inactivity represents an evolutionary trade-off with potential implications for contemporary cardiovascular health. Specifically, the human LV trades off pressure adaptations for volume capabilities and converges on a chimpanzee-like phenotype in response to physical inactivity or sustained pressure loading. Consequently, the derived LV and lifelong low blood pressure (BP) appear to be partly sustained by regular moderate-intensity EPA whose decline in postindustrial societies likely contributes to the modern epidemic of hypertensive heart disease