How to become comfortable talking about sex to your patients.

Dealing with patients'' sex-related complaints is uncomfortable for many physicians. It can become more comfortable if the physician learns to apply his or her clinical knowledge of sexuality in combination with specific interpersonal interviewing skills. The level of comfort can be increased if the physician accepts his or her professional limitations in providing therapy and knows what other sources of care are available.     

Some blood parameters of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson)

Fifty rainbow trout of the Kamloops strain were examined for 12 haematological parameters: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, erythrocyte count, erythrocyte diameters, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count, plasma total protein and plasma glucose concentration. The fish had been held under known environmental and dietetic conditions, and at the time of sampling were 14 months old. The majority of results for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, erythrocyte count, erythrocyte diameters, total protein and differential leukocyte count fell within narrow ranges. The total leukocyte counts and glucose levels were more widely spread. The results are discussed and compared with those already published for Idaho and Shasta strains. It is impossible to say whether the differences that were observed between Kamloops and these other varieties were due to strain alone, since other variables were present. Some problems associated with establishing normal ranges for these parameters in fish are discussed.     

Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests

Pygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from the Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data and population sizes for an unprecedented number of known Pygmy camps and settlements (n = 654) in five of the nine countries where currently distributed. With these data we develop spatial distribution models based on the favourability function, which distinguish areas with favourable environmental conditions from those less suitable for Pygmy presence. Highly favourable areas were significantly explained by presence of tropical forests, and by lower human pressure variables. For documented Pygmy settlements, we use the relationship between observed population sizes and predicted favourability values to estimate the total Pygmy population throughout Central Africa. We estimate that around 920,000 Pygmies (over 60% in DRC) is possible within favourable forest areas in Central Africa. We argue that fragmentation of the existing Pygmy populations, alongside pressure from extractive industries and sometimes conflict with conservation areas, endanger their future. There is an urgent need to inform policies that can mitigate against future external threats to these indigenous peoples’ culture and lifestyles.     

Environmental factors associated with proteolytic activity of estuarine bacteria

The effects of various parameters on the extracellular hydrolysis of protein by salt marsh bacteria were examined using an agar plate assay technique. Maximum activity was observed at pH 8 and 18 C. Elimination of salts and nutrients from the growth media had little effect on activity; while, incubation in a reduced oxygen atmosphere markedly restricted proteolysis by laboratory stocks and random isolates. The availability of oxygen appeared to be one of the important factors controlling extracellular protease production by salt marsh bacteria.