Can conscientious objection lead to eugenic practices against LGBT individuals?

In a recent article in this journal, Abram Brummett argues that new and future assisted reproductive technologies will provide challenging ethical questions relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. Brummett notes that it is likely that some clinicians may wish to conscientiously object to offering assisted reproductive technologies to LGBT couples on moral or religious grounds, and argues that such appeals to conscience should be constrained. We argue that Brummett's case is unsuccessful because he: does not adequately interact with his opponents’ views; equivocates on the meaning of ‘natural’; fails to show that the practice he opposes is eugenic in any non‐trivial sense; and fails to justify and explicate the relevance of the naturalism he proposes. We do not argue that conscience protections should exist for those objecting to providing LGBT people with artificial reproductive technologies, but only show that Brummett's arguments are insufficient to prove that they should not.     

A sampling design and model for estimating abundance of Nile crocodiles while accounting for heterogeneity of detectability of multiple observers

As part of the development of a management program for Nile crocodiles in Lake Nasser, Egypt, we used a dependent double-observer sampling protocol with multiple observers to compute estimates of population size. To analyze the data, we developed a hierarchical model that allowed us to assess variation in detection probabilities among observers and survey dates, as well as account for variation in crocodile abundance among sites and habitats. We conducted surveys from July 2008–June 2009 in 15 areas of Lake Nasser that were representative of 3 main habitat categories. During these surveys, we sampled 1,086 km of lake shore wherein we detected 386 crocodiles. Analysis of the data revealed significant variability in both inter- and intra-observer detection probabilities. Our raw encounter rate was 0.355 crocodiles/km. When we accounted for observer effects and habitat, we estimated a surface population abundance of 2,581 (2,239–2,987, 95% credible intervals) crocodiles in Lake Nasser. Our results underscore the importance of well-trained, experienced monitoring personnel in order to decrease heterogeneity in intra-observer detection probability and to better detect changes in the population based on survey indices. This study will assist the Egyptian government establish a monitoring program as an integral part of future crocodile harvest activities in Lake Nasser. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.     

ARA 290, a Nonerythropoietic Peptide Engineered from Erythropoietin,Improves Metabolic Control and Neuropathic Symptoms in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Although erythropoietin ameliorates experimental type 2 diabetes with neuropathy, serious side effects limit its potential clinical use. ARA 290, a nonhematopoietic peptide designed from the structure of erythropoietin, interacts selectively with the innate repair receptor that mediates tissue protection. ARA 290 has shown efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies of metabolic control and neuropathy. To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study. ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment. No potential safety issues were identified. Subjects receiving ARA 290 exhibited an improvement in hemoglobin A_1c (Hb A_1c) and lipid profiles throughout the 56 d observation period. Neuropathic symptoms as assessed by the PainDetect questionnaire improved significantly in the ARA 290 group. Mean corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) was reduced significantly compared with normal controls and subjects with a mean CNFD >1 standard deviation from normal showed a significant increase in CNFD compared with no change in the placebo group. These observations suggest that ARA 290 may benefit both metabolic control and neuropathy in subjects with type 2 diabetes and deserves continued clinical evaluation.     

Role of calcineurin biosignaling in cell secretion and the possible regulatory mechanisms

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are two chemical molecules that play a central role in the stimulus-dependent secretion processes within cells. Ca²⁺ acts as the basal signaling molecule responsible to initiate cell secretion. cAMP primarily acts as an intracellular second messenger in a myriad of cellular processes by activating cAMP-dependent protein kinases through association with such kinases in order to mediate post-translational phosphorylation of those protein targets. Put succinctly, both Ca²⁺ and cAMP act by associating or activating other proteins to ensure successful secretion. Calcineurin is one such protein regulated by Ca²⁺; its action depends on the intracellular levels of Ca²⁺. Being a phosphatase, calcineurin dephosphorylate and other proteins, as is the case with most other phosphatases, such as protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), PP2C, and protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), will likely be activated by phosphorylation. Via this process, calcineurin is able to affect different intracellular signaling with clinical importance, some of which has been the basis for development of different calcineurin inhibitors. In this review, the cAMP-dependent calcineurin bio-signaling, protein-protein interactions and their physiological implications as well as regulatory signaling within the context of cellular secretion are explored.     

Risk factors for outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection at retirement homes in Ontario,Canada: a population-level cohort study

BACKGROUND:The epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in retirement homes (also known as assisted living facilities) is largely unknown. We examined the association between home-and community-level characteristics and the risk of outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in retirement homes since the beginning of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study of licensed retirement homes in Ontario, Canada, from Mar. 1 to Dec. 18, 2020. Our primary outcome was an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection (≥ 1 resident or staff case confirmed by validated nucleic acid amplification assay). We used time-dependent proportional hazards methods to model the associations between retirement home– and community-level characteristics and outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection.RESULTS:Our cohort included all 770 licensed retirement homes in Ontario, which housed 56 491 residents. There were 273 (35.5%) retirement homes with 1 or more outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection, involving 1944 (3.5%) residents and 1101 staff (3.0%). Cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were distributed unevenly across retirement homes, with 2487 (81.7%) resident and staff cases occurring in 77 (10%) homes. The adjusted hazard of an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a retirement home was positively associated with homes that had a large resident capacity, were co-located with a long-term care facility, were part of larger chains, offered many services onsite, saw increases in regional incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and were located in a region with a higher community-level ethnic concentration.INTERPRETATION:Readily identifiable characteristics of retirement homes are independently associated with outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and can support risk identification and priority for vaccination.

Frail older adults living in congregate care settings have been at the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and internationally.^1,2 Long-term care facilities — whose residents are the congregate living population most affected by COVID-19 — have been the subject of immense scientific and public interest during the pandemic.³ Retirement homes (often known as assisted living facilities) have received far less examination despite also housing many vulnerable older adults.^4–7 In contrast to long-term care facilities, retirement homes are private residential complexes that provide a range of supportive care and lifestyle services that are purchased out of pocket by residents or their families.⁸ Although residents of retirement homes access supportive care services, they are substantially less frail and dependent than residents of long-term care homes.⁵ Inconsistent regulation of these facilities throughout Canada and the United States has limited research into the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in retirement homes.⁹There are 770 licensed retirement homes in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, that house more than 50 000 older adults, a population size that approaches the number of Ontario residents of long-term care homes.¹⁰ Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, the number of positive cases and deaths in retirement homes has continued to grow. As of Apr. 11, 2021, retirement home residents accounted for about 8% of deaths from COVID-19 in Ontario (596/7552).¹¹ Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection surged in retirement homes during the first and second waves in Canada and the US,^11,12 and there has been limited examination in the literature beyond early reports of case surveillance.¹³We examined the association between home- and community-level characteristics and the risk of outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Ontario’s retirement homes. Consistent with our previous population-level work in Ontario long-term care homes,^2,14 we hypothesized that home size and regional incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection would be associated with the risk of an outbreak.     

Microbial community composition and dolomite formation in the hypersaline microbial mats of the Khor Al-Adaid sabkhas,Qatar

Extremophiles - The Khor Al-Adaid sabkha in Qatar is among the rare extreme environments on Earth where it is possible to study the formation of dolomite—a carbonate mineral whose origin...     

Effets à court et à long termes de la cure de varicocèle sur les caractéristiques spermatiques

The authors studied the sperm features of 122 patients, before and 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months after varicocele repair, in order to define the sperm profiles of these patients and to study effects of this treatment on these profiles. Patients with varicocele generally present severe asthenozoospermia. Of the 122 patients studied: ?18% were extreme oligozoospermic, ?26% were severe oligozoospermic, ?18% were moderate oligozoospermic, ?38% were normozoospermic. Varicocele repair does not influence the volume of semen, the vitality of spermatozoa, their survival, their rate of abnormal shapes, or male genital tract markers, but significantly improves sperm counts and mobility, in men with extreme or severe oligozoospermia. This type of treatment is generally indicated in patients with extreme or severe oligoasthenozoospermia in order to obtain a natural pregnancy, or at least to increase the success of medically assisted procreation techniques.