Sustainability Assessment of indicators for integrated water resources management

The scientific community strongly recommends the adoption of indicators for the evaluation and monitoring of progress towards sustainable development. Furthermore, international organizations consider that indicators are powerful decision-making tools. Nevertheless, the quality and reliability of the indicators depends on the application of adequate and appropriate criteria to assess them. The general objective of this study was to evaluate how indicators related to water use and management perform against a set of sustainability criteria. Our research identified 170 indicators related to water use and management. These indicators were assessed by an international panel of experts that evaluated whether they fulfil the four sustainability criteria: social, economic, environmental, and institutional. We employed an evaluation matrix that classified all indicators according to the DPSIR (Driving Forces, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses) framework. A pilot study served to test and approve the research methodology before carrying out the full implementation. The findings of the study show that 24 indicators comply with the majority of the sustainability criteria; 59 indicators are bi-dimensional (meaning that they comply with two sustainability criteria); 86 are one-dimensional indicators (fulfilling just one of the four sustainability criteria) and one indicator do not fulfil any of the sustainability criteria.

[Genetic anticipation in idiopathic epilepsies]

INTRODUCTION

In extended and multigenerational pedigrees, the idiopathic epilepsy phenotype shows an extreme variability.

OBJECTIVE

The range of idiopathic epilepsy onset age in multigenerational pedigrees was studied in order to determine if genetic anticipation play a role in the heredity of Idiopathic Epilepsies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We compare the seizures onset age among relative-pairs of (parents-children, grandfathers-grandsons and nephew uncles). The mean onset age was compared using the Wilcoxon sign-rank paired-sample non-parametrical test to determine whether or not significant differences over > 0 exist, which refutes the null hypothesis of not anticipation. 84 pairs of relatives were taken from 72 extended multigenerational pedigrees.

RESULTS

The onset age of idiopathic epilepsy of the pairs showed a difference significantly > 0, which confirm the existence of intergenerational differences. This difference has a tendency to decrease in age which each successive generation. This difference occur in all relative pairs and therefore contradicts the ascertainment bias described by Penrose.

CONCLUSIONS

The results outline the existence of unstable mutations (those produced by a nucleotidic variable number of tandem repeats) as a probable explanation of the susceptibility to develop some forms of idiopathic epilepsy.

[Mode of inheritance of idiopathic generalized non-myoclonic epilepsy in families investigated by studying members with idiopathic epilepsy with tonic-clonic crises on waking. Antioquia, Colombia]

In attempt to identify the possible role of mayor genes, multifactorial inheritance, and cohort effects in the susceptibility to idiopathic epilepsy with generalized tonic clonic seizures of the awakening type (GTCS), complex segregation analysis was performed in 196 nuclear families ascertained through affected with probands with idiopathic epilepsy with GTCS belonging to the Paisa community of Antioquia (Colombia). Models postulating no transmission, single mayor locus (dominant and recessive) only, and multifactorial component only, were rejected. The models postulating no polygenic component to transmission, and no transmission of the major effect were also rejected. Thus far, complex segregation analysis suggested that a major autosomal codominant allele together with a multifactorial component (mixed model) best explains clustering of idiopathic epilepsy with GTCS in families of the Paisa community. The deficit of transmission of heterozygotes (0.17) is compatible with the existence of epistasis acting on a major gene whose frequency was estimated to be 0.0211. Its transmission variance accounts for 81% of the susceptibility to idiopathic epilepsy with GTCS. The complementary variance (19%) is due to polygenic component.

[Comparison of the multifactorial model as a hereditary mechanism of non-myoclonic generalized idiopathic epilepsy and partial idiopathic epilepsy]

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

An experimental study about the predictions from the multifactorial threshold model created by Falconer is presented, assuming that this model may explain the genetic mechanisms underlying the family aggregation of idiopathic epilepsies.

RESULTS

We failed to confirm the following predictions from the falconer model: decreased prevalence of disease in relatives, proportional to decreased family links, and the order of birth effect. An heredity greater than 100% was calculated which is concordant with the presence of at least a locus with a major gen affect.

CONCLUSION

Our results reject the multifactorial threshold effect and suggest the presence of a major gen or Mendelian effect. An analysis of complex segregation is suggested for future studies.

[Epidemiology of cerebrovascular diseases in Sabaneta, Colombia (1992-1993)]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

In Columbia the epidemiology of cerebrovascular illness (ECV) is unknown. For this reason a study was made to determine the prevalence, incidence and annual mortality, and to identify the different types of ECV and the demographic characteristics of the population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the urban area of Sabaneta, Columbia 13,588 door to door interviews were carried out among the inhabitants. A cutoff study carried out between April and June 1992 showed the prevalence of ECV. One year follow-up of persons without ECV between June 1992 and June 1993, enabled the incidence and annual mortality to be evaluated. A structured interview was used to identify the demographic characteristics of the population and classify people as healthy or as possibly having ECV. The latter were examined by neurologists to confirm or rule out the presence of ECV and to determine the type of ECV involved. Of the total urban population, 76.9% agreed to participate in the study. During the follow-up year, 8.4% were lost trace of.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of ECV was 559.3/ 100,000 inhabitants, increasing with age (15). In the 15-40 year old group, the incidence of ECV was 44 times higher in women than in men. The annual incidence rate was 88.9/100,000 inhabitants: thromboembolic disease was the most frequent. Of a total of 87 cases of ECV, 12 (13.98%) died of various causes during the year in which they were being observed. The annual mortality rate for ECV was 16.2/100,000 inhabitants, all being primary cases.

Complex segregation analysis of non-myoclonic idiopathic generalized epilepsy in families ascertained from probands affected with idiopathic epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures in Antioquia, Colombia

In an attempt to identify the possible role of major genes, multifactorial inheritance, and cohort effects in the susceptibility to idiopathic epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures of the awakening type (GTCS), complex segregation analysis was performed in 196 nuclear families ascertained through affected probands with idiopathic epilepsy with GTCS belonging to the Paisa community of Antioquia (Colombia). Models postulating no transmission, single major locus (dominant and recessive) only, and multifactorial component only, were rejected. Since the codominant single major locus model could not be rejected and models that assign no major locus to transmission, no polygenic component to transmission, and no transmission of the major effect were rejected, complex segregation analysis suggested that a major autosomal codominant allele together with a multifactorial component (mixed model) best explained clustering of idiopathic epilepsy with GTCS in families of the Paisa community. The deficit of transmission of heterozygotes (0.17) is compatible with the existence of epistasis acting on a major gene whose frequency was estimated to be 0.0211. Its transmission variance accounts for 81% of the susceptibility to idiopathic epilepsy with GTCS. The complementary variance (19%) is due to the polygenic component.

[Survey of knowledge on tuberculosis. Northeastern sector of Medellín, Colombia]

In 1988, 2,287 persons were interviewed in order to evaluate the knowledge about tuberculosis and the instruction given on the subject among the population aged 15 and over in the northeastern commune of Medellín. Interviews were conducted by nurses who had been trained in tuberculosis and in community education and communication. On the basis of a pilot interview, the survey was adapted to the language level of the studied population. Results indicate that those persons with the fewest years of schooling, those between 15 and 24 years of age, and those over 50 years old have the least knowledge about the disease. The population receives information on tuberculosis through friends (15.8%) and health institutions (9.6%). Individuals with respiratory disease (tuberculosis patients and persons with a cough lasting two or more weeks and testing negative for bacilli) received more information through health institutions, and healthy persons received more through schools.

[Prevalence of tuberculosis and respiratory disease in persons older than 15 years of age in the northeastern sector of Medellín, Colombia]

A survey was conducted in 1988 to estimate the prevalence of tuberculosis and respiratory disease (cases of tuberculosis and patients with respiratory symptoms who tested negative for the presence of bacilli) in persons over the age of 15 and of low socioeconomic status in the northeastern commune of Medellín. A cluster sample was selected and 3,731 adults were interviewed. The interviews were carried out in the interviewees' homes. For those patients classified as having respiratory symptoms (two weeks with cough, without considering other symptoms), samples of sputum were taken and a series of three examinations for bacilli were performed in order to confirm the diagnosis. When the interviewee could not be located, the material for collection of samples was delivered to family members. The prevalence of tuberculosis was estimated to be 2.68 per 1,000 population, and that of respiratory disease, 70 per 1,000 population. Of those who initiated treatment, 37.5% abandoned it. The prevalence of respiratory disease was higher among persons who did their cooking and sleeping in the same room, those living in poorly ventilated and overcrowded dwellings, and those with the fewest years of schooling.