Is the Brazilian pharmaceutical policy ensuring population access to essential medicines?

Non-communicable diseases account for more than 50% of deaths in adults aged 15–59 years in most low income countries. Depression and diabetes carry an enormous public health burden, making the identification of risk factors for these disorders an important strategy. While socio-economic inequalities in chronic diseases and their risk factors have been studied extensively in high-income countries, very few studies have investigated social inequalities in chronic disease risk factors in low or middle-income countries. Documenting chronic disease risk factors is important for understanding disease burdens in poorer countries and for targeting specific populations for the most effective interventions. The aim of this review is to systematically map the evidence for the association of socio-economic status with diabetes and depression comorbidity in low and middle income countries. The objective is to identify whether there is any evidence on the direction of the relationship: do co-morbidities have an impact on socio-economic status or vice versa and whether the prevalence of diabetes combined with depression is associated with socio-economic status factors within the general population. To date no other study has reviewed the evidence for the extent and nature of this relationship. By systematically mapping the evidence in the broader sense we can identify the policy and interventions implications of existing research, highlight the gaps in knowledge and suggest future research. Only 14 studies were found to analyse the associations between depression and diabetes comorbidity and socio-economic status. Studies show some evidence that the occurrence of depression among people with diabetes is associated with lower socio-economic status. The small evidence base that considers diabetes and depression in low and middle income countries is out of step with the scale of the burden of disease.     

Cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of the bat Molossus molossus,characterized by tubular morphology and acrosomal development

ObjectiveTo describe the seminiferous epithelium cycle (SEC) by tubular morphology method, and the acrosomal development of individualizing spermatids, and to explore the distinction of the stages between two generations of spermatids.MethodsTesticular fragments were fixed in Karnovsky, embedded in glycol methacrylate and examined under light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Sections in 3 μm thickness were stained with toluidine blue for the characterization of the stages of the SEC by the tubular morphology method, or submitted to the PAS reaction for the visualization of the acrosomal formation. Additional details on the acrosomal formation were observed under transmission electron microscopy.ResultsThrough the eight stages described by tubular morphology method, 10 steps of acrosomal formation were observed in the spermatid development, called acrosomal steps. As the spermatids were produced in stage V of the tubular morphology method, it was at this stage from which began the steps of acrosomal development.ConclusionsWe propose association of the acrosomal steps for the first time, with the different stages by tubular morphology method. This method presents an alternative to the existent Methods, allowing interspecific comparisons of the SEC, not only among different species of bats, but also among the other mammals.