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Drill on drill: adaptive oviposition strategies of Sycophila and Physothorax wasps on Ficus citrifolia
(2025-01-27) Oliveira Barros, Leví; Jansen González, Sergio; Santinelo Pereira, Rodrigo Augusto
Understanding tri-trophic interactions and the relationship among plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies is fundamental to advancing theoretical and practical ecology. Parasitoidism is among those interactions where tri-trophic levels are usually developed, with hyperparasitism and kleptoparasitism as examples. This study explores the interaction between fig wasps of the genera Physothorax Mayr, 1885 and Sycophila Walker, 1871 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) and the gall midge Ficiomyia brasiliensis Urso-Guimarães, 2024 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Ficus citrifolia Mill. in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Through behavioral observations and larval dissections we document the “drill on drill” strategy where Sycophila females utilize oviposition holes drilled by Physothorax females on the fig surface to access the host gall midge immatures. This behavior suggests a sophisticated adaptation for reducing oviposition time and conserving energy. Additionally, Sycophila behavior aligns with kleptoparasitic and hyperparasitic strategies, indicating a complex evolutionary history and ecological interaction. Our findings provide insight into the intricate relationships among non-pollinating fig wasps and their hosts, contributing to the broader understanding of tri-trophic interactions in fig microcosm.
Trends in psychological distress during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a population-based Costa Rican cohort study
(2025-01-29) RESPIRA Study Group; Fantin, Romain Clement; Porras Martínez, Carolina; Raventós Vorst, Henriette; Calderón Céspedes, Alejandro; Alba, Natalia; Loría, Viviana; Hildesheim, Allan; Herrero Acosta, Rolando; Barboza Solís, Cristina; Raventós Vorst, Henriette
Objectives
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase of psychological distress. We hypothesized that the mental health of individuals has improved since the end of the pandemic. Study design 1459 population-based participants of the RESPIRA cohort study (Costa Rica) Methods Psychological distress was measured at 6-month intervals using the Mental Health Inventory 5 (MHI-5) during the 2-year follow-up. Visits occurred between June 2021 and November 2023. Age-sex-standardized MHI-5 mean and proportion of individuals living with psychological distress were estimated by calendar time. We evaluated both cross-sectional estimates over time among all cohort participants, and within-individual evolution among the subset of 1341 participants with repeated measures between June 2021–June 2022 and January–November 2023.
Results
Standardized prevalence of people living with psychological distress was 13.6 % [10.8–16.8] during the height of the pandemic compared to 8.8 % [6.5–11.6] post-pandemic. The standardized MHI-5 mean increased from 76.3 [74.8–77.9] to 82.9 [81.6–84.3] between the height and post-pandemic periods. 14.5 % of the participants had a much better MHI-5 score (24 points or more) in the post-pandemic period compared to the height of the pandemic, and only 5.3 % had a much worse MHI-5 score. Consistent improvements were observed among sexes and across age, except for 12-17-year-olds.
Conclusions
This study showed a decrease in the proportion of people living with psychological distress in Costa Rica since the end of the pandemic.
Descriptive epidemiology of gastric cancer in Costa Rica from 1990 to 2022 and projection of deaths to 2050: a population-based study
(2025-07-23) Vanegas, Juan Carlos; Herrero Acosta, Rolando; Barboza Solís, Cristina; Ocampo, Rebeca; Torres, Guillermo; Ortiz Barboza, Adolfo; Ramírez Mayorga, Vanessa; Une, Clas Allan; Calderón Céspedes, Alejandro; Porras Martínez, Carolina; Carvajal, Loretto; Fantin, Romain Clement
Background
In Costa Rica, gastric cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death (both sexes) since the 1980s. The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence, mortality, and geographic distribution of stomach cancer in Costa Rica for the period 1990–2022, and to make projections of deaths up to 2050.
Methods
Incidence and mortality data were from the Costa Rican National Cancer Registry, the Costa Rican National Institute of Statistics and Census, and the Central American Population Research Center. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, annual percent changes (APC), and years of potential life lost (YPLL) were calculated. Crude mortality rates were estimated at the canton level. Mortality projections were made using Poisson models.
Findings
The standardized rates have been decreasing in all ages over 40 years old, in men and in women (in incidence, APC = −4.4% [−4.6, −4.3] in men, APC = −3.6% [−3.8, −3.3] in women; in mortality APC = −3.5% [−3.7, −3.4] in men, APC = −3.0% [−3.3, −2.8] in women). YPLL rates increased with age, but the age group with the highest number of YPLL was between 50 and 69 years. High mortality rates were observed in the mountainous areas east and south of the capital region, and one canton in Guanacaste. Most models projected increases in number of deaths of 50%–200% by the year 2050.
Interpretation
Despite declining mortality rates, the number of gastric cancer deaths is projected to rise, underscoring the need for targeted public health strategies-particularly programs for Helicobacter pylori detection and eradication, along with dietary and lifestyle interventions. Geographic disparities also support the development of region-specific cancer control strategies to reduce the burden in high-risk areas.
Social gradient and rural-urban disparities in cancer mortality in Costa Rica
(2024-06-27) Fantin, Romain Clement; Sierra, Mónica S.; Vaccarella, Salvatore; Herrero Acosta, Rolando; Barboza Solís, Cristina
Introduction
Data on social inequalities in cancer mortality are sparse, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to analyze the socioeconomic inequalities in cancer mortality in Costa Rica between 2010 and 2018.
Methods
We linked 9-years of data from the National Electoral Rolls, National Birth Index and National Death Index to classify deaths due to cancer and socioeconomic characteristics of the district of residence, as measured by levels of urbanicity and wealth. We analyzed the fifteen most frequent cancer sites in Costa Rica among the 2.7 million inhabitants aged 20 years and older. We used a parametric survival model based on a Gompertz distribution.
Results
Compared to urban areas, mixed and rural area residents had lower mortality from pancreas, lung, breast, prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers, and higher mortality from stomach cancer. Mortality from stomach, lung and cervical cancer was higher, and mortality from colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia was lower in the most disadvantaged districts, compared to the wealthiest ones.
Conclusion
We observed marked disparities in cancer mortality in Costa Rica in particular from infection- and lifestyle- related cancers. There are important opportunities to reduce disparities in cancer mortality by targeting cancer prevention, early detection and opportune treatment, mainly in urban and disadvantaged districts.
Conocimientos sobre tabaco y sus riesgos a la salud en Costa Rica: un análisis estructural
(2021-07-14) Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Costa Rica; Espinoza Aguirre, Azálea; Fantin, Romain Clement; Barboza Solís, Cristina; Salinas Miranda, Abraham
Objetivo: identificar factores asociados al conocimiento sobre el tabaco y los riesgos de su consumo basados en la ""Encuesta global de tabaquismo en adultos"" realizada en Costa Rica durante el 2015.
Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, observacional de tipo transversal con representación nacional (n = 8 607). Con la base de datos de la "Encuesta global de tabaquismo en adultos", se diseñó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales y se construyó la variable latente: conocimientos. Como determinantes del conocimiento se usaron las variables: sociodemográficas, económicas, fumado, cesación, exposición a la publicidad y a la información sobre los peligros de fumar incluidas en la encuesta.
Resultados: el conocimiento sobre el tabaco y los riesgos del consumo aumentó con la edad, fue superior en hombres y en zonas urbanas. Los fumadores tuvieron menos conocimientos sobre el fumado pasivo y más sobre enfermedades.
Conclusiones: la Encuesta global de tabaquismo en adultos permitió medir el nivel de conocimiento sobre los riesgos asociados al tabaco y estudiar sus determinantes socioeconómicos.