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MOSAIC: Population: 9 billion!
Death by bycatch SOME 308,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises — collectively known as cetaceans — die each year from entanglement in fishing gear, finds new research by US and British scientists. The study, which was submitted to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), is the first global estimate of cetacean deaths caused by fishing bycatch. These accidental captures may be the biggest threat to the sea mammals’ survival, more deadly than pollution and collisions with ships. “This level of bycatch is no doubt significantly depleting and disrupting many populations of whales, dolphins and porpoises,” said lead researcher Andy Read of Duke University, who is co- chair of World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Cetacean Bycatch Task Force. “Several species will be lost in the next few decades if nothing is done.” Bycatch is now recognized as one of the major problems with the industrialization of fishing that has occurred in the past few decades. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that some 25 per cent of animals caught in fishing gear dies as bycatch. Pro-whaling nations — namely Iceland, Japan, and Norway — want the IWC to loosen whaling restrictions, while 18 anti-whaling nations — including Australia, Britain, Germany, and the US — are pushing for the adoption of the so-called Berlin Initiative, which would give the IWC a stronger conservation role. — Samina Iqbal Easing the pressure OVERACTIVE bladder is a distressing symptom complex that includes urinary urgency with or without urinary incontinence (involuntary passage of urine), urinary frequency, both in the day and night. This was stated in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. There are many potential causes, starting from disorders of various areas of the brain, spinal cord, the nerves to the bladder and the lower urinary tract itself. Normally the bladder fills but the pressure is lower than urethral resistance. With the initiation of urination, urethral resistance decreases and the bladder muscle undergoes phasic contractions, causing the bladder to empty. In the overactive bladder involuntary contractions take place, resulting in urgency or urge incontinence. People with an overactive bladder, tend to stay away from social activities, isolate themselves and are predisposed to depression. Accurate diagnosis is essential before initiating treatment. A good history and a focussed physical examination including ultrasound scan for residual urine and prostate examination in men are necessary. Cystoscopy is performed in selected cases, as those with recurrent urinary tract infection. Non-pharmacological interventions include, educating patients about bladder function, appropriate fluid intake, managing constipation and pelvic-muscle exercises are helpful. The mainstay of drug therapy is antimuscaranic agents. The two best-studied agents are oxybutynin and tolterodine, both having well-proven efficacy. The extended release formulations and the oxybutynin patches are better tolerated. Promising therapy includes drugs with a very specific antimuscarainic action and minimal side effects as dry mouth, constipation blurred vision and gastro esophageal reflux. — Dr Fatema Jawad | ||
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