Serum S100A6 Concentration Predicts Peritoneal Tumor Burden in Mice with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and Is Associated with Advanced Stage in Patients

BACKGROUND:Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. Five-year survival rates for early stage disease are greater than 94%, however most women are diagnosed in advanced stage with 5 year survival less than 28%. Improved means for early detection and reliable patient monitoring are needed to increase survival. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Applying mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we sought to elucidate an unanswered biomarker research question regarding ability to determine tumor burden detectable by an ovarian cancer biomarker protein emanating directly from the tumor cells. Since aggressive serous epithelial ovarian cancers account for most mortality, a xenograft model using human SKOV-3 serous ovarian cancer cells was established to model progression to disseminated carcinomatosis. Using a method for low molecular weight protein enrichment, followed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis, a human-specific peptide sequence of S100A6 was identified in sera from mice with advanced-stage experimental ovarian carcinoma. S100A6 expression was documented in cancer xenografts as well as from ovarian cancer patient tissues. Longitudinal study revealed that serum S100A6 concentration is directly related to tumor burden predictions from an inverse regression calibration analysis of data obtained from a detergent-supplemented antigen capture immunoassay and whole-animal bioluminescent optical imaging. The result from the animal model was confirmed in human clinical material as S100A6 was found to be significantly elevated in the sera from women with advanced stage ovarian cancer compared to those with early stage disease. CONCLUSIONS:S100A6 is expressed in ovarian and other cancer tissues, but has not been documented previously in ovarian cancer disease sera. S100A6 is found in serum in concentrations that correlate with experimental tumor burden and with clinical disease stage. The data signify that S100A6 may prove useful in detecting and/or monitoring ovarian cancer, when used in concert with other biomarkers

La integración de las parejas conformadas por personas españolas y extranjeras en Andalucía

El artículo ofrece un análisis de las uniones conformadas por personas españolas y extranjeras, descritas generalmente como mixtas, acerca de su percepción sobre la integración a partir de sus experiencias. Desde la investigación en el contexto español y con una metodología combinada, los resultados obtenidos de la población participante en la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía apuntan a la relevancia de factores jurídicos, económicos y políticos de la estructura social receptora junto a las representaciones sociales de los grupos migrantes dentro del proceso de integración. Se concluye las limitaciones de tipo conceptual que ocultan el dinamismo y transformación de las personas en su trayectoria vital, influenciadas por los recursos y condiciones del contexto local, enmarcado en procesos transnacionales

Análisis sobre la gestión de la diversidad cultural en los centros de servicios sociales comunitarios de Andalucía

Antecedentes. El proceso migratorio ha impactado de manera considerable en los Servicios Sociales representando casi una de cada diez intervenciones que se llevan a cabo en los servicios sociales comunitarios andaluces, por delante de colectivos tradicionales como juventud, mujer y drogodependencias. Esta nueva realidad ha traído consigo un reajuste en el tipo de usuario medio y de las necesidades que presenta. Objetivo. Constatar cuáles son las necesidades formativas en relación con la gestión de la diversidad cultural en el sistema público de servicios sociales. Método. Partiendo de los datos sociodemográficos básicos de los profesionales, se elaboró una encuesta en la que se abordaron cuestiones relativas al contacto intercultural de los profesionales (tipo e intensidad de las relaciones con inmigrantes, conocimiento y uso de idiomas en intervenciones), competencias interculturales, sensibilidad intercultural y la valoración dada a la actuación desarrollada ante determinados casos prácticos. Resultados. Los resultados demuestran que existe un contacto cotidiano entre profesionales e inmigrantes aunque relacionado básicamente a actividades laborales. Además se constata un nivel alto de competencia y sensibilidad intercultural auto-atribuido. Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos sobre el nivel auto-percibido de competencia y sensibilidad intercultural no se relacionan con los datos de los casos prácticos, por lo que existe un desequilibrio entre lo que se conoce a nivel teórico y lo que se hace en las intervenciones con los inmigrantes. Esta constatación nos lleva a plantear si los Servicios Sociales responden adecuadamente a las nuevas realidades y necesidades.Abstract: Background. Immigration, with nearly one out of ten interventions, is the fourth highest value in the distribution of total users in absolute terms, according to the andalusian municipalities ahead of the traditional groups such as youth, women and drug addicts. This new reality has led to a readjustment in the type of average user and the needs presented. Objective. To find out which are the training needs in relation to the management of cultural diversity in the public system of social services. Method. A survey was developed starting from the professional's basic demographic data in which were asked about: intercultural contact (type and intensity of relations with immigrants, language knowledge and use of them in interventions), intercultural competence, intercultural sensitivity and a set of practical cases in which was made an attempt to relate the theoretical and practical knowledge. Results. The results show that there is a daily contactbetween professionals and immigrants but basically related to work activities. We have notice also a high level of self-ascribed competence and intercultural sensitivity. Conclusions. The results obtained on selfperceived level of competence and cultural sensitivity are not related to data of the practical cases, so there is a mismatch between what is known in theory and what is done in interventions with immigrants. This observation leads us to ask whether social services respond adequately to the new realities and need