Assessment of the population genetic structure of Sphyrna lewini to identify conservation units in the Mexican Pacific

Due to the current status of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) as a threatened species, the assessment of genetic diversity, divergence, and demographic parameters of populations in the eastern Pacific Ocean may assist in developing appropriate strategies for sustainable fisheries and species conservation. We analyzed samples collected from 2001 to 2003 from seven locations in the Mexican Pacific Ocean and two in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, using single-stranded conformation polymorphism of a mitochondrial control region fragment and five microsatellite loci. The mitochondrial data did not show population divergence among locations from the Mexican Pacific Ocean; however, the microsatellite data showed a divergent population in Baja California. Additional differences were also observed between the northern and central locations of the Mexican Pacific. The historical demography analysis revealed spatial expansion events, possibly related to glacial-interglacial cycles that occurred approximately 450,000 years ago. The divergence found should be considered in the formulation of fisheries management and conservation policies of the species in the region

Potential seed germination-enhancing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for restoration of Pinus chiapensis ecosystems

"Rhizosphere soil samples of three Pinus chiapensis sites were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, soil bacteria isolated and screened in vitro for growthpromoting abilities. Nine isolates that showed promise were identified to five genera Dyella, Luteimonas, Enterobacter, Paraburkholderia and Bacillus based on the sequences of 16S rRNA gene. All the strains were isolated from nondisturbed stands. These bacteria significantly decreased germination time and increased sprout sizes. Indole acetic acid and gibberellin production and phosphate solubilisation were detected. Results indicate that these biochemicals could be essential for P. chiapensis distribution and suggest the possibility that PGPR inoculation on P. chiapensis seeds prior to planting could improve germination and possibly seedling development"

Mexican Colorectal Cancer Research Consortium (MEX-CCRC): Etiology, Diagnosis/Prognosis, and Innovative Therapies

In 2013, recognizing that Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death by cancer worldwide and that it was a neglected disease increasing rapidly in Mexico, the community of researchers at the Biomedicine Research Unit of the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) established an intramural consortium that involves a multidisciplinary group of researchers, technicians, and postgraduate students to contribute to the understanding of this pathology in Mexico. This article is about the work developed by the Mexican Colorectal Cancer Research Consortium (MEX-CCRC): how the Consortium was created, its members, and its short- and long-term goals. Moreover, it is a narrative of the accomplishments of this project. Finally, we reflect on possible strategies against CRC in Mexico and contrast all the data presented with another international strategy to prevent and treat CRC. We believe that the Consortium’s characteristics must be maintained to initiate a national strategy, and the reported data could be useful to establish future collaborations with other countries in Latin America and the world

Mexican Colorectal Cancer Research Consortium (MEX-CCRC): Etiology, Diagnosis/Prognosis, and Innovative Therapies

In 2013, recognizing that Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death by cancer worldwide and that it was a neglected disease increasing rapidly in Mexico, the community of researchers at the Biomedicine Research Unit of the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) established an intramural consortium that involves a multidisciplinary group of researchers, technicians, and postgraduate students to contribute to the understanding of this pathology in Mexico. This article is about the work developed by the Mexican Colorectal Cancer Research Consortium (MEX-CCRC): how the Consortium was created, its members, and its short- and long-term goals. Moreover, it is a narrative of the accomplishments of this project. Finally, we reflect on possible strategies against CRC in Mexico and contrast all the data presented with another international strategy to prevent and treat CRC. We believe that the Consortium’s characteristics must be maintained to initiate a national strategy, and the reported data could be useful to establish future collaborations with other countries in Latin America and the world

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

International audienc

Molecular Epidemiology of ALK Rearrangements in Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma in Latin America

Objective: Latin American countries are heterogeneous in terms of lung cancer incidence and exposure to potential carcinogens. We evaluated the frequency and clinical characteristics of ALK rearrangements (ALKr) in Latin America. Methods: A total of 5,130 lung cancer patients from 10 Latin American countries were screened for inclusion. ALKr detection was performed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess method variability. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Results: Among the 5,130 patients screened, 8.4% (n = 433) had nonevaluable FISH tests. Evaluable FISH analyses revealed positive ALKr in 6.8% (320/4,697) of the study population, which included patients from 9 countries. ALKr distribution for each country was: Mexico 7.6% (79/1,034), Colombia 4.1% (10/242), Argentina 6.0% (153/2,534), Costa Rica 9.5% (13/137), Panama 4.4% (5/114), Uruguay 5.4% (2/37), Chile 8.6% (16/185), Venezuela 8.9% (13/146), and Peru 10.8% (29/268). RT-PCR showed high positive (83.6%) and negative (99.7%) predictive values when compared to the gold standard FISH. In contrast, IHC only showed a high negative predictive value (94.6%). Conclusions: Although there is a clear country and continental variability in terms of ALKr frequency, this difference is not significant and the overall incidence of ALKr in Latin America does not differ from the rest of the world.Fil: Arrieta, Oscar. Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia; MéxicoFil: Cardona, Andrés F.. Institute Of Oncology; ColombiaFil: Bramuglia, Guillermo. Foundation For Clinical And Applied Cancer Research; ColombiaFil: Cruz Rico, Graciela. Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia; MéxicoFil: Corrales, Luis. Hospital San Juan de Dios; Costa RicaFil: Martín, Claudio. Instituto Alexander Fleming.; ArgentinaFil: Imaz Olguín, Victoria. Hospital ABC; Costa RicaFil: Castillo, Omar. National Institute of Cancer; PanamáFil: Cuello, Mauricio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Rojas Bilbao, Érica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo"; ArgentinaFil: Casas, Gabriel. Hospital Aleman; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Cristina. Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Arén Frontera, Osvaldo. Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Denninghoff, Valeria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Recondo, Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Avilés Salas, Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Cancerología; MéxicoFil: Mas Lopez, Luis Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas; PerúFil: Oblitas, George. Instituto Oncologico “Dr. Luis Razetti”; VenezuelaFil: Rojas, Leonardo. Hospital Universitario San Ignacio; ColombiaFil: Piottante, Antonio. Clínica las Condes; ChileFil: Jiménez García, Ernesto. No especifíca;Fil: Sánchez-Sosa, Sergio. Hospital Ángeles de Puebla; MéxicoFil: Sáenz Frias, Julia. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Lupera, Hernán. Hospital Metropolitano; EcuadorFil: Ramírez Tirado, Laura Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Cancerología; MéxicoFil: Vargas, Carlos. Institute of Oncology; ColombiaFil: Carranza, Hernán. Institute of Oncology; ColombiaFil: Astudillo, Horacio. No especifíca;Fil: Wills, Laura Beatriz. No especifíca;Fil: Pichelbaur, Ernestina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Raez, Luis E.. Memorial Cancer Institute; Estados Unido