Report of the Second International Symposium on Molecular Epidemiology in Childhood Leukaemia and Embryonal Tumours, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The recent International Symposium on Molecular epidemiology in Embryonal Tumours and Paediatric Leukaemia was held on 4–6 March 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It proved a very productive meeting in which studies relating to genetics, therapeutical trials, identification of risk factors in acute leukaemia neuroblastoma and Wilms’ tumours were presented. Over 120 participants gathered for three days of fruitful discussions, including representatives of paediatrics, haematology, laboratory, epidemiology and pathology. Debates were held about strategies of applications of important biomarkers for clinical trials. Highlights of each of the scientific presentations are summarized below

Bacterial Contamination of Imported and Local Corn Kernel (Used as Animal Feed) in Iraq

This study was carried out to determine bacterial contamination of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) in Iraq, which causes diseases and great economic losses. A total of 163 samples were collected (100 samples of the imported corn kernel from border points and 63 samples of the local corn kernel from the provinces) and cultured then Isolates were identified according to morphological Characteristics, biochemical tests and Agglutination test. The results indicated a total Gram-negative bacteria in 94 samples of the total samples (163) at (58%), includes: 57 Isolates from the imported corn kernel at (57%), which includes :Salmonella spp. in 14 samples at (14%), Escherichia coli in 21 samples at (21%), Klebsiella spp. in 13 samples at (13%), Proteus spp. in 9 samples at (9%) but absence of Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. . Addition to 37 Isolates from the local corn kernel at (60%),which includes: Salmonella spp. in 10 samples at (16%), Escherichia coli in 15 samples at (24%), Proteus spp. in 6 samples at (10%), Serratia spp. in 3 samples at (5%), Enterobacter spp. in 3 samples at (5%) but absence of Klebsiella spp. This study concluded that must be evaluated the microbial quality of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) by manufacturers and health authorities to ensure safety and quality of corn to prevent diseases and great economic losses

Bacterial Contamination of Imported and Local Corn Kernel (Used as Animal Feed) in Iraq

This study was carried out to determine bacterial contamination of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) in Iraq, which causes diseases and great economic losses. A total of 163 samples were collected (100 samples of the imported corn kernel from border points and 63 samples of the local corn kernel from the provinces) and cultured then Isolates were identified according to morphological Characteristics, biochemical tests and Agglutination test. The results indicated a total Gram-negative bacteria in 94 samples of the total samples (163) at (58%), includes: 57 Isolates from the imported corn kernel at (57%), which includes :Salmonella spp. in 14 samples at (14%), Escherichia coli in 21 samples at (21%), Klebsiella spp. in 13 samples at (13%), Proteus spp. in 9 samples at (9%) but absence of Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. . Addition to 37 Isolates from the local corn kernel at (60%),which includes: Salmonella spp. in 10 samples at (16%), Escherichia coli in 15 samples at (24%), Proteus spp. in 6 samples at (10%), Serratia spp. in 3 samples at (5%), Enterobacter spp. in 3 samples at (5%) but absence of Klebsiella spp. This study concluded that must be evaluated the microbial quality of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) by manufacturers and health authorities to ensure safety and quality of corn to prevent diseases and great economic losses

Socioeconomic status and the incidence of non-central nervous system childhood embryonic tumours in Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Childhood cancer differs from most common adult cancers, suggesting a distinct aetiology for some types of childhood cancer. Our objective in this study was to test the difference in incidence rates of 4 non-CNS embryonic tumours and their correlation with socioeconomic status (SES) in Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data was obtained from 13 Brazilian population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) of neuroblastoma (NB), Wilms'tumour (WT), retinoblastoma (RB), and hepatoblastoma (HB). Incidence rates by tumour type, age, and gender were calculated per one million children. Correlations between social exclusion index (SEI) as an indicator of socioeconomic status (SES) and incidence rates was investigated using the Spearman's test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>WT, RB, and HB presented with the highest age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) in 1 to 4 year old of both genders, whereas NB presented the highest AAIR in ≤11 month-olds. However, differences in the incidence rates among PBCRs were observed. Higher incidence rates were found for WT and RB, whereas lower incidence rates were observed for NB. Higher SEI was correlated with higher incidences of NB (0.731; p = 0.0117), whereas no SEI correlation was observed between incidence rates for WT, RB, and HB. In two Brazilian cities, the incidence rates of NB and RB were directly correlated with SEI; NB had the highest incidence rates (14.2, 95% CI, 8.6-19.7), and RB the lowest (3.5, 95% CI, 0.7-6.3) in Curitiba (SEI, 0.730). In Natal (SEI, 0.595), we observed just the opposite; the highest incidence rate was for RB and the lowest was for NB (4.6, 95% CI, 0.1-9.1).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Regional variations of SES and the incidence of embryonal tumours were observed, particularly incidence rates for NB and RB. Further studies are necessary to investigate risk factors for embryonic tumours in Brazil.</p

Empirical studies on informal patient payments for health care services: a systematic and critical review of research methods and instruments

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Empirical evidence demonstrates that informal patient payments are an important feature of many health care systems. However, the study of these payments is a challenging task because of their potentially illegal and sensitive nature. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review and analysis of key methodological difficulties in measuring informal patient payments.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The systematic review was based on the following eligibility criteria: English language publications that reported on empirical studies measuring informal patient payments. There were no limitations with regard to the year of publication. The content of the publications was analysed qualitatively and the results were organised in the form of tables. Data sources were Econlit, Econpapers, Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SocINDEX.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Informal payments for health care services are most often investigated in studies involving patients or the general public, but providers and officials are also sample units in some studies. The majority of the studies apply a single mode of data collection that involves either face-to-face interviews or group discussions.</p> <p>One of the main methodological difficulties reported in the publication concerns the inability of some respondents to distinguish between official and unofficial payments. Another complication is associated with the refusal of some respondents to answer questions on informal patient payments.</p> <p>We do not exclude the possibility that we have missed studies that reported in non-English language journals as well as very recent studies that are not yet published.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Given the recent evidence from research on survey methods, a self-administrated questionnaire during a face-to-face interview could be a suitable mode of collecting sensitive data, such as data on informal patient payments.</p

Genetic evaluation of dementia with Lewy bodies implicates distinct disease subgroups

The APOE locus is strongly associated with risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. In particular, the role of the APOE ϵ4 allele as a putative driver of α-synuclein pathology is a topic of intense debate. Here, we performed a comprehensive evaluation in 2466 dementia with Lewy bodies cases versus 2928 neurologically healthy, aged controls. Using an APOE-stratified genome-wide association study approach, we found that GBA is associated with risk for dementia with Lewy bodies in patients without APOE ϵ4 (P = 6.58 × 10-9, OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 2.25-5.17), but not with dementia with Lewy bodies with APOE ϵ4 (P = 0.034, OR = 1.87, 95%, 95% CI = 1.05-3.37). We then divided 495 neuropathologically examined dementia with Lewy bodies cases into three groups based on the extent of concomitant Alzheimer's disease co-pathology: Pure dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 88), dementia with Lewy bodies with intermediate Alzheimer's disease co-pathology (n = 66) and dementia with Lewy bodies with high Alzheimer's disease co-pathology (n = 341). In each group, we tested the association of the APOE ϵ4 against the 2928 neurologically healthy controls. Our examination found that APOE ϵ4 was associated with dementia with Lewy bodies + Alzheimer's disease (P = 1.29 × 10-32, OR = 4.25, 95% CI = 3.35-5.39) and dementia with Lewy bodies + intermediate Alzheimer's disease (P = 0.0011, OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.40-3.83), but not with pure dementia with Lewy bodies (P = 0.31, OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.43-1.30). In conclusion, although deep clinical data were not available for these samples, our findings do not support the notion that APOE ϵ4 is an independent driver of α-synuclein pathology in pure dementia with Lewy bodies, but rather implicate GBA as the main risk gene for the pure dementia with Lewy bodies subgroup