The prognostic effects of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in non-small cell lung cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

Immunotherapy is the main standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Immune suppressive cells in tumor microenvironment can counteract its efficacy. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) include two major subsets: polymorphonuclear (PMN-MDSCs) and monocytic (M-MDSCs). Many studies explored the prognostic impact of these cell populations in NSCLC patients. The aim of this systematic review is to select studies for a meta-analysis, which compares prognosis between patients with high vs low circulating MDSC levels. We collected hazard ratios (HRs) and relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) or recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Among 139 studies retrieved from literature search, 14 eligible studies (905 NSCLC patients) met inclusion criteria. Low circulating MDSC levels favor a better PFS/RFS (HR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.28-2.65) and OS (HR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.29-2.46). The subgroup analysis based on MDSC subtypes (total-, PMN-, and M-MDSCs) obtained a statistical significance only for M-MDSCs, both in terms of PFS/RFS (HR = 2.67; 95% CI = 2.04-3.50) and OS (HR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.61-2.75). NSCLC patients bearing high M-MDSC levels in peripheral blood experience a worse prognosis than those with low levels, both in terms of PFS/RFS and OS. This finding suggests that detecting and targeting this MDSC subset could help to improve NSCLC treatment efficacy

Programación Concurrente : Docencia Práctica

El objetivo principal de la asignatura es el de establecer los fundamentos de la programación concurrente. Para ello se estudian los problemas inherentes a este paradigma de programación. El principal problema que tenemos actualmente es que las herramientas existentes para el desarrollo de las prácticas no son las más idóneas debido fundamentalmente a dos motivos: a) son difíciles de utilizar, ya que a menudo están formadas por programas diferentes que hay que manejar de forma separada y b) no ofrecen la posibilidad de realizar un seguimiento de la ejecución del programa concurrente. Debido a esto, los alumnos tardan en comprender los conceptos fundamentales de la asignatura. Con el propósito de solucionar estos problemas, nos hemos planteado la creación de una nueva herramienta integrada que permita la creación, ejecución y depuración de programas concurrentes. Además esta herramienta debe permitir un seguimiento exhaustivo del programa, y mostrar toda la información relativa a los elementos que intervienen en el mismo. El presente artículo propone esta herramienta como solución a muchos de los problemas de la asignatura de programación concurrente

Mixoma odontogénico, presentación de caso y revisión de literatura

The odontogenic myxoma is a benign lesion that occurs mostly between the second and fourth decade of life, more frequently in the molar area and with a higher incidence in men than in women (2:1). Histologically, it presents starred and fusiform cells dispersed in a very abundant myxoid matrix. The objective of this article is to report a clinical case of an odontogenic myxoma, as well as a brief review of the literature. Subject: a 39-year-old female patient who attended the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic due to an increase in volume located in the jaw in the vestibular area between teeth 31 and 44; asymptomatic at palpation, with an evolution of approximately twelve months. An incisional biopsy was performed for the histopathological study. The result of the histopathological study was an odontogenic myxoma, so we decided that the best treatment was a free margin resection and reconstruction plate placement.El mixoma odontogénico es una lesión benigna que se presenta mayormente entre la segunda y cuarta década de vida, con mayor frecuencia en zona de molares y mayor incidencia en hombres que en mujeres (2:1). Histológicamente presenta células estrelladas y fusiformes dispersas en una matriz de aspecto mixoide muy abundante. El objetivo de este artículo es reportar un caso clínico de un mixoma odontogénico, así como una breve revisión de la literatura. Una paciente mujer de 39 años que acudió a la clínica de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial por presentar aumento de volumen localizado en mandíbula en zona vestibular entre dientes 31 y 44, asintomática a la palpación, con una evolución de aproximadamente doce meses. Se decidió realizar una biopsia incisional para el estudio histopatológico. El resultado del estudio histopatológico fue mixoma odontogénico por lo que se realizó el tratamiento de resección con márgenes libres y colocación de placa de reconstrucción, así como controles posoperatorios

Toward integrated analysis of human impacts on forest biodiversity: lessons from Latin America.

Although sustainable forest management (SFM) has been widely adopted as a policy and management goal, high rates of forest loss and degradation are still occurring in many areas. Human activities such as logging, livestock husbandry, crop cultivation, infrastructural development, and use of fire are causing widespread loss of biodiversity, restricting progress toward SFM. In such situations, there is an urgent need for tools that can provide an integrated assessment of human impacts on forest biodiversity and that can support decision making related to forest use. This paper summarizes the experience gained by an international collaborative research effort spanning more than a decade, focusing on the tropical montane forests of Mexico and the temperate rain forests of southern South America, both of which are global conservation priorities. The lessons learned from this research are identified, specifically in relation to developing an integrated modeling framework for achieving SFM. Experience has highlighted a number of challenges that need to be overcome in such areas, including the lack of information regarding ecological processes and species characteristics and a lack of forest inventory data, which hinders model parameterization. Quantitative models are poorly developed for some ecological phenomena, such as edge effects and genetic diversity, limiting model integration. Establishment of participatory approaches to forest management is difficult, as a supportive institutional and policy environment is often lacking. However, experience to date suggests that the modeling toolkit approach suggested by Sturvetant et al. (2008) could be of value in such areas. Suggestions are made regarding desirable elements of such a toolkit to support participatory-research approaches in domains characterized by high uncertainty, including Bayesian Belief Networks, spatial multi-criteria analysis, and scenario planning.Most of the research described here was undertaken in three projects supported by the European Commission (INCO programme), namely SUCRE (ERBIC18CT970146), BIOCORES (ICA4- CT-2001-10095), and ReForLan (INCO-DEV-3 N° 032132), and three Darwin Initiative (DEFRA, UK Government) grants to the senior author. Additional funding was provided by a variety of sources within the partner countries. All sources of financial support are gratefully acknowledged

Toward integrated analysis of human impacts on forest biodiversity: lessons from Latin America.

Although sustainable forest management (SFM) has been widely adopted as a policy and management goal, high rates of forest loss and degradation are still occurring in many areas. Human activities such as logging, livestock husbandry, crop cultivation, infrastructural development, and use of fire are causing widespread loss of biodiversity, restricting progress toward SFM. In such situations, there is an urgent need for tools that can provide an integrated assessment of human impacts on forest biodiversity and that can support decision making related to forest use. This paper summarizes the experience gained by an international collaborative research effort spanning more than a decade, focusing on the tropical montane forests of Mexico and the temperate rain forests of southern South America, both of which are global conservation priorities. The lessons learned from this research are identified, specifically in relation to developing an integrated modeling framework for achieving SFM. Experience has highlighted a number of challenges that need to be overcome in such areas, including the lack of information regarding ecological processes and species characteristics and a lack of forest inventory data, which hinders model parameterization. Quantitative models are poorly developed for some ecological phenomena, such as edge effects and genetic diversity, limiting model integration. Establishment of participatory approaches to forest management is difficult, as a supportive institutional and policy environment is often lacking. However, experience to date suggests that the modeling toolkit approach suggested by Sturvetant et al. (2008) could be of value in such areas. Suggestions are made regarding desirable elements of such a toolkit to support participatory-research approaches in domains characterized by high uncertainty, including Bayesian Belief Networks, spatial multi-criteria analysis, and scenario planning.Most of the research described here was undertaken in three projects supported by the European Commission (INCO programme), namely SUCRE (ERBIC18CT970146), BIOCORES (ICA4- CT-2001-10095), and ReForLan (INCO-DEV-3 N° 032132), and three Darwin Initiative (DEFRA, UK Government) grants to the senior author. Additional funding was provided by a variety of sources within the partner countries. All sources of financial support are gratefully acknowledged

América Latina. Los derechos y las prácticas ciudadanas a la luz de los movimientos populares

A partir, fundamentalmente, de los análisis de caso y los datos que ha sistematizado el Observatorio Social de América Latina (OSAL), nuestra propuesta gira en torno a dos preguntas centrales: ¿qué características presenta la noción de ciudadanía en las luchas sociales latinoamericanas recientes?, y ¿qué importancia adquiere dicha dimensión para la consecución de un propósito democrático? Buscando responder ambas, hemos dividido la exposición en tres apartados. En el primero se exploran los elementos que han favorecido el reposicionamiento de la noción de ciudadanía, dentro del horizonte y discurso de las movilizaciones que a partir del año 2000 han aparecido en distintos puntos del subcontinente. En el segundo, se examinan las características más relevantes que desde nuestro punto de vista hilvanan su diversidad. Y, finalmente, en el último se desarrollan las razones por las cuales consideramos que la noción de ciudadanía ocupa un lugar estratégico en la lucha social latinoamericana de este inicio de milenio.Presentación | 9 Lucha social y derechos ciudadanos en América Latina Margarita Favela Gavia y Diana Guillén | 21 Conflictos y tensiones en torno del Estado ampliado en América Latina: Brasil y México entre la crisis orgánica del Estado y el problema de la hegemonía Lucio Oliver | 51 Movimiento-partido: el caso del Movimiento de los Trabajadores sin Tierra (MST) en Brasil Adelita Neto Carleial | 81 Seguridad alimentaria y diseño de nuevos espacios públicos en Brasil Elza Maria Franco Braga | 111 Democracia y ciudadanía en el movimiento lopezobradorista Carlos Figueroa Ibarra y Octavio H. Moreno | 129 Venciendo el miedo: retoños de movimientos sociales en el contexto de la recuperación democrática en Perú (2000-2006) Fabiola Escárzaga | 155 Reflexiones sobre la democracia y el significado de un gobierno de los movimientos sociales en Bolivia Dunia Mokrani Chávez | 191 Entre la izquierda partidista y la izquierda social: el movimiento étnico maya y las opciones político-partidistas en Guatemala Luis Fernando Mack, Máximo Ba Tiul e Ivonne Solórzano | 215 Movimiento social y proceso político en Haití (1986-2006) Alejandro Álvarez Martínez | 24

Studio pilota sul ruolo dell\u2019allattamento e dei fattori riproduttivi nel rischio dei carcinomi mammari Luminali nelle donne in premenopausa

Il ruolo dei fattori riproduttivi nel rischio di sviluppare un carcinoma alla mammella \ue8 ancora controverso e poco si sa su come questi influiscano sul rischio dei differenti sottotipi molecolari . La maggior parte degli studi pubblicati riguardano coorti di donne in pre e postmenopausa o solo donne in postmenopausa. Scopo del nostro studio \ue8 stato analizzare il ruolo dell\u2019allattamento e dei fattori riproduttivi nei tumori Luminali, il 75% di tutti i carcinomi della mammella, in un campione di donne giovani residenti nella provincia di Trieste, situata in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, una tra le regioni con i pi\uf9 alti tassi d\u2019incidenza di carcinoma mammario

Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a multicenter Italian survey

Background: Law 219/2017 was approved in Italy in December 2017, after a years-long debate on the autonomy of healthcare choices. This Law, for the first time in Italian legislation, guarantees the patient's right to request for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, including mechanical ventilation (MV). Objective: To investigate the current status of MV withdrawal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in Italy and to assess the impact of Law 219/2017 on this practice. Methods: We conducted a Web-based survey, addressed to Italian neurologists with expertise in ALS care, and members of the Motor Neuron Disease Study Group of the Italian Society of Neurology. Results: Out of 40 ALS Italian centers, 34 (85.0%) responded to the survey. Law 219/2017 was followed by an increasing trend in MV withdrawals, and a significant increase of neurologists involved in this procedure (p 0.004). However, variations across Italian ALS centers were observed, regarding the inconsistent involvement of community health services and palliative care (PC) services, and the intervention and composition of the multidisciplinary team. Conclusions: Law 219/2017 has had a positive impact on the practice of MV withdrawal in ALS patients in Italy. The recent growing public attention on end-of-life care choices, along with the cultural and social changes in Italy, requires further regulatory frameworks that strengthen tools for self-determination, increased investment of resources in community and PC health services, and practical recommendations and guidelines for health workers involved

Common and rare variant association analyses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identify 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology

A cross-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) including 29,612 patients with ALS and 122,656 controls identifies 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with a lifetime risk of one in 350 people and an unmet need for disease-modifying therapies. We conducted a cross-ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 29,612 patients with ALS and 122,656 controls, which identified 15 risk loci. When combined with 8,953 individuals with whole-genome sequencing (6,538 patients, 2,415 controls) and a large cortex-derived expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) dataset (MetaBrain), analyses revealed locus-specific genetic architectures in which we prioritized genes either through rare variants, short tandem repeats or regulatory effects. ALS-associated risk loci were shared with multiple traits within the neurodegenerative spectrum but with distinct enrichment patterns across brain regions and cell types. Of the environmental and lifestyle risk factors obtained from the literature, Mendelian randomization analyses indicated a causal role for high cholesterol levels. The combination of all ALS-associated signals reveals a role for perturbations in vesicle-mediated transport and autophagy and provides evidence for cell-autonomous disease initiation in glutamatergic neurons

Genome-wide Analyses Identify KIF5A as a Novel ALS Gene

To identify novel genes associated with ALS, we undertook two lines of investigation. We carried out a genome-wide association study comparing 20,806 ALS cases and 59,804 controls. Independently, we performed a rare variant burden analysis comparing 1,138 index familial ALS cases and 19,494 controls. Through both approaches, we identified kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A) as a novel gene associated with ALS. Interestingly, mutations predominantly in the N-terminal motor domain of KIF5A are causative for two neurodegenerative diseases: hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG10) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 (CMT2). In contrast, ALS-associated mutations are primarily located at the C-terminal cargo-binding tail domain and patients harboring loss-of-function mutations displayed an extended survival relative to typical ALS cases. Taken together, these results broaden the phenotype spectrum resulting from mutations in KIF5A and strengthen the role of cytoskeletal defects in the pathogenesis of ALS.Peer reviewe