Progress in diagnosis, treatment and elimination of echinococcosis and cysticercosis

Here I review the current status of geographical occurrence and public health significance of echinococcosis (Echinococcus spp. infections) and cysticercosis (Taenia solium infection) with special emphasis on the remarkable technologic progress achieved in recent decades that has led to greater understanding of the biology and epidemiology of these cestode infections. The greatest remaining challenges are to apply this knowledge and technology to improved medical management and prevention of these infections

Concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s), Chlorinated Pesticides, and Heavy Metals and Other Elements in Tissues of Belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, from Cook Inlet

Tissues from Cook Inlet beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, that were collected as part of the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), chlorinated pesticides, and heavy metals and other elements. Concentrations of total PCB’s (ΣPCB’s), total DDT (ΣDDT), chlordane compounds, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dieldrin, mirex, toxaphene, and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) measured in Cook Inlet beluga blubber were compared with those reported for belugas from two Arctic Alaska locations (Point Hope and Point Lay), Greenland, Arctic Canada, and the highly contaminated stock from the St. Lawrence estuary in eastern Canada. The Arctic and Cook Inlet belugas had much lower concentrations (ΣPCB’s and ΣDDT were an order of magnitude lower) than those found in animals from the St. Lawrence estuary. The Cook Inlet belugas had the lowest concentrations of all (ΣPCB’s aver-aged 1.49 ± 0.70 and 0.79 ± 0.56 mg/kg wet mass, and ΣDDT averaged 1.35 ± 0.73 and 0.59 ± 0.45 mg/kg in males and females, respectively). Concentrations in the blubber of the Cook Inlet males were significantly lower than those found in the males of the Arctic Alaska belugas (ΣPCB’s and ΣDDT were about half). The lower levels in the Cook Inlet animals might be due to differences in contaminant sources, food web differences, or different age distributions among the animals sampled. Cook Inlet males had higher mean and median concentrations than did females, a result attributable to the transfer of these compounds from mother to calf during pregnancy and during lactation. Liver concentrations of cadmium and mercury were lower in the Cook Inlet belugas (most cadmium values were <1 mg/kg and mercury values were 0.704–11.42 mg/kg wet mass), but copper levels were significantly higher in the Cook Inlet animals (3.97–123.8 mg/kg wet mass) than in Arctic Alaska animals and similar to those reported for belugas from Hudson Bay. Although total mercury levels were the lowest in the Cook Inlet population, methylmercury concentrations were similar among all three groups of the Alaska animals examined (0.34–2.11 mg/kg wet mass). As has been reported for the Point Hope and Point Lay belugas, hepatic concentrations of silver were r

The Effect of Different Photoperiods in Circadian Rhythms of Per3

The aim of this study was to analyse the circadian behavioural responses of mice carrying a functional knockout of the Per3 gene (Per3(-/-)) to different light : dark (L : D) cycles. Male adult wild- type (WT) and Per3(-/-) mice were kept under 12- hour light : 12hour dark conditions (12L : 12D) and then transferred to either a short or long photoperiod and subsequently released into total darkness. All micewere exposed to both conditions, and behavioural activity datawere acquired through runningwheel activity and analysed for circadian characteristics during these conditions. We observed that, during the transition from 12L : 12D to 16L : 8D, Per3(-/-)mice take approximately one additional day to synchronise to the new L : D cycle compared toWT mice. Under these long photoperiod conditions, Per3(-/-) mice were more active in the light phase. Our results suggest that Per3(-/-) mice are less sensitive to light. the data presented here provides further evidence that Per3 is involved in the suppression of behavioural activity in direct response to light.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)Royal Society (Malcolm von Schantz)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psicobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Surrey, Fac Hlth & Med Sci, Guildford GU2 5XH, Surrey, EnglandUniv Fed Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Dept Fisiol, BR-59072970 Natal, RN, BrazilInst Fed Sudeste Minas Gerais, Barbacena, MG, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psicobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC): BB/E003672/1FAPESP: 2007/05037-9FAPESP: CEPID 98/14303-3Web of Scienc

Reduction mammaplasty in patients with history of breast cancer : The incidence of occult cancer and high-risk lesions

Introduction: Contralateral reduction mammaplasty is regularly included in the treatment of breast cancer patients. We analyzed the incidence of occult breast cancer and high-risk lesions in reduction mammaplasty specimens of women with previous breast cancer. We also analyzed if timing of reduction mammaplasty in relation to oncological treatment influenced the incidence of abnormal findings, and compared if patients with abnormal contralateral histopathology differed from the study population in terms of demographics. Materials and methods: The study consisted of 329 breast cancer patients, who underwent symmetrizing reduction mammaplasty between 1/2007 and 12/2011. The data was retrospectively analyzed for demographics, operative and histopathology reports, oncological treatment, and postoperative follow-up. Results: Reduction mammaplasty specimens revealed abnormal findings in 68 (21.5%) patients. High-risk lesions (ADH, ALH, and LCIS) were revealed in 37 (11.7%), and cancer in six (1.9%) patients. Abnormal histopathology correlated with higher age (p = 0.0053), heavier specimen (p = 0.0491), and with no previous breast surgery (p <0.001). Abnormal histopathological findings were more frequent in patients with reduction mammaplasty performed prior to oncological treatment (p <0.001), and in patients with immediate reconstruction (p = 0.0064). Conclusion: The incidences of malignant and high-risk lesions are doubled compared to patients without prior breast cancer. Patients with abnormal histopathology cannot be preoperatively identified based on demographics. If reduction mammaplasty is performed before oncological treatment, the incidence of abnormal findings is higher. In the light of our results, contralateral reduction mammaplasty with histopathological evaluation in breast cancer patients offers a sophisticated tool to catch those patients whose contralateral breast needs increased attention. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Breast Cancer Detection by Preoperative Imaging in Reduction Mammaplasty Patients : A Single Center Study of 918 Patients

Background The role of preoperative imaging and the usability of different imaging modalities is highly variable and controversial in reduction mammaplasty patients. Our study describes the imaging process in a single center in regard to modality selection, age and timing, and of the association between imaging and histopathological findings in reduction mammaplasty specimens. Methods Nine hundred eighteen women, who underwent reduction mammaplasty during 1.1.2007-31.12.2011, were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, preoperative imaging, further preoperative examinations, and pathology reports. Results Preoperative imaging had been conducted for 89.2% (n = 819) of the patients. In 49 (6.0%) patients, suspicious preoperative imaging led to further examinations revealing 2 high-risk lesions (atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)), and 2 cancers preoperatively. Postoperatively abnormal histopathology specimens were revealed in 88 (10.4%) patients. The incidence of high-risk lesions was 5.5% (n = 47), and the incidence of cancer was 1.2% (n = 10). Preoperative imaging was normal (BI-RADS 1 and BI-RADS 2) in 80.8% of these patients. The sensitivity of the preoperative imaging for cancer detection was 20.0%, and the specificity was 100.0%. Conclusions Preoperative imaging and further examinations do not sufficiently detect malignant or cancer risk-increasing findings. Therefore, histopathological analysis of reduction mammaplasty specimens seems mandatory.Peer reviewe