Distribución y abundancia de la nutria neotropical (Lontra longicaudis annectens) en Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, México

Presence and abundance of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis annectens) were established in the locality of Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, during north and hurricane seasons in 2007 and dry season in 2008, where it was carried out a monitoring process in two zones (i) the Papaloapan River margins, and (ii) streams and lagoons near to the locality. Furtheremore, interviews to local inhabitants were carried out in order to obtain information about biological aspects of the species based on the local knowledge shown by the inhabitants. On the other hand, 61 feces, 13 latrines, and two borrows were located. Moreover, two individuals were observed and recorded. During November 2007 the abundance recorded in two zones within the study area was 1.22 and 0.61 otters/km. In April 2008 the same two zones showed 0.43 and 0.21 otters/km. Finally, 100% of the interviewees know the river otter, and 99% of them consider that the species is relevant to the aquatic ecosystems and it must be protected.Durante la temporada de nortes y huracanes en el año 2007, y la de secas en 2008, se documentó la presencia y abundancia de la nutria neotropical (Lontra longicaudis annectens) en Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, por medio de monitoreos en dos zonas (i) las orillas del Río Papaloapan, y (ii) en los márgenes de arroyos y lagunas cercanas a la localidad. Complementariamente se realizaron entrevistas a pobladores de la localidad para obtener información sobre aspectos biológicos de la especie. Se localizaron 61 heces, 13 letrinas, dos madrigueras, y se registró el avistamiento de dos individuos. Para las dos zonas monitoreadas se estiman abundancias de 1.22 y 0.61 nutrias/km en noviembre de 2007 mientras en abril de 2008 se estiman 0.43 y 0.21 nutrias/km respectivamente. El 100% de los entrevistados conoce a la nutria de río y 99% considera que es relevante su protección, porque cumple con una función importanteen el ecosistema

Contamination and restoration of an estuary affected by phosphogypsum releases

The Huelva Estuary in Huelva, Spain, has been one of the most studied environmental compartments in the past years from the point of view of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) releases. It has been historically affected by waste releases, enriched in radionuclides from the U-decay series, from factories located in the area devoted to the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. Nevertheless, changes in national regulations forced a new waste management practice in 1998, prohibiting releases of phosphogypsum into the rivers. The input of natural radionuclides from phosphate factories to rivers was drastically reduced. Because of this there was a unique opportunity for the study of the response of a contaminated environmental compartment, specifically an estuary affected by tidal influences, after the cessation of the contaminant releases to, in this case, the Huelva Estuary (henceforth referred to as the Estuary). To investigate the environmental response to this new discharge regime, the specific activities of radionuclides 226Ra and 210Pb in water and sediment samples collected in four campaigns (from 1999 to 2005) were determined and compared with pre-1998 values. From this study it is possible to infer the most effective mechanisms of decontamination for the Estuary. Decontamination rates of 210Pb and 226Ra in the sediments and water have been calculated using exponential fittings and corresponding half-lives have been deduced from them. The cleaning half-life in the whole area of the Estuary is about 6 and 3.5 years for 226Ra and 210Pb respectively. The observed trend clearly shows that contamination of the Estuary by natural radionuclides is now decreasing and radioactive levels in waters and sediments are approaching the natural background references. This work attempts to evaluate whether it can be expected that the decontamination of the enhanced levels of natural radioactivity in the Estuary can be performed via natural processe

Analysis of Exosomal Cargo Provides Accurate Clinical, Histologic and Mutational Information in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant disease with high mortality and poor prognosis, frequently diagnosed at advanced stages. Nowadays, immense progress in treatment has been achieved. However, the present scenario continues to be critical, and a full comprehension of tumor progression mechanisms is required, with exosomes being potentially relevant players. Exosomes are membranous vesicles that contain biological information, which can be transported cell-to-cell and modulate relevant processes in the hallmarks of cancer. The present research aims to characterize the exosomes' cargo and study their role in NSCLC to identify biomarkers. We analyzed exosomes secreted by primary cultures and cell lines, grown in monolayer and tumorsphere formations. Exosomal DNA content showed molecular alterations, whereas RNA high-throughput analysis resulted in a pattern of differentially expressed genes depending on histology. The most significant differences were found in XAGE1B, CABYR, NKX2-1, SEPP1, CAPRIN1, and RIOK3 genes when samples from two independent cohorts of resected NSCLC patients were analyzed. We identified and validated biomarkers for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Our results could represent a relevant contribution concerning exosomes in clinical practice, allowing for the identification of biomarkers that provide information regarding tumor features, prognosis and clinical behavior of the disease. Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer; liquid biopsy; exosomes; extracellular vesicles; cell cultures; adenocarcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; biomarker; tumorsphere

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Neurogénesis en el animal adulto: del estado fisiológico a la lesión o enfermedad

Six decades ago it was believed that neurons of the nervous system were only born during embryonic development. The study of adult neurogenesis is essential to develop strategies focused on specific neuronal regeneration after a lesion or in the course of neurodegenerative diseases in which an inflammatory state is established. The aim of this review was to compile and discuss on the current knowledge of adult neurogenesis in normal and injury or disease conditions, and the influence of inflammation  on the regeneration of the nervous system in the adult animal. There is evidence that neurogenesis exists in several animal  species, but its extent and its rate vary greatly between them. Neuroinflammation has negative effects on neuronal integrity and survival; however, the modulation of the microglia and other inflammatory cells during neuronal regeneration processes  has been proven to produce beneficial effects

Possible zoonotic implications of the discovery of the advanced third stage larva of Gnathostoma turgidum (Spirurida: Gnathostomatidae) in a Mexican fish species

Gnathostomiasis in humans is acquired by consumption of any infected second intermediate host or paratenic host. This includes amphibians, snakes and poultry as well as fish. In this work we report for the first time in Mexico the presence of an AdvL3 of Gnathostoma turgidum in the musculature of a wild fish (Gobiomorus dormitor, which also acts as intermediate host for the larvae of G. binucleatum and G. lamothei), from the Papaloapan River, Veracruz; previously, larvae of G. turgidum had only been recorded in amphibians in Mexico and in wild swamp eels from Tampa, Florida, USA. The larva found is extremely small (approximately 1,500 by 140 microns in length and width, respectively), and was obtained by artificial digestion with pepsin after examining the musculature against the light between two glass plates, a method by which it went unnoticed. Our finding of an AdvL3 in this fish, together with a previous molecular phylogenetic analysis revealing that the five species involved in human infections do not nest in the same clade, suggest that all species in the genus are potentially zoonotic. In this context, we strongly recommend the identification of larvae extracted from human patients at specific level, in order to know the role played by the 3 species distributed in Mexico in human cases of gnathostomiasis