Biología Acuática | Número 10 : Limnological investigation in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Lentic environments belonging to Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego stand as a field of particular, limnological interest. Some of the reasons for this are their austral location, the scarce influence they have received from man's action and the lack of information about them. Therefore, the main aim of this study is the preliminar characterization of some of said environments. Information about eight lakes and eleven ponds is presented, these being considered as representative of different regions in the island physical, geological, chemical and biological aspects are described as well as their geographical location. By means of this work, theauthors make an attempt to give origin to a research trend, aiming at achieving an exhaustive knowledge of all lentic bodies, the most important ones, lying on the austral sector of Patagonia.Contribución científica Nº 328 del Instituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet".Instituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

Quality control model for biochemical and ultrasound markers in prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidies with laboratory-centralized management

Introduction: First trimester combined fetal aneuploidy screening is the most widely implemented model at national level. Although it is well established to perform quality control of biochemical measurements, it has been seldom applied to ultrasound measures.The aim of this paper is to describe how to implement a model of quality control in the laboratory, which includes all markers in prenatal screening for aneuploidy. Methods: We have evaluated the precision and bias of biochemical markers. In the case of nuchal translucency (NT), the WIHRI method was employed to control quality, and CUSUM was applied to each ultrasound operator with the values extracted from the computer software database. Results: For the biochemical parameters CV was below 4%. The bias was within the specification for the analyte concentration levels, as was the case for MoMs, except for one month. Quality control of NT showed that 5 of the 8 ultrasound operators evaluated sdid not comply with the quality criteria when using the WIHRI method, and 6 when CUSUM was applied. Conclusions: After showing the difficulty in obtaining accurate NT measurements to the professionals involved, it was possible to reach a consensus on using the CUSUM method for quality control of NT. In this way, the laboratory will be responsible for sending a report to each ultrasound operatorin the cases where the deviation exceeds the established limit. © 2011 AEBM, AEFA y SEQC

Biología Acuática | Número 10 : Limnological investigation in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Lentic environments belonging to Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego stand as a field of particular, limnological interest. Some of the reasons for this are their austral location, the scarce influence they have received from man's action and the lack of information about them. Therefore, the main aim of this study is the preliminar characterization of some of said environments. Information about eight lakes and eleven ponds is presented, these being considered as representative of different regions in the island physical, geological, chemical and biological aspects are described as well as their geographical location. By means of this work, theauthors make an attempt to give origin to a research trend, aiming at achieving an exhaustive knowledge of all lentic bodies, the most important ones, lying on the austral sector of Patagonia.Contribución científica Nº 328 del Instituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet".Instituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

Nitrate and trace elements in municipal and bottled water in Spain Nitrato y elementos traza en agua embotellada y municipal en España

Objectives: To describe levels of nitrate and trace elements in drinking water from the study areas of a multicase-control study of cancer in Spain (MCC-Spain). Methods: A total of 227 tap water samples were randomly collected from 67 municipalities in 11 provinces and the nine most frequently consumed bottled water brands were sampled to measure levels of nitrate, arsenic, nickel, chromium, cadmium, lead, selenium and zinc. Results: The median nitrate level was 4.2mg/l (range<1-29.0), with similar levels in rural and urban municipalities (p=0.86). Trace elements were unquantifiable in 94% of tap water samples. Differences between areas were significant for nitrate (p<0.001) and arsenic (p=0.03). Only nitrate was quantifiable in bottled water (range 2.3-15.6mg/l). Conclusions: Nitrate levels in municipal water differed between regions and were below the regulatory limit in all samples, including bottled water. Trace element levels were low and mainly unquantifiable in tap and bottled water.<br>Objetivos: Determinar las concentraciones de nitrato y de elementos traza en el agua de consumo de las áreas del estudio Multicaso-Control de Cáncer en España (MCC-Spain). Métodos: Se tomaron al azar 227 muestras de agua municipal en 67 municipios de 11 provincias, y 9 muestras de las aguas embotelladas más consumidas, para cuantificar la cantidad presente de nitrato, arsénico, níquel, cromo, cadmio, plomo y zinc. Resultados: La mediana de las cifras de nitrato fue 4,2mg/l (rango<1-29,0), con similares resultados en municipios urbanos y rurales (p=0,86). Los elementos traza fueron incuantificables en el 94% de las muestras de agua municipal. Se observaron diferencias entre áreas para nitrato (p<0,001) y arsénico (p=0,03). Solo el nitrato fue cuantificable en el agua embotellada (rango 2,3-15,6mg/l). Conclusiones: La cantidad de nitrato en el agua municipal difiere entre regiones y es menor que el límite regulatorio en todas las muestras. Los elementos traza son mayormente incuantificables tanto en el agua municipal como en la embotellada

The European contribution to "Sugarbaker's protocol" for the treatment of colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis Aportación europea al "protocolo de Sugarbaker" en el tratamiento de la carcinomatosis peritoneal colorrectal

Introduction: in 1981, Dr. PH Sugarbaker, challenging oncological orthodoxy, considered carcinomatosis to be a locoregional stage of the disease that was still susceptible to treatment with curative intent. To this end he developed a new therapeutic alternative based on the combined treatment. The macroscopic disease treated by maximum radical oncological cytoreductive surgery (through the peritonectomies described by him), followed by treatment of the residual microscopic disease with the direct intra-abdominal application of intraoperative chemotherapy with locoregional intensification, modulated by hyperthermia and early normothermic postoperative intra-abdominal chemotherapy. Using this new therapeutic regimen, known as "Sugarbaker's Protocol", his group has reported 45% survival rates in carcinomatosis of colorectal origin at 5 years, and, in selected groups of patients, 50% survival rates at 5 years. The scientific community, however, has criticized these results considering that: it is a personal experience, with a not homogenous treatment protocol with developmental modifications over time, that it is a retrospective non-randomized study, and finally that the cytostatics used in his protocol are obsolete. Various European groups have replied to these main criticisms confirming the good results that this new therapeutic alternative offers for patients with carcinomatosis of colorectal origin. The purpose of this article is to present these contributions. Material and methods: all the articles published in the English language by European groups in the world's medical literature have been reviewed using the Pubmed-MEDLINE database to identify the relevant articles related to the treatment of carcinomatosis of colorectal origin using cytoreduction and intraperitoneal chemotherapy from January 1980 to January 2008. Results: the European contribution during these 25 years in favour of the "Sugarbaker's Protocol" has consisted fundamentally in: a) one multicenter retrospective study; b) two randomized prospective phase III studies; and c) the use of oxaliplatin and irinotecan as new cytostatic agents in the protocols for intraperitoneal chemotherapy. At the same time, two new transcendental European contributions have been made in which the possibility has been considered of combined simultaneous treatment for patients with hepatic metastases and carcinomatosis, and the introduction, as a selection factor, of patients responsive to intravenous induction chemotherapy within the regimen of sandwich treatment (with systemic neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy) complementary to intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Conclusions: the results obtained by European groups using "Sugarbaker's protocol" and "Elias' protocol" with oxaliplatin compel us to request that these treatments be considered by all professionals involved in the treatment of patients with colorectal carcinomatosis as the best treatment currently available for this condition. Furthermore a randomized, prospective, multicenter study should be carried out to clarify its value and the degree of scientific evidence. A validation of this treatment will change, in the future, the dogmatic consideration of carcinomatosis as an incurable disease stage.Introducción: el Dr. P. H. Sugarbaker en 1981, desafiando la ortodoxia oncológica, consideró la carcinomatosis como un estadio locorregional de la enfermedad susceptible todavía de tratamiento con intención curativa. Para ello desarrolló una nueva alternativa terapéutica basada en el tratamiento combinado. La enfermedad macroscópica mediante la máxima cirugía citorreductora radical oncológica (merced a las peritonectomías por él descritas), seguido del tratamiento de la enfermedad microscópica residual con la aplicación directa intraabdominal, de quimioterapia de intensificación locorregional, intraoperatoria modulada por hipertermia y de quimioterapia intraabdominal normotérmica postoperatoria precoz. Con este nuevo esquema terapéutico, conocido como "Protocolo de Sugarbaker", su grupo ha publicado supervivencias en carcinomatosis de origen colorrectal de 45% a 5 años y en grupos selectos de pacientes supervivencia de 50% a 5 años. La comunidad científica, sin embargo, ha criticado estos resultados al considerar que: se trata de una experiencia personal, con un protocolo de tratamiento no homogéneo con modificaciones evolutivas en el tiempo, tratarse de un estudio retrospectivo no randomizado, y finalmente considerar que los citostáticos empleados en su protocolo son obsoletos. Diversos grupos europeos han dado respuesta a las principales objeciones, confirmando los buenos resultados que esta nueva alternativa terapéutica ofrece en pacientes con carcinomatosis de origen colorrectal. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar estas aportaciones. Material y métodos: se han revisado todos los artículos publicados en lengua inglesa por grupos europeos en la literatura médica mundial usando la base de datos Pubmed-MEDLINE para identificar los artículos relevantes relacionados con el tratamiento de la carcinomatosis de origen colorrectal mediante citorreducción y quimioterapia intraperitoneal desde enero de 1980 a enero de 2008. Resultados: durante estos 25 años, la aportación europea como respuesta a las objeciones al "Protocolo de Sugarbaker" ha consistido fundamentalmente en: a) un estudio multicéntrico retrospectivo; b) dos estudios randomizados prospectivos fase III; y c) en la utilización del oxaliplatino e irinotecán como nuevos agentes citostáticos en los protocolos de quimioterapia intraperitoneal. Paralelamente se han producido dos nuevas aportaciones euro-peas trascendentales al considerar la posibilidad del tratamiento conjunto simultáneo en pacientes con metástasis hepáticas y carcinomatosis, y al introducir como factor de selección a los pacientes respondedores a quimioterapia intravenosa de inducción, dentro del esquema del tratamiento sándwich (con quimioterapia sistémica neoadyuvante y adyuvante) complementaria a la quimioterapia intraperitoneal. Conclusiones: la resultados obtenidos por los grupos euro-peos utilizando el "protocolo de Sugarbaker" y el "protocolo de Elias" con oxaliplatino, nos obligan a solicitar que estos tratamientos sean considerados por todos los profesionales, involucrados en el tratamiento de pacientes con carcinomatosis colorrectal, como el mejor tratamiento disponible en la actualidad para esta patología, y permita la realización de un estudio randomizado prospectivo multicéntrico que esclarezca su valía y grado de evidencia científica. La validación de este tratamiento, permitirá en el futuro cambiar el dogma de considerar a la carcinomatosis como un estadio incurable de la enfermedad