Case reports and the fight against cancer

Some of the earliest case reports describing individual patients afflicted with cancer can be traced all the way back to the papyrus records of Ancient Egyptian medicine of approximately 1600 B.C.. Throughout the centuries physicians have continued the practice of writing case reports. Case reporting has provided significant advances in the knowledge of cancer on several fronts. It is without question that case reports do not replace well designed randomized clinical trials in advancing medical knowledge about cancerous diseases. However, case reports have their unique role in evidence-based medicine and often constitute the first line of evidence. This editorial reviews the many useful aspects of case reports and describes specific reports known to have revolutionized cancer management. Journal of Medical Case Reports is committed to publish well written case reports from around the world and be a source of inspiration for clinicians and scientists about newer research directions

Augusto Urteaga Castro Pozo. Tres testimonios

Enero 18 de 2009 # 80

Juventudes indígenas en México : estudios y escenarios socioculturales

Este libro pretende mostrar desde disímiles aristas cómo se estudia lo juvenil indígena y cómo los jóvenes indígenas viven en el México actual. Ofrece un horizonte investigativo amplio con miradas particulares que documentan la emergencia y las vivencias de estas juventudes entre las etnias contemporáneas. Definitivamente es una propuesta que aportará a la consolidación de los campos de investigación interdisciplinarios, así como a las comunidades epistémicas. Aquí ensayamos una mirada centrada en su movilidad y agencia para reconocer un nuevo modo de estar en el mundo a partir de la voluntad y pertenencia etnojuvenil. Los autores de este libro trabajan con jóvenes indígenas en distintos escenarios y con diferentes condiciones de México, y se enfocan en las transformaciones culturales, en sus anclajes juveniles y en sus vivencias

Bartonella bacilliformis: a systematic review of the literature to guide the research agenda for elimination.

BACKGROUND: Carrion's disease affects small Andean communities in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador and is characterized by two distinct disease manifestations: an abrupt acute bacteraemic illness (Oroya fever) and an indolent cutaneous eruptive condition (verruga Peruana). Case fatality rates of untreated acute disease can exceed 80% during outbreaks. Despite being an ancient disease that has affected populations since pre-Inca times, research in this area has been limited and diagnostic and treatment guidelines are based on very low evidence reports. The apparently limited geographical distribution and ecology of Bartonella bacilliformis may present an opportunity for disease elimination if a clear understanding of the epidemiology and optimal case and outbreak management can be gained. METHODS: All available databases were searched for English and Spanish language articles on Carrion's disease. In addition, experts in the field were consulted for recent un-published work and conference papers. The highest level evidence studies in the fields of diagnostics, treatment, vector control and epidemiology were critically reviewed and allocated a level of evidence, using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 44 studies were considered to be of sufficient quality to be included in the analysis. The majority of these were level 4 or 5 (low quality) evidence and based on small sample sizes. Few studies had been carried out in endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS: Current approaches to the diagnosis and management of Carrion's disease are based on small retrospective or observational studies and expert opinion. Few studies take a public health perspective or examine vector control and prevention. High quality studies performed in endemic areas are required to define optimal diagnostic and treatment strategies

Cold dark matter identification: Diurnal modulation revisited

We report on new estimates of the modulation expected in semiconductor detectors due to eclipsing of dark matter particles in the Earth. We re-evaluate the theoretical modulation significances and discuss the differences found with previous calculations. We find that a significantly larger statistics than previously estimated is needed to achieve the same level of sensitivity in the modulated signal

The human lncRNA LINC-PINT inhibits tumor cell invasion through a highly conserved sequence element

Background: It is now obvious that the majority of cellular transcripts do not code for proteins, and a significant subset of them are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Many lncRNAs show aberrant expression in cancer, and some of them have been linked to cell transformation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and it is unknown how the sequences of lncRNA dictate their function. Results: Here we characterize the function of the p53-regulated human lncRNA LINC-PINT in cancer. We find that LINC-PINT is downregulated in multiple types of cancer and acts as a tumor suppressor lncRNA by reducing the invasive phenotype of cancer cells. A cross-species analysis identifies a highly conserved sequence element in LINC-PINT that is essential for its function. This sequence mediates a specific interaction with PRC2, necessary for the LINC-PINT-dependent repression of a pro-invasion signature of genes regulated by the transcription factor EGR1. Conclusions: Our findings support a conserved functional co-dependence between LINC-PINT and PRC2 and lead us to propose a new mechanism where the lncRNA regulates the availability of free PRC2 at the proximity of co-regulated genomic loci