Implementing Standard Diagnosis and Treatment for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Through Global Research in Latin America: Results From a Multicountry Pragmatic Trial

Purpose Breast cancer mortality rates in Latin America (LA) are higher than those in the United States, possibly because of advanced disease presentation, health care disparities, or unfavorable molecular subtypes. The Latin American Cancer Research Network was established to address these challenges and to promote collaborative clinical research. The Molecular Profiling of Breast Cancer Study (MPBCS) aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of LA participants with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Patients and Methods The MPBCS enrolled 1,449 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Through harmonized procedures and quality assurance measures, this study evaluated clinicopathologic characteristics, neoadjuvant chemotherapy response, and survival outcomes according to residual cancer burden (RCB) and the type of surgery. Results Overall, 711 and 480 participants in the primary surgery and neoadjuvant arms, respectively, completed the 5-year follow-up period. Overall survival was independently associated with RCB (worse survival for RCBIII-adjusted hazard ratio, 8.19, P < .001, and RCBII [adjusted hazard ratio, 3.69, P < .008] compared with RCB0 [pathologic complete response or pCR]) and type of surgery (worse survival in mastectomy than in breast-conserving surgery [BCS], adjusted hazard ratio, 2.97, P = .001). The hormone receptor–negative-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive group had the highest proportion of pCR (48.9%). The analysis of the ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative breast module revealed high compliance with pathologic standards but lower adherence to treatment administration standards. Notably, compliance with trastuzumab administration varied widely among countries (33.3%-88.7%). Conclusion In LABC, we demonstrated the survival benefit of BCS and the prognostic effect of the response to available neoadjuvant treatments despite an important variability in access to key treatments. The MPBCS represents a significant step forward in understanding the real-world implementation of oncologic procedures in LA.Fil: Retamales, Javier. Grupo Oncológico Cooperativo Chileno de Investigación; ChileFil: Daneri Navarro, Adrián. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Artagaveytia, Nora. Hospital Universitario de Clínicas “Manuel Quintela”; UruguayFil: Alves Da Quinta, Daniela Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Argentina de la Empresa; ArgentinaFil: Abdelhay, Eliana. Instituto Nacional de Câncer Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Podhajcer, Osvaldo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Velázquez, Carlos. Universidad de Sonora; MéxicoFil: Giunta, Diego Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Departamento de Posgrado.; ArgentinaFil: Crocamo, Susanne. Instituto Nacional de Câncer Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Garibay Escobar, Adriana. Universidad de Sonora; MéxicoFil: Del Toro Arreola, Alicia. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Rodriguez, Robinson. Hospital Universitario de Clínicas “Manuel Quintela”; UruguayFil: Aghazarian, Marta. Instituto Nacional de Cancer; UruguayFil: Alcoba, Elsa. Hospital Municipal de Oncologia Maria Curie ; Gobierno de la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires;Fil: Alonso, Isabel. Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell; UruguayFil: Binato, Renata. Instituto Nacional de Câncer Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bravo, Alicia I.. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos "Eva Perón"; ArgentinaFil: Canton Romero, Juan. Hospital de Gineco-Obstricia CMNO-IMSS; MéxicoFil: Carraro, Dirce M.. AC Camargo Cancer Center; BahamasFil: Castro, Mónica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo"; ArgentinaFil: Castro Cervantes, Juan. Hospital de Gineco-Obstricia CMNO-IMSS; MéxicoFil: Cataldi, Sandra. Instituto Nacional de Cancer; UruguayFil: Camejo, Natalia. Hospital Universitario de Clínicas “Manuel Quintela”; UruguayFil: Cortes Sanabria, Laura. Hospital de Gineco-Obstricia CMNO-IMSS; MéxicoFil: Valenzuela Antelo, Olivia. Universidad de Sonora; MéxicoFil: Venegas Godinez, Laura. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Zagame, Livia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Jorge. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Llera, Andrea Sabina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Müller, Bettina. Grupo Oncológico Cooperativo Chileno de Investigación; Chile. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer; Chil

Manual de uso del fuego en paisajes ganaderos

Se aborda una forma de utilizar el fuego de manera adecuada y beneficiosa; mediante el presente manual, el uso adecuado del fuego es una herramienta propuesta para obtener los beneficios del manejo en paisajes ganaderos, con el fin de que, en caso de que sea necesario su uso, se realice de la mejor manera posible, considerando los beneficios inherentes a su manejo (reducir pastos o praderas no palatables, estimular el rebrote de pastura, incrementar el rendimiento de la biomasa, mejorar la calidad de nutrientes, eliminar plagas y enfermedades); también puede ser de utilidad para aquella(s) persona(s) que quiera(n) realizar quemas prescritas en otros tipos de vegetación

Dinámica temporal de combustibles forestales y efecto del incendio en Cerro Nambiyugua, Chiapas, México

Forest fuel is one of the main carbon pools, but is also considered a factor involved in the occurrence and intensity of forest fires. The objective of this study was to analyze the temporal dynamics of forest fuel storage and the effect of fire in a pine (Pinus oocarpa Schiede) forest. The measurement of fresh and decomposed litter, and woody materials was carried out from 2010 to 2021 at four sites of a pine forest in the Cerro Nambiyugua, Villaflores, Chiapas, with the National Forest and Soil Inventory method. At each site, eight 30 x 30 cm2 quadrants were used to collect litter samples. To dry the samples, paper bags were used and placed in an oven at 70°C for 72 hours. The fallen woody material was sampled with the line intersection method. Fresh and decomposed litter load increased gradually over time. The highest litter loads were obtained in 2018 with 12.67 t ha−1 . After the forest fire in 2019, the litter load decreased to 5.67 t ha−1 , and by 2021 it increased to 8.65 t ha−1 . The accumulation trend of fallen woody material varied according to the category of ignition hours. The results of this study have fundamental implications in the strategies and periodicity of forest fuel load management and carbon storage, since a greater frequency of forest fires is expected with climate change.Los combustibles forestales son uno de los principales reservorios de carbono, pero también se consideran un factor involucrado en la ocurrencia e intensidad de incendios forestales. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la dinámica temporal de almacenamiento y efecto del incendio sobre los combustibles forestales en bosque de pino (Pinus oocarpa Schiede). La medición de hojarasca, mantillo y materiales leñosos se realizó de 2010 a 2021 en cuatro sitios de un bosque de pino del Cerro Nambiyugua, Villaflores, Chiapas con el método del Inventario Nacional Forestal y de Suelos. En cada sitio, se utilizaron ocho cuadrantes de 30 x 30 cm2 para colectar las muestras de hojarasca y mantillo. Para el secado de las muestras, se utilizaron bolsas de papel estraza y se colocaron en estufa a 70°C durante 72 horas. El material leñoso caído se determinó con la metodología de intersección planar. La carga de hojarasca y mantillo aumentó gradualmente con el tiempo. Las mayores cargas de hojarasca se obtuvieron en el año 2018 con 12.67 t ha−1 . Después del incendio forestal del año 2019, la carga de hojarasca disminuyó a 5.67 t ha−1 , y para el 2021 aumento a 8.65 t ha−1 . La tendencia de acumulación de material leñoso caído varió según la categoría de horas de ignición. Los resultados de este estudio tienen implicaciones fundamentales en las estrategias y periodicidad del manejo de carga de combustibles forestales y almacenamiento de carbono ya que con el cambio climático se espera mayor frecuencia de incendios forestales

BIOMASS ACCUMULATION IN FORESTS WITH HIGH PRESSURE OF FUELWOOD EXTRACTION IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO

ABSTRACT Tropical forests plays a vital role in mitigating atmospheric CO2 but the retention capacity of such ecosystems has changed greatly due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, of which firewood extraction is the main one activity in rural areas. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the biomass stocks of pine and oak forests with different pressure of fuelwood extraction in Chiapas, Mexico. The study was carried out in four locations in the state of Chiapas, southern Mexico; two of them with high extraction levels and the other two with lower extraction levels. Pine and Oak forests are the predominant forest types in the region. A total of sixteen plots of 400 m2 were established to measure the biomass stocks of the trees with > 7.5 cm DBH. Published allometric equations were used to quantify the biomass stocks. The average biomass of the pine forest with low fuelwood extraction was 213.4 Mg ha-1, and that of the oak forest was 189.5 Mg ha-1. On the other hand, the biomass stocks of the pine forest with high fuelwood extraction was 138.2 Mg ha-1, and that of the oak forest was 92.0 Mg ha-1. Communities with agricultural diversification like apiculture and agroforestry practices were found more effective in forest biomass conservation when compared to those who are only dedicated to Milpa cultivation and extensive bovine livestock production. The adoption of silvopasture systems, the use of crop residues and the use of ecological cooking stoves can be the alternatives to reduce forest fuelwood extraction

Effect of Prescribed Burning on Tree Diversity, Biomass Stocks and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Tropical Highland Forests

Fire has been an integral part of ecosystem functioning in many biomes for a long time, but the increased intensity and frequency of wildfires often affect plant diversity and carbon storage. Prescribed burning is one of the alternatives to forest fuel management where the fire is controlled and carried out under a determined set of weather conditions and objectives. The effect of prescribed burning on plant diversity and carbon (C) storage has not been studied widely. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prescribed burning on plant diversity indices, biomass stocks, and soil C storage in the tropical highland forests of Southern Mexico. We assessed plant diversity and carbon stocks at 21 sampling sites: seven with prescribed burning, seven non-burning, and seven with wildfires. We calculated tree biodiversity indices, stand structural properties, and species composition among burning treatments. We quantified C stocks in vegetation biomass by using an allometric equation and forest litter by direct sampling. We analyzed 252 soil samples for soil organic C content and other properties. The results showed that the biodiversity index was higher in sites with prescribed burning (Shannon index, H = 1.26) and non-burning (H = 1.14) than in wildfire sites (H = 0.36). There was a greater similarity in plant species composition between non-burning and prescribed burning sites compared to wildfire sites. Prescribed burning showed a positive effect on soil carbon storage (183.9 Mg C ha&minus;1) when compared to wildfire (144.3 Mg C ha&minus;1), but the difference was not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05) in biomass stocks. Prescribed burning in this study conserved plant diversity as well as soil carbon stocks compared to non-burning, the opposite of what we found in wildfires

Effect of Prescribed Burning on Tree Diversity, Biomass Stocks and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Tropical Highland Forests

Fire has been an integral part of ecosystem functioning in many biomes for a long time, but the increased intensity and frequency of wildfires often affect plant diversity and carbon storage. Prescribed burning is one of the alternatives to forest fuel management where the fire is controlled and carried out under a determined set of weather conditions and objectives. The effect of prescribed burning on plant diversity and carbon (C) storage has not been studied widely. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prescribed burning on plant diversity indices, biomass stocks, and soil C storage in the tropical highland forests of Southern Mexico. We assessed plant diversity and carbon stocks at 21 sampling sites: seven with prescribed burning, seven non-burning, and seven with wildfires. We calculated tree biodiversity indices, stand structural properties, and species composition among burning treatments. We quantified C stocks in vegetation biomass by using an allometric equation and forest litter by direct sampling. We analyzed 252 soil samples for soil organic C content and other properties. The results showed that the biodiversity index was higher in sites with prescribed burning (Shannon index, H = 1.26) and non-burning (H = 1.14) than in wildfire sites (H = 0.36). There was a greater similarity in plant species composition between non-burning and prescribed burning sites compared to wildfire sites. Prescribed burning showed a positive effect on soil carbon storage (183.9 Mg C ha−1) when compared to wildfire (144.3 Mg C ha−1), but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) in biomass stocks. Prescribed burning in this study conserved plant diversity as well as soil carbon stocks compared to non-burning, the opposite of what we found in wildfires

Soil Organic Carbon Depletion from Forests to Grasslands Conversion in Mexico: A Review

Land use change from forests to grazing lands is one of the important sources of greenhouse gas emissions in many parts of the tropics. The objective of this study was to analyze the extent of soil organic carbon (SOC) loss from the conversion of native forests to pasturelands in Mexico. We analyzed 66 sets of published research data with simultaneous measurements of soil organic carbon stocks between native forests and pasturelands in Mexico. We used a generalized linear mixed effect model to evaluate the effect of land use change (forest versus pasture), soil depth, and original native forest types. The model showed that there was a significant reduction in SOC stocks due to the conversion of native forests to pasturelands. The median loss of SOC ranged from 31.6% to 52.0% depending upon the soil depth. The highest loss was observed in tropical mangrove forests followed by highland tropical forests and humid tropical forests. Higher loss was detected in upper soil horizon (0&#8315;30 cm) compared to deeper horizons. The emissions of CO2 from SOC loss ranged from 46.7 to 165.5 Mg CO2 eq. ha&#8722;1 depending upon the type of original native forests. In this paper, we also discuss the effect that agroforestry practices such as silvopastoral arrangements and other management practices like rotational grazing, soil erosion control, and soil nutrient management can have in enhancing SOC stocks in tropical grasslands. The results on the degree of carbon loss can have strong implications in adopting appropriate management decisions that recover or retain carbon stocks in biomass and soils of tropical livestock production systems

Implementing Standard Diagnosis and Treatment for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Through Global Research in Latin America: Results From a Multicountry Pragmatic Trial

PURPOSEBreast cancer mortality rates in Latin America (LA) are higher than those in the United States, possibly because of advanced disease presentation, health care disparities, or unfavorable molecular subtypes. The Latin American Cancer Research Network was established to address these challenges and to promote collaborative clinical research. The Molecular Profiling of Breast Cancer Study (MPBCS) aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of LA participants with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe MPBCS enrolled 1,449 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Through harmonized procedures and quality assurance measures, this study evaluated clinicopathologic characteristics, neoadjuvant chemotherapy response, and survival outcomes according to residual cancer burden (RCB) and the type of surgery.RESULTSOverall, 711 and 480 participants in the primary surgery and neoadjuvant arms, respectively, completed the 5-year follow-up period. Overall survival was independently associated with RCB (worse survival for RCBIII-adjusted hazard ratio, 8.19, P < .001, and RCBII [adjusted hazard ratio, 3.69, P < .008] compared with RCB0 [pathologic complete response or pCR]) and type of surgery (worse survival in mastectomy than in breast-conserving surgery [BCS], adjusted hazard ratio, 2.97, P = .001). The hormone receptor–negative-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive group had the highest proportion of pCR (48.9%). The analysis of the ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative breast module revealed high compliance with pathologic standards but lower adherence to treatment administration standards. Notably, compliance with trastuzumab administration varied widely among countries (33.3%-88.7%).CONCLUSIONIn LABC, we demonstrated the survival benefit of BCS and the prognostic effect of the response to available neoadjuvant treatments despite an important variability in access to key treatments. The MPBCS represents a significant step forward in understanding the real-world implementation of oncologic procedures in LA

Design and implementation of the AMIGA embedded system for data acquisition

International audienceThe Auger Muon Infill Ground Array (AMIGA) is part of the AugerPrime upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory. It consists of particle counters buried 2.3 m underground next to the water-Cherenkov stations that form the 23.5 km2 large infilled array. The reduced distance between detectors in this denser area allows the lowering of the energy threshold for primary cosmic ray reconstruction down to about 1017 eV. At the depth of 2.3 m the electromagnetic component of cosmic ray showers is almost entirely absorbed so that the buried scintillators provide an independent and direct measurement of the air showers muon content. This work describes the design and implementation of the AMIGA embedded system, which provides centralized control, data acquisition and environment monitoring to its detectors. The presented system was firstly tested in the engineering array phase ended in 2017, and lately selected as the final design to be installed in all new detectors of the production phase. The system was proven to be robust and reliable and has worked in a stable manner since its first deployment