Saving the pharmacy of the sea : how does global change affect species with bioactive potential in the Mediterranean?

Several marine species in the Mediterranean produce molecules with bioactive potential that could be used to develop new drugs (antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antitumourals). Different human activities such as pollution, marine recreation, and fishing, as well as climate change, threaten and even endanger some of these species. These vulnerable species with bioactive potential must be protected, especially in marine reserves, not only because they are valuable components of marine ecosystems, but also because they are a potential source of molecules with pharmacological properties that are currently being researched for the creation of new drugs

Non-destructive evaluation of carcass and ham traits and meat quality assessment applied to early and late immunocastrated Iberian pigs

Castration is a common practice in Iberian pigs due to their advanced age and high weight at slaughter. Immunocastration (IC) is an alternative to surgical castration that influences carcass and cut fatness. These traits need to be evaluated in vivo and postmortem. The aims of the present work were (a) to determine the relationship between ham composition measured with computed tomography (CT) and in vivo ultrasound (US) and carcass fat thickness measurements, (b) to apply these technologies to early (EIP) and late (LIP) immunocastrated Iberian pigs in order to evaluate carcass fatness and ham tissue composition and (c) to assess meat quality on these animals and to find the relationships between meat quality traits (namely, intramuscular fat (IMF)) and fat depot thicknesses. For this purpose, 20 purebred Iberian pigs were immunocastrated with three doses of Improvac (R), at either 4.5, 5.5 and 9 or 11, 12 and 14 months of age (EIP or LIP; respectively; n = 10 each) and slaughtered at 17 months of age. Fat depots were evaluated in vivo by US, in carcass with a ruler and in hams by CT. Carcass and cut yields, loin meat quality and loin acceptability by consumers were determined. Also, IMF was determined in the loin and three muscles of the ham. Carcass weight was 14.9 kg heavier in EIP vs LIP, and loin backfat thickness (US- and ruler-measured) was also greater in EIP. Similarly, CT-evaluated ham bone and fat contents were greater and smaller for EIP vs LIP, respectively. Loin and ham IMF were also greater in EIP, but the other meat quality parameters were similar. The acceptability of meat by consumers was high and it did not differ between IC protocols. Correlations between several fat depots measured with the different technologies were high. In conclusion, all these technologies allowed fat depot measurements, which were highly correlated despite being obtained at different anatomical locations. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Animal Consortium

Using population-based data to evaluate the impact of adherence to endocrine therapy on survival in breast cancer through the web-application BreCanSurvPred

We show how the use and interpretation of population-based cancer survival indicators can help oncologists talk with breast cancer (BC) patients about the relationship between their prognosis and their adherence to endocrine therapy (ET). The study population comprised a population-based cohort of estrogen receptor positive BC patients (N = 1268) diagnosed in Girona and Tarragona (Northeastern Spain) and classified according to HER2 status (+ / -), stage at diagnosis (I/II/III) and five-year cumulative adherence rate (adherent > 80%; non-adherent <= 80%). Cox regression analysis was performed to identify significant prognostic factors for overall survival, whereas relative survival (RS) was used to estimate the crude probability of death due to BC (PBC). Stage and adherence to ET were the significant factors for predicting all-cause mortality. Compared to stage I, risk of death increased in stage II (hazard ratio [HR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-3.30) and stage III (HR 5.11, 95% CI 3.46-7.51), and it decreased with adherence to ET (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.59). PBC differences were higher in non-adherent patients compared to adherent ones and increased across stages: stage I: 6.61% (95% CI 0.05-13.20); stage II: 9.77% (95% CI 0.59-19.01), and stage III: 22.31% (95% CI 6.34-38.45). The age-adjusted survival curves derived from this modeling were implemented in the web application BreCanSurvPred (https://pdocomputation.snpstats.net/BreCanSurvPred). Web applications like BreCanSurvPred can help oncologists discuss the consequences of non-adherence to prescribed ET with patients

High-resolution imaging of human atherosclerotic carotid plaques with micro18F-FDG PET scanning exploring plaque vulnerability

FDG-PET can be used to identify vulnerable plaques in atherosclerotic disease. Clinical FDG-PET camera systems are restricted in terms of resolution for the visualization of detailed inflammation patterns in smaller vascular structures. The aim of the study is to evaluate the possible added value of a high-resolution microPET system in excised carotid plaques using FDG. In this study, 17 patients with planned carotid endarterectomy were included. Excised plaques were incubated in FDG and subsequently imaged with microPET. Macrophage presence in plaques was evaluated semi-quantitatively by immunohistochemistry. Plaque calcification was assessed additionally with CT and correlated to FDG uptake. Finally, FDG uptake and macrophage infiltration were compared with patient symptomatology. Heterogeneous distributions and variable intensities of FDG uptake were found within the plaques. A positive correlation between the distribution of macrophages and the FDG uptake (r = 0.68, P <.01) was found. A negative correlation was found between areas of calcifications and FDG uptake (r = -0.84, P <.001). Ratio FDG(max) values as well as degree of CD68 accumulation were significantly higher in CVA patients compared with TIA or amaurosis fugax patients (P <.05) and CVA patients compared with asymptomatic patients (P <.05). This ex vivo study demonstrates that excised carotid plaques can be visualized in detail using FDG microPET. Enhancement of clinical PET/CT resolution for similar imaging results in patients is needed

Estimación el crecimiento del V.A.B. no agrario de Baleares a partir de un indicador sintético

Publicad

Epidemiología del cáncer invasor de cérvix en el área sanitaria de Girona durante el período 1980 - 1989. Registro poblacional de cáncer de Girona

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present work is to carry out a descriptive study about the impact of invasive cervical cancer in the area of Girona, Spain. METHODS:Using data from the population based cancer registry of Girona for the period 1980-89, several incidence rates were calculated. Incidence trends, demographical distribution and survival according of different variables were analyzed. RESULTS: The average age in which the disease appears was 57"14 years; the most frequent histological type was the squamous cell carcinoma; 51% of the cases were women born in Cataluña and the remaining percentage corresponds to women from others regions and foreigners. At the moment of diagnosis, el 36% of the cases were local, 34% were regional and 23% disseminated. Crude, standardized and truncated (35-64 years) incidence rates, during 1980 to 1989 were de 8.2, 6.2 and 13.7 cases x105 women respectively. According to the cumulative rate, 1 in 150 women will have this cancer by age 74. No increase of the trend has been found, however, a significative subincidence has been observed in rural areas. 5-years survival rates is 48.5% and was significantly associated with stage at diagnosis, but age was not. CONCLUSION: From an international viewpoint, Girona is a low incident area for this tumour and no rising trend has been found. The subincidence in rural areas may suggest a different exposition to risk factors, although certain aspects such as accessibility to health care services, the defining of rural and urban areas and the existence of migrations should be considered. Finally, the lower survival rate with regard to other countries could be attributed to the presence of more advanced stages, which emphasizes the importance that the early diagnosis of this tumour has.FUNDAMENTO: Estudio descriptivo del cáncer invasor de cérvix en el Area Sanitaria de Girona, a partir de los datos del Registro Poblacional de Cáncer. MÉTODOS: El estudio comprende el período de 1980 a 1989 y la población observada incluye a las mujeres residentes en el Area Sanitaria. Se ha realizado el cálculo de tasas de incidencia bruta, ajustada, truncada y acumulada, así como un análisis de tendencia, de distribución demográfica del tumor y un análisis de la supervivencia poblacional. RESULTADOS: La edad media de presentación del cáncer fue de 57"14 años; el tipo histológico más frecuente el carcinoma escamoso; el 51% de los casos son mujeres nacidas en Cataluña, el resto son inmigrantes y extranjeras. La distribución de estadíos en el momento del diagnóstico fue: 36% casos locales, 34% regionales y 23% diseminados. Las tasas bruta, ajustada y truncada de incidencia en el período 1980-89 eran de 8.2, 6.2 y 13.7 casos x105 mujeres respectivamente. Según la tasa acumulada, una de cada 150 mujeres sufrirán este tumor antes de los 75 años. No se observa un incremento significativo de la tendencia; por el contrario, se aprecia una subincidencia significativa en zonas rurales. La probabilidad de supervivencia relativa a los 5 años es del 48.5%, no apreciándose diferencias significativas en función de la edad pero sí en función del estadío. CONCLUSIONES: En comparación con las cifras internacionales, Girona es un área de baja incidencia de este tumor, no observándose una tendencia ascendente del mismo. La subincidencia en zonas rurales puede sugerir una diferente exposición a factores de riesgo, aunque hay que tener en cuenta aspectos como la accesibilidad a los servicios sanitarios, la definición de medio urbano y rural, y la presencia de movimientos migratorios. Por último, la menor supervivencia observada en comparación con otros países podría atribuirse a la presencia de estadíos más avanzados, lo que pone de relieve la importancia de la detección precoz de este tumor