The effect of the number of biopsies on the delay in the time from the delivery of mammography results to breast cancer histopathological diagnosis.

PURPOSE: The delay in the time (in calendar days) from the delivery of mammography results to histopathological breast cancer (BC) diagnosis could be associated with more advanced clinical stages, a worse prognosis and higher mortality. Therefore, we assessed the association between the number of biopsies and the delay in the time (in calendar days) from the delivery of mammography results to histopathological BC. METHODS: A survey was performed on 563 women aged between 35 and 69 years with histopathologically confirmed BC who attended 11 Mexican hospitals. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of having a delay in the time (in calendar days) from the delivery of mammography results to histopathological BC diagnosis (≥ 60 days) among women with ≥ 3 biopsies were 2.99 times the odds of those who had only one biopsy (95% CI 1.35, 6.63). CONCLUSION: The number of biopsies should be considered as a predictor of the time delay between the delivery of the mammography result and the diagnostic result.

Inflammatory biomarkers and risk of breast cancer among young women in Latin America: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer incidence is increasing rapidly in Latin America, with a higher proportion of cases among young women than in developed countries. Studies have linked inflammation to breast cancer development, but data is limited in premenopausal women, especially in Latin America. METHODS: We investigated the associations between serum biomarkers of chronic inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), leptin, adiponectin) and risk of premenopausal breast cancer among 453 cases and 453 matched, population-based controls from Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. Analyses were stratified by size and hormonal receptor status of the tumors. RESULTS: IL-6 (ORper standard deviation (SD) = 1.33 (1.11-1.60)) and TNF-α (ORper SD = 1.32 (1.11-1.58)) were positively associated with breast cancer risk in fully adjusted models. Evidence of heterogeneity by estrogen receptor (ER) status was observed for IL-8 (P-homogeneity = 0.05), with a positive association in ER-negative tumors only. IL-8 (P-homogeneity = 0.06) and TNF-α (P-homogeneity = 0.003) were positively associated with risk in the largest tumors, while for leptin (P-homogeneity = 0.003) a positive association was observed for the smallest tumors only. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the implication of chronic inflammation in breast cancer risk in young women in Latin America. Largest studies of prospective design are needed to confirm these findings in premenopausal women.

Towards a unified curriculum system based on a public health holistic approach. Renovation of the academic programs at the School of Public Health of Mexico.

Public health training cannot be practiced in isolation, but rather within the framework of substantive conceptual visions, the organizational structure and teaching culture in a broad sense. The School of Public Health of Mexico (ESPM), in the mist of its 100th anniversary, is implementing an educational restructure with the guidance of conceptual and ethical principles. The restructure of the academic pro-grams will follow a constructivist pedagogical model, based on renewed institutional practices that integrates research, teaching and community outreach, making for truly transfor-mative learning. The new design of the whole structure of its academic programs has the objetive of making them flexible, less technical-based but more practical, and a within an uni-fied curricular system that articulates and allows continuity between master's degrees and doctorates programs. In the new structure, the curriculum will have a common core for all the academic programs, emerging from the study of the essential bases of public health, human rights, including gender and social perspectives, principles of global health, ethics of public health practice, environmental and animal health inferences and community outreach in the form of social retribution. The Institute's research groups will be the functional units for investigation and teaching, thus students will be integrated into these at an early stage, under the guidance of a tutor. In this context, the requirements for a comprehensive, unifying and at the same time flexible cur-riculum will support training of Public Health with a holistic approach. The current programs were analyzed including the review of their courses, regarding the pertinence of their contents and proposed competencies. We present herein a description of these observations, and propose a new com-mon core (conceptual-operative) with compulsory courses as the base for all programs. The participation of all academic bodies in reviewing the proposed new common core, as well as the syllabus and courses, identified those that are essential in each program's study concentration area, is indicated.

Operation of research ethics committees in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico: Mesoamerican Project.

OBJECTIVE: To attain a better understanding of the structure and processes of Research Ethics Committees (REC) in the low-and middle-income countries of the Mesoamerican region. The objectives are knowing the operational practices of the RECs regarding project evaluation, training needs, and infrastructure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The REC training and needs assessment involved an online survey of all the RECs (n=55) identified in Colombia (n=11), Costa Rica (n=5), Guatemala (n=5), and Mexico (n=34). RESULTS: Participants reported inadequate infrastructure for its proper operation (only 49.1 %, or 27/55, have an exclusive office to safeguard files); insufficient administrative staff (47.3%, 26/55), or financial resources to conduct active site monitoring (85.6%, 47/55) to ensure the protection of rights and welfare of study participants. CONCLUSIONS: Investments in REC member training and infrastructure are needed to ensure compliance of REC evaluations with the standards for ethical conduct of research.

Patient and treatment delays among Mexican women with breast cancer before and after the Seguro Popular.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the Catastrophic Health Expenditures Fund (FPGC, Spanish acronym) was associated with delays in seeking medical care and in starting treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a before and after cross-sectional study. We included 266 women with breast cancer (BC) diagnosis treated during the last three years before the hospitals received the FPGC and 309 wo-men treated in the following three years after the fund was received by the accredited hospitals. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, we found no association between the FPGC and delay in seeking medical care or between the FPGC and the treatment delay. CONCLUSIONS: The FPGC initiative reduced neither the delay in seeking breast cancer medical care for breast cancer nor the treatment delay.

Communication patterns in the doctor-patient relationship: evaluating determinants associated with low paternalism in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Paternalism/overprotection limits communication between healthcare professionals and patients and does not promote shared therapeutic decision-making. In the global north, communication patterns have been regulated to promote autonomy, whereas in the global south, they reflect the physician's personal choices. The goal of this study was to contribute to knowledge on the communication patterns used in clinical practice in Mexico and to identify the determinants that favour a doctor-patient relationship characterized by low paternalism/autonomy. METHODS: A self-report study on communication patterns in a sample of 761 mental healthcare professionals in Central and Western Mexico was conducted. Multiple ordinal logistic regression models were used to analyse paternalism and associated factors. RESULTS: A high prevalence (68.7% [95% CI 60.0-70.5]) of paternalism was observed among mental health professionals in Mexico. The main determinants of low paternalism/autonomy were medical specialty (OR 1.67 [95% CI 1.16-2.40]) and gender, with female physicians being more likely to explicitly share diagnoses and therapeutic strategies with patients and their families (OR 1.57 [95% CI 1.11-2.22]). A pattern of highly explicit communication was strongly associated with low paternalism/autonomy (OR 12.13 [95% CI 7.71-19.05]). Finally, a modifying effect of age strata on the association between communication pattern or specialty and low paternalism/autonomy was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Among mental health professionals in Mexico, high paternalism prevailed. Gender, specialty, and a pattern of open communication were closely associated with low paternalism/autonomy. Strengthening health professionals' competencies and promoting explicit communication could contribute to the transition towards more autonomist communication in clinical practice in Mexico. The ethical implications will need to be resolved in the near future.

[Open communication between mental health professionals and parents of patients with intellectual disabilities]. / Comunicación abierta entre profesionales de la salud mental y padres de pacientes con discapacidad intelectual.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the factors associated with open communication between mental health professionals and parents of patients with intellectual disabilities and other neurodevelopmental disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional survey in 759 mental health professionals. The association between the pattern of open communication and the attributes of communication was estimated through a logistic, ordinal, multivariate model. RESULTS: The prevalence of the pattern of open communication in mental health professionals was 30.6% (95%CI 27.4-34.0). The associated factors were younger age (RM=2.42, 95% CI 1.57-3.75), specialty (RM= 1.56, 95%CI 1.09-2.23), high value to the truth (RM= 4.95, 95% CI 3.21-7.65), low paternalism (RM= 10.93, 95%CI 7.22-16.52) and courses in bioethics (RM= 1.45, 95%CI 1.01-2.09), adjusted for confusing variables. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health professionals reported low levels of open com-munication with parents of people with neurovelopmental disorders, so prioritizing the value to the truth, promoting less paternalism, and respecting the autonomy of patients, can contribute to changing these patterns of communication in clinical practice in Mexico.

OBJETIVO: Estimar los factores asociados con la comunicación abierta entre profesionales de la salud mental y padres de pacientes con discapacidad intelectual y otros trastornos del neurodesarrollo. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Encuesta transversal en 759 profesionales de la salud mental. Se estimó la asociación entre el patrón de comunicación abierto y los atributos de la comunicación a través de un modelo logísti-co, ordinal y multivariado. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia del patrón de comunicación abierta en profesionales de la salud mental fue de 30.6% (IC95% 27.4-34.0). Los factores asocia-dos fueron menor edad (RM=2.42, IC95% 1.57-3.75), espe-cialidad (RM=1.56, IC95% 1.09-2.23), alto valor a la verdad (RM=4.95, IC95% 3.21-7.65), bajo paternalismo (RM=10.93, IC95% 7.22-16.52) y cursos de bioética (RM=1.45, IC95% 1.01-2.09), ajustando por variables confusoras. CONCLUSIONES: Los profesionales de la salud mental reportaron bajos niveles de comunicación abierta con los padres de personas con trastornos del neurodesarrollo, por lo que priorizar el valor a la verdad, promover un menor paternalismo y el respeto a la autonomía de los pacientes puede contribuir a cambiar estos patrones de comunicación en la práctica clínica en México.

[Knowledge about neurodevelopmental disorders associated with the acceptance of the inclusive education model, in basic education teachers] / Conocimiento sobre trastornos del neurodesarrollo asociado con la aceptación del modelo de educación inclusiva en docentes de educación básica

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of knowledge about neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs) and the level of acceptance of models of inclusive education (IEM) in teachers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study in Mexico and Central America. A self-report instrument to teachers of basic level on knowledge in NDDs and acceptance of the IEM. RESULTS: The response of 511 teachers was obtained. The prevalence of high acceptance of the IEM was 28.6%. Of the 120 teachers who reported having extensive knowledge about intellectual disability, 3.8% were in the lowest percentile of acceptance of the IEM, 19.5% in the average percentile of acceptance and 55.5% of them were in the highest percentile acceptance (p<0.001). Among teachers, a greater knowledge about NDDs was associated with the acceptance of IEM: learning disorders RM 3.76 (95%CI 2.13-6.62); attention deficit disorders with hyperactivity RM 2.24 (95%CI 1.31-3.84) and intellectual disability RM 3.84 (95%CI 2.46-5.99). CONCLUSIONS: The teaching acceptance of IEM can be favored with greater and better training of education professionals on the different NDDs.

OBJETIVO: Describir la prevalencia del conocimiento sobre trastornos del neurodesarrollo (TdN) y el nivel de aceptación de los modelos de educación inclusiva (MEI) en docentes. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal multicéntrico en México y Centroamérica. Aplicación de un instrumento de autorreporte a docentes de nivel básico sobre conocimiento en TdN y aceptación de los MEI. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo la respuesta de 511 docentes. La prevalencia de alta aceptación de MEI fue de 28.6%. De los 120 docentes que refirieron tener un amplio conocimiento sobre discapacidad intelectual, 3.8% estuvieron en el percentil más bajo de aceptación de MEI, 19.5% en el percentil de aceptación promedio y 55.5% de ellos se encontraron en el percentil de mayor aceptación (p<0.001). Entre los docentes, un mayor conocimiento sobre los TdN se mostró asociado con la aceptación de MEI: trastornos del aprendizaje RM 3.76 (IC95% 2.13-6.62); trastornos por déficit de atención con hiperactividad RM 2.24 (IC95% 1.31-3.84) y discapacidad intelectual RM 3.84 (IC95% 2.46-5.99). CONCLUSIONES: La aceptación docente de MEI puede favorecerse con una mayor y mejor capacitación de los profesionales de la educación sobre los diferentes TdN.

Project profile: a multicenter study on breast cancer in young women in Latin America (PRECAMA study).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rationale and the methodology of a multicenter project to study the etiology of breast cancer in young Latin American women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The International Agency for Research on Cancer has established an international collaborative population-based case-control study in four countries in Latin America: Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico (the PRECAMA study). Standardized methodologies were developed to collect information on reproductive variables, lifestyle, anthropometry, diet, clinical and pathological data, and biological specimens. The study will be extended to other countries in the region. CONCLUSIONS: PRECAMA is unique in its multidisciplinary approach that combines genetics, genomics, and metabolomics with lifestyle factors. Then data generated through this project will be instrumental to identify major risk factors for molecular subtypes of breast cancer in young women, which will be important for pre- vention and targeted screening programs in Latin America.

OBJETIVO: Describir la justificación y la metodología para el establecimiento de un proyecto multicéntrico sobre el cáncer de mama en mujeres jóvenes de América Latina. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La Agencia Internacional para la Investigación del Cáncer (IARC) ha establecido un estudio colaborativo internacional de casos y controles con base poblacional en cuatro países de América Latina: Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica y México (el estudio PRECAMA). Se han desarrollado metodologías estandarizadas para recolectar información sobre variables reproductivas, estilos de vida, antropometría y dieta, datos clínicos y patológicos y muestras biológicas. CONCLUSIONES: PRECAMA es único en su enfoque multidisciplinario. Los datos generados a través de este proyecto serán fundamentales para identificar los principales factores de riesgo del cáncer de mama en mujeres jóvenes. Los hallazgos serán relevantes para la prevención y los programas de detección oportuna en América Latina, con beneficios clínicos inmediatos.

Thyroid hormones and breast cancer association according to menopausal status and body mass index.

BACKGROUND: Thyroxine (T4) has been positively associated with tumor cell proliferation, while the effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on cell proliferation has not been well-established because it differs according to the type of cell line used. In Mexico, it has been reported that 14.5% of adult women have some type of thyroid dysfunction and abnormalities in thyroid function tests have been observed in a variety of non-thyroidal illnesses, including breast cancer (BC). These abnormalities might change with body mass index (BMI) because thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of various metabolic pathways and probably by menopausal status because obesity has been negatively associated with BC in premenopausal women and has been positively associated with BC in postmenopausal women. METHODS: To assess the association between serum thyroid hormone concentration (T4 and T3) and BC and the influence of obesity as an effect modifier of this relationship in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, we measured serum thyroid hormone and thyroid antibody levels in 682 patients with incident breast cancer (cases) and 731 controls, who participated in a population-based case-control study performed from 2004 to 2007 in three states of Mexico. We tested the association of total T4 (TT4) and total T3 (TT3) stratifying by menopausal status and body mass index (BMI), and adjusted for other health and demographic risk factors using logistic regressions models. RESULTS: Higher serum total T4 (TT4) concentrations were associated with BC in both premenopausal (odds ratio (OR) per standard deviation = 5.98, 95% CI 3.01-11.90) and postmenopausal women (OR per standard deviation = 2.81, 95% CI 2.17-3.65). In premenopausal women, the effect of TT4 decreased as BMI increased while the opposite was observed in postmenopausal women. The significance of the effect modification was marginal (p = 0.059) in postmenopausal women and was not significant in premenopausal women (p = 0.22). Lower TT3 concentrations were associated with BC in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and no effect modification was observed. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between BC and serum concentrations of TT3 and TT4; this needs to be further investigated to understand why it happens and how important it is to consider these alterations in treatment.

Association between serum phospholipid fatty acid levels and adiposity in Mexican women.

Fatty acids (FAs) have been postulated to impact adiposity, but few epidemiological studies addressing this hypothesis have been conducted. This study investigated the association between serum phospholipid FAs (S-PLFAs) and indicators of obesity. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were collected from 372 healthy Mexican women included as controls in a case-control study. S-PLFA percentages were determined through gas chromatography. Desaturation indices, SCD-16, SCD-18, FA desaturase (FADS)1, and FADS2, biomarkers of endogenous metabolism, were proxied respectively as 16:1n-7/16:0, 18:1n-9/18:0, 20:4n-6/20:3n-6, and 22:6n-3/20:5n-3. Multiple linear regressions adjusted for relevant confounders and corrected for multiple testing were conducted to determine the association between S-PLFA, desaturation indices, and indicators of adiposity. SCD-16 (ß = 0.034, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), palmitoleic acid (ß = 0.031, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (ß = 0.043, P = 0.000, q = 0.0002) were positively associated with BMI. Total n-6 PUFAs (ß = 1.497, P = 0.047, q = 0.22) and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs (ß = 0.034, P = 0.040, q = 0.19) were positively associated with WHR, while odd-chain FAs (pentadecanoic and heptadecanoic acid) showed negative associations with all the adiposity indicators. In conclusion, increased endogenous synthesis of palmitoleic acid and a high n-6/n-3 ratio are associated with increased adiposity, while odd-chain FAs are associated with decreased adiposity. Further studies are needed to determine the potential causality behind these associations.

[Children's Psychiatric Hospital Dr. Juan N. Navarro: 50 years of attention to the mental health of children and adolescents in Mexico]. / Hospital Psiquiátrico Infantil Dr. Juan N. Navarro: 50 años de atención a la salud mental de niños y adolescentes en México.

The activities concerning mental health care of psychiatric disorders during more than 50 years of service (1966-2016) at the Children's Psychiatric Hospital "Dr. Juan N. Navarro" (HPI), as well as the progressive development of teaching and research, have contributed to its positioning as a leading institution in medical care of high specialization. This has been possible through the training of human resources that focus the quality of care to the children and their families. The hospital has progressed towards diagnostic and therapeutic care of outpatients through the creation of specialized clinics (emotions, behavior, development, adolescence, among others) and the development of more actualized and integral therapeutic programs (behavioral psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic; individual, group, family, etc.). In the field of education, the hospital has been the most important institution in the training of child psychiatrists in Mexico and its recognition as a research interdisciplinary center has grown.

Resumen: La atención de la salud mental y de los trastornos psiquiátricos de niños y adolescentes a lo largo de 50 años de servicio (1966-2016) en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Infantil Dr. Juan N. Navarro (HPI), y el desarrollo progresivo de la enseñanza y la investigación han contribuido al posicionamiento de éste como institución líder en la atención médica de alta especialidad. El hospital ha evolucionado en la atención diagnóstica y terapéutica de pacientes ambulatorios a través de la creación de clínicas especializadas y del desarrollo de programas terapéuticos cada vez más actualizados e integrales (psicoterapia conductual, psicoterapia cognitivo-conductual, y psicodinámica en modalidad individual, grupal y familiar, etc). En el ámbito de la enseñanza, el hospital ha sido la sede más importante en la formación de psiquiatras infantiles en México, con un progresivo reconocimiento como un centro de investigación interdisciplinaria.

[Processes of attention to children and adolescents under 20 years in La Castañeda: evolution of the concept of childhood in psychiatry]. / Procesos de atención a menores de 20 años en La Castañeda: evolución del concepto de infancia en psiquiatría.

Today, there is evidence that shows that children and adolescents can experience developmental problems and psychiatric disorders. This was possible because of two main reasons, the evolution of the concept of infancy and the progress made in medical and psychiatric diagnostic classification. This manuscript offers a glance to early psychiatric attention in Mexico, particularly the care processes provided to 36 children and adolescents under twenty, admitted in the mental asylum La Castañeda, during the first half of the XX century. Admission causes, length of stay, diagnosis, treatment and discharge motives, are some of the aspects described in this study. Finally, it also reflects about the challenge it is for a child psychiatric hospital nowadays, with such a history, to become an innovative institution able to claim a place in the medical field in favor of those minors that can barely defend themselves.

Resumen: Existe evidencia de que los niños y adolescentes pueden presentar problemas del desarrollo y trastornos psiquiátricos. Lo anterior es consecuencia del concepto de infancia y del refinamiento de las clasificaciones diagnósticas médico-psiquiátricas. Este artículo ofrece una mirada sobre los procesos de atención psiquiátrica brindados a 36 niños y adolescentes admitidos en el Manicomio La Castañeda en la primera mitad del siglo XX. Motivo de ingreso, tiempo de estancia, diagnósticos establecidos, tratamiento y motivo de egreso son algunos de los aspectos que se describen. Finalmente, se reflexiona sobre la existencia de un hospital psiquiátrico infantil, que siendo testimonio del pasado, tiene al mismo tiempo el desafío de convertirse en una institución innovadora; sitio que en el ámbito de las especialidades médicas reclama la psiquiatría infantil a favor de los menores que difícilmente pueden abogar por sí mismos.

The Epidemiological Challenges of Breast Cancer among Premenopausal Women in Limited Resource Settings.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women of reproductive age and is also the most costly according to European reports. In this context, the aim of the present review is to identify factors that make breast cancer in premenopausal women an epidemiological challenge in developing countries. Epidemiological aspects of breast cancer, including risk factors, early detection methods, and treatment, are addressed. Breast cancer in premenopausal women should be included in the political and strategic agendas in developing countries to direct the necessary resources for prevention, detection, and control.

Effect of care-delivery delay on the survival of Mexican women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of care-delivery delays on survival among women with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 854 women attending 11 hospitals from 2007-2009 was carried out. Kaplan-Meier estimators and a Cox proportional-risk model were employed. RESULTS: A total of 10.5% of cases were diagnosed in stage I. 82% of sampled women delayed care for more than 67 days between noticing a symptom and initiating treatment. The median time from receipt of results of the mammography to biopsy was 31 days (IQR 14-56). Compared with those who were in quartile I (Q1), survival was lower among those in Q3 and Q4 (HR=1.68, 95%CI 0.94-3.00; HR=1.76, 95% CI 1.04-2.98, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: To increase survival, it is suggested that the time between receipt of the mammography results and diagnostic biopsy be reduced.

[Analysis of the evidence on the efficacy and safety of CYD-TDV dengue vaccine and its potential licensing and implementation through Mexico's Universal Vaccination Program]. / Análisis de la evidencia sobre eficacia y seguridad de la vacuna de dengue CYD-TDV y su potencial registro e implementación en el Programa de Vacunación Universal de México.

Dengue is a major global public health problem affecting Latin America and Mexico Prevention and control measures, focusing on epidemiological surveillance and vector control, have been partially effective and costly, thus, the development of a vaccine against dengue has created great expectations among health authorities and scientific communities worldwide. The CYD-TDV dengue vaccine produced by Sanofi-Pasteur is the only dengue vaccine evaluated in phase 3 controlled clinical trials. Notwithstanding the significant contribution to the development of a vaccine against dengue, the three phase 3 clinical studies of CYD-TDV and the meta-analysis of the long-term follow up of those studies, have provided evidence that this vaccine exhibited partial vaccine efficacy to protect against virologically confirmed dengue and lead to four considerations: a) adequate vaccine efficacy against dengue virus (DENV) infections 3 and 4, less vaccine efficacy against DENV 1 and no protection against infection by DENV 2; b) decreased vaccine efficacy in dengue seronegative individuals at the beginning of the vaccination; c) 83% and 90% protection against hospitalizations and severe forms of dengue, respectively, at 25 months follow-up; and d) increased hospitalization for dengue in the vaccinated group, in children under nine years of age at the time of vaccination, detected since the third year of follow-up. The benefit of the CYD-TDV vaccine can be summarized in the protection against infection by DENV 3 and 4, as well as protection for hospitalizations and severe cases in people over nine years, who have had previous dengue infection, working mainly as a booster. In this review we identified elements on efficacy and safety of this vaccine that must be taken into account in the licensing process and potential inclusion in the national vaccination program of Mexico. The available scientific evidence on the CYD-TDV vaccine shows merits, but also leads to relevant questions that should be answered to properly assess the safety profile of the product and the target populations of potential benefit. In this regard we consider it would be informative to complete the 6-year follow-up after starting vaccination, according to the company's own study protocol recommended by the World Health Organization. As with any new vaccine, the potential licensing and implementation of the CYD-TDV as part of Mexico's vaccination program, requires a clear definition of the balance between the expected benefits and risks. Particularly with a vaccine with variable efficacy and some signs of risk, in the probable case of licensing, the post-licensed period must involve the development of detailed protocols to immediately identify risks or any health event associated with vaccination.

Radiographers supporting radiologists in the interpretation of screening mammography: a viable strategy to meet the shortage in the number of radiologists.

BACKGROUND: An alternative approach to the traditional model of radiologists interpreting screening mammography is necessary due to the shortage of radiologists to interpret screening mammograms in many countries. METHODS: We evaluated the performance of 15 Mexican radiographers, also known as radiologic technologists, in the interpretation of screening mammography after a 6 months training period in a screening setting. Fifteen radiographers received 6 months standardized training with radiologists in the interpretation of screening mammography using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) system. A challenging test set of 110 cases developed by the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium was used to evaluate their performance. We estimated sensitivity, specificity, false positive rates, likelihood ratio of a positive test (LR+) and the area under the subject-specific Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for diagnostic accuracy. A mathematical model simulating the consequences in costs and performance of two hypothetical scenarios compared to the status quo in which a radiologist reads all screening mammograms was also performed. RESULTS: Radiographer's sensitivity was comparable to the sensitivity scores achieved by U.S. radiologists who took the test but their false-positive rate was higher. Median sensitivity was 73.3 % (Interquartile range, IQR: 46.7-86.7 %) and the median false positive rate was 49.5 % (IQR: 34.7-57.9 %). The median LR+ was 1.4 (IQR: 1.3-1.7 %) and the median AUC was 0.6 (IQR: 0.6-0.7). A scenario in which a radiographer reads all mammograms first, and a radiologist reads only those that were difficult for the radiographer, was more cost-effective than a scenario in which either the radiographer or radiologist reads all mammograms. CONCLUSIONS: Given the comparable sensitivity achieved by Mexican radiographers and U.S. radiologists on a test set, screening mammography interpretation by radiographers appears to be a possible adjunct to radiologists in countries with shortages of radiologists. Further studies are required to assess the effectiveness of different training programs in order to obtain acceptable screening accuracy, as well as the best approaches for the use of non-physician readers to interpret screening mammography.

Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention recommendations and breast cancer risk in the Cancer de Màma (CAMA) study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between adherence to the recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) and breast cancer (BC) risk in the Cancer de Màma (CAMA) study in a Mexican population. DESIGN: Population-based case-control study. SUBJECTS: Incident BC cases (n 1000) and controls (n 1074) matched on age, region and health-care system were recruited. SETTING: In-person interviews were conducted to assess BC risk factors and habitual diet was assessed with an FFQ. Conformity to the WCRF/AICR recommendations was evaluated through a score incorporating seven WCRF/AICR components (body fatness, physical activity, foods and drinks that promote weight gain, plant foods, animal foods, alcoholic drinks and breast-feeding), with high scores indicating adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations. RESULTS: No statistically significant associations between WCRF/AICR score and risk of BC were observed. After excluding BMI from the WCRF/AICR score, the top quartile was associated with a decreased BC risk overall, with ORQ4-Q1=0.68 (95% CI 0.49, 0.92, P trend=0.03), and among postmenopausal women, with ORQ4-Q1=0.60 (95% CI 0.39, 0.94, P trend=0.03). Inverse associations were observed between BMI and risk of BC overall and among premenopausal women, with OR=0.57 (95% CI 0.42, 0.76, P trend <0.01) and 0.48 (95% CI 0.31, 0.73, P trend<0.01), respectively. Physical activity level was inversely associated with BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: The WCRF/AICR index was not related with BC risk in the CAMA study. A combination of six components excluding BMI showed strong protective associations, particularly in postmenopausal women. Further prospective studies are required to clarify the role of adherence to WCRF/AICR recommendations, particularly with respect to BMI, in the Mexican population.

[Breast cancer screening process indicators in Mexico: a case study]. / Indicadores del proceso de tamizaje de cáncer de mama en México: un estudio de caso.

OBJECTIVE: To identify, measure and compare the performance indicators of productivity, effective access and quality service for the early detection breast cancer program in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: By means of a study case based on the 2011 Women Cancer Information System (SICAM), the indicators were measured and compared with the Mexican official standard NOM-041-SSA2-2011 and international standards. RESULTS: The analysis showed insufficient installed capacity (37%), low coverage in screening (15%), diagnostic evaluation (16%), biopsy (44%) and treatment (57%), and very low effectiveness in confirmed cases by the total number of screening mammograms performed (0.04%). There was no information available, from SICAM, to estimate the rest of the indicators proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient health information systems are required in order to monitor indicators and generate performance observatories of screening programs.

The marginalization index and its association with selected services within the comprehensive care offered to breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: There is little information on the supportive care offered to breast cancer patients. We investigated the association between the marginalization index and selected services offered by health professionals. METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional parent study performed in Mexico from 2007 to 2009. We analyzed data from 832 women between 35 and 69 years of age with a histopathological diagnosis of breast cancer. This study was performed in hospitals in 5 states. We used frequencies, measures of central tendency, and logistic regression. We used the svy package of STATA statistical software v17. RESULTS: Overall, 15.6% of the study population reported that health professionals offered them selected services. The offer of two or more selected services was greater among women living in states with a very high marginalization index (21.8%) than among those living in states with a very low marginalization index (13.8%). Among women living in states with high marginalization, the odds of receiving a selected service offer were 2.03 times higher than those living in states with low marginalization (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.03, 95% CI 1.08-3.83). For women in the highest tertile of the asset index, the odds of receiving a selected service offer were 2.7 times greater than the odds for women in the lowest tertile (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.03-6.88). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of comprehensive care offered to breast cancer patients is low in Mexico and varies according to the marginalization index and the asset index.