Preliminary Identification of the Aerobic Cervicovaginal Microbiota in Mexican Women With Cervical Cancer as the First Step Towards Metagenomic Studies.

Cervical cancer (CC) is considered a public health problem. Recent studies have evaluated the possible relationship between the cervicovaginal microbiome and gynecologic cancer but have not studied the relationship between aerobic bacterial communities and neoplasia. The study aimed to identify the cultivable aerobic bacterial microbiota in women with cervical cancer as a preliminary approach to the metagenomic study of the cervicovaginal microbiome associated with cervical cancer in Mexican women. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted, including 120 women aged 21-71 years, divided into two study groups, women with locally advanced CC (n=60) and women without CC (n=60). Sociodemographic, gynecological-obstetric, sexual, and habit data were collected. Cervicovaginal samples were collected by swabbing, from which standard microbiological methods obtained culturable bacteria. The strains were genetically characterized by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene and subsequently identified by sequencing the same gene. Variables regularly reported as risk factors for the disease were found in women with CC. Differences were found in the prevalence and number of species isolated in each study group. Bacteria commonly reported in women with aerobic vaginitis were identified. There were 12 species in women with CC, mainly Corynebacterium spp. and Staphylococcus spp.; we found 13 bacterial species in the group without cancer, mainly Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia spp. The advanced stages presented a more significant number of isolates and species. This study provided a preliminary test for cervicovaginal metagenomic analysis, demonstrating the presence of aerobic cervicovaginal dysbiosis in women with CC and the need for more in-depth studies.

No evidence of microplastics in Antarctic fur seal scats from a hotspot of human activity in Western Antarctica.

Microplastics are present in almost all seas and oceans, including the Southern Ocean. To the south of the Antarctic Polar Front, microplastics are present mainly west to the Antarctic Peninsula, but information is scarce about their impact on the pelagic food web. Here, we analysed 42 scats of male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) collected in late summer at Deception Island (South Shetland Islands), which allowed us to assess the presence of microplastics in the pelagic food web of the Bransfield Strait (Western Antarctica). Furthermore, we analysed the hard remains of prey in the scats to characterize the diet of fur seals. Hard remains recovered from the scats revealed that male Antarctic fur seals foraged on krill and myctophid fishes during late summer. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that none of the seven fragments and three fibres recovered from their scats were microplastics, but rather were silicate minerals and chitin. These results suggest that the levels of microplastic pollution in the pelagic food web of the Bransfield Strait are extremely low.

Nimotuzumab Induces NK Cell Activation, Cytotoxicity, Dendritic Cell Maturation and Expansion of EGFR-Specific T Cells in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Survival benefit and long-term duration of clinical response have been seen using the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted monoclonal antibody (mAb) nimotuzumab. Blocking EGFR signaling may not be the only mechanism of action underlying its efficacy. As an IgG1 isotype mAb, nimotuzumab's capacity of killing tumor cells by antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and to induce an immune response in cancer patients have not been studied. ADCC-induced by nimotuzumab was determined using a 51Cr release assay. The in vitro effect of nimotuzumab on natural killer (NK) cell activation and dendritic cell (DC) maturation and the in vivo frequency of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) and NK cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytokine levels in supernatants were determined by ELISA. ELISpot was carried out to quantify EGFR-specific T cells in nimotuzumab-treated head and neck cancer (HNSCC) patients. Nimotuzumab was able to kill EGFR+ tumor cells by NK cell-mediated ADCC. Nimotuzumab-activated NK cells promoted DC maturation and EGFR-specific CD8+ T cell priming. Interestingly, nimotuzumab led to upregulation of some immune checkpoint molecules on NK cells (TIM-3) and DC (PD-L1), to a lower extent than another EGFR mAb, cetuximab. Furthermore, circulating EGFR-specific T cells were identified in nimotuzumab-treated HNSCC patients. Notably, nimotuzumab combined with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation increased the frequency of peripheral CD4+CD39+FOXP3+Tregs which otherwise were decreased to baseline values when nimotuzumab was used as monotherapy. The frequency of circulating NK cells remained constant during treatment. Nimotuzumab-induced, NK cell-mediated DC priming led to induction of anti-EGFR specific T cells in HNSCC patients. The association between EGFR-specific T cells and patient clinical benefit with nimotuzumab treatment should be investigated.

Meningococcal disease serogroup C.

Despite current advances in antibiotic therapy and vaccines, meningococcal disease serogroup C (MDC) remains a serious threat to global health, particularly in countries in North and Latin America, Europe, and Asia. MDC is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and neurological sequelae and it is a heavy economic burden. At the individual level, despite advances in antibiotics and supportive therapies, case fatality rate remains nearly 10% and severe neurological sequelae are frequent. At the population level, prevention and control of infection is more challenging. The main approaches include health education, providing information to the public, specific treatment, chemoprophylaxis, and the use of vaccines. Plain and conjugate meningococcal C polysaccharide vaccines are considered safe, are well tolerated, and have been used successfully for over 30 years. Most high-income countries use vaccination as a part of public health strategies, and different meningococcal C vaccination schedules have proven to be effective in reducing incidence. This is particularly so with conjugate vaccines, which have been found to induce immunogenicity in infants (the age group with the highest incidence rates of disease), stimulate immunologic memory, have longer effects, not lead to hyporesponsiveness with repeated dosing, and decrease acquisition of nasopharyngeal carriage, inducing herd immunity. Antibiotics are considered a cornerstone of MDC treatment and must be administered empirically as soon as possible. The choice of which antibiotic to use should be made based on local antibiotic resistance, availability, and circulating strains. Excellent options for a 7-day course are penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and third-generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone and cefotaxime) intravenously, although the latter are considerably more expensive than the others. The use of steroids as adjunctive therapy for MDC is still controversial and remains a topic of debate. A combination of all of the aforementioned approaches is useful in the prevention and control of MDC, and each country should tailor its public health policy to its own particular needs and knowledge of disease burden.

Cuban Meningococcal BC Vaccine: Experiences & Contributions from 20 Years of Application.

This paper reviews 20 years of experience and scientific contributions of the Cuban meningococcal BC vaccine (VA-MENGOC-BC®) obtained by the Finlay Institute in Havana, Cuba. The vaccine is the first of its type in the world that is safe, effective, and commercially available for preventing meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B meningococcus; it is also effective against serogroup C. VA-MENGOC-BC® has shown satisfactory results, with no serious adverse events, after application of approximately 55 million doses in some 15 countries. Also included is background information on meningococcal disease, as well as the main characteristics of VA-MENGOC-BC®, the strategy used for controlling meningococcal disease and its prevention in Cuba, and a summary of the main scientific results obtained in basic research, development, clinical evaluation, and post-marketing results (safety, efficacy-effectiveness, post-vaccination adverse events, etc.) in Cuba and elsewhere.

[Immunogenecity induced by the VA-MENGOC-BC antimeningococcal vaccine against the ATCC C11. N. meningitidis strain in adolescents 12 years after being vaccinated]. / Inmunogenicidad inducida por la vacuna antimeningocócica VA-MENGOC-BC contra la cepa de N. meningitidis ATCC C11 en adolescentes después de 12 años de vacunados.

The antibodies' response induced by the VA-MENGOC-BC Cuban antimeningococcal vaccine against the ATCC C11 strain was studied by Bactericidal Serum Trial and ELISA among 184 adolescents from a polytechnic, in Ciego de Avila, that had been immnunized in mass campaings 12 years before. Blood samples were taken before administering the first dose (T0), 4 weeks later (T1), and 4 weeks after the second dose (T2). 12 years after vaccination, 25% of the adolescents presented bactericidal titers > or =1:8 against the evaluated strain. 78% showed a concentration of antibodies over the limit of detection against the meningococcus C capsular polyssacharide. The percentages of seroconversion after the first dose were 59 by Bactericidal Serum Trial and 82 by ELISA. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the results obtained after the first and second dose by boths trials. The reimmnunization with 2 doses of the vaccine did not cause hyporesponse against the ATCC C11 strain in this age group.

Inmunogenicidad inducida por la vacuna antimeningocócica VA-MENGOC-BC® contra la cepa de N. meningitidis ATCC C11 en adolescentes después de 12 años de vacunados / Immunogenecity induced by the VA-MENGOC-BC® antimeningococcal vaccine against the ATCC C11 N. meningitidis strain in adolescents 12 years after being vaccinated

Se estudió la respuesta de anticuerpos inducida por la vacuna antimeningocócica cubana VA-MENGOC-BC® contra la cepa ATCC C11 mediante Ensayo Bactericida del Suero y ELISA, a 184 adolescentes de un Politécnico de Ciego de Ávila, que habían sido inmunizados en campañas masivas 12 años antes. Se realizaron extracciones de sangre antes de aplicar la primera dosis (T0), 4 semanas después de esta (T1) y 4 semanas después de la segunda dosis (T2). Después de 12 años de la vacunación, 25 por ciento de los adolescentes presentó títulos bactericidas ≥ 1:8 frente a la cepa evaluada. Por ELISA, 78 por ciento mostró una concentración de anticuerpos superior al límite de detección contra el polisacárido capsular del meningococo C. Los porcentajes de seroconversión posterior a la primera dosis fueron 59 por Ensayo Bactericida del Suero y 82 por ELISA. No hubo diferencias significativas (p> 0,05) entre los resultados obtenidos después de la primera y segunda dosis por ambos ensayos. La reinmunización con 2 dosis de la vacuna no provocó hiporrespuesta frente a la cepa ATCC C11 en este grupo de edad

Broncofibroscopia en el diagnóstico de cáncer del pulmón: estudio estadístico de los años 1986-1987 / Bronchofibroscopy in the diagnosis of lung cancer: statistical study of the years 1986-1987

Se recogió la información de 127 historias clínicas de enfermos con el diagnóstico de cámcer en el pulmón, estudiados en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiología, en que se utilizó la broncofibroscopía como medio diagnóstico. Predominó el sexo masculino con mayor frecuencia en la 6ta y 7ma décadas de la vida. El lavado y cepillado bronquial ofrecieron bajos tantos por cientos de positividad de 38,2 y 47,2 respectivamente en contraste con la biopsia broncoscopía en lesiones visibles con una alta sensibilidad de 95,5 %. La citología del esputo posbroncoscopia aumentó su positividad. La acumulación de exámenes diagnósticos en el uso de broncofibroscopio (lavado, cepillado, biopsia), aumentó la utilidad del método endoscópico en el diagnóstico de cáncer del pulmón, y llegó al 99 % de diagnóstico de certeza

Tratamiento de las metastasis ganglionares cervicales / Management of cervical ganglionar metastases

Se realiza un estudio sobre los resultados de morbimortalidad y supervivencia en 61 pacientes operados por presentar metástasis cervicales a quienes se les practicó la técnica quirúrgica conocida como disección funcional de cuello. Al mismo tiempo se compara retrospectivamente un grupo de pacientes tratados con disección radical de cuello. Se destaca la menor morbimortalidad en el grupo tratado con disección funcional de cuello, así como ventajas en el orden funcional y estético