Breast-conserving surgery in breast cancer and intraoperative radiotherapy. Can we predict the fibrosis? / Cirugía conservadora de cáncer de mama y radioterapia intraoperatoria. ¿Podemos predecir la fibrosis?

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy techniques associated with breast-conserving surgery have evolved in early breast cancer thanks to a better knowledge of tumor radiobiology, highlighting intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). However, complications have been documented with this procedure, mainly fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) is a cytokine with an active role in radiation-induced fibrosis, which could be used as an early biomarker for the development of fibrosis. METHODS: Multicentric prospective analysis of 60 patients with breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery, 30 of whom had received additional IORT. TGF-ß values were evaluated in serum pre-surgery and in serum collected 24h after surgery. In addition, we evaluated surgical wound fluids collected 6h and 24h following surgery. RESULTS: Serum and surgical wound fluids TGF-ß values collected over 24h following surgery were significantly higher in patients who received additional IORT (P<.0001). Notably, 8 of these patients showed values above 1,000pg/ml. There were no differences between the samples (serum or surgical wound fluids) (P=.5881). CONCLUSIONS: Although further investigation is needed, higher TGF-ß values in IORT during breast-conserving surgery can be used as an early biomarker for the development of fibrosis.

Evaluación de anemia post intervención nutricional en niños de comunidades rurales de Caazapá, Paraguay

Introducción: Se ha descrito la heterogeneidad del impacto de la anemia según el área geográfica; en el sector rural se ve agravado afectando a la población más vulnerable. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto del suplemento nutricional en niños anémicos menores de cinco años indígenas y no indígenas, en comunidades rurales del Departamento de Caazapá. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal. Fueron estudiados una cohorte de 109 niños menores de cinco años indígenas y no indígenas cuyos padres brindaron su consentimiento informado, a quienes se les suministró sulfato ferroso según edad y peso. Resultados: Se encontró un aumento significativo de las medianas de hemoglobina, después de la intervención, de 5,0 g/L en el grupo anémico de indígenas y en los no indígenas de 6,0 g/L; el 31% de los niños indígenas y el 84% de los no indígenas dejaron de ser anémicos, post intervención. Conclusión: Ambas poblaciones de niños anémicos indígenas y no indígenas presentaron un aumento significativo de los niveles medios de hemoglobina post tratamiento con suplemento con hierro y una mayoría presentó una mejoría a un estado no anémico o del grado de la anemia.

Introduction: The heterogeneity of the impact of anemia has been described according to geographic area; in rural areas the impact is greater, affecting the most vulnerable populations. Objective: to evaluate the effect of nutritional supplementation in anemic children, both indigenous and non-indigenous, under five years of age, in rural communities in the Department of Caazapá. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study. We studied a cohort of 109 indigenous and non-indigenous children under five years of age whose parents gave their informed consent and were given ferrous sulfate based on age and weight. Results: There was a significant increase in hemoglobin medians, after the intervention, of 5.0 g / L in the anemic group of indigenous children and of 6.0 g / L in the non-indigenous children; 31% of indigenous children and 84% of non-indigenous children ceased to be anemic after the intervention. Conclusion: Both the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of anemic children showed a significant increase in their average levels of hemoglobin after iron supplementation and a majority improved to a milder degree of anemia or to a resolution of their anemia.