Aspirin as a chemopreventive agent for cutaneous melanoma: a literature review.

Rising melanoma rates have spurred interest in preventive strategies. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly aspirin, show potential in reducing cancer risks. NSAIDs act on cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, impacting COX-2 associated with inflammation and cancer progression. This paper explores aspirin's role in cutaneous melanoma prevention, elucidating its mechanisms and acknowledging varying literature outcomes. Rather than providing conclusive recommendations, the review emphasizes the influence of individual factors, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on aspirin's complexities in melanoma prevention. A PubMed search using "Aspirin" AND "Cutaneous melanoma" yielded relevant English-language, peer-reviewed studies. Selection criteria focused exclusively on skin cancers, specifically cutaneous melanoma. Exclusions included studies covering various cancers, some non-dermatologic, and those not evaluating aspirin use independently but in conjunction with NSAIDs. The potential chemopreventive effects of aspirin and NSAIDs against melanoma have gained attention due to their association with a reduced risk of various cancers including gastric, colorectal, and breast. By inhibiting COX enzymes and the NF-κB pathway, these agents theoretically slow malignant cell activities, presenting a prospect for cancer prevention. Aspirin exhibits noteworthy effects, depleting growth-stimulating hormones, generating reactive oxygen species harmful to cancerous cells, and inhibiting COX-2 linked to cancer progression. Limited literature suggests survival benefits with aspirin use in stage II and III melanoma, possibly due to slowing disease progression, evident in smaller Breslow depths. Gender-specific responses to aspirin are notable, with some studies reporting a stronger chemopreventive correlation in females. It's crucial to note that geographic disparities, demographic cohorts, and individual-specific factors are confounding variables that may contribute to conflicting findings regarding aspirin's impact on melanoma. The association between aspirin use and melanoma risk is complex, with conflicting findings across diverse populations. Although it appears that more studies suggest a protective role for aspirin rather than not, evidence lacks consistency. Factors such as gender, geography, race, sun exposure, and health conditions play a role in shaping these varied outcomes, necessitating large-scale, prospective studies research and standardized parameters for more conclusive insights that may help guide tailored clinical strategies for melanoma prevention.

3D bioprinting: a review and potential applications for Mohs micrographic surgery.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) is effective for treating common cutaneous malignancies, but complex repairs may often present challenges for reconstruction. This paper explores the potential of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting in MMS, offering superior outcomes compared to traditional methods. 3D printing technologies show promise in advancing skin regeneration and refining surgical techniques in dermatologic surgery. A PubMed search was conducted using the following keywords: "Three-dimensional bioprinting" OR "3-D printing" AND "Mohs" OR "Mohs surgery" OR "Surgery." Peer-reviewed English articles discussing medical applications of 3D bioprinting were included, while non-peer-reviewed and non-English articles were excluded. Patients using 3D MMS models had lower anxiety scores (3.00 to 1.7, p < 0.0001) and higher knowledge assessment scores (5.59 or 93.25% correct responses), indicating better understanding of their procedure. Surgical residents using 3D models demonstrated improved proficiency in flap reconstructions (p = 0.002) and knowledge assessment (p = 0.001). Additionally, 3D printing offers personalized patient care through tailored surgical guides and anatomical models, reducing intraoperative time while enhancing surgical. Concurrently, efforts in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are being explored as potential alternatives to address organ donor shortages, eliminating autografting needs. However, challenges like limited training and technological constraints persist. Integrating optical coherence tomography with 3D bioprinting may expedite grafting, but challenges remain in pre-printing grafts for complex cases. Regulatory and ethical considerations are paramount for patient safety, and further research is needed to understand long-term effects and cost-effectiveness. While promising, significant advancements are necessary for full utilization in MMS.

Strongyloidiasis Mimicking Carcinoid Syndrome in an Immunocompetent Host.

Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic infection caused by Strongyloides stercoralis which commonly presents as an asymptomatic infection in immunocompetent patients but may cause non-specific gastrointestinal and pulmonary complaints. Here, we report the atypical presentation of strongyloidiasis in a 72-year-old Vietnamese male with shortness of breath and flushing. This case is notable for the unique presentation of cutaneous flushing, the absence of eosinophilia, and negligible microscopic findings on stool examination. Despite insignificant laboratory findings, clinicians should consider strongyloidiasis in patients from endemic areas with unexplained gastrointestinal and pulmonary findings.

Community structure of raptors in the páramo landscape of the Ecuadorian Andes

Introduction: Habitat alterations result in biodiversity loss, particularly in regions with high levels of diversity and endemism. Raptors are an essential part of the functionality and stability of ecosystems and indicators of habitat quality. In the paramo grassland ecosystems in the high Andes of Northern South America, raptors contain a high concentration of threatened species. Objective: To describe the raptor community structure and determine the species associations. Methods: We made monthly raptor counts in eight transects from October 2021 to September 2022 and used a principal component analysis to determine species associations. Results: We identified 149 individuals (seven species, three families) in two communities: abundant (Carunculated Caracara, Variable Hawk, Andean Condor and Turkey Vulture; PCI = 47 %), and scarce (Cinereous Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Aplomado Falco; PCII = 27 %). Conclusion: We provide a valid description and understanding of raptor community structure, identifying two communities and the dynamics between them. The first is characterized by an increased abundance of generalist and regionally common species, when the abundance of these species decreases, the second community is defined, characterized by an increase in the abundance of specialist and rare species at the local scale.

Introducción: Las alteraciones del hábitat provocan la pérdida de biodiversidad, especialmente en regiones con altos niveles de diversidad y endemismo. Las aves rapaces son una parte esencial de la funcionalidad y estabilidad de los ecosistemas, y son indicadores de la calidad del hábitat. En los ecosistemas de páramo en los Andes del norte de Sudamérica, hay una concentración de especies rapaces amenazadas. Objetivo: Describir la estructura de la comunidad de aves rapaces y determinar las asociaciones entre las especies. Métodos: Hicimos conteos mensuales de rapaces en ocho transectos, de octubre 2021 a setiembre 2022 y usamos un análisis de componentes principales para determinar las asociaciones entre especies. Resultados: Identificamos 149 individuos (siete especies, tres familias) en dos comunidades: abundantes (e.g., Caracara Curiquingue, Gavilán Variable, Cóndor Andino y Gallinazo Cabecirrojo; PCI = 47 %), y poco abundantes (e.g., Caracara Curiquingue, Gavilán Variable, Cóndor Andino y Gallinazo Cabecirrojo; PCII = 27 %). Conclusiones: Nuestro enfoque proporciona una descripción y comprensión válida de la estructura de la comunidad de rapaces. Identificamos dos comunidades y la dinámica entre ellas. La primera se caracteriza por una mayor abundancia de especies generalistas y regionalmente comunes, cuando la abundancia de estas especies disminuye, se define la segunda comunidad, caracterizada por un aumento de la abundancia de especies especialistas y raras a escala local.

Comprehensive inventory of páramo birds and their habitat affinities in a conservation hotspot, the Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve, southern Ecuador

The páramo ecosystem is a significant centre of Andean bird diversity with high concentrations of threatened species. The Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve's páramos are a district of the biogeographic páramo province of northern Andes and are therefore considered a conservation hotspot with representative bird diversity. To enhance regional conservation efforts, comprehensive inventories of bird species that occupy this páramo are required. We present an updated bird inventory for the páramos of Macizo del Cajas and included validated records from eBird and GBIF databases along with records from continuous monitoring across this páramo landscape for five years. We also provide notes on habitat affinity and important new, rare, restricted range, and threatened birds. We report 112 bird species within the reserve, including five endemics, and three globally and 12 nationally threatened species. Finally, we discuss the use of habitat affinities as indicators of biodiversity patterns in páramo to improve conservation tools for key habitats.

El ecosistema de páramo es un centro importante de diversidad de aves andinas con altas concentraciones de especies amenazadas. Los páramos de la Reserva de la Biosfera Macizo del Cajas son un distrito biogeográfico de la provincia del páramo de los Andes del norte y por tanto, son un punto crítico de conservación con una diversidad de aves representativa. Inventarios exhaustivos de la avifauna que ocupa este páramo son requeridos para asegurar esfuerzos de conservación regional. El presente estudio brinda un inventario actualizado de aves de los páramos del Macizo del Cajas. Se incluyen registros verificados desde eBird y GBIF, así como registros de cinco años continuos de monitoreo a través del paisaje de páramo. Además, se incluyen notas acerca de la afinidad de hábitat y registros importantes, nuevos, raros y de aves amenazadas. En total, se reportan 112 especies de aves dentro de la reserva, incluyen cinco endémicas, tres globalmente amenazadas y 12 a escala nacional. Finalmente, se discute el uso de la afinidad de hábitat como indicador de los patrones de biodiversidad en el páramo para mejorar herramientas de conservación para hábitats clave.

Ancient differentiation in the single-island avian radiation of endemic Hispaniolan chat-tanagers (Aves: Calyptophilus).

The simple geographic structure of island systems often makes them tractable for studies of the patterns and processes of biological diversification. The Calyptophilus chat-tanagers of Hispaniola are of general evolutionary interest because their multiple lineages might have arisen on a single island, of conservation concern because several isolated populations are nearly extinct, and taxonomically ambiguous because they have been variously lumped or split into one to four species. To explore the context of diversification of the seven extant Calyptophilus populations, we conducted a multilocus coalescent analysis based on sequences of mitochondrial ND2 and three nuclear intron loci. We then compared patterns of phylogeographic genetic variation with the morphological differences that distinguish these populations. Mitochondrial haplotypes formed two reciprocally monophyletic groups separated by a large magnitude of nucleotide divergence. Intron structure largely paralleled the geographic grouping pattern of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but these groups were only reciprocally monophyletic at one of the three introns. Also, the magnitude of between-group divergence was much lower in the introns than mtDNA genealogies. Multilocus coalescent analyses inferred a nonzero divergence time between these two major geographic groups, but suggested that they have experienced a low level of gene flow. All four markers showed substantial allele sharing within each of the two groups, demonstrating that many now separated montane populations do not have long histories of isolation. Considered in concert, our multilocus phylogeographic reconstructions support the recognition of two species within the Calyptophilus complex, and raise the possibility that these taxa differentiated prior to the fusion of the two palaeo-islands that form present-day Hispaniola.