Assessment of chitosan-based adsorbents for glyphosate removal.

Exposure to glyphosate produces various toxic effects, due to this, different methods have been evaluated for its elimination. The objective of this work was to formulate chitosan-based adsorbents and evaluate their efficiency in the removal of glyphosate in vitro. Four films were made by varying the weight ratio of silica/chitosan particles, and four sponges were made by varying the chitosan/chitosan ratio in a reticulated manner. Both adsorbents were characterized based on their porosity, water absorption, glyphosate removal, and reusability. It was found that increasing the porosity in both films and sponges resulted in an increase in the adsorption efficiency of glyphosate. The adsorption process exhibited a better fit in both adsorbents to the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption of glyphosate to the films fit better with the Langmuir model, demonstrating that the process occurs in the form of a monolayer. In the case of sponges, the adsorption of glyphosate fit better with the Freundlich model, indicating that the process takes place in a multilayer form. Finally, when the reusability was evaluated, the adsorbents showed a loss of effectiveness. However, they still proved to be an efficient alternative for the removal of glyphosate in water, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.

Geochemical characterization and renal cell toxicity of water-soluble extracts from U.S. Gulf Coast lignite.

An assortment of organic material can leach from lignite (low-rank coal) in water, and the water-soluble fraction from lignite has been associated with adverse health effects in areas of the Balkans. Recent efforts have been made to evaluate this hypothesis in other areas where lignite is in contact with groundwater like in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. In this study, five Gulf Coast lignite samples were extracted with water, and the water-soluble portion of the coal was then characterized by total organic carbon, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Additionally, human kidney cells (HK-2) were exposed to water-soluble extracts of Gulf Coast lignite to assess toxicity. Cell viability was measured, and a dose-response curve was used to generate IC50 values that ranged from 490 to 3000 ppm. The most toxic extract (Dolet Hills) was from Louisiana where lignite-derived organic material has been previously linked to high incidence of renal pelvic cancer. Concentrations of nephrotoxic metals (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Pb, V, Zn) were screened and were below those considered toxic to renal cells. We conclude that leachates from lignite do indeed have toxic affects on cultured human renal cells. Although the IC50 values are higher than the concentration of organic matter in the local groundwater, typically < 5 ppm, the effects of long-term low-level exposure is not known.

Effects of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting and respiratory function in women undergoing conservative breast surgery for cancer: Results of a controlled clinical trial.

The objective was to evaluate whether preoperative administration of dexamethasone improved postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pain and respiratory function tests in women undergoing conservative surgery for breast cancer. This was a controlled clinical trial conducted between June 2013 and October 2014. Eighty patients were evaluated. Patients received a preoperative dose of 8 mg of dexamethasone (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40). The data on PONV and pain intensity was obtained and forced spirometry tests were performed, 1 hr before and at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hr after surgery. Any use of additional analgesic/antiemetic drugs was recorded. Patients were followed until 30 days after surgery for any surgical or medical complications. The pain intensity was lower in the treatment group for all periods; PONV was lower at 6, 12 and 24 hr; Additional analgesics/antiemetics were required less frequently (all p < .05). Both groups exhibited a restrictive ventilatory pattern immediately after surgery, which was reversed in the following hours. However, spirometric values were higher in the dexamethasone group. There were no pulmonary or metabolic complications after surgery. Our conclusions were that dexamethasone significantly reduced the incidences of PONV, pain and improved respiratory parameters, and reduced the need for additional postoperative analgesic and antiemetic drugs.

Body weight changes after adjuvant chemotherapy of patients with breast cancer: results of a Mexican cohort study.

Weight gain is observed in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and is a well-known complication. Several factors that contributing to weight gain have been identified. However, there is a lack of information about factors associated with weight changes following adjuvant chemotherapy. A retrospective cohort of 200 pre- and post-menopausal Mexican patients treated for breast cancer was made. Anthropometric variables were measured before/after treatment. Biomarkers, cellular differentiation and chemotherapy were similar between groups. Weight gain occurred in 85.6% of pre-menopausal and 72.6% of post-menopausal women (p = .03). At the end of chemotherapy, weight and body mass index (BMI) did not differ significantly between pre-menopausal (69.3 ± 12.6 kg; 26.6 ± 4.8 kg/m2 ) and post-menopausal women (69.5 ± 10.9 kg; 27.3 ± 4.4 kg/m2 ) (p = .91 and 0.34). Dexamethasone doses were higher in pre-menopausal (85.7 ± 39.1 g) than post-menopausal patients (79.2 ± 22.5 g; p = .13). Weight loss was observed in 9.2% of pre-menopausal and 20.2% of post-menopausal patients (p = .04). A multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.26-5.79; p = .01), menopausal status (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.09-4.80; p = .03), dexamethasone dosage (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.04-4.23; p = .03) and daily caloric intake (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.12-5.10; p = .02) were independent variables that inducted weight gain. Pre- and post-menopausal women gained weight, but more pre-menopausal patients showed gain. An effort should be made to administer lower steroid doses to reduce weight gain.

Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Photodamage of the Skin of the Hands. / Plasma rico en plaquetas en el tratamiento del fotodaño cutáneo en las manos.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) provides growth factors that stimulate fibroblast activation and induce the synthesis of collagen and other components of the extracellular matrix. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of PRP in the treatment of photodamage of the skin of the hands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experimental study enrolling persons with photoaged skin on the dorsum of the hands (Glogau photoaging scale, type III, or Fitzpatrick wrinkle classification, type II) were included between August 2012 and January 2013. A histological comparison was made of skin biopsies taken before and after the application of PRP to the skin of the dorsum of the hands. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the 18 women enrolled was 47.9 (4.3) years. Histological analysis showed an increase in the number of fibroblasts (P<.001), number of vessels (P<.001), and collagen density (P=.27). These changes produced significant improvements in the Fitzpatrick wrinkle and elastosis scale (P<.001) and in the Glogau photoaging scale (P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: PRP induced a reduction in the manifestations of skin aging, including an improvement in wrinkles and elastosis.

Contrasting magma chemistry in the Candelaria IOCG district caused by changing tectonic regimes.

Iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits are a vital source of copper and critical elements for emerging clean technologies. Andean-type IOCG deposits form in continental arcs undergoing extension, and they have a temporal relationship with magmatism although they do not exhibit a close spatial relation with the causative intrusions. The processes required to form IOCG deposits and their potential connections to iron oxide-apatite (IOA)-type mineralization remain poorly constrained, as well as the characteristics of magmatism linked to both deposit types. Here we combine zircon U-Pb geochronology with zircon trace element geochemistry of intrusive rocks associated with the Candelaria deposit, one of the world's largest IOCG deposits, to unravel distinctive signatures diagnostic of magmatic fertility. Our results reveal a marked transition in the geochemistry of intrusions in the Candelaria district, characterized by changes in the redox state, water content and temperature of magmas over time. The oldest magmatic stage (~ 128-125 Ma), prior to the formation of the Candelaria deposit, was characterized by zircon Eu/Eu* ratios of 0.20-0.42, and redox conditions of ΔFMQ - 0.4 to + 1.0. The earliest magmatic stage related to the formation of Fe-rich mineralization at Candelaria (118-115 Ma) exhibits low zircon Eu/Eu* ratios (0.09-0.18), low oxygen fugacity values (ΔFMQ ~- 1.8 to + 0.2) and relatively high crystallization temperatures. In contrast, the youngest stage at ~ 111-108 Ma shows higher zircon Eu/Eu* (~ 0.37-0.69), higher oxygen fugacity values (ΔFMQ ~ + 0.4 to + 1.3) and a decrease in crystallization temperatures, conditions that are favorable for the transport and precipitation of sulfur and chalcophile elements. We conclude that Candelaria was formed through two distinct ore-forming stages: the first associated with a reduced, high temperature, water-poor magma developed under a low tectonic stress, followed by a more oxidized, water-rich, and low temperature magmatic event related to a compressional regime. The first event led to Fe-rich and S-poor IOA-type mineralization, while the second event with geochemical signatures similar to those of porphyry copper systems, generated the Cu- and S-rich mineralization. This late stage overprinted preexisting IOA mineralization resulting in the formation of the giant Candelaria IOCG deposit.

Effectiveness of a specific follow up program for the management of the mental components of post-intensive care syndrome and chronic pain after COVID-19: results from the PAIN-COVID randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Critical COVID-19 survivors are at risk of developing Post-intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) and Chronic ICU-Related Pain (CIRP). We determined whether a specific care program improves the quality of life (QoL) of patients at risk of developing PICS and CIRP after COVID-19. METHODS: The PAIN-COVID trial was a parallel-group, single-centre, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The intervention consisted of a follow up program, patient education on PICS and pain, and a psychological intervention based on Rehm's self-control model in patients with abnormal depression scores (≥8) in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at the baseline visit. QoL was evaluated with the 5-level EQ 5D (EQ 5D 5 L), mood disorders with the HADS, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the PCL-5 checklist, and pain with the Brief Pain Inventory short form, the Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. The primary outcome was to determine if the program was superior to standard-of-care on the EQ visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 months after the baseline visit. The secondary outcomes were EQ VAS at 3 months, and EQ index, CIRP incidence and characteristics, and anxiety, depression, and PTSD at 3 and 6 months after baseline visits. CONCLUSIONS: This program was not superior to standard care in improving QoL in critical COVID-19 survivors as measured by the EQ VAS. However, our data can help establish better strategies for the study and management of PICS and CIRP in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: # NCT04394169, registered on 5/19/2020.

Safety and effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral drugs in the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is uncertain. The ECCO guidelines 2021 recommended HCV treatment but warn about the risk of IBD reactivation. We aimed to evaluate 1) the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in IBD; 2) the interaction of DAAs with IBD drugs. METHODS: Multicentre study of IBD patients and HCV treated with DAAs. Variables related to liver diseases and IBD, as well as adverse events (AEs) and drug interactions, were recorded. McNemar's test was used to assess differences in the proportion of active IBD during the study period. RESULTS: We included 79 patients with IBD and HCV treated with DAAs from 25,998 IBD patients of the ENEIDA registry. Thirty-one (39.2 %) received immunomodulators/biologics. There were no significant differences in the percentage of active IBD at the beginning (n = 11, 13.9 %) or at the 12-week follow-up after DAAs (n = 15, 19 %) (p = 0.424). Sustained viral response occurred in 96.2 % (n = 76). A total of 8 (10.1 %) AEs occurred and these were unrelated to activity, type of IBD, liver fibrosis, immunosuppressants/biologics, and DAAs. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a high efficacy and safety of DAAs in patients with IBD and HCV irrespective of activity and treatment of IBD.

External urology consultation quality at a third-level public hospital in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Patient satisfaction is the degree of conformity with the healthcare they receive. It is real evidence and one of the most important factors in determining the effectiveness and quality of healthcare systems. OBJECTIVE: To identify the quality of care in the Urology outpatient department of a third-level hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NHS (National Health Service) 2018 quality of care questionnaire with 11 sections, 133 items, and duration of approximately 25min was randomly administered to 250 patients attending Urology outpatients at a third-level public hospital in Mexico. RESULTS: According to responses, 92% (n=230) knew the reason for the consultation. 64.8% (n=162) had a consultation with the same physician by whom they were initially seen. The longest reported hospital wait time before being seen was more than 2h in 29.6% (n=74). As for consultation time, 212 patients responded and the duration was 11-20min in 52.8% (n=112). Finally, 33.2% (n=83) considered the quality of service to be good. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the NHS 2018 survey in the Urology service at a third-level public hospital in Mexico is feasible, since we managed to obtain a significant and continuous improvement in all its indicators which is satisfactory for all.

Prospective study of the modified Atkins diet in adult drug-resistant epilepsy: effectiveness, tolerability, and adherence.

INTRODUCTION: Drug-resistant epilepsy presents high worldwide prevalence and is difficult to control despite the wide variety of available antiepileptic drugs (AED). The modified Atkins diet (MAD) is an additional treatment alternative. Several studies have addressed the use of the ketogenic diet and MAD in children with drug-resistant epilepsy, but insufficient research has been conducted into adults with the same condition. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of, and adherence to, the MAD in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a 6-month pre-post prospective study at a reference hospital. Patients were prescribed the MAD with limited carbohydrate intake and unlimited fat intake. We conducted clinical and electroencephalographic follow-up according to the relevant guidelines, and assessed adverse effects changes in laboratory findings, and adherence. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with drug-resistant epilepsy were included in the study. Patients' mean age was 30 years, mean disease progression time was 22 years, and all patients had focal or multifocal epilepsy. Thirty-four percent of patients presented > 50% decreases in overall seizure frequency (P =  .001); seizure control was greater in the first month and subsequently declined. These patients presented weight loss (RR: 7.2; 95% CI, 1.3-39.5; P = .02), good to fair adherence only in the first and third months (RR: 9.4; 95% CI, 0.9-93.6; P = .04 and RR: 0.4; 95% CI, 0.30-0.69; P = .02, respectively). Tolerability data showed that the MAD is safe: adverse effects were minor and short-lived in most cases, with the exception of mild to moderate hyperlipidaemia in one-third of patients. The adherence rate was 50% at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, the MAD showed adequate tolerability and moderate but decreasing effectiveness and adherence, probably due to a preference for a carbohydrate-based diet.

[Holistic semi-presential evaluation of oropharygeal dysphagia with the framework of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Optimizing evaluation to improve rehabilitation treatment]. / Evaluación holística semipresencial de la disfagia orofaríngea en el marco de la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidad y de la Salud: optimizar la valoración para mejorar el tratamiento rehabilitador.

INTRODUCTION: Oropharyngeal dysphagia can lead to medical complications and decreased quality of life. Although there is a wide diversity of instrumental and clinical procedures to assess it, consensus for its holistic evaluation is scarce and poorly defined. The objective of this article is to present the design of a model for the holistic examination of oropharyngeal dysphagia that takes into account the components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and that can be carried out both face to face and semi-presentially using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A non-systematic review of the literature is carried out in order to select validated oropharyngeal dysphagia assessment tools with the highest degree of recommendation. These tools are analyzed by a group of experts in oropharyngeal dysphagia from the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona to design a holistic exploration model. RESULTS: This evaluation model includes an assessment at the beginning and at the end of the treatment, as well as continuous monitoring during the rehabilitation process. It is implemented in a semi-presential and multidisciplinary way, and its purpose is to understand oropharyngeal dysphagia holistically to design and monitor an individualized therapeutic plan. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of oropharyngeal dysphagia should be within the biopsychosocial framework proposed by the ICF. The application of ICT in blended interventions facilitates this.

Indications of microsurgery in soft tissue sarcomas.

UNLABELLED: Sarcomas are uncommon tumors and free-margin surgical resection remains the single most important treatment in the curative therapy of soft tissue sarcomas. Refinements in surgical techniques have led to increased function preservation and limb salvage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of patients (n = 41) who underwent microsurgical soft tissue reconstruction subsequent to resection of soft tissue sarcoma during the period 1998 to 2010 were reviewed and compared with a general nonmicrosurgery group (n = 188) in relation to clinicopathological characteristics, surgical procedures, postoperative complications, time until start of adjuvant radiation, functional outcome (Toronto Extremity Salvage Score, TESS), local recurrence, free survival, and disease-specific survival. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (age range: 23 to 95 years) received a total of 42 free flaps. When compared with the general nonmicrosurgery group, these patients presented significant differences with regard to location, histological grade, and neoadjuvant treatments. Complications were encountered in 10 cases, including 3 patients with complete flap loss and 1 patient with partial flap loss; other complications were cervical fistulae, knee arthritis, nonconsolidation, and wound infection. Extremity salvage was achieved in 90% (19/21) of limb sarcomas, with these patients showing adequate postoperative ambulation (TESS 77 ± 16) and adequate use of the upper extremity (TESS 66 ± 26). Two patients underwent amputation after recurrence. Disease-specific survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 79.49% and 76.93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The microsurgical repair of sarcoma defects is a reliable option that, though not free of complications, is necessary in selected cases such as patients receiving neoadjuvant treatments and those with head and neck location and high-grade tumors. The procedure enables both adequate oncosurgical resection and function preservation. Our microsurgical sarcoma reconstruction data, based on an observation period of 12 years and presenting the results of 42 free tissue transfers in 41 patients, adds further evidence to the previously published smaller series.

The state of the art in beyond 5G distributed massive multiple-input multiple-output communication system solutions.

Beyond fifth generation (5G) communication systems aim towards data rates in the tera bits per second range, with improved and flexible coverage options, introducing many new technological challenges in the fields of network architecture, signal pro- cessing, and radio frequency front-ends. One option is to move towards cell-free, or distributed massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) network architectures and highly integrated front-end solutions. This paper presents an outlook on be- yond 5G distributed massive MIMO communication systems, the signal processing, characterisation and simulation challenges, and an overview of the state of the art in millimetre wave antennas and electronics.

XY1Y2 chromosome system in Salinomys delicatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae).

Salinomys delicatus is considered a rare species due to its restricted and patchy distribution, poor records and low abundances. It is also the phyllotine with the lowest known diploid chromosome number (2n = 18), however its sex chromosome system has never been described. Here, we studied the chromosomes of six females and three males with bands G, C, DAPI/CMA(3) and meiosis. In males, the chromosome number was 2n = 19, with one large metacentric X-chromosome and two medium-sized acrocentrics absent in females. The karyotype of females was the same as previously described (2n = 18, FN = 32), with X-chromosomes being metacentric and the largest elements of the complement. In males, the two acrocentrics and the large metacentric form a trivalent in meiotic prophase. This indicates that S. delicatus has XY(1)Y(2) sex chromosomes, which is confirmed by G and DAPI bands. Constitutive heterochromatin (CH) is restricted to small pericentromeric blocks in all chromosomes. The X-chromosome shows the largest block of centromeric CH, which could favor the establishment of this X-autosome translocation. This sex chromosome system is rare in mammals and, compared with other phyllotine rodents, S. delicatus seems to have undergone a major chromosome restructuring during its karyotypic evolution.

Evolutionary study of a potential selection target region in the pig.

Domestication, modern breeding and artificial selection have shaped dramatically the genomic variability of domestic animals. In livestock, the so-called FAT1 quantitative trait locus (QTL) in porcine chromosome 4 was the first QTL uncovered although, to date, its precise molecular nature has remained elusive. Here, we characterize the nucleotide variability of 13 fragments of ∼500 bp equally spaced in a 2 Mb region in the vicinity of the FAT1 region in a wide-diversity panel of 32 pigs. Asian and European animals, including local Mediterranean and international pig breeds, were sequenced. Patterns of genetic variability were very complex and varied largely across loci and populations; they did not reveal overall a clear signal of a selective sweep in any breed, although FABP4 fragment showed a significantly higher diversity. We used an approximate Bayesian computation approach to infer the evolutionary history of this SSC4 region. Notably, we found that European pig populations have a much lower effective size than their Asian counterparts: in the order of hundreds vs hundreds of thousands. We show also an important part of extant European variability is actually due to introgression of Asian germplasm into Europe. This study shows how a potential loss in diversity caused by bottlenecks and possible selective sweeps associated with domestication and artificial selection can be counterbalanced by migration, making it much more difficult the identification of selection footprints based on naive demographic assumptions. Given the small fragment analyzed here, it remains to be studied how these conclusions apply to the rest of the genome.

Nucleotide variability of the porcine SERPINA6 gene and the origin of a putative causal mutation associated with meat quality.

The serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 6 gene (SERPINA6), also known as corticosteroid-binding globulin or CBG, is involved in obesity and stress sensitivity. Previous studies have reported putative causal mutations within that gene in the porcine species. To characterize a hypothetical selective footprint, we have resequenced approximately 6 kb of coding and non-coding fragments in 20 pigs comprising domestic breeds and wild boars from Asia and Europe. Nucleotide variability was found to be far greater within Asian pig breeds than European breeds (π = 1% vs. 0.05%, respectively), which is consistent with pig evolutionary history. The putative causal amino acid substitution p.Gly307Arg (SNP c.919G>A) associated with meat quality (drip loss) was only detected in European domestic pig breeds, suggesting a very recent mutation that appeared after domestication in Europe. No support for positive selection was detected, as no reduction in levels of diversity surrounding the mutation was found in lean breeds with respect to wild boar.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation as a form of presentation of coronavirus-19 disease. Clinical case. / Coagulación intravascular diseminada como forma de presentación de la enfermedad por coronavirus-19. Caso clínico.

The covid-19 disease (coronavirus disease 2019) is a novel disease causing a world pandemic. Its presentation varies from an asymptomatic infection to a pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome. We present a case presenting initially as a covid-19 pneumonia together with a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy consisting of arterial and venous thrombosis in different locations and a shock requiring admission in the intensive care unit. The abnormal coagulation test in covid-19 patients have been described since the first cases observed in Wuhan, China, as well as an increased incidence of venous thrombosis. On the contrary, a higher incidence of arterial thrombosis has not been described in these patients. The unusual case we present could be a manifestation of this altered tests.

Evaluation of the quality of life related to vision after penetrating keratoplasty. / Evaluación de la calidad de vida relacionada con la visión posterior a queratoplastia penetrante.

INTRODUCTION: Organ and tissue donation and transplantation represent the most important therapeutic advance of current times. The cornea is, by far, one of the most transplanted tissues worldwide due to the immune privilege of this tissue, as well as the advances in microsurgery, existence of cornea banks, preservation of corneas, and use of anti-rejection therapy. However, many patients with successful corneal transplants (with clear corneas) experience poor vision in the post-operative period due to irregular astigmatism, or other complications. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life related to vision in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-analytical study including patients with a history of penetrating keratoplasty, over 18years of age, and at least 6months after surgery. The patients answered the Visual Function Questionnaire25 (VFQ-25) of visual function, a tool validated for use in Spanish, in which the higher the score, the better the quality of life. RESULTS: Thirty patients (20men and 10women), with a mean age of 61.2±18.7years, were included. The time of evolution after the transplant was 17.7±4months. The total quality of life score was 74.9±21.9, with significance in visual acuity (P<.001), and the presence of systemic comorbidities (P=.018). There was no significance between the transplant reason (P=.098) or ocular comorbidities (P=.119). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that visual acuity, as well as the presence of systemic comorbidities, has a significant impact on quality of life.

Integrating Y-chromosome, mitochondrial, and autosomal data to analyze the origin of pig breeds.

We have investigated the origin of swine breeds through the joint analysis of mitochondrial, microsatellite, and Y-chromosome polymorphisms in a sample of pigs and wild boars with a worldwide distribution. Genetic differentiation between pigs and wild boars was remarkably weak, likely as a consequence of a sustained gene flow between both populations. The analysis of nuclear markers evidenced the existence of a close genetic relationship between Near Eastern and European wild boars making it difficult to infer their relative contributions to the gene pool of modern European breeds. Moreover, we have shown that European and Far Eastern pig populations have contributed maternal and paternal lineages to the foundation of African and South American breeds. Although West African pigs from Nigeria and Benin exclusively harbored European alleles, Far Eastern and European genetic signatures of similar intensity were detected in swine breeds from Eastern Africa. This region seems to have been a major point of entry of livestock species in the African continent as a result of the Indian Ocean trade. Finally, South American creole breeds had essentially a European ancestry although Asian Y-chromosome and mitochondrial haplotypes were found in a few Nicaraguan pigs. The existence of Spanish and Portuguese commercial routes linking Asia with America might have favored the introduction of Far Eastern breeds into this continent.

[Impact of melanoma diagnosis on sun protection]. / Impacto del diagnóstico de melanoma sobre la fotoprotección.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the dangers of sun exposure does not always lead to changes in behavior. Failure to make behavioral adjustments is of particular concern in high-risk patients. OBJECTIVES: a) To assess the impact of melanoma diagnosis on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to sun protection, and b) to identify factors that could influence sun protection behaviors. METHODS: A coded, anonymous questionnaire was given to 195 patients with a recent diagnosis of melanoma. Data were collected on clinical and demographic variables and on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to sun protection before and after diagnosis. The questionnaire also addressed patients' sense of distress and guilt following diagnosis. RESULTS: Sun protection behaviors improved following diagnosis in 66% of patients. Although 98% of patients reported having received advice on sun protection following diagnosis, 15% continued to take inadequate sun protection measures. The probability of behavioral improvement following diagnosis was 4 times greater in women than in men. The subgroup of patients whose behavior improved had worse behaviors prior to diagnosis than did those who showed no improvement. Patients who expressed distress and feelings of guilt following diagnosis were more likely to improve their sun protection behavior. Age, tumor site, intensiveness of treatment, and belief that a suntan is healthy had no significant influence on behavioral change. CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma diagnosis is associated with increased knowledge of sun protection measures and improvement in behaviors. Nevertheless, patients continue to use inadequate sun protection measures. Identification of barriers to optimal sun protection behavior may be instrumental in designing targeted educational campaigns.