Biological soil crusts across disturbance­recovery scenarios: effect of grazing regime on community dynamics.

Grazing represents one of the most common disturbances in drylands worldwide, affecting both ecosystem structure and functioning. Despite the efforts to understand the nature and magnitude of grazing effects on ecosystem components and processes, contrasting results continue to arise. This is particularly remarkable for the biological soil crust (BSC) communities (i.e., cyanobacteria, lichens, and bryophytes), which play an important role in soil dynamics. Here we evaluated simultaneously the effect of grazing impact on BSC communities (resistance) and recovery after livestock exclusion (resilience) in a semiarid grassland of Central Mexico. In particular, we examined BSC species distribution, species richness, taxonomical group cover (i.e., cyanobacteria, lichen, bryophyte), and composition along a disturbance gradient with different grazing regimes (low, medium, high impact) and along a recovery gradient with differently aged livestock exclosures (short-, medium-, long-term exclusion). Differences in grazing impact and time of recovery from grazing both resulted in slight changes in species richness; however, there were pronounced shifts in species composition and group cover. We found we could distinguish four highly diverse and dynamic BSC species groups: (1) species with high resistance and resilience to grazing, (2) species with high resistance but low resilience, (3) species with low resistance but high resilience, and (4) species with low resistance and resilience. While disturbance resulted in a novel diversity configuration, which may profoundly affect ecosystem functioning, we observed that 10 years of disturbance removal did not lead to the ecosystem structure found after 27 years of recovery. These findings are an important contribution to our understanding of BCS dynamics from a species and community perspective placed in a land use change context.

Immune checkpoint blockers in solid organ transplant recipients and cancer: the INNOVATED cohort.

BACKGROUND: Patients with solid organ transplant (SOT) and solid tumors are usually excluded from clinical trials testing immune checkpoint blockers (ICB). As transplant rates are increasing, we aimed to evaluate ICB outcomes in this population, with a special focus on lung cancer. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study collecting real data of ICB use in patients with SOT and solid tumors. Clinical data and treatment outcomes were assessed by using retrospective medical chart reviews in every participating center. Study endpoints were: overall response rate (ORR), 6-month progression-free survival (PFS), and grade ≥3 immune-related adverse events. RESULTS: From August 2016 to October 2022, 31 patients with SOT (98% kidney) and solid tumors were identified (36.0% lung cancer, 19.4% melanoma, 13.0% genitourinary cancer, 6.5% gastrointestinal cancer). Programmed death-ligand 1 expression was positive in 29% of tumors. Median age was 61 years, 69% were males, and 71% received ICB as first-line treatment. In the whole cohort the ORR was 45.2%, with a 6-month PFS of 56.8%. In the lung cancer cohort, the ORR was 45.5%, with a 6-month PFS of 32.7%, and median overall survival of 4.6 months. The grade 3 immune-related adverse events rate leading to ICB discontinuation was 12.9%. Allograft rejection rate was 25.8%, and risk of rejection was similar regardless of the type of ICB strategy (monotherapy or combination, 28% versus 33%, P = 1.0) or response to ICB treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ICB could be considered a feasible option for SOT recipients with some advanced solid malignancies and no alternative therapeutic options. Due to the risk of allograft rejection, multidisciplinary teams should be involved before ICB therapy.

[Use of cryotherapy in the Rochapea Health Centre]. / Utilización de crioterapia en el Centro de Salud de Rochapea.

An analysis is made of the results obtained with the application of cryotherapy to 128 lesions: 86 common warts and 42 flat papillomas, of the 203 diagnosed in the Rochapea Health Centre in the period between October 1996 and June 30th 1997. 55.28% corresponded to warts located on the upper extremities, 34.78% were located on the head and neck, 8.07% on the lower extremities and 1.24% on the thorax. The percentage of flat papillomas was 20.68%. 2.96 sessions were needed to cure each lesion, with an average length of treatment of 42 days. No cases of postcryotherapy infection were registered and there was only one retarded complication, which was the appearance of a keloid scar. We conclude from the present study that cryotherapy is a good treatment for common warts and flat papillomas.

[Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis localized on the face, with an infrequently seen clinical picture]. / Esporotricosis cutánea fija de localización facial, con morfología clínica poco frecuente.

A case of fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis in an urban patient in whom the contagious trauma could not be proved is commented on. Remarkable is the location of the lesions involving the face, which is extremely rare, as well as the morphology of the lesions, adopting the pattern of congestive erythema on which there were crusty-erythematous papules causing an intense itching which also preceded their onset.

Diet and cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx: the IARC multi-center study in southwestern Europe.

The main causes of cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx are smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. However, for these as well as for other cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, some dietary components, mainly low consumption of fruit and vegetables, have been observed to be associated with increased cancer risk. We report results from a multicenter case-control study carried out in six regions of Europe located in northern Spain, northern Italy, Switzerland, and France. A total of 1,147 males with cancer (cases) and 3,057 population controls were interviewed on usual diet, lifelong drinking and smoking habits, and occupational history. Cancer cases had histologically verified epidermoid carcinomas. The cancers were classified in two anatomic sub-entities: the epilarynx (hypopharynx and upper part of the larynx), which enters into contact with the bolus and the air; and the endolarynx, through which air and tobacco smoke pass, but not the bolus. A previous report from this study found that alcohol drinking presents a greater risk factor for cancer of the epilarynx than for cancer of the endolarynx. The main results regarding diet indicate that high intake of fruit, vegetables, vegetable oil, fish, and low intake of butter and preserved meats were associated with reduced risk of both epilaryngeal and endolaryngeal cancers, after adjustment for alcohol, tobacco, socioeconomic status, and non-alcohol energy intake. Among nutrients, a reduced risk was found for high intake of vitamins C and E and for a high polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (P/S) ratio. While these variables are relevant in scoring nutritional behaviour, it remains unresolved whether the biologic properties of these nutrients play a role in the apparent protective effect.