Mortalidad y frecuencia hospitalaria de tumor maligno de mama en Extremadura (2002-2004) / Mortality and hospital utilization due to breast cancer in Extremadura, Spain (2002-2004)

Objetivo. Obtener información actualizada acerca de la mortalidad por cáncer de mama y frecuentación hospitalaria en la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura. Método. Estudio transversal, retrospectivo, de la situación del cáncer de mama en Extremadura. Se utilizaron como fuentes de información del estudio, el registro de mortalidad y el conjunto mínimo básico de datos al alta hospitalaria. Se presentan medias y desviaciones estándar (DE). Se calcularon las tasas crudas, específicas por edad, y estandarizadas de mortalidad y frecuencia hospitalaria por 100.000 mujeres. También se calcularon los añospotenciales de vida perdidos. Resultados. En el período de estudio se han producido 413 defunciones, 1.233 historias hospitalarias y 1.809 altas en mujeres por tumor maligno de mama. La edad media de defunción y alta hospitalaria han sido 70 (DE = 14,9) y 59,9 (DE = 14,3) años, respectivamente, y la estancia media en el hospital ha sido 8,9 días (DE = 6,3). Se han perdido 3.423 años potenciales de vida. El área de salud de Llerena es la que presenta mayores tasas de mortalidad, mientras que las menores las presenta el área de Coria. Conclusiones. El patrón de mortalidad por cáncer de mama en Extremadura es típico de los países desarrollados con una mayor mortalidad en los grupos de edad mayores. La tasa ajustada por edad es inferior a la de España en el período 1996-2000 (AU)

Objective. To provide an update on breast cancer mortality and hospital utilization in the autonomous region of Extremadura (Spain). Method. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of breast cancer in Extremadura, using the minimum data set and the death register as data sources. The means and standard deviation (SD) are presented. Crude, age specific, and standardized mortality rates were calculated and expressed as rates per 100,000 women. The potential years of life lost were also calculated. Results. In the period studied, there were 413 deaths, 1,233 hospital admissions, and 1,809 discharges due to malignant breast disease. The mean age at the time of death and hospital discharge was 70.0 years (SD 14.9) and 59.9 years (SD 14.3), respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 8.9 days (SD 6.3). A total of 3,423 potential years of life were lost. The highest mortality rates of breast cancer were observed in the health area of Llerena and the lowest in the health area of Coria. Conclusions. The pattern of breast cancer mortality in Extremadura is typical of developed countries with highermortality among older age groups. The aged-adjusted rate in Extremadura is lower than that in Spain for the period 1996-2000 (AU)

Atomic force microscopy study of living diatoms in ambient conditions.

We present the first in vivo study of diatoms using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Three chain-forming, benthic freshwater species -Eunotia sudetica, Navicula seminulum and a yet unidentified species - are directly imaged while growing on glass slides. Using the AFM, we imaged the topography of the diatom frustules at the nanometre range scale and we determined the thickness of the organic case enveloping the siliceous skeleton of the cell (10 nm). Imaging proved to be stable for several hours, thereby offering the possibility to study long-term dynamic changes, such as biomineralization or cell movement, as they occur. We also focused on the natural adhesives produced by these unicellular organisms to adhere to other cells or the substratum. Most man-made adhesives fail in wet conditions, owing to chemical modification of the adhesive or its substrate. Diatoms produce adhesives that are extremely strong and robust both in fresh- and in seawater environments. Our phase-imaging and force-pulling experiments reveal the characteristics of these natural adhesives that might be of use in designing man-made analogues that function in wet environments. Engineering stable underwater adhesives currently poses a major technical challenge.

A novel fluorescent silica tracer for biological silicification studies.

BACKGROUND: Biological silica production has drawn intense attention and several molecules involved in biosilicification have been identified. Cellular mechanisms, however, remain unknown mainly due to the lack of probes required for obtaining information on live specimens. RESULTS: The fluorescence spectra of the compound 2-(4-pyridyl)-5-((4-(2-dimethylaminoethylaminocarbamoyl)methoxy)phenyl)oxazole (PDMPO) are affected by the presence of >3.2 mM silicic acid. Increase in intensity and shift in the fluorescence coincide with the polymerization of Si. The unique PDMPO-silica fluorescence is explored here to visualize Si deposition in living diatoms. The fluorophore is selectively incorporated and co-deposited with Si into the newly synthesized frustules (the outer silica shells) showing an intense green fluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a fluorescence shift is due to an interaction between PDMPO and polymeric silicic acid. PDMPO is an excellent probe for imaging newly deposited silica in living cells and has also a potential for a wide range of applications in various Si-related disciplines, including biology of living organisms as diatoms, sponges, and higher plants, clinical research (e.g. lung fibrosis and cancer, bone development, artificial bone implantation), and chemistry and physics of materials research.