Antifungal and Insecticidal Activities of Selected Plant Species from Cloud Forest of Veracruz, Mexico: A Contribution to the Search of Novel Control Agents against Ambrosia Pest Complexes.

The antifungal and insecticidal activities of 34 extracts from 27 plant species were evaluated against fungal phytopathogens of the genus Fusarium and Xyleborus Scolytine ambrosia beetles involved in Fusarium dieback (FD) and laurel wilt (LW) diseases. Sixteen extracts caused mycelial growth inhibition (MGI) above 23 % at 2 mg mL-1 against F. solani, those from S. nudum and M. argyrophylla exhibited the highest MGI (57 % and 49 %, respectively). Thirteen extracts displayed significant antifungal activity against F. kuroshium, those from C. nocturnum and M. argyrophylla exhibited the highest MGI (100 % and 54.9 %, respectively). Additionally, ten plants extracts caused mortality in at least one of the beetle species tested, mainly from Solanaceae species. In the most active species, 39 phenolics were identified that may have contributed to their biological effects. This study is one of the first to report the potential of plant-derived natural products against the causative agents of FD and LW.

Large-Scale Immigration Worksite Raids and Mixed-Status Families: Separation, Financial Crisis, and Family Role Rearrangement.

Mixed-status families-whose members have multiple immigration statuses-are common in US immigrant communities. Large-scale worksite raids, an immigration enforcement tactic used throughout US history, returned during the Trump administration. Yet, little research characterizes the impacts of these raids, especially as related to mixed-status families. The current study (1) describes a working definition of a large-scale worksite raid and (2) considers impacts of these raids on mixed-status families. We conducted semistructured interviews in Spanish and English at 6 communities that experienced the largest worksite raids in 2018. Participants were 77 adults who provided material, emotional, or professional support following raids. Qualitative analysis methods were used to develop a codebook and code all interviews. The unpredictability of worksite raids resulted in chaos and confusion, often stemming from potential family separation. Financial crises followed because of the removal of primary financial providers. In response, families rearranged roles to generate income. Large-scale worksite raids result in similar harms to mixed-status families as other enforcement tactics but on a much larger scale. They also uniquely drain community resources, with long-term impacts. Advocacy and policy efforts are needed to mitigate damage and end this practice.

Nepafenac 0.3% after Cataract Surgery in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: Results of 2 Randomized Phase 3 Studies.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of once-daily nepafenac 0.3% ophthalmic suspension versus vehicle, based on clinical outcomes, after cataract surgery in patients with diabetes. DESIGN: Two prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-masked, vehicle-controlled phase 3 studies. PARTICIPANTS: Total, 615 patients in study 1 and 605 patients in study 2. METHODS: Patients were randomized (1:1) to topical nepafenac 0.3% or vehicle once-daily starting the day before surgery and continuing for 90 days thereafter. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Key efficacy variables were: patients (%) in whom macular edema (ME) developed (≥30% increase from preoperative baseline central subfield macular thickness) within 90 days after cataract surgery and the patients (%) with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement of ≥15 letters from preoperative baseline through day 14 maintained through day 90. Secondary end points included: patients (%) with a BCVA improvement of ≥15 letters from preoperative baseline through days 90 and 60 and safety over 3 months. RESULTS: A significantly lower percentage of patients demonstrated ME within 90 days after surgery with nepafenac 0.3% versus vehicle (study 1: 2.3% vs. 17.3%; P < 0.001; study 2: 5.9% vs. 14.3%; P = 0.001; pooled: 4.1% vs. 15.9%; P < 0.001). The percentage of patients achieving a ≥15-letter improvement from baseline through day 14 maintained through day 90 with nepafenac 0.3% versus vehicle was 61.7% versus 43.0% (P < 0.001) in study 1, 48.8% versus 50.5% (P = 0.671) in study 2, and 55.4% versus 46.7% (P = 0.003) in the pooled analysis. A greater percentage of patients treated with nepafenac 0.3% versus vehicle in study 1 and similar percentage in study 2 had a BCVA improvement of ≥15 letters from preoperative baseline through day 90 (77.2% vs. 67.7% [P = 0.009] and 65.4% vs. 65.9% [P = 0.888]) and through day 60 (76.2% vs. 64.7% [P = 0.002] and 68.9% vs. 62.1% [P = 0.092]). No unanticipated adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrated the clinical benefits of nepafenac 0.3% over vehicle in reducing the risk of postoperative ME, with the integrated analysis showing improved BCVA after cataract surgery in patients with diabetic retinopathy, with no unanticipated safety events.

Multicity study of air pollution and mortality in Latin America (the ESCALA study).

INTRODUCTION: The ESCALA* project (Estudio de Salud y Contaminación del Aire en Latinoamérica) is an HEI-funded study that aims to examine the association between exposure to outdoor air pollution and mortality in nine Latin American cities, using a common analytic framework to obtain comparable and updated information on the effects of air pollution on several causes of death in different age groups. This report summarizes the work conducted between 2006 and 2009, describes the methodologic issues addressed during project development, and presents city-specific results of meta-analyses and meta-regression analyses. METHODS: The ESCALA project involved three teams of investigators responsible for collection and analysis of city-specific air pollution and mortality data from three different countries. The teams designed five different protocols to standardize the methods of data collection and analysis that would be used to evaluate the effects of air pollution on mortality (see Appendices B-F). By following the same protocols, the investigators could directly compare the results among cities. The analysis was conducted in two stages. The first stage included analyses of all-natural-cause and cause-specific mortality related to particulate matter < or = 10 pm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and to ozone (O3) in cities of Brazil, Chile, and México. Analyses for PM10 and O3 were also stratified by age group and O3 analyses were stratified by season. Generalized linear models (GLM) in Poisson regression were used to fit the time-series data. Time trends and seasonality were modeled using natural splines with 3, 6, 9, or 12 degrees of freedom (df) per year. Temperature and humidity were also modeled using natural splines, initially with 3 or 6 df, and then with degrees of freedom chosen on the basis of residual diagnostics (i.e., partial autocorrelation function [PACF], periodograms, and a Q-Q plot) (Appendix H, available on the HEI Web site). Indicator variables for day-of-week and holidays were used to account for short-term cyclic fluctuations. To assess the association between exposure to air pollution and risk of death, the PM10 and O3 data were fit using distributed lag models (DLMs). These models are based on findings indicating that the health effects associated with air pollutant concentrations on a given day may accumulate over several subsequent days. Each DLM measured the cumulative effect of a pollutant concentration on a given day (day 0) and that day's contribution to the effect of that pollutant on multiple subsequent (lagged) days. For this study, exposure lags of up to 3, 5, and 10 days were explored. However, only the results of the DLMs using a 3-day lag (DLM 0-3) are presented in this report because we found a decreasing association with mortality in various age-cause groups for increasing lag effects from 3 to 5 days for both PM10 and O3. The potential modifying effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on the association of PM10 or O3 concentration and mortality was also explored in four cities: Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santiago. The methodology for developing a common SES index is presented in the report. The second stage included meta-analyses and metaregression. During this stage, the associations between mortality and air pollution were compared among cities to evaluate the presence of heterogeneity and to explore city-level variables that might explain this heterogeneity. Meta-analyses were conducted to combine mortality effect estimates across cities and to evaluate the presence of heterogeneity among city results, whereas meta-regression models were used to explore variables that might explain the heterogeneity among cities in mortality risks associated with exposures to PM10 (but not to O3). RESULTS: The results of the mortality analyses are presented as risk percent changes (RPC) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RPC is the increase in mortality risk associated with an increase of 10 microg/m3 in the 24-hour average concentration of PM10 or in the daily maximum 8-hour moving average concentration of O3. Most of the results for PM10 were positive and statistically significant, showing an increased risk of mortality with increased ambient concentrations. Results for O3 also showed a statistically significant increase in mortality in the cities with available data. With the distributed lag model, DLM 0-3, PM10 ambient concentrations were associated with an increased risk of mortality in all cities except Concepci6n and Temuco. In Mexico City and Santiago the RPC and 95% CIs were 1.02% (0.87 to 1.17) and 0.48% (0.35 to 0.61), respectively. PM10 was also significantly associated with increased mortality from cardiopulmonary, respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular-stroke, and chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD) in most cities. The few nonsignificant effects generally were observed in the smallest cities (Concepción, Temuco, and Toluca). The percentage increases in mortality associated with ambient O3 concentrations were smaller than for those associated with PM10. All-natural-cause mortality was significantly related to O3 in Mexico City, Monterrey, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Increased mortality risks for some specific causes were also observed in these cities and in Santiago. In the analyses stratified by season, different patterns in mortality and O3 were observed for cold and warm seasons. Risk estimates for the warm season were larger and significant for several causes of death in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Risk estimates for the cold season were larger and significant for some causes of death in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Toluca. In an analysis stratified by SES, the all-natural-cause mortality risk in Mexico City was larger for people with a medium SES; however we observed that the risk of mortality related to respiratory causes was larger among people with a low SES, while the risk of mortality related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular-stroke causes was larger among people with medium or high SES. In São Paulo, the all-natural-cause mortality risk was larger in people with a high SES, while in Rio de Janeiro the all-natural-cause mortality risk was larger in people with a low SES. In both Brazilian cities, the risks of mortality were larger for respiratory causes, especially for the low- and high-SES groups. In Santiago, all-natural-cause mortality risk did not vary with level of SES; however, people with a low SES had a higher respiratory mortality risk, particularly for COPD. People with a medium SES had larger risks of mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular-stroke disease. The effect of ambient PM10 concentrations on infant and child mortality from respiratory causes and lower respiratory infection (LRI) was studied only for Mexico City, Santiago, and São Paulo. Significant increased mortality risk from these causes was observed in both Santiago (in infants and older children) and Mexico City (only in infants). For O3, an increased mortality risk was observed in Mexico City (in infants and older children) and in São Paulo (only in infants during the warm season). The results of the meta-analyses confirmed the positive and statistically significant association between PM10 and all-natural-cause mortality (RPC = 0.77% [95% CI: 0.60 to 1.00]) using the random-effects model. For mortality from specific causes, the percentage increase in mortality ranged from 0.72% (0.54 to 0.89) for cardiovascular disease to 2.44% (1.36 to 3.59) for COPD, also using the random-effects model. For O3, significant positive associations were observed using the random-effects model for some causes, but not for all natural causes or for respiratory diseases in people 65 years or older (> or = 65 years), and not for COPD and cerebrovascular-stroke in the all-age and the > or = 65 age groups. The percentage increase in all-natural-cause mortality was 0.16% (-0.02 to 0.33). In the meta-regression analyses, variables that best explained heterogeneity in mortality risks among cities were the mean average of temperature in the warm season, population percentage of infants (< 1 year), population percentage of children at least 1 year old but < 5 years (i.e., 1-4 years), population percentage of people > or = 65 years, geographic density of PM10 monitors, annual average concentrations of PM10, and mortality rates for lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The ESCALA project was undertaken to obtain information for assessing the effects of air pollutants on mortality in Latin America, where large populations are exposed to relatively high levels of ambient air pollution. An important goal was to provide evidence that could inform policies for controlling air pollution in Latin America. This project included the development of standardized protocols for data collection and for statistical analyses as well as statistical analytic programs (routines developed in R by the ESCALA team) to insure comparability of results. The analytic approach and statistical programming developed within this project should be of value for researchers carrying out single-city analyses and should facilitate the inclusion of additional Latin American cities within the ESCALA multicity project. Our analyses confirm what has been observed in other parts of the world regarding the effects of ambient PM10 and 03 concentrations on daily mortality. They also suggest that SES plays a role in the susceptibility of a population to air pollution; people with a lower SES appeared to have an increased risk of death from respiratory causes, particularly COPD. Compared with the general population, infants and young children appeared to be more susceptible to both PM10 and O3, although an increased risk of mortality was not observed in these age groups in all cities. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Survival benefit with capecitabine/docetaxel versus docetaxel alone: analysis of therapy in a randomized phase III trial.

In a large phase III trial of 511 patients with anthracycline-pretreated advanced/metastatic breast cancer, capecitabine/docetaxel combination therapy was shown to have significantly superior efficacy compared with single-agent docetaxel, including superior progression-free and overall survival and objective response rate. An updated survival analysis with >/= 27 months follow-up shows that patients receiving combination therapy maintained significantly superior survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.777 [95% CI, 0.645-0.942]; P < 0.01; median survival, 14.5 months vs. 11.5 months) compared with those receiving single-agent docetaxel. Following the failure of docetaxel monotherapy, 35% of patients did not receive additional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Among patients randomized to single-agent docetaxel, only those given poststudy single-agent capecitabine had significantly prolonged survival compared with those given any other poststudy chemotherapy (HR, 0.500; P = 0.0046; median survival, 21.0 months vs. 12.3 months, respectively). By contrast, poststudy vinorelbine-containing chemotherapy did not affect survival following progression on single-agent docetaxel compared with other poststudy chemotherapy regimens (HR, 1.014; P = 0.94; median survival, 13.5 months vs. 12.6 months, respectively). Among patients randomized to combination therapy, discontinuing docetaxel of capecitabine has a similar effect on survival (HR, 0.720; P = 0.20; median survival, 15.8 months vs. 18.3 months, respectively). Median survival was 18.3 months in patients who discontinued docetaxel and continued to receive capecitabine versus 15.8 months in patients who discontinued capecitabine and continued to receive docetaxel, with a trend toward improved survival in patients continuing to receive capecitabine. Although this is a retrospective analysis, these data suggest that the sequential administration of docetaxel followed by capecitabine is associated with prolonged survival in patients who are candidates for sequential single-agent therapy.

Superior survival with capecitabine plus docetaxel combination therapy in anthracycline-pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer: phase III trial results.

PURPOSE: Docetaxel and capecitabine, a tumor-activated oral fluoropyrimidine, show high single-agent efficacy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and synergy in preclinical studies. This international phase III trial compared efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine/docetaxel therapy with single-agent docetaxel in anthracycline-pretreated patients with MBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to 21-day cycles of oral capecitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1 to 14 plus docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 (n = 255) or to docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) on day 1 (n = 256). RESULTS: Capecitabine/docetaxel resulted in significantly superior efficacy in time to disease progression (TTP) (hazard ratio, 0.652; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.545 to 0.780; P =.0001; median, 6.1 v 4.2 months), overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.775; 95% CI, 0.634 to 0.947; P =.0126; median, 14.5 v 11.5 months), and objective tumor response rate (42% v 30%, P =.006) compared with docetaxel. Gastrointestinal side effects and hand-foot syndrome were more common with combination therapy, whereas myalgia, arthralgia, and neutropenic fever/sepsis were more common with single-agent docetaxel. More grade 3 adverse events occurred with combination therapy (71% v 49%, respectively), whereas grade 4 events were slightly more common with docetaxel (31% v 25% with combination). CONCLUSION: The significantly superior TTP and survival achieved with the addition of capecitabine to docetaxel 75 mg/m(2), with the manageable toxicity profile, indicate that this combination provides clear benefits over single-agent docetaxel 100 mg/m(2). Docetaxel/capecitabine therapy is an important treatment option for women with anthracycline-pretreated MBC.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva: clinicopathological features in 287 cases.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequently encountered malignant tumour of the conjunctiva. The objective of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva seen at a large ophthalmologic hospital in Mexico City. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and pathological files of all patients with documented squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva seen at the hospital between 1957 and 1996. RESULTS: A total of 287 cases (286 patients) were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 60.4 (range 12 to 99) years; 55% were male. The clinical diagnosis was accurate in 41% of cases. Typical keratinized squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva accounted for 98% of the lesions, and there were small numbers of histologic variants: lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (three cases), spindle cell carcinoma (two cases) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (one case). Evidence of local extension of the tumour was found in 150 patients (52%), with the cornea being most frequently involved (108 cases [38%]). Regional metastasis was found in two patients, to a submandibular lymph node in one and to a preauricular lymph node in the other. The most common form of treatment was local resection (258 cases [90%]). The mean length of follow-up was 7.7 (range 2 to 24) months. The recurrence rate was 5.2%. INTERPRETATION: We report a large series of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva. The incidence of local extension was high. Three cases of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, a variant not previously reported in the conjunctiva, were encountered and were confirmed by immunohistochemical reactions.

Seguridad y eficacia del tratamiento con paclitaxel en México: reporte nacional preliminar / Safety and efficacy of treatment with paclitaxel in Mexico: a preliminary report

Antecedentes: los estudios de laboratorio sugieren que paclitaxel tiene efectos antitumorales en un número importante de tipos de células tumorales, incluyendo las líneas celulares de ovario, mama y pulmón. Objetivo: determinar los efectos antitumorales de paclitaxel en pacientes con cáncer de ovario, mama o pulmón. Material y métodos: de junio de 1997 a febrero de 1998 se trataron 146 pacientes con cáncer de ovario, mama o pulmón. El 54 por ciento había recibido radioterapia o quimioterapia. El 55 por ciento tenía neutropenia reversible grado 3 y un paciente, grado 4; 25 por ciento tenía neuropatía periférica transitoria grado 3; 21 por ciento, mialgia, y 30 por ciento, artralgia. Resultados: en 94 por ciento de los casos de cáncer de pulmón hubo respuesta objetiva en primera línea de tratamiento con duración media de respuesta de siete meses y 66 por ciento de respuesta parcial en segunda línea con duración media de respuesta de 4.6 meses. En 75 por ciento de los casos de cáncer de mama hubo respuesta objetiva en primera línea con duración media de respuesta de ocho meses y 61 por ciento en segunda línea con duración media de respuesta de 5.4 meses. En 61 por ciento de los casos de cáncer de ovario hubo respuesta objetiva en primera línea con duración media de respuesta de nueve meses y 45 por ciento en segunda línea con duración media de respuesta de 6.2 meses. Conclusiones: paclitaxel es un medicamento seguro y bien tolerado. Debido a los porcentajes de respuesta observados, se necesitan estudios controlados, multicéntricos y prospectivos.

Chronic myelocytic leukemia in accelerated phase with i(17) (q10) and loss p53 gene. Case report

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a clonal disorder that presents with a stable period followed by an accelarated phase. The most frequent chromosomal abnormality described is t(9;22). Alterations of chromosome 17, where p53 is located, have been described during transformation. We studied a 23-year-old male who presented with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The karyotype demonstrated 46,XY,t(9;22) (q34;qll) in 12 percent of mitoses and hyperdiploidy in 43 percent. Forty six months later the patient suffered a blast crisis characterized by absolute basophilia; the cytogenetic study demonstrated 48,XY,+8,t(9;22(q34;qll), +der(22)t(9;22)(q34;qll),+i(17)(q10) in 18 percent of the mitoses, 46,XY,t(9;22) (q34;qll) in 34 percent and hyperdiploidy in 23 percent. Since there was i(17)(q10) during this stage, a retrospective DNA study of the biopsy material before and after the transformacition was performed. In the chronic phase, p53 was present in normal amounts, during transformation there was loss of genetic material from the p53 region. The protein product of suppressor gene p53 normally works holding the proliferation of cells. When there is the formation of an isochromosome, genetic material is lost; thus, in this patient, p53 was delted upon the observation of i(17). Lastly, this case shows how DNA can be extracted from slides; this technique is novel and can be used for retrospective studies when parafin block or fresh tissue are not available

Comparación de dos métodos para medir antígeno prostático específico, antígeno carcinoembrionario y alfafetoproteína / Comparison of two methods to measeure prostate specific antigen, carcinoembrionic antigen and alpha fetoprotein

Variaciones en los niveles de marcadores tumorales pueden atribuirse a cambios de reactivos o ténica. En este estudio comparamos dos métodos de cuantificación, ensayo inmunoenzimático de micropartículas (IMx, Abbott) e inmunofluorescencia indirecta en placas (Stratus DaDe), para antígeno prostático específico, antígeno carcinoembrionario y alfafetoproteína. Método: Se analizaron sueros de 100 pacientes con solicitud para antígeno carcinoembrionario, 97 para alfafetoproteína y 98 para antígeno prostático específico. Se revisaron expedientes para corroborar diagnósticos; se obtuvo sensibilidad y especificidad y se realizan curvas de correlación lineal. Resultados: La sensibilidad para los tres marcadores fue superior a 97 por ciento; la especificidad para alfafetoproteína fue del 100 por ciento, para antígeno carcinoembrionario de 95 por ciento y para antígeno prostático específico de 84 por ciento. Los valores predictivos positivos y negativos estuvieron arriba del 92 por ciento. Los coeficientes de correlación fueron 0.97 para antígeno carcinoembrionario, 0.86 para alfafetoproteína y 0.66 para antígeno prostático específico. Existieron casos discrepantes; uno para alfafetoproteína, dos para antígeno carcinoembrionario y seis para antígeno prostático específico. Conclusiones: Basados en los coeficientes de correlación, los métodos son sustituibles para antígeno carcinoembrionario, pero no para antígeno prostático específico y alfafetoproteína. Con estos resultados se prueba que no es conveniente cambiar metodología cuando se sigue a pacientes oncológicos, ya que las variaciones pueden deberse a cambios en el método de medición y no al proceso maligno