Modeling the spatial risk of malaria through probability distribution of Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and imported cases.

AbstractMalaria remains one of the most important infectious diseases globally due to its high incidence and mortality rates. The influx of infected cases from endemic to non-endemic malaria regions like Europe has resulted in a public health concern over sporadic local outbreaks. This is facilitated by the continued presence of competent Anopheles vectors in non-endemic countries.We modeled the potential distribution of the main malaria vector across Spain using the ensemble of eight modeling techniques based on environmental parameters and the Anopheles maculipennis s.l. presence/absence data collected from 2000 to 2020. We then combined this map with the number of imported malaria cases in each municipality to detect the geographic hot spots with a higher risk of local malaria transmission.The malaria vector occurred preferentially in irrigated lands characterized by warm climate conditions and moderate annual precipitation. Some areas surrounding irrigated lands in northern Spain (e.g., Zaragoza, Logroño), mainland areas (e.g., Madrid, Toledo) and in the South (e.g., Huelva), presented a significant likelihood of A. maculipennis s.l. occurrence, with a large overlap with the presence of imported cases of malaria.While the risk of malaria re-emergence in Spain is low, it is not evenly distributed throughout the country. The four recorded local cases of mosquito-borne transmission occurred in areas with a high overlap of imported cases and mosquito presence. Integrating mosquito distribution with human incidence cases provides an effective tool for the quantification of large-scale geographic variation in transmission risk and pinpointing priority areas for targeted surveillance and prevention.

Biophysical Parameters of Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers of Bone Disturbances in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving an Individualized Nutrition Intervention.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are implicated in several biological conditions, including bone metabolism disturbances in breast cancer patients (BCPs). These disorders hinder the adjustment of nutrition interventions due to changes in bone mineral density (BMD). The biophysical properties of EVs (e.g., size or electrostatic repulsion) affect their cellular uptake, however, their clinical relevance is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the biophysical properties of the plasma-derived EVs and BMDs in BCPs who received an individualized nutrition intervention during the first six months of antineoplastic treatment. As part of the nutritional assessment before and after the intervention, body composition including bone densitometry and plasma samples were obtained. In 16 BCPs, EVs were isolated using ExoQuick® and their biophysical properties were analyzed using light-scattering techniques. We found that the average hydrodynamic diameter of large EVs was associated with femoral neck bone mineral content, lumbar spine BMD, and neoplasms' molecular subtypes. These results provide evidence that EVs play a role in BCPs' bone disorders and suggest that the biophysical properties of EVs may serve as potential nutritional biomarkers. Further studies are needed to evaluate EVs' biophysical properties as potential nutritional biomarkers in a clinical context.

The use of path analysis to determine effects of environmental factors on the adult seasonality of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) vector species in Spain.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are the main vectors of livestock diseases such as bluetongue (BT) which mainly affect sheep and cattle. In Spain, bluetongue virus (BTV) is transmitted by several Culicoides taxa, including Culicoides imicola, Obsoletus complex, Culicoides newsteadi and Culicoides pulicaris that vary in seasonality and distribution, affecting the distribution and dynamics of BT outbreaks. Path analysis is useful for separating direct and indirect, biotic and abiotic determinants of species' population performance and is ideal for understanding the sensitivity of adult Culicoides dynamics to multiple environmental drivers. Start, end of season and length of overwintering of adult Culicoides were analysed across 329 sites in Spain sampled from 2005 to 2010 during the National Entomosurveillance Program for BTV with path analysis, to determine the direct and indirect effects of land use, climate and host factor variables. Culicoides taxa had species-specific responses to environmental variables. While the seasonality of adult C. imicola was strongly affected by topography, temperature, cover of agro-forestry and sclerophyllous vegetation, rainfall, livestock density, photoperiod in autumn and the abundance of Culicoides females, Obsoletus complex species seasonality was affected by land-use variables such as cover of natural grassland and broad-leaved forest. Culicoides female abundance was the most explanatory variable for the seasonality of C. newsteadi, while C. pulicaris showed that temperature during winter and the photoperiod in November had a strong effect on the start of the season and the length of overwinter period of this species. These results indicate that the seasonal vector-free period (SVFP) in Spain will vary between competent vector taxa and geographic locations, dependent on the different responses of each taxa to environmental conditions.

Predictive equations for fat mass in older Hispanic adults with excess adiposity using the 4-compartment model as a reference method.

BACKGROUND: Predictive equations are the best option for assessing fat mass in clinical practice due to their low cost and practicality. However, several factors, such as age, excess adiposity, and ethnicity can compromise the accuracy of the equations reported to date in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate two predictive equations for estimating fat mass: one based exclusively on anthropometric variables, the other combining anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance variables using the 4C model as the reference method. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included 386 Hispanic subjects aged ≥60 with excess adiposity. Fat mass and fat-free mass were measured by the 4C model as predictive variables. Age, sex, and certain anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance data were considered as potential predictor variables. To develop and to validate the equations, the multiple linear regression analysis, and cross-validation protocol were applied. RESULTS: Equation 1 included weight, sex, and BMI as predictor variables, while equation 2 considered sex, weight, height squared/resistance, and resistance as predictor variables. R2 and RMSE values were ≥0.79 and ≤3.45, respectively, in both equations. The differences in estimates of fat mass by equations 1 and 2 were 0.34 kg and -0.25 kg, respectively, compared to the 4C model. This bias was not significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The new predictive equations are reliable for estimating body composition and are interchangeable with the 4C model. Thus, they can be used in epidemiological and clinical studies, as well as in clinical practice, to estimate body composition in older Hispanic adults with excess adiposity.

Determination of Fat-Free Mass Density and its Components in Older Hispanic Adults by In Vivo Methods.

The densitometry method estimates body composition based on cadaver reference values, mainly the fat-free mass density value of 1.100 g/cm3. However, several changes in fat-free mass components by aging, ethnicity, and excess adiposity could influence their density and affect body composition estimations. The present study aimed to compare the mean fat-free mass component values in older Hispanic adults to cadaver reference values. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 420 subjects aged ≥60 yr from northern Mexico. Fat-free mass was determined by the four-compartment model using air displacement plethysmography, the deuterium dilution technique, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body density, aqueous and mineral fractions of body weight, respectively. A 1-sample t test was used to compare the fat-free mass density and aqueous, mineral, and residue fractions of fat-free mass from subjects in the study to the assumed cadaver reference values. The mean fat-free mass density value for the total sample of older Hispanic adults (1.096 ± 0.011 g/cm3) was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than the assumed value of 1.100 g/cm3, except in obese older men. The mean aqueous fraction of fat-free mass (74.8 ± 3.3%) was higher than the assumed value of 73.8%, and the mean residue fraction of fat-free mass value was lower (18.3 ± 3.4%) than the reference value of 19.4%. Indeed, only the mean mineral fraction of fat-free mass value (6.8 ± 0.8%) was similar to the reference value. In the total sample, all characteristic mean fat-free mass values in these older Hispanic adults differed from cadaver reference values, except the mineral fraction of fat-free mass value.

Agreement between laboratory methods and the 4-compartment model in assessing fat mass in obese older Hispanic-American adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Densitometry (Siri's and Brozek's equations), hydrometry (by the deuterium dilution technique), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are three methods for estimating body composition. However, because they are all based on certain assumptions, they may not be applicable to aged and obese subjects due to changes in their body composition. Hence, the validity of these "laboratory methods" could be affected in obese older people. The main aim was to assess the agreement between densitometry, hydrometry, and DXA with the 4-compartment (4C) model to estimate fat mass (FM) in obese older Hispanic-American adults. As secondary goals, we explored whether the bias in densitometry and hydrometry results could be improved by modifying the assumptions regarding fat-free mass (FFM) density and hydration factor (HF) values, respectively. In the case of DXA, we explored the factors that contribute to bias. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on a sample of 171 obese subjects aged ≥60 years from 3 regions of northern Mexico. Body composition was assessed by the 4C model as the reference method and by all three laboratory methods. Agreement of the latter with the 4C model was probed by Bland and Altman analysis, a paired sample t-test, and simple linear regression analyses. In addition, the mean FFM density estimated in this sample, and HF values (published previously) of 0.737 and 0.753 for obese older Hispanic-American men and women, respectively, were considered as ethnic- and gender-specific values. These values were used to modify the densitometric and hydrometric equations in order to improve their bias. Finally, we tested whether the hydration status and indirect markers of adiposity are contributing factors to the bias of DXA using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Siri's equation overestimated FM by 0.57 kg (p < 0.01), while Brozek's equation, hydrometry, and DXA underestimated it by 1.24 kg, 0.89 kg, and 0.79 kg (p < 0.01), respectively, compared to the 4C model. The bias in the densitometry and hydrometry results was eliminated by substituting the ethnic- and gender-specific values into the equations. Finally, we found that hip circumference contributes to the bias in DXA. CONCLUSION: The densitometry, hydrometry, and DXA methods are not interchangeable with the 4C model for assessing fat mass in obese, older Hispanic-American adults. The lack of agreement could indicate that the assumptions of each method do not apply to this population.

An individualized food-based nutrition intervention reduces visceral and total body fat while preserving skeletal muscle mass in breast cancer patients under antineoplastic treatment.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Breast cancer patients (BCP) during treatment often experience an increase in body weight and fat mass, and a decrease in muscle mass known as sarcopenic obesity, affecting their prognosis and quality of life. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a 6-month individualized food-based nutrition intervention program in nonmetastatic BCP body composition during treatment. METHODS: This is a pre-post study in recently diagnosed women with invasive ductal/lobular breast carcinoma (clinical stage I-III). The individualized nutrition intervention was based on the dynamic macronutrient meal equivalent menu method (MEM). Dietary plans were developed according to WCRF/AICR guidelines, BCP total energy expenditure, 1.2-1.5 g/kgBW/d of protein intake, 5-9 servings/day of fruits and vegetables, and a caloric restriction (500-1000 kcal/d) when applicable (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Follow-up was every 2-weeks and a different diet menu was provided in each session during 6 months. Baseline and final measurements included the assessment of anthropometry, body composition, and physical activity. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants completed the study and at diagnosis 68% were overweighed or obese. After the 6-month nutrition intervention program, BCP lost 3.1 kg (p < 0.01) of body weight, 2.7 kg (p < 0.01) of fat-mass, 400 g (p < 0.01) of abdominal fat, 118 g (p < 0.05) of visceral fat, 1.2 kg/m2 of body mass index and 1.1 kg/m2 of fat mass index (p < 0.01). During the period, no changes were observed in bone mineral density (p = 0.3), fat-free mass (p = 0.1) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.2). Menopausal status in BCP did not modify the effect of the nutrition intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The individualized food-based nutrition intervention program empowered BCP to make informed healthy food choices within their personal preferences, socioeconomic and cultural background. With this type of intervention, nonmetastatic BCP reduced body weight, fat-mass, fat mass index, visceral and abdominal fat, while preserving skeletal muscle mass, during antineoplastic treatment. ClinicalTrials.govNCT03625635.

Environmental Drivers of Adult Seasonality and Abundance of Biting Midges Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Bluetongue Vector Species in Spain.

Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting wild and domestic ruminants transmitted by several species of biting midges Culicoides Latreille. The phenology of these insects were analyzed in relation to potential environmental drivers. Data from 329 sites in Spain were analyzed using Bayesian Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) approaches. The effects of environmental factors on adult female seasonality were contrasted. Obsoletus complex species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were the most prevalent across sites, followed by Culicoides newsteadi Austen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Activity of female Obsoletus complex species was longest in sites at low elevation, with warmer spring average temperatures and precipitation, as well as in sites with high abundance of cattle. The length of the Culicoides imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) female adult season was also longest in sites at low elevation with higher coverage of broad-leaved vegetation. Long adult seasons of C. newsteadi were found in sites with warmer autumns and higher precipitation, high abundance of sheep. Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) had longer adult periods in sites with a greater number of accumulated degree days over 10°C during winter. These results demonstrate the eco-climatic and seasonal differences among these four taxa in Spain, which may contribute to determining sites with suitable environmental circumstances for each particular species to inform assessments of the risk of Bluetongue virus outbreaks in this region.

Modelling the monthly abundance of Culicoides biting midges in nine European countries using Random Forests machine learning.

BACKGROUND: Culicoides biting midges transmit viruses resulting in disease in ruminants and equids such as bluetongue, Schmallenberg disease and African horse sickness. In the past decades, these diseases have led to important economic losses for farmers in Europe. Vector abundance is a key factor in determining the risk of vector-borne disease spread and it is, therefore, important to predict the abundance of Culicoides species involved in the transmission of these pathogens. The objectives of this study were to model and map the monthly abundances of Culicoides in Europe. METHODS: We obtained entomological data from 904 farms in nine European countries (Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) from 2007 to 2013. Using environmental and climatic predictors from satellite imagery and the machine learning technique Random Forests, we predicted the monthly average abundance at a 1 km2 resolution. We used independent test sets for validation and to assess model performance. RESULTS: The predictive power of the resulting models varied according to month and the Culicoides species/ensembles predicted. Model performance was lower for winter months. Performance was higher for the Obsoletus ensemble, followed by the Pulicaris ensemble, while the model for Culicoides imicola showed a poor performance. Distribution and abundance patterns corresponded well with the known distributions in Europe. The Random Forests model approach was able to distinguish differences in abundance between countries but was not able to predict vector abundance at individual farm level. CONCLUSIONS: The models and maps presented here represent an initial attempt to capture large scale geographical and temporal variations in Culicoides abundance. The models are a first step towards producing abundance inputs for R0 modelling of Culicoides-borne infections at a continental scale.

A Mondrian matrix of seasonal patterns of Culicoides nulliparous and parous females at different latitudes in Spain.

Insects from genus Culicoides (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) transmit arboviruses such as Bluetongue virus (BTV); affecting wild and domestic ruminants. These insects are age graded for monitoring purposes in surveillance programs. Parous females (PF) are the only fraction of the entire population that could effectively transmit viruses in a subsequent blood meal. Data of the Spanish Entomosurveillance National Program from 2008 to 2010 were used to analyse the seasonal pattern of the nulliparous females (NF) and PF of the vector species Obsoletus complex, C. imicola, C. newsteadi and C. pulicaris. Latitude variation on the seasonal abundance patterns of PF was also analysed in trap sites spanning a North-South axis in mainland Spain. The weekly abundance of PF was always highest in summer. The peak of abundance mainly occurred between April and July except for C. imicola that was from September to November. The analysis of the latitudinal seasonal variation of PF in Spain showed that Northern provinces have absence of C. imicola while the Obsoletus species were more present in Northern areas. There were periods of the year were no individuals of any vector species were collected, which should be considered in order to calculate the Seasonally Vector-Free Period (SVFP). Culicoides newsteadi and C. pulicaris exhibited the highest population in Toledo, probably related to their inland preferences. These findings would be of interest for a better understanding of the periods of low and high risk of transmission of BTV in Spain.

Cloning, expression, purification and biochemical characterization of recombinant metallothionein from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine rich proteins with antioxidant capacity that participate in the homeostasis and detoxification of metals and other cellular processes, and help to counteract the oxidative stress produced by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The production of ROS increases during several stress conditions, including metal intoxication and hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). During hypoxia the expression of the MT gene is induced in the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei; however, the MT protein coded by this gene has not been purified nor characterized. In this work, the coding sequence of L. vannamei MT was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein, containing an intein and a chitin binding domain (CBD). The MT was purified by chitin affinity chromatography and its antioxidant capacity and ability to bind cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) were evaluated. This MT has an antioxidant capacity of 27.23 µM equivalent to Trolox in a 100 µg/mL solution. Addition of CdCl2 to the culture media augments 273-fold the Cd content, while addition of CuCl2 increases Cu content 569-fold in the purified MT. Thus, the shrimp MT gene codes for a functional protein that has antioxidant capacity and binds Cu and Cd.

High Hydration Factor in Older Hispanic-American Adults: Possible Implications for Accurate Body Composition Estimates.

Age- and obesity-related body composition changes could influence the hydration factor (HF) and, as a result, body composition estimates derived from hydrometry. The aim of the present study was to compare the HF in older Hispanic-American adults to some published values. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 412 subjects, men and women, aged ≥60 years from northern Mexico. HF values were calculated based on the ratio of total body water-using the deuterium dilution technique-to fat-free mass, derived from the four-compartment model. The mean HF value for the total sample (0.748 ± 0.034) was statistically (p ≤ 0.01) higher than the traditionally assumed value of 0.732 derived from chemical analysis, the "grand mean'' value of 0.725 derived from in vivo methods, and the 0.734 value calculated for older French adults via the three-compartment model. The HF of the older women did not differ across the fat mass index categories, but in men the obese group was lower than the normal and excess fat groups. The hydration factor calculated for the total sample of older Hispanic-American people is higher than the HF values reported in the literature. Therefore, the indiscriminate use of these assumed values could produce inaccurate body composition estimates in older Hispanic-American people.

Monthly variation in the probability of presence of adult Culicoides populations in nine European countries and the implications for targeted surveillance.

BACKGROUND: Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are small hematophagous insects responsible for the transmission of bluetongue virus, Schmallenberg virus and African horse sickness virus to wild and domestic ruminants and equids. Outbreaks of these viruses have caused economic damage within the European Union. The spatio-temporal distribution of biting midges is a key factor in identifying areas with the potential for disease spread. The aim of this study was to identify and map areas of neglectable adult activity for each month in an average year. Average monthly risk maps can be used as a tool when allocating resources for surveillance and control programs within Europe. METHODS: We modelled the occurrence of C. imicola and the Obsoletus and Pulicaris ensembles using existing entomological surveillance data from Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Poland. The monthly probability of each vector species and ensembles being present in Europe based on climatic and environmental input variables was estimated with the machine learning technique Random Forest. Subsequently, the monthly probability was classified into three classes: Absence, Presence and Uncertain status. These three classes are useful for mapping areas of no risk, areas of high-risk targeted for animal movement restrictions, and areas with an uncertain status that need active entomological surveillance to determine whether or not vectors are present. RESULTS: The distribution of Culicoides species ensembles were in agreement with their previously reported distribution in Europe. The Random Forest models were very accurate in predicting the probability of presence for C. imicola (mean AUC = 0.95), less accurate for the Obsoletus ensemble (mean AUC = 0.84), while the lowest accuracy was found for the Pulicaris ensemble (mean AUC = 0.71). The most important environmental variables in the models were related to temperature and precipitation for all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The duration periods with low or null adult activity can be derived from the associated monthly distribution maps, and it was also possible to identify and map areas with uncertain predictions. In the absence of ongoing vector surveillance, these maps can be used by veterinary authorities to classify areas as likely vector-free or as likely risk areas from southern Spain to northern Sweden with acceptable precision. The maps can also focus costly entomological surveillance to seasons and areas where the predictions and vector-free status remain uncertain.

Comparison of Measurements of Bone Mineral Density in Young and Middle-Aged Adult Women in Relation to Dietary, Anthropometric and Reproductive Variables.

The objective of this study was to compare current measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and total femur (TF) regions with initial values recorded 12 years ago in women from Northwest Mexico, and evaluate their correlation with dietary, anthropometric, and reproductive variables. BMD was assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Participants were grouped as follows: Nulliparous (G1); women who were mothers 12 years ago (G2); and women who were nulliparous 12 years ago, but are now mothers (G3). In all three groups, current LS BMD was higher than initial (p ≤ 0.05) and current TF BMD in G2 was higher than initial values (p ≤ 0.05). When comparing current FN and TF BMD among the three groups, G2 had higher values than G3 (p ≤ 0.05). G2 also showed higher LS BMD than G1 and G3 (p = 0.006). Age at menarche was inversely-correlated with FN and TF BMD in G1 (p < 0.01), while the body mass index (BMI) correlated positively with all three bone regions in G2 (p < 0.05). This study shows that in women without and with children, age at menarche, BMI, and age were factors associated to BMD in healthy subjects in reproductive age.

Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in nine European countries.

BACKGROUND: Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV), African horse sickness virus and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). Outbreaks of both BTV and SBV have affected large parts of Europe. The spread of these diseases depends largely on vector distribution and abundance. The aim of this analysis was to identify and quantify major spatial patterns and temporal trends in the distribution and seasonal variation of observed Culicoides abundance in nine countries in Europe. METHODS: We gathered existing Culicoides data from Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Poland. In total, 31,429 Culicoides trap collections were available from 904 ruminant farms across these countries between 2007 and 2013. RESULTS: The Obsoletus ensemble was distributed widely in Europe and accounted for 83% of all 8,842,998 Culicoides specimens in the dataset, with the highest mean monthly abundance recorded in France, Germany and southern Norway. The Pulicaris ensemble accounted for only 12% of the specimens and had a relatively southerly and easterly spatial distribution compared to the Obsoletus ensemble. Culicoides imicola Kieffer was only found in Spain and the southernmost part of France. There was a clear spatial trend in the accumulated annual abundance from southern to northern Europe, with the Obsoletus ensemble steadily increasing from 4000 per year in southern Europe to 500,000 in Scandinavia. The Pulicaris ensemble showed a very different pattern, with an increase in the accumulated annual abundance from 1600 in Spain, peaking at 41,000 in northern Germany and then decreasing again toward northern latitudes. For the two species ensembles and C. imicola, the season began between January and April, with later start dates and increasingly shorter vector seasons at more northerly latitudes. CONCLUSION: We present the first maps of seasonal Culicoides abundance in large parts of Europe covering a gradient from southern Spain to northern Scandinavia. The identified temporal trends and spatial patterns are useful for planning the allocation of resources for international prevention and surveillance programmes in the European Union.

Fipronil/(S)-methoprene spot-on to control fleas on cats in a field trial in Spain

The study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of a fipronil/(S)-methoprene formulation against fleas on naturally infested cats. The study involved a population of 89 cats distributed among 24 veterinary practices in 9 regions of Spain. The product was applied according to label instructions on days 0, 30 and 60. Animals underwent parasitological and clinical assessments on day 0 and thereafter in monthly intervals (every 30 days) until day 90. Ctenocephalides felis was the most abundant species (98.9% of all fleas collected), and flea abundance on Day 0 was associated with the hair type, the location of the household, and the time elapsed from the last anti-flea treatment. Fipronil/(S)-methoprene demonstrated high efficacy and induced the reduction of clinical signs related to the presence of fleas. Clinical signs and flea abundance decreased significantly throughout time (P=0.001) with an efficacy rate of 72.6% at Day 30, 88.4% at Day 60 and 93.9% at Day 90. A high level of flea control and a remission of the clinical signs related to presence of fleas were observed on cats following 3 monthly applications a fipronil/(S)-methoprene formulation.(AU)

Field efficacy of acaricides against Varroa destructor.

Field trials were conducted in Northeast Spain (Aragón) to evaluate the effectiveness of two acaricides against Varroa destructor. These experiments took into account the season of the year, apiary, colony, and developmental state and strength of the colony. The acaricides used were a synthetic (amitraz, Apivar®) and a natural (formulated from Api Life Var®, thymol oil and thymol alcohol) product. The treatments used in the present study reduce high infestations of V. destructor, although they do not eliminate the infestation. Similar efficacies between treatments were found. Nevertheless, the efficacy of a treatment depends on the apiary where applied. Moreover, the detected variability in the apiary and hive poses a challenge to the identification of the significant factors. Therefore, more field studies to assess efficacies in several apiaries are needed to obtain a better understanding of the effects of the applied treatments.

Antineoplastic treatment effect on bone mineral density in Mexican breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most deadly malignancy in Mexican women. Although treatment has improved, it may significantly affect bone mineral status in those who receive it. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cancer treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), in patients with breast cancer and explore the interaction of menopausal status and clinical stage with cancer treatment on such changes. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was applied with measurements before and after a chemotherapy treatment in 40 patients with primary diagnosis of invasive breast cancer. BMD and body composition measurements were taken by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and changes in these variables due to therapy were analyzed using mixed regression for repeated measurements. RESULTS: Significant loss was found in femoral neck and L2-L4 BMD (p < 0.001). Patients diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis received calcium + vitamin D supplementation (600 mg/200 IU day). It showed a protective effect in the decrease of femoral neck BMD and total BMC. BMD loss in both femoral neck and L2-L4 BMD was higher in premenopausal women: 0.023 g/cm2 in femoral neck and 0.063 g/cm2 in L2-L4 (p < 0.001), while in postmenopausal women BMD loss was 0.015 g/cm2 in femoral neck and 0.035 g/cm2 in L2-L4 (p = 0.021 and p = 0.001 respectively). Change in lumbar spine BMD was prominent in premenopausal women with advanced clinical stage (IIB, IIIA, IIIB): 0.066 g/cm2 (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The antineoplastic breast cancer treatment with chemotherapy had a negative impact on BMD, in premenopausal women overall, although a differential effect was found according to clinical stage and calcium supplementation status.

Culicoides Species Communities Associated with Wild Ruminant Ecosystems in Spain: Tracking the Way to Determine Potential Bridge Vectors for Arboviruses.

The genus Culicoides Latreille 1809 is a well-known vector for protozoa, filarial worms and, above all, numerous viruses. The Bluetongue virus (BTV) and the recently emerged Schmallenberg virus (SBV) are responsible for important infectious, non-contagious, insect-borne viral diseases found in domestic ruminants and transmitted by Culicoides spp. Both of these diseases have been detected in wild ruminants, but their role as reservoirs during the vector-free season still remains relatively unknown. In fact, we tend to ignore the possibility of wild ruminants acting as a source of disease (BTV, SBV) and permitting its reintroduction to domestic ruminants during the following vector season. In this context, a knowledge of the composition of the Culicoides species communities that inhabit areas where there are wild ruminants is of major importance as the presence of a vector species is a prerequisite for disease transmission. In this study, samplings were conducted in areas inhabited by different wild ruminant species; samples were taken in both 2009 and 2010, on a monthly basis, during the peak season for midge activity (in summer and autumn). A total of 102,693 specimens of 40 different species of the genus Culicoides were trapped; these included major BTV and SBV vector species. The most abundant vector species were C. imicola and species of the Obsoletus group, which represented 15% and 11% of total numbers of specimens, respectively. At the local scale, the presence of major BTV and SBV vector species in areas with wild ruminants coincided with that of the nearest sentinel farms included in the Spanish Bluetongue Entomological Surveillance Programme, although their relative abundance varied. The data suggest that such species do not exhibit strong host specificity towards either domestic or wild ruminants and that they could consequently play a prominent role as bridge vectors for different pathogens between both types of ruminants. This finding would support the hypothesis that wild ruminants could act as reservoirs for such pathogens, and subsequently be involved in the reintroduction of disease to livestock on neighbouring farms.

[Antineoplastic treatment impact on nutritional status in patients with breast cancer]. / Impacto del tratamiento antineoplásico en el estado nutricional en pacientes con cáncer de mama.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women in Mexico and also has the highest mortality. Although treatment has improved significantly, it can affect the nutritional status of the recipients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the initial phase of antineoplastic therapy on the nutritional status in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Forty subjects with primary diagnosed of invasive breast cancer were studied in a before and after intervention (six month apart) using a quasi-experimental design. Basal and six month after intervention measurements included were anthropometry, body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), diet by 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire, as well as serum -carotene and retinol. The therapy effect was analyzed using repeated measurements mixed linear regression. RESULTS: Lean tissue decreased after the studied period (p=0.032). Addicionally, there was an interaction between weight, BMI and body fat parameters with menopausal status, increasing in these variables due to therapy only premenopausal patients (p=0.005, 0.006 and 0.001, respectively). Decreased serum retinol (p=0.049) despite the improvement in -carotene status (p=0.03). In general there was an increase the consumption of vegetables food products whilst a decrease in animal foods. CONCLUSION: The breast cancer antineoplastic treatment had a negative effect on weight and body fat, especially in young women. Although there were some positive dietary changes, vegetables consumption remained insufficient, which was also reflected in serum biomarkers.

Presentación: El cáncer de mama es el tipo de tumor más frecuentemente diagnosticado entre las mujeres de México y también el de más alta mortalidad. Aunque el tratamiento ha mejorado significativamente, puede afectar al estado nutricional del paciente. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio era evaluar el impacto de la fase inicial de la terapia antineoplásica sobre el estado nutricional en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Métodos: Cuarenta sujetos con diagnóstico primario de cáncer de mama invasivo fueron estudiados antes y después de la intervención (con seis meses de desfase) usando un diseño quasi-experimental. Las mediciones al inicio y seis meses después de la intervención incluyeron antropometría, composición corporal mediante absorciometría dual de rayos X (DEXA), cuestionario de recopilación de dieta en 24 horas y frecuencia de comidas, y suero beta-caroteno y retinol. El efecto de la terapia fue analizado empleando mediciones repetidas y regresión lineal mixta. Resultados: El tejido magro disminuyó tras el periodo de estudio (p=0.032). Además, se dio una interacción entre los parámetros de peso, IMC y grasa corporal con el estado de menopausia, aumentando en estas variables debido a la terapia solo en pacientes premenopáusicas (p=0.005, 0.006 y 0.001, respectivamente). Descenso de retinol sérico (p=0.049) a pesar de la mejoría en el estado de beta-caroteno (p=0.03). En general hubo un aumento en el consumo de verdura y un descenso de productos animales. Conclusión: El tratamiento antineoplásico del cáncer de mama tuvo un efecto negativo sobre el peso y la grasa corporal, especialmente en mujeres jóvenes. Aunque se observaron algunos cambios positivos en la dieta, el consumo de verdura siguió siendo insuficiente, lo que también se reflejó en los biomarcadores séricos.