Primary germinoma of the medulla oblongata: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Primary central nervous system germinomas of the medulla oblongata are extremely rare and usually have been found in young female Asian patients. The authors present an illustrative case of a patient who presented with severe medullary and posterior cord syndrome, the first South American case published to date, to the authors' knowledge. OBSERVATIONS: Initially, the radiological differential diagnosis did not include this entity. The lesion was located at the obex and exhibited a well-delineated contrast enhancement without hydrocephalus. An emergency decompressive partial resection following functional limits was performed. After histological confirmation, radiotherapy was indicated, with complete remission achieved at a 6-month follow-up. The patient, however, continued to have a severe proprioceptive disorder. The literature review identified 21 other such patients. The mean age for this location was 23 years, with a strong female and Asian origin predilection. All tumors exhibited contrast enhancement, and only one presented with hydrocephalus. LESSONS: In the absence of elevated tumor markers, radiological clues such as a well-delineated, contrast-enhanced lesion arising from the obex, without hydrocephalus, associated with demographic features such as young age, female sex, and Asian heritage, should evoke a high level of suspicion for this diagnosis. Gross total resection must not be attempted, because this tumor is potentially curable with high-dose radiotherapy.

Cigarette Smoking Alters the Expression of Circulating microRNAs and Its Potential Diagnostic Value in Female Lung Cancer Patients.

Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for the development of lung cancer. We investigated whether circulating microRNA expression levels and their potential diagnostic value are affected by cigarette smoking in adenocarcinoma (AD) patients and healthy (H) participants. In total, 71 female AD patients and 91 H individuals were recruited, including 42 AD never-smokers (AD/CS-), 29 AD smokers (AD/CS+), 54 H never-smokers (H/CS-), and 37 H smokers (H/CS+). PCR array (754 microRNAs) and qPCR were performed on sera from the discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. The expression levels of miR-532-5p, miR-25-3p, and miR-133a-3p were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma patients than in healthy participants, independent of their smoking status. Multivariate analysis showed that levels of miR-133a-3p were independently associated with smoking. ROC analysis showed that only miR-532-5p discriminated AD patients from H controls (AUC: 0.745). However, when making comparisons according to cigarette smoking status, miR-532-5p discriminated AD/CS- patients from H/CS- controls with a higher AUC (AUC:0.762); miR-25-3p discriminated AD/CS+ patients from H/CS+ controls (AUC: 0.779), and miR-133a discriminated AD/CS+ patients from H/CS+ controls with the highest AUC of 0.935. Cancer and lung-cancer-enriched pathways were significantly associated with the three miRNAs; in addition, nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism, inflammation, and pulmonary hypertension were associated with miR-133a-3p. Our findings highlight how cigarette smoking affects the reliable identification of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in lung cancer and suggest a smoking-dependent pathogenic role of miR-133a-3p in smokers.

Sexual Health Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) Residencies-A Resident Physician Survey.

BACKGROUND: Many women will experience a sexual health concern and present to their Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) care provider, yet a large portion of graduating Ob-Gyn resident physicians in the United States may not feel comfortable helping patients with some sexual health issues. AIM: To perform a cross-sectional study of U.S. Ob-Gyn resident physicians that assesses sexual health education didactic sessions and comfort level with sexual health clinical vignettes. METHODS: A 32-item anonymous survey was sent to all 4,065 Ob-Gyn residents on June 7, 2016. Respondents voluntarily completed the survey electronically. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome measures are the comfort level of Ob-Gyn resident physicians in taking a sexual history and providing counseling to patients represented in clinical vignettes, which were based on sexual health learning objectives from the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG). RESULTS: Of the 4,065 eligible U.S. examinees, 968 (23.8%) agreed to participate in the study, and 802 (19.7%) completed the survey and were included in the final analysis. Nearly two-thirds of the residents indicated that sexual health training was a priority in residency. However, more than half were not able to describe the disorders of sexual function or list common medications that effect sexual function. When posed with clinical vignettes, residents felt very comfortable obtaining a sexual history (98.5%) and providing counseling (97.0%) for a 16-year-old seeking contraception, yet fewer felt very comfortable obtaining a history and providing counseling for a 26-year-old who is a refugee from Somalia (77.2% and 73.8%). Smaller cohorts felt prepared to take a sexual history and provide counseling for a 17-year-old who discloses that she is a victim of sex trafficking (61.2% and 57.7%), and for a 58-year-old transgender patient planning hormone therapy and surgery (49.9% and 37.9%). In logistic regression analysis, the factors that were influential in an Ob-Gyn resident physician's program to prepare them to describe the disorders of sexual function were post-graduate year (OR 1.387, 95% CI 1.189, 1.618; P = .0001), those that rated the importance of a sexual health curriculum highly (OR 0.701, 95% CI 0.569, 0.864; P = .0012), and a greater number of didactic sessions on sexual health in the residency curriculum (OR 0.685, 95% CI 0.626, 0.750; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight strengths in the comfort of Ob-Gyn resident physicians about sexual health and illustrate areas of opportunity to engage resident learners by improving the sexual health curriculum. Worly B, Manriquez M, Stagg A, et al. Sexual Health Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) Residencies-A Resident Physician Survey. J Sex Med 2021;18:1042-1052.

Primary Cardiac Epithelioid Angiosarcoma in a Latin American Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare and clinically challenging pathology. It is a high-grade primary malignant tumor of the heart tissue that has many variants, of which the epithelioid variant is rarely present in the heart or the great vessels. As with many other cardiac tumors, it is mainly a diagnosis of exclusion and the initial diagnostic test is an echocardiogram followed by a biopsy with immunohistochemistry analysis to ascertain the type of tumor. The differential diagnosis of cardiac tumors is challenging due to the overlapping clinical manifestations with different cardiac tumors and systemic diseases. Cardiac angiosarcomas are often aggressive with a poor prognosis even with treatment. Herein, we present a case of the epithelioid variant of a cardiac angiosarcoma in addition to a thorough review of the recent literature on the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and treatment of this type of tumors.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention program: SBIRT's role in averting fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Empowering obstetricians to assess and improve their own practices of screening brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the goal of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) FASD Prevention Program. The FASD Prevention Program is a CDC funded initiative of the ACOG which is the largest specialty professional membership organization in the United States. Obstetrics and gynecology as a specialty is dedicated to the broad, integrated medical and surgical care of women's health throughout their lifespan. Understanding of reproductive physiology, including the physiologic, social, cultural, environmental, and genetic factors that influence disease in women, is a major priority for ACOG. Preventive counseling and health education are essential and integral parts of the practice of obstetricians and gynecologists as they advance the individual and community-based health of women of all ages. The FASD Prevention Program aims to provide obstetrician-gynecologists with the resources and tools needed to communicate with patients and the communities they serve about alcohol use during pregnancy. This review describes activities to empower and educate providers to address alcohol use disorder in pregnancy and the effect of FASD.

Concepts and techniques to improve resin/resin bonding: literature review

The availability of new scientific information about the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of carious lesions and the introduction of reliable adhesive restorative materials substantially reduced the need of extensive tooth preparations. In order to achieve a successful procedure, an adequate bonding interface between old and new composite is required. The aim of this article is to review the concepts and techniques described in the literature for the improvement of resin-resin bonding. Bonding to dentin has been quite difficult to achieve. The difficulties are that dentin's histological structure and chemical composition are very different from those of the enamel. Bonding to dentin requires, besides acid conditioning and the adhesive required for enamel, a primer or dentin bonding agent, which is a hydrophilic, able to penetrate by infiltrating the microscopic spaces of the collagen mesh. The repairing of faulty restorations is a treatment option that has proven to be quite effective and safe, since it presents excellent results over time. For this purpose, different methods for surface treatment have been develo-ped, which has a great effect on the resistance of the reparation bonding. In order to achieve successful bonding between both resins, the following steps are recommended, including: surface roughening, acid etching, silane application, and bonding agent application

Deregulated MicroRNAs in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Front Tumor Tissues of Lung Adenocarcinoma as Potential Predictors of Tumor Promotion.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main component of the tumor stroma and promote tumor progression through several mechanisms. Recent evidence indicates that small noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), play key roles in CAF tumor-promoting properties; however, the role of miRNAs in lung cancer-associated fibroblasts remains poorly defined. We characterized the differential miRNA expression profile of fibroblasts isolated from matched tumor front (F-CAFs), inner tumor (In-CAFs), and normal adjacent (NFs) tissues from four lung adenocarcinoma patients (ADs) using microarray analysis. Proliferation and invasion assays of A549 human lung cancer cells in the presence of conditioned medium from F-CAFs, In-CAFs or NFs were performed to assess tumorigenic properties. Ten identified candidate miRNAs in F-CAFs, In-CAFs and NFs from 12 ADs were then validated by RT-PCR. Both F-CAFs and In-CAFs enhanced the proliferation and invasion of A549 cells compared with NFs; moreover, F-CAFs showed a significantly stronger effect than In-CAFs. RT-PCR validation demonstrated three downregulated miRNAs in F-CAFs compared with NFs (miR-145-3p, miR-299-3p, and miR-505-3p), two in F-CAFs compared with In-CAFs (miR-410-3p and miR-485-5p), but no differentially expressed miRNAs between In-CAFs and NFs. Further target-gene prediction and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that deregulated miRNAs in F-CAFs showed significant associations with "pathways in cancer" (miR-145-3p, miR-299-3p and miR-410-3p), "Wnt signaling pathway" (miR-410-3p and miR-505-3p), and "TGF-beta signaling pathway" (miR-410-3p). Importantly, a tumor-promoting growth factor targeted by those miRNAs, VEGFA, was upregulated in F-CAFs compared with NFs, as judged by RT-PCR. In conclusion, deregulated miRNAs in F-CAFs are potentially associated with CAF tumor-promoting properties.

Accuracy of closed pleural biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion / Exactitud de la biopsia pleural cerrada para el diagnóstico de derrame pleural maligno

ABSTRACT Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that closed pleural biopsy (CPB) has a sensitivity of less than 60% for diagnosing malignancy. Therefore, controversy has recently emerged regarding the value of CPB as a diagnostic test. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of CPB in diagnosing malignancy in patients with pleural effusion. Methods: This was a prospective 8-year study of individuals who underwent CPB to establish the etiology of pleural effusion. Information on each patient was obtained from anatomopathological reports and medical records. When CPB findings showed malignancy or tuberculosis, the biopsy was considered diagnostic, and that was the definitive diagnosis. In cases in which biopsy histopathological findings were nonspecific, a definitive diagnosis was established on the basis of other diagnostic procedures, such as thoracoscopy, thoracotomy, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, biochemical and cellular measurements in pleural fluid, and/or microbiological tests. The accuracy of CPB was determined with 2 × 2 contingency tables. Results: A total of 1034 biopsies from patients with pleural effusion were studied. Of those, 171 (16.54%) were excluded from the accuracy analysis either because of inadequate samples or insufficient information. The results of the accuracy analysis were as follows: sensitivity, 77%; specificity, 98%; positive predictive value, 99%; negative predictive value, 66%; positive likelihood ratio, 38.5; negative likelihood ratio, 0.23; pre-test probability, 2.13; and post-test probability, 82. Conclusions: CPB is useful in clinical practice as a diagnostic test, because there is an important change from pre-test to post-test probability.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Estudios previos demuestran que la biopsia pleural cerrada (BPC) para diagnóstico de malignidad tiene una sensibilidad menor al 60%, por lo que recientemente ha despertado controversia su valor como prueba diagnóstica. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la exactitud de la BPC para diagnóstico de malignidad en pacientes con derrame pleural. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de 8 años en individuos que se sometieron a la realización de BPC para establecer la etiología del derrame. La información de cada paciente se tomó de los registros de anatomopatología y del expediente clínico. Cuando el resultado de la BPC demostró malignidad o tuberculosis, esto se tomó como biopsia diagnóstica y quedó éste como diagnóstico definitivo. En los casos en que el resultado del estudio histopatológico de la biopsia resultó inespecífico, el diagnóstico definitivo se estableció en base a otros procedimientos diagnósticos, como toracoscopia, toracotomía, fibrobroncoscopia, estudio bioquímico y celular del líquido pleural y/o pruebas microbiológicas. Mediante una tabla de contingencia de 2 × 2 se midieron los indicadores para una prueba diagnóstica. Resultados: Se estudiaron 1034 biopsias de pacientes con derrame pleural, de las cuales se excluyeron 171 (16.54%) por muestra inadecuada o información insuficiente. El desempeño para malignidad fue: sensibilidad, 77%; especificidad, 98%; valores predictivos positivo y negativo, 99% y 66%, respectivamente; índices de probabilidad positivo y negativo, 38.5 y 0.23, respectivamente; probabilidad antes y después de la prueba, 2.13 y 82, respectivamente. Conclusión: La BPC es útil como prueba diagnóstica en la práctica clínica, debido a que produce un cambio importante de la probabilidad antes de la prueba a la probabilidad después de la prueba.

Accuracy of closed pleural biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that closed pleural biopsy (CPB) has a sensitivity of less than 60% for diagnosing malignancy. Therefore, controversy has recently emerged regarding the value of CPB as a diagnostic test. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of CPB in diagnosing malignancy in patients with pleural effusion. METHODS: This was a prospective 8-year study of individuals who underwent CPB to establish the etiology of pleural effusion. Information on each patient was obtained from anatomopathological reports and medical records. When CPB findings showed malignancy or tuberculosis, the biopsy was considered diagnostic, and that was the definitive diagnosis. In cases in which biopsy histopathological findings were nonspecific, a definitive diagnosis was established on the basis of other diagnostic procedures, such as thoracoscopy, thoracotomy, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, biochemical and cellular measurements in pleural fluid, and/or microbiological tests. The accuracy of CPB was determined with 2 × 2 contingency tables. RESULTS: A total of 1034 biopsies from patients with pleural effusion were studied. Of those, 171 (16.54%) were excluded from the accuracy analysis either because of inadequate samples or insufficient information. The results of the accuracy analysis were as follows: sensitivity, 77%; specificity, 98%; positive predictive value, 99%; negative predictive value, 66%; positive likelihood ratio, 38.5; negative likelihood ratio, 0.23; pre-test probability, 2.13; and post-test probability, 82. CONCLUSIONS: CPB is useful in clinical practice as a diagnostic test, because there is an important change from pre-test to post-test probability.

Arteritis de células gigantes: compromiso extenso de la aorta y grandes ramas demostrado por tomografía por emisión de positrones. Caso clínico / Extensive arterial involvement in giant cell arteritis: report of one case

Large vessel vasculitis and particularly Temporal Arteritis are systemic diseases that may affect the aorta and its major branches, mainly involving extra cranial branches of the carotid artery. We report a 72-year-old man presenting with weight loss, fever and malaise. Positron emission computed tomography (PET CT) showed an extensive inflammation of the aorta and its major branches. Temporal artery biopsy confirmed the presence of vasculitis with granulomas. Treatment with a high dose of steroids had an excellent clinical response. This case underscores the utility of PET CT in the assessment of this disease.

[Extensive arterial involvement in giant cell arteritis: Report of one case]. / Arteritis de células gigantes: compromiso extenso de la aorta y grandes ramas demostrado por tomografía por emisión de positrones. Caso clínico.

Large vessel vasculitis and particularly Temporal Arteritis are systemic diseases that may affect the aorta and its major branches, mainly involving extra cranial branches of the carotid artery. We report a 72-year-old man presenting with weight loss, fever and malaise. Positron emission computed tomography (PET CT) showed an extensive inflammation of the aorta and its major branches. Temporal artery biopsy confirmed the presence of vasculitis with granulomas. Treatment with a high dose of steroids had an excellent clinical response. This case underscores the utility of PET CT in the assessment of this disease.

[Peritoneal myofibroblastic tumor successfully treated with infliximab: Report of one case]. / Tumor inflamatorio miofibroblástico peritoneal. Respuesta favorable asociada a infliximab: Caso clínico.

Myofibroblastic tumor (MIT) is characterized by the infiltration of different organs, most commonly the lungs, with nodular lesions composed of myofibroblasts and inflammatory cells, which can be identified by specific patterns in the immunohistochemical studies. When it involves the peritoneum it is difficult to eradicate, tends to relapse and it has an invasive behavior, requiring its differentiation from peritoneal carcinomatosis. Treatment may be surgical excision, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids. We report a 30 years old female with an unremarkable medical history, presenting with abdominal pain and progressive abdominal distention. A CT scan revealed multiple peritoneal nodular lesions. A surgical biopsy was reported as a myofibroblast and inflammatory cell infiltrate. Immunohistochemical staining was consistent with MIT. Given the extensive involvement of the peritoneum surgical therapy was not considered appropriate and treatment with NSAID and glucocorticoids was started. No response was observed after 6 months, therefore infliximab therapy was started. After 10 months of follow-up the patient is well, returned to normal life, ascites improved and resolved and CT scan showed partial regression or stabilization of the lesions.

Tumor inflamatorio miofibroblástico peritoneal. Respuesta favorable asociada a infliximab: Caso clínico / Peritoneal myofibroblastic tumor successfully treated with infliximab: Report of one case

Myofibroblastic tumor (MIT) is characterized by the infiltration of different organs, most commonly the lungs, with nodular lesions composed of myofibroblasts and inflammatory cells, which can be identified by specific patterns in the immunohistochemical studies. When it involves the peritoneum it is difficult to eradicate, tends to relapse and it has an invasive behavior, requiring its differentiation from peritoneal carcinomatosis. Treatment may be surgical excision, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids. We report a 30 years old female with an unremarkable medical history, presenting with abdominal pain and progressive abdominal distention. A CT scan revealed multiple peritoneal nodular lesions. A surgical biopsy was reported as a myofibroblast and inflammatory cell infiltrate. Immunohistochemical staining was consistent with MIT. Given the extensive involvement of the peritoneum surgical therapy was not considered appropriate and treatment with NSAID and glucocorticoids was started. No response was observed after 6 months, therefore infliximab therapy was started. After 10 months of follow-up the patient is well, returned to normal life, ascites improved and resolved and CT scan showed partial regression or stabilization of the lesions.

KRAS mutation as the biomarker of response to chemotherapy and EGFR-TKIs in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: clues for its potential use in second-line therapy decision making.

OBJETIVE: In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), knowledge of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status is fundamental for selecting the treatment involving EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Little information is available regarding the response and progression-free survival (PFS) in platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) versus EGFR-TKIs in the presence or absence of KRAS mutation, particularly in patients without EGFR mutation. METHODS: From 2007 to 2010, 353 patients with NSCLC were treated with first-line CT, EGFR-TKIs were used in the second or third line of treatment. Tests were performed for EGFR and KRAS mutation and the results of the mutations were obtained 3 to 4 months after the start of the treatment. We analyzed clinical characteristics, mutation profile, response and PFS to CT and EGFR-TKIs, and overall survival. The protocol is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01023828. RESULTS: Presence of the wild-type (WT) KRAS was independently associated with increased response rate to first-line CT when compared with KRAS mutation (41.4% vs. 14.7%; P=0.001). The EGFR mutation (57.8% vs. 11.7%; P<0.001) and WT-KRAS (39.6% vs. 3.3%; P=0.001) were associated with the EGFR-TKIs response. PFS of patients with WT-EGFR and KRAS mutation treated with EGFR-TKIs was shorter when compared with patients with WT-EGFR and WT-KRAS (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: KRAS mutation status is a good biomarker for response to EGFR-TKIs in patients with NSCLC. KRAS mutational status could impact the decision to give CT or EGFR-TKIs as a second line of treatment to patients with NSCLC, particularly in patients with WT-EGFR.

Analysis of microRNA expression signatures in malignant pleural mesothelioma, pleural inflammation, and atypical mesothelial hyperplasia reveals common predictive tumorigenesis-related targets.

Pleural chronic inflammation (PP) and mesothelial hyperplasia (HP) may be critical to the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Nonetheless, studies searching for mechanistic links involving microRNA (miRNA) regulation among these interrelated processes have not been reported. Using PCR-Array, we identified the miRNAs expressed in pleural tissues diagnosed with MPM (n=5), PP (n=4) and HP (n=5), as well as in non-cancerous/non-inflammatory tissue as the normal control (n=5). We performed bioinformatics and network analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs to identify tumorigenesis-related miRNAs and their biological networks. The targets of four down-regulated miRNAs in MPM (mir-181a-5p, miR-101-3p, miR-145-5p and miR-212-3p), one in PP (mir-101-3p) and one in HP (mir-494) were significantly enriched in "pathways in cancer". Interactome networks revealed that >50% of down-regulated miRNAs in MPM targeted the signaling-activation molecule MAPK1, the transcription factor ETS1 and the mesenchymal transition-associated molecule FZDA, which have been associated with oncogenic function. Comparative analysis revealed that FZD4 was an overlapping gene target of down-regulated miRNAs that were associated with "pathways in cancer" in MPM, PP and HP. Moreover, MAPK1, ETS1 and Cox-2, a pro-inflammatory enzyme associated with over-expression in cancers, were among the 25 overlapping target genes in MPM and PP. This network analysis revealed a potential combinatory effect of deregulated miRNAs in MPM pathogenesis and indicated potential molecular links between pleural inflammation and hyperplasia with tumorigenesis mechanisms in pleura.

The ability of computed tomography to diagnose placental abruption in the trauma patient.

BACKGROUND: Fetal demise following trauma remains a devastating complication largely owing to placental injury and abruption. Our objective was to determine if abdominopelvic computed tomographic (CT) imaging can assess for placental abruption (PA) when obtained to exclude associated maternal injuries. METHODS: Retrospective review of pregnant trauma patients of 20-week gestation or longer presenting to a trauma center during a 7-year period who underwent CT imaging as part of their initial evaluation. Radiographic images were reviewed by a radiologist for evidence of PA and classified based on percentage of visualized placental enhancement. Blinded to CT results, charts were reviewed by an obstetrician for clinical evidence of PA and classified as strongly positive, possibly positive, or no evidence. RESULTS: A total of 176 patients met inclusion criteria. CT imaging revealed evidence of PA in 61 patients (35%). As the percentage of placental enhancement decreased, patients were more likely to have strong clinical manifestations of PA, reaching statistical significance when enhancement was less than 50%. CT imaging evidence of PA was apparent in all patients who required delivery for nonassuring fetal heart tones. CONCLUSION: CT imaging evaluation of the placenta can accurately identify PA and therefore can help stratify patients at risk for fetal complications. The likelihood of requiring delivery increased as placental enhancement declined to less than 25%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, level III.

Emergence of HA mutants during influenza virus pneumonia.

During the influenza pandemic of 2009, the number of viral pneumonia cases showed a marked increase in comparison with seasonal influenza viruses. Mutations at amino acid 222 (D222G mutations) in the virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule, known to alter the receptor-recognition properties of the virus, were detected in a number of the more severely-affected patients in the early phases of the pandemic. To understand the background for the emergence of the mutant amino acid D222G in human lungs, we conducted histological examinations on lung specimens of patients from Mexico who had succumbed in the pandemic. Prominent regenerative and hyperplastic changes in the alveolar type II pneumocytes, which express avian-type sialoglycan receptors in the respiratory tract of severely affected individuals, were observed in the Mexican patients. An infection model utilizing guinea pigs, which was chosen in order to best simulate the sialic acid distribution of severe pneumonia in human patients, demonstrated an increase of D222G mutants and a delay in the diminution of mutants in the lower respiratory tract in comparison to the upper respiratory tract. Our data suggests that the predominance of avian-type sialoglycan receptors in the pneumonic lungs may contribute to the emergence of viral HA mutants. This data comprehensively illustrates the mechanisms for the emergence of mutants in the clinical samples.

Reentry into clinical practice in obstetrics and gynecology.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists selected "Reentry Into Practice" as the subject for the 2012 Issue of the Year. Physician reentry programs in obstetrics and gynecology are driven by the fact that there is a projected physician shortage, and there are physicians who voluntarily leave clinical practice for a period of time. In planning formal reentry programs, evidence-based practice and highest regard for patient safety must be considered. Our department initiated a reentry fellowship program in 2010. This article describes the process of how we developed our program, the challenges encountered, and the solutions used to overcome these challenges. The formal instruction, evaluation, and documentation of competency are presented. Process improvement has been based on feedback and evaluation from the reentry fellows and from staff and residents. Bringing physicians back into the clinical realm will depend on the success of new programs implementing the guidelines recommended by national regulatory bodies. The guidelines recommend that the programs are accessible, collaborative, comprehensive, ethical, flexible, individualized, innovative, accountable, stable, and responsive. Our reentry program has been successful in helping fellows reestablish clinical practice and is a way to incorporate hands-on competency-based experiences for the reentering obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn).

Socioeconomic factors influencing hospitalized patients with pneumonia due to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: In addition to clinical aspects and pathogen characteristics, people's health-related behavior and socioeconomic conditions can affect the occurrence and severity of diseases including influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A face-to-face interview survey was conducted in a hospital in Mexico City at the time of follow-up consultation for hospitalized patients with pneumonia due to influenza virus infection. In all, 302 subjects were enrolled and divided into two groups based on the period of hospitalization. Among them, 211 tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction during the pandemic period (Group-pdm) and 91 tested positive for influenza A virus in the post-pandemic period (Group-post). All subjects were treated with oseltamivir. Data on the demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, living environment, and information relating to A(H1N1)pdm09, and related clinical data were compared between subjects in Group-pdm and those in Group-post. The ability of household income to pay for utilities, food, and health care services as well as housing quality in terms of construction materials and number of rooms revealed a significant difference: Group-post had lower socioeconomic status than Group-pdm. Group-post had lower availability of information regarding H1N1 influenza than Group-pdm. These results indicate that subjects in Group-post had difficulty receiving necessary information relating to influenza and were more likely to be impoverished than those in Group-pdm. Possible factors influencing time to seeking health care were number of household rooms, having received information on the necessity of quick access to health care, and house construction materials. CONCLUSIONS: Health-care-seeking behavior, poverty level, and the distribution of information affect the occurrence and severity of pneumonia due to H1N1 virus from a socioeconomic point of view. These socioeconomic factors may explain the different patterns of morbidity and mortality for H1N1 influenza observed among different countries and regions.

Clinical and pathological characteristics, outcome and mutational profiles regarding non-small-cell lung cancer related to wood-smoke exposure.

HYPOTHESIS: Although smoking is the major risk factor for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), other factors are also associated with lung carcinogenesis, such as wood-smoke exposure (WSE). This article has been aimed at suggesting that lung cancer related to cigarette smoking and lung cancer related to WSE have different clinical and genetic characteristics. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A cohort of 914 lung cancer patients was prospectively studied; they had been treated at Mexico's National Cancer Institute between 2007 and 2010. The associations of WSE and cigarette smoking with clinical characteristics, mutation profile, response to chemotherapy, and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors were analyzed, and overall survival (OS) rate was calculated. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01023828. RESULTS: Of the lung cancer patients studied, 95.1% were classified as coming within the NSCLC histology subtype; 58% of the patients smoked cigarettes, 35% had a background of WSE (exposure to both cigarette smoke and wood smoke was documented in 12.1% of all patients), and 19.4% patients had no smoke-exposure background. WSE was associated with NSCLC and adenocarcinoma histology, and was also more frequently associated with epidermal growth factor receptor-mutations than cigarette-smoking patients were (50.0% cf. 19.4%), whereas KRAS mutations were less common in WSE patients (6.7%) than in smokers (21%). WSE patients had a higher epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor response rate (39.7%) than smokers (18.8%). The NSCLC patient WSE group's OS was longer (22.7 months) than that for smokers (13.8 months). CONCLUSION: NSCLC patients who smoked tobacco/cigarettes differed from those having a background of WSE regarding tumor histology, mutation profile, response rate, and OS, indicating that different carcinogenic mechanisms were induced by these two types of smoke exposure.