Ancient DNA from an Early Neolithic Iberian population supports a pioneer colonization by first farmers.

The Neolithic transition has been widely debated particularly regarding the extent to which this revolution implied a demographic expansion from the Near East. We attempted to shed some light on this process in northeastern Iberia by combining ancient DNA (aDNA) data from Early Neolithic settlers and published DNA data from Middle Neolithic and modern samples from the same region. We successfully extracted and amplified mitochondrial DNA from 13 human specimens, found at three archaeological sites dated back to the Cardial culture in the Early Neolithic (Can Sadurní and Chaves) and to the Late Early Neolithic (Sant Pau del Camp). We found that haplogroups with a low frequency in modern populations-N* and X1-are found at higher frequencies in our Early Neolithic population (∼31%). Genetic differentiation between Early and Middle Neolithic populations was significant (F(ST) ∼0.13, P<10(-5)), suggesting that genetic drift played an important role at this time. To improve our understanding of the Neolithic demographic processes, we used a Bayesian coalescence-based simulation approach to identify the most likely of three demographic scenarios that might explain the genetic data. The three scenarios were chosen to reflect archaeological knowledge and previous genetic studies using similar inferential approaches. We found that models that ignore population structure, as previously used in aDNA studies, are unlikely to explain the data. Our results are compatible with a pioneer colonization of northeastern Iberia at the Early Neolithic characterized by the arrival of small genetically distinctive groups, showing cultural and genetic connections with the Near East.

Reusing cytostatics in a centralised pharmacy preparation unit.

OBJECTIVE: To measure and provide an economic assessment of the preparations returned to a centralised cytostatic drug preparation unit, analyse reasons for their return, propose measures for minimising returns and assess their impact on the Medical Oncology division's outpatient services. METHODS: This prospective study contained two phases. During the first, we registered all returns, motives, cases of reuse and costs. In the second phase, we analysed returns at the Oncology outpatient division after having adopted measures to minimise the returns. RESULTS: During the first phase, 218 preparations (worth € 51,131) were returned. The Oncology Day Hospital returned 1% of the preparations worth 1% of the total value; during the second phase, these figures were 0.56% of the preparations and 0.14% of the total value. CONCLUSIONS: Favouring reporting on and identifying expensive treatments with little stability and using returned preparations as a quality indicator for Oncology has improved management of the central cystostatic preparation unit.

[Survival of women with breast cancer in a hospital-based registry (1979-1991)]. / Supervivencia en mujeres con cáncer de mama de un registro de tumores hospitalario (1979-1991).

We analyzed the survival of 268 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1979 and 1991, registered at the Tumour Registry of the Hospital S. Jaume i Sta. Magdalena, Mataró (Barcelona). Relative survival rates at two, five and ten years were 0.84, 0.69 and 0.49, respectively. The largest difference in survival was observed in relation to the stage at the time of diagnosis. The survival was worse in women aged between 30 and 39 years and between 80 and 89 years. No significant differences were observed in survival in relation to the interval from first symptoms to diagnosis. The survival at 5 years shows some trend towards improvement during the period between 1979 and 1986.

Reutilización de citostáticos en una unidad centralizada de mezclas / Reusing cytostatics in a centralised pharmacy preparation unit

Objetivo Cuantificar y evaluar económicamente las mezclas devueltas a una unidad centralizada de preparación de citostáticos, analizar causas de devolución, proponer medidas para minimizarlas y valorar su impacto en el hospital de día de oncología médica. Métodos Estudio prospectivo en 2 periodos. En el primero se registraron todas las devoluciones, motivos, reutilizaciones y costes. En el segundo periodo se analizaron las devoluciones del hospital de día de oncología tras adoptar medidas para minimizarlas.Resultados218 mezclas (51.131€) fueron retornadas en el primer periodo. El hospital de día de oncología devolvió el 1% de mezclas e importe solicitado, y en el segundo este valor fue del 0,56% de mezclas y del 0,14% del importe total. Conclusiones Favorecer la información e identificación de tratamientos de elevado coste y escasa estabilidad, e introducir las preparaciones devueltas como indicador de calidad de oncología ha mejorado la gestión de la unidad centralizada de cistostáticos (AU)

Objective To measure and provide an economic assessment of the preparations returned to a centralised cytostatic drug preparation unit, analyse reasons for their return, propose measures for minimising returns and assess their impact on the Medical Oncology division's outpatient services. Methods This prospective study contained two phases. During the first, we registered all returns, motives, cases of reuse and costs. In the second phase, we analysed returns at the Oncology outpatient division after having adopted measures to minimise the returns. Results During the first phase, 218 preparations (worth € 51,131) were returned. The Oncology Day Hospital returned 1% of the preparations worth 1% of the total value; during the second phase, these figures were 0.56% of the preparations and 0.14% of the total value. Conclusions Favouring reporting on and identifying expensive treatments with little stability and using returned preparations as a quality indicator for Oncology has improved management of the central cystostatic preparation unit (AU)