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The need of robust and optimal control schemes is a key factor for the development of future fusion reactors. This paper has dealt with the state-space modelling of the Ultra-Low Iota Super Elongated Stellarator of the UPV/EHU, using a physical lumped parameter equivalent circuit approach. The model obtained has been validated by means of experimental output data showing an excellent matching with the real system. Besides, it has been designed a MPC scheme that has been successfully implemented both in simulation and experimentally using a real-time control platform.

Abstract Background The localized scleroderma (LS) known as morphea, presents a variety of clinical manifestations that can include systemic involvement. Current classification schemes divide morphea into categories based solely on cutaneous morphology, without reference to systemic disease or autoimmune phenomena. This classification is likely incomplete. Autoimmune phenomena such as vitiligo and Hashimoto thyroiditis associated with LS have been reported in some cases suggesting an autoimmune basis. To our knowledge this is the first case of a morphea forming part of a multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) and presenting simultaneously with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and central nervous system vasculitis. Case presentation We report an uncommon case of a white 53 year old female patient with LS as part of a multiple autoimmune syndrome associated with pneumonitis, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and central nervous system vasculitis presenting a favorable response with thrombopoietin receptor agonists, pulses of methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Conclusion Is likely that LS have an autoimmune origin and in this case becomes part of MAS, which consist on the presence of three or more well-defined autoimmune diseases in a single patient.

Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective and safe procedure, which is indicated mainly in patients with both unipolar and bipolar depressive episodes, mania and schizophrenia, when they do not respond to other treatments., Objective: To describe the demographic, social and clinical properties of a group of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with anaesthetic and muscular relaxant at the Universidad de La Sabana Clinic for a period of 8 years., Methods: The databases and records of the procedures were reviewed from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2017. An analysis was performed with descriptive statistics., Results: In this period, 1322 procedures were performed on 143 patients (54.5% women) with an associated diagnosis of major depression in 57%. The number of treatments per person was 9.2 and complications occurred in 3.8%, without any of them requiring invasive management., Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy is performed safely in patients and with different parameters in terms of age, gender and diagnosis, in comparison to other countries in Latin America and the world. It is important to join efforts in research that allow a more complete overview of the characteristics of its application in the country., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: The population-based Cancer Registry of Cali Colombia operates continuously since 1962, disseminating incidence information in the XI volumes of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents., Aim: To describe the incidence and mortality rates for the period 2011-2020 and the changes in the trend of incidence rates (1962-2017) and mortality rates from cancer (1986-2020)., Methods: The Joinpoint model and the annual percentage change (APC) were used as summary measures of the changes in the trends of incidence rates (ASR-I) and mortality (ASR-M) standardized by age with the direct method., Results: Trough 1988-2017 the ASR-I for all locations increased 0.4% annually (95% CI: 0.2, 0.6) in men and decreased annually 0.2% (95% CI: -0.3; -0.1) in women. The ASR-Is of cancers related to opportunity screening activities (prostate and breast) increased until the early 21st century and then decreased. The ASR-I of cancers related to infectious agents continue to decrease (cervix, vulva, and stomach). There is evidence of control of cancer related to tobacco consumption (lung, oral cavity, bladder). In both sexes, the ASR-I of thyroid, colorectal and lymphoma cancers increased and those of ovarian cancer decreased. Between 1984-2020 the ASR-M for all locations decreased annually 0.7% (95% CI: -0.9, -0.5) in men and 1.1% (95% CI: -1.3, -0.9) in women. For both sexes, ASR-M decreased for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, lung, bladder, lymphomas, and leukemias; and increased in colorectal cancer. The ASR-M for cervical and prostate cancer decreased annually by 3.5% (95% CI: -3.9, -3.2) and 0.1% (95% CI: -0.5, -0.3), respectively., Comment: This information allows the construction of some indicators to monitor the City Cancer Challenge initiative and the current 10-year plan for cancer control in Colombia, 2011-2021., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None declared, (Copyright © 2022 Colombia Medica.)

Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective and safe procedure, which is indicated mainly in patients with both unipolar and bipolar depressive episodes, mania and schizophrenia, when they do not respond to other treatments., Objective: To describe the demographic, social and clinical properties of a group of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with anaesthetic and muscular relaxant at the Universidad de La Sabana Clinic for a period of 8 years., Methods: The databases and records of the procedures were reviewed from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2017. An analysis was performed with descriptive statistics., Results: In this period, 1,322 procedures were performed on 143 patients (54.5% women) with an associated diagnosis of major depression in 57%. The number of treatments per person was 9.2 and complications occurred in 3.8%, without any of them requiring invasive management., Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy is performed safely in patients and with different parameters in terms of age, gender and diagnosis, in comparison to other countries in Latin America and the world. It is important to join efforts in research that allow a more complete overview of the characteristics of its application in the country., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Global studies have shown varying trends of CNS tumors within geographic regions. In Colombia, the epidemiologic characteristics of CNS neoplasms are not well elucidated. We aimed to provide a summary of the descriptive epidemiology of primary CNS tumors among the urban population of Cali, Colombia., Methods: We conducted a time-trend study from 1962 to 2019 using the Population-Based Cali Cancer Registry. The age-standardized rates per 100,000 person-years were obtained by direct method using the world standard population. Results were stratified by sex, age group at diagnosis, and histologic subtype. We used Joinpoint regression analysis to detect trends and obtain annual percentage change (APC) with 95% CIs. We estimated 5-year net survival using the Pohar-Perme method., Results: During 1962 to 2016, 4,732 new cases of CNS tumors were reported. From 1985 to 2019, a total of 2,475 deaths from malignant CNS tumors were registered. A statistically significant increase in the trends of incidence (APC, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.1 to 3.5) and mortality (APC, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.0) rates was observed during the study. The most common malignant CNS tumor was glioblastoma (17.8% of all tumors), and the most frequent benign tumor was meningioma (17.2%). Malignancy was more common in males than in females. Unspecified malignant neoplasms represented 32% of all cases. The highest 5-year net survival was 31.4% during 2012 to 2016., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate an increasing burden of primary CNS tumors for the last 60 years, with a steady rate from the early 2010s. There was an improvement of 5-year net survival for the last decade. Males had higher mortality than did females. Additional efforts are needed to fully explore the geographic, environmental, and genetic contributors of CNS malignancies within the region.

Background: The Cali Population Cancer Registry (RPCC) has been in continuous operation since 1962 with the objective of producing valid statistics on the incidence of cancer, its patterns, trends and survival rates., Methods: During the period 2008-2012, 23,046 new cases were registered and during 2011-2015 there were 12,761 cancer deaths. The trend of the rates was described with the APC average annual change rate and with the Joinpoint analysis. We analyzed the individual data of 38,671 adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with cancer between 1995-2009, and we calculated the standardized net survival by age for the 14 most common cancer body sites, using the Pohar-Perme method., Results: Prostate and breast cancer were the first cause of cancer morbidity. The incidence rates in these were susceptible to early detection, tumors stabilized after decades of growth, while an increase in the incidence of colon cancer and papillary thyroid carcinoma was observed. The incidence rates of cervical and stomach cancer and conditions related to infectious agents decreased, although the number of absolute cases increased, due to the growth and aging of the population. Gastric cancer was responsible for the highest number of cancer related deaths. The types of cancer related to tobacco consumption (lung, oral cavity, esophagus, pancreas, urinary bladder) showed low numbers and a tendency to decrease. During the period 2000-2004, the 5-year net survival improved for cancers of the breast, cervix, prostate, melanoma and thyroid, although in the period 2005-2009 a stagnation was observed. In stomach, liver and lung cancer, the 5-year net survival was less than 15%. The 5-year overall survival in children was 51.0% (95% CI: 47.5, 54.3) and in adolescents 44.6% (95% CI: 36.0, 52.8)., Comment: RPCC has been an advisor to the Colombian government in the evaluation of CPRs in the country and its data has contributed significantly to different aspects of cancer control in Colombia., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Background: The Population Cancer Registry of Cali (RPCC) has operated since 1962, disseminating high quality information to provide a framework to assess and control the burden of cancer in Cali., Methods: The collection of new cancer cases in permanent residents of Cali is done through active search in and notification from hospitals, and public and private laboratories. The Secretary of Municipal Public Health provides individual information on general mortality and death from cancer. Tumors are coded with ICDO-3 and mortality with ICD-10. Presented rates are standardized by age and trends are assessed by estimating the percentage annual change using the regression analysis in JoinPoint. The 5-year net survival was analyzed with the Pohar-Perme estimator., Results: The 88.5% of the registered cancers had morphological verification (MV). The proportion of unknown primary site represented 5% and the death certificate only cases (DCO) varied between 0 to3% depending on the cancer site. All deaths were certified by a physician, 94.2% of cancer deaths were correctly certified. The ill-defined site proportion was 5.3% and that of uterine cancer not specified (C55) was 0.5%. For survival analysis, existing data collection procedure and infrastructure ensures assessment of the patient's vital status and follow-up, with an average lost to follow-up of 13.2%., Comment: The information has been published in the eleven volumes of "Cancer Incidence in Five Continents" confirming high quality of the collected data. The RPCC PCRC has also participated in the Concord Study and is participating in SURVCAN-3., Competing Interests: Conflict of interests: None

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the urachus is a rare condition. We present the case of a 51-year-old female who developed abdominal pain and hematuria. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reported an urachal mass with invasion to the bladder that was resected by partial cystectomy. On light microscopy the tumor resembled liver architecture, with polygonal atypical cells in nest formation and trabecular structures. Immunochemistry was positive for alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum AFP was elevated. Hepatoid adenocarcinomas have been reported in multiple organs, being most commonly found in the stomach and the ovaries. Bladder compromise has been rarely described in the literature, and it has been associated with poor prognosis, low remission rates, and early metastasis.

In order to evaluate whether ovarian volume, presence and diameter of the corpus luteum (CL) have effects on the number and quality of bovine recovered oocytes, 110 ovaries were obtained from the slaughterhouse. Cumulus oocytes complex were aspirated and evaluated under stereomicroscope. Oocytes were counted and classified according to their quality (Grades I, II, III and IV). Ovarian volume was weakly correlated to the number of good quality oocytes (P < 0.05). Ovaries with CL showed greater numbers of good quality oocytes than ovaries without CL (P < 0.05). Further, presence of CL and its diameter positively influenced the probability of recovering good quality oocytes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ovarian volume is not a good parameter itself to predict important ovarian characteristics; moreover, analysis of CL, its presence and diameter, may be a good tool to improve efficiency on in vitro embryo production programs., (© 2014 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Objective: To describe the behavior of breast cancer (BC)during the 1962-2012 period from information provided by the Cali Cancer Registry and the Municipal Health Secretariat of Cali., Materials and Methods: The incidence trend (1962-2007) and mortality trend (1984-2012) for breast cancer was studied and relative survival (RS)(1995-2004) was estimated. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates to the world population (ASIR(w)/ASMR(w)) were expressed per 100000 persons-year. Their temporal trend was examined with the annual percent of change (APC), and the Cox model was used to analyze the variables that influenced the survival of women with breast cancer., Results: The risk of breast cancer significantly increased in Cali through the 1962-2007 period, with an APC =1.7(95%CI:1.4-2.0). The ASIR(w) of BC increased from 27.1 in 1962 to 48.0 in 2007 and currently there are more than 500 cases reported annually. The mortality for BC has remained stable since 1984; in the 2009-2012 period, the ASMR(w) was 14.2. The 5-year RS was 69% (95%CI:66-71) from 2000-2004 and 62% (95%CI:59-65) from 1995-1999. The risk of death (HR) from BC was greater in persons from lower socioeconomic strata (SES) than from higher SES, HR=1.9(95%CI:1.3-2.9) and in those older than 70 years vs. <50, HR=1.6(95%CI:1.1-2.2)., Conclusion: Mortality remained stable while incidence increased and survival improved, which may be associated with better detection and advances in treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin E associated with rapid thawing on cryopreserved goat semen. Two bucks were used and eight ejaculates per animal were collected using artificial vagina. Semen was diluted with the following treatments: BIOXCELL (control), BIOXCELL + Equex (sodium lauryl sulphate) and BIOXCELL + vitamin E 100 μM. Semen was packaged into 0.25 mL straws and cooled at 5°C for 1 hour. Freezing was performed in liquid nitrogen vapor (-155°C) during 15 minutes. Then, the straws were immersed in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). Straws were thawed at 38°C/60 seconds or at 60°C/7 seconds with immediate sperm analysis. Hypoosmotic swelling test was performed adding a 20 μL aliquot of thawed semen to 1 mL of hypoosmotic solution (100 mOsm · Kg(-1)) followed by incubation during 60 minutes in water bath (38°C). Vitamin E did not affect any studied parameters (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, defrosting rate of 60°C/7 seconds improved sperm membrane functional integrity (P < 0.05). Current knowledge about goat semen cryopreservation is not sufficient to ensure high post-thawing recovery rates; thus, this study brings important data about using antioxidants and different thawing rates on cryopreservation process.

We, herein, describe an HIV-positive patient with toxoplasmosis of the spinal cord. We also carried out a comprehensive literature review of this topic, with emphasis on the diagnostic tools and therapeutic approach.

Aim: To clarify human papillomavirus (HPV) involvement in carcinogenesis of the upper digestive tract of virological and pathological analyses., Methods: The present study examined the presence of HPV in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity (n = 71), and esophagus (n = 166) collected from Japan, Pakistan and Colombia, with different HPV exposure risk and genetic backgrounds. The viral load and physical status of HPV16 and HPV16-E6 variants were examined. Comparison of p53 and p16(INK4a) expression in HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases was also made., Results: HPV16 was found in 39 (55%) oral carcinomas (OCs) and 24 (14%) esophageal carcinomas (ECs). This site-specific difference in HPV detection between OCs and ECs was statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the geographical distribution of HPV16-E6 variants. Multiple infections of different HPV types were found in 13 ECs, but multiple infections were not found in OCs. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The geometric means (95% confidence interval) of HPV16 viral load in OCs and ECs were 0.06 (0.02-0.18) and 0.12 (0.05-0.27) copies per cell, respectively. The expression of p16(INK4a) proteins was increased by the presence of HPV in ECs (53% and 33% in HPV-positive and -negative ECs, respectively; P = 0.036), and the high-risk type of the HPV genome was not detected in surrounding normal esophageal mucosa of HPV-positive ECs., Conclusion: Based on our results, we cannot deny the possibility of HPV16 involvement in the carcinogenesis of the esophagus.

To examine an association between selenium level and gastric cancer (GC) risk, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Cali, Colombia. Selenium concentrations in toenails were compared between 142 GC patients and 244 controls selected from hospitalized non-cancer patients. GC risk was lowest in the lowest quartile of selenium level and highest in the second highest quartile (age-, sex-, hospital-, and sampling-season-adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 5.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.8, 12.4). This association was not modified by either tumor location or Lauren's histological type. The magnitude of ORs was not affected by other diets that were significantly associated with GC risk. Since selenium levels were relatively high in cases and in controls, our results indicate that an inverse association between selenium level and GC risk may exist only among populations with low selenium levels.

Purpose: To examine the associations between gastric cancer (GC) risk and the zinc levels in toenail clippings, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study during the period from 2000 to 2002 in Cali, Colombia., Methods: Toenail clippings and information on lifestyles including dietary habits were obtained from 156 GC patients newly diagnosed in three hospitals in Cali and 287 controls selected from non-cancer patients who were hospitalized in the same hospitals as GC patients. Zinc concentrations in toenail clippings were examined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry., Results: An inverse association was observed between toenail zinc level and GC risk (P for trend = 0.039). When we examined this association separately for current and former smokers and non-smokers, only current-smokers showed a significant inverse association (P for trend = 0.035). Histology specific analysis revealed that this inverse association was stronger when we limited GC cases with intestinal-type and their matched controls (P for trend < 0.001). This association was also observed in the carcinomas located in the upper two-thirds of the stomach (P for trend = 0.004) but not in carcinomas in the lower-third of the stomach (P for trend = 0.727)., Conclusions: There was an inverse association between toenail zinc level and GC risk. However, the association was limited to smokers, intestinal-type GC, and tumors in the upper two-thirds of the stomach. Further studies seem warranted to confirm our findings.

Aims: We have previously demonstrated the importance of gastric and intestinal phenotypic expression for stomach carcinogenesis. In this study, we focused on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated stomach cancers, with special attention to Cdx2., Methods and Results: We evaluated the expression of gastric and intestinal phenotypic markers by immunohistochemistry in 35 EBV-positive [EBV (+)] and 75 EBV-negative [EBV (-)] stomach cancers in Colombia. The lesions were divided phenotypically into gastric (G), gastric-and-intestinal mixed (GI), intestinal (I), and null (N) phenotypes. In the EBV (+) cases, the lesions were divided phenotypically into 9 G (25.7%), 1 GI (2.9%), 3 I (8.6%), and 22 N (62.9%) types. Similarly, the EBV (-) lesions were also classified phenotypically as 15 G (20.0%), 19 GI (25.3%), 24 I (32.0%), and 17 N (22.7%) types. The proportion of N type EBV (+) lesions was higher than for their EBV (-) counterparts (P<0.0001). The expression of Cdx2 and MUC2 was also found to be significantly lower in EBV (+) than in EBV (-) stomach cancers (P=0.0001; P<0.0001). Cdx2 expression in the intestinal metaplastic glands present in non-neoplastic mucosa surrounding EBV (+) lesions was also significantly lower than in EBV (-) tumors (P=0.016) despite no evidence of EBV infection., Conclusions: EBV (+) stomach cancers are characterized by low expression of intestinal phenotype markers, including Cdx2, and only occasional gastric phenotypic expression.

Aim: To examine the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) specimens collected from Colombia and Chile located in the northern and southern ends of the continent, respectively., Methods: We examined 47 and 26 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded ESCC specimens from Colombia and Chile, respectively. HPV was detected using GP5+/GP6+ primer pair for PCR, and confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Sequencing analysis of L1 region fragment was used to identify HPV genotype. In addition, P16(INK4A) protein immunostaining of all the specimens was conducted., Results: HPV was detected in 21 ESCC specimens (29%). Sequencing analysis of L1 region fragment identified HPV-16 genome in 6 Colombian cases (13%) and in 5 Chilean cases (19%). HPV-18 was detected in 10 cases (21%) in Colombia but not in any Chilean case. Since Chilean ESCC cases had a higher prevalence of HPV-16 (without statistical significance), but a significantly lower prevalence of HPV-18 than in Colombian cases (P = 0.011) even though the two countries have similar ESCC incidence rates, the frequency of HPV-related ESCC may not be strongly affected by risk factors affecting the incidence of ESCC. HPV-16 genome was more frequently detected in p16 positive carcinomas, although the difference was not statistically significant. HPV-18 detection rate did not show any association with p16 expression. Well-differentiated tumors tended to have either HPV-16 or HPV-18 but the association was not statistically significant. HPV genotypes other than HPV-16 or 18 were not detected in either country., Conclusion: HPV-16 and HPV-18 genotypes can be found in ESCC specimens collected from two South American countries. Further studies on the relationship between HPV-16 presence and p16 expression in ESCC would aid understanding of the mechanism underlying the presence of HPV in ESCC.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNA can be detected in about 1-17 % of gastric carcinomas. To elucidate lifestyles and other factors related to such an EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBV-GC), we conducted a case-control study in Cali, Colombia. The study subjects were 368 patients with gastric carcinoma newly diagnosed during the period between September 2000 and June 2003, including 42 EBV-GC cases. We obtained information on lifestyles, dietary habits, and occupational exposure by a questionnaire. The frequency of EBV-GC was related to birth order of patients (P for trend =0.025). More precisely, EBV-GC was much less frequent among the patients who were the eldest child in a family (P=0.007). Those findings were contrary to what was reported by the study conducted in Japan, where EBV-GC was more frequently observed among eldest brothers/sisters. A possible explanation for the apparently conflicting results is that EBV-GC risk is related to the age at first EBV infection but its relationship is not monotonic. In addition to the relationship with birth order, the present study showed that high salt intake and metal dust exposure may be related to EBV-GC as reported by the Japanese study although these associations observed in the present study were not statistically significant. No significant association was observed in other factors, including dietary habits. Further studies seem warranted to elucidate the difference between Japan and Colombia with respect to the environmental factors related to EBV-GC cases.

Aim: To examine histology- and tumor-location specific risk factors of gastric cancer (GC)., Methods: This was a case-control study. The study subjects were 216 GC patients newly diagnosed during the period 2000-2002 and 431 controls selected from non-cancer patients matching in age, gender, and hospital. We obtained information on lifestyles, dietary habits, and others by a questionnaire., Results: The subjects who were not eldest among his/her siblings were at a slightly elevated GC risk (OR 1.3; 95% CI 0.8-2.0). Salting meals before tasting was related to an increased GC risk (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.6- 7.3). Frequent consumptions of fruits (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-1.0) and vegetables (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-1.0) were related to decreased GC risks. On the other hand, frying foods (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0-3.6) and cooking with coal (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.6) were related to increased GC risks. Neither Laurenos histological classification (intestinal and diffuse types) nor tumor location significantly affected those associations except birth order. The subjects who were not eldest among his/her siblings had an increased risk of GCs in the distal and middle thirds, and their ORs were 1.7 (95% CI 1.0-2.8) and 1.9 (95% CI 0.8-4.3), respectively. The corresponding OR in the upper third stomach was 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.9). The differences of those three ORs were statistically significant (P = 0.010)., Conclusion: The present study shows that birth order, salt intake, consumption of fruits and vegetables, the type of cooking, and cigarette smoking are related to GC risk. In histology and tumor-location specific analyses, non-eldest person among their siblings is related to an increased GC risk in the distal and middle thirds of the stomach, and is related to a decreased GC risk in the cardia.

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) genome in lung carcinomas has been reported worldwide but its frequency varies from country to country. We examined HPV genome in 36 lung carcinomas, consisting of 14 squamous cell carcinomas, 13 adenocarcinomas, and 9 small cell carcinomas, collected from Colombia, Mexico and Peru. PCR analysis using GP5+/GP6+ primers, combined with Southern blot hybridization, found the presence of HPV genome in 10 (28%) of 36 cases. This percentage is similar to the value of 22% reported by Syrjänen, who conducted a meta-analysis of nearly 2500 lung carcinomas examined to date. Genotype analysis revealed that the most predominant genotype was HPV-16 (7 cases), followed by HPV-18 (2 cases) and HPV-33 (1 case). HPV-16 was more frequently found among female than male cases (P=0.008) but was not detected in any adenocarcinoma cases. On the other hand, HPV-18 and HPV-33 were detected only among male cases. These HPV genotypes were detected only in adenocarcinomas, and all the HPV genotypes detected in this histological type were HPV-18 or HPV-33. The frequency of HPV-16 positive cases among all the HPV positive cases differed in the sexes (P=0.033) and differed in the three histological types (P=0.017). The presence of HPV tended to be more frequent in well-differentiated tumors when squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas were combined. However, it was not statistically significant (P=0.093). Neither p16 nor p53 expression in carcinoma cells was related to the proportion of HPV-positive cases. In conclusion, high-risk HPV DNA was detected in 28% of lung carcinomas. The predisposition of HPV-16 to female cases and to non-adenomatous carcinomas warrants further investigation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to gastric carcinoma (GC) with worldwide geographical variations attributable to types and variants of EBV. Here, we compare EBV strains between EBVaGC and healthy donors in Latin America, a high frequency area for EBVaGC. Tumor samples from 73 EBVaGC cases and throat washings from 329 healthy adults were examined for types 1 and 2 EBV and polymorphism at BamHI-F and BamHI-W1/I1 boundary regions and XhoI restriction site in LMP1 gene. Type 1 and prototype F of BamHI- F polymorphism accounted 59 (81%) and 69 (95%) of EBVaGC cases and 257 (78%) and 267 (81%) of healthy donors, respectively. Types I and "i" of BamHI W1/I1 polymorphism accounted 2 (3%) and 62 (85%) of EBVaGC and 85 (26%) and 170 (52%) of healthy donors, respectively (p<0.001). XhoI+ and - polymorphism accounted 60 (82%) and 4 (5%) of EBVaGC and 142 (43%) and 92 (28%) of healthy donors, respectively (p<0.001). Cosegregation analysis demonstrated that most of the 62 type "i" EBVaGC cases harbor XhoI+ strain (81%). However, among 143 type "i" healthy adults, both XhoI polymorphism were present in relatively similar frequencies (XhoI+ 58% and XhoI- 42%) (OR 9.0; 95% CI 1.2-69). Our findings are against to the proposed hypothesis that EBV strains are geographically but not disease-restricted. We conclude that most of the EBVaGC cases harbor a distinctive EBV strain (type "i"/XhoI +), but in healthy donors, this strain was as common as other strains. This finding is contrary to the proposed hypothesis that EBV strains are geographically but not disease-restricted and identified a healthy population group that share the same strain that predominate in EBVaGC cases.

We examined 1,918 Japanese gastric cancer cases diagnosed during the period 1976-1995 to clarify histology-specific gender, age and tumor-location distributions of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBV-GC). EBV-GCs accounted for 4.5% and 6.1% of 1,088 intestinal-type and 830 diffuse-type gastric carcinomas, respectively. Both intestinal- and diffuse-type EBV-GCs showed male predominance, but the observed gender difference was statistically significant only in diffuse-type carcinomas (P<0.001). An age-dependent decrease of the EBV-GC proportion was observed in intestinal-type carcinomas (P=0.002), but not in diffuse-type carcinomas. In intestinal-type tumors, the estimated incidence of EBV-GCs reached its peak around age 70. Diffuse-type EBV-GCs appeared to have a much older peak incidence, if any. Both intestinal- and diffuse-type EBV-GCs were least prevalent in the stomach antrum. This study, examining the largest number of EBV-GCs in current literature, showed different patterns of age-dependence in intestinal- and diffuse-type EBV-GCs, suggesting that pathogenic pathways of EBV-GCs may be different in these 2 histological types.

To estimate the incidence of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBV-GC) in Colombia and to clarify its clinicopathological features, we examined 178 consecutive gastric carcinoma cases, diagnosed during the period from 1996 to 1998, at Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia. The mean age of the cases was 60 years in males and 58 years in females. Using in situ hybridization assay of EBV-encoded small RNA-1 in paraffin-embedded tissue samples, we identified 23 cases of EBV-GC (13%). After excluding remnant carcinoma, which was found to be EBV-negative in this series, there were 19 (18%) male and 4 (6%) female EBV-GC cases, and the male predominance was statistically significant (P=0.004). The proportion of EBV-GCs decreased with age (P for trend = 0.022). Using sex- and age-specific proportions of EBV-GCs estimated by logistic models and gastric cancer incidence in Cali, which was obtained from tumor registry during the period 1987-1991, we estimated sex- and age-specific incidence of EBV-GCs. The incidence of EBV-GCs (per 100,000 person-years) was 4.1 and 1.4 among men and women, respectively, after age adjustment using the standard world population. Pathological features of EBV-GCs were also examined. EBV-GCs accounted for 33% (8/24) of carcinomas located in the stomach cardia, 14% (6/43) of carcinomas in the middle-part of the stomach, and 7% (6/81) of carcinomas in the antrum. The difference by tumor location was statistically significant (P=0.009). Histology-specific analysis using Lauren classification revealed that the proportion of EBV-GCs was not different in intestinal- and diffuse-type carcinomas (13% in both types). When the classification scheme of the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer was used, EBV-GCs were identified more frequently in moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and solid poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma when compared to other histological types. No lymphoepitelioma-like histology was found in the present series. The frequency of EBV-GC was slightly higher in advanced tumors, which involved serosa. Further analysis of clinico-pathological features of EBV-GC using a larger number of cases would give invaluable insights into its etiology.

The expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its preferred receptor (TrkB) in rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been determined in the present study. To identify RGCs retrograde labelling was performed with fluorogold (FG). Subsequently, retinas were immunostained with antibodies to BDNF and TrkB. We found that all RGCs labelled with FG express both BDNF and its preferred receptor, TrkB. Moreover, displaced amacrine cells were also found to be immunolabelled by both antibodies. Thus BDNF/TrkB signalling in RGCs probably involves endogenous BDNF produced by the RGCs themselves.

Background: Dopa-negative, inactive melanocytes, present in the middle portion of the hair follicle, but also in hair bulbs, have been reported as a source of pigment cells, when repopulation of epidermal melanocytes occurs. A melanocyte reservoir in these anatomical sites has been suggested. Our objective was to investigate the ability of the lower third of the hair follicle (hair bulb) to repigment achromic skin in vitiligo., Methods: Scalp hair bulbs were transplanted within leukodermic areas in 10 patients with vitiligo., Results: Repigmentation around the grafts was suitable for evaluation in four cases. Dopa-positive (+) cells were seen in the epidermal basal cell layer of the repigmented areas., Conclusions: Although these findings were observed only in a few patients, they suggest that melanocytes from the implanted lower third portion of the hair follicle (hair bulb) act as a reservoir in this anatomic location and are able to migrate and repigment achromic areas in vitiligo.

In the hamster-BOP model, modifications occur in the endocrine portion of the pancreas during the induction of well-differentiated ductal carcinomas. In the present work, using immunohistochemical techniques it was possible to observe that the A cells in preserved islets and in the initial phase of the carcinogenic process were localized in the peripheral part of the islets. In animals with tumours, A cells were found to form part of the tumour glands and/or the tumoral stroma; this localization was seen to depend on the developmental phase of the tumour. A focal dispersion of A cells was observed in the animals with ductal carcinoma.

A serial study was carried out on the lesions induced by N-nitroso-bis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in the Syrian golden hamster until the appearance of pancreatic ductal carcinomas. During the initial phase, first findings were cytolysis of acinar cells close to blood vessels and other cells, together with a loss of zymogen granules from the cytoplasm, and an increase in the diameters of the acinar lumens. After week 11 a proliferation of ductule-like cells was observed. We consider that a minimum proliferation of cells at the acinus-ductule junction would give rise to pseudoductules composed of remains of acinar cells together with ductule-like cells.