A population-based study of testicular cancer risk among children and young adults from Norway and Utah,USA

Similar family-based cancer and genealogy data from Norway and Utah allowed comparisons of the incidence of testicular cancer (TC), and exploration of the role of Scandinavian ancestry and family history of TC in TC risk. Our study utilizes data from the Utah Population Database and Norwegian Population Registers. All males born during 1951–2015 were followed for TC until the age of 29 years. A total of 1,974,287 and 832,836 males were born in Norway and Utah, respectively, of whom 2,686 individuals were diagnosed with TC in Norway and 531 in Utah. The incidence per year of TC in Norway (10.6) was twice that observed in Utah (5.1) for males born in the last period (1980–1984). The incidence rates of TC in Utah did not differ according to the presence or absence of Scandinavian ancestry (p = 0.669). Having a brother diagnosed with TC was a strong risk factor for TC among children born in Norway and Utah, with HR = 9.87 (95% CI 5.68–17.16) and 6.02 (95% CI 4.80–7.55), respectively; with even higher HR observed among the subset of children in Utah with Scandinavian ancestry (HR = 12.30, 95% CI 6.78–22.31). A clear difference in TC incidence among individuals born in Norway and descendants of Scandinavian people born in Utah was observed. These differences in TC rates point to the possibility of environmental influence. Family history of TC is a strong risk factor for developing TC in both populations.     

Biofunctionalization of magnetite nanoparticles with stevioside: effect on the size and thermal behaviour for use in hyperthermia applications

Controlling the magnetic properties of a nanoparticle efficiently via its particle size to achieve optimized heat under alternating magnetic field is the central point for magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy (MHCT). Here, we have shown the successful use of stevioside (a natural plant-based glycoside) as a promising biosurfactant to control the magnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles by controlling the particle size. The biocompatibility and cellular uptake efficiency by rat C6 glioma cells and calorimetric magnetic hyperthermia profile of the nanoparticles were further examined. Our finding suggests superior properties of stevioside-coated magnetite nanoparticles in comparison to polysorbate-80 and oleic acid coated nanomagnets as far as particle size reduction, biocompatibility, hyperthermic effect, and cellular uptake by the glioblastoma cancer cells are concerned. The stevioside-coated nanomagnets exhibiting the maximum temperature rise were further investigated as heating agents in in vitro magnetic hyperthermia experiments (405?kHz, 168?Oe), showing their efficacy to induce cell death of rat C6 glioma cells after 30?min at a target temperature T?=?43?°C.     

Assessing Community Readiness for Preventing Youth Substance Use in Colombia: a Latent Profile Analysis

The growing use of evidence-based preventive interventions for youth substance use in Latin American countries has prompted governments, researchers, and practitioners to ask if communities are ready for implementing these interventions, especially in light of the elevated costs and long-term commitment necessary for successful implementation. This study explores the construct validity of a measure of community readiness for prevention, using confirmatory factor and latent profile analyses of 7 measures theorized to be indicators of community readiness for implementing preventive interventions for youth substance use. Data were obtained from 211 community leaders in 16 communities in Colombia. Results indicate that community readiness can be represented as a unidimensional construct with multiple profiles of varying levels of readiness. Findings suggest that community readiness can be measured adequately as a latent construct and that its indicators can be used diagnostically to assess areas where readiness could be improved for better implementation of evidence-based preventive interventions.

     

Post-scabietic nodules: Mimicker of infantile indeterminate cell histiocytosis and potential diagnostic pitfall

Indeterminate cell histiocytosis (ICH) is an extremely rare disease and little is known about its etiology. Patients usually present with nodular, dermal proliferations of indeterminate cells, which characteristically resemble Langerhans cells but lack Birbeck granules. The clinical course is highly variable, ranging from spontaneous regression to rapid progression with reports of extracutaneous involvement, subsequent acute myeloid leukemias, and associated B-cell lymphomas. Rare cases of ICH-like reactions have been reported in the setting of scabies infestations as well as in patients who had been bitten by ticks and mosquitos. We present a successfully treated case of indeterminate cell-rich post scabietic nodules in an otherwise healthy 8-month-old boy and review the literature on similar cases. Clinical context is essential for correct interpretation of these indolent ICH-mimicking lesions, and to avert unnecessary patient anxiety and aggressive management.     

Terapia de luz pulsada intensa regulada: un tratamiento complementario prometedor para la enfermedad de ojo seco

ObjectiveTo propose the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy as a helpful supplementary treatment in patients with dry eye disease.Material and methodsRetrospective cross sectional design. Medical records of patients in whom dry eye disease symptoms were not satisfactorily controlled with medical therapy alone and who underwent additional IPL with at least three sessions completed. Data were analyzed before therapy and 3 weeks after its completion to asses improvement. Determination of symptoms, through a visual analog scale; tear film stability, through tear Break Up Time (tBUT); measurement of tear secretion, through Schirmer Test; and ocular surface staining with Van Bijsterveld score were evaluated. SPSS software and nonparametric analysis of repeated measures were used. The study was approved by the ethics committee.Results50 eyes from 25 subjects were reviewed. There were 9 males (36%) and 16 females (64%), with a median age of 59 years (IQR 52-64). The median of the symptoms scale was 8 (IQR 8-9) and 3 (IQR 2-4) before and after the therapy respectively (P < .05). The median of BUT was 4 (IQR 3-5) and 10 (IQR 8-11), Schirmer test was 13 (IQR 12-15) and 15 (IQR 13-20), and Van Bijsterveld score was 3 (RIC 3-4) and 2 (IQR 2-3) before and after the therapy respectively (P < .05, for all measurements).ConclusionIPL treatment has excellent results regarding both: dry eye disease symptoms improvement and in office objective tests such as tBUT, Schirmer test and Van Bijsterveld score; IPL could be considered as an effective adjunct for dry eye disease.     

Dietary Changes and Gut Dysbiosis in Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: Gut dysbiosis in type 1 diabetes (T1D), characterized by high Bacteroides proportion, tends to reverse as T1D progresses, without reaching full recovery. Since diet influences microbiota structure, the aim was to evaluate the impact of dietary changes on Bacteroides proportion the first year of T1D evolution.

Methods: Dietary intake was assessed by 24-hour recalls and Bacteroides proportion by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in 10 Mexican children (11.6 ± 1.92 years) with T1D at baseline and 3, 6 and 9 months' follow-up. Repeated measures analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were performed to compare ingested nutrients in relation with Bacteroides proportion. Effects over time were evaluated by mixed regression models.

Results: Patients with T1D decreased their energy (2621.89 to 1867.85 kcal, p = 0.028), protein (83.06 to 75.17 g, p = 0.012), and saturated fat consumption (40.83 to 25.23 g, p = 0.031) from baseline to 3 months, without posterior changes. Bacteroides proportion increased in the first months and tended to decrease at around 9 months (p > 0.05) and was positively correlated with saturated fat (β = 3.70, p = 0.009) and total carbohydrates (β = 0.73, p = 0.005) at 3 months. Carbohydrate consumption was related to decreased Bacteroides abundance over time (β = ?14.9, p = 0.004), after adjusting for glycosylated hemoglobin.

Conclusions: Besides autoimmunity, diet appears to have a central role determining the T1D-associated dysbiosis evolution.