Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of concomitant oral etoposide and hyperfractionated radiation for patients with unresectable head and neck squamous cell ...carcinoma. Methods: A prospective nonrandomized phase I-II study was conducted using concomitant oral etoposide (50 mg/d for 13-27 days) and hyperfractionated radiotherapy (1.2 Gy twice daily to a total of 7,440 rads) for patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Toxicity was graded according to the NCI common toxicity criteria. Patients were followed for a minimal period of 2 years. Endpoints for follow-up were recurrence or death. Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study. Grade III hematological toxicity occurred in 1 patient and moderate to severe mucositis occurred in all but 2 patients requiring a gastrostomy tube (n = 13) or intravenous fluids hydration (n = 2). One patient died of cardiac arrest unrelated to the treatment regimen. The overall response rates in patients that finished the protocol were 80% for the primary site and 100% for the neck. A complete response was observed in 47% at the primary site and 33% in the neck. Local control and disease-free survival (DFS) at an average follow-up of 3.7 years were 47% and 29%, respectively. Conclusions: Concomitant etoposide and hyperfractionated radiation is well tolerated and seems to be effective in the treatment of unresectable HNSCC with acceptable mucosal toxicity. (Am J Otolaryngol 2003;24:1-5. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)
The aim of the study was to determine the presence of antibodies against Neospora caninum and its DNA in blood samples from bovine females from the northern region of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. A ...cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in 13 municipalities, with a sample size of 821 animals. Blood and serum samples were analyzed through ELISA and PCR, respectively. Overall prevalence was 20.8 %; the highest specific prevalences were obtained in breeding cows (27.4 %), crossbred cows (20.9 %), second-calving cows (23.2 %), three year-old cows (20.6 %) and cows with abortion history (20 %). The risk factors associated with seropositivity were dairy cattle (OR = 1.9; IC95 %: 1.1-3.4) and dog presence in the farms (OR = 5.3; IC95 %: 1.3-22.3). The presence of N. caninum DNA was demonstrated in 4 out of 12 blood samples tested, which evidenced the existence of active infection. In conclusion, there were risk factors associated with bovine neosporosis, which proved the existence of active infection by N. caninum in cows from the state of Veracruz, Mexico.
The objective of this article was to identify the effects of bromocriptine on the ultrastructure of the caudate nucleus in rats with a 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA) unilateral lesion of the substantia ...nigra pars compacta. Eighteen Wistar male rats were stereotactically lesioned with 6-OHDA (n = 12), or sham lesioned (n = 6). Two days after rotational behavior was tested, and 2 days later, 6 rats were treated with 0.3 mg/Kg bromocriptine orally for a month and 6 rats were kept for the same time without treatment. The neuropile of the sham operated and bromocriptine-treated rats was well preserved contrary to the non-bromocriptine-treated rats. Also, it was found that there was a significant difference in the number of synaptic endings with edema in caudate of bromocriptine-treated rats compared with non-treated rats; however, the size of the synaptic endings were different to those found in the sham lesioned rats. Also, as in the sham lesioned group, the bromocriptines showed more synaptic contacts with dendritic spines contrasting to the non-treated group. The results suggest that bromocriptine possesses antioxidant properties because it decreased the ultrastructural alterations after 6-OHDA lesion.
In the present study, seasonal variation in ovulatory activity of Nubian, Alpine and Criollox Nubian goats in the semiarid region of central-northern Mexico (22° 14’ N) was examined. The study was ...conducted under natural photoperiod and climate conditions during a whole year. Eight female goats per breed were grouped separately and exposed to visual, olfactory and audible signals of bucks. Blood samples were obtained twice per week and serum progesterone concentrations were determined. All goats presented a clear pattern of seasonal ovulatory activity based on serum progesterone profiles. Length of the ovulatory activity period did not differ between genotypes (P >0.10), and had an average duration of 4.3 months. Nevertheless Criollo x Nubian goats presented greater individual variation in dates of onset and end as well as length of this period (P <0.05). Results indicate that female goats of genotypes which differ in latitude of origin, express a similar restricted pattern of seasonal ovulatory activity when subjected to small annual changes in phtoperiod, adequate nutrition and incomplete socio-sexual stimulus.
Aim: To implement the Case Management Model and to assess its effectiveness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitas.
Methodology: Two seveenteen patients groups were sampled. One was experimental ...and the second was a control group
Study stages: a) selection of patients and training of the multi-disciplinary team, b) multi-disciplinary intervention, c) follow-up at home.
Results: Experimental group: mean days of hospital stay were 4.88. Only 11.8% of patients had one hospital readmission within the six months after the discharge.
Mean of glycosilated hemoglobin at hospital admission: 11.45%.At the end of intervention: 8.84%. The t student comparison of means showed a significant difference (p= 001).
Control group: mean days of stay was 6.24. In the following six months 35.5% had from one to two readmissions
Conclusions: The experimental group reported shorter stays and less readmission, more knowledge regarding the disease and treatment, higher family involvement in care, and better clinical control through glycosilated hemoglobin.
Objetivo: Implementar el modelo de manejo de casos y evaluar su efectividad en pacientes hospitalizados con diabetes mellitus tipo 2
Metodología: Muestra de 17 pacientes hospitalizados con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 para dos grupos, experimental y control. Etapas del estudio: a) selección de pacientes y capacitación del equipo multidisciplinario, b) intervención multidisciplinaria y c) seguimiento en el hogar.
Resultados: Grupo experimental: media de días estancia hospitalaria de 4.88. Sólo 11.8% de los pacientes tuvo un reingreso hospitalario en los seis meses posteriores al egreso. Media de hemoglobina glucosilada al ingreso al hospital 11.45%; al finalizar la intervención 8.84%, la prueba de comparación de medias t de Student reportó diferencia significativa (p=.001).
Grupo control: media de días estancia de 6.24. En los siguientes seis meses 35.3% tuvieron de uno a dos reingresos.
Conclusiones: El grupo experimental reportó menores días estancia y reingresos hospitalarios, mayor conocimiento y acciones de autocuidado para el tratamiento de la enfermedad, mayor involucramiento de la familia en el cuidado y mejor control glucémico a través de la hemoglobina glucosilada.
The present study reports of the geographic distribution of 2,878 cases of uniformly classified malignant lymphomas and of 2,349 similar cases from the literature. Data on histological entities are ...compared with the geographic and socio-economic characteristics of the regions where they preferentially occur. The results provide three patterns in lymphoma distribution: small cell lymphocytic lymphomas are frequent among populations of European extraction and in farming rather than industrial regions. Lymphomas derived from cells of the germinal center are seen preferentially in so-called "underdeveloped countries", and large cell (immunoblastic) lymphomas appear rather characteristic of industrial areas. Besides genetic influences (rare chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in Asia as compared to Europe), the results suggest environmental cofactors in the pathogenesis of malignant lymphomas. CLL is more frequent in areas with rather low-dose chronic toxic influences such as from the use of fertilizers and pesticides in farming. Germinal center cell lymphomas tend to occur more frequently in countries with nutritional and hygienic deficiencies with frequent infectious diseases. Large cell high malignancy lymphomas apparently prefer highly industrialized regions with pollution of water supplies by more toxic and immunosuppressive substances.
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