Coverage of cervical cancer screening in Uruguay, 2018 / Cobertura de tamizaje de cáncer de cuello de útero en Uruguay, 2018 / Cobertura do rastreamento do câncer do colo do útero no Uruguai, 2018

Introducción: el cáncer de cuello uterino (CCU) causa una significativa pérdida de años por discapacidad y muerte prematura en el mundo. Se relaciona fuertemente, por su etiología, a las inequidades socioeconómicas. Alcanzar una cobertura del 80% del tamizaje poblacional a través de la colpocitología oncológica constituye una de las principales estrategias para disminuir la morbimortalidad por este cáncer. Objetivos: describir la cobertura de tamizaje en CCU de las mujeres de 21 a 64 años, usuarias del Sistema Nacional Integrado de Salud (SNIS) de Uruguay en el año 2018 y explorar su comportamiento según edad, lugar de residencia, características socioeconómicas y culturales del territorio. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, en base a fuentes de datos secundarios, con una muestra que alcanzó el 95% del universo. La técnica de tamizaje considerada fue la colpocitología oncológica de (PAP) con vigencia de hasta 3 años al 30/9/2018. Resultados: la cobertura de tamizaje en CCU en 2018 fue del 57%, siendo menor en las primeras y últimas edades consideradas, variando por zona geográfica, encontrándose menor porcentaje de PAP vigente en las mujeres residentes en departamentos con menores índices de desarrollo humano y con mayor porcentaje de hogares por debajo de la línea de pobreza. Conclusiones: la cobertura de tamizaje en CCU en Uruguay debe aumentar para disminuir la morbimortalidad por este cáncer. Se requiere implementar acciones para reducir la heterogeneidad entre edades y departamentos de residencia. Esta estimación constituye una línea de base que permite comparar la situación país pospandemia COVID-19 replicando la misma metodología.

Summary: Introduction: cervical cancer causes a significant loss of years due to disabilities and early deaths around the world. Due to its etiology, it is closely linked to socio- economic inequalities. Cervical cancer screening coverage of 80 % of the population through and pap smear constitutes one of the main strategies to reduce morbimortality of this kind of cancer. Objectives: to describe cervical cancer screening coverage in women between 21 and 64 years old, users of the National Integrated Health System (SNIS) in Uruguay in 2018 and explore their behavior according to age, place of residence, socio-economic and territorial cultural characteristics. Method: descriptive study, based on secondary data sources of a sample representing 95% of the universe. The screening technique considered in the study was a pap smear, valid for up to three years on September 30, 2019. Results: cervical cancer screening coverage in 2018 was 57%, lower in the first and last ages considered and it varied depending on the geographical area. A lower percentage of valid smear tests was found in women who were residents of provinces with lower human development index and a higher percentage of homes below the poverty line. Conclusions: cervical cancer screening coverage in Uruugay needs to increase in order to reduce morbimortality. The implementation of actions aimed at reducing differences between ages and places of residence is required. This estimation may be taken as a baseline that allows for a comparison with the post-COVID 19 pandemic situation, by replicating the same method.

Introdução: o câncer do colo do útero (CCU), causa uma perda significativa de anos por incapacidade e morte prematura no mundo estando fortemente relacionada, por sua etiologia, às iniquidades socioeconômicas. Uma das principais estratégias para reduzir a morbimortalidade por esse câncer é alcançar 80% de cobertura de rastreamento populacional por meio da colpocitologia oncológica. Objetivos: descrever a cobertura do rastreamento do CCU em mulheres de 21 a 64 anos, usuárias do Sistema Nacional Integrado de Saúde (SNIS) do Uruguai em 2018 e analisar seu comportamento de acordo com idade, local de residência, características socioeconômicas e culturais do território. Métodos: estudo descritivo, baseado em fontes de dados secundárias de uma amostra que atingiu 95% do universo. A técnica de rastreamento considerada foi a colpocitologia oncológica (PAP) válida por até 3 anos a partir de 30/09/2018. Resultados: a cobertura de rastreamento no CCU em 2018 foi de 57%, sendo menor nas primeiras e últimas idades consideradas, variando por área geográfica, encontrando menor percentual de PAP atual em mulheres residentes em departamentos com menores índices de desenvolvimento humano e com maior percentual de famílias abaixo da linha de pobreza. Conclusões: deve-se aumentar a cobertura de rastreamento no CCU no Uruguai para reduzir a morbimortalidade por esse câncer. É necessário implementar ações para reduzir a heterogeneidade entre idades e departamentos de residência. Essa estimativa constitui uma linha de base que permite comparar a situação do país pós-pandemia por COVID-19, replicando a mesma metodologia.

Data from the cervical cancer program in the Covid-19 pandemic / Dados do programa do câncer do colo do útero na pandemia Covid-19 / Datos del programa de cáncer cervical sobre la pandemia Covid-19

O câncer do colo do útero é considerado um dos cânceres mais comuns entre mulheres, representando um grande problema de saúde global, sendo a quarta causa mais frequente de morte por câncer na população feminina. Mediante a um estudo quantitativo e retrospectivo de dados pré- analíticos e analíticos das requisições do exame citopatológico do colo do útero, objetivou-se avaliar os resultados de exames citopatológicos de mulheres usuárias do SUS de um município do oeste do Paraná, realizados no período antes da pandemia COVID-19, de março de 2019 a fevereiro de 2020 e durante a pandemia COVID-19, de março de 2020 a fevereiro de 2021, dos exames citopatológicos alterados. Foram utilizadas as requisições de exames citopatológicos do Programa Nacional de Controle do CCU e o sistema eletrônico SISCAN como ferramentas de busca. Dentre os resultados, totalizaram-se 20.425 amostras processadas no período antes da pandemia, sendo 19.908 consideradas satisfatórias para análise oncótica, onde 1.148 (5,76%) amostras apresentaram alteração citológica. No período da pandemia, totalizaram-se 11.315 amostras processadas, sendo 11.149 amostras satisfatórias para análise oncótica, das quais 721 (6,47%) apresentaram alteração citológica. No período da pandemia, o estudo demostra que metade da população de mulheres usuárias do SUS em um município do oeste do Paraná encontra-se na faixa etária da população-alvo preconizada pelo MS, sendo que a maioria delas realizou seu exame citopatológico por motivo de rastreamento. Contudo, mesmo com a interrupção dos atendimentos eletivos, as mulheres continuaram realizando seus exames citopatológicos, sendo elucidado um discreto aumento de 0,71% das alterações citológicas no período da pandemia, quando comparado ao período anterior, demonstrando o cenário deste programa na pandemia COVID-19.

Cervical cancer is considered one of the most common cancers among women, representing a major global health problem, being the fourth most frequent cause of cancer death in the female population. Through a quantitative and retrospective study of pre-analytical and analytical data of requests for cervical cytopathological examination, the objective was to evaluate the results of cytopathological examinations of women using the SUS in a city in western Paraná, carried out in the period before during the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2019 to February 2020, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2020 to February 2021, from the altered cytopathological exams. Requests for cytopathological exams from the National Control Program of the CCU and the SISCAN electronic system were used as search tools. Among the results, a total of 20.425 samples were processed in the period before the pandemic, 19.908 of which were considered satisfactory for oncotic analysis, where 1.148 (5,76%) samples showed cytological alterations. During the pandemic period, a total of 11.315 samples were processed, of which 11.149 were satisfactory for oncotic analysis, of which 721 (6,47%) showed cytological alterations. During the pandemic period, the study shows that half of the population of women using the SUS in a municipality in western Paraná is in the target population age group recommended by the MS, and most of them underwent their cytopathological examination due to tracking. However, even with the interruption of elective care, women continued to perform their cytopathological exams, with a slight increase of 0,71% in cytological changes during the pandemic period, when compared to the previous period, demonstrating the scenario of this program in the COVID-19 pandemic.

El cáncer de cuello uterino se considera uno de los cánceres más comunes entre las mujeres, representando un importante problema de salud mundial, siendo la cuarta causa más frecuente de muerte por cáncer en la población femenina. Mediante el estudio cuantitativo y retrospectivo de los datos preanalíticos y analíticos de los requisitos del examen citopatológico del útero, se evaluaron los resultados de los exámenes citopatológicos de las usuarias del SUS de un municipio del oeste de Paraná, realizados en el período anterior a la pandemia COVID-19, de marzo de 2019 a febrero de 2020, y durante la pandemia COVID-19, de marzo de 2020 a febrero de 2021, de los exámenes citopatológicos alterados. Se utilizaron como herramientas de búsqueda las requisiciones de exámenes citopatológicos del Programa Nacional de Control de UCC y el sistema electrónico SISCAN. Entre los resultados, un total de 20.425 muestras fueron procesadas en el período anterior a la pandemia, de las cuales 19.908 fueron consideradas satisfactorias para el análisis oncológico, donde 1.148 (5,76%) muestras presentaron alteración citológica. En el periodo de la pandemia, se procesaron un total de 11.315 muestras, de las cuales 11.149 fueron satisfactorias para el análisis oncológico, y 721 (6,47%) presentaron alteraciones citológicas. En el período de la pandemia, el estudio demuestra que la mitad de la población de mujeres usuarias del SUS en una ciudad del oeste de Paraná está en la franja de edad de la población objetivo recomendada por el MS, y la mayoría de ellas se sometió a un examen citopatológico con fines de cribado. Sin embargo, aún con la interrupción de la atención electiva, las mujeres continuaron realizando sus exámenes citopatológicos, siendo dilucidado un leve aumento de 0,71% de alteraciones citológicas en el período pandémico, cuando comparado con el período anterior, demostrando el escenario de este programa en la pandemia COVID-19.

Play Behavior by a Juvenile Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) with an Inanimate Object (Driftwood) in the Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a cosmopolitan species that often visit inshore waters close to the coast, making it easier to see and study them. Consequently, this baleen whale has been researched the most, particularly in Colombia. In Aug 2020, ongoing cetacean monitoring was performed by a group of trained fishermen from the Gulf of Tribuga as part of a community science program implemented by the R&E Ocean Community Conservation Foundation as a contingency plan for monitoring marine mammals in the area during COVID-19 lockdown. As a result of these observations of play behavior, the scope of knowledge regarding the social dynamics, developmental processes, flexibility, and cognitive abilities of cetaceans has been expanded.

Pre-clinical evaluation of NEOS-223, an (S)-valine-thiazole derived peptidomimetic N-heterocycle, as an anticancer agent and P-glycoprotein inhibitor

The ability to control the proliferation and cell death by inhibiting specific target kinase offers the opportunity to apply targeted therapies in the treatment of cancer. It has been found that (S)-valine-thiazole-derived compounds such as NEOS-223 are effective inhibitors of one or more of these kinases. NEOS 223 was developed, synthesized, and tested in the NCI 60 human tumor cell-screening panel demonstrating inhibition of colon (-53%), melanoma (-41%), and breast cancers (-9%). Microsomal clearance was determined in mouse, rat, dog, and human, and analyzed by LC-MS/MS by percent of parent material. IC50 values for CYP inhibition of >10 μM were calculated for 1A2, 2C19, and 3A4 with IC50 values of 4.86, 4.31, and 7.84 μM for 2C9 and 2D6. Microsomal clearance was high in all species with clearance rates ranging from 69-136 mL/min/kg. Plasma protein binding was determined by Rapid Equilibrium Dialysis in mice, rats, dogs, and humans. High plasma protein binding (>70%) was observed across all species. Based on the NCI results several cell lines were assayed in an MTT assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) to determine cell viability in the presence of NEOS-223 resulting in <20% viability in colon, breast, melanoma, pancreatic and prostate human cancer cell lines at a 10 uM concentration. Maximum tolerated dose studies were conducted by both intraperitoneal and oral administration in mice. NEOS-223 delivered up to 80 mg/kg was well tolerated. Minimal or no toxicity was observed in acute and repeat dose animal studies. Pharmacokinetics of oral administration demonstrated adequate systemic exposure at therapeutic levels in mice, rats, and dogs. Preliminary in vivo mouse xenograft studies were performed on colon (COLO 205, HT-29 red FLUC), breast (MDA-Sumathi Chittamuru;Timothy M. Murphy;Sara A. Little;Andrew A. Taylor;Roseanne Wexler;Laxman Desai MB-468), melanoma (M-14), pancreatic (PANC-1), and prostate (PC3) human cancer cells with significant tumor inhibition observed compared to positive control agent groups with twice daily dosing of NEOS-223. In addition, a five-day pilot oral toxicity study in rats with dose range-finding studies and a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study performed in both rats and dogs provided favorable results. NEOS-223 has demonstrated active in vitro activity along with a favorable safety profile. in vivo efficacy resulted in inhibition of growth of multiple cell line. As a novel effective structure possibly targeting multiple kinases and transporters in one hybrid molecule, NEOS-223 may be a preferred monotherapy or combined therapy for multiple cancers. If upon further development, this drug is effective in humans, it would advance clinical practice and could improve current therapy significantly.

TELLURIDE AND AFTER: THE REVIVAL OF SENSATION

The article discusses the forty-eighth Telluride Film Festival which ushered in a huge exhalation of breath and inhalation of image and sound and friendship after many months of Covid-19. Every screening started with some version of a proclamation of excitement at being together in the mountains again after two years away and cheering that fact.

The impact of episodic screening interruption: COVID-19 and population-based cancer screening in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Population-based cancer screening can reduce cancer burden but was interrupted temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the long-term clinical impact of breast and colorectal cancer screening interruptions in Canada using a validated mathematical model. METHODS: We used the OncoSim breast and colorectal cancers microsimulation models to explore scenarios of primary screening stops for 3, 6, and 12 months followed by 6-24-month transition periods of reduced screening volumes. For breast cancer, we estimated changes in cancer incidence over time, additional advanced-stage cases diagnosed, and excess cancer deaths in 2020-2029. For colorectal cancer, we estimated changes in cancer incidence over time, undiagnosed advanced adenomas and colorectal cancers in 2020, and lifetime excess cancer incidence and deaths. RESULTS: Our simulations projected a surge of cancer cases when screening resumes. For breast cancer screening, a three-month interruption could increase cases diagnosed at advanced stages (310 more) and cancer deaths (110 more) in 2020-2029. A six-month interruption could lead to 670 extra advanced cancers and 250 additional cancer deaths. For colorectal cancers, a six-month suspension of primary screening could increase cancer incidence by 2200 cases with 960 more cancer deaths over the lifetime. Longer interruptions, and reduced volumes when screening resumes, would further increase excess cancer deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Interruptions in cancer screening will lead to additional cancer deaths, additional advanced cancers diagnosed, and a surge in demand for downstream resources when screening resumes. An effective strategy is needed to minimize potential harm to people who missed their screening.