Emerging therapeutic options for follicular-derived thyroid cancer in the era of immunotherapy.

Although most follicular-derived thyroid cancers are well differentiated and have an overall excellent prognosis following treatment with surgery and radioiodine, management of advanced thyroid cancers, including iodine refractory disease and poorly differentiated/undifferentiated subtypes, is more challenging. Over the past decade, better understanding of the genetic drivers and immune milieu of advanced thyroid cancers has led to significant progress in the management of these patients. Numerous targeted kinase inhibitors are now approved by the U.S Food and Drug administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced, radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) as well as anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Immunotherapy has also been thoroughly studied and has shown promise in selected cases. In this review, we summarize the progress in the understanding of the genetic landscape and the cellular and molecular basis of radioiodine refractory-DTC and ATC, as well as discuss the current treatment options and future therapeutic avenues.

Epidemiología y frecuencia de enfermedades de transmisión sexual y su repercusión en la mucosa bucal: una revisión narrativa / Epidemiology and frequency of sexually transmitted diseases and their impact on oral mucosa: a narrative review

El objetivo de la presente revisión fue analizar y compa- rar las publicaciones sobre la prevalencia de manifestaciones bucales de pacientes infectados por el Virus de la Inmuno- deficiencia Humana, Virus del Papiloma Humano y sífilis. Se seleccionaron los artículos más relevantes y se abordó la incidencia según sexo, edad, distribución geográfica y locali- zaciones anatómicas frecuentes. Se encontró que las lesiones orales más prevalentes producidas por el Virus de la Inmu- nodeficiencia Humana son la candidiasis oral, la leucoplasia vellosa y enfermedades periodontales, entre otras. La sífilis presentó una frecuencia de 7,5% de manifestaciones orales en la etapa primaria, 92,5% en la secundaria y rara vez lesio- nes en la terciaria. Las formas más prevalentes fueron parches mucosos, pápulas y úlceras. Las lesiones orales benignas rela- cionadas con el Virus del Papiloma Humano halladas fueron la verruga vulgar, el papiloma plano, el condiloma acuminado y la hiperplasia epitelial focal. La prevalencia de carcinomas orofaríngeos y orales fue del 33,6% y del 22,2% respectiva- mente. Se encontraron similitudes en el comportamiento se- xual y las vías de transmisión de las enfermedades analizadas, y se observó que son más prevalentes en adultos jóvenes de sexo masculino y en países en vías de desarrollo (AU)

The aim of this review was to analyze and compare pub- lications on the prevalence of oral manifestations in patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Human Pap- illoma Virus and syphilis. The most reliable studies were se- lected, and incidence was evaluated according to gender, age, geographic location and frequent anatomic sites. It was found that the most prevalent Human Immunodeficiency Virus oral lesions were oral candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia and perio- dontal diseases, among others. Syphilis had a 7.5% preva- lence of oral manifestations in the primary stage, 92.5% in the secondary, and rarely lesions in the tertiary. The most prevalent forms were mucous patches, papules and ulcers. The benign oral lesions related to the Human Papilloma Vi- rus were verruca vulgaris, squamous papilloma, condyloma acuminatum and multifocal epithelial hyperplasia. The preva- lence of oropharyngeal and oral carcinomas were 33.6% and 22.2%, respectively. Similarities were found in sexual behavior and transmis- sion routes of the diseases analyzed, which were more preva- lent among young adult males, and in developing countries (AU)

Evaluación de fuentes de variación en pruebas multi-ambientes para rendimiento y sus componentes en algodón / Evaluation of sources of variation in multi-environment tests for yield and its components in cotton

RESUMEN La valoración de las fuentes de variación de los análisis de varianza combinado en las pruebas de evaluación multi-ambientes es de gran importancia en la selección de genotipos para recomendar nuevos cultivares, por su adaptabilidad y estabilidad. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la significancia estadística y contribución de las fuentes de variación: ambientes, genotipos e interacción genotipo x ambiente para rendimiento de algodón-semilla, porcentaje de fibra y rendimiento de fibra, en las zonas del Caribe seco y húmedo colombiano. Se utilizaron los datos de dos pruebas multi-ambientes por zona, donde se evaluaron 10 genotipos de fibra media diferentes, bajo el diseño de bloques completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones. Cada prueba estuvo conformada por cuatro ensayos realizados durante las cosechas 2003/2004, 2007/2008 y 2009/2010. Los resultados señalan que, en promedio, el ambiente fue la fuente de variación más importante en significancia (p <0,05 y p <0,01) y variación (>64 %), de los análisis de varianza combinado para rendimiento de algodón-semilla y fibra, con tendencia similar en su comportamiento entre ellas y en las dos zonas del Caribe colombiano. Para el porcentaje de fibra en el Caribe seco, la fuente de variación más importante fue genotipos (74,4 %) y en el Caribe húmedo fue el ambiente (57,2 %). Se sugiere subdividir las dos zonas del Caribe en subzonas más homogéneas ambientalmente o aumentar en más de cuatro el número de ensayos por prueba, para minimizar el efecto del ambiente y la interacción genotipo x ambiente.

ABSTRACT The assessment of the sources of variation of the combined analysis of variance in the multi-environment evaluation tests is of great importance in the selection of genotypes to recommend new cultivars for their adaptability and stability. The objective of this research was to evaluate the statistical significance and contribution of the sources of variation: environments, genotypes and genotype x environment interaction for cotton-seed yield, fiber percentage and fiber yield, in the dry and humid Colombian Caribbean zones. Data from two multi-environment tests per zone were used, where 10 different medium fiber genotypes were evaluated, under a randomized complete block design with four replications. Each test consisted of four experimentos carried out during the 2003/2004, 2007/2008 and 2009/2010 harvests. The results indicate that on average the environment was the most important source of variation in significance (p <0.05 and p <0.01) and variation (>64 %) of the combined analysis of variance for cotton-seed yield and fiber, with a similar trend in their behavior between them and in the two zones of the Colombian Caribbean. For the percentage of fiber in the dry Caribbean, the most important source of variation was genotypes (74.4 %) and in the humid Caribbean it was the environment (57.2 %). It is suggested to subdivide the two zones of the Caribbean into more environmentally homogeneous subzones and / or to increase the number of trials per test, to minimize the effect of the environment and the genotype x environment interaction.

Agentes antirresortivos y antiangiogénicos y su relación con la osteonecrosis de los maxilares asociada a medicamentos / Antiresorptive and antiangiogenic agents and their relationship with osteonecrosis of the jaws related to medication

El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar los conocimientos actuales sobre el manejo clínico-odontológico de pacientes que consumen medicamentos antirresortivos y medicamentos antiangiogénicos o quimioterapéuticos, en relación con la prevención y/o el tratamiento de la osteonecrosis de los maxilares asociada a medicamentos. Se evaluaron similitudes y diferencias entre los bifosfonatos, denosumab y medicamentos antiangiogénicos, así como el manejo clínico de pacientes, vacaciones de medicamentos y el manejo de osteonecrosis de los maxilares ya instalada. Se encontraron similitudes en la presentación clínica, la prevención, el uso de antibioticoterapia antes de procedimientos invasivos y el tratamiento de la osteonecrosis ya instalada. Entre las diferencias, podemos mencionar que el tratamiento quirúrgico respondería mejor en pacientes medicados con denosumab o antiangiogénicos, y su suspensión sería más efectiva si se iniciara un proceso de osteonecrosis, al igual que su tasa de resolución. En cuanto a las vacaciones de medicamentos, no hay datos concluyentes para guiar esta decisión, al igual que no existe un protocolo clínico de atención en pacientes que consumen denosumab o antiangiogénicos (AU)

The aim of this study is to review the currents knowledge about the clinical and dental management of patients who consume antiresorptive and antiangiogenic agents or chemotherapeutic drugs, in relation to the prevention and/or treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaws related to medication. Similarities and differences between bisphosphonates, denosumab and antiangiogenic medications were evaluatted, as well as the clinical management of patients, drugs holidays and management of osteonecrosis of the jaws already setted. Similarities were found in the clinical presentation, prevention, use of antibiotic therapy before invasive procedures and the treatment of osteonecrosis already installed. Regarding the differences, we can mention that the surgical treatment would be better in patients medicated with denosumab or antiangiogenics and its suspension would be more effective if an osteonecrosis process is initiated, as well as its resolution rate. There are no conclusive data about drug holidays to guide this decision, and no clinical protocol of care in patients who consume denosumab or antiangiogenic agents (AU)

Metástasis mandibular: informe de un caso clínico / Mandibular metastasis: report of a clinical case

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo describir un caso clínico de metástasis mandibular, que según la literatura actual es de baja prevalencia. Una paciente de 60 años de edad acudió a la consulta por tumefacción y dolor del lado derecho de la mandíbula. Se realizó una tomografía axial computada de maxilar inferior y se detectó una lesión osteolítica. El examen histopatológico del tejido óseo incisional informó metástasis. A partir de este resultado, la paciente fue derivada al Departamento de Oncología, donde inició el tratamiento correspondiente y falleció a los pocos meses del diagnóstico. A pesar de la baja prevalencia de metástasis maxilar, esta debe considerarse especialmente en pacientes con presencia de tumefacción, dolor y parestesia de aparición repentina y etiología desconocida (AU)

The aim of this work is to describe a clinical case of mandibular metastasis that, according to the current literature, occurs with low frequency. A 60 year old female patient showed swelling and pain on the right side of the jaw. Axial computed tomography of the lower maxilla was performed, detecting an osteolytic lesion. Histopathological diagnosis of metastatic tissue was reported after biopsy of incisional bone tissue and the patient was referred to the oncology department for treatment and died a few months after the diagnosis. Despite the infrequent appearance of maxillary metastases, they should be considered especially in patients with presence of swelling, pain and sudden onset paraesthesia of unknown etiology (AU)

Do biotic interactions modulate ecosystem functioning along stress gradients? Insights from semi-arid plant and biological soil crust communities.

Climate change will exacerbate the degree of abiotic stress experienced by semi-arid ecosystems. While abiotic stress profoundly affects biotic interactions, their potential role as modulators of ecosystem responses to climate change is largely unknown. Using plants and biological soil crusts, we tested the relative importance of facilitative-competitive interactions and other community attributes (cover, species richness and species evenness) as drivers of ecosystem functioning along stress gradients in semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems. Biotic interactions shifted from facilitation to competition along stress gradients driven by water availability and temperature. These changes were, however, dependent on the spatial scale and the community considered. We found little evidence to suggest that biotic interactions are a major direct influence upon indicators of ecosystem functioning (soil respiration, organic carbon, water-holding capacity, compaction and the activity of enzymes related to the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles) along stress gradients. However, attributes such as cover and species richness showed a direct effect on ecosystem functioning. Our results do not agree with predictions emphasizing that the importance of plant-plant interactions will be increased under climate change in dry environments, and indicate that reductions in the cover of plant and biological soil crust communities will negatively impact ecosystems under future climatic conditions.

Shrub encroachment can reverse desertification in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands.

The worldwide phenomenon of shrub encroachment in grass-dominated dryland ecosystems is commonly associated with desertification. Studies of the purported desertification effects associated with shrub encroachment are often restricted to relatively few study areas, and document a narrow range of possible impacts upon biota and ecosystem processes. We conducted a study in degraded Mediterranean grasslands dominated by Stipa tenacissima to simultaneously evaluate the effects of shrub encroachment on the structure and composition of multiple biotic community components, and on various indicators of ecosystem function. Shrub encroachment enhanced vascular plant richness, biomass of fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria, and was linked with greater soil fertility and N mineralization rates. While shrub encroachment may be a widespread phenomenon in drylands, an interpretation that this is an expression of desertification is not universal. Our results suggest that shrub establishment may be an important step in the reversal of desertification processes in the Mediterranean region.