A pharmacoeconomic analysis of the collection and preservation of samples in the biobank of the "Instituto Nacional de Cancerología" in Mexico City.

In this work we estimated the budgetary impact of the samples produced by the biobank of the "Instituto Nacional de Cancerología" (BT-INCan) to set a recuperation fee from the perspective of the Health Ministry of Mexico. The study is an observational retrospective review of the direct medical costs (DMCs) of the processes involved in cryopreservation of the samples collected, on a per sample basis, including materials, laboratory tests, personnel, and administrative costs. Materials and labor costs were determined by information collected from the BT-INCan. DMCs were provided depending on the type of sample: plasma, tissue and biopsy; they were calculated according to the process required to preserve them. Sensitivity analysis was performed using bootstrap. Recuperation costs ranged from 130 to 155 USD. Costs were considered on a 5-year time frame for the maintenance per sample, which is the average time that a sample is kept in the BT-INCan. The cost analysis is perceived as an approximation to the most adequate recuperation fee per sample needed to guarantee the correct development of the BT-INCan. This work provides a basis and valuable information about costs, to enable several health institutions to strategically plan and manage a biobank or even motivate to establish their own biobank.

Candida species isolation in peristomal skin in patients with abdominal stomas and correlation to clinical signs: a descriptive pilot study.

The reported prevalence of candidiasis in peristomal skin varies greatly. Very few studies exist that correlate the clinical findings around the peristomal skin to the mycology. In this study, the authors report on Candida species prevalence, clinical correlation, and mycology.

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma of the mandible.

This article describes a case of clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC) in a 55-year-old woman who presented such a tumor extending from the midline of the mandible to the right first molar. The tumor was surgically excised and has not recurred or metastasized 6 months after surgery. To date, only 33 well-documented cases have been reported (including the present case) in the English literature. Twenty-eight (84.8%) have developed in the mandible and five (15.2%) in the maxilla. Eighteen (54.5%) occurred anterior to the first molar. The vast majority have been diagnosed in patients older than 40 years (30/33), and the mean age at diagnosis is 57.4 years (range: 17-89), with a male/female ratio: 1/2. Recurrences have been described in 17 cases (51.5%) and metastasis in 10 (30.3%). Based on its morphologic, histochemical and immunophenotypic features, CCOC should be distinguished from other primary and metastatic clear cell tumors of the oral and maxillofacial regions.