Nasopharyngeal Botflies Oestrus ovis and Cephenemyia stimulator in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Northern Spain.

Two of 19 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in northern Spain were infested with Cephenemyia stimulator and one individual with Oestrus ovis. Three larvae of O. ovis were recovered from the nasopharynx of an adult female deer examined in February 2017, during the hunting season in the province of Burgos. The larvae were identified by morphology, and DNA sequencing from cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 28S rDNA confirmed the identification of both species of larvae. The possibility of O. ovis parasitizing roe deer should be considered in the diagnosis of nasal bots in cervids.

Rendimiento diagnóstico de marcadores tumorales séricos convencionales en pacientes con sospecha clínica de cáncer primario metastásico a hígado / Conventional serum tumor markers in liver cancer. Retrospective analysis of 118 patients

Background: Conventional serum tumor markers (CSTM) are widely used for monitoring patients with cancer. However, their usefulness as a diagnostic tool is controversial in primary or metastatic liver cancer (PMLC). Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the most commonly requested CSTM in the diagnostic approach of PMLC. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients aged over 18 years with a liver biopsy, attended from 2005 to 2017 in a tertiary hospital and a regional cancer center in Colombia. The results of liver biopsies were compared with tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CA 19-9, CA 125 and prostate specific antigen (PSA) using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: We reviewed 2063 medical records and retrieved 118 eligible patients (59 cases and 59 controls, 70% males). Thirty percent had obstructive jaundice. There was heterogeneity in the amount of tumor markers requested according to medical criteria. Only CA 19-9 showed discriminative capacity (> 17.6 U/m), with a cut-off point lower than that reported in the literature and a sensitivity of 69.5%, specificity of 91.6%, a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 8.32, and a negative LR of 0.33. Conclusions: Except for CA 19-9, tumor markers were not useful for the initial diagnostic approach in patients with suspected primary or metastatic malignant liver tumors.

[Conventional serum tumor markers in liver cancer. Retrospective analysis of 118 patients]. / Rendimiento diagnóstico de marcadores tumorales séricos convencionales en pacientes con sospecha clínica de cáncer primario metastásico a hígado.

BACKGROUND: Conventional serum tumor markers (CSTM) are widely used for monitoring patients with cancer. However, their usefulness as a diagnostic tool is controversial in primary or metastatic liver cancer (PMLC). AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the most commonly requested CSTM in the diagnostic approach of PMLC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records of patients aged over 18 years with a liver biopsy, attended from 2005 to 2017 in a tertiary hospital and a regional cancer center in Colombia. The results of liver biopsies were compared with tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CA 19-9, CA 125 and prostate specific antigen (PSA) using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: We reviewed 2063 medical records and retrieved 118 eligible patients (59 cases and 59 controls, 70% males). Thirty percent had obstructive jaundice. There was heterogeneity in the amount of tumor markers requested according to medical criteria. Only CA 19-9 showed discriminative capacity (> 17.6 U/m), with a cut-off point lower than that reported in the literature and a sensitivity of 69.5%, specificity of 91.6%, a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 8.32, and a negative LR of 0.33. CONCLUSIONS: Except for CA 19-9, tumor markers were not useful for the initial diagnostic approach in patients with suspected primary or metastatic malignant liver tumors.

Impact of pH and temperature on the colour and betalain content of Colombian yellow pitaya peel (Selenicereus megalanthus).

The effects of different pHs (4, 5 and 6), temperatures (4, 20 and 80 °C) and storage (up to 12 days) on differential tristimulus colorimetry and betalain content related to the colour of yellow pitaya (Selenicereus megalanthus) have been investigated. The peel of the yellow pitaya was extracted with different solvents to see its colorant capacity. Highly-acidic extracts (pH 4) showed the lowest betalain content, chroma (C* ab = 60 against 70) and the yellow component of the colour (b*). Storage temperature manifested a great influence on CIELAB parameters when yellow pitaya peel was added to highly-acidic foodstuffs, with a tendency towards red hues (h ab , from 100° to 85°) and remarkable changes on lightness (L*, from 90 to 75) as temperature increased. However, low-acidic extracts (pH 5 and 6) were superior from a colour stability standpoint, not being influential the temperature of storage. All colour changes according to pH and temperature were visually appreciable by human eyes (∆E* ab  > 3). New opportunities for diversification of colorant market could be possible by employing yellow pitaya peel as natural resource.

Salud de la mujer: using fotonovelas to increase health literacy among Latinas.

BACKGROUND: There is an identified need for health literacy strategies to be culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate. OBJECTIVES: The goal of our community-based participatory research (CBPR) project related to health and nutrition is to demonstrate that active community involvement in the creation of health education fotonovelas that are relevant to culture, ethnicity, gender, social class, and language can increase the health literacy of women in a disadvantaged community. METHODS: We recruited 12 women to take part in our pilot fotonovela intervention about healthy eating and nutrition. Pre- and post-test assessments of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior around nutrition were given at baseline and will be collected after the completion of the project. RESULTS: We hypothesize that post-test assessments of our participants will reveal increased nutrition knowledge as well as positive changes in attitudes and behavior toward healthy eating. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that our fotonovelas will represent experiences of community members and encourage good health practices by increasing knowledge and cooperation among community members.