Long-term effect of chemotherapy after ovarian decortication on the ovarian function in women surviving cancer.

PURPOSE: Ovarian decortication may affect ovarian function. We investigated the status of ovarian reserve after ovarian decortication plus chemotherapy at a stage of presumed stabilized recovery in women surviving cancer. METHODS: We searched our database for cancer survivors subjected to ovarian decortication and chemotherapy at least 3 years previously. Ovarian function was explored for levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2), and menstrual pattern. RESULTS: Forty women (mean age 29.6 (SD, 6.1) years) were assessed at a mean of 4.7 (1.5) years after surgery. The predecortication levels of AMH and FSH changed at post-treatment from 2.2 (1.4) to 0.5 (1.3) ng/mL for AMH (p < 0.001) and from 4.7 (2.1) to 16.7 (21. 6) IU/L for FSH (p < 0.001). Amenorrhea consistent with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) was diagnosed in 11 women, and normal ovarian reserve (AMH ≥ 1.0 ng/mL) was found in 4 of the 21 women who recovered regular cycles. Logistic regression confirmed AMH as an independent predictor of diminished ovarian reserve (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.04-0.63, p = 0.025) and POI (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01-0.52, p = 0.027), and age was predictive of POI (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.08-1.96, p = 0.035) and of irregular menstrual cycle (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.46, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Ovarian decortication plus chemotherapy had a deleterious effect when assessed at a stage of stabilized ovarian recovery, but whether ovarian decortication had a specific impact cannot be revealed from our data.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus albus Strain IB84, Isolated from Mexican Soil.

Bacillus albus is a new species, but it lies on the borderline with Bacillus thuringiensis In this work, we report a strain previously identified as Bacillus thuringiensis IB84, which now, based on average nucleotide identity and rRNA 16S, gyrB, groEL, and xre gene sequences, must be identified as Bacillus albus.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus toyonensis Strain GM18, Isolated from Agricultural Soil.

Bacillus toyonensis is a recently described species related to Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis The GM18 strain previously identified as B. thuringiensis is now classified as B. toyonensis based on the RNA 16S sequence and whole-genome average nucleotide identity. The genome analysis revealed the presence of insecticide, nematicide, and antitumoral proteins.

West Nile virus survey of birds and mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic.

We report West Nile virus (WNV) activity from a new area on Hispaniola, in the vicinity of Monte Cristi National Park in northwest Dominican Republic. Specific anti-WNV antibodies were detected in 12 of 58 (21%) resident birds sampled in March 2003, representing six species in the orders Cuculiformes (cuckoos), Strigiformes (owls), and Passeriformes (song birds). This seroprevalence is the highest reported from any site in the Caribbean Basin. Virus was not detected in any mosquitoes or tissues from bird specimens. Testing of 20 sick or dead birds was negative for WNV. Undetermined flavivirus antibodies were detected in four resident birds at Monte Cristi, as well as in five resident birds at Sierra de Baoruco National Park in southwest Dominican Republic. These data suggest that an unidentified flavivirus, as well as WNV, is active in the Dominican Republic.

Mansonia dyari, Mansonia flaveola and Aedeomyia squamipennis in the Dominican Republic, three new country records.

We report the first collection of 3 mosquito species representing 2 genera in the Dominican Republic. The collections of adults and larvae of Mansonia dyari Belkin, Heinemann, and Page and Mansonia flaveola (Coquillett) from Santo Domingo City represent 2 additional mosquito species to the mosquito fauna of the Dominican Republic. Larvae were collected in the Quitasueno and Puerta de Hierro lagoons (covered with the Pistia stratiotes plants) in Santo Domingo. The associated species Aedeomyia squamipennis Lynch Arribalzaga was also collected for the first time and is the only representative of the genus Aedeomyia Theobald in the Dominican Republic. These collections increase the number of mosquito species belonging to the Genus Mansonia from 1 to 3 and total species from 45 to 48 in the Dominican Republic.

Seasonal prevalence and container preferences of Aedes albopictus in Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic.

The seasonal prevalence and container preferences of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were studied in the park, Parque Mirador del Norte in Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic, from January to December 1994. Tire ovitraps were set along a transect through the park and monitored weekly while two larval surveys were conducted in both the park and surrounding houses using standard entomological methodology. No seasonal pattern of oviposition was observed with similar numbers of positive tire traps collected in the wet and dry season. Most of the positive ovitraps were located in the middle of the park. Within ovitraps, Aedes aegypti (L.), Ae. albopictus, Culex corniger (Theobald), Ochlerotatus albonotatus (Coquillett), and Toxorhynchites sp. were collected. The larval surveys found 7 associated mosquito species, including Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ochleotatus mediovittatus (Coquillett), Anopheles albimanus (Weidemann), Culex nigripalpus (Theobald), and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. The Ae. albopictus breeding sites were plastic buckets (4), rock holes (3), and Styrofoam lunch containers (3). We suggest that further studies should be conducted to determine its geographic distribution and vector potential in the Dominican Republic.