RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiological studies aimed at describing characteristics of breast (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) patients tend to examine Hispanic populations using a mix of individuals that come from ethnically different Hispanic backgrounds. Since most USA cancer statistics do not include cancer data from Puerto Rico (PR), there is a lack of historical and descriptive data analysis for Hispanic women in the island that suffer from these diseases. Therefore, the aim of our study is to provide a comprehensive clinicopathological characterization of BC and OC cases in PR. METHODS: Our study consisted of a longitudinal retrospective review of archived pathology reports at Southern Pathology Services (SPS), which mostly serves southwestern PR, from years 2000-2015. After filtering SPS records with pre-established criteria, tumor samples from 3451 BC and 170 OC cases were used for descriptive statistics and analysis using R program. RESULTS: In our cohort, the mean age of diagnosis for BC was 60.5 years and 60.3 years for OC. Available data for subtype characterization from BC cases, exhibited an expected subtype distribution that remained stable over time (Luminal A = 68.8%, Luminal B = 9.7%, HER-2 = 6.1% and Triple negative = 15.4%). Additionally, tumor grades distribution varied within different BC subtypes in which the majority of Luminal A tumors were G2 and most Triple negative tumors were G3. For OC cases, available subtype and tumor grade information identified serous histology in 64.71% of all cases and G3 as being the most prevalent tumor grade. Pathology reports revealed that 39.42% of all OC cases were described as late stage, while 50.5% as early stage (by pathological staging). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that OC and BC subtypes distribution in Hispanic populations from PR are in-line with national averages. In a significant number of BC cases, subtype could not be determined due to study limitations, health insurance coverage, or other reasons described here and may constitute a health disparity. Altogether, and despite these gaps, this study represents one of the most complete reviews of BC and OC in PR and provides an opportunity to further study this population separate from other US Hispanic populations.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/epidemiología , Hispánicos o Latinos , Neoplasias Ováricas/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Análisis de Varianza , Biomarcadores de Tumor , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Femenino , Disparidades en Atención de Salud , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Persona de Mediana Edad , Clasificación del Tumor , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Neoplasias Ováricas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Ováricas/metabolismo , Vigilancia de la Población , Prevalencia , Puerto Rico/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Fresh cheeses are a main garnish of Mexican food. Consumption of artisanal fresh cheeses is very common and most of them are made from unpasteurised cow milk. A total of 52 fresh unpasteurised cheeses of five different types were purchased from a variety of suppliers from Tabasco, Mexico. Using the most probable number method, 67% and 63% of samples were positive for faecal coliforms and E. coli, respectively; revealing their low microbiological quality. General hygienic conditions and practices of traditional cheese manufacturers were poor; most establishments had unclean cement floors, all lacked windows and doors screens, and none of the food-handlers wore aprons, surgical masks or bouffant caps. After analysing all E. coli isolates (121 strains) for the presence of 26 virulence genes, results showed that 9 (17%) samples were contaminated with diarrheagenic E. coli strains, 8 harboured non-O157 Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), and one sample contained both STEC and diffusely adherent E. coli strains. All STEC strains carried the stx1 gene. Potential uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains were isolated from 15 (29%) samples; the most frequent gene combination was fimA-agn43. Two samples were contaminated with Salmonella. The results demonstrated that unpasteurised fresh cheeses produced in Tabasco are of poor microbiological quality and may frequently harbour foodborne pathogens. Food safety authorities in Mexico need to conduct more rigorous surveillance of fresh cheeses. Furthermore, simple and inexpensive measures as establishing programs emphasizing good hand milking practices and hygienic manufacturing procedures may have a major effect on improving the microbiological quality of these food items.