RESUMO
Previous reports on the inverse association between 'mate' intake (infusion of Ilex Paraguariensis herb) and breast cancer (BC) risk led us to consider two main roles for the infusion: as a substantial antioxidant contributor and as a hormone regulator, particularly through anti-aromatase capacities. Since menstrual-reproductive risk factors for BC reflect women's estrogenic exposure during the reproductive lifespan, and considering that 'mate' intake exerts putative stronger protection among high antioxidant contributors, we attempted to analyze interactions among the infusion, hormon-linked reproductive factors and BC risk, which have hitherto remained unexplored. We analyzed a database of 572 BC incident cases and 889 controls. Women were interviewed with a specific questionnaire featuring socio-demographic, lifestyle and reproductive variables (age at menarche, 1st live birth and menopause; number of live births; breastfeeding months), and a food frequency questionnaire, focusing on 'mate' intake (consumer status, daily intake, age at start, age at quit, duration of habit). Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence Intervals were calculated through unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant potential confounders. 'Mate' intake showed strong inverse associations with some high-risk hormone-related factors: early menarche, nulliparity, low breastfeeding, long reproductive years and high number of ovulatory cycles. Moreover, all subsets of high dietary energy demonstrated even stronger associations. In conclusion, regarding exposure to known hormone risk factors, we found strong inverse associations between high 'mate' intake and BC, which were greater among those consuming higher calorific diets. Our analyses support possible combined antioxidant and antiestrogenic effects for 'mate' infusions.
RESUMO
A checklist and identification key for the species of the tribe Anomalini in Costa Rica are presented. The Anomalini species are important economically, as they have larvae that are or can become agricultural pests, as well as ecologically, having potential as bioindicators. In spite of their importance and richness, identification tools for the group in the Neotropics remain scarce. The Costa Rican fauna comprises six genera (Anomala, Anomalorhina, Callistethus, Epectinaspis, Moroniella, and Strigoderma) and a total of 120 species. Anomala contusa Filippini, Micó, Galante, 2015 is proposed as a synonym of Anomala inbio (Ramírez-Ponce, Bitar, Curoe 2014); Anomala limonnom. n. is proposed as a new name for Anomala inbio Filippini, Galante, Micó, 2015, a homonym of Anomala inbio (Ramírez-Ponce, Bitar, Curoe, 2014); Anomala cinaediasnom. n. is proposed as a new name for Anomala chloropyga Ohaus, 1897, a homonym of Anomala chloropyga Burmeister, 1844; and Anomala chrysomelina is moved to the genus Callistethus.
ResumenPresentamos el listado y la clave de identificación de las especies de la tribu Anomalini de Costa Rica. Las especies de Anomalini son importantes económica, con larvas que son o pueden ser plagas agrícolas, y ecológicamente, con un potencial como bioindicadores. A pesar de su importancia y riqueza, los instrumentos de identificación para el grupo para el Neoptrópico son todavía escasos. La fauna de Costa Rica está compuesta por seis géneros (Anomala, Anomalorhina, Callistethus, Epectinaspis, Moroniella y Strigoderma) y un total de 120 especies. Anomala contusa Filippini, Micó, Galante, 2015 se propone como sinónimo de Anomala inbio (Ramírez-Ponce, Bitar, Curoe, 2014); Anomala limon se propone como nuevo nombre de Anomala inbio Filippini, Galante, Micó, 2015, homónimo de Anomala inbio (Ramírez-Ponce, Bitar, Curoe, 2014); Anomala cinaedias se propone como nuevo nombre de Anomala chloropyga Ohaus, 1897, homónimo de Anomala chloropyga Burmeister, 1844; Anomala chrysomelina se mueve al género Callistethus.
RESUMO
Four new species of Anomala Samouelle and two new species of Callistethus Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anomalini) from Costa Rica are described: A. aglaos new species, A. estrella new species, A. inbio new species, A. pincelada new species, C. ruteloides new species, and C. yalizo new species. A distribution map of each species is given and the male genitalia (aedeagus and endophallus) of the species described and similar species are illustrated.
Assuntos
Besouros/classificação , Distribuição Animal , Estruturas Animais/anatomia & histologia , Estruturas Animais/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Tamanho Corporal , Besouros/anatomia & histologia , Besouros/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Costa Rica , Feminino , Masculino , Museus , Tamanho do ÓrgãoRESUMO
Anomala eucoma Bates, 1888 is redescribed and a lectotype from Guatemala is designated. Three new species from Costa Rica, A. flavacoma new species, A. megaparamera new species, and A. pseudoeucoma new species, are described, and a distribution map is given. The internal sac (endophallus) of the species covered is illustrated, and its use in separating closely related species in this region is discussed. An identification key for morphologically similar species from the Neotropical region is provided.
Assuntos
Besouros/classificação , Distribuição Animal , Estruturas Animais/anatomia & histologia , Estruturas Animais/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Tamanho Corporal , Besouros/anatomia & histologia , Besouros/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Costa Rica , Feminino , Masculino , Tamanho do ÓrgãoRESUMO
Studies have shown that cancer requires two conditions for tumor progression: cancer cell proliferation and an environment permissive to and conditioned by malignancy. Chemotherapy aims to control the number and proliferation of cancer cells, but it does not effectively control the two best-known conditions of the tumor-permissive environment: neoangiogenesis and tolerogenic immunity. Many malignant diseases exhibit poor outcomes after treatment with chemotherapy. Therefore, we investigated the potential benefits of adding an induction regimen of antiangiogenesis and antitumor immunity to chemotherapy in poor outcome disease. In a prospective, randomized trial, we included patients with advanced, unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinomas, non-small cell lung cancer, or prostate cancer. Two groups of each primary condition were compared: group 1 (G1), n = 30, was treated with the standard chemotherapy and used as a control, and group 2 (G2), n = 30, was treated with chemotherapy plus an induction regimen of antiangiogenesis and antitumor immunity. This induction regimen included a low dose of metronomic cyclophosphamide, a high dose of Cox-2 inhibitor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, a sulfhydryl (SH) donor, and a hemoderivative that contained autologous tumor antigens released from patient tumors into the blood. After treatment, the G2 group demonstrated significantly longer survival, lower blood level of neoangiogenesis and immune-tolerance mediators, and higher blood levels of antiangiogenesis and antitumor immunity mediators compared with the G1 group. Toxicity and quality of life were not significantly different between the groups. In conclusion, in several advanced malignancies of different primary localizations, an increase in survival was observed by adding an induction regimen of antiangiogenesis and antitumor immunity to standard chemotherapy.
Assuntos
Inibidores da Angiogênese/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma/tratamento farmacológico , Imunoterapia/métodos , Quimioterapia de Indução/métodos , Acetilcisteína/administração & dosagem , Acetilcisteína/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Neoplasias/imunologia , Antígenos de Neoplasias/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma/mortalidade , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/mortalidade , Celecoxib , Ciclofosfamida/administração & dosagem , Ciclofosfamida/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Imunização , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Masculino , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/mortalidade , Neoplasias da Próstata/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Próstata/mortalidade , Pirazóis/administração & dosagem , Pirazóis/efeitos adversos , Sulfonamidas/administração & dosagem , Sulfonamidas/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Light traps have been used widely to sample insect abundance and diversity, but their performance for sampling scarab beetles in tropical forests based on light source type and sampling hours throughout the night has not been evaluated. The efficiency of mercury-vapour lamps, cool white light and ultraviolet light sources in attracting Dynastinae, Melolonthinae and Rutelinae scarab beetles, and the most adequate period of the night to carry out the sampling was tested in different forest areas of Costa Rica. Our results showed that light source wavelengths and hours of sampling influenced scarab beetle catches. No significant differences were observed in trap performance between the ultraviolet light and mercury-vapour traps, whereas these two methods caught significantly more species richness and abundance than cool white light traps. Species composition also varied between methods. Large differences appear between catches in the sampling period, with the first five hours of the night being more effective than the last five hours. Because of their high efficiency and logistic advantages, we recommend ultraviolet light traps deployed during the first hours of the night as the best sampling method for biodiversity studies of those scarab beetles in tropical forests.
Assuntos
Biodiversidade , Besouros , Ecologia/métodos , Animais , Costa Rica , Luz , Fatores de Tempo , Clima TropicalRESUMO
The Media Luna lake-spring was selected as representative of all thermal or no thermal springs in the zone of Valley of Rioverde, a semi-arid vegetation in the North-eastern of Mexico. This system is inhabited by 11 fish species, of which six are native. Four of the native species are endemic to the region and threatened due to touristic pressure and to the introduction of exotic species. The objectives were to determine the characteristics that influence the spatial distribution of the fish species, to analyze their spatial distribution patterns, and to describe the relationships between the different species. The general aim was to establish some basis for the conservation of these fish communities and their habitat. Several sessions were initiated in 1992 through direct observation. Later, between 1998 and 1999 five systematically seasonal sampling sessions were conducted (54 subaquatic transects/session). Finally, the data was updated by sampling in summer 2002 and winter 2006. Through the analysis was performed only for endemics of the region, like Ataeniobius toweri Meek, Cualac tessellatus Miller, Cichlasoma bartoni Bean and C. labridens Pellegrin, in at least one life stage, showed correlation with habitat variables or with other species. For these species, patterns of spatial aggregation and association with other species were observed. These results show a certain degree of specialization of endemic species to some microhabitat characteristics, as well as a significant interaction with other native species which they coexist. In addition, some significant relations between endemic and alien species suggest an antagonist relation. Management actions focused in the touristic use of the spring represent the main threat for these species, followed by an adequate management of exotic species. This study provides basis for future responsible management of these wetlands, where tourism and conservation can be combined.
Assuntos
Ecossistema , Peixes/fisiologia , Água Doce , Animais , Peixes/classificação , México , Densidade Demográfica , Dinâmica Populacional , Estações do AnoRESUMO
The Media Luna lake-spring was selected as representative of all thermal or no thermal springs in the zone of Valley of Rioverde, a semi-arid vegetation in the North-eastern of Mexico. This system is inhabited by 11 fish species, of which six are native. Four of the native species are endemic to the region and threatened due to touristic pressure and to the introduction of exotic species. The objectives were to determine the characteristics that influence the spatial distribution of the fish species, to analyze their spatial distribution patterns, and to describe the relationships between the different species. The general aim was to establish some basis for the conservation of these fish communities and their habitat. Several sessions were initiated in 1992 through direct observation. Later, between 1998 and 1999 five systematically seasonal sampling sessions were conducted (54 subaquatic transects/session). Finally, the data was updated by sampling in summer 2002 and winter 2006. Through the analysis was performed only for endemics of the region, like Ataeniobius toweri Meek, Cualac tessellatus Miller, Cichlasoma bartoni Bean and C. labridens Pellegrin, in at least one life stage, showed correlation with habitat variables or with other species. For these species, patterns of spatial aggregation and association with other species were observed. These results show a certain degree of specialization of endemic species to some microhabitat characteristics, as well as a significant interaction with other native species which they coexist. In addition, some significant relations between endemic and alien species suggest an antagonist relation. Management actions focused in the touristic use of the spring represent the main threat for these species, followed by an adequate management of exotic species. This study provides basis for future responsible management of these wetlands, where tourism and conservation can be combined. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 413- 426. Epub 2010 March 01.
Este estudio se enfocó en los peces de un sistema dulceacuícola en el noreste de México, donde habitan seis especies nativas (cuatro endémicas amenazadas) y cinco exóticas. El objetivo fue establecer los patrones que determinan la distribución espacial, así como las interrelaciones de las especies. Los datos se basan en sesiones de observación directa desde 1992; entre 1998 y 1999 se llevó a cabo un muestreo sistematizado mediante transectos subacuáticos en cinco sesiones estacionales (54 transectos/ sesión), con sesiones adicionales en 2002 y 2006. Sólo las especies endémicas de la región: Ataeniobius toweri, Cualac tessellatus, Cichlasoma bartoni y C. labridens, en al menos un estadio de vida, mostraron correlación significativa con variables del hábitat o con otras especies. También mostraron patrones de agregación y asociación con otras especies nativas o introducidas. Existe especialización de los endémicos a las condiciones de su microhábitat, así como interacciones significativas con otras especies. Acciones inadecuadas para promover el turismo representaron la mayor amenaza por destrucción del hábitat, endémicos tales como A, toweri y C. bartoni enfrentan solapamiento con especies introducidas, sobre todo en sus sitios de crianza. Este estudio aporta bases para un manejo responsable de estos humedales, donde turismo y conservación pueden combinarse.
Assuntos
Animais , Ecossistema , Água Doce , Peixes/fisiologia , Peixes/classificação , México , Densidade Demográfica , Dinâmica Populacional , Estações do AnoRESUMO
PURPOSE: It has been reported that insulin increases the cytotoxic effect in vitro of methotrexate by as much as 10,000-fold. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical value of insulin as a potentiator of methotrexate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included in this prospective, randomized clinical trial were 30 women with metastatic breast cancer resistant to fluorouracil + Adriamycin + cyclophosphamide and also resistant to hormone therapy with measurable lesions. Three groups each of ten patients received two 21-day courses of the following treatments: insulin + methotrexate, methotrexate, and insulin, respectively. In each patient, the size of the target tumor was measured before and after treatment according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors. The changes in the size of the target tumor in the three groups were compared statistically. RESULTS: Under the trial conditions, the methotrexate-treated group and the insulin-treated group responded most frequently with progressive disease. The group treated with insulin + methotrexate responded most frequently with stable disease. The median increase in tumor size was significantly lower with insulin + methotrexate than with each drug used separately. DISCUSSION: Our results confirmed in vivo the results of previous in vitro studies showing clinical evidence that insulin potentiates methotrexate under conditions where insulin alone does not promote an increase in tumor growth. Therefore, the chemotherapy antitumoral activity must have been enhanced by the biochemical events elicited in tumor cells by insulin. CONCLUSIONS: In multidrug-resistant metastatic breast cancer, methotrexate + insulin produced a significant antitumoral response that was not seen with either methotrexate or insulin used separately.
Assuntos
Antimetabólitos Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Insulina/uso terapêutico , Metotrexato/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Idoso , Antimetabólitos Antineoplásicos/toxicidade , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Divisão Celular , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Quimioterapia Combinada , Feminino , Humanos , Insulina/toxicidade , Metotrexato/toxicidade , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Lately, the promising results obtained with autologous cancer vaccines are stimulating new research in the old field of cancer immunotherapy. This paper describes the development of a procedure previously reported by us that is used to obtain an autologous hemoderivative with antitumoral properties. The procedure has been tested in a phase I-II, randomized, controlled clinical trial of 28 cancer patients with different primary malignancies in metastatic and chemotherapy-resistant stages. The histology of the lesions that responded to this treatment was consistent with the characteristic histology observed in malignant lesions treated with a similar antitumoral hemoderivative: proliferation of stromal connective tissue, T-lymphocyte infiltration, and a reduction in the amount of tumor cells and blood vessels. We concluded that vaccination had elicited an immune response because a delayed-type hypersensitivity test made with the autologous hemoderivative produced a significantly more intense response in the responding treated patients. We propose that an immune mechanism acting on tumor cells and/or the regulatory system for stromal growth explains the histological results observed. The use of blood to obtain the immunogen allows vaccination to be repeated, so this method could avoid tumor escape responses due to mutations in the antigen library of the tumor. The results of our study justify further research to optimize the antitumoral effect of vaccination.