Allergenicity of the ornamental urban flora: ecological and aerobiological analyses in C��rdoba (Spain) and Ascoli Piceno (Italy)

Comparative ecological and aerobiological analyses of ornamental urban flora in the cities of Córdoba (Spain) and Ascoli Piceno (Italy) identified a group of plants with allergenic pollen whose behaviour is influenced by a number of factors. The geographical position and the resulting climate of both cities favoured the presence of Mediterranean species. In Córdoba, strongly allergenic evergreens introduced during the Moorish period predominated (Cupressus sempervirens, among others), while in the urban area of Ascoli Piceno, Pinaceae were abundant. In both cities, many species of American origin have been introduced for aesthetic reasons, contributing to an increase in the overall allergenicity of urban greenery. The pollen spectrum differed between the two cities: airborne Oleaceae and Cupressaceae pollen abounded in Córdoba, whilst allergenic pollen from surrounding natural environments (Corylaceae) predominated in Ascoli Piceno. These results pointed to a large number of potentially allergenic species in cities, thus highlighting the importance of greater ecological and aerobiological knowledge of allergenic species of urban ornamental flora. Avoidance of more allergenic species when planning new urban green areas could ensure healthier environments for pollen-allergy sufferers.     

Second primary malignancies in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer: Results from a cancer registry–based study in Emilia Romagna,north-east Italy

Backgroundprevious research on the risk of subsequent, primary non-cutaneous malignancies among patients with non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) led to conflicting results. We aimed to investigate a possible link between NMSC and second primary malignancies by using the population-based data available in cancer registries.Methodsthis observational study retrospectively assessed the risk of occurrence of both synchronous and methachronous second primary tumours in a cohort of cancer patients whose first diagnosis was NMSC. The cohort came from the network of general cancer registries of the Emilia-Romagna Region, northeast Italy, in the period between 1978 and 2012, and was compared with the general population living in the same area. Two main indexes were used: i) Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR), calculated as the ratio between the observed and the expected number of second cancers and ii) Excess Absolute Risk (EAR), expressing the absolute excess or deficit of second cancer incidence.Resultsin the period analysed (1978–2012, 72,503,157 person/years, PYs), 89,912 primary NMSC were found in 76,414 patients. Among them, 14,195 developed a second primary cancer in the subsequent 501,763 follow-up PYs. NMSC patients showed an overall SIR of 1.22 (CI 95% 1.20-1,24) and an EAR of 5.11 cases/1000 PYs (CI 95% 4.48–5.74).Conclusionsthe study results showed that NMSC patients had an increase in relative risk and, at least for some tumours, in absolute risk of developing a second cancer when compared with the general population. Genetic, environmental and personal risk factors may influence this finding.     

Five year cancer incidence in Calabar,Nigeria (2009–2013)

Cancer incidence rates are presented for the Calabar Cancer Registry, a population-based cancer registry (PBCR) covering the population of two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Calabar the capital of Cross-River State, Nigeria. (375,196 inhabitants in 2006). During the period 2009–2013, a total of 719 new cases were registered comprising 320 men (an age standardised incidence rate (ASR) of 78.8 per 100,000) and 399 women (ASR of 86.9 per 100,000).Breast and cervical cancers account for 60.4% of all cancers in women, with breast cancer (ASR 35 per 100,000) almost twice as common as cervix cancer (ASR 21 per 100,000) and occurring in rather younger women. Prostate cancer was the most common cancer in men (ASR 50.8 per 100,000).Hodgkin’s lymphoma was common in both sexes, and there were moderate numbers of HIV-related cancers recorded (Kaposi sarcoma, non Hodgkin lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinomas of conjunctiva).     

International conference on “Photosynthesis research for sustainability-2013: in honor of Jalal A. Aliyev”, held during June 5–9, 2013, Baku, Azerbaijan

In this brief report, we provide a pictorial essay on an international conference “Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability-2013 in honor of Jalal A. Aliyev” that was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, during June 5–9, 2013 (http://photosynthesis2013.cellreg.org/). We begin this report with a brief note on Jalal Aliyev, the honored scientist, and on John Walker (1997 Nobel laureate in Chemistry) who was a distinguished guest and lecturer at the Conference. We briefly describe the Conference, and the program. In addition to the excellent scientific program, a special feature of the Conference was the presentation of awards to nine outstanding young investigators; they are recognized in this report. We have also included several photographs to show the pleasant ambience at this conference. (See http://photosynthesis2013.cellreg.org/Photo-Gallery.php; https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qcr124dajwffwh6/TlcHBvFu4H?m; and https://www.copy.com/s/UDlxb9fgFXG9/Baku for more photographs taken by the authors as well as by others.) We invite the readers to the next conferences on “Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability—2014: in honor of Vladimir A. Shuvalov” to be held during June 2–7, 2014, in Pushchino, Russia. Detailed information for this will be posted at the Website: http://photosynthesis2014.cellreg.org/, and for the subsequent conference on “Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability—2015” to be held in May or June 2015, in Baku, Azerbaijan, at http://photosynthesis2015.cellreg.org/.