Several infectious agents are considered to be causes of cancer in humans. The fraction of the different types of cancer, and of all cancers worldwide and in different regions, has been estimated using several methods; primarily by reviewing the evidence for the strength of the association (relative risk) and the prevalence of infection in different world areas. The estimated total of infection-attributable cancer in the year 2002 is 1.9 million cases, or 17.8% of the global cancer burden. The principal agents are the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (5.5% of all cancer), the human papilloma viruses (5.2%), the hepatitis B and C viruses (4.9%), Epstein-Barr virus (1%), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) together with the human herpes virus 8 (0.9%). Relatively less important causes of cancer are the schistosomes (0.1%), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (0.03%) and the liver flukes (0.02%). There would be 26.3% fewer cancers in developing countries (1.5 million cases per year) and 7.7% in developed countries (390,000 cases) if these infectious diseases were prevented. The attributable fraction at the specific sites varies from 100% of cervix cancers attributable to the papilloma viruses to a tiny proportion (0.4%) of liver cancers (worldwide) caused by liver flukes.

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The global health burden of infection-associated cancers in the year 2002.

Hylidae is a large family of American, Australopapuan, and temperate Eurasian treefrogs of approximately 870 known species, divided among four subfamilies. Although some groups of Hylidae have been addressed phylogenetically, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis has never been presented. The first goal of this paper is to review the current state of hylid systematics. We focus on the very large subfamily Hylinae (590 species), evaluate the monophyly of named taxa, and examine the evidential basis of the existing taxonomy. The second objective is to perform a phylogenetic analysis using mostly DNA sequence data in order to (1) test the monophyly of the Hylidae; (2) determine its constituent taxa, with special attention to the genera and species groups which form the subfamily Hylinae, and c) propose a new, monophyletic taxonomy consistent with the hypothesized relationships. We present a phylogenetic analysis of hylid frogs based on 276 terminals, including 228 hylids and 48 outgroup taxa. Includ...

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Systematic review of the frog family hylidae, with special reference to hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision

The simple nodular goiter, the etiology of which is multifactorial, encompasses the spectrum from the incidental asymptomatic small solitary nodule to the large intrathoracic goiter, causing pressure symptoms as well as cosmetic complaints. Its management is still the cause of considerable controversy. The mainstay in the diagnostic evaluation is related to functional and morphological characterization with serum TSH and (some kind of) imaging. Because malignancy is just as common in patients with a multinodular goiter as patients with a solitary nodule, we support the increasing use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (cytology). Most patients need no treatment after malignancy is ruled out. In case of cosmetic or pressure symptoms, the choice in multinodular goiter stands between surgery, which is still the first choice, and radioiodine if uptake is adequate. In addition to surgery, the solitary nodule, whether hot or cold, can be treated with percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. If hot, radioiodine is the therapy of choice. Randomized studies are scarce, and the side effects of nonsurgical therapy are coming into focus. Therefore, the use of the optimum option in the individual patient cannot at present be based on evidence. However, we are of the view that levothyroxine, although widely used, should no longer be recommended routinely for this condition. Within a few years, the introduction of recombinant human TSH and laser therapy may profoundly alter the nonsurgical treatment of simple nodular goiter.

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Management of simple nodular goiter: current status and future perspectives.

The known diversity of dart-poison frog species has grown from 70 in the 1960s to 247 at present, with no sign that the discovery of new species will wane in the foreseeable future. Although this growth in knowledge of the diversity of this group has been accompanied by detailed investigations of many aspects of the biology of dendrobatids, their phylogenetic relationships remain poorly understood. This study was designed to test hypotheses of dendrobatid diversification by combining new and prior genotypic and phenotypic evidence in a total evidence analysis. DNA sequences were sampled for five mitochondrial and six nuclear loci (approximately 6,100 base pairs [bp]; x¯ = 3,740 bp per terminal; total dataset composed of approximately 1.55 million bp), and 174 phenotypic characters were scored from adult and larval morphology, alkaloid profiles, and behavior. These data were combined with relevant published DNA sequences. Ingroup sampling targeted several previously unsampled species, including Ar...

Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (amphibia: athesphatanura: dendrobatidae)

Neotropical Rainforest Mammals. A Field Guide, Louise H. Emmons. University of Chicago Press, Chicago (1990), xiv, Illustrations by François Feer, +281. Price $45·00 hardback, $19·95 paperback

Risk of 45,X karyotype in offspring of turner's syndrome patients. [Letters to the editor]

A new species of treefrog of the genus Scinax is described from southern Sao Paulo, Atlantic Forest, in southeastern Brazil. The new species is a member of the Scinax rubra group characterized by moderate size, head longer than wide, snout nearly rounded in profile and subacuminate in dorsal view. Descriptions of the advertisement call and karyotype, as well as data on natural history, are provided. The inclusion of the species assigned presently to S. x-signata group in the S. rubra group is proposed.

A New Species of Scinax (Anura: Hylidae) from Southeastern Brazil, with Comments on the Genus

We studied ten specimens of Physalaemus cuvieri collected at different localities in Brazil using conventional staining and banding techniques. All specimens had 2n = 22. There were karyotypic variants: distinct patterns in the number and chromosome localization of Ag-NORs as well as in the corresponding secondary constrictions. Preliminary C-banding patterns obtained for specimens from two localities are also suggestive of karyotypic differentiation in P. cuvieri.

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Nucleolus Organizer Regions in Physalaemus Cuvieri (Anura, Leptodactylidae), with Evidence of a Unique Case of Ag‐NOR Variability

RBG banding resulting in multiple, clear DNA replication bands was obtained on the chromosomes of Tropidurus montanus (2n = 36) and T . torquatus </i&g

High-resolution RBG-banding pattern in the genus Tropidurus (Sauria, Iguanidae)

Specimens of Leptodactylus mystacinus from Brazil were karyotyped with conventional and differential staining. The 2n = 22 karyotype is similar to that found for the majority of the Leptodactylus, the karyotypic conservatism also confirmed by the similarity of the replication banding patterns with those previously described. L. mystacinus has a small amount of C-banded heterochromatin, located mainly at the centromeres, although telomeric or interstitial bands have also been noticed. With DA/CMA3 some chromosome regions showed slightly bright fluorescence, and with DA/DAPI, no particular AT-rich repetitive region was observed. Silver staining showed an extensive inter- and intraindividual variation in the number and position of Ag-positive regions, in 1p, 4p, 8p, 8q, and 11p. Nevertheless, FISH using rDNA probes confirmed only the signals on the short arms of chromosomes 4 and 8 as true NORs. The remaining silver stained regions are probably due to the heterochromatin with some affinity to the Ag-staining. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial cytochrome b sequence revealed that L. mystacinus forms a basal branch, so that the presence of multiple NORs in pairs 4 and 8 in this species indicates an autapomorphy.

Multiple nucleolus organizer regions in Leptodactylus mystacinus (Amphibia, Anura) and comments on its systematic position in the L. fuscus group based on cytogenetic and molecular analyses.

Sanae Kasahara

Papers

Risk of 45,X karyotype in offspring of turner's syndrome patients. [Letters to the editor]

A New Species of Scinax (Anura: Hylidae) from Southeastern Brazil, with Comments on the Genus

Nucleolus Organizer Regions in Physalaemus Cuvieri (Anura, Leptodactylidae), with Evidence of a Unique Case of Ag‐NOR Variability

High-resolution RBG-banding pattern in the genus Tropidurus (Sauria, Iguanidae)

Multiple nucleolus organizer regions in Leptodactylus mystacinus (Amphibia, Anura) and comments on its systematic position in the L. fuscus group based on cytogenetic and molecular analyses.