Monitoring of RAS mutant clones in plasma of patients with RAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Some patients with histologically confirmed primary mCRC and mutated RAS reported undetectable RAS mutant clones in plasma after receiving anti-VEGF treatment. The aim was to prospectively assess it with its potential therapeutic implications.

Methods: RAS mutant genes in solid biopsy (before first-line treatment: FOLFOX/CAPOX + bevacizumab) were compared in liquid biopsy (before second-line treatment: panitumumab + FOLFIRI), using Idylla™ system.

Impacts of multidisciplinary actions on environmental lead exposure in Uruguay.

Environmental lead contamination in Uruguay became a matter of public concern in 2001, when cases of children with blood lead levels (BLL) higher than 20 μg/dl appeared in some low-income neighborhoods of Montevideo, being 10 μg/dl the intervention reference BLL. The aim of this paper is to show the results of multidisciplinary actions taken by decisions makers in social, environmental and healthcare aspects, to minimize lead exposure risks. We evaluated changes in blood lead levels of different children and non-exposed adult populations before and after the actions were taken, from 2001 on.

Lead contamination in Uruguay: the "La Teja" neighborhood case.

Lead, ubiquitous in the environment as a result of mining and industrialization, is found as a contaminant in humans although it has no known physiological function there. Lead-exposed children are known to be the population with the highest potential health risks. The recommended biomarker to assess environmental lead exposure in animals is lead level in blood.

Comparative study of blood lead levels in Uruguayan children (1994-2004).

Lead does not fulfill any physiological function in the human body. It is generally accepted that the blood lead level (BLL) is the best exposure index, as there is an excellent correlation between the actual exposure of the individual and the concentration of lead in blood. In Uruguay, lead contamination becomes a matter of public concern in 2001, giving rise to a sensitization in the population, which in many cases brought about a change in hygienic and dietary habits of the children.