At-Home Care Versus Total Hospital Care Model for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Lymphoma Patients: A Pilot Case-Control Study.

Background: Lymphoma is the second most prevalent cancer treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Additional resources are required to enhance the provision of care for these patients.

Objective: To explore the complications and economic costs of home versus hospital care models for ASCT in patients diagnosed with lymphoma and to describe the experience of home care patients.

Long-term effect of chemotherapy after ovarian decortication on the ovarian function in women surviving cancer.

Purpose: Ovarian decortication may affect ovarian function. We investigated the status of ovarian reserve after ovarian decortication plus chemotherapy at a stage of presumed stabilized recovery in women surviving cancer.

Methods: We searched our database for cancer survivors subjected to ovarian decortication and chemotherapy at least 3 years previously.

Physical therapy combined with a laxative fruit drink for treatment of chagasic megacolon.

Context: The treatment of Chagas' disease colopathy is limited to clinical management in the initial of the process, and for patients for whom surgery is not indicated or is not possible, anti-constipation diets are used, along with judicious administration of laxatives and enemas.

Objective: To evaluate over time the effects of physical-therapy interventions combined with daily ingestion of a laxative fruit drink in the treatment of chagasic megacolon.

Method: In a quantitative, prospective, and comparative study, 12 patients of both sexes and with a mean age of 67 ± 12 years were clinically evaluated to receive 12 sessions of physical therapy twice a week, along with fruit drink, and were evaluated for intestinal constipation before and after treatment.

West Nile virus survey of birds and mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic.

We report West Nile virus (WNV) activity from a new area on Hispaniola, in the vicinity of Monte Cristi National Park in northwest Dominican Republic. Specific anti-WNV antibodies were detected in 12 of 58 (21%) resident birds sampled in March 2003, representing six species in the orders Cuculiformes (cuckoos), Strigiformes (owls), and Passeriformes (song birds). This seroprevalence is the highest reported from any site in the Caribbean Basin.

Mansonia dyari, Mansonia flaveola and Aedeomyia squamipennis in the Dominican Republic, three new country records.

We report the first collection of 3 mosquito species representing 2 genera in the Dominican Republic. The collections of adults and larvae of Mansonia dyari Belkin, Heinemann, and Page and Mansonia flaveola (Coquillett) from Santo Domingo City represent 2 additional mosquito species to the mosquito fauna of the Dominican Republic. Larvae were collected in the Quitasueno and Puerta de Hierro lagoons (covered with the Pistia stratiotes plants) in Santo Domingo.

Seasonal prevalence and container preferences of Aedes albopictus in Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic.

The seasonal prevalence and container preferences of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were studied in the park, Parque Mirador del Norte in Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic, from January to December 1994. Tire ovitraps were set along a transect through the park and monitored weekly while two larval surveys were conducted in both the park and surrounding houses using standard entomological methodology. No seasonal pattern of oviposition was observed with similar numbers of positive tire traps collected in the wet and dry season.

West Nile virus transmission in resident birds, Dominican Republic.

We report West Nile virus (WNV) activity in the Dominican Republic for the first time. Specific anti-WNV antibodies were detected in 5 (15%) of 33 resident birds sampled at one location in November 2002. One seropositive bird was <4 months old, indicating a recent infection.