Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk in women from the Northeastern region of Brazil

OBJECTIVES: In the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2) rs1136201 variant, the presence of the G allele may promote cellular alterations and increase breast cancer risk, in addition to enhanced cellular proliferation, tumor aggressiveness, and metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant, rs1136201, within the HER2 gene in women from the Northeastern region of Brazil and breast cancer risk. METHODS: The study included 140 women who were divided into two groups, case (breast cancer) and control (without breast cancer), with 70 women in each group. Peripheral blood of each woman was drawn for the study of genomic Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from leukocytes using the genotyping technique by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The GG genotype occurred in 1 woman in both groups (1.4%) (p=0.32), while the AG genotype occurred in 19 (27.2%) and 13 (18.6%) women in the case and control (p=1.00) groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference in GG and AG genotypes was observed between the case and control groups in premenopausal women (p=1.00). Furthermore, no significant difference in genotypes was observed between the groups, among postmenopausal women (p=0.14). CONCLUSION: In this study, the HER2 rs1136201 polymorphism did not show any statistically significant association with breast cancer, both in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, further studies with a larger sample size should be performed to assess the association of HER2 polymorphism with breast cancer risk in women from the Northeastern region of Brazil.

Diagnosis of canine demodicosis: comparative study between hair plucking and adhesive tape tests

Demodicosis is a common parasitary dermatopathy in dogs, resulting from excessive proliferation of Demodex canis mite, a natural inhabitant of dog´s skin. Definitive diagnosis is classically established through microscopic examination of deep skin scrapings obtained from affected areas, in which numerous adult mites and/or immature forms are observed. Although considered as the golden pattern for the disease diagnosis, this technique is difficult to be performed in some parts of the body, as face, eyelids and interdigital areas, besides causing pain in the dog and discomfort to the owner. Two less invasive diagnostic methods, the hair plucking and the adhesive tape test are described. Although these methods are well known, only few studies about their sensitivity were found in the literature. In the present study, tests were conducted on 40 dogs previously diagnosed with demodicosis through deep skin scrapings. At adhesive tape test, 30 of 40 samples were positive, evidencing 75% of sensivity, while at hair plucking, mites were observed in 29 samples, leading to a sensivity of 73%. These results do not differ statistically and suggest that adhesive tape test and hair plucking tests can be used on clinical routine as first choice primary tests for canine demodicosis as they offer more comfort to animal and its owner. Interestingly, the presence of pyoderma raised the sensibility