Meta-tyrosine: A powerful anti-metastatic factor with undetectable toxic-side effects

Concomitant tumor resistance (CR) is a phenomenon in which a tumor-bearing host is resistant to the growth of secondary tumor implants and metastasis. While former studies have indicated that T-cell dependent processes mediate CR in hosts bearing immunogenic small tumors, the most universal manifestation of CR induced by immunogenic and non-immunogenic large tumors had been associated with an antitumor serum factor that remained an enigma for many years. In a recent paper, we identified that elusive factor(s) as an equi-molar mixture of meta-tyrosine and ortho-tyrosine, two isomers of tyrosine that are not present in normal proteins and that proved to be responsible for 90% and 10%, respectively, of the total serum anti-tumor activity. In this work, we have extended our previous findings demonstrating that a periodic intravenous administration of meta-tyrosine induced a dramatic reduction of lung and hepatic metastases generated in mice bearing two different metastatic murine tumors and decreased the rate of death from 100% up to 25% in tumor-excised mice that already exhibited established metastases at the time of surgery. These anti-metastatic effects were achieved even at very low concentrations and without displaying any detectable toxic-side effects, suggesting that the use of meta-tyrosine may help to develop new and less harmful means of managing malignant diseases, especially those aimed to control the growth of metastases that is the most serious problem in cancer pathology.

La resistencia concomitante antitumoral (RC) es el fenómeno según el cual un individuo portador de tumor inhibe el crecimiento de implantes tumorales secundarios y metástasis. Si bien desde hace tiempo se sabe que la RC inducida por tumores inmunogénicos de pequeño tamaño es generada por mecanismos inmunológicos dependientes de células T, por otro lado, la manifestación más universal de la RC, generada tanto por tumores inmunogénicos como no-inmunogénicos de gran tamaño, había sido asociada con un (unos) factor sérico antitumoral cuya naturaleza permaneció elusiva por años. En un trabajo reciente, nuestro grupo de trabajo identificó este factor como la mezcla equi-molar de meta-tirosina y orto-tirosina, dos isómeros de tirosina que no están presentes en proteínas normales y que demostraron ser responsables del 90% y 10%, respectivamente, de la actividad antitumoral total del suero. En este trabajo, continuamos nuestras investigaciones demostrando que la administración periódica de meta-tirosina reducía drásticamente el número de metástasis pulmonares y hepáticas en ratones portadores de dos tumores murinos altamente metastásicos y disminuía dramáticamente la mortandad (de 100% a 25%) de ratones con metástasis ya establecidas al momento de la extirpación quirúrgica del tumor. Estos efectos anti-metastásicos se lograron aun con muy bajas concentraciones de meta-tirosina y sin efectos tóxicos perceptibles, lo que sugiere que su uso puede ayudar a diseñar nuevas y menos nocivas estrategias para el tratamiento del cáncer, especialmente aquellas destinadas a controlar el crecimiento metastásico, que es el problema más grave en la enfermedad oncológica.

Citologia esfoliativa convencional versus citologia em meio líquido para prevenção e diagnóstico precoce do carcinoma escamo celular (CEC) oral / Conventional cytology versus liquid-based cytology for prevention and early diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)

Objetivando avaliar a concordância, sensibilidade e especificidade diagnóstica dos métodos citológicos:convencional e em meio líquido, foi realizado um estudo de caso-controle, no Ambulatório deCabeça e Pescoço do Hospital de Câncer de Pernambuco, sendo selecionados 182 indivíduos doentese 179 sãos, no período de setembro de 2002 a janeiro de 2004, os quais, permitiram através de assinatura de termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido a realização de exames (clínico/ citológicoesfoliativo - cytobrush) na área carcinomatosa e em área sã, constituindo, respectivamente, o grupo de casos e controles. Os dados obtidos foram analisados através dos softwares estatísticos SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Science) e Epi-Info versão 6.4. Os resultados evidenciaram que os métodosdiagnósticos citológicos apresentaram entre os casos: sensibilidade= 96,9% (IC= 95%: 92,5% a98,8%); especificidade= 75,0% (IC= 95%: 21,9% a 98,7%) e acurácia= 96,3% (IC=95%: 92,5% a 98,5%);e entre os controles: sensibilidade= 91,0% (IC=95%: 84,1% a 95,2%); especificidade = 57,5% (IC=95%:41,0% a 72,6%) e acurácia= 82,7% (IC=95%: 76,3% a 88,0%). A citologia convencional e em base--líquida apresentaram concordância com o diagnóstico histopatológico em mais de 90%. Conclui-se, portanto, que, se bem indicado e executado, o exame citológico pode ser utilizado rotineiramente como exame complementar, pois ambos apresentaram alta sensibilidade e razoável especificidade,cabendo à citologia convencional maior especificidade para o diagnóstico das lesões orais.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and concordance between conventionalcytology and liquid-based cytology. A case-control study was developed at the Head andNeck ambulatory service of Hospital do Cancer de Pernambuco. A hundred and eighty-two patientswith primary Oral Squamous Cellular Carcinoma (OSCC) (case group) and 179 individuals with normalbuccal mucosa (control group) were selected, from September 2002 to January 2004. They agreed tobe submitted to clinical examination and exfoliative cytology of the oral cavity, by signing a documentof consent. The data were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Epi-Info 6.4 program.Among the cases, the cytologic methods demontrated a sensitivity= 96.9% (IC= 95%: 92.5% to98.8%), specificity= 75.0% (IC=95%: 21.9% to 98.7%), and accuracy= 96.3% (IC=95%: 92.5% to 98.5%).Among the controls the results were: sensitivity= 91.0% (IC=95%: 84.1% to 95.2%);, specificity= 57.5%(IC=95%: 41.0% to 72.6%), and accuracy= 82.7% (IC=95%: 76.3% to 88.0%). Conventional cytologyand liquid-based cytology demonstrated a diagnostic concordance with histopathology of more than90%. In conclusion if properly indicated and executed, they can be routinely used as complementarydiagnostic methods. When compared to each other, conventional cytology and liquid-based cytologyshowed a high sensitivity and reasonable specificity, conventional cytology having higher specificity.

Chrysin reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis in the human prostate cancer cell line pc-3

INTRODUCTION: Honey is a common household product with many medicinal uses described in traditional medicine. Only recently has its antioxidant properties and preventive effects against disease been highlighted. Chrysin is a natural flavone commonly found in honey that has been shown to be an antioxidant agent. In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of honey and chrysin on cultured human prostate cancer cells. METHODS: Cells were cultured in RPMI medium and treated with different concentrations of honey and chrysin for three consecutive days. Cell viability was quantitated by the 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate. RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed that both compounds had an antiproliferative effect on PC-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values for honey and chrysin against PC-3 cells were 2.5 percent and 24.5 percent after 48 h and 1.8 percent and 8.5 percent after 72 h, respectively. Chrysin induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells, as determined by flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that honey has anti-proliferative effects on prostate cancer cells and the effects are mainly due to chrysin. Therefore, chrysin may be a potential compound for both cancer prevention and treatment. Further in vivo investigation is needed to support the use of chrysin in cancer therapy.

Zinc: A promising agent in dietary chemoprevention of cancer.

Proper intake of dietary nutrients is considered crucial for preventing the initiation of events leading to the development of carcinoma. Many dietary compounds have been considered to contribute in cancer prevention including zinc, which plays a pivotal role in host defense against the initiation and promotion of several malignancies. Zinc is an essential element that is integral to many proteins and transcription factors which regulate key cellular functions such as the response to oxidative stress, DNA replication, DNA damage repair, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. Zinc has been ascribed roles in the metabolism and interaction of malignant cells, particularly in apoptosis. Zinc is involved in structural stabilization and activation of the p53 that appears to be an important component of the apoptotic process and also in activation of certain members of the caspase family of proteases. Zinc exerts a positive beneficial effect against chemically induced preneoplastic progression in rats and provides an effective dietary chemopreventive approach to disease in vulnerable section of population with family history of carcinoma. The present review provides an insight into the research conducted on animals as well as on human subjects for providing the concept that zinc deficiency is an important factor in the development and progression of malignancy and that zinc could be efficacious in the prevention and treatment of several cancers viz., colon, pancreas, oesophageal and head and neck. However, it needs further exploration with regard to other definitive bioassays including protein expression and documentation of specific molecular markers to establish the exact mechanism for zinc-mediated cancer chemoprevention. Preclinical trials need to investigate the genetic and epigenetic pathways of chemoprevention by zinc.

Reproducibilidad del diagnóstico histopatológico de lesiones precursoras del carcinoma gástrico en tres países latinoamericanos / Reproducibility of histopathologic diagnosis of precursor lesions of gastric carcinoma in three Latin American countries

Objetivo. Evaluar la concordancia en el diagnóstico de lesiones precursoras del carcinoma gástrico de tipo intestinal entre observadores con diferente experiencia. Material y métodos. Se estudiaron 1 056 casos de biopsias gástricas: 341 de Colombia, 382 de México y 333 de Paraguay. En el diagnóstico de cada caso participaron patólogos sin experiencia en patología gastrointestinal (A), patólogos con experiencia en patología gastrointestinal (B) y expertos que trabajan en un centro de referencia internacional (C). Resultados. La concordancia (k) entre patólogos inexpertos y expertos fue pobre en el diagnóstico de gastritis atrófica (k=0.04 a 0.12) y displasia (k=0.11 a 0.05) y buena en el diagnóstico de metaplasia intestinal (k=0.52 a 0.58); la supervisión de un patólogo inexperto por un experto mejoró notablemente la concordancia en el diagnóstico de gastritis atrófica (k=0.65) y metaplasia intestinal (k=0.91) y, en un menor grado, de displasia (k=0.28). Al comparar la concordancia entre expertos antes y después de la reunión de consenso no hubo variación en el diagnóstico de gastritis atrófica (k=0.57); la concordancia varió de buena a excelente en el de metaplasia intestinal (k=0.67 a 0.81) y de pobre a buena en el de displasia (k=0.18 a 0.66). Conclusión. Los principales problemas se presentan en el diagnóstico de la gastritis crónica atrófica y la displasia. La concordancia interobservador depende de la experiencia del observador y la lectura de consenso.

Objective. The aim was to evaluate the concordance in the diagnosis of precursor lesions of intestinal-type gastric carcinoma among observers with different levels of experience. Material and Methods. Gastric biopsies from 1 056 cases were studied: 341 from Colombia, 382 from Mexico, and 333 from Paraguay. Pathologists without experience (A) and with experience (B) in gastrointestinal pathology, as well as experts working in an international reference center (C) participated in the diagnosis of each case. Results. The concordance (k) between pathologists with experience and those without was poor for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis (k=0.04 to 0.12) and dysplasia (k=0.11 to 0.05), and good for the diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia (k=0.52 to 0.58). Supervision of pathologists without experience by those with experience remarkably improved the concordance in the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis (k=0.65) and intestinal metaplasia (k=0.91), and to a lesser degree, of dysplasia (k=0.28). The concordance among experts before and after the consensus meeting showed no variation in the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis (k=0.57); the concordance varied from good to excellent in the diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia (k=0.67 to 0.81) and from poor to good in that of dysplasia (k=0.18 to 0.66). Conclusion. The greatest differences arose in the diagnosis of chronic atrophic gastritis and dysplasia. The interobserver concordance depended on the experience of the observer and the consensus reading.

Fish oil ingestion reduces the number of aberrant crypt foci and adenoma in 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in rats

We determined the effect of fish oil (FO) ingestion on colonic carcinogenesis in rats. Male Wistar rats received 4 subcutaneous injections (40 mg/kg body weight each) of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) at 3-day intervals and were fed a diet containing 18 percent by weight FO (N = 10) or soybean oil (SO, N = 10) for 36 weeks. At sacrifice, the colon was removed, aberrant crypt foci were counted and the fatty acid profile was determined. Intestinal tumors were removed and classified as adenoma or carcinoma. Liver and feces were collected and analyzed for fatty acid profile. FO reduced the mean (± SEM) number of aberrant crypt foci compared to SO (113.55 ± 6.97 vs 214.60 ± 18.61; P < 0.05) and the incidence of adenoma (FO: 20 percent vs SO: 100 percent), but carcinoma occurred equally in FO and SO rats (2 animals per group). The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profile of the colon was affected by diet (P < 0.05): total ù-3 (FO: 8.18 ± 0.97 vs SO: 1.71 ± 0.54 percent) and total ù-6 (FO: 3.83 ± 0.59 vs SO: 10.43 ± 1.28 percent). The same occurred in the liver (P < 0.05): total ù-3 (FO: 34.41 ± 2.6 vs SO: 6.46 ± 0.59 percent) and total ù-6 (FO: 8.73 ± 1.37 vs SO: 42.12 ± 2.33 percent). The PUFA profile of the feces and liver polyamine levels did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, our findings indicate that chronic FO ingestion protected against the DMH-induced preneoplastic colon lesions and adenoma development, but not against carcinoma in rats.

Rastreamento e seguimento dos portadores das lesões anais induzidas pelo papilomavírus humano como prevenção do carcinoma anal / Screening and follow-up of patients with anal HPV induced lesions for anal carcinoma prevention

O Papilomavírus humano (HPV) é o agente sexualmente transmissível mais comum na região perianal. O vírus provoca lesões clínicas e subclínicas que podem evoluir para carcinoma anal. É descrito o aumento da incidência desse tipo de tumor naqueles que praticam sexo anal; nos portadores, de ambos os sexos, de lesões genitais HPV induzidas; nas pessoas com neoplasias intraepiteliais anais de alto grau, o precursor do carcinoma, com maior incidência nos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), e com outras causas de supressão imunológica. Outra característica das lesões HPV induzidas é a elevada incidência de recidivas. Daí, a importância do seguimento por longo prazo e da pesquisa de meios terapêuticos para reduzir essa ocorrência. A possibilidade da detecção das lesões precursoras indica que programas padronizados de rastreamento para a prevenção do câncer anal deveriam ser instituídos. Os esfregaços anais para citologia vêm sendo realizados, com eficácia semelhante a das coletas cervicais e a colposcopia anal tem sido indicada para biópsias dirigidas quando a citologia mostrou-se alterada, embora muitos recomendam-na, também, como método de rastreamento. Nesse artigo, descrevemos a padronização da coleta de material para citologia anal e o método de realização da colposcopia anal, bem como a periodicidade com que devem ser repetidos.

The human papillomavirus is the most frequent sexually transmitted agent in anorectal area. This virus provokes clinical and sub-clinical lesions that can evolve to anal carcinoma. Its incidence is increasing among those who practice anal receptive sex; in both gender patients with genital HPV induced lesions; in those with high grade anal intra-epithelial neoplasia, anal carcinoma precursor, mainly among HIV infected persons or with other causes of immunodeficiency. Another HPV induced lesions characteristic is their elevated incidence of recurrences. Therefore, the follow-up for long periods and the new therapies research are required. The possibility of precursor lesions detection suggests that standardized programs for screening should be recommended. Anal cytology screening programs have been done with efficiency similar to genital cytology, and high resolution anoscopy has been indicated to direct biopsies, although, some authors recommended it as a method of anal cancer screening. This article described anal cytology standardization and how to perform high resolution anoscopy, as so, the periodicity they should be repeated.

Análise da expressão de RNAs não-codificadores intrônicos em câncer de rim / Expression analyses of intronic non-coding RNAs in renal cancer

O carcinoma de célula renal (RCC) subtipo célula clara é o câncer mais letal e prevalente do sistema urinário. O diagnóstico deste tipo de câncer frequentemente é tardio em conseqüência da falta de sintomas perceptíveis aos pacientes. Um dos objetivos deste trabalho é a identificação de novos marcadores moleculares para diagnóstico precoce, o que ajudaria a diminuir a mortalidade em função de complicações resultantes do avanço da doença. Outro objetivo é a identificação de um conjunto de marcadores moleculares de prognóstico, de modo à prever com acurácia a evolução clínica da doença e, por conseqüência, o tempo de sobrevida do paciente. As modificações transcricionais associadas à carcinogênese e à progressão do câncer de rim ainda não foram completamente elucidadas. Além dos oncogenes e genes supressores de tumor, RNAs não-codificadores (ncRNAs) recentemente foram apontados como importantes reguladores da expressão gênica em humanos, e podem ter um papel importante na transformação maligna do câncer de rim. Para analisar a expressão gênica de ncRNAs e de genes codificadores para proteína foram utilizados dois microarranjos desenvolvidos por nosso grupo, enriquecidos em sondas para ncRNAs. Uma das plataformas possui 4 mil sondas de cDNA, das quais 822 sondas são para ncRNAs mapeando em regiões intrônicas. Outra possui 44 mil elementos e combina sondas de oligonucleotídeos (60-mer) intrônicas e exônicas de um mesmo locus genômico. Análises estatísticas foram feitas com a ferramenta Significance Analysis of Microarrays (q ≤ 0,05) combinadas ou com a técnica de "patient leave-one-out" (genes com presença em 8 100% dos subconjuntos), ou alternativamente com o teste discriminante de Golub (p ≤ 0,01 ou p < 0,05). Com a plataforma de 4 mil sondas foram estudadas 30 amostras de tecido renal de 18 pacientes com RCC subtipo célula clara. Um conjunto de 36 ncRNAs foi identificado como diferencialmente expresso entre amostras tumorais e não-tumorais...

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy of the adult kidney, and the clear cell subtype is the most prevalent and lethal cancer of the urinary system. Late diagnosis for this type of cancer is frequent, usually as a consequence of the lack of symptoms. One of the objectives of the present work is the identification of new molecular markers for the early diagnosis, which would help decrease mortality that develops as a function of disease progression. Another objective is the identification of a set of prognosis molecular markers, so as to accurately predict the clinical outcome of the disease, and consequently, patient survival. Transcriptional changes associated to carcinogenesis and to kidney cancer progression have not been entirely elucidated. Besides oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been recently indicated as important regulators of gene expression in humans, and could have an important role in the malignant transformation in renal cancer. In order to measure ncRNA and protein-coding gene expression we have used two microarray platforms developed by our group, which are enriched in ncRNA probes. One of the platforms has 4 thousand cDNA probes, of which 822 are for ncRNAs that map to intronic regions. Another has 44 thousand elements and combines 60-mer oligonucleotide probes for intronic and exonic regions from the same genomic locus. Statistical analyses have been performed with the Significance Analysis of Microarrays tool (q ≤ 0.05) combined with a patient leave-one-out approach (genes present in 100% of the sub-sets), or alternatively with Golubs discriminant test (p ≤ 0.01 or p < 0.05). 11 With the 4-thousand probes platform we studied 30 samples from renal tissue of 18 RCC patients with clear cell subtype. A set of 36 ncRNAs has been identified as differentially expressed between tumor and non-tumor tissue...

The Relationship between Intake of Vegetables and Fruits and Colorectal Adenoma-Carcinoma Sequence / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Evidence for the effect of dietary factors on colorectal carcinogenesis is yet inconsistent. Few studies have been conducted to investigate whether dietary factors were associated with the developement of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence in Korea. We evaluated the relationship between the intake of vegetables and fruits and the degree of dysplasia of the colorectal adenoma and cancer. METHODS: For this study, 539 cases with histopathologically confirmed incidental colorectal adenoma, 162 cases with colorectal cancer and 2,576 controls were collected from Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea during 1994-1999. Informations on demographic characteristics, life style habits and dietary intake were obtained by interviewed questionnaire before the colonoscopy. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated by using polytomous logistic regression model. RESULTS: In female, the high intake of raw green and yellow vegetables were found to be negatively associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (adjusted OR: 0.54, 95% CI=0.32-0.93) and the high intake of persimmon, mandarin and strawberry among fruits were negatively associated with the risk of adenoma with mild dysplasia (adjusted OR: 0.43, 95% CI=0.20-0.94). In male, the high intake of banana, pear, apple and watermelon among fruits were negatively associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (adjusted OR: 0.36, 95% CI=0.16-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the intake of vegetables and fruits may act differently in developmental steps of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Protective effect of dietary fibers against colorectal carcinoma.

Dietary fibers are remnant of plant cells resistant to hydrolysis by human alimentary tract enzymes. These are cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectins and gums. Intake of dietary fibers or foods rich in dietary fibers decreases the incidence of colorectal carcinoma. Reduced risk of colorectal carcinoma is reported when populations with diet high in red meat and total fats switched to a diet high in total fibers and certain whole grain, goods. Fibre intake is also inversely related to mortality from colorectal carcinoma. Beneficial influence of most vegetables and fruits against colorectal carcinoma is confirmed and this is due to their fibre contents.

Avaliaçäo endometrial em mulheres na pós-menopausa e em usuárias de terapia de reposiçäo hormonal / Endometrial evaluation in post-menopausal women and in users of hormone replacement therapy

Na mulher pós-menopáusica o endométrio é local freqüente de transformaçöes hiperplásicas e carcinomatosas e, considerando o aumento progressivo da expectativa de vida das mulheres, foi encontrado na literatura aumento das taxas de incidência e prevalência desta neoplasia. Discutiu-se, nesta revisäo, a importância do câncer do endométrio, seu quadro clínico, os fatores de risco e os métodos propedêuticos utilizados na detecçäo precoce. Avalia-se a repercussäo na diminuiçäo da morbimortalidade do carcinoma do endométrio frente a introduçäo de um screening em mulheres na pós-menopausa e assintomáticas. Finalmente, realizou-se uma análise da avaliaçäo endometrial em mulheres usuárias de terapia de reposiçäo hormonal.

Evoluçäo de displasia leve diagnosticada por citopatologia: análise retrospectiva de 155 casos / Evolution of mild dysplasia diagnosticated with citopathology retrospective analysis of 155 cases

A displasia leve (CIN I) é considerada um primeiro degrau no desenvolvimento do carcinoma cervical uterino. Atualmente o tema é motivo de discussäo, e há uma tendência a minimizar sua importância. As condutas com relaçäo a esta lesäo säo controversas, mas podem ter grande impacto econômico nos programas de saúde pública. Usando metodologia retrospectiva, nosso estudo mostra progressäo de 25 por cento das 155 displasias leves, diagnosticadas e acompanhadas citologicamente, à displasia acentuada ou carcinoma, num tempo médio de cinco anos. Os casos foram subdivididos em dois grupos associados ou näo a interferências sobre a lesäo como biópsias ou cauterizaçöes. Houve também subavaliaçäo das lesöes em 14 por cento dos exames citológicos. Após comentar estes e outros resultados, concluímos que colposcopia imediata parece ser uma estratégia mais eficiente para este grupo de pacientes de risco do que o exame citológico isolado, apesar de este último continuar a ser o método mais eficiente na prevençäo do câncer do colo uterino

Polymerase chain reaction study of Epstein-Barr virus in high risk group of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a preliminary report.

The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is relatively high in Thailand. Early diagnosis which leads to early treatment is crucial, in order to obtain a high salvage rate. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has long been known to be associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and specific technique for the detection of EBV genome in NPC. The first generation of members in the families of NPC patients is considered a high risk group. This study utilized the PCR technique as a screening test for early detection of EBV DNA in this group and also attempted to compare the result with that of IgA antibody level. The data was collected from July 1995 to 1996, this included 35 high risk volunteers, 15 males and 20 females. All subjects underwent telescopic examination and biopsies were performed to obtain specimens for PCR. Blood samples were also taken to determine serum titer of EBV IgA. All specimens studied were negative for EBV DNA and low IgA antibody titer obtained. The negative results implied that either the sample studied was inadequate to detect the low percentage of positivity of EBV in a high risk population or prolonged infection of EBV in nasopharyngeal mucosal cells is not necessary for initiation of NPC.

Carcinoma de cuello uterino: quince años de experiencia quirúrgica en estadios I y II Instituto de Oncología "Luis Razetti" / Carcinoma of the cervix uteri: fifteen years of experience in surgery in stadiums I and II Institute Oncology \"Luis Razetti\"

Presentar la experiencia acumulada de 15 años en el manejo quirúrgico del carcinoma de cuello uterino estadios I y II. Se presenta estudio retrospectivo de casos de Carcinoma de Cuello Uterino estadios I y II intervenidos quirúrgicamente en el Instituto Oncológico "Luis Razetti" entre 1978 y 1992. Se evaluaron respuestas, recidivas, sobrevida y parámetros anatomopatológicos antes y después del tratamiento. El total fue 151 casos, con edades entre 17 y 71 años. El grupo más afectado fue 31-40 años con 59 casos (39,0 por ciento). El tipo histológico predominante fue Epidermoide en 135 casos (89,4 por ciento). El estadio clínico más frecuente fue IB con 112 casos (74,1 por ciento). Se estableció el tamaño inicial de la lesión en 47 pacientes (31,7 por ciento), correspondiendo 24 a tamaños entre 1 y 4 cm (51,0 por ciento). El tamaño anatomopatológico se describió en 61 casos (40,3 por ciento) correlacionándose tamaño inicial-anatomopatológico en 34 (22,5 por ciento). El tratamiento fue radioterapia pre-operatorio e histerectomía radical tipo Wertheim en 100 casos (66,2 por ciento) e histerectomía radical tipo Meigs en 51 casos (33,7 por ciento). Se observaron complicaciones mayores en 21 pacientes (13,9 por ciento) la mayoría en los primeros 5 años. Nueve pacientes (5,9 por ciento) recibieron terapia adyuvante por tumor residual o persistencia. Se presentó recidiva en 13 pacientes (8,6 por ciento), 9 de ellas (69,2 por ciento en los primeros 5 años, siendo la pelvis el sitio más afectado. Hubo 9 muertes por causa (5,9 por ciento), con sobrevida a 5 años de 96,7 por ciento y a 10 años de 94,8 por ciento. Ocurrió 1 muerte operatoria. La alta sobrevida con bajas complicaciones, justifica el tratamiento hasta ahora practicado para los estadios I y II de Carcinoma de Cuello Uterino en la institución

Ecografía abdominal como método de despitaje en trabajadores asintomáticos de la empresa Southern Perú Limited 1997 / Abdominal ultrasonography as screening meethod in non symptomatic patients at Southern Peru Limited 1997

Realizamos un estudio descriptivo y transversal, original en el ámbito nacional, donde evaluamos a la ecografía abdominal como un método de despitaje; el estudio ecográfico se realizó en 1751 trabajadores asintomáticos de la empresa Southern Perú Limited durante el año de 1997. El uso de la ecografía como despitaje en estos trabajos fue evaluado con respecto a la frecuencia y variedad de hallazgos ecográficos encontrados, las características asociadas a los trabajadores con hallazgos ecográficos y los beneficios o problemas potenciales de esta intervención. Hubo un 10,85 por ciento de la población con hallazgos ecográficos. Los hallazgos más significativos fueron 2 carcinomas renales (0,11 por ciento) y 1 carcinoma pancreático (0,06 por ciento); Hubo otros hallazgos más comunes como la colelitiasis en un 5,54 por ciento. Las características que se asociaron de forma significativa a los trabajadores con hallazgos ecográficos fueron una edad promedio de 49,3 años y un índice de masa corporal promedio de 27,61 por ciento (obesidad leve). El sexo y la procedencia no se asociaron con una mayor frecuencia de hallazgos ecográficos. El estudio ecográfico del abdómen como un estudio de despitaje ha sido beneficioso en la empresa Southern Perú Limited y merece ser considerado por otros diferentes sistemas de salud, especialmente aquellos privados.

Hepatocarcinoma y embarazo: presentación de un caso / Hepatocellular carcinoma: case of presentation

La asociación entre hepatocarcinoma y embarazo es rara. Presentamos un caso de una paciente de 32 años sin antecedentes de importancia, quien consulta con un embarazo a término en trabajo de parto. Se encuentra una masa en epigastrio e hipocondrio derecho, de consistencia dura y, posteriormente el parto en el que se obtuvo un récien nacido a término en buenas condiciones, signos de sangrado activo. Durante la laparotomía se encuentra un tumor hepático con vaso sangrando activamente. Se comenta la literatura

Campaña preventiva y educativa denominada "Semana del lunar" / A preventive and educational campaing named \"The week of the mole\"

Desde el 1 al 11 de diciembre de 1992, realizamos en Dermatología de Hospital San Roque (Córdoba), una campaña preventiva y educativa denominada "Semana del lunar". Fueron examinados 1007 pacientes, de los cuales a 256 se les realizó cirugía, y a 236 se les efectuó estudio histopatológico. El resto de los pacientes fueron citados a controles periódicos a 3-6-9 y 12 meses de acuerdo a las características clínicas de las lesiones. Se detectaron lesiones malignas en 31 pacientes (28 epiteliomas basocelulares; 1 epitelioma espinocelular y 2 melanomas malignos)

Prevençäo do câncer de colo uterino / Cervical cencer prevention

Este artigo é uma revisäo da literatura médica sobre a prevençäo do câncer cerico-uterino. Discutem-se aspectos relacionados aos métodos diagnósticos, fatores de risco e papel do Papilomavírus humano (HPV)