Expression of E-cadherin and involucrin in leukoplakia and oral cancer: an immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical study

Abstract To assess the immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical correlation of adhesion (E-cadherin) and cell differentiation (involucrin) molecules in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cytological samples and biopsies were obtained from male and female patients aged over 30 years with oral leukoplakia (n = 30) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (n = 22). Cell scrapings and the biopsy were performed at the site of the lesion and histological slides were prepared for the immunocytochemical analysis of exfoliated oral mucosal cells and for the immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy tissues using E-cadherin and involucrin. Spearman’s correlation and kappa coefficients were used to assess the correlation and level of agreement between the techniques. Immunostaining for E-cadherin and involucrin by both techniques was similar in the superficial layers of the histological sections compared with cell scrapings. However, there was no statistical correlation and agreement regarding the immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and involucrin in oral leukoplakia (R = 0.01, p = 0.958) (Kappa = 0.017, p = 0.92) or in oral squamous cell carcinoma (R = 0.26, p = 0.206) (Kappa = 0.36, p = 0.07). The immunoexpression of E-cadherin and involucrin in tissues is consistent with the expression patterns observed in exfoliated oral mucosal cells, despite the lack of a statistically significant correlation. There is an association of the histopathological characteristics of leukoplakia with the expression E-cadherin and of the microscopic aspects of oral squamous cell carcinoma with immunohistochemical expression of involucrin.

La Escuela de Salud Pública de México: innovación educativa y tecnológica en el nuevo milenio / School of Public Health of Mexico: Educational and technological innovation in the new millennium

Este artículo fue concebido para analizar la función de la Escuela de Salud Pública de México (ESPM) desde el año 2000 hasta el presente. Uno de sus puntos centrales es el análisis del proceso de reorientación de la labor educativa de la escuela con la finalidad de responder a los retos en materia de salud y educación surgidos a finales del siglo XX. Para exponer cómo ha evolucionado dicho proceso, retomamos tres ejes rectores que caracterizan la labor de la escuela en la actualidad: el cambio de modelo pedagógico, la incorporación de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones, y la profesionalización de la docencia. Con la exposición de este tema, y a través del contraste entre el pasado y el presente, buscamos completar la historia de trabajo ininterrumpido de la Escuela durante sus 92 años de existencia, que ha trascendido los confines del país.

This article was conceived to analyze the work of the School of Public Health of Mexico (ESPM for is acronym in Spanish) from the year 2000 to the present day. One of the highlights that we will examine is the reorientation of the educational work of the school in order to meet the challenges in health and education that emerged during the end of the twentieth century. In order to explain the evolution of this process, we will describe the three main guiding principles that characterize the present work of the school: the pedagogical model's change, the incorporation of the information and communication technologies, and the professionalization in teaching. The purpose of this work is to define those guiding principles, and to expose, through the contrast between past and present, the complete history of uninterrupted work of the School of Public Health of Mexico during its ninety-two years of existence, that has gone beyond the boundaries of the country.

Effects of grape powder supplementation on inflammatory and antioxidant markers in hemodialysis patients: A randomized double-blind study / Efeitos da suplementação de farinha de uva sobre marcadores inflamatórios e antioxidantes em pacientes em hemodiálise: Estudo duplo-cego randomizado

Introduction: Polyphenols contained in natural sources such as grapes, have been considered pharmacological agents to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, common features in Chronic Kidney Disease patients. Objective: To evaluate the effects of grape powder supplementation on inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: The double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial evaluated non-diabetic HD patients that received grape powder (500 mg of polyphenols/day) (n = 16, 9 men, 53.0 ± 9.8 years of age, 111.6 ± 58.2 HD months) or placebo (n = 16, 9 men, 52.7 ± 13.7 years of age, 110.4 ± 93.1 HD months) for five weeks. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were evaluated by ELISA method. Results: After the intervention period, the patients receiving grape powder showed an increase in the GSH-Px activity (16.5 (41.0) to 42.0 (43.3) nmol/min/ml) (p < 0.05) and they did not have the CRP levels increased as seen in placebo group (2.6 (0.28) to 2.8 (0.23 mg/L) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of grape powder as phenolic source could play an important role as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in non-diabetic HD patients. .

Introdução: Polifenóis contidos em fontes naturais, como as uvas, têm sido considerados agentes farmacológicos no combate ao estresse oxidativo e inflamação, condições comuns na Doença Renal Crônica. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de farinha de uva sobre marcadores inflamatórios e antioxidantes em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise (HD). Métodos: Estudo randomizado, duplo-cego, placebocontrolado, no qual foram avaliados pacientes não diabéticos em HD que receberam farinha de uva (500 mg de polifenóis/dia) (n = 16, 9 homens, 53,0 ± 9,8 anos, 111,6 ± 58,2 meses em HD) ou placebo (n = 16, 9 homens, 52,7 ± 13,7 anos, 110,4 ± 93,1 meses em HD) por cinco semanas. A atividade da glutationa peroxidase (GSH-Px) e os níveis plasmáticos de proteína C-reativa (PCR) foram mensurados por meio do método ELISA. Resultados: Após o período de intervenção, os pacientes que receberam farinha de uva apresentaram elevação na atividade da GSH-Px (16,5 (41,0) para 42,0 (43,3) nmol/min/ml) (p < 0,05) e não foi observada elevação nos níveis de PCR, como visto no grupo placebo (2,6 (0,28) para 2,8 (0,23) mg/L) (p < 0,05). Conclusão: O uso da farinha de uva como fonte de polifenóis pode desempenhar um importante papel anti-inflamatório e antioxidante em pacientes não diabéticos submetidos à HD. .

Immunohistochemical studies on duodenum, spleen and liver in mice: distribution of ferroportin and prohepcidin in an inflammation model / Estudios inmunohistoquímicos en duodeno, bazo e hígado de ratón: distribución de ferroportina y prohepcidina en un modelo de inflamación

Duodenum, spleen and liver have a crucial role in iron balance on the whole organism and are the major sites of Ferroportin (FPN) expression. Specific regulations between FPN and hepcidin are responsible for changes seen in physiopathological conditions such as inflammation. We studied in vivo effects of turpentine oil-induced acute inflammation on FPN expression, and its relation with prohepcidin and iron mobilization. Immunohistochemical procedures were performed using rabbit anti-mouse FPN and prohepcidin antibodies with goat-labeled polymer-HRP anti-rabbit (DAB) as secondary antibody. Plasma and tissular iron were also studied. Our results showed a notable expression and redistribution of duodenal FPN to basolateral membrane in turpentine-treated mice, compared with supranuclear and the weak basolateral expression observed in healthy mice. Red pulp macrophages of healthy mice showed FPN-hemosiderin co-localization, compared with turpentine-treated mice which showed lack of FPN. In liver of healthy mice, FPN was seen in Kupffer cells, whereas in turpentine-treated mice decreased. In addition, we observed an increment of hepatic pro-hepcidin with a significant hypoferremia. Our findings demonstrated that acute inflammation induced a differential distribution of FPN, showing a cell type specific response. In macrophages, increased hepatic prohepcidin induced degradation of FPN, resulting in hypoferremia. In enterocytes, the redistribution observed of duodenal FPN reflects a different regulation in this tissue. The observed response of the proteins studied may be part of a cyclical pattern of systemic effects of acute inflammation on mouse tissue.

El duodeno, bazo e hígado desempeñan un rol clave en el balance de Fe del organismo y son los mayores sitios de expresión de ferroportina (FPN). Regulaciones específicas entre FPN y hepcidina son las responsables de los cambios observados en condiciones fisiopatológicas como la inflamación. Nuestro objetivo fue estudiar los efectos in vivo de la inflamación aguda inducida con turpentina sobre la expresión de FPN y su relación con prohepcidina y la movilización de hierro. Los procedimientos inmunohistoquímicos fueron desarrollados utilizando anticuerpos anti FPN y prohepcidina de ratón, desarrollados en conejo y un polímero conjugado con anticuerpos secundarios anti conejo desarrollado en cabra (HRP-DAB). Se evaluaron los niveles de Fe plasmático y tisular. Nuestros resultados mostraron una clara expresión y redistribución de FPN duodenal hacia la membrana basolateral en ratones tratados con turpentina, con respecto a la expresión perinuclear y leve expresión basolateral observada en ratón sano. Macrófagos de la pulpa roja esplénica mostraron co-localización de FPN y hemosiderina, comparado con la ausencia de expresión en ratón tratado con turpentina. En hígado de ratón sano, se observó expresión de FPN en células de Kupffer, mientras que en ratón tratado con turpentina la expresión fue menos evidente. Además, observamos un aumento en la expresión de prohepcidina hepática con una hipoferremia significativa. Nuestros resultados demostraron que la inflamación aguda indujo una distribución diferencial de FPN, mostrando una respuesta específica del tipo celular. En macrófagos, el aumento de prohepcidina hepática indujo degradación de FPN, resultando en hipoferremia. En enterocitos, la redistribución observada de FPN duodenal, refleja una regulación diferente en este tejido. La respuesta observada de las proteínas estudiadas podría ser parte de un patrón cíclico de efectos sistémicos de la inflamación aguda en tejidos murinos.

Effect of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on metabolism of glycosaminoglycans in normal and hypercholesterolemic rats.

Carbohydrates are the integral parts of glyco-conjugates and play an important role in cellular functions. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-dGlc) is a sugar analogue of glucose and mannose and is reported to inhibit the lipid-linked saccharide formation involved in N-linked glycosylation of proteins. Administration of 2-dGlc (1 mg/100 g body weight) produced a decrease in the tissue total glycosaminoglycans level. We found that the activity of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of precursors of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) decreased, but that of the degrading enzymes increased. Thus, the decreased levels of GAG in tissues in 2-dGlc-administered rats occurs via enhanced degradation as well as decreased synthesis.

Murine pro-tumor necrosis factor expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae HF7c localizes to membrane/particulate

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine that is produced by immune cells in response to bacterial and viral stimuli and plays important roles in various inflammatory diseases. TNF is produced as a membrane-bound precursor, which is then cleaved to release soluble mature protein. We expressed murine pro-TNF in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and examined processing and cellular localization of the recombinant protein. Yeast cells were transformed with an expression construct carrying the pro-TNF gene under the control of alcohol dehydrogenase promoter. Immunoblotting analysis of cell homogenate revealed expression of 26 kD pro-TNF in transformed cells. Upon centrifugation, pro-TNF transformed cells fractionated into the membrane/particulate. In a clone that expresses a high level of pro-TNF, mature 17 kD TNF was detected in the culture medium, although the amount was far smaller than that of cell-associated pro-TNF. Flow cytometric analysis of yeast spheroplasts demonstrated the presence of TNF on the cell surface. Our results show that pro-TNF expressed in yeast mainly resides in the cellular membrane with an orientation similar to that of pro-TNF produced in mammalian cells. Our data suggest that the transformed yeast cells can be used for the genetic analysis of pro-TNF processing machinery in immune cells.

Asp 280 residue is important in the activity of the Escherichia coli leader peptidase

Leader peptidase is a novel serine protease in Escherichia coli, which catalyzes the cleavage of amino-terminal signal sequences from exported proteins. It is an integral membrane protein containing two transmembrane segments with its carboxy-terminal catalytic domain residing in the periplasmic space. Recently, the x-ray crystal structure of signal peptidase-inhibitor complex showed that Asp 280, a highly conserved consensus sequence of E. coli leader peptidase is the closest charged residue in the vicinity of two catalytic dyad, Ser 90 and Lys 145, and it is likely held in place by a salt bridge to Arg 282. Possible roles of Asp 280 and Arg 282 in the structure-catalytic function relationship were investigated by the site-directed mutagenesis of Asp 280 substituted with alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, or asparagine and of Arg 282 with methionine. All of mutants purified with nickel affinity chromatography were inactive using in vitro assay. It is surprising to find complete lose of activity by an extension of one carbon units in the mutant where Asp 280 is substituted with glutamic acid. These results suggest that Asp 280 and Arg 282 are in a sequence which constitutes catalytic crevice of leader peptidase and are essential for maintaining the conformation of catalytic pocket.

Molecular biology of the amyloid of Alzheimer's disease. An overview

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects a significant percentage of elderly individuals. Degenerative nerve cells express atypical proteins, and amyloid is deposited. The hallmark event of Alzheimer's disease is the deposition of amyloid as insoluble fibrous masses in extracellular neuritic plaques and around the walls of cerebral blood vessels. This review will focus on the advances on the knowledge of Alzheimer's amyloid, because it is becoming increasingly clear that the deposition of amyloid on neuritic plaques in the brain represents the earliest and most characteristic pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease. The main component of amyloid is a 4.2-4.5 KDa hydrophobic peptide, named amyloid beta-peptide, that is codified in chromosome 21 as part of a much larger precursor protein. The study of the mechanism by which the amyloid beta-peptide arises from the amyloid precursor protein is very important in order to understand the biological basis of amyloid deposition and its role in Alzheimer's disease

Efecto de la calidad y cantidad de proteina dietaria en la tasa de depleción de vitamina A, y disponibilidad biologica de precursores de vitamina A1 / Effect of the quality and quantity of dietary proteins on vitamin A depletion rate, and biological availability of vitamina A precursors

Se evaluó el efecto de la calidad y cantidad de proteína dietética sobre la tasa de depleción de vitamina A, a través de cambios en los niveles séricos y en las reservas hepáticas de retinol en ratas adultas de ambos sexos, de la raza Wistar. Un total de 64 ratas fueron distribuidas en cuatro grupos, las que fueron alimentadas ad libitum con dietas adecuadas en todos los nutrientes, salvo en vitamina A. Las dietas fueron: A (91% de maíz común); B (91% de maíz Opaco-2); C (64% maís común más 27% de harina precocida de frijol), y D (64% maíz Opaco-2, más 27% de harina de frijol). El período de depleción duró 60 días. A los 15, 30 y 60 días se sacrificaron cuatro ratas de cada grupo para comparar la concentración del retinol sérico y hepático con el dato basal. Las 16 ratas restantes se utilizaron para evaluar la biodisponibilidad de los carotenos en la zanahoria. Durante los primeros 15 días, la mayor tasa de depleción en las reservas hepáticas se observó con la dieta a base de maíz Opaco-2 y frijol (Dieta D) que, a su vez, mostró la mayor ganancia de peso. La menor tasa de depleción y menor ganancia ponderal se observó con la dieta a base de maíz común (Dieta A). La dietas B (Opaco2-maíz) y C indujeron valores intermedios, siendo la primera más efectiva que la segunda, a pesar de su menor contenido proteínico. A partir de los 30 días se produjeron cambios en las reservas hepáticas en función de dietas, y al final del período de depleción todas las dietas produjeron valores estadísticamente iguales. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, concluimos que la concentración y calidad proteínica de la dieta influencian positivamente la movilización de reservas hepáticas de retinol, y que la calidad proteínica influencia independientemente la cantidad de retinol movilizado. La capacidad biológica de la harina de zanahoria en suplir vitamina A fue evaluada en 16 ratas adultas que habían sido depletadas durante 60 días...