The effect of sun exposure on 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in young healthy subjects living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

The range of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration was determined in a young healthy population based on bone metabolism parameters and environmental and behavioral aspects. We studied 121 healthy young volunteers (49 men, 72 women) living in São Paulo (23º 34' south latitude) belonging to three occupational categories: indoor workers (N = 28), medical school students (N = 44), and resident physicians (N = 49). Fasting morning blood samples were collected once from each volunteer from August 2002 to February 2004, and 25OHD, total calcium, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, creatinine, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, and type I collagen carboxyterminal telopeptide were measured. Data are reported as means ± SD. Mean subject age was 24.7 ± 2.68 years and mean 25OHD level for the entire group was 78.7 ± 33.1 nM. 25OHD levels were lower (P < 0.05) among resident physicians (67.1 ± 27.0 nM) than among students (81.5 ± 35.8 nM) and workers (94.0 ± 32.6 nM), with the last two categories displaying no difference. Parathyroid hormone was higher (P < 0.05) and osteocalcin was lower (P < 0.05) among resident physicians compared to non-physicians. Solar exposure and frequency of beach outings showed a positive association with 25OHD (P < 0.001), and summer samples presented higher results than winter ones (97.8 ± 33.5 and 62.9 ± 23.5 nM, respectively). To define normal levels, parameters such as occupational activity, seasonality and habits related to solar exposure should be taken into account. Based on these data, we considered concentrations above 74.5 nM to be desired optimal 25OHD levels, which were obtained during the summer for 75 percent of the non-physicians.

Epstein-Barr virus DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Thai patients at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignancies in Thailand. The association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and NPC, especially undifferentiated type, has been documented. There is, however, conflicting evidence with regard to the squamous cell type. We have therefore investigated EBV-DNA in all the three types of NPC to assess the association of EBV and NPC in Thai patients. EBV-DNA was detected in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from the patients of Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok using polymerase chain reaction. A primer pair that amplified EBV nuclear antigen gene was used in the reactions and the amplification products were hybridized with a specific EBV probe. EBV-DNA was identified in 24 of 28 of tissue samples from patients with undifferentiated NPC, 25 of 40 samples from patients with squamous cell NPC and 3 of 4 samples with nonkeratinizing NPC. None of 12 nasopharyngeal tissue samples without NPC contained detectable EBV-DNA. Our results indicated a strong association of EBV with undifferentiated as well as non-keratinizing NPC. EBV-DNA was demonstrated in most cases of squamous cell NPC but the association of EBV in this type of carcinoma was not as frequent as in the other two types of NPC.

Expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in primary human tumors: an immunohistochemistry study.

An immunohistochemical study was performed with 130 primary malignant human tumors of breast (n = 55)..colon/rectum (n = 16), stomach (n = 19), esophagus (n = 14), lung (n = 15) and liver (n = 11) using the 21N c-erbB-2 specific monoclonal antibody to identify the tumors that over-expressed the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. Positivity appeared as an intense brown granular staining located predominantly at the cell membrane. This occurred in 41.8% of breast carcinomas, 12.5% of colorectal adenocarcinomas. None of the gastric adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus, small cell lung carcinomas or hepatocellular carcinomas were positive for the oncoprotein. The result of this study suggests that over-expression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein is common in breast cancer and relatively rare in other malignancies examined.

Cytomorphological and immunocytochemical evaluation of fine needle aspirates from high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Fine needle aspirates from ten patients with high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lynmphomas were analyzed by cytomorphology and immunocytochemistry. The following morphologic diagnoses were made: lymphoblastic lymphoma (3 cases), Burkitt's lymphoma (3 cases), mixed small and large cell lymphomas with predominance of large cells (2 cases), and centroblastic lymphoma (2 cases). Immunocytochemistry showed a B-cell phenotype in five cases and a T-cell phenotype in four. One case of lymphoblastic lymphoma was negative for the T and B cell markers used.The results of histological and immunohistochemical analyses performed on surgical biopsies from 8 patients confirmed the morphological diagnosis in all cases. Two cases of Burkitt's lymphoma were submitted only to cytological and immunological diagnosis. The high diagnostic accuracy of combined cytomorphology and immunocytochemical assessmentof fine needle aspirate samples validates the use of the technique in the diagnostic work-up of high-grade non Hodgkin's lymphomas

Value of tissue carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

The tumours of 55 patients with colorectal carcinoma were evaluated for tissue carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by immunoperoxidase staining. It was shown that 33/35 patients with increased preoperative serum CEA levels above 5 ng/ml had positive tissue CEA. The other 17/20 patients who had serum CEA levels less than 5 ng/ml could be demonstrated CEA in tissue. The results of tissues CEA were compared with their preoperative serum CEA levels in the pathologic grading, histologic type and staging of cancer. It was found that tissue CEA was more sensitive than serum CEA and was correlated with serum CEA in all respects. The finding in this study suggests that tissue CEA should be performed along with preoperative serum CEA in all patients suspected of having colorectal carcinoma. The postoperative serum CEA should be determined serially in the patients who have more than 5 ng/ml serum CEA and/or tissue CEA positive although their preoperative serum CEA is less than 5 ng/ml.

Intestinal cryptosporidiosis: association with Pneumocystis carinii, cytomegalovirus and Candida sp. infections

Trata-se de apresentaçäo de um caso de criptosporidiose intestinal diagnosticada histologicamente em material de autópsia. A paciente era uma criança de 5 meses, internada com diarréia aguda grave, associada a pneumonia por Pneumocystis carinii, sialadenite citomegálica e candidíase oral e cutánea. A presença de infecçöes oportunísticas múltiplas indicaram o diagnóstico de imunodeficiência. Cryptosporidium sp é uma possibilidade etiológica para diarréias agudas em pacientes imunodeprimidos ou imunocompetentes e deve ser procurado em material de autópsia quando näo diagnosticado "in vivo"