Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition, enhancing migration and invasion, and is associated with high Gleason score in prostate cancer / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein highly expressed in bone tissue that acts as a chemoattractant factor promoting the arrival of prostate cancer (PCa) cells to the bone marrow. However, the contribution of SPARC during the early stages of tumor progression remains unclear. In this study, we show that SPARC is highly expressed in PCa tissues with a higher Gleason score. Through stable knockdown and overexpression of SPARC in PC3 and LNCaP cells, respectively, here we demonstrate that endogenous SPARC induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), decreasing E-cadherin and cytokeratin 18 and increasing N-cadherin and vimentin. Moreover, SPARC induces the expression of EMT regulatory transcription factors Snail family transcriptional repressor 1 (Snail), Snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (Slug), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (Zeb1). In addition, SPARC knockdown in PC3 cells decreases migration and invasion in vitro, without modifying cell proliferation. Our results indicate that SPARC might facilitate tumor progression by modifying the cellular phenotype in cancer cells.

Immunologic Evaluation of Drug Allergy

Hypersensitivity drug reactions (HDR) consist of an individual abnormal response with the involvement of the immunological system. In addition to specific immunological mechanisms where specific antibodies or sensitised T cells participate, release of inflammatory mediators by non-specific immunological recognition may also occur. Within this category are one of the most common groups of drugs, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition to chemical drugs new emerging ones with an increasing protagonism are biological agents like humanised antibodies and others. For IgE dependent reactions both in vivo and in vitro tests can be used for the immunological evaluation. Sensitivity of these is not optimal and very often a drug provocation test must be considered for knowing the mechanism involved and/or establishing the diagnosis. For non-immediate reactions also both in vivo and in vitro tests can be used. Sensitivity for in vivo tests is generally low and in vitro tests may be needed for the immunological evaluation. Immunohistochemical studies of the affected tissue enable a more precise classification of non-immediate reactions. The monitorization of the acute response of the reactions has given clues for understanding these reactions and has promising results for the future of the immunological evaluation of HDR.

Produção e qualidade de melão amarelo influenciado por coberturas do solo e lâminas de irrigação no período chuvoso / Yield and quality of yellow melon influenced by soil coverages and irrigation depth during rainfall period

O plantio de melão no período chuvoso tem sido um dos grandes desafios para os produtores da região do Nordeste brasileiro devido a problemas fitossanitários. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar os efeitos de cobertura do solo e de lâminas de irrigação na produção e na qualidade do melão amarelo híbrido "Goldex", no período chuvoso. O experimento foi desenvolvido na Fazenda Santa Júlia Agrocomercial Exportadora de Frutos Tropicais Ltda, no município de Mossoró-RN, no período de abril a julho de 2003. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos resultaram da combinação de cinco tipos de coberturas do solo (solo descoberto e coberturas do solo com plástico preto, prateado, amarelo e marrom) com três lâminas de irrigação (100 por cento, 86 por cento e 72 por cento da lâmina padrão, esta equivalente a 238,4mm por ciclo). As características avaliadas foram número, massa média e produtividade de frutos comercializáveis (mercados interno e externo), refugos e totais, firmeza e espessura de polpa, relação de formato e teor de sólidos solúveis totais. Houve interação significativa entre os tipos de coberturas do solo e as lâminas de irrigação para a produtividade total. A maior produtividade de frutos comercializáveis e de conteúdo de sólidos solúveis totais foi registrada nas coberturas do solo com plástico. Os números de frutos comercializáveis, refugos e totais, bem como a produtividade de frutos comercializáveis e refugos, não foram afetados significativamente pelas lâminas de irrigação.

Growing a melon crop during the rainfall period has been a great challenge for producers from the north eastern Brazil due to crop sanitary problems. This work was aimed at evaluating the effects of soil coverages and irrigation depth on yield and quality of yellow melon (hybrid Goldex) during the rainfall period. The experiment was carried out at Fazenda Santa Júlia Agro-Comercial Exportadora de Frutos Tropicais Ltda, Mossoró-RN, Northeastern Brazil, during the period of April to July 2003. The experimental design was a randomized complete blocks with four replications. The treatments were the combinations of five soil coverages (soil with no coverage and coverages with polyethylene films - black, silvery, yellow, and brown) with three irrigation depth (100 percent, 86 percent and 72 percent of the standard lamina, this equivalent to 238.44mm). The traits evaluated were number, mean weight and yield of marketable (internal and external markets), refuse and total fruits, pulp firmness and thickness, fruit shape index, and soluble solids content. Interaction between soil coverage types and irrigation depth was significant with regard to total fruit yield. The greatest marketable fruit yields and soluble solids contents were obtained with the use of polyethylene soil coverages. The numbers of marketable, refuse and total fruits, as well as the yields of marketable and refuse fruits were not significantly affected by the irrigation depth.