NK1 receptor mediates cerebral cellular and extracellular morphological changes during the LPS-induced febrile response.

Fever elicited by bacterial lypopolyssacharide (LPS) is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, which activate central mediators and regulate the hypothalamic temperature setpoint. This response is often accompanied by morphological changes involving the extracellular matrix, neurons and glial cells, with significant health impacts. The NK1 receptor is involved in the febrile response induced by LPS but its effects over the extracellular matrix in the context of neuroinflammation remain unknown. The present work aims to clarify the extracellular changes associated with NK1 signaling in LPS-induced fever. Male Wistar rats were exposed to LPS intraperitoneally. Experimental groups were pre-treated intracerebroventricularly with the NK1 selective inhibitor SR140333B or saline. Histological changes involving the brain extracellular matrix were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin, Mason's trichrome, picrosirius, alcian blue, periodic acid Schiff's stains. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) was studied using confocal microscopy. Fever was accompanied by edema, perivascular lymphoplamacytic and neutrophylic infiltration, spongiosis and MMP9 overexpression. SR140333B significantly reduced LPS-induced fever (p < 0.0001), MMP9 overexpression (p < 0.01) and associated histological changes. These results contribute to characterize cerebral extracellular matrix changes associated with LPS-induced fever. Overall, the present work supports a role for NK1 receptor in these neuroinflammatory changes, involving MMP9 overexpression, edema and leukocytic infiltration.

Differential Incidence of Tongue Base Cancer in Male and Female HPV16-Transgenic Mice: Role of Female Sex Hormone Receptors.

A growing proportion of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) are associated with infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). For reasons that remain largely unknown, HPV+OPSCC is significantly more common in men than in women. This study aims to determine the incidence of OPSCC in male and female HPV16-transgenic mice and to explore the role of female sex hormone receptors in the sexual predisposition for HPV+ OPSCC. The tongues of 30-weeks-old HPV16-transgenic male (n = 80) and female (n = 90) and matched wild-type male (n = 10) and female (n = 10) FVB/n mice were screened histologically for intraepithelial and invasive lesions in 2017 at the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Portugal. Expression of estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERß), progesterone receptors (PR) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was studied immunohistochemically. Collagen remodeling was studied using picrosirius red. Female mice showed robust ERα and ERß expression in intraepithelial and invasive lesions, which was accompanied by strong MMP2 expression and marked collagen remodeling. Male mice showed minimal ERα, ERß and MMP2 expression and unaltered collagen patterns. These results confirm the association of HPV16 with tongue base cancer in both sexes. The higher cancer incidence in female versus male mice contrasts with data from OPSCC patients and is associated with enhanced ER expression via MMP2 upregulation.

Is There a Role for Sex Hormone Receptors in Head-and-neck Cancer? Links with HPV Infection and Prognosis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world and human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important risk factor for this neoplasm. Recent studies showed an association between sex hormone receptors and pathogenesis and/or prognosis in patients with HNSCC. The aim of this study was to clarify the expression patterns of sex hormone receptors in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC and their associations with tumour biopathology and biological behaviour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scientific literature indexed in PubMed about sex hormone receptors in HNSCC was retrieved and critically analyzed, to obtain an overview of expression patterns and their possible implications for tumour biopathology and prognosis. RESULTS: Sex hormone receptors were more frequently detected in oropharyngeal tumours compared with HNSCC from other locations. ERα was associated with HPV-positive tumours. The androgen and progesterone receptors were associated with poor patient prognosis. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is implicated in the biopathology of HNSCC in different ways, by promoting DNA hypermutation and facilitating HPV integration thus contributing to an immunogenic phenotype, but also by cooperating with the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) to promote resistance to therapy. CONCLUSION: The expression of sex hormone receptors may be of prognostic value in specific tumour subgroups, but the use of hormonal therapies for HNSCC is still not in close sight.

Evidence of Zika virus circulation in asymptomatic pregnant women in Northeast, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus associated with microcephaly and other fetal anormalities. However, evidence of asymptomatic ZIKV infection in pregnant women is still scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of Zika infection in asymptomatic pregnant women attending two public maternities in Maranhão state, Northeast Brazil. METHODS: A total of 196 women were recruited at the time of delivery by convenience sampling from two maternity clinics in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, between April 2017 and June 2018. Venous blood, umbilical cord blood and placental fragments from maternal and fetal sides were collected from each subject. ZIKV infection was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for ZIKV and by serology (IgM and IgG). Nonspecific laboratory profiles (TORCH screen) were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: The participants were mostly from São Luís and were of 19-35 years of age. They had 10-15 years of schooling and they were of mixed race, married, and Catholic. ZIKV was identified in three umbilical cord samples and in nine placental fragments. Mothers with positive ZIKV RT-qPCR were in the age group older than 19 years. Of the 196 women tested by ZIKV rapid test, 6 and 117 women were positive for anti-ZIKV IgM and anti-ZIKV IgG antibodies, respectively. Placental Immunohistochemistry study detected ZIKV in all samples positive by RT-PCR. The newborns did not show any morphological and/or psychomotor abnormalities at birth. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic ZIKV infection is frequent, but it was not associated to morphological and/or psychomotor abnormalities in the newborns up to 6 months post-birth. Although pathological abnormalities were not observed at birth, we cannot rule out the long term impact of apparent asymptomatic congenital ZIKV infection.

Trichomonas vaginalis as a risk factor for human papillomavirus: a study with women undergoing cervical cancer screening in a northeast region of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infections are the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally. The latter has contributed to a variety of adverse outcomes for both sexes. Moreover, in Brazil, epidemiological studies on patients with STIs are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of TV and its association with HPV in women undergoing cervical cancer screening. METHODS: Women with a normal cervix were recruited from a community-based cervical cancer screening program. Gynecological examinations were conducted, and questionnaires were provided. Vaginal canal and uterine cervix samples were collected for cytological examinations (reported using the 2001 Bethesda System) and tested for the presence of TV and HPV DNA. RESULTS: In total, 562 women who attended public primary healthcare were included in the study. The T. vaginalis was present in 19.0% (107) and HPV DNA was present in 46.8% (263) of women. Among the women of TV 73.8% (79) had a co-infection with HPV (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a TV infection is associated with an HPV infection of the cervix as well as with the cervical cytological abnormalities. Further studies could reveal the mechanisms by which these two organisms interact at the cellular level, with control for shared behavioral risk factors.

Urinary Incontinence in Climacteric Women With or Without Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI) is associated with increased odds of depression in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 208 women with depressive symptoms, confirmed by the Beck Depression Inventory, and 247 patients without depression. All participants were perimenopausal or postmenopausal women aged 35 to 65 years who attended an outpatient clinic from a tertiary-academic hospital in Northeastern Brazil. Urinary incontinence symptoms were assessed using patient's self-report and the validated versions of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form and the Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis. To investigate the severity of climacteric symptoms, the Blatt-Kupperman Index was used, and menopause-related quality of life was analyzed using the Utian Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, the Beck Depression Inventory-II mean scores for UI and non-UI women were, respectively, 15.5 (95% confidence interval, 14.28-16.72) and 11.83 (10.52-13.13; P < 0.05). Patients with moderate and severe scores of depression reported higher International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form and Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis scores when compared with women with mild depression scores and women without depression (P < 0.001). Conversely, in multivariate analysis, having UI was not associated with having depression (odds ratio [OR], 0.85; 0.52-1.37; P = 0.50), after adjusting for confounders. Older age (>55 years) was associated with decreased odds of depression (OR, 0.43; 0.21-0.88; P = 0.02), whereas moderate (OR, 2.28; 1.40-3.71; P = 0.001) and severe (OR, 7.70; 2.79-21.23) intensities of menopause symptoms were associated with increased odds of depression. CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence was not associated with depression within climacteric women after multivariate analysis.

Role of HPV 16 variants among cervical carcinoma samples from Northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer affecting women globally. In Brazil, it is the third most frequent type of cancer in women and HPV is present in approximately 90% of cases. Evidence suggests that variants of HPV 16 can interfere biologically and etiologically during the development of cervical cancer. METHODS: Cervix tumor fragments were collected, their DNA was extracted, and nested PCR was used to detect HPV. Positive samples were sequenced to determine the viral genotype. To characterize the HPV 16 strains, positive samples PCR was used to amplify the LCR and E6 regions of the HPV 16 virus. RESULTS: Data from 120 patients with cervical cancer were analyzed. Most women were between 41 and 54 years of age, had schooling until primary school, a family income between 1 and 2 times the minimum wage and were married/in a consensual union. There was no statistically significant association between HPV or socio-demographic variables and risk factors for cervical cancer (P <  0.05). HPV was present in 88 women (73%). The most prevalent types were HPV 16 (53.4%), HPV 18 (13.8%), HPV 35 (6.9%) and HPV 45 (5.7%). Of the 47 HPV 16 positive cases, variant A (49%) was present in 23 samples, followed by variant D in 20 cases (43%), and variants B and C in 2 cases each (4%). The most prevalent histological type of HPV 16 tumors was squamous cell carcinoma, followed by adenocarcinoma. There was a statistically significant association between HPV 16 variants and the tumors' histological types (P <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of HPV 16 variants will provide data on their influence on the pathological and oncogenic aspects of cervical lesions.

Efeito do contraceptivo hormonal na depressão, ansiedade e qualidade de vida: estudo controlado / Effect of hormonal contraception on depression, anxiety and quality of life: a controlled study / xxx

RESUMO: Objetivo: Identificar o efeito do uso de contraceptivos hormonais orais na depressão, ansiedade e qualidade de vida. Métodos: Neste estudo, utiliza-se o método transversal e a amostra foi 113 mulheres em idade reprodutiva. Para avaliação de depressão, ansiedade e qualidade de vida foram utilizados o Inventário de BECK, IDATE Traço--Estado e o SF-36, respectivamente. Para análise estatística utilizou-se o programa STATA 14.0. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Mulheres que utilizam contraceptivos tiveram idade 24,02±5,30 anos, menarca 12,23±1,40 anos e peso 58,90±10,20 kg. O não consumo de álcool e tabaco foi de 73 (64,60%) e 111(98,23%), respectivamente. Nas usuárias de contraceptivos hormonais orais combinados e não usuárias de contraceptivos hormonais orais combinados em relação ao tipo de ansiedade e nível de depressão, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante. Prevaleceram as mulheres assintomáticas em relação a depressão (não usuárias de contraceptivos hormonais orais combinados 61/82,43%) e presença de ansiedade/traço e ansiedade/estado, em ambos os grupos. A qualidade de vida não foi prejudicada pelo uso ou não dos contraceptivos hormonais orais combinados. Conclusão: O uso do Contraceptivo não está relacionado á presença de ansiedade, depressão e alteração de qualidade de vida. (AU)

ABSTRACT: Objective: Identify the effect of oral hormonal contraceptive use on depression, anxiety, and quality of life.Methods: A cross-sectional study method was used and the sample was 113 women on reproductive age. Depression,anxiety, and QoL were assessed by the BECK Inventory, the State-Trait IDATE, and the SF-36, respectively. For the statistical analysis, the STATA 14.0 program was used. The level of significance was 5%. Results: Women who use oral contraceptives have age 24,02 ± 5,30 years, menarche 12,23±1,40 years, and weight 58.9 kg. Nonconsumption of alcohol and tobacco prevailed, respectively, with 73 (64.60%) and 111 (98.23%). Concerning the use of combined oral hormonal contraceptives and without the use of COHC in relation to the type of anxiety and level of depression, there was no statistically significant difference between them. Asymptomatic women prevailedin relation to depression (without the use of combined oral hormonal contraceptives 61/82.43%) and presence of anxiety/trait and anxiety/status in both groups. QoL was not impaired by the use of combined oral hormonal contraceptives or not. Conclusion: Contraceptive use is not related to the presence of anxiety, depression, and quality of life alteration. (AU)

Elevated leptin levels in healthy climacteric women from Northeastern Brazil: an effect of age or adiposity?

OBJECTIVE: Climacterium is associated with elevated leptin levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. Conflicting data diverge on whether high leptin levels in climacterium reflect increasing adipose mass or, at least partially, age-related hormonal changes. This study addresses this issue in women from a Brazilian state with a low human development index. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted, enrolling 136 women from the state of Maranhão, 52 (38.2%) climacteric and 84 (61.8%) non-climacteric. Biometric, biochemical, hormonal and immunological parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Climacteric women showed a moderately increased waist/hip ratio (0.894 versus 0.834, p < 0.05), sustained body mass index (27.46 versus 28.68, p > 0.05) increased leptin levels (9.59 versus 7.13, p < 0.05) and no evidence of metabolic syndrome. No other parameters were altered. The climacteric cohort didn't show significant body fat gains but displayed a typical age-related redistribution of adipose tissue. Even so, leptin levels were significantly elevated compared with non-climacteric women. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that leptin is elevated, at least partially, as a function of age and climacterium and is not necessarily correlated with metabolic dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of higher leptin levels on postmenopausal women. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):276-81.

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) Consumption and Prevention of Chronic Diseases: Is There an Association? A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Flavonoids from a variety of fruits, including açaí, have beneficial antioxidant activity in several diseases, including cancer. Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among Brazilian women. Studies have shown the action of flavonoids on neoplastic cells, as well as on diabetes and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the consumption of açaí and the presence of chronic diseases in women residing in the rural area of São Luís, Maranhão. METHODS: A convenience sample of 150 women residing in the Maracanã neighborhood in São Luís, Maranhão, was used; the collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, habits, sexual and reproductive history, consumption of açaí, and history of cancer and other chronic diseases. The sample was divided into women who consumed açaí at least once a week (cases) and women who did not consume açaí (controls). Statistical analysis was performed to assess the relationships between those variables and the consumption of açaí. RESULTS: A total of 141 women (94%) consumed açaí. Among these, 79.3% were aged between 20 and 50 years, 78.67% were farmers or housewives, 64.67% were Pardo (mixed race), 76.67% were nonsmokers, 70% were not receiving hormonal therapy, 40.67% had already undergone mammography, 28% had already undergone breast ultrasound, and 27.33% had a family history of cancer, with breast cancer being the second most prevalent cancer. There was a higher prevalence of hypertension among women who did not consume açaí than that among those who did; however, previous cancer, family history of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes were more prevalent among the consumers of açaí. There were no statistically significant relationships. CONCLUSION: Flavonoids are known to have a beneficial effect on some types of neoplastic cells and other diseases; therefore, larger studies are necessary to better evaluate the beneficial effects of consuming foods containing flavonoids on these diseases.

HPV16 induces penile intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma in transgenic mice: first mouse model for HPV-related penile cancer.

Penile cancer is an under-studied disease that occurs more commonly in developing countries and 30-50% of cases show high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Therapeutic advances are slow, largely due to the absence of animal models for translational research. Here, we report the first mouse model for HPV-related penile cancer. Ten-week-old mice expressing all the HPV16 early genes under control of the cytokeratin 14 (Krt14) gene promoter and matched wild-type controls were exposed topically to dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) or vehicle for 16 weeks. At 30 weeks of age, mice were sacrificed for histological analysis. Expression of Ki67, cytokeratin 14, and of the HPV16 oncogenes E6 and E7 was confirmed using immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR, respectively. HPV16-transgenic mice developed intraepithelial lesions including condylomas and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN). Lesions expressed cytokeratin 14 and the HPV16 oncogenes E6 and E7 and showed deregulated cell proliferation, demonstrated by Ki67-positive supra-basal cells. HPV16-transgenic mice exposed to DMBA showed increased PeIN incidence and squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant lesions showed varied histological features closely resembling those of HPV-associated human penile cancers. Wild-type mice showed no malignant or pre-malignant lesions even when exposed to DMBA. These observations provide the first experimental evidence to support the etiological role of HPV16 in penile carcinogenesis. Importantly, this is the first mouse model to recapitulate key steps of HPV-related penile carcinogenesis and to reproduce morphological and molecular features of human penile cancer, providing a unique in vivo tool for studying its biology and advancing basic and translational research. © 2020 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Elevated leptin levels in healthy climacteric women from Northeastern Brazil: an effect of age or adiposity?

ABSTRACT Objective Climacterium is associated with elevated leptin levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. Conflicting data diverge on whether high leptin levels in climacterium reflect increasing adipose mass or, at least partially, age-related hormonal changes. This study addresses this issue in women from a Brazilian state with a low human development index. Subjects and methods A case-control study was conducted, enrolling 136 women from the state of Maranhão, 52 (38.2%) climacteric and 84 (61.8%) non-climacteric. Biometric, biochemical, hormonal and immunological parameters were analyzed. Results Climacteric women showed a moderately increased waist/hip ratio (0.894 versus 0.834, p < 0.05), sustained body mass index (27.46 versus 28.68, p > 0.05) increased leptin levels (9.59 versus 7.13, p < 0.05) and no evidence of metabolic syndrome. No other parameters were altered. The climacteric cohort didn't show significant body fat gains but displayed a typical age-related redistribution of adipose tissue. Even so, leptin levels were significantly elevated compared with non-climacteric women. Conclusions Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that leptin is elevated, at least partially, as a function of age and climacterium and is not necessarily correlated with metabolic dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of higher leptin levels on postmenopausal women. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):276-81

Immune-mediated febrile response in female rats: Role of central hypothalamic mediators.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces fever through cytokines like receptor-activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), triggering mediators like prostaglandins (PG), endothelin-1 (ET-1), corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), substance P (SP) and endogenous opioids. LPS-induced fever is reduced in females compared with males except in ovariectomized (OVX) females which show increased fever mediated by PG. The present study aimed to identify the mediators involved in fever in intact and OVX female rats. Fever was induced with LPS (50 µg/kg) intraperitoneally or CRF (2.5 µg), ET-1 (1 pg), morphine (10 µg) and SP (500 ng) intracerebroventricularly in sham-operated and OVX rats. The role of RANKL was evaluated with osteoprotegerin (OPG, 1 µg, intracerebroventricularly). Expression of RANK, CRFI/II, ETB, µ-opioid (MOR) and NK1 receptors was evaluated by confocal microscopy. Besides LPS, only morphine induced fever in OVX rats while all mediators induced fever in sham-operated animals. OPG abolished LPS-induced fever in OVX but not sham-operated animals. Overall, fever involves similar central mediators in cycling females and males but only morphine induced fever in OVX females. Importantly, RANK/RANKL participates in LPS-induced fever in OVX females, as in males but not in cycling females.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the effect of Morus nigra L. (black mulberry) leaf powder on symptoms and quality of life among climacteric women.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of Morus nigra L. (MN) leaf powder for treating climacteric symptoms by comparison with hormone therapy (HT) and placebo. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial among 62 climacteric women attending Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil. Women were divided into MN, HT, and placebo groups, and received 250 mg of MN leaf powder, 1 mg of estradiol, or placebo for 60 days. Primary outcomes were the Blatt-Kupperman index (BKI) for climacteric symptoms and SF-36 health questionnaire scores. RESULTS: Baseline sociodemographic variables, BKI scores, symptoms, and SF-36 domains did not differ among the groups. There was a reduction in mean BKI in the MN (17.5 vs 9.7, P<0.001), HT (15.4 vs 8.6, P=0.001), and placebo (16.1 vs 12.4, P=0.040) groups. Analysis of quality of life (QoL) showed that functional capacity (P=0.006), vitality (P=0.031), mental health (P=0.017), and social aspect (P<0.01) improved after treatment in the MN group. The HT group showed improvement in emotional limitation (P=0.040), and the placebo group showed better functional capacity (P=0.030) after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Climacteric symptoms and QoL improved after administration of 250 mg of MN leaf powder for 60 days, similar to the effects of HT. The trial is registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) under registration number RBR-9t4xxk.

Plasma Cytokine Levels in Overweight Versus Obese Disease-Free Perimenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the plasma cytokine levels during T cell-mediated inflammatory responses and compare the metabolic markers between overweight and obese perimenopausal women without systemic diseases. METHODS: Sixty perimenopausal women were divided into two groups (overweight and obese). Participants in both groups had their waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) measured and blood samples collected for the evaluation of estradiol, fasting glucose, leptin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-17A levels, and lipid profile. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, women with obesity showed increased WHtR, fasting glucose, leptin, and IL-6 (p < 0.05) levels; however, significant differences were not observed in IL-10 or IL-17A (p > 0.05) levels. In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the highest areas under the curve were shown for leptin (0.856) and IL-6 (0.706). IL-6 levels correlated with both hs-CRP (r = 0.302, p = 0.020) and leptin (r = 0.294, p = 0.022). However, in multivariate analysis, IL-6 was not associated with a greater likelihood of obesity (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.82-3.15; p = 0.16), when potential confounders were considered. CONCLUSION: IL-6 levels varied between overweight and obese perimenopausal women, and this association was weaker when adjusted for other clinical variables.

Hormonal, metabolic and inflammatory circulating biomarker profiles in obese and non-obese Brazilian middle-aged women.

AIM: To investigate circulating hormonal, metabolic and inflammatory biomarker profiles in obese and non-obese middle-aged women. METHODS: A total of 110 women, aged 40-60 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients were allocated, according to the occurrence of menopause and body mass index (BMI), into four groups: PM0 (premenopausal non-obese), PM1 (premenopausal obese), M0 (postmenopausal non-obese), and M1 (postmenopausal obese). Serum levels of gonadotropins, sex hormones, lipid markers, leptin, hs-CRP and interleukin-6 were obtained using either colorimetric or immunoenzymatic assays. Univariate and correlation analyses were performed among all clinical and laboratorial parameters. Principal component analysis was used to characterize subsets of biomarkers, which had their discriminatory capacity tested using discriminant function analysis. RESULTS: Levels of gonadotropins and female sex hormones were similar between PM0 and PM1 and between M0 and M1 (p > 0.05), all of them varied between PM0 and M0 (p < 0.05), but only estradiol was significantly altered in the comparison between PM1 and M1 (p = 0.027). Regarding metabolic markers, leptin was lower in PM0 than in M0 (p = 0.010) and higher in M1 than in M0 (p = 0.046). In premenopausal women, BMI correlated only to leptin, while it correlated to several other markers in postmenopausal women. A combination of FSH and leptin serum levels significantly discriminated the four groups (Wilks's lambda < 0.001, in canonical functions 1 and 2). CONCLUSION: A combined analysis of hormonal biomarkers may potentially distinguish obese from non-obese women with distinct menopause status. Further research is thus required to clarify the clinical significance of such findings.

Human Papillomavirus and Coronary Artery Disease in Climacteric Women: Is There an Association?

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of death worldwide. Recent studies suggest that infection by some viruses, including the human papillomavirus (HPV), may increase the risk of developing atheromatous lesions on coronary arteries. However, there is a lack of data regarding the possible association between HPV infection and coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether HPV infection is associated with the occurrence of CAD among climacteric women. METHODS: The presence of CAD and cervical HPV DNA was investigated in 52 climacteric women. Social and demographic variables and metabolic profiles were also investigated. RESULTS: Among 27 women with CAD, 16 were positive for HPV, whereas 11 were negative. The presence of cervical HPV was strongly associated with CAD, after adjusting for demographic variables, health and sexual behaviors, comorbidities, and known cardiovascular risk factors. HPV-positive women showed a greater likelihood of having CAD (odds ratio [OR] = 3.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16 to 11.96) as compared with HPV-negative women, particularly those infected with high-risk HPV types (OR = 4.90; 95% CI: 1.26 to 19.08). CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that HPV infection might be associated with CAD among climacteric women, though further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms involved.

Euterpe oleracea Mart. inhibits virulence factors of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aim:Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) presents organic compounds with different pharmacological properties. The aim was to evaluate the bioactivity of the açaí extract on the virulence factors of two strains of Aspergillus fumigatus on abiotic surfaces. Methods: The adhrence and biofilm removal activities of was analyzed by adding 3 ml of the prepared dilutions of the tube extract containing the fragments with adhered fungal structures and formed biofilm. Results: The extract of Euterpe oleraceae Mart. presented adherence and biofilm removal properties of AFAR and AF4091 on abiotic surfaces. Conclusion: The strains were able to adhere and form biofilm on the abiotic surface and Euterpe oleracea Mart. was able to remove the adhered structures and biofilm on the abiotic surfaces.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection among women from quilombo communities in northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a member of the Papillomaviridae family. The prevalence of HPV genotypes may vary according to the region and the population studied. Quilombo communities are ethnic and racial groups with difficult access to health services compared to the general population in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify specific HPV types correlating with sociodemographic/behavioral characteristics and cervical smear cytological abnormalities in Quilombola women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 395 Quilombola women users of the Unified Health System of the Municipalities of Maranhão for the screening of cervical cancer. The samples were analyzed for the presence of cytological abnormalities by conventional methods and tested for 37 HPV genotypes using polymerase chain reaction with primers PGMY09/11 followed by reverse line blot hybridization performed with the Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test kit by Roche Molecular System®. The association between HPV types and cytological diagnosis was investigated according to the different age groups. RESULTS: HPV infection was detected in 12.6% (50/395) of the women. Infections by high-risk HPV types were more frequent. Genotypes 68 (26.0%); 58 and 52 (20.0%); 31 (10.0%) and 62 (8.0%) were the most prevalent. The highest prevalence (42.0%) of HPV infection occurred in women diagnosed with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. There was a statistically significant association between HPV infection and the detection of cytological abnormalities in all age groups except in women over 60 years. There was a statistically significant association between the municipality of origin and the number of partners with HPV infection. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to incorporate new cervical cancer screening techniques incorporating the cervical-vaginal cytology. For further studies, it is necessary to determine the level of knowledge of Quilombola population on health-related issues including HPV infection and cervical cancer. This will contribute to the continuous improvement of healthcare coverage among the population and enhance the implementation of cancer care in the state of Maranhão.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal in a Northeast City in Brazil: viral genotyping and clinical aspects

Background: Anal cancer malignancies comprise about 1.5 to 3% of cancers from the gastrointestinal in which high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is responsible for >80% of cases. The aim of this work was to detect and perform human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping in squamous cell carcinoma specimens from the anal canal and to investigate the association between viral infection and histopathological and clinical aspects. Methods: The presence of genotype-specific HPV DNA in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue from 27 anal SCC samples from a reference cancer hospital of São Luís, State of Maranhão, Brazil was performed by Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test and the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Assay. Fisher's Exact test and Chi-square test were performed in order to evaluate the association between HPV type and clinical and morphological variables. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Average age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 54.96 years ± 15.81; 74.07% of patients were female. Vegetative ulcers represented the most common type of lesion (22.22%). The lesions ranged in size from 2.1 cm to 5.0 cm and mostly were well-differentiated (70.38%). Lymph node involvement was observed in 26% of the patients. Molecular evaluation revealed that HPV infection was detected in 81.48% of the lesions, and the most common type found was the oncogenic HPV 16. Statistical analysis indicated that the clinical and histopathological variables were not associated with HPV infection. Conclusions: Our results indicate that anal SCC rarely occurs in the absence of HPV and emphasize the predominant role of HPV16. The evaluation about genotype-specific prevalence of HPV in anal SCC is important to assess the potential benefit of HPV vaccination (AU)