Modulation of reactive oxygen levels and gene expression in sensitive and resistant tumoral cells by C-phyocyanin.

In this work we investigated the possible cellular changes induced by C-phycocyanin (C-PC) in erythroleukemic cells with (K562-Lucena and FEPS) and without (K562) the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. The reactive oxygen levels (ROS) (evaluated by fluorimetry) were increased relative to the control in K562 and K562-Lucena cells treated with 100 µg/mL and were not increased in FEPS cells. The expression of the following genes related to resistance was evaluated by real-time PCR: COX2, ALOX5, ABCB1 and ABCC1. Treatment with 100 µg/mL of C-PC increased COX2 and ABCB1 expression in K562-Lucena cells and reduced expression of ALOX5 in K562-Lucena and FEPS cells. ROS levels appear to be involved in biological responses to C-PC in K562 and K562-Lucena cells, although expression of the genes studied here was only modified by C-PC in the K562-Lucena cell line. Thus, it is possible to suggest that C-PC modulates the expression of COX2 and ABCB1 for the K562-Lucena in a ROS-dependent manner and the expression of ALOX5 for the FEPS in a ROS-independent manner; however, more studies are needed to elucidate these mechanisms.

C-phycocyanin to overcome the multidrug resistance phenotype in human erythroleukemias with or without interaction with ABC transporters.

The phenotype of multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main causes of chemotherapy failure. Our study investigated the effect of C-phycocyanin (C-PC) in three human erythroleukemia cell lines with or without the MDR phenotype: K562 (non-MDR; no overexpression of drug efflux proteins), K562-Lucena (MDR; overexpression of ATP-binding cassette, sub-family B/ABCB1), and FEPS (MDR; overexpression of ABCB1 and ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C/ABCC1). Using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we showed that 20 and 200 µg/mL C-PC decreased K562 viable cells after 24 h and 200 µg/mL C-PC decreased K562-Lucena cell proliferation after 48 h. C-PC did not decrease viable cells of FEPS cells. On the other hand, the MTT assay showed that exposure of 2, 20, and 200 µg/mL C-PC for 24 or 48 h was not cytotoxic to peritoneal macrophages. At 72 h, the trypan blue exclusion assay showed that 20 µg/mL C-PC decreased K562 and K562-Lucena cell proliferation and in FEPS cells, only 200 µg/mL C-PC decreased proliferation. In addition, protein-protein docking showed differences in energy and binding sites of ABCB1 and ABCC1 for C-PC, and these results were confirmed by the efflux protein activity assay. Only ABCC1 activity was altered in the presence of C-PC and FEPS cells showed lower C-PC accumulation, suggesting C-PC extrusion by ABCC1, conferring C-PC resistance. In combination with chemotherapy (vincristine [VCR] and daunorubicin [DNR]), the sensitivity of K562-Lucena cells for C-PC + VCR did not increase, whereas FEPS cell sensitivity for C-PC + DNR was increased. In molecular docking experiments, the estimated free energies of binding for C-PC associated with chemotherapy were similar (VCR: -6.9 kcal/mol and DNR: -7.2 kcal/mol) and these drugs were located within the C-PC cavity. However, C-PC exhibited specificity for tumor cells and K562 cells were more sensitive than K562-Lucena cells, followed by FEPS cells. Thus, C-PC is a possible chemotherapeutic agent for cells with the MDR phenotype, both alone in K562-Lucena cells (resistance due to ABCB1), or in combination with other drugs for cells similar to FEPS (resistance due to ABCC1). Moreover, C-PC did not damage healthy cells (peritoneal macrophages of Mus musculus).

Imiquimod en el tratamiento de la infección vulvar por virus de papiloma humano / Imiquimod in the treatment of vulvar infection by human papilloma virus

Determinar la eficacia de imiquimod como tratamiento médico de la infección vulvar por VPH. Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, longitudinal en el que 30 pacientes con verrugas genitales recibieron imiquimod crema al 5 por ciento interdiario por 12 semanas. Se evaluó el área de aplicación semanalmente por un mes y se realizó vulvoscopia a los 3, 6 y 12 meses después del tratamiento. La edad promedio de las pacientes fue 27,7 ± 6,5 años. Las lesiones más frecuentes fueron exofíticas, 30 por ciento estaban ubicadas en horquilla y 30 por ciento eran multifocales. A los tres y seis meses del tratamiento, se obtuvo una mejoría total del 96,7 por ciento y 3,3 por ciento de persistencia (P<0,001) Al año de seguimiento 83,3 por ciento se curaron, 13,3 por ciento recurrieron y en 3,3 por ciento persistió la lesión (P<0,001). El 66,7 por ciento de las pacientes presentaron efectos colaterales leves durante el tratamiento, predominaron el dolor (26,7 por ciento) y el ardor (23,3 por ciento). La diferencia entre la proporción de sintomáticas y asintomáticas fue estadísticamente significativa. Ninguna suspendió la terapia. Para el mes de culminado el tratamiento, el 73,3 por ciento no manifestó síntomas (P=0,0003). Las variables epidemiológicas y las características de las lesiones no afectaron el resultado. El imiquimod es eficaz en el tratamiento de la infección vulvar por VPH, con efectos adversos leves tolerados por las pacientes, con tasas de curación elevada y de recurrencia y persistencia bajas

To determine the efficacy of imiquimod as medical treatment of infection by HPV vulvar. Descriptive, prospective, longitudinal study in which 30 patients with genital warts received imiquimod cream 5 percent every 48 hours, for 12 weeks. The area of application was assessed weekly for a month and a vulvoscopia was made at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. The average age of the patients was 27.7 ± 6.5 years. The most common injuries were exophytics, 30 percent were located in fork and 30 percent were multifocal. At three and six months of treatment, obtained a total improvement of 96.7 per cent and 3.3 per cent of persistence (P<0.001) and after one year of follow up 83.3 percent were cured, there were 13.3 percent of recurrence and in 3.3 percent injury persisted (P<0.001). 66.7 percent of the patients had mild side effects during treatment, pain (26.7 percent) and the burning predominated (23.3 percent). The difference between the proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic was statistically significant. No patient discontinued therapy. For the month of completed treatment, 73.3 percent said not symptoms (P=0.0003). Epidemiological variables and characteristics of the injury did not affect the result. The imiquimod is effective in the treatment of vulvar infection by HPV, with mild adverse effects tolerated by patients, with low recurrence and persistence and high cure rates

Profile of cancer patients treated at the emergency room of a tertiary cancer care centre in southern Brazil.

The number of cancer care visits in the emergency department for evaluation and treatment has been steadily increasing. Cancer patients represent a challenge for the emergency team because they may have acute symptoms of still undiagnosed malignancy, vague symptoms related to the disease or complications of cancer treatment, all of which can be either mild or potentially life-threatening. The Santo Antonio Hospital is a public institution located in the city of Blumenau (SC, southern Brazil), which serves as a reference centre for cancer care patients for a population of over a million and a half. The objective of this research was to describe the epidemiological profile of the oncologic population who were treated at the emergency department of this hospital, during a period of over six months, starting on April 1st , 2011 to October 31st of the same year. There were 1,051 oncologic visits during this period, with the age ranging from 19 to 89 years. The greater demand for care was sought by patients with urological, breast, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and lung cancer. The three major complaints of the consultations were pain, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. The visits occurred mainly during daytime mostly on Mondays and Tuesdays. The improvement of primary care services and efficiency of oncology clinics in meeting the high demand for appointments is extremely important, in order to prevent unnecessary visits to the emergency department.

Characterisation of foxing stains in eighteenth to nineteenth century drawings using non-destructive techniques.

The reddish-brown, brown or yellowish stains of circular or irregular shape known as foxing spots have been fully described in conservation literature but still, this phenomenon does not find any scientific agreement since many hypotheses have been raised concerning their origin. In this work a contribution to foxing definition not only focussed on its appearance but also reported on its chemical information. For this purpose foxing stains present in drawings from two Portuguese artists dated from the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries were observed under ultra-violet light and optical microscope and analysed by three non-invasive spectroscopy techniques. The observations carried out on the stains provided information on their surface morphology. The use of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence revealed a variation on the elemental content between foxing and paper region. Although the results from X-ray diffraction analysis showed no signs of cellulose degradation in foxing stains, Fourier-transformed infrared analysis revealed the presence of oxide groups. Both the information on the chemical nature and surface morphology of the stains achieved in this study will contribute to increase foxing formation information and develop future protocols for conservation purposes.

Seroprevalência da infecçäo pelo HIV-1 em gestantes atendidas no IMIP, Recife - Brasil / Seroprevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women attending in the IMIP, Recife-Brasil

The number of HIV infected heterosexual has been steadily increasing in Brazil. This fact was followed by a decline on the ratio of male/female HIV infection every year. We have examined the seroprevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) at Recife, North-eastern Brazil. This study was performae as an anonymous sentinel surveillance. The collected blood samples were tested for HIV infection by two different types of ELISA, and if positive, further analysis by IIA was submitted. The subjects were arranged in four age groups with the respective proportion: group l (<15 years)-0.9 per cent, group II (15 to 20 years)-31.6 per cent, group III (21 to 34 years)-61.7 per cent and group IV (>35 years)- 5,8 per cent. It was found an HIV-1 seroprevalence of 0.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, -0.l to + 0,3) This percentage represents one single HIV positive woman included in age group III. his low HIV infection seroprevalence is suitable with a low risk population (pregnant women) in a low prevalence area. However, we became concerned with the great propottion of pregnant woman under 21 years (32,5 per cent) and with the implications of how to reinforce effectively HIV preventions of how to reinforce effectively HIV prevention strategies to this population

Stroke study group. Preliminary results. Early intensive care improves functional outcome.

Early and intensive care seems to positively affect outcome in stroke patients. A standardized protocol, costly adjusted to our reality and suitable for application by non-specialist at Emergency Room, proved effective, reflecting in diagnosis reliability, reducing time for beginning therapy, leading to low mortality rates and better functional outcomes at discharge.

Malnutrition among children of adolescent mothers in a squatter community of Recife, Brazil.

In a study of 357 first time mothers in a squatter community of Recife it was found that 1 in 10 were less than 15 years old and 60 per cent less than 20 at the time of their first delivery. Two groups of mothers were distinguished, viz. adolescent mothers with a mean (SD) age at first delivery of 16.7 (0.78) years and older mothers with a mean (SD) age at first delivery of 25 (0.79). More than a third were living in common-law union. Of the adolescent mothers only 58 per cent were living with the child's father. A further 23 per cent had received financial support from their own parents during the pregnancy. The rest were expelled from home. The adolescent mothers were generally worse off with a per capita income generally half of that of older mothers. About a quarter of all children studied were below the 10th centile of NCHS standards (23 per cent by weight/age; 28 per cent by height/age). The undernourished first born was 2.5 times more likely to have an adolescent mother, four times more likely to be in a household with low income, and two times more likely to have an illiterate mother as compared to the first borns who remain well nourished. The implications of these findings for urban primary health care programmes are further discussed.

Ultrasonically guided prostatic biopsy: technical improvements.

Combining the use of a longitudinal real-time transrectal ultrasound scanner (Bruel & Kjaer 8537 7 MHz Sector Scan), an attachable puncture guide (Bruel & Kjaer UA 0875) and the Biopty-Cut apparatus (Radioplast), one can now easily perform all prostatic biopsies with ultrasonic guidance. We evaluated this method in 75 patients and found it to be a most elegant and accurate method for the histological diagnosis of prostate cancer.

[Clinical experience with the ND-YAG laser in intravesical and intra-urethral pathology]. / Expérience clinique avec ND-YAG laser en pathologies intravésicales et intra-urétrales.

The authors report their early experience with ND-YAG laser in 55 patients treated for superficial bladder or urethral tumors and for urethral stenosis. The advantage of the technique (local anesthesia, shorter hospitalization) and the disadvantages (cost, duration, unsatisfactory results in urethral stenoses) are discussed.

Inadequate immunity to measles in children vaccinated at an early age: effect of revaccination.

This report describes a follow-up serological study of 79 Brazilian children who, because of their young age, had failed to develop protective levels of immunity after vaccination against measles. There was serological evidence that infection with wild virus had occurred at a rate of about 17% per annum. Approximately 1(1/2) years after the initial vaccination, 46% of the uninfected children maintained very low levels of neutralizing antibody, but did not have a measurable haemagglutination-inhibition titre. Revaccination did not elicit an IgM response in most children, but stimulated anti-measles IgG production in all of them. In 36% of the children, the IgG titres fell again within three months to levels that may permit reinfection. If it is assumed that some of the persistent titres can be attributed to wild virus infection, the actual effect of revaccination would have been to immunize no more than 60% of the susceptible group. The results suggest that early administration of measles vaccine may produce a cohort of children with inadequate immunity who cannot be fully immunized by revaccination. The implications of these findings for measles immunization programmes are discussed.

[Lipoma of the corpus callosum. Report of a case associated with callosum agenesia]. / Lipoma do corpo caloso. Registro de um caso associado com agenesia calosa.

A case of callosal lipoma with radiologic, angiographic and CT comprovation is discussed under actual knowledge of metabolic and clinical aspect of lipomas. The authors also make considerations about surroundings and genetic factors which would play a role acting especifically with chemical biotrophism on developing cells, affecting the genesis of corpus callosum and altering the functional structure of cells affected.