Study of the Annexin A1 and Its Associations with Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Mismatch Repair Proteins in Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) has been implicated in various tumor types, but few studies have investigated its involvement in colorectal cancer. The study aimed to analyze ANXA1 expression in the normal margin and colorectal tumor tissues of 104 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer and to associate the ANXA1 expression with predictive clinicopathological variables. METHODS: Hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining were used for the analysis. RESULTS: ANXA1 expression was higher in colorectal cancer than in normal margin tissue (p = 0.0001). However, no differences were observed when we analyzed the ANXA1 expression in colon and rectal tumors (p = 0.830). Also, this protein positivity was associated with increased carcinoembryonic antigen levels (p = 0.004). Our data in the DNA-mismatch repair proteins expression was in accordance to the literature. And their positivity was not associated with ANXA1 presence in colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: The high incidence of ANXA1 positive expression in colorectal cancer and its association with carcinoembryonic antigen levels might indicate the importance of this protein in the colorectal cancer biology.

Leishmaniasis during anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy: report of 4 cases and review of the literature (additional 28 cases).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development of 4 new cases of leishmaniasis in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF) agents and review the pertinent literature. METHODS: Chart review of the 4 cases and MEDLINE search for additional reported cases. RESULTS: All reported cases, including ours, came from endemic areas. The infection was detected on an average of 23.5 months after the initiation of anti-TNF therapy. The majority of cases had the classical clinical presentation. The biological therapy was suspended in 21 cases. The results were successful for leishmaniasis therapy in all cases. In 10 cases it was possible to reintroduce anti-TNF agents. On follow-up it was observed that there was an infection relapse in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that leishmaniasis, in its several clinical forms, should be included in the differential diagnosis of possible infections involving patients under use of aTNF therapy. Endemic disease under geographic expansion, easy international displacement and intense human migratory flows certainly represents a risk of this infection in an increasing universe of people which includes the immunosuppressed patients. Cutaneous lesions, prolonged fever, splenomegaly, and pancytopenias, the main clinical-laboratory findings of leishmaniasis, can also be present in autoimmune rheumatic disease, thus leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of the parasitic disease. The diagnosis depends basically on a high suspicion index, being confirmed with the identification of the protozoan. The classic treatment of the infection when instituted is associated with complete recovery. It is important to point out that all cases reported so far had either originated from or been recently in regions regarded as endemic of leishmaniasis.

Revacinação BCG em escolares: evolução da lesão vacinal entre 48 horas e 10 semanas / BCG revaccination in school children: evolution of the lesion at the vaccination site between 48 hours and 10 weeks

Objetivo: a reação cutânea na revacinação BCG tem sidomotivo de questionamentos dado à sua magnitude. Seria ela intensa o suficiente para desencorajar seu uso na idade escolar? O objetivo deste estudo é descrever o aspecto evolutivo da lesão vacinal entre 48 horas e a décima semana pós-revacinação.Métodos: estudo de coorte descritivo em que foram revacinadas 484 crianças entre seis e 11 anos de idade, com O,lml da vacina BCG Moreau, e aferidos eritema, enduração, pústula, úlcera, crosta ecicatriz em 48h, 72h e, semanalmente, até a décima semana de evolução, acompanhadas no período de julho a dezembro de 1997. Os dados foram informatizados em programa Epi-Info 6.0, avaliando-se freqüências, médias, medianas e desvios-padrões.Resultados: enduração estava presente em 99,1por cento, e eritema em 91,6por cento das 438 crianças avaliadas com 48h. Pústulas foram observadas na primeira semana em 26,1por cento de 479 crianças. Na segundasemana, já apareceram as primeiras úlceras. Na décima semana, 69,8por cento das 463 crianças presentes exibiam crostas, mas apenas...

[BCG revaccination in school children: evolution of the lesion at the vaccination site between 48 hours and 10 weeks]. / Revacinação BCG em escolares: evolução da lesão vacinal entre 48 horas e 10 semanas.

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous reaction after BCG revaccination has been cause of concerns due its magnitude. Would it be intense enough to discourage its use in school-age children? The objective of this study is to describe the evolution of BCG vaccination site between 48 hours and 10 weeks post-revaccination. METHODS: A descriptive cohort study was carried out involving 484 children between six and 11 years. The subjects were vaccinated with 0.1 mL of BCG-Moreau. Erythema, induration, pustule, ulcer, crust and final scar were measured within 48 h, 72 h and weekly until the tenth week, evaluated between July and December 1987. Epi Info 6.0 software was utilized to analyze frequencies, means, median and standard deviations. RESULTS: Induration was present in 99.1% and erythema in 91.6% of 438 children evaluated within 48 h. Pustules were observed in the first week in 26.1% of 479 children. The first ulcers were seen during the second week. In the tenth week, 69.8% of 463 children showed crusts but only 29.2% completed the healing process. CONCLUSIONS: BCG revaccination in school-age children causes intense and early reaction that can be related to Koch phenomenon, even though it does not present the expected reduction in the healing period. The magnitude of the reaction is not enough to discourage its recommendation for school-age children. On the other hand, it is possible that the rapid inflammatory response is an indication of active immune response from the first vaccination.