Association between cell cycle gene transcription and tumor size in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Higher tumor size correlates with poor prognosis and is an independent predictive survival factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. However, the molecular events underlining OSCC tumor evolution are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate if large OSCC tumors show different cell cycle gene transcriptional signature compared to small tumors. Seventeen fresh OSCC tumor samples with different tumor sizes (T) were included in the study. Tumors were from the tongue or from the floor of the mouth, and only three patients were nonsmokers. Samples were categorized according to clinical tumor size in tumors ≤2 cm (T1, n = 5) or tumors >2 cm (T2, n = 9; T3, n = 2; T4, n = 1). The group of tumors ≤2 cm was considered the reference group, while the larger tumors were considered the test group. We assessed the expression of 84 cell cycle genes by qRT-PCR array and normalized it to the expression of two housekeeping genes. Results were analyzed according to the formula 2(^-DeltaCt). A five-fold change cutoff was used, and p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was performed to estimate cell proliferation index. Twenty-nine genes were downregulated in the test group (larger tumors) compared to the reference group (smaller tumors). Among these genes, 13 reached statistical significance: ANAPC4, CUL1, SUMO1, KPNA2, MAD2L2, CCNG2, E2F4, NBN, CUL2, PCNA, TFDP1, KNTC1, and ATR. Ki-67 labeling index was similar in both tumor groups. Our findings suggest that the transcriptional activity of specific cell cycle genes varies according to the size of OSCC tumor, which probably reflects tumor molecular evolution and adaptation to the microenvironment.

Análise sociodemográfica e clínica de pacientes submetidos ao transplante alogênico de células-troncos hematopoiéticas / Sociodemographic and clinical analysis of patients subjected to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Objetivo: Descrever os achados clínicos e sociodemográficos dos pacientes submetidos ao transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) e encaminhados à Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (FO-UFMG). Metodologia: Foram selecionados 39 pacientes pré-TCTH alogênico entre 2006 e 2008. Os dados sociodemográficos e clínicos foram obtidos dos prontuários médicos do dia - 7 ao dia +360 pós-TCTH. Resultados: Foi possível observar que 59% dos pacientes eram homens, 25,6% eram melanoderma e 53,8% eram solteiros. Trinta e três por cento deles possuíam o ensino fundamental, 38,5% eram católicos e 56,4% residiam em casa, sendo que (51,2%) residem em casa própria e, (61,5%) em zona urbana. O saneamento básico estava presente em 64,1%, a coleta seletiva em 69,2% e a água encanada em 64,1%. A medula óssea foi a fonte de células-tronco para o TCTH usada em 61,5% dos casos, a doença de base mais prevalente foi a leucemia (46,4%) e 41% dos pacientes foram a óbito após o TCTH. Além disso, 43,6% dos pacientes apresentaram a doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro aguda (DECHa) e 62,5% DECHc sistêmica e 58,3% DECHc bucal. Conclusão: Assim, este estudo adiciona ao conhecimento no contexto do TCTH dados referentes ao perfil clínico e sociodemográfico dos pacientes e com isso, sugere que o êxito do transplante compreende na sinergia de todos os aspectos referentes ao transplantado.

Objective: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic findings of the patients subjected to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and referred to the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (FO-UFMG). Method: Thirty-nine pre-allogeneic HSCT patients were selected between 2006 and 2008. The clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from the medical charts from day -7 to day +360 post-HSCT. Results: It was found that 59% of the patients were male, 25.6% were Black and 53.8% were single. Thirty-three percent of them completed the elementary school, 38.5% were Catholic and 56.4% lived at home; of these, 51.2% owned their houses and 61.5% lived in the urban area. As much as 64.1%, 69.2%, 64.1% of the patients had access to basic sanitation, selective collection of residues and water supply pipelines. The bone marrow was the source of stem cells for the HSCT used in 61.5% of the cases, leukemia was the most prevalent base disease (46.4%), and 41% of the patients died after HSCT. Additionally, 43.6% of the patients presented acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), 62.5% presented chronic systemic GVHD, and 58.3% presented oral GVHD. Conclusion: This study adds to the knowledge of HSCT information about the clinical and sociodemographic profile of the patients, suggesting that the success of transplantation encompasses the synergy of all aspects associated with the transplant recipient.

Variações genéticas da glicoproteína B do citomegalovírus humano e associação com o nível de citocinas em pacientes submetidos ao transplante alogênico de células tronco hamatopoiéticas / Human citomegalovírus glycoprotein B genetic variations and association with cytokines levels in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Introdução: Infeccção pelo citomegalovirus (HCMV) e níveis de citocinas têm sido considerados fatores importantes que influenciam o prgnóstico do transplante alogênico de células tronco hematopoiéticas (alo-TCTH). A glicoproteína B (gB) do HCMV tem sido relacionada com promoção de infecção viral e indução de resposta imune em pacientes com infecção pelo HCMV. Entretanto, os componentes imunológicos associados com controle de infecção causada pelo HCMV não estão completamente esclarecidos. Objetivo: O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalência dos genótipos da gB em pacientes submetidos ao alo-TCTH e investigar a possível relação entre os genótipos e os níveis das citocinas...

Helicobacter pylori DNA in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

BACKGROUND: Considering not only the fact that recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and stomach ulcers are immunologically mediated ulcers associated with Helicobacter pylori, but also the recent evidence that anaemia can be associated with both diseases, and the discovery of H. pylori in the oral mucosa led us to hypothesize that this bacteria may be related to RAS pathogenesis. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive subjects affected by minor and major forms of RAS and 48 healthy volunteers were included in the present study. The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to detect the presence of H. pylori in the oral lesion, the normal contralateral mucosa of patients affected by RAS and the oral mucosa of control subjects. The chi2- and Fisher's tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: No association between RAS lesions and H. pylori was observed. However, 14 out of 36 (38.9%) of the patients with RAS were found to show the presence of H. pylori DNA in the lesion and/or contralateral mucosa. Sixteen out of 48 (33.3%) of the patients without RAS (control subjects) were positive (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study does not give support to the assumption that H. pylori could be involved in RAS development.