Significance of topoisomerase IIIß expression in breast ductal carcinomas: strong associations with disease-specific survival and metastasis.

Topoisomerases are ubiquitous nuclear enzymes that regulate DNA structure in eukaryotic cells. The role of topoisomerase IIIß, the newest member of the topoisomerase family, in the clinical outcome of breast cancer is still poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the immunoexpression of topoisomerase IIIß in breast cancer and its relationships with clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical markers of prognostic significance in breast pathology. Using tissue microarrays containing 171 cases of primary invasive breast cancer, we analyzed the immunoexpression of topoisomerase IIIß, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER-2, BRCA-1, p53, and Ki67. Immunostaining for topoisomerase IIIß was found in 33.9% of breast carcinomas, and immunopositivity was correlated with distant metastasis (P = .036) and death (P = .006). Decreased expression of topoisomerase IIIß correlated with low expression of Ki67 (P < .001) and negativity for HER-2 (P < .001), BRCA-1 (P = .001), and p53 (P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, topoisomerase IIIß expression was a significant predictor of survival (hazard ratio, 3.006 [95% confidence interval, 1.582-5.715]; P = .001). In conclusion, topoisomerase IIIß expression can be a useful marker in assessing the prognosis of patients with breast cancer and is an independent predictor of survival.

Transplante de fígado: indicação e sobrevida

The success of liver transplantation would be certainly compromised if the pre-operative evaluation was not adequately performed. The success of the liver transplantation depends on the diagnosis of the underlying hepatic disease, the determination of its extension and the degree of systemic repercussion. In the last 30 years, the progress in hepatology, the identification of viral hepatitis and the better management of ascitis and hepatorenal syndrome have increased the life expectancy of patients with chronic liver failure. Undoubtedly, orthotopic liver transplantation represents a great advance in modern hepatology. Nowadays, liver transplantation represents a valid therapeutic option for chronic liver diseases with (and presents) a mean survival rate of about 80% in 3 years. Thus, it is an indicated treatment in situations where the conservative treatment (would) could lead to a (incur) mortality rate as high as 70% in one year. In this article the authors comment (on) various aspects of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation related to indications and survival rates.

O sucesso dos transplantes de fígado certamente seria comprometido se a avaliação pré-operatória dos pacientes não fosse realizada de forma adequada. Isto se justifica devido ao reconhecimento de que o sucesso da cirurgia depende, em princípio, do diagnóstico da doença de base, da determinação de sua extensão e do grau de repercussão sistêmica. No final das décadas de setenta a noventa os progressos da hepatologia na identificação das hepatites virais e no manejo da ascite e da síndrome hepatorrenal melhoraram sobremaneira a expectativa de vida do doente portador de doença hepática crônica. Mas, sem dúvida o transplante ortotópico do fígado (TOF) foi o espetacular avanço da hepatologia moderna. Atualmente o transplante é um tratamento eficaz das hepatopatias crônicas, e o índice de sobrevivência global aos 3 anos é ao redor de 80%. É, portanto, uma alternativa de tratamento indicada nos casos terminais, onde a mortalidade com tratamentos conservadores pode atingir até 70% ao final de 12 meses. Neste artigo, os autores comentam aspectos do TOF, relacionados à indicação e a sobrevida.

Led enhancement in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for hepatectomized rats

Recently, the LED (light emitting diode) developed by the Optics Group of IFSC-USP has been used instead of laser for the treatment of skin tumors by the PDT (Photodinamic Therapy) because of its low operational cost compared to the use of a laser. In this paper we investigate the effect of LED light on oxidative phosphorylation during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (250 g) were kept in identical housing units on a 12-hour light/12 hour dark cycle. The LED 10 group was exposed to LED at 638 nm (10 J/cm² for 3 minutes). Seventy percent partial hepatectomy was performed in the LED 10 and HPC (Partial Hepatectomy-Control). A sham-operated group (C) was used for control. Twenty four hours after the procedure, LED 10, HPC and control animals were sacrificed. Samples of liver tissue were used for the mitochondrial respiration assay. Statistical comparisons of the groups were performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Bonferroni post-test. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. the phosphorylation index (FI) for the LED 10 group was higher than that for the HPC group and for the sham group (p 005). The FI for the HPC group was higher than that for the sham group (p 005). The values of the ADP:O ratio for the three groups, which did not differ significantly from one another (p > 0.05). In the present study we noted an effective interaction between LED light and hepatic mitochondria, with an increased phosphorylation rate for the latter.

A regeneração hepática e os inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina

No presente estudo, o autor aborda conceitos fundamentais acerca do fenômeno regenerativo hepático, seguido de alguns aspectos importantes relacionados ao sistema calicreína-cininas. A associação entre os inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina, a bradicinina e a regeneração hepática é discutida à luz de estudos recentes, que revelam um papel estimulante das cininas sobre a proliferação hepatocelular. Os inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina, extremamente utilizados no tratamento clínico da hipertensão arterial sistêmica, da insuficiência cardíaca congestiva e da nefropatia diabética, também são capazes de favorecer a regeneração hepática.