Nrf2-peroxiredoxin I axis in polymorphous adenocarcinoma is associated with low matrix metalloproteinase 2 level.

Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a malignant epithelial neoplasm that affects almost exclusively the minor salivary glands, generally described as having a relatively good prognosis. Aberrant nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor (Nrf2) activation in tumor cells has been associated with induction of antioxidant enzymes, such as peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) and increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of Nrf2 and correlate it with Prx I and MMP-2 secretion in PAC. Thirty-one cases of PAC from oral biopsies were selected and immunohistochemically analyzed for Nrf2 and Prx I. MMP-2 quantification was performed on primary cell cultures derived from PAC. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell cultures were used as control. A high immunoexpression of Nrf2 was observed in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of neoplastic cells from PAC. Nuclear staining for Nrf2 suggested its activation in the majority of the PAC cells, which was confirmed by the high expression of its target gene, Prx I. Quantification of MMP-2 secretion showed lower levels in PAC cell cultures when compared to OSCC cell cultures (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although Nrf2 overexpression has been frequently associated with high-grade malignancies, such relationship is not infallible and, in fact, the opposite may occur in low-grade tumors, such as PAC of minor salivary glands.

Habilidades sociais e vivência acadêmica de estudantes universitários / Social skills and academic integration of college students

O estudo objetivou caracterizar os universitários quanto ao repertório de habilidades sociais e àvivência acadêmica, examinando a correlação entre tais variáveis e comparando as diferenças porgênero e curso. Participaram 202 alunos de Informática e Psicologia, com idades entre 16 e 49 anos(M = 22,84; DP = 5,92), sendo 75,6% (n = 146) homens, que responderam ao Questionário deVivência Acadêmica – reduzido, Escala de Avaliação da Vida Acadêmica e Inventário de HabilidadesSociais. Os resultados indicaram percepção moderada da vivência acadêmica e do repertório dehabilidades sociais e correlações de baixa magnitude entre essas variáveis. Diferenças entre os cursose entre os sexos foram identificadas. Os achados são discutidos com base na literatura e novaspesquisas são sugeridas(AU)

Lymphatic vessel density and expressions of lymphangiogenic growth factors in salivary carcinomas.

Nodal metastasis is an important prognostic indicator in head and neck cancers, including salivary carcinomas. In these, the risk for lymph node metastasis is variable and strongly associated with the tumor histologic type. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and expressions of lymphangiogenic growth factors by tumor cells in different histologic types of salivary carcinomas subdivided according to the risk for nodal metastasis. In 15 high-risk (undifferentiated, high-grade mucoepidermoid and salivary duct carcinomas) and 60 low/moderate-risk tumors (adenoid cystic, low/intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid, acinic cell, myoepithelial, epithelial-myoepithelial and polymorphic low-grade carcinomas) the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and D2-40 (for assessing LVD) were examined. No significant differences were encountered between high- and low/moderate/-risk carcinomas regarding LVD and VEGF-C or HGF expressions. Furthermore, the expression of these proteins did not correlate with LVD. Lymphatic vascular invasion was found mainly in high-risk carcinomas. Intratumoral LVD was significantly lower than peritumoral, regardless of the risk for metastasis and primary site of the lesion. The histologic types of salivary carcinomas which are associated with high-risk for nodal metastasis do not present increased LVD or VEGF-C and HGF expressions. The greater tendency for metastasis in these carcinomas seems to be related to their capacity to invade lymph vessels. Further studies on tumor cell interactions with lymphatic endothelial cells are needed to improve our understanding of the metastatic potential of salivary carcinomas.

Expanded Milan criteria on pathological examination after liver transplantation: analysis of preoperative data.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate the accuracy of imaging techniques related to the Milan criteria (MC) compared with the explant histology and the survival of these patients. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2006, we selected 45 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma distributed into two groups according to explant histology: MC and Expanded Milan Criteria (EMC). Age, gender, preoperative imaging (ultrasound [US] and/or computed tomography [CT]), maximal tumor dimension, number of tumors, explanted histology, histology degree, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and vascular invasion were compared among the patients to evaluate the value of these prognostic factors for survival after liver transplantation. RESULTS: By histology 42.2% explants were identified as EMC. The mean AFP level was 204.5 ng/mL. Vascular invasion was detected in 31.5% of explants and 68.4% showed incidental tumors. The survival rates after 10 years were 47.4% whereas MC patients showed 57.77%. The mean AFP level among MC patients was 150.2 ng/mL with vascular invasion detected in 7.7% of explants, and 47.4% with incidental tumors. The overall sensitivity of the imaging techniques was 83.3% for CT and 75% for US. The specificity was 96% for CT and 80.1% for US. CONCLUSION: Scan examinations in the preoperative evaluation underestimated about 42.2% of tumors. Those patients had vascular invasion but the survival after 10 years was similar between the ECM and MC groups.

Sebaceous carcinoma of the parotid gland in children: an immunohistochemical and ploidy study.

Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare malignancy, affecting mainly the periocular glands. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first English-language report of parotid SC affecting children; two cases are presented. Immunohistochemical studies included 29 different antibodies (15 of these were cytokeratins, CKs). For each case, DNA ploidy status was determined using isolated nuclei stained with Feulgen and analysed using a DNA image cytometry system. Most of the tumour cells were positive for CKs AE1/AE3, 34B12, 5 and 7. The CK14 pattern depicted the monolayer of basal cells surrounding the islands of malignant tissue, while the more central sebaceous differentiated cells were negative. Epithelial membrane antigen was strongly positive in the well differentiated cells, while most of the basaloid peripheral cells were negative, and only a few cells were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. beta catenin, E cadherin and C-erb B2 were expressed by most of the cells including the more differentiated sebaceous cells. Tumour cells were negative for muscle or myoepithelial markers, androgen, oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Both SCs were uniformly diploid, and showed low proliferative indices for p53, Ki-67 and Mcm-2, which is consistent with the good clinical course presented by these patients so far.

Angiogenic switch during tumor progression of carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma.

We analyzed the tumor vascularization in carcinomas ex-pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) to investigate the angiogenic switch during the malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) to carcinoma and during tumor progression. In eight cases of early CXPA (intracapsular and minimally invasive tumors), eight of advanced CXPA (widely invasive tumors), and ten of PA without malignant transformation, tumor vascularization was assessed in histological samples by measuring total microvascular area (TVA) and microvessel density (MVD) using CD34 and CD105 antibodies. MVD for CD105 increased significantly during tumor progression, whereas this was not the case for CD34 MVD. Comparing widely invasive CXPA with and without myoepithelial differentiation, CXPA with myoepithelial differentiation showed a significantly lower number of CD105 positive vessels but revealed higher TVA values. In these tumors, the neoplastic cells usually formed larger hypovascularized aggregates that were often surrounded by large-sized vessels. In conclusion, the antibody CD105 reveals an angiogenic switch during the progression from adenoma to carcinoma in salivary glands. The degree of angiogenesis and the total vascular area have distinctive patterns in CXPA with and without myoepithelial differentiation. Low angiogenesis associated with high TVA value is more characteristic of CXPA with myoepithelial differentiation.

Lymphatic vascular density and lymphangiogenesis during tumour progression of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.

AIMS: To assess lymphatic vascular density (LVD) and lymph vessel endothelial proliferation in a series of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) that represents the tumour in the different carcinogenesis phases and tumour progression. METHODS: In 8 cases of early CXPA (intracapsular and minimally invasive tumours), 8 of advanced CXPA (widely invasive tumours) and 10 of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) without malignant transformation, lymphatic vessels and proliferating cells were detected using the antibodies D2-40 and Ki-67 respectively. RESULTS: Comparing early tumours with advanced ones, LVD was not significantly different at the tumour margin. In contrast, regarding intratumoural lymphatics, PA without malignant transformation and early CXPA contained rare, if any, lymph vessels, whereas in widely invasive carcinomas they were more numerous. However, neither intratumoural nor peritumoural LVD were increased in comparison to adjacent normal salivary gland tissue. In no case did dual immunohistochemistry using D2-40 and the cell proliferation marker Ki-67 reveal the existence of proliferating lymphatics. Carcinomatous emboli were found in peritumoural as well as in intratumoural lymphatics only in advanced CXPA without myoepithelial differentiation. CONCLUSION: In CXPA, the lymphatic network is mainly composed of pre-existing lymphatics which are rare in tumours that have not infiltrated outside the confines of the original PA. In the widely invasive CXPA, intratumoural as well as peritumoural lymphatics are a conduit for carcinoma cells, but in carcinomas with myoepithelial differentiation, the neoplastic cells seem to have a lower invasion capacity.

Chronic GVHD in minor salivary glands and oral mucosa: histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of 25 patients.

BACKGROUND: Graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT). The aim of our study was to identify the most relevant histological features for diagnosis of chronic Graft-vs.-Host Disease (cGVHD) in oral mucosa and minor salivary glands of 25 patients, as well as to evaluate the immunophenotype of the inflammatory cells. METHODS: Sixteen patients that were submitted to allogeneic BMT but did not present cGVHD were selected as a control group. The sections were studied on H & E and CD68, CD45, CD4, CD8, CD20 staining. RESULTS: The most frequent histologic findings in oral mucosa at the day of diagnosis of cGVHD were: hydropic degeneration of the basal layer of the epithelium, apoptotic bodies, lymphocytic infiltration, and focal or total cleavage between the epithelial and connective tissue. In the labial salivary glands (LSG), lymphocytic infiltration, acinar loss and fibrosis were the main alterations. Cytotoxic CD8-T cells and macrophages were predominant both in the epithelium and connective tissue, as well as in minor salivary glands. CONCLUSIONS: Histological features were useful in the diagnosis of oral cGVHD. It is suggested that CD8-T cells and macrophages play important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Avaliação propriocepção do joelho em individuos portadores de disfunção femoropatelar / Evaluation of proprioception on the knee among individuals with patellofemoral dysfunctuion

Avaliar a propriocepcao do joelho de individuos portadores de disfuncao femoropatelar (DFP) e de individuos-controle em dinamometro isocinetico. Metodo: forma selecionados 20 sujeitos do sexo feminino, sendo 10 (22,5 +- 2,3 anos) portadores de DFP unilateral sem sintomatologia dolorosa (grupo DFP) e 10 (21,3 +- 1,7 anos) clinicamente normais (grupo N). As voluntarias, sentadas na cadeira do dinamometro isocinetico e com os olhos vendados, realizaram tres reposicionamentos ativos para tres diferentes angulos-alvo (30, 45 e 60 graus) de flexao do joelho. As variaveis estudads foram o angulo de reposicionamento ativo do joelho e os erros absoluto e relativo em relacao a cada angulo-alvo avaliado. Resultados: o teste t evidenciou que nao houve diferenca significativa na media dos reposicionamentos ativos (P30º=0,33l; P45º=0,39; e P60º=0,96) entre os grupos DFP e controle. Alem disso, a analise de variancia (ANOVA) nao mostrou diferenca significativa, tanto na media do erro absoluto (p=0,66) quanto na media do erro relativo (p=0,81) entre os diferentes angulos-alvo de flexao do joelho. Conclusao: nas condicoes experimentais utilizadas, os dados do presente estudo nao evidenciam deficit proprioceptivo em realacao ao senso de posicao articular entre os grupos DFP e controle

Efeito de diferentes meios de cultivo no desenvolvimento e proporção do sexo de embriões bovinos produzidos in vitro / Effect of different culture media on development and sex ratio of bovine embryos fertilized in vitro

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação de meios de cultivo sobre o desenvolvimento e proporção do sexo de embriões bovinos fertilizados in vitro. Complexos cumulus-oócitos obtidos de ovários de matadouro foram maturados e fertilizados in vitro. Os zigotos (n= 484) foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em meio CR2aa, contendo soro fetal bovino (SFB) (T1), albumina sérica bovina (BSA) (T2) ou BSA mais insulina:transferrina:selênio e vitaminas (BSA+) (T3), no cultivo embrionário in vitro, a uma atmosfera de 5 por cento CO2 a 38,8ºC em ar. A taxa de clivagem foi observada 72-76 horas pós-fertilização (PF) e a taxa de blastocistos com sete e oito dias PF. Os blastocistos (n= 63) foram sexados pela técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase. A taxa de clivagem em T2 foi maior (P<0,05) do que em T1 e T3. A taxa de blastocistos foi similar (P>0,05) entre T2 e T3, porém menor (P<0,01) do que em T1. A proporção do sexo dos embriões não diferiu (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos. O T1 influenciou o desenvolvimento de blastocistos, mas não teve efeito sobre a proporção do sexo.

Oral manifestations of syphilis: a review

Syphilis is an infectious disease presenting stages associated with specific oral lesions. Therefore, health professionals should be familiar with the different syphilis oral manifestations at each stage and be prepared to refer any suspected patient for further evaluation. This report describes the most important clinical factors of each stage, emphasizing the oral manifestations.

Primary aspergillosis affecting the tongue of a leukemic patient.

We describe a case of primary aspergillosis involving the tongue of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. Intraoral aspergillosis is very rare and we found only 23 cases reported in the English literature. Clinically it was a 2-cm, ulcerated, grayish lesion on the dorsum of the tongue. Microscopically there was invasion of the epithelium, connective tissue and muscle of the tongue by fungal hyphae branching at 45 degrees angle. The large hyphae were easily seen by H & E stain, and were strongly positive for periodic acid-Schiff and Grocott methenamine. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous amphotericin B. Based on clinical, microscopic and culture data, the diagnosis of primary aspergillosis of the tongue was established. Invasive oral aspergillosis is a potentially lethal disease and it should be considered in immunosuppressed patients.

A morphological and tensile bond strength evaluation of an unfilled adhesive with low-viscosity composites and a filled adhesive in one and two coats.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure the tensile bond strength (TBS) testing of resin composite to dentin of three low-viscosity composites, in association with an unfilled adhesive, and a filled adhesive one and two coats respectively, and to evaluate and compare the SEM morphological observations. METHODS: The labial surface of 120 bovine lower incisors were ground to obtain a flat dentin surface allowing demarcation of a 4 mm diameter area with adhesive tape. The teeth were randomly divided in six groups of 20 each. The dentin of each ground surface was etched with 35% H(3)PO(4) for 15s, followed by application of the respective adhesive: Single Bond (SB) for Groups 1, 2, 3 and 6; Optibond Solo (OS) for Groups 4 and 5. In Groups 1 and 4, a resin composite rod with a wire loop was luted directly to the adhesive surface with Z100. Group 2 received an intermediate layer of Flow It (FI) composite; Group 3 received an intermediate layer of Protect Liner F (PLF) composite; Group 5 received a second coat of OS; and Group 6 received an intermediate layer of an experimental low-viscosity composite (EM). A resin composite rod was luted to the surface of each specimen with Z100 resin composite. All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24h prior to TBS testing. Each specimen was inspected by SEM and classified according to adhesive or cohesive failure mode. One specimen of each group was cut longitudinally, polished and prepared for SEM observation. RESULTS: The TBS values were: Group 1 (7.86MPa+/-2.28), Group 2 (7.62MPa+/-1.85), Group 3 (7.60MPa+/-2.14), Group 4 (7.96MPa+/-2.36), Group 5 (7.50MPa+/-2.70) and Group 6 (7.18MPa+/-2.40). No significant statistical differences were observed among the groups. However, the analyses of the failure mode presented a considerable variation. SIGNIFICANCE: The use of a filled adhesive or an unfilled adhesive along with a low-viscosity composite as an intermediate layer may provide a stress absorbing layer, whereby improving the preservation of the bonded interface area.

Bilateral talon cusp: case report.

Talon cusp is an uncommon condition often present in the maxillary incisors and mandibular premolars. Morphologically, this anomaly has a well-delineated cusp that extends at least half the distance from the cementoenamel junction or cingulum area to the incisal edge. The alteration can cause clinical problems such as caries or occlusal interference. Management of the talon cusp varies according to the circumstances of the individual case and should be as conservative as possible. Presented is a case of bilateral bifid talon cusp in maxillary central incisors that was successfully managed with conservative therapy.