Síndrome de apnéia obstrutiva do sono: avaliação da ansiedade em pacientes recém-diagnosticados / Obstrutive sleep apnea syndrome: anxiety assesssment in patients newly diagnosed

Com o objetivo de analisar e identificar os níveis de ansiedade em uma amostra de portadores da síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono, antes e após um mês de tratamento clínico ou cirúrgico, a Escala de Ansiedade Beck foi aplicada em uma amostra de 18 pacientes com esse diagnóstico. Resultados mostraram que 55,5% dos participantes apresentavam ansiedade na primeira avaliação (antes do início do tratamento), entre os níveis leve, moderado e grave. Na segunda avaliação (um mês após início do tratamento) os pacientes apresentaram diminuição significativa na média de sintomas de ansiedade pós-início de tratamento (z=-3,51, p0,000). Estudos envolvendo outras variáveis, tais como adaptação ao tratamento, avaliação da qualidade do sono e efeitos de um programa de intervenção são recomendados (AU)

Diacylglycerol kinase η modulates oncogenic properties of lung cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths and efforts are underway to identify novel therapies to treat these tumors. Diacylglycerol kinase η (DGKη), an enzyme that phosphorylates diacylglycerol to form phosphatidic acid, has been shown to modulate MAPK signaling downstream of EGFR, which is an oncogenic driver in some lung cancers. Since mutations in EGFR and K-Ras are common in lung cancer, we hypothesized that limiting the function of DGKη would attenuate oncogenic properties of lung cancer cells. METHODS: We determined the expression levels of DGKη in a mouse models of mutant EGFR and K-Ras lung cancer and in human lung cancer cell lines with activating mutations in either EGFR or K-Ras. We also tested the effects of shRNA-mediated depletion of DGKη in lung cancer cells and tested if DGKη depletion augmented the effects of afatinib, a new generation EGFR inhibitor. RESULTS: DGKη was expressed in malignant epithelium from mice with mutant EGFR or K-Ras lung cancer. It was also expressed in human lung cancer cell lines with EGFR or K-Ras mutations. Depleting DGKη in lung cancer cell lines, harboring mutant EGFR, reduced their growth on plastic and in soft agar and also augmented the effects of afatinib, an EGFR inhibitor. DGKη depletion also reduced growth of one of two lung cancer cell lines that harbored mutant K-Ras. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that DGKη is a potential therapeutic target in lung cancers, especially those harboring EGFR mutations. Our findings warrant further studies to examine the effects of limiting its function in vivo.

Concerted genetic, morphological and ecological diversification in Nacella limpets in the Magellanic Province.

Common inhabitants of Antarctic and Subantarctic rocky shores, the limpet genus Nacella, includes 15 nominal species distributed in different provinces of the Southern Ocean. The Magellanic Province represents the area with the highest diversity of the genus. Phylogenetic reconstructions showed an absence of reciprocal monophyly and high levels of genetic identity among nominal species in this Province and therefore imply a recent diversification in southern South America. Because most of these taxa coexist along their distribution range with clear differences in their habitat preferences, Nacella is a suitable model to explore diversification mechanisms in an area highly affected by recurrent Pleistocene continental ice cap advances and retreats. Here, we present genetic and morphological comparisons among sympatric Magellanic nominal species of Nacella. We amplified a fragment of the COI gene for 208 individuals belonging to seven sympatric nominal species and performed geometric morphometric analyses of their shells. We detected a complete congruence between genetic and morphological results, leading us to suggest four groups of Nacella among seven analysed nominal species. Congruently, each of these groups was related to different habitat preferences such as bathymetric range and substrate type. A plausible explanation for these results includes an ecologically based allopatric speciation process in Nacella. Major climatic changes during the Plio-Pleistocene glacial cycles may have enhanced differentiation processes. Finally, our results indicate that the systematics of the group requires a deep revision to re-evaluate the taxonomy of Nacella and to further understand the Pleistocene legacy of the glacial cycles in the southern tip of South America.

Measurements of LET-distribution, dose equivalent and quality factor with the RRMD-III on the Space Shuttle Missions STS-84, -89 and -91.

Dosimetric measurements on the Space Shuttle Missions STS-84, -89 and -91 have been made by the real-time radiation monitoring device III (RRMD-III). Simultaneously, another dosimetry measurement was made by the Dosimetry Telescope (DOSTEL) on STS-84 and by the tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) on STS-91. First, the RRMD-III instrument is described in detail and its results summarized. Then, the results of DOSTEL and TEPC are compared with those of the RRMD-III. Also, the absorbed doses obtained by TLD (Mg2SiO4) and by RRMD-III on board STS-84 and -91 are compared.

A new genotype of TT virus (TTV) infection among Colombian native Indians.

Serum TTV DNA was assayed in 140 native Indians and 40 members of the general population in Colombia to determine the prevalence of TT virus (TTV) infection among Colombian native Indians. Of the 140 native Indians, 23 (16.4%) were positive for TTV DNA, compared to 4 (10.0%) of 40 from the general population (P = not significant). The prevalence of TTV DNA among native Indians was much higher than that of HBsAg and anti-HCV. Comparison of subjects with and without TTV DNA revealed no significant differences in all characteristics between the two groups. A phylogenetic tree, using the open reading frame 1 sequence (222 bp), indicated that the virus could be classified into four different genotypes, including three previously reported ones. The results show that TTV infection is common in Colombian native Indians without liver disease and also indicate the existence of a novel genotype of TTV.

Measurement of the directional distribution of incident particles in the Shuttle-Mir mission orbit.

The measurement of the directional distribution of incident particles was made by using the Real time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD)-III placed inside the Space Shuttle STS-84 cruised at an altitude of 400 km and an inclination angle of 51.6 degrees, which are the same as the cruising orbit of the International Space Station (ISS). The directional distributions of incident particles were evaluated over the observed linear energy transfer (LET) range (1-100 keV/micrometers). The pitch angle distribution is also obtained using the geomagnetic model of IGRF-95. The result is roughly in good agreement with the distribution obtained by the VF1-MIN anisotropy model calculation within the present experimental errors, if the shielding distribution is assumed to be uniform.

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection among Colombian native Indians.

To elucidate the prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection in Colombian native Indians, serum GBV-C/HGV RNA was assayed in 163 native Indians and 67 members of the general population in Colombia. The native Indians (males:females = 40:123) and the members of the general population (males:females = 20:47) were tested by reverse transcription-semi-nested polymerase chain reaction. Of the 163 native Indians, 10 (6.1%) were positive for GBV-C/HGV RNA, compared with one (1.5%) of 67 from the general population. All Indians were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis C virus. Of 10 Indians with GBV-C/HGV RNA, the genotype of nine subjects was the Asian type. These data indicated that 1) the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV RNA in Colombian native Indians is high, and 2) GBV-C/HGV was probably brought from Asia and inherited for generations in some native Indian groups.

Measurements of LET distribution and dose equivalent onboard the Space Shuttle IML-2 (STS-65) and S/MM#4 (STS-79).

Space radiation dosimetry measurements have been made onboard the Space Shuttle STS-65 in the Second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2: 28.5 degrees x 300 km: 14.68 days) and the STS-79 in the 4th Shuttle MIR mission (S/MM#4: 51.6 degrees x 300-400km: 10.2 days). In these measurements, three kinds of detectors were used; one is a newly developed active detector telescope called "Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD-I for IML-2 and RRMD-II with improved triggering system for S/MM#4)" utilizing silicon semi-conductor detectors and the other detectors are conventional passive detectors of thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) and CR-39 plastic track detectors. The main contribution to dose equivalent for particles with LET > 5.0 keV/micrometer (IML-2) and LET > 3.5 keV/micrometer (S/MM#4) is seen to be due to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and the contribution of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is less than 5% (IML-2: 28.5 degrees x 300 km) and 15% (S/MM#4: 51.6 degrees x 400 km) in the above RRMD LET detection conditions. For the whole LET range (> 0.2 kev/micrometer) obtained by TLDs and CR-39 in these two typical orbits (a small inclination x low altitude and a large inclination x high altitude), absorbed dose rates range from 94 to 114 microGy/day, dose equivalent rates from 186 to 207 microSv/day and average quality factors from 1.82 to 2.00 depending on the locations and directions of detectors inside the Spacelab at the highly protected IML-2 orbit (28.5 degrees x 300 km), and also, absorbed dose rates range from 290 to 367 microGy/day, dose equivalent rates from 582 to 651 microSv/day and average quality factors from 1.78 to 2.01 depending on the dosimeter packages around the RRMD-II "Detector Unit" at the S/MM#4 orbit (5l.6 degrees x 400km). In general, it is seen that absorbed doses depend on the orbit altitude (SAA trapped particles contribution dominant) and dose equivalents on the orbit inclination (GCR contribution dominant). The LET distributions obtained by two different types of active and passive detectors, RRMDs and CR-39, are in good agreement for LET of 15 - 200 kev/micrometer and difference of these distributions in the regions of LET < 15 kev/micrometer and LET > 200 kev/micrometer can be explained by considering characteristics of CR-39 etched track formation especially for the low LET tracks and chemical etching conditions.

Radiation dosimetry measurements with real time radiation monitoring device (RRMD)-II in Space Shuttle STS-79.

The real-time measurement of radiation environment was made with an improved real-time radiation monitoring device (RRMD)-II onboard Space Shuttle STS-79 (S/MM#4: 4th Shuttle MIR Mission, at an inclination angle of 51.6 degrees and an altitude of 250-400km) for 199 h during 17-25 September, 1996. The observation of the detector covered the linear energy transfer (LET) range of 3.5-6000 keV/micrometer. The Shuttle orbital profile in this mission was equivalent to that of the currently planned Space Station, and provided an opportunity to investigate variations in count rate and dose equivalent rate depending on altitude, longitude, and latitude in detail. Particle count rate and dose equivalent rate were mapped geographically during the mission. Based on the map of count rate, an analysis was made by dividing whole region into three regions: South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region, high latitude region and other regions. The averaged absorbed dose rate during the mission was 39.3 microGy/day for a LET range of 3.5-6000 keV/micrometer. The corresponding average dose equivalent rates during the mission are estimated to be 293 microSv/day with quality factors from International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)-Pub. 60 and 270 microSv/day with quality factors from ICRP-Pub. 26. The effective quality factors for ICRP-Pub. 60 and 26 are 7.45 and 6.88, respectively. From the present data for particles of LET > 3.5keV/micrometer, we conclude that the average dose equivalent rate is dominated by the contribution of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) particles. The dose-detector depth dependence was also investigated.