Leptin signaling in breast cancer and its crosstalk with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ.

Obesity may create a mitogenic microenvironment that influences tumor initiation and progression. The obesity-associated adipokine, leptin regulates energy metabolism and has been implicated in cancer development. It has been shown that some cell types other than adipocytes can express leptin and leptin receptors in tumor microenvironments. It has been shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) agonists can affect leptin levels and vice versa leptin can affect PPARs. Activation of PPARs affects the expression of several genes involved in aspects of lipid metabolism. In addition, PPARs regulate cancer cell progression through their action on the tumor cell proliferation, metabolism, and cellular environment. Some studies have shown an association between obesity and several types of cancer, including breast cancer. There is some evidence that suggests that there is crosstalk between PPARs and leptin during the development of breast cancer. Through a systematic review of previous studies, we have reviewed the published relevant articles regarding leptin signaling in breast cancer and its crosstalk with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ.

Associação do Genótipo e Fenótipo da Paraoxonase-1 com Angiografia Positiva para Doença Arterial Coronariana / Association of Paraoxonase-1 Genotype and Phenotype with Angiogram Positive Coronary Artery Disease

Resumo Fundamento Tem sido demonstrado que um aumento dos níveis séricos de PON1 é protetor contra vários distúrbios. Foi relatado que vários polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms ) do gene PON1 estão associados a níveis e atividade de proteínas enzimáticas séricas. Objetivos Investigar a associação de SNPs do PON1 e atividade da paraoxonase sérica com a doença arterial coronariana (DAC). Métodos Foram estudados 601 pacientes não relacionados submetidos à angiografia coronária, incluindo aqueles com estenose >50% (N=266) e aqueles com estenose <30% (N=335). Os SNPs rs662 e rs840560 do gene da paraoxonase foram determinados utilizando o método ARMS-PCR e o SNP rs705379 foi genotipado utilizando análise de PCR-RFLP. A atividade da paraoxonase sérica foi medida utilizando paraoxon como substrato. O valor de p<0,05 foi considerado significante. Resultados A atividade da paraoxonase sérica não foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos de estudo. Após ajuste para idade, sexo, hipertensão, diabetes mellitus e dislipidemia, o genótipo GG e o modelo codominante de rs662 foram positivamente associados a uma angiografia positiva (respectivamente, OR = 2,424, IC 95% [1,123-5,233], p <0,05, OR = 1,663, IC 95% [1,086-2,547]). A atividade da paraoxonase sérica foi significativamente maior no alelo G e variante GG do polimorfismo rs662, alelo A e variante AA de rs854560 e alelo C e variante CC de rs705379. A análise de haplótipos mostrou que o haplótipo ATC foi significativamente mais prevalente no grupo com angiografia negativa. A análise entre os grupos indicou que o alelo A de rs662 foi significativamente associado à menor atividade da paraoxonase no grupo com angiografia positiva (p=0,019). Conclusões A presença do alelo G do polimorfismo de nucleotídeo único rs662 está independentemente associada ao aumento do risco de DAC.

Abstract Background It has been shown that increased serum PON1 levels are protective against several disorders. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PON1 gene have been reported to be associated with serum enzyme protein levels and activity. Objective To investigate the association of SNPs of PON1 and serum paraoxonase activity with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods A total of 601 unrelated patients who underwent coronary angiography including those who had >50% stenosis (N=266) and those with <30% stenosis (N=335) were studied. The Paraoxonase gene rs662 and rs840560 SNPs were determined using the ARMS-PCR method and the rs705379 SNP was genotyped using PCR-RFLP analysis. Serum paraoxonase activity was measured using paraoxon as a substrate. A p value of p<0.05 was considered as significant. Results Serum paraoxonase activity was not significantly different between the study groups. After adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, the GG genotype and co-dominant model of rs662 was positively associated with a positive angiogram (respectively, OR=2.424, 95%CI [1.123-5.233], p<0.05, OR=1.663, 95%CI [1.086-2.547]). Serum paraoxonase activity was significantly higher in the G allele and GG variant of rs662, A allele and AA variant of rs854560 and C allele and CC variant of rs705379. The haplotype analysis has shown that the ATC haplotype was significantly more prevalent among the angiogram negative group. The analysis between groups indicated that the A allele of rs662 was significantly associated with lower paraoxonase activity in the positive angiogram group (p=0.019). Conclusions The presence of the G allele of the rs662 single nucleotide polymorphism is independently associated to increased risk of CAD.

Association of Paraoxonase-1 Genotype and Phenotype with Angiogram Positive Coronary Artery Disease. / Associação do Genótipo e Fenótipo da Paraoxonase-1 com Angiografia Positiva para Doença Arterial Coronariana.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that increased serum PON1 levels are protective against several disorders. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PON1 gene have been reported to be associated with serum enzyme protein levels and activity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of SNPs of PON1 and serum paraoxonase activity with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A total of 601 unrelated patients who underwent coronary angiography including those who had >50% stenosis (N=266) and those with <30% stenosis (N=335) were studied. The Paraoxonase gene rs662 and rs840560 SNPs were determined using the ARMS-PCR method and the rs705379 SNP was genotyped using PCR-RFLP analysis. Serum paraoxonase activity was measured using paraoxon as a substrate. A p value of p<0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Serum paraoxonase activity was not significantly different between the study groups. After adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, the GG genotype and co-dominant model of rs662 was positively associated with a positive angiogram (respectively, OR=2.424, 95%CI [1.123-5.233], p<0.05, OR=1.663, 95%CI [1.086-2.547]). Serum paraoxonase activity was significantly higher in the G allele and GG variant of rs662, A allele and AA variant of rs854560 and C allele and CC variant of rs705379. The haplotype analysis has shown that the ATC haplotype was significantly more prevalent among the angiogram negative group. The analysis between groups indicated that the A allele of rs662 was significantly associated with lower paraoxonase activity in the positive angiogram group (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the G allele of the rs662 single nucleotide polymorphism is independently associated to increased risk of CAD.

FUNDAMENTO: Tem sido demonstrado que um aumento dos níveis séricos de PON1 é protetor contra vários distúrbios. Foi relatado que vários polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms ) do gene PON1 estão associados a níveis e atividade de proteínas enzimáticas séricas. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a associação de SNPs do PON1 e atividade da paraoxonase sérica com a doença arterial coronariana (DAC). MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 601 pacientes não relacionados submetidos à angiografia coronária, incluindo aqueles com estenose >50% (N=266) e aqueles com estenose <30% (N=335). Os SNPs rs662 e rs840560 do gene da paraoxonase foram determinados utilizando o método ARMS-PCR e o SNP rs705379 foi genotipado utilizando análise de PCR-RFLP. A atividade da paraoxonase sérica foi medida utilizando paraoxon como substrato. O valor de p<0,05 foi considerado significante. RESULTADOS: A atividade da paraoxonase sérica não foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos de estudo. Após ajuste para idade, sexo, hipertensão, diabetes mellitus e dislipidemia, o genótipo GG e o modelo codominante de rs662 foram positivamente associados a uma angiografia positiva (respectivamente, OR = 2,424, IC 95% [1,123-5,233], p <0,05, OR = 1,663, IC 95% [1,086-2,547]). A atividade da paraoxonase sérica foi significativamente maior no alelo G e variante GG do polimorfismo rs662, alelo A e variante AA de rs854560 e alelo C e variante CC de rs705379. A análise de haplótipos mostrou que o haplótipo ATC foi significativamente mais prevalente no grupo com angiografia negativa. A análise entre os grupos indicou que o alelo A de rs662 foi significativamente associado à menor atividade da paraoxonase no grupo com angiografia positiva (p=0,019). CONCLUSÕES: A presença do alelo G do polimorfismo de nucleotídeo único rs662 está independentemente associada ao aumento do risco de DAC.

The timing is never right: Mexican views of condom use.

Unprotected sex is a critical issue in the Hispanic community, with the incidence of new Hispanic acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases three times that of non-Hispanic Whites. The researchers used focus groups to examine: (a) whether newly immigrated Mexican men and women in the Southeast United States discussed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention with each other, and (b) how condom use was discussed. For the women, communication was safe sex, and for the men, trust was safe sex. Both communication and trust were dependent on timing in the relationship. Participants could not discuss condoms in a new or established relationship because of issues of trust. This study highlights the complexity of HIV/STD prevention and suggests that trust and timing should be considered within the cultural context of condom introduction.

After-the-fact strategies Mexican Americans use to prevent HIV and STDs.

Hispanics make up less than 10% of the U.S. population but account for 83,923 (17%) of all U.S AIDS cases and are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Nurses have a mandate to provide culturally competent care, but to do so, they must understand what their clients' needs are and how best to deliver nursing care. A key finding of this exploratory focus group study with newly immigrated Mexican Americans in North Carolina was that respondents were actively striving to prevent HIV or STDs. Their preventive practices for both HIV and STDs centered around a "gonorrhea model" of prevention and casual transmission. The emphasis was not on the biomedical model of transmission or prevention (condoms use). The findings also suggested that the level of counseling for prevention needs to be targeted differently for men than for women.

A global perspective: traditional and nontraditional care.

With the National Association for Home Care's 16th Annual Meeting coinciding with the World Congress on Homecare and Hospice this month, CARING turns its focus to medicine around the world, in particular to what different cultures consider "traditional" medicine versus alternative medicine. Home care colleagues around the world responded to a survey on this question, revealing vast differences as well as surprising similarities between systems.

An assessment of stress among clinical medical students of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

This study looks at sources of stress among the medical students of the University of the West Indies at the Mona campus. Students of the classes 1993 through 1995 were asked to fill out a questionnaire which had been developed for a similar study at the University of Texas in 1983. The return rate was 66%. The results were compared for differences between males and females and between the different year groups. The two most stressful items were rated the same by men and women, i.e., 1) the amount of material to be learned, and 2) examinations and/or grades. There was no statistically significant difference between stress levels by gender in this study. The penultimate clinical year was most stressful. It is hoped that the findings of this study will be the basis for discussion about whether the identified stressors are inherent and necessary to the medical training experience and, if so, how students can be better prepared to cope with them.

Human gastrointestinal sphincters: study on the maturation of the nitric oxide innervation

Estudos histoqyímicos relevam uma inervaçäo noradrenérgica dos esfincteres gastrointestinais mais densa do que as regiöes näo-esfincterianas. também tem sido mostrado uma rica rede interconectante de fibras nervosas óxido-nitrérgicas inibitórias adivindas da gânglia mioentérica e se distribuindo dentro da camada muscular circular, especialmente nas regioSes esfincterianas. a presente investigaçäo estudou, no intestino humano em desenvolvimento, a histomorfometria da inervaçäo óxido-nitrérgica diárias intestinais selecionadas, particularmente, das regiSes esfincterianas. Segmnetos da junçäo gastro-esofagiana, regiäo gastro-piloro-duodenal, regiäo íleo-cecal e reto distal de 14 fetos de idade gestacional entre 12 e 23 semanas, foram usados para mapeamento histoquímico da nicotinamida adenosina de óxido nuleotídeo fosfato diaforase. Imagens de secçSes randonizadas foram selecionadas para histofometria, usando um sistema computadorizado de análise de imagens. A partir dos resultados, as seguintes conclusSes foram tiradas: 1- existe uma rede muito rica em nervos óxido-nitrérgicos interconectado a gânglia mioentérica e a camada muscular circular de todos os níveis selecionados. sendo mais densa na junçäo gastro-esofagiana, piloro, junçäo íleo-cecal e esfincter anal interno; 2- existe uma correlaçäo linear negativa entre a atividade neuronal mioentérica óxido-nitrérgica (densidade ganglionar) e a idade gestacional, a qual pode ser expressa pela equaçäo: Densidade ganglionar = 30,158- 1,0313 x idade gestacional. O esôfago, o piloro e esfíncter anal interno foram as regiöes com as mais baixas densidades ganglionares. Esses achados sugerem que a inervaçäo óxodo-nitrergica naqulas áreas, associada com densidade ganglionares relativamente baixas, torna possível levantar a hipótese de ue a normalidade ou retardo da maturaçäo desta inervaçäo inibitória poderia estar envolvida na patogênes de algumas anomalias congênitas como a estemose hipertrófica do piloro e acalásia do esfíncter anal interno

Influences on biomedicine in rural Dominican Republic: an analysis of process.

This paper, based on fieldwork among agrarian reform beneficiaries in the Dominican Republic, examines the utilization of health care. Specific attention is given to the consumption of private medical care and its relationship to changes in the system of land tenure, policy in the agrarian reform, and the roles of physicians. A principal concern of the paper is the examination of the adaptive strategies of beneficiaries of the reform in light of political and economic influences. A second concern is the consideration of the integration of critical medical anthropology's perspectives on the political economy with a perspective on decision-making and adaptive strategies.

Suicide by poisoning.

An epidemiological evaluation was conducted on 270 patients who died at the General Hospital, Port-of-Spain after presenting with deliberate self-poisoning between January, 1986 and June, 1990. The cause of death was confirmed by autopsy and toxicological analysis. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, race, precipitating factors and types of poison used were assessed. It was found that the male to female ratio was 2.7:1. East Indians accounted for 54.4%, Africans 42.0%, people of mixed ethnic origin 3% and Caucasians 0.6%. The majority of cases (52.6%) were seen in the age group 11-34 years. "Lovers' quarrels" (35.4% of cases), psychiatric illness (27.8% of cases) and family disputes (27% of cases) were reported as the most frequent precipitating events in suicide. East Indians predominated in those suicides precipitated by "lovers' quarrels" and family disputes, accounting for 63.2% and 58.9% of these cases, respectively; while for those suicides in which psychiatric illnesses were the main precipitating event. Africans were represented by 53.3% and East Indians 45.3%. Depression was the most common psychiatric illness diagnosed. Paraquat was the most popular poison used in 63.7% of the suicidal cases, and other agrochemicals were used in 20% of cases.

Suicide by poisoning

An epidemiological evaluation was conducted on 270 patients who died at the General Hospital, Port-of-Spain after presenting with deliberate self-poisoning between January, 1986 and June, 1990. The cause of death was confirmed by autopsy and toxicological analysis. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, race, precipitating factors and types of poison used were assessed. It was found that the male to female ratio was 2.7:1. East Indians accounted for 54.4percent , Africans 42.0 percent, people of mixed ethnic origin 3 percent and Caucasians 0.6 percent. The majority of cases (52.6 percent) were seen in the age group 11-34 years. "Lovers' quarrels" (35.4 percent of cases), psychiatric illness (27.8 percent of cases) and family disputes (27 percent of cases) were reported as the most frequent precipitating events in suicide. East Indians predominated in those suicides precipitated by "lovers' quarrels" and family disputes, accounting for 63.2 percent and 58.9 percent of these cases, respectively; while for those suicides in which psychiatric illnesses were the main precipitating event, Africans were represented by 53.3 percent and East Indians 45.3 percent. Depression was the most common psychiatric illness diagnosed. Paraquat was the most popular poison used in 63.7 percent of the suicidal cases, and other agrochemicals were used in 20 percent of the cases. (AU)

Suicide by poisoning

An epidemiological evaluation was conducted on 270 patients who died at the General Hospital, Port-of-Spain after presenting with deliberate self-poisoning between January, 1986 and June, 1990. The cause of death was confirmed by autopsy and toxicological analysis. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, race, precipitating factors and types of poison used were assessed. It was found that the male to female ratio was 2.7:1. East Indians accounted for 54.4%, Africans 42.0%, people of mixed ethnic origin 3% and Caucasians 0.6%. The majority of cases (52.6%) were seen in the age group 11-34 years. "Lovers' quarrels" (35.4% of cases), psychiatric illness (27.8% of cases) and family disputes (27% of cases) were reported as the most frequent precipitating events in suicide. East Indians predominated in those suicides precipitated by "lovers' quarrels" and family disputes, accounting for 63.2% and 58.9% of these cases, respectively; while for those suicides in which psychiatric illnesses were the main precipitating event, Africans were represented by 53.3% and East Indians 45.3%. Depression was the most common psychiatric illness diagnosed. Paraquat was the most popular poison used in 63.7% of the suicidal cases, and other agrochemicals were used in 20% of the cases.

Suicide by poisoning: a preliminary epidemiological report - abstract

A preliminary, retrospective, consecutive, epidemiological study was conducted on 270 patients who died in the General Hospital, Port-of-Spain after presenting with deliberate self-poisoning between January, 1986 and June, 1990. The cause of death was confirmed by autopsy and toxicological analysis. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, race, precipitating events/factors and type of poison used were assessed. It was found that the male to female ratio was 2.7:1. East Indians accounted for 54.4 percent, Africans 42.0 percent, people of mixed race 3 percent and Caucasians 0.6 percent. The 11-34 year age group contributed 52.6 percent, the 35-64 year age group 40.7 percent and the over 65 6.7 percent. Lovers' quarrels were most frequently reported as the precipitating event (35.4 percent), followed by a diagnosed psychiatric illness (27.8 percent) and family disputes (27 percent). East Indians predominated in those suicides precipitated by lovers' quarrels (63 percent) and family disputes (58 percent). Among suicides involving a person with a diagnosed psychiatric illness, there were more Africans (53 percent) than East Indians (45 percent). Depression was the most common psychiatric illness diagnosed. Paraquat was the most popular poison used, accounting for 63 percent of the suicide cases (AU)