Can living in the surroundings of a petrochemical complex be a risk factor for autoimmune thyroid disease?

BACKGROUND: Based on a suspicion raised by a health professional and due to a subsequent legal request, a cross-sectional study was made with a comparison group to investigate a possible excess of Hashimoto's thyroiditis-HT and antibodies-ATA in the surroundings of a Petrochemical Complex. METHODS: People of both sexes aged over 20 years were investigated in a random sample of residents in the area surrounding the Petrochemical Complex. Controls were investigated in an area with steel industries. In the areas searched, participants were chosen randomly and stratified a priori by sex and age group. As a result, 90.5% of the expected sample was obtained, totaling 1533 individuals. HT and ATA prevalences were compared by the chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to control the possible confounding factors for HT and ATA. RESULTS: Both TH (9.3%) and ATA (17.6%) prevalences were higher in the Petrochemical Complex area than in the control area (3.9% and 10.3%, respectively). After controlling the possible confounding factors, the POR for living in the surroundings of the Complex and presenting HT was 2.39 (CI95%: 1.42-4.03). According to the ATA criterion, the POR for living in the surroundings of the Complex was 1.78 (CI95%: 1.23-2.60). CONCLUSIONS: The authors have found higher prevalence and risk of developing thyroiditis and anti-thyroid antibodies among residents of areas surrounding the Petrochemical Complex and think these findings need to be further studied in similar areas.

Detecção imunoistoquímica das oncoproteínas p21ras, c-myc E p53 no carcinoma hepatocelular e no tecido hepático não-neoplásico / Immunohistochemical detection of p21ras, c-myc and p53 oncoproteins in hepatocellular carcinoma and in non-neoplastic liver tissue

RACIONAL: A hepatocarcinogênese é um processo no qual as alterações genéticas e epigenéticas são bem conhecidas em modelos animais, mas carece de estudos no homem. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a freqüência das oncoproteínas p21ras, c-myc e p53 no carcinoma hepatocelular e no fígado não-neoplásico. Verificar ainda a associação destas oncoproteínas com os padrões e graus histológicos, assim como com as infecções pelos vírus das hepatites B e C. MÉTODOS: Foi analisada por método imunoistoquímico a detecção das oncoproteínas p21ras, c-myc e p53 em 47 casos de carcinoma hepatocelular e no tecido não-neoplásico circunjacente ao tumor (40 casos). RESULTADOS: As oncoproteínas p21ras, c-myc e p53 foram detectadas, respectivamente, em 44,7 por cento, 53,2 por cento e 36,2 por cento dos casos de carcinoma hepatocelular. A imunorreatividade do p21ras e c-myc mostrou uma associação significativa. Contudo, não houve associação significativa entre a detecção do p21ras, c-myc e p53 com os diferentes graus e padrões histológicos, nem tampouco com as infecções pelos vírus das hepatites B e C. A mesma associação significativa entre o p21ras e c-myc foi encontrada no tecido não-neoplásico dos casos de cirrose em relação aos que não apresentaram cirrose, enquanto que o p53 foi negativo em todos os casos. CONCLUSÕES: A imunorreatividade das oncoproteínas p21ras, c-myc e p53 corrobora evidências prévias de sua detecção no carcinoma hepatocelular, o que sugere poder haver participação destas proteínas na hepatocarcinogênese humana. A significativa associação entre as proteínas p21ras, c-myc e p53 no carcinoma hepatocelular e na cirrose pode apontar uma interação entre as mesmas, sobretudo na hepatocarcinogênese pela via da cirrose.

[Immunohistochemical detection of p21ras, c-myc and p53 oncoproteins in hepatocellular carcinoma and in non-neoplastic liver tissue]. / Detecção imunoistoquímica das oncoproteínas p21ras, c-myc E p53 no carcinoma hepatocelular e no tecido hepático não-neoplásico.

BACKGROUND: Genetic and epigenetic alterations have been described in animal hepatocarcinogenesis models but need to be studied in human being. AIMS: To assess the immunoreactivity of p21ras, c-myc and p53 oncoproteins in hepatocellular carcinoma and non neoplastic tissue. Association of the immunoreactivity of these markers with histological grades and patterns, hepatitis B and C were additionally studied. METHODS: Detection of oncoproteins p21ras, c-myc and p53 was performed immunohistochemically in hepatocellular carcinoma (47 cases) and surrounding non neoplastic liver tissue (40 cases). RESULTS: Oncoproteins p21ras, c-myc and p53 were detected in 44,7%, 53,2% and 36,2% of the hepatocellular carcinoma cases, respectively. The p21ras and c-myc immunoreactivity has shown a significant association. However there was no association of p21ras, c-myc and p53 detection with hepatitis B and C virus infections, histological grades and patterns. The same significant association between p21ras and c-myc was observed in non-neoplastic tissue with cirrhosis when compared with tissue without it. The p53 immunoreactivity was negative in all non-neoplastic liver tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS: The immunoreactivity detection of p21ras, c-myc and p53 corroborates previous evidence of their detection in hepatocellular carcinoma that suggest the participation of these proteins in human hepatocarcinogenesis. The significant association between p21ras and c-myc oncoproteins in hepatocellular carcinoma and in cirrhosis can point to an interaction between them mainly, in hepatocarcinogenesis that occurs through cirrhosis.