ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCB5 gene is expressed with variability in malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm with high metastatic disease risk and elevated mortality. Incidence of melanoma varies according to geographic region and genetic BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies indicate that acral melanoma (AM) is among the most common melanomas in the Mexican population. While extensive studies have identified genes associated with melanoma, little is known about the genes involved in the pathogenesis of AM. OBJECTIVE: To compare the gene expression patterns between primary melanoma and normal skin. METHODS: We used 10 samples of fresh acral melanomas and normal skin for the study of differential gene expression and 22 samples of melanoma for in situ hybridization. RESULTS: We first identified a gene that was present in a sample of AM and absent in normal skin. DNA sequencing of this differentially expressed gene revealed that it corresponded to ABCB5, a gene recently implicated in the regulation of progenitor cell fusion. Furthermore, we detected ABCB5 expression in other melanoma specimens by RT-PCR. We showed that nine out of ten melanomas were positive for ABCB5 while only one melanoma and normal skin samples were negative. All ABCB5 expressing melanomas had variable gene expression according to in situ hybridization studies, suggesting that the ABCB5 gene may be differentially regulated by individual melanomas. CONCLUSIONS: The ABCB5 gene may be related to the properties of chemoresistance and aggressiveness of melanoma. The high expression found in samples of acral melanoma may provide more insight on the pathogenesis of this common type of melanoma in the Mexican population, frequently associated with poor prognosis.

Las clasificaciones de la enfermedad y la discapacidad de la OMS / The classifications of the diseas and the disability of the OMS

Cuando hablamos de minusvalías, discapacidades, deficiencias, etc., es posible que estemos haciendo un uso inadecuado de estas palabras en algunos casos. Como profesionales cuyo trabajo está forzosamente vinculado a la enfermedad y la minusvalía, necesitamos tener un lenguaje común y usar un sistema de clasificación internacional. Conforme aumenta la necesidad de un tratamiento más integral de la persona, mayor ha de ser la especificidad de la clasificación de las necesidades y afectaciones de cada individuo, todo de una forma objetiva. En este trabajo hacemos un pequeño análisis de las Clasificaciones Internacionales de la OMS, resaltando sin virtudes; y también realizamos una crítica constructiva, pues son modelos siempre en evolución y susceptibles de mejora

When we speak about handicaps, disabilities, deficiencias, etc. it is possible that we are doing an inadequate use of these words in certains cases. As professionals whose work is necessarily linked to the disease and disability, we must have a common language and use a system of international classification. As it increase the need of the most integral treatement of tha person, major to of being the specificity of the classification of the needs and affectations of every individual, all this of objetive form. In this work we do a small analysis of the International Classification of the WHO, highlighting her virtues; and also we realize a constructive critique, since they are models in evolution and in continuous improvement

Effects of leukotriene synthesis inhibition on acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride.

Administration of the leukotriene synthesis inhibitors nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDHGA, 30 mg/kg), caffeic acid (20 mg/kg) or nafazatrom (100 mg/kg) and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor and free radical trapper dipyridamole (10 mg/kg) prevented the alterations in enzyme activity displayed by acute CCl4 administration. The effect was less evident in preventing hepatic glycogen depletion or lipid peroxidation. A synergistic protective effect between dipyridamole and NDHGA or caffeic acid was observed. In conclusion, the present results show that acute hepatic damage induced by CCl4 can be partially prevented by leukotriene synthesis inhibitors and the protection is enhanced with the simultaneous use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors.