Estudo da imunoexpressão de RANKL e OPG, do índice angiogênico (CD34) e da presença de miofibroblastos (α-SMA) em ceratocistos odontogênicos isolados e associados à síndrome de Gorlin

The odontogenic keratocysts are distinguished from other odontogenic cystic lesions by their potentially aggressive clinical behavior and association, in some cases, with Gorlin syndrome. Studies have suggested that syndrome keratocysts, in comparison with sporadic lesions, have higher growth and infiltration capacity and higher recurrence tendency. The aim of this study was to analyze, by means of immunohistochemistry, the expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), the angiogenic index (CD34) and the presence of myofibroblasts (α-SMA) in primary and recurrent sporadic keratocysts and in keratocysts associated with Gorlin syndrome. The sample was composed by 30 sporadic keratocysts (22 primary and 8 recurrent) and 22 syndrome keratocysts. In the epithelium and in the fibrous capsule of the lesions, the immunoexpression of RANKL and OPG was evaluated by determination of the percentage of positive cells, according to the following scores: 0 (less than 10% of positive cells), 1 (11% - 50% of positive cells), 2 (51% - 75% of positive cells) and 3 (more than 76% of positive cells). In addition, cases were classified according to the RANKL score/ OPG score ratio, as follows: RANKL > OPG, RANKL < OPG, and RANKL = OPG. The angiogenic index was analyzed by counting the microvessels immunoreactive to anti-CD34 antibody in 5 fields (200). The analysis of myofibroblasts was performed by counting the cells immunoreactive to anti-α-SMA antibody in 10 fields (400). The analysis of the expressions of RANKL and OPG in the epithelial lining and in the fibrous capsule did not reveal significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Regarding the RANKL/ OPG ratio in the epithelial lining, most sporadic primary (54.5%) and syndrome lesions (59.1%) showed RANKL < OPG ratio and RANKL = OPG ratio, respectively (p > 0.05). With respect to the RANKL/ OPG ratio in the fibrous capsule, the majority of sporadic primary (81.8%) and sporadic recurrent lesions (75.0%) and most syndrome lesions (45.5%) showed RANKL = OPG ratio (p > 0.05). The mean number of microvessels was 69.2 in sporadic primary lesions, 67.6 in recurrent lesions, and 71.6 in syndrome lesions, with no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). The mean number of myofibroblasts was 34.4 in sporadic primary lesions, 29.3 in recurrent lesions, and 33.7 in syndrome lesions, with no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the differences in the biological behavior between sporadic keratocysts and keratocysts associated with Gorlin syndrome may not be related to the expressions of RANKL and OPG, the RANKL/ OPG ratio, the angiogenic index or the number of myofibroblasts in these lesions

Imunoexpressão de fatores reguladores da osteoclastogênese na doença periodontal em humanos e sua relação com os parâmetros clínicos

Periodontal disease is an infection initiated by oral periodontal pathogens that trigger an immune response culminating in tissue destruction. This destruction is mediated by the host by inducing the production and activation of lytic enzymes, cytokines and the stimulation of osteoclastogenesis. The aim of this study was to compare the immunohistochemical expression of factors involved in bone resorption, RANKL (Ligand Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kappa B), OPG (Osteoprotegerin) and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) between the gingival healthy, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis and correlate them with clinical parameters. The sample consisted of 83 cases and 12 clinically healthy gums, 42 gingivitis and 29 periodontitis, from 74 adolescent and adult patients with a mean age of 35 years, without systemic changes and non-smokers, predominantly female and race brown. There was no statistically significant difference for the expression of anti-RANKL (p = 0.581) and RANKL / OPG ratio (p = 0.334) when comparing the three conditions, but the anti-OPG and anti-TNF-α showed statistically significant between the types of injury (p = 0.001 and p <0.001, respectively), showing greatest expression in periodontitis. In cases of periodontitis, the variable clinical attachment loss (PIC) was statistically significant and positive correlation, respectively, with immunostaining of anti-RANKL (p = 0.002, p = 0.001 and r = 0.642), anti-OPG (p = 0.018, p = 0.014 and r = 0.451), anti-TNF-α (p = 0.032, p = 0.014 and r = 0.453) and the percentage ratio of RANKL / OPG (p = 0.018, p = 0.002 and r = 0.544). The tooth mobility (MB) showed a statistically significant difference only with immunohistochemical anti-RANKL (p = 0.026), and probing depth (PD) was positively correlated with anti-RANKL (p = 0.028 and r = 0.409), both in cases of periodontitis. Only in cases of gingivitis TNF-α was positively correlated with RANKL (p = 0.012 and r = 0.384) and the RANKL / OPG ratio (p = 0.027 and r = 0.341). Given these results, we conclude that the greatest expression of TNF-α in periodontitis demonstrates a relationship with the progression and severity of periodontal disease and the correlation between all antibodies and clinical attachment loss demonstrates their involvement in periodontal bone resorption

Imunoexpressão de vegf-c, vegfr-3 e hif-1α e mensuração da densidade linfática em carcinomas epidermóides de lábio inferior metastáticos e não-metastáticos: uma relação com parâmetros clinicopatológicos e prognósticos

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip is among the most common malignant tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region, with good prognosis in more than 90% of patients with 5-year survival. In these carcinomas, the development of lymph node metastasis decreases the prognosis and it has been associated with the formation of new lymphatic vessels. It has been suggested the important role of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), the receptor type 3 VEGF (VEGFR-3) and hypoxia-induced factor 1 (HIF-1) in this process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and HIF-1α and correlate with intra and peritumoral lymphatic density in squamous cell carcinomas of the lower lip metastatic and non-metastatic. The sample consisted of 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of lower lip, of which 25 had regional lymph node metastasis and 25, absence of metastasis. The percentages of cells immunostained for VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and HIF-1α in front of tumor invasion and in the center of tumor were evaluated. Microvessel density lymphatic (MDL) was determined by the counting of lymph microvessels immunostained by the anti-D2-40 in five fields (200×), in an area of evaluation with 0.7386 mm2. The invasion of the lymph vessels by malignant cells was also evaluated. Immunostaining was correlated with the presence and absence of metastasis, TNM clinical stage, local recurrence, disease outcome (remission of injury or patient death) and histological grading. The analysis of intra and peritumoral lymphatic density showed no significant association with clinicopathological parameters and immunoexpressions of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and HIF-1α (p > 0,05). There was a weak positive correlation, significant, between intra and peritumoral lymphatic density (r = 0,405; p = 0,004). VEGF-C showed no significant association with clinicopathological and prognosis parameters (p > 0,05). For VEGFR-3, there was scarce membrane staining and intense and homogenous cytoplasmic staining in neoplastic cells. Percentage of positive cytoplasmic VEGFR-3 in center of tumor, exhibited a statistically significant association with metastasis (p = 0,009), patient death (p = 0,008) and histological grades of malignancy proposed by Bryne et al. (1992) (p = 0,002) and World Health Organization (p = 0,003). A low positive correlation was statistically significant between the immunoreactivity of VEGFC and VEGFR-3 cytoplasmic (r = 0,358; p = 0,011) and between the percentage of positive cytoplasmic VEGFR-3 in front of tumor invasion and in the center of the tumor (r = 0,387; p = 0,005) was also demonstrated. There was no association between HIF-1α, clinicopathological and prognosis parameters, and VEGF-C and VEGFR-3. The percentage of nuclear positivity for HIF-1α was significantly higher in cases without invasion of peritumoral lymphatic (p = 0,040). Based on the results we can conclude that most cytoplasmic expression of VEGFR-3 in center of tumor in metastatic cases, high degree of malignancy and poorly differentiated, contributes to poor outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip, including patient death. Intra and peritumoral lymphatic density seems to be not associated with lymph node metastasis in these carcinomas

Perfil imuno-histoquímico do infiltrado inflamatório no front de invasão em carcicomas epidermóides de língua e lábio inferior

The progression of the oral squamous cells carcinomas (OSCCs) seems to suffer influence from related factors to the host, as local and systemic immunologic response, which are essential to the antineoplasic defenses. The purpose of this study was evaluate the local immunity in 30 tongue and 20 lower lip SCC by immunohistochemistry method, utilizing antibodies anti-CD3, CD4, -CD8, -CD25 e -ζ(zeta), which immunoexpressions were compared considering the anatomical localization, the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate into the front of invasion and metastases. The CD4/CD8+ ratio was calculated for each case and associate with the mentioned variable, being the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrated also compared with the anatomical localization and metastase and for this the cases had been grouped in two categories: (n = 10) absent/scarce inflammatory infiltrate; and (n = 40) moderate/intense infiltrate. Fisher´s exact test was performed (α= 0.05) and it was not observed any significant correlation between these groups with anatomical sites and metastases. With regard to the immunoexpression, the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD25+ cells count was higher in the lower lip SCCs while the anti-ζimmunomarcation was more evident in the non metastatic cases. Through the statistical analyses, it was verified that the CD3 exhibited positive-significant correlation with the inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.023). Furthermore, antibodies against CD8 and CD25 cells were also significantly correlated with the inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.002 and 0.030, respectively) and with the anatomical site (p = 0.004 and p = 0.004) mainly in the lower lip SCCs. CD4/CD8 ratio did not show significant association with metastase nor with anatomical localization. We conclude that the inflammatory infiltrated of the Bryne s (1998) system did not constitute an indicator of aggressiveness in the tongue and lower lip SCCs analyzed and that clinical behavior of the SCCs studied was related in part to the immunohistochemical profile of infiltrated the inflammatory present in tumoral invasion front

Centros rombencefálicos de processamento auditivo do sagui (Callithrix jacchus): uma análise citoarquitetônica e neuroquímica

The auditory system is composed by a set of relays from the outer ear to the cerebral cortex. In mammals, the central auditory system is composed by cochlear nuclei, superior olivary complex, inferior colliculus and medial geniculate body. In this study, the auditory rombencephalic centers, the cochlear nuclear complex and the superior olivary complex were evaluated from the cytoarchitecture and neurochemical aspects, thorough Nissl staining and immunohistochemical techniques to reveal specific neuron nuclear protein (NeuN), glutamate (Glu), glutamic acid decarboxilase (GAD), enkephalin (ENK), serotonin (5-HT), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and calcium-binding proteins calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), and parvalbumin (PV). The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a little native primate of the Brazilian atlantic forest was used as an experimental animal. As results, it was noted that the cochlear nuclear complex is composed by anteroventral, posteroventral and dorsal nuclei, and the superior olivary complex is constituted by the lateral and medial superior olivary nuclei and the trapezoid body nucleus. Glu, GAD, ENK, ChAT, CB, CR, PV-immunoreactive cells, fibers and terminals besides besides only 5-HT terminals were found unhomogeneously in all nuclei, of both complex. The emerging data are discussed in a comparative and functional context, and represent an important contribution to knowledge of the central auditory pathways in the common marmoset, and then in primates

Análise comparativa da imunoexpressão de GLUT-1, GLUT-3 e M-CSF em lesão periférica e central de células gigantes

The peripheral giant cell lesion ( PG CL ) and the central giant cell lesion ( CGC L) are lesions histologically similar affecting the head and neck region . The study aimed to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of markers GLUT - 1 , GLUT - 3 and M - CSF in a series of cases of PGCL and CGCL , in trying to understand the different biological behavior of these pathologies . The sample consisted of 20 tissue specimens of PGCL 20 central lesion of not aggressive giant cell ( CLNAGC) and 20 central lesi on of aggressive giant cell ( CLAGC), coming from the Pathology Unit of Oral Pathology of the Department of Dentistry of UFRN . W as performed the s emi - quantitative and qualitative analysis of immunohistochemical expression of the markers in giant cells and m ononuclear cells . In relation to the GLUT - 1, it was found a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the number of mononuclear cells immunomarked between the PGCL and the CLNAGC and between the PGCL and CLAGC . Regarding the intensity of staining w as also observed a statistically significant difference both at the mononuclear cells as in giant cells between PL and CLNAGC and between PGCL and CLAGC , at the giant cells there was also a statistically significant difference between the CLNAGC and CLAGC . In relation to GLUT - 3 , was found a statistically significant difference between PGCL and CLAGC and between CLAGC and CLNAGC in amount of mononuclear cells immunomarked . Regarding the intensity of labeling for such protein was found a statistically signifi cant difference at the giant cells between PL and CLAGC . To the M - CSF was observed only a statistically significant difference in the intensity of labeling at the mononuclear cells between PGCL and CLNAGC and between PGCL and CLAGC . Based on these results, we can conclude the participation of GLUT - 1, GLUT - 3 and M - CSF in the pathogenesis of the lesions studied. The bigger immunostaining of these proteins in mononuclear cells show that these cells perform a higher metabolic activity and osteoclastogenic, espe cially in CLAGC . It was found that the mononuclear cells were more related to the pathogenesis of the studied lesions than properly the giant s cell s.

Análise comparativa da imunoexpressão do IMP-3 e Ki-67 em queilites actínicas e carcinoma epidermóide de lábio inferior

Epithelial changes observed in actinic cheilitis (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip (LLSCC) are mainly caused by chronic exposure to ultraviolet rays (UV) and are studied using different immunohistochemical markers trying to evaluate the process of carcinogenesis. The objective of this study was to comparatively evaluate the expression of Ki-67 proteins and IMP-3 in AC and LLSCC to contribute with additional information on carcinogenesis in lower lip. A total of 33 cases of AC and 33 cases of LLSCC were studied, analyzed the clinical and pathological features and immunostaining of Ki-67 and IMP-3. Immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67 was made through the determination of the proliferation index (PI) and subsequent classification of the cases according to the scores: 0 (0% positive cells) +1 (≤30%) + 2 (> 30% and ≤60%) and +3 (> 60%). For statistical tests cases were classified as unmarked (score 0), low expression (score +1) and high expression (scores +2 and +3). For the expression of IMP-3, the percentage of immunostained epithelial cells was established, and assigned scores: 0 (corresponding to 0%), +1 (up to 30% of positive cells); +2 (From 30% to 60% of immunostained cells) and +3 (over 60% of positive cells). Statistical tests chi-square test, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon were used. The significance level was 5%. Most AC chaos was male (78.8%) with mean age of 50 years and cases of LLSCC also were male (69.89%) with an average of 62 years. The Ki-67 was expressed in all cases of AC and in cases of LLSCC, predominantly in the two injuries the score 2, corresponding to 81.8% of cases in ACs and 54.5% in the CELI. The expression of IMP-3 in ACs occurred in 72.7% of cases, predominantly in 36.3% of LLSCC cases score 1. Already in the IMP-3 was expressed in 60.6% of cases, especially in 27.3% of the score of the cases 3. These results allow us to conclude that the expression of IMP3 and proliferative activity are early events in carcinogenesis independently lower lip state of change.

Análise da imunoexpressão da podoplanina e da triptase em carcinoma epidermóide de língua e sua relação com parâmetros clinicopatológicos

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) has an aggressive biological behavior, with a high propensity for the development of lymph node metastases. In this context, lymphangiogenesis is considered an important phenomenon for the spread of tumor cells and may be influenced by microenvironmental stimuli. Mast cells have been implicated in tumor progression, although their influence in the formation of lymphatic vessels is not well established. The aim of this study was to analyze, in a case series of OTSCC (n=50), possible correlations between lymphatic vessel density (LVD), mast cell count and clinicopathological features, including tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, histological grade of malignancy (Bryne, 1998), and nodal metastasis. LVD was established as the mean number of lymphatic vessels immunostained by anti-podoplanin (D2-40) antibody, identified in five microscopic fields (200x). For the analysis of mast cells, tryptase-immunoreactive cells were quantified in five fields (400x). Both immunostainings were analyzed in the tumor center and invasion front. Intratumoral lymphatic density (ILD) was higher in cases in advanced clinical stages (III-IV), compared to those in initial stages (I-II), as well as in metastatic cases in respect of non-metastatic (p<0,05). There were no statistically significant differences between low-grade and high-grade malignancy cases with respect to ILD (p>0,05). Peritumoral lymphatic density (PLD) and mast cell counts showed no significant relations with any of the clinicopathological parameters evaluated (p>0,05). Also there were no significant correlations between LVD and mast cell counts, whether in intratumoral (r = -0,004; p=0,977) or peritumoral region (r = -0,154; p=0,285). The results of the present study suggest that intratumoral lymphatic vessels may contribute in part to the progression of OTSCC, although PLD may be insufficient to justify differences in biological behavior. This supports the hypothesis of involvement of other mechanisms in metastatic spread of malignant cells, which could complement the effects of lymphangiogenesis. Although mast cells perform several pro- and antitumoral functions, they do not appear to directly influence aggressiveness of OTSCC. In addition, the quantity of these cells may not be essential for lymphatic vessel formation.

Imunoexpressão da proteína endonuclease apurínica/apurimidínica (APE-1) em adenomas pleomórficos e carcinomas ex-adenomas pleomórficos

Introduction: Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 1 (APE-1) is an essential protein for DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway and regulation of redox activities. The ability of malignant cells to recognize and repair DNA damage is an important mechanism for tumor survival, and recent studies suggest that APE-1 overexpression is related to poor prognosis in some tumors. Purpose: To analyze the immunoreactivity of APE-1 in Pleomorphic Adenomas (PA) and Carcinomas Ex Pleomorphic Adenomas (CaExPA) of salivary glands. Materials and Methods: A total of 49 tumors fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin (33 PA and 16 CaExPA) underwent immunohistochemical study by the immunoperoxidase technique. APE-1 immunoreactivity was evaluated quantitatively by the percentage of immunopositive cells. For statistical analysis a significance level of 5% (p≤ 0.05) was adopted. Results: All cases of PA and CaExPA (n=49) were positive for APE-1, however, there was a higher expression in CaExPA, with statistically significant difference (p<0.001). There was no association between APE-1 expression and tumors of major or minor salivary gland, however, not encapsulated PA (median expression = 54.2%) showed higher expression when compared to encapsulated tumors (p=0.02). APE-1 overexpression was found mainly in cases of CaExAP with lymph node metastasis (median expression = 90.3% - p=0.002) and invasive pattern (median expression = 89.9% - p=0.003), when compared to cases without metastasis and intracapsular pattern. Conclusion: This study suggests that APE-1 is deregulated in the studied tumors. The increased expression of APE-1 is associated with the absence of complete capsule in PA and it is associated with more aggressive behavior in CaExPA.

Imunoexpressão da proteína endonuclease apurínica/apurimidínica (APE-1) em adenomas pleomórficos e carcinomas ex-adenomas pleomórficos

Introduction: Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 1 (APE-1) is an essential protein for DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway and regulation of redox activities. The ability of malignant cells to recognize and repair DNA damage is an important mechanism for tumor survival, and recent studies suggest that APE-1 overexpression is related to poor prognosis in some tumors. Purpose: To analyze the immunoreactivity of APE-1 in Pleomorphic Adenomas (PA) and Carcinomas Ex Pleomorphic Adenomas (CaExPA) of salivary glands. Materials and Methods: A total of 49 tumors fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin (33 PA and 16 CaExPA) underwent immunohistochemical study by the immunoperoxidase technique. APE-1 immunoreactivity was evaluated quantitatively by the percentage of immunopositive cells. For statistical analysis a significance level of 5% (p≤ 0.05) was adopted. Results: All cases of PA and CaExPA (n=49) were positive for APE-1, however, there was a higher expression in CaExPA, with statistically significant difference (p<0.001). There was no association between APE-1 expression and tumors of major or minor salivary gland, however, not encapsulated PA (median expression = 54.2%) showed higher expression when compared to encapsulated tumors (p=0.02). APE-1 overexpression was found mainly in cases of CaExAP with lymph node metastasis (median expression = 90.3% - p=0.002) and invasive pattern (median expression = 89.9% - p=0.003), when compared to cases without metastasis and intracapsular pattern. Conclusion: This study suggests that APE-1 is deregulated in the studied tumors. The increased expression of APE-1 is associated with the absence of complete capsule in PA and it is associated with more aggressive behavior in CaExPA.

O complexo nuclear vestibular do sagui (callithrix jacchus): caracterização citoarquitetônica e neuroquímica

To the vertebrates, maintain body balance against the gravitational field and be able to orient themselves in the environment are fundamental aspects for survival, in which the participation of vestibular system is essential. As part of this system, the vestibular nuclear complex is the first central station that, by integrating many information (visual, proprioceptive), and the vestibular, assumes the lead role in maintaining balance. In this study, the vestibular nuclear complex was evaluated in relation to its cytoarchitecture and neurochemical content of cells and axon terminals, through the techniques of Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry for neuronal specific nuclear protein (NeuN), glutamate (Glu), substance P (SP), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) (enzyme that synthesizes acetylcholine-Ach) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) (enzyme that synthesizes gamma-amino butyric acid-GABA). The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) was used as experimental animal, which is a small primate native from the Atlantic Forest in the Brazilian Northeast. As results, the Nissl technique, complemented by immunohistochemistry for NeuN allowed to delineate the vestibular nucleus superior, lateral, medial and inferior (or descending) in the brain of the common marmoset. Neurons and terminals immunoreactive to Glu and ChAT and only immunoreactive terminals to SP and GAD were seen in all nuclei, although in varying density. This study confirms the presence in the vestibular nuclei of the common marmoset, of Glu and SP in terminals, probably from the first order neurons of vestibular ganglion, and of GABA in terminals, presumably from Purkinge cells of the cerebellum. Second-order neurons of the vestibular nuclei seem to use Glu and Ach as neurotransmitters, judging by their expressive presence in the cell bodies of these nuclei in common marmosets, as reported in other species

Papilomavírus humano (HPV) e células de Langerhans em carcinoma epidermóide oral

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been strongly implicated on development of some cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the immunological system somehow reacts against the presence of this virus. Among the cells involved on such mechanism of defense detaches the Langerhans cells (LC), which are responsible for processing and presenting antigens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical reactivity for Langerhans cells between HPV positive and HPV negative OSCC, as well as, the relation of the immunoreactivity for this cells and the histological grading of malignancy proposed by Bryne (1998) and modified by Miranda (2002). Additionally, HPV infection was evaluated in relation to sex, age, lesion localization and histological grading of malignancy. In the total, 27 cases of OSSC were evaluated, 09 of them HPV positive and 18 HPV negative. Anti S-100 antibody was utilized for the immunohistochemical labelling, followed by the counting of LCs in 5 highpower fields (400x). No statistically significant difference was verified between the variables sex, age, lesion localization, histological grading of malignancy and HPV presence in OSSC. There was neither association between the immunohistochemical labeling for LCs (S-100+) and HPV infection nor correlation between the quantity of LCs labeled and the histological grading of malignancy of OSSC. The results suggest that despite the absence of statistically significant difference, the presence of HPV in such cases of OSCC can alter the immunological system, particularly the Langerhans cells

Dupla marcação p53/AgNOR em carcinoma epidermóide oral

The utilization of the immunohistochemical/histochemical double staining technique comes permitting the analysis of two molecular parameters at the same time in an even tissue. Starting from this, the objective of this study was to investigate the existence of differences between the number of NORS/NUCLEUS between p53 positive and p53 negative cells, as well as the existence of correlation between the medium of the NORs of the p53 positive and negative cells and the histological scores of maligninancy in 16 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. It was first classified in agreement with the histological grade system of maligninancy proposed by Bryne (1998) and the double staining technique immunohistochemistry/histochemistry was utilized for the achievement to quantify of the NORs in p53 positive and negative cells. It had not significant differences between the medium number of NORs of the p53 positive cells and of the p53 negative cells, and they were not correlated with the histological scores of malignancy. We conclude that the related phenotype to the p53 immunohistochemical expression did not influence the average of NORS/NUCLEUS and this medium, in both positive and negative cells, is not correlated with the degree of histological aggressivity of the oral squamous cell carcinoma

Associação entre polimorfismos funcionais nos genes da MMP-7 e MMP-9 e o perfil clinicopatológico do carcinoma epidermóide de língua

Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and -9 (MMP-9) modulate important functions strictly related to the development, invasion and metastasis of several human cancers among them the squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCCT). However, individual genetic factors such as the functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence the pattern of protein expression of these MMPs and thus may be related to the variability observed in the clinical behavior of patients with SCCT. In this context, the present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between the frequency of the functional SNPs MMP-7 -181 A/G and MMP-9 -1562 C/T and the clinical (age, gender and metastasis) and pathological (malignancy histological grading and immunohistochemistry expression) features of SCCT cases. Genotyping of these SNPs were performed by PCR-RFLP on DNA samples from 71 cases of SCCT and 60 individuals without cancer who constitute the control group. Among the results of this research, it was observed that the frequency of the polymorphic alleles MMP-7 -181 G and MMP-9 -1562 T in SCCT patients was 28% and 12%, respectively, and the frequency of the heterozygotes A/G (PR = 2.00; p < 0.001) and C/T (PR = 1.54; p = 0.014) were significantly higher in the patient group than in the controls. The prevalence of patients carrying the combination of SNPs studied was significantly associated with SCCT cases (PR = 2.00; p = 0.011) and metastasis (PR = 2.00; p < 0.001). Furthermore, with the frequency of SNPs analyzed, the age, gender, histological grading and immunoreactivity of MMP-7 and MMP-9 formed clinical and pathological parameters relevant to the identification of population subgroups more related to the development of SCCT and metastasis. Based on these results, it is suggested that the protein expression levels of MMP-7 and -9 substantially influence the balance between their pro- and anticancer biological functions and hence the clinicopathological profile of the squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

O trato retino-hipotalâmico no mocó (Kerodon rupestris): Um estudo de traçado anterógrado com a subunidade b da toxina colérica

The light, besides the vision stimuli, controls other process completely independent of image formation, such as the synchronization of the organismic circadian rhythms to the enviromental light/dark cycle. In mammals, this adjust occurs through the retinohypothalamic tract, a direct retinal projection to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, considered to be the major circadian pacemaker. Early studies have identified only the suprachiasmatic nucleus as a retinal target in the hypothalamus. However, using more sensitive neuroanatomic tracers, other retinorecipient hypothalamic regions outside to suprachiasmatic nucleus were pointed in a great number of mammalian species. In this study, the retinohypothalamic tract was shown in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), an endemic rodent of the semiarid region of the Brazilian Northeast, using unilateral intravitreal injections of cholera toxin subunit b as a neuronal tracer. The results reveal that in the rock cavy, besides the suprachiasmatic nucleus, several hypothalamic regions receive direct retinal projection, such as the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, medial and lateral preoptic areas, the supraoptic nucleus and bordering areas, anterior, lateral and rectrochiasmatic hypothalamic areas, and the subparaventricular zone. The results are discussed by comparing with those of the literature, into a functional context