Carcinoma de células de Merckel humano e sua potencial associação com o recémdescrito poliomavírus MCPyV: avaliação preliminar de biopsias e análise de casualidade

Neoplasias malignas da pele são os cênceres mais comuns da espécie humana. No entanto há tipos raros como o Carcinoma de células de Merkel (CCM), cuja incidência tem aumentado em todo mundo. O CCM possui curso agressivo, com freqüente envolvimento de nódulos linfáticos regionais e metástases à distância. Adicionalmente, afeta predominantemente idosos e imunocomprometidos, fato que levou-se a suspeita de uma possível etiologia infecciosa para essa neoplasia. Nesse foi-se isolado e descrito o MCPyV, um novo poliomavirus humano, diretamente de células tumorais do CCM. O objetivo do presente trabalho é dar continuidade à pesquisa desse novo vírus apresentando dados iniciais da pesquisa do MCPyV em número significativo de casos de CCM de pacientes brasileiros. Para tanto, foram analisadas 24 biópsias de CCM fixadas e incluídas em parafina, das quais foram extraído o material genômico e o produto submetido à PCR convencional com três pares de iniciadores descritos pela literatura (LT1, LT3 e VP1), com a finalidade de se detectar segmentos do vírus. No presente estudo o genoma viral foi detectado em 11/24 (45,8%) das amostras avaliadas, sendo que a positividade para cada par de iniciadores foi de 4/24 (16,7%) para LT1, 11/24 (45,8%) para LT3 e 4/24 (16.7%) para VP1. Essas freqüências são menores do que a relatada pela literatura e essa diferença pode ser devida a diferença nas amostras analisadas e nas técnicas empregadas. Outros estudos são necessários para comprovar a relação de causalidade, assim como desvendar o ciclo do MCPyV

Avaliação do padrão de metilação dos genes ESR1, ESR2 e PGR nas linhagens celulares derivadas do câncer de mama

Breast cancer has received an increasing attention because it is one of the most common cancer type and a leading cause of morbity and mortality among women worldwide. This disease has been considered as a heterogeneous condition, demonstrating a large spectrum of clinical and histopathological variability. In the last two decades, several studies have been conducted to identify new molecular markers of cancer cells, including the alterations of DNA methylation, which is the major epigenetic mechanism associated with the control of gene expression. The hypermethylation of promoter-associated CpG islands contributes to the loss of function of several cancer-related genes, including those encoding to the estrogen receptor (ESR) and progesterone receptor (PGR). This study aimed to determine the methylation patterns of CpG islands of the genes encoding the estrogen receptor α (ESR1 gene, promoters A and B), estrogen receptor β (ESR2 gene) and progesterone receptor (PGR gene, promoter A and B) in 15 cell lines derived from breast cancer. The DNA methylation analysis was based on the “Methylation Specific-Polymerase Chain Reaction” (MSP), which provides a qualitative assessment of the methylation status of a specific CpG island. The results revealed heterogeneous data: the promoter region of ESR1A showed complete methylation in one cell line (BT549) and only two cell lines showed partial methylation (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453), while the others lineages presented unmethylated alleles. The promoter region of isoform ESR1B was unmethylated in the cell lines BT549, SKBR3 and T47D; partial methylation were observed in the cell lines MDA-MB- 231, MCF-7 and ZR-75-30, while the others cell lines presented complete methylation. All lineages showed complete or partial methylation of the ESR2 gene. The methylation pattern of the promoter A of the PGR ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Estudos citogenéticos para detecção de marcadores de diagnóstico e prognóstico em sarcomas ósseos

A busca pela identificação de fatores que possam apontar o diagnóstico, a resposta terapêutica e a sobrevida dos pacientes portadores de sarcoma ósseos tem sido incessante. Presumir a agressividade tumoral, capacidade de invasão tecidual, probabilidade de recidiva, propensão ao desenvolvimento de metástases e resposta ao tratamento, poderá ser valioso expediente na escolha da proposta terapêutica. Embora fatores ambientais e dietéticos contribuam para a etiologia do câncer, as neoplasias se originam de um processo de múltiplos passos envolvendo alterações de genes e seleção clonal da progênie variante. Estas mutações ocorrem em classes de genes reguladores da proliferação celular como os oncogenes, genes supressores de tumor, fatores de crescimento, vias de sinalização e genes de reparo de DNA. Os conhecimentos sobre a biologia tumoral melhoraram o entendimento sobre os múltiplos aspectos da carcinogênese. No entanto, embora as perspectivas permaneçam, até agora, há poucos benefícios para prevenção, diagnóstico, tratamento e seguimento dos pacientes com sarcomas ósseos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo detectar e descrever alterações cromossômicas consistentes e recorrentes, através da utilização de análises com a citogenética clássica. Também descreveu o envolvimento dessas alterações com o prognóstico em sarcomas ósseos primários e secundários, na tentativa de contribuir para a realização de estratégias mais eficazes para melhorar as taxas de sobrevida e beneficiar maior número de pacientes portadores de sarcomas ósseos. As lesões ósseas apresentaram alterações citogenéticas clonas e recorrentes, das quais as principais foram: sarcoma pouco diferenciado, o qual apresentou del(7)(p21); osteossarcoma metastático, apresentando del(4)(q32), add(13)(p13), add(14)(p13); tumor de células gigantes com add(14)(p13); ...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

O uso da somatotropina bovina recombinante em reprodução bovina

The recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) at first, had its widespread use in dairy cows in order to increase milk production. Currently, it has been studied frequently and use their influence both in bovine milk, such as cutting. Its production has been an evolution to the science, using bacteria to produce recombinant DNA. Most authors that have studied and obtained positive results, such as increasing the number of ovarian follicles larger than five millimeters, among others. Its action takes place directly on the ovary, follicles, corpus luteum, the granulosa cells, oviduct, myometrium, endometrium and placenta, where they were found receptors, or indirectly through the release of insuline like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Therefore, the objective of this work is to explain the importance of bST in bovine as well as the usefulness of this, its mechanism of action and the benefits it can bring when combined with other biotechnology, such as superovulation, embryo transfer, synchronization of estrus, and others

Ultrasonografia Doppler na reprodução de pequenos animais

The Doppler ultrasound allows the assessment of blood flow and the differentiate vessels according to each spectral pattern, location and organ that irrigate, helping the examinations and disease diagnosis. The main methods used are Pulsed Doppler, Color Doppler and Power Doppler. In Brazil veterinary medicine, it shows progress since 1990, but its use is limited by the equipment high cost, the need for operator experience and patient cooperation. There are studies in obstetrics and reproduction of dogs and cats, such as evaluation of the testicular vasculature, including the use of contrast material, and attempts to evaluate prostate in healthy dogs or pathological conditions (cancer and testicular torsion , orchitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia; estrous cycle monitoring, evaluation of irrigation in follicles and corpus luteum, uterus and breasts (mammary tumors) in bitches; monitoring pregnancy from the assessment of maternal, fetal and placental hemodynamics, both in dogs as in cats, and aspirations for early detection of pregnancy in dogs. However, new studies are still required, given the lack of these species, especially cats

Neoplasia mamária em cadelas: aspectos clínico-cirúrgicos

Oncology is presenting an important role in clinical practice as a speciality in recent years in Veterinary Medicine. Mammary gland tumors are detected mainly in old and middleaged bitches that are sexually intact or spayed and the caudal abdominal and inguinal mammary glands are the most affected and they present a percentage up to 75% of malignancy. The majority of dogs with mammary neoplasms are clinically healthy at the time of diagnosis and the tumors can be identified by the owner or a professional during a routine physical examination. Cytological examination of fine needle aspirates can be performed. This procedure is easy and low cost and some criteria that may indicate malignancy are evaluated, however to obtain a definitive diagnosis is performed histopathology of the excised tissue or from biopsy. Regional lymph nodes are the first lymph node to receive lymphatic drainage from the neoplasm. They are at the highest risk of regional metastasis, while the lung is the most common site for distant metastasis. Determining the clinical stage enables the definition of the extension of the tumor. As a consequence, this allows a prognosis to be established and treatment to be planned. The type of therapy to be chosen incites controversy since there are numerous treatment options described, but the surgery is the chosen treatment. However, surgery is not always effective for malignant tumors, and recurrences may occur and in these cases, auxiliary chemotherapy treatments are used. The prognosis for animals that have mammary tumors depends on several factors, such as: size, stage, type of tumor cells and clinical behavior of the tumor, age and medical condition of the animal, and presence of metastasis. Because of this, more detailed studies are needed based on epidemiological surveys in order to provide more informations about risk factors, prevalence and follow-up after treatment of mammary... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Síntese e propriedades farmacológicas dos derivados de estilbenos

O resveratrol (3, 5, 4'-triidroxiestilbeno) é um polifenol natural encontrado, principalmente nas cascas das uvas. Este composto possui propriedades anti- inflamatórias, auxiliando assim nas doenças cardiovasculares, como a aterosclerose, devido a sua ação de inibição de vasodilatadores como o NO, possui atividades antioxidantes agindo na inibição da oxidação das LDLs e contribui no tratamento das neoplasias atuando principalmente, em cânceres como o uterino, ovariano e o colorretal. Apesar de inúmeras comprovações de suas propriedades farmacológicas, há poucos estudos sobre sua síntese, as principais rotas existentes são as de Wittig e Heck. Nesta revisão bibliográfica serão abordadas as principais propriedades farmacológicas deste composto, mostrando seus benefícios e sua eficácia à sua saúde humana, além de rotas sintéticas de baixo custo e complexidade de execução para a produção industrial deste estibelno de origem natural.

Eletroquimioterapia em cães e gatos

The eletrochemotherapy is a new treatment option for neoplasms that involves the application of chemotherapeutic drugs endovenously or intralesionally, associated with local severe and short duration electrical pulses. The electrical pulses promote destabilization of the cell membrane, causing transitory pore formation and facilitating the entry of chemotherapeutic agents inside the cells, increasing its cytotoxicity. This therapy allows for lower doses of chemotherapy drugs compared to conventional chemotherapy, resulting in the decrease of side effects and costs of treatment. The eletrochemotherapy has proved effective in the treatment of cancer regardless of its histological origin and location. This review aims to highlight possibilities to use this treatment in Veterinary Oncology

Síndromes paraneoplásicas hematológicas em cães

Tumoral masses can cause several direct problems in the organism, such as invading organs and altering their functions, leading to other problems such as the Paraneoplastic syndrome. The paraneoplastic syndrome is an alteration in the structure and function of the body due to the non-invasive actions of the tumor, for example, liberating hormones, peptides, cytokines and leading to cross reactions between normal tissues. The syndrome can affect different locations in the body, being that some are indicative of specific tumors, however the interpretation of the clinical and pathological findings referring to this syndrome should be utilized in the diagnostic and treatment. In the hematological paraneoplastic syndrome, there are alterations that occur due to indirect actions of the tumor on the blood cellular elements and the coagulation system, and that are generally detected in routine clinical and laboratorial exams. This study objective is to aboard some hematological paraneoplastic syndromes in dogs such as: anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, hypergammaglobulinemia and erythrocytosis, emphasizing the different etiologies that may assist in differential diagnosis and the principal neoplasm related to this syndrome. Besides this, the early discovery and treatment of the paraneoplatic syndrome is important as the tumor itself, as it improves the prognostic and quality of life of the patient

Uso do método de Monte Carlo para simulação e detecção do espectro de raios-X gerado com feixes de elétrons em alvo de Molibdênio, utilizando o Geant4

The huge demand for procedures involving ionizing radiation promotes the need for safe methods of experimentation considering the danger of their biological e ects with consequent risk to humans. Brazilian's legislation prohibits experiments involving this type of radiation in humans through Decree 453 of Ministry of Health with determines that such procedures comply with the principles of justi cation, optimization and dose limitation. In this line, concurrently with the advancement of available computer processing power, computing simulations have become relevant in those situations where experimental procedures are too cost or impractical. The Monte Carlo method, created along the Manhattan Project duringWorldWar II, is a powerful strategy to simulations in computational physics. In medical physics, this technique has been extensively used with applications in diagnostics and cancer treatment. The objective of this work is to simulate the production and detection of X-rays for the energy range of diagnostic radiology, for molybdenum target, using the Geant4 toolkit. X-ray tubes with this kind of target material are used in diagnostic radiology, speci cally in mammography, one of the most used techniques for screening of breast cancer in women. During the simulations, we used di erent models for bremsstrahlung available in physical models for low energy, in situations already covered by the literature in earlier versions of Geant4. Our results show that although the physical situations seems qualitatively adequate, quantitative comparisons to available analytical data shows aws in the code of Geant4 Low Energy source

O ensino de oncologia em enfermagem: um panorama do Brasil, Estados Unidos e outros países

The incidence of neoplasias has increased worldwide every year, and the training of qualified nurses for quality care provision to oncologic patients is necessary. This study aimed at identifying, in the literature, how oncology has been taught in the curricula of several undergraduate nursing programs in Brazil, the United States and other countries. The articles were located on Internet-based databases, namwly Lilacs and Scopus, from which 35 publications were found, and 18 articles were included. In Brazil, oncology is taught in undergraduate nursing programs in an isolated and punctual fashion, and it is not included in curricula. Parallelly, in the other countries included in the study, similarity was found as to this aspect; however, there is evidence of the implantation of elective and extracurricular courses. It is noteworthy that, in Brazil, there is evidence of government policies for oncology teaching and cancer control; nevertheless, such guidelines have not been concretized in curricula. The study showed a scenario in which oncology teaching in undergraduate nursing programs is insufficient or inexistent both in Brazil and in other countries, which compromises the training of future qualified professionals that will be attentive to that theme, since cancer is a frequent pathology, and the presence of nurses is fundamental for the care of such patients from diagnosis to cure, or even during occasional death

Planejamento e síntese de novo candidato a fármaco útil para o tratamento de tumores sólidos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Redução bacteriana via terapia fotodinâmica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Modelos de tratamento para adenocarcinomas de próstata tratados por radioterapia conformacional 3D

Radiotherapy is a branch of medical physics related to the treatment of malignant neoplasm, being an important instrument in the fight against cancer, when combined with the effort of a multidisciplinary team, composed of, physicians, physicists, nurses and technicians. Every year more than 3.5 million new cases of cancer are recorded in the world, being the prostate cancer responsible for approximately 25% of this amount (INCA and IARC, 2008). In this type of cancer, radiotherapy is a method indicated for treatement. The technological advance in this area over years has allowed a greater accuracy in the tumor location, more conformation of the radiation beam around the tumor, reducing the dose in healthy tissues and a consequent dose increase on treatment (Bedford et al., 1999). A radiotherapy planning, in which the physicist develops an important role, is composed of several steps, including choosing the best configuration of treatment beams. This choice has a close relationship with success of therapy and is critical to achieve the best distribution of dose inside the tumor and expose the least as possible the healthy tissue to radiation. In this work, two options for setting up camps in the first phase in a treatment of prostate cancer were simulated in computer planning: 4 fields orthogonal or “Box” with gantry angles in 00, 1800, 2700 e 90° and 4 fields angled or “X” (1350, 450, 3150 e 2250). The percentage of the rectal volume exposed to 40, 50, 60, 72 and 76 Gy should be limited to 60, 50, 25, 15 and 5% respectively (Greco et al., 2003). The femoral toxicity have limited dose by 70% of the total dose prescribed in a prostate treatment (Bedford et al., 1999). The planning of 27 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma submitted to 3D conformal radiotherapy were accompanied. As a result, it was assessed that the best TCP (tumor control probability)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Efeitos da exposição gestacional ao Bisfenol-A, a Genisteína e ao Indol-3-Carbinol sobre morfogênese e carcinogênese de órgãos reprodutores de fêmeas Sprague-Dawley da geração F1

A exposição in utero a xenoestrógenos pode aumentar o risco de neoplasias de natureza endócrina na vida adulta. O Bisfenol A (BPA), componente de resinas e plástico, considerado xenoestrógeno e desregulador endócrino, tem sido investigado pelos seus potenciais efeitos adversos para a saúde humana. Como a Genisteína e o Indol-3-Carbinol possuem propriedades que podem inibir neoplasias de natureza endócrina, é possível que também atuem modulando/modificando os efeitos causados pela exposição gestacional ao BPA. O presente projeto teve como objetivos: (1) Avaliar os efeitos da exposição gestacional ao Bisfenol - A (BPA) sobre a morfogênese do útero e ovários na prole de fêmeas Sprague-Dawley (SD) da geração F1; (2) Avaliar se a exposição gestacional a genisteína e ao indol-3-carbinol altera os efeitos do BPA sobre sobre a morfogênese do útero e ovários na geração F1 e (3) avaliar os efeitos da exposição ao BPA, e às associações BPA e genisteína, BPA e indol-3-carbinol em relação à susceptibilidade a carcinogênese induzida pela N-Metil-N-Nitrosuréia (MNU). Portanto, fêmeas prenhas da linhagem SD foram divididas em 7 grupos experimentais e expostas ao Bisfenol A (BPA) (25 ou 250 ug/kg p.c.) DG 10 até o DG 21 (Moral et al. 2008), além de ração basal ou ração contendo genisteína (250 mg/kg) ou indol-3-carbinol (2000 mg/kg) durante toda a gestação. Parte da prole Fêmeas SD foi sacrificada parte no Dia Pós-Natal (DPN) 21 e parte ao final da 25ª semana após iniciação ou não com a MNU. Ao DPN 21 os ovários e útero foram removidos para contagem de folículos e morfometria, respectivamente. A prole restante de fêmeas recebeu uma única dose de MNU (50 mg/kg) ou solução de NaCl (1 ml/kg) no DPN 51 e foi sacrificada na 25ª semana após a aplicação de MNU ou de NaCl. Ovários e útero foi removidos para análises histológicas, incluindo a determinação de lesões proliferativas ...