Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and chromogenic in situ hybridization: precise methods to detect HER-2 status in breast carcinoma

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Metalloproteinases 2 and-9 activity during promotion and progression stages of rat liver carcinogenesis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Lack of Chemopreventive Activity of Agaricus blazei Mushroom on the Development of 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-Induced Colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci in Rats

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

Analysis of the expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 and cytokine production during experimental Leishmania chagasi infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognise pathogen-derived molecules and influence immunity to control parasite infections. This study aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression of TLRs 2 and 4, the expression and production of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the spleen of mice infected with Leishmania chagasi. It also aimed to evaluate any correlations between mRNA expression TLR2 and 4 and cytokines and NO production. Infection resulted in increased TLR2-4, IL-17, TNF-α and TGF-β mRNA expression during early infection, with decreased expression during late infection correlating with parasite load. IFN-γ and IL-12 mRNA expression decreased at the peak of parasitism. IL-10 mRNA expression increased throughout the entire time period analysed. Although TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-17 were highly produced during the initial phase of infection, IFN-γ and IL-12 exhibited high production during the final phase of infection. IL-10 and NO showed increased production throughout the evaluated time period. In the acute phase of infection, there was a positive correlation between TLR2-4, TNF-α, IL-17, NO, IL-10 and TGF-β expression and parasite load. During the chronic phase of infection, there was a positive correlation between TLR2-4, TNF-α, IL-17 and TGF-β expression and parasite load. Our data suggest that infection by L. chagasi resulted in modulation of TLRs 2 and 4 and cytokines.

Avaliação da qualidade da atenção básica em 37 municípios do centro-oeste paulista: características da organização da assistência

No Estado de São Paulo, existe uma rede extensiva de serviços de Atenção Básica (AB) com perfil organizacional heterogêneo e pouco conhecido. Este estudo objetiva caracterizar a organização dos serviços de AB em 37 municípios do Centro-oeste paulista, como primeira etapa de um projeto de avaliação da qualidade desses serviços. Trata-se de um estudo transversal conduzido mediante questionário estruturado, autorrespondido pelos gerentes e equipes locais, com questões que abordam características institucionais e de organização e gerência do trabalho. Esses questionários foram enviados para 131 UBS, distribuídas em 37 municípios. Obteve-se resposta de 113 unidades (87%) localizadas em 32 municípios (86,4%). do total de unidades, 57 (50%) são UBS tradicionais, 26 (22,8%), Unidades de Saúde da Família, e 31, (27,2%) organizadas segundo formas mistas. A maioria dos serviços (62%, 70/113) não trabalha com área de abrangência delimitada de modo planejado. Os serviços se polarizam entre aqueles que realizam entre 70 e 100% de consultas médicas agendadas (37,6%, 41/109), e aqueles que realizam entre 70 e 100% de não agendadas (39,4%, 43/109). Não possuem conselhos locais organizados 65 unidades (63,7%, 65/102). Os dados coletados permitem discutir as características dos principais programas, procedimentos e ações realizados pelos serviços. Os perfis organizacionais predominantes apontam a presença de deficiências de estrutura e processo em relação às diretrizes do SUS. O desenvolvimento de instrumentos de autoavaliação permite que as equipes se apropriem, de forma crítica, de seu trabalho, e possam elaborar novos arranjos tecnológicos para melhoria da qualidade.

Avaliação das provas de soroaglutinação rápida, soroaglutinação lenta, antígeno acidificado e 2-mercaptoetanol no diagnóstico da brucelose bovina

Avaliaram-se comparativamente as provas de soroaglutinação rápida, soroaglutinação em tubo, 2-mercaptoetanol e antígeno tamponado acidificado no diagnóstico da brucelose bovina. Todas as provas apresentaram boa concordância quando considerada a interpretação preconizada pelo Ministério da Agricultura do Brasil. As provas do antígeno tamponado acidificado e do 2-mercaptoetanol apresentaram alta concordância. Neste sentido, o presente estudo propõe o uso da prova do antígeno tamponado acidificado como triagem para o diagnóstico da brucelose bovina.

Studies on the Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 from Odontoblast-like Cells

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

Splint maxilar modificado como auxiliar na correção da má oclusão de Classe II, Divisão 2, sem crescimento: relato clínico

Neste artigo é descrito o caso clínico de um paciente adulto, sem crescimento, com má oclusão de Classe II, divisão 2, tratado com um splint maxilar modificado. Foi exercida força extra-bucal com direção de tração parietal com força de 400 gramas, com uso diário de 14 horas durante 1 ano. Com este aparelho removível corrigiu-se completamente a relação de Classe II dos molares e pré-molares, levando estes dentes à oclusão normal, não havendo extrusão dentária, mantendo constante o plano mandibular. Após a correção dos dentes posteriores com o splint maxilar modificado, utilizou-se aparelhagem fixa convencional para corrigir as inclinações dos dentes anteriores e finalizar o caso.

Antigenicity of Primary Endodontic Infection against Macrophages by the Levels of PGE(2) Production

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

Effect of periodontal treatment on metabolic control, systemic inflammation and cytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Neutralization of snake venom phospholipase A(2) toxins by aqueous extract of Casearia sylvestris (Flacourtiaceae) in mouse neuromuscular preparation

Aqueous extract of Casearia sylvestris (Flacourtiaceae) has been shown to inhibit enzymatic and biological properties of some Bothrops and Crotalus venoms and their purified phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) toxins. In this work we evaluated the influence of C sylvestris aqueous extract upon neuromuscular blocking and muscle damaging activities of some PLA(2)S (crotoxin from C. durissus terrificus, bothropstoxin-I from B.jararacussu, piratoxin-I from B. pirajai and myotoxin-II from B. moojeni) in mouse phrenic-diaphragm preparations. Crotoxin (0.5 mu M) and all other PLA2 toxins (1.0 mu M) induced irreversible and time-dependent blockade of twitches. Except for crotoxin, all PLA2 toxins induced significant muscle damage indices, assessed by microscopic analysis. Preincubation of bothropstoxin-I, piratoxin-I or myotoxin-II with C. sylvestris extract (1:5 (w/w), 30 min, 37 degrees C significantly prevented the neuromuscular blockade of preparations exposed to the mixtures for 90 min; the extent of protection ranged from 93% to 97%. The vegetal extract also neutralized the muscle damage (protection of 80-95%). Higher concentration of the C. sylvestris extract (1: 10, w/w) was necessary to neutralize by 90% the neuromuscular blockade induced by crotoxin. These findings expanded the spectrum of C. sylvestris antivenom activities, evidencing that it may be a good source of potentially useful PLA2 inhibitors. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and nonrandom distribution of exonic mutations in interferon regulatory factor 6 in 307 families with Van der Woude syndrome and 37 families with popliteal pterygium syndrome

Purpose: Interferon regulatory factor 6 encodes a member of the IRF family of transcription factors. Mutations in interferon regulatory factor 6 cause Van der Woude and popliteal pterygium syndrome, two related orofacial clefting disorders. Here, we compared and contrasted the frequency and distribution of exonic Mutations in interferon regulatory factor 6 between two large geographically distinct collections of families with Van der Woude and between one collection of families with popliteal pterygium syndrome. Methods: We performed direct sequence analysis of interferon regulatory factor 6 exons oil samples from three collections, two with Van der Woude and one with popliteal pterygium syndrome. Results: We identified mutations in interferon regulatory factor 6 exons in 68% of families in both Van der Woude collections and in 97% of families with popliteal pterygium syndrome. In sum, 106 novel disease-causing variants were found. The distribution of mutations in the interferon regulatory factor 6 exons in each collection was not random; exons 3, 4, 7, and 9 accounted for 80%. In the Van der Woude collections, the mutations were evenly divided between protein truncation and missense, whereas most mutations identified in the popliteal pterygium syndrome collection were missense. Further, the missense mutations associated with popliteal pterygium syndrome were localized significantly to exon 4, at residues that are predicted to bind directly to DNA. Conclusion: The nonrandom distribution of mutations in the interferon regulatory factor 6 exons suggests a two-tier approach for efficient mutation screens for interferon regulatory factor 6. The type and distribution of mutations are consistent with the hypothesis that Van der Woude is caused by haploinsufficiency of interferon regulatory factor 6. Oil the other hand, the distribution of popliteal pterygium syndrome-associated mutations suggests a different, though not mutually exclusive, effect oil interferon regulatory factor 6 function. Genet Med 2009:11(4):241-247.

Ação do BAP na regeneração in vitro de Blc Owen Holmes Ponkan x Brassavola digbiana nº 2

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

Structure of a Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologue isolated from the venom of Bothrops nummifer (jumping viper)

Lys49-Phospholipase A(2) (Lys49-PLA(2)) homologues damage membranes by a Ca2+-independent mechanism which does not involve catalytic activity, We have solved the structure of myotoxin-I, a Lys49-PLA(2) homologue isolated from the venom of Bothrops nummifer (jumping viper) at 2.4 Angstrom resolution using molecular replacement techniques. The final model has been refined to a final R-factor of 18.4% (R-free = 23.2%), and shows excellent geometry, the myotoxin-I from Bothrops nummifer is dimeric in the crystalline state as has been observed for other Lys49-PLA(2) homologues. In addition, a continuous electron density in the active site and substrate binding channel could be successfully modeled as a fatty-acid molecule. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Ltd, All rights reserved.

The interaction between heparin and Lys49 phospholipase A(2) reveals the natural binding of heparin on the enzyme

We have studied at a molecular level the interaction of heparins on bothropstoxin-1 (BthTx-1), a phospholipase A(2) toxin. The protein was monitored using gel filtration chromatography, dynamic light scattering (DLS), circular dichroism (CD), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence emission (ITFE) spectroscopy. The elution profile of the protein presents a displacement of the protein peak to larger complexes when interacting with higher concentration of heparin. The DLS results shows two R-h at a molar ratio of 1, one to the distribution of the protein and the second for the action of heparin on BthTx-I structures, and a large distribution with the increase of protein. The interaction is accompanied by significant changes in the CD spectra, showing two common features: a decrease in signal at 208 nm (3 and 6 kDa heparins) and an isodichroic point near 226 nm (3 kDa heparin). FTIR spectra indicate that only a few amino acid residues are involved in this interaction. Alterations in the ITFE by binding heparins suggest that the initial binding occurs on the ventral face of BthTx-1. Together, these results add an experimental and structural basis on the action mechanism of the heparins over the phospholipases A(2) and provide a molecular model to elucidate the interaction of the enzyme-heparin complex at a molecular level. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.