Malignant ameloblastoma metastasis to the lung: a case report

Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumor, usually benign, which rarely metastasizes to distant organs. The case of a 27-year-old white woman is described, who presented a metastatic pulmonary ameloblastoma 7 years after the removal of a mandibular ameloblastoma. She presented no pulmonary symptoms, but a lung nodule was found in a chest x-ray during a routine check-up for job admission. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2-cm well-defined solitary round nodule without calcifications, leading to the hypothesis of a metastatic tumor. Clinical and CT investigation confirmed no ameloblastoma recurrence in the jaw and no other primary tumor. The diagnosis of metastatic ameloblastoma was confirmed by microscopic evaluation of the pulmonary nodule.

Burnt sugarcane harvesting: Particulate matter exposure and the effects on lung function, oxidative stress, and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

First gonadal maturation of Pinirampus pirinampu (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Informações sobre o ciclo reprodutivo de espécies exploradas pela pesca são imprescindíveis para o seu manejo adequado. O tamanho de início da atividade reprodutiva do Pinirampus pirinampu (Spix, 1829) foi determinado. Os exemplares foram capturados em setembro, outubro e dezembro de 1997 e fevereiro e março de 1998. O estádio de desenvolvimento gonadal foi identificado macroscopicamente. O índice gonadossomático médio (IGS), calculado mensalmente, foi utilizado como indicador da época de desova. Para determinação do comprimento da primeira maturação gonadal agruparam-se, separadamente, machos e fêmeas por classes de comprimento em imaturos e adultos. Os resultados referentes aos indivíduos adultos foram lançados em gráficos e a mediana correspondeu à estimativa do comprimento no qual 50% dos indivíduos atingem a maturidade (L50). Foi também determinado o L100, estimativa do comprimento em que todos os indivíduos estão aptos à reprodução. Machos e fêmeas em processo de maturação gonadal foram encontrados a partir de outubro, com maior freqüência em fevereiro, e, somente a partir deste mês, foram encontrados indivíduos com gônadas esvaziadas. O índice gonadossomático mostrou que a partir de setembro inicia-se o processo de desenvolvimento gonadal, com seu valor máximo em fevereiro. O L50 para fêmeas foi 574 mm e para machos foi 536 mm. O L100 para fêmeas foi 590 mm e para os machos, 580 mm.

Indoor NO2 air pollution and lung function of professional cooks

Studies of cooking-generated NO2 effects are rare in occupational epidemiology. In the present study, we evaluated the lung function of professional cooks exposed to NO2 in hospital kitchens. We performed spirometry in 37 cooks working in four hospital kitchens and estimated the predicted FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75, based on age, sex, race, weight, and height, according to Knudson standards. NO2 measurements were obtained for 4 consecutive days during 4 different periods at 20-day intervals in each kitchen. Measurements were performed inside and outside the kitchens, simultaneously using Palm diffusion tubes. A time/exposure indicator was defined as representative of the cumulative exposure of each cook. No statistically significant effect of NO2 exposure on FVC was found. Each year of work as a cook corresponded to a decrease in predicted FEV1 of 2.5% (P = 0.046) for the group as a whole. When smoking status and asthma were included in the analysis the effect of time/exposure decreased about 10% and lost statistical significance. on predicted FEF25-75, a decrease of 3.5% (P = 0.035) was observed for the same group and the inclusion of controllers for smoking status and asthma did not affect the effects of time/exposure on pulmonary function parameter. After a 10-year period of work as cooks the participants of the study may present decreases in both predicted FEV1 and FEF25-75 that can reach 20 and 30%, respectively. The present study showed small but statistically significant adverse effects of gas stove exposure on the lung function of professional cooks.

Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

COMPENSATORY LUNG GROWTH: LUNG PROTEIN,DNA and RNA CONTENTS IN TRILOBECTOMIZED RATS

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

Compensatory lung growth: protein, DNA and RNA lung contents in undernourished trilobectomized rats

OBJETIVO: demonstrar se ocorre crescimento pulmonar compensatório (CPC) representado pelos conteúdos de proteínas, DNA e RNA no rato adulto jovem, subnutrido, submetido à trilobectomia pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Utilizamos 137 ratos Wistar, machos, distribuídos por sorteio, em 9 grupos, submetidos a três tratamentos (controle, toracotomia, trilobectomia), sacrificados em três momentos (7, 30 e 90 dias). Na trilobectomia foram extirpados os lobos médio, acessório e caudal direitos. Variáveis estudadas: conteúdos pulmonares de proteínas, DNA e RNA. RESULTADOS: No lobo cranial e pulmão esquerdo o conteúdo protéico foi maior nos trilobectomizados. Ocorreu CPC insuficiente para suprir a perda desta variável, sendo menor nos pulmões dos trilobectomizados. O incremento nos conteúdos de DNA do lobo cranial e pulmão esquerdo dos trilobectomizados foram suficientes para compensar a perda desta variável, resultando num conteúdo de DNA dos pulmões semelhante aos controle. O conteúdo de RNA, nos trilobectomizados, foi maior no lobo cranial e pulmão esquerdo, com maior eficiência no primeiro, insuficiente para que se aproximassem aos obtidos nos demais grupos, ficando menores. CONCLUSÃO: Nos trilobectomizados ocorreu CPC, provavelmente com hiperplasia celular e pouca hipertrofia, devido a grande compensação do DNA e pequena do RNA. Esta foi a grande diferença quando comparamos este resultado ao obtido com animais nutridos, que apresentavam hipertrofia pronunciada.

Compensatory lung growth in autologus lobar implant after pneumonectomy in dogs

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se existe crescimento compensatório pulmonar em transplante lobar e verificar se este crescimento é semelhante ao que ocorre após lobectomia. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 48 cães, distribuídos em 3 grupos (G1=controle, G2=lobectomia cranial esquerda e G3=pneumonectomia com reimplante do lobo caudal esquerdo). Após 5 meses da cirurgia, os animais foram submetidos à cintilografia pulmonar e a seguir sacrificados para estudo morfométrico pulmonar. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram que não existe correlação da cintilografia nem com a massa nem com o volume do pulmão. Houve crescimento compensatório em massa e volume residual nos dois grupos operados, tanto no pulmão contralateral como no ipsilateral à cirurgia, não existindo até os 5 meses de estudo compensação em capacidade pulmonar total, nem em complacência pulmonar no lobo caudal remanescente do G2 e no lobo caudal reimplantado do G3, havendo maior prejuízo para o lobo reimplantado. Como estudos prévios mostram que o crescimento compensatório pulmonar se inicia com aumento da massa e do volume residual, e que a complacência é compensada posteriormente, este estudo parece ter documentado o início do crescimento compensatório, sendo a complacência pulmonar o fator limitante do crescimento compensatório após 5 meses de estudo. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que existe crescimento compensatório tanto no lobo reimplantado como no pulmão contralateral, mas a complacência ainda encontra-se reduzida. O crescimento compensatório foi semelhante nos dois grupos, mas a complacência do lobo implantado está mais prejudicada.

Melatonin in maturation media fails to improve oocyte maturation, embryo development rates and DNA damage of bovine embryos

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

Interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental toxicants for development of lung cancer

Significant interindividual variations in health outcome may be caused by the inheritance of variant polymorphic genes, such as CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 for activation, and GSTM1 and GSTT1 for detoxification of chemicals. However. mechanistic studies linking the inheritance of predisposing genes with genotoxic effects towards cancer have yet to be systematically conducted. We have studied 54 lung cancer patients and 50 matched normal controls, who have been cigarette smokers, to elucidate the role of polymorphic genes in cancer. Our data indicates that the inheritance of unfavorable CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and GSTT1 genes is strongly correlated with the smoking-related lung cancer. For heavy cigarette smokers (> 30 pack-years), the smoking habit is the strongest predictor of lung cancer risk irrespective of the inheritance of unfavorable metabolizing genes. For moderate to light smokers (< 30 pack-years), the genetic predisposition plays on important role For the risk (odds ratio = 3.46; 95% CL = 0.46-40.2). Using a subgroup of the study population, we observed that cigarette smokers having the defective GST genes have significantly more chromosome aberrations as determined by the fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization (FISH) technique than smokers with the normal GST genes (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our study provides data to indicate that individuals who have inherited unfavorable metabolizing genes have increased body burden of toxicants to cause increased genetic damage and to have increased risk for cancer. Studies like ours can be used to understand the basis for interindividual variations in cancer outcome, to identify high risk individuals and to assess health risk. (C) 1997 Wiley Liss, Inc.

Change in the ascorbic-acid content of acerolas (Malpighia-glabra L) as function of harvest maturation degree and storage-temperature

The content of ascorbic acid was assayed in acerolas harvested in three phases of maturation: green-yellow fruits (I); light red (II) and wine-coloured (III). Phase I and Phase II fruit were packed in aluminium sheets and stoppered flasks and stored in freezer (-10o.C) and in refrigerator (8o.C). Samples of 8 fruits from each experimental condiction were analysed for ascorbic acid determination by 2-chlorophenol indophenol discolouration method. The averages of 1.393,5 mg./100g. for Phase I sample, 1024,9 for Phase II and 756,5 for Phase III fruits, showed a statistically significative linear decreasing of the ascorbic acid content related with the maturation extent Phase I samples stored in freezing showed statitically significative decreasing of that vitamin at 408 hours of storage in both: aluminium sheet and stoppered flask package; in chilling temperature there was significative reduction of ascorbic acid content after 240 and 312 hours, respectively, for fruits packed in aluminium sheet and stopped flasks. Phase Il samples showed significative lost at 72 hours of storage when maintained in freezing temperature either, in aluminium sheet or in stoppered flasks: When stored in chilling temperature showed progressive lost of ascorbic acid in all measuring periods in every package. After 144 hours suffered deterioration suggested by colour changes.

Effects of maturation and scarification on seed germination of Syagrus schizophylla (Mart.) glass. (Arecaceae)

Syagrus schizophylla (Mart.) Glass. belongs to the Arecaccae family. This palm is native of Brazil and presents great potential for use in gardens and cultivation in pot. Palms species, with relatively few exceptions, can only be propagated from seeds; even so, there are no reports in the literature about the germination of this palm seeds. The seed maturity is a factor that interferes in the success of the germination process. For some species, studies showed that palm seeds germinated better when the fruits were completely ripe (showing full color) and for other, when they were with green coloration. Several species of the Arecaccae family presents physical dormancy of seeds in varied degrees, demanding treatments for improve germination. The objective of this work was to study the effects of maturation and of the scarification on seed germination of S. schizophylla. The experimental design used was a factorial 3 x 2 (3 maturation stadiums: green, half-ripe - yellow and completely ripe - red; and mechanical scarification: with and without), entirely casualized, with four replications of 15 seeds per plot. The seeds (with 32,43% of humidity) were placed in plastic boxes with sand (60% of humidity, placing water according to weight in each three days), under controlled conditions of alternated temperature of 25-35 degrees C, photoperiod of 12 hours. The percentage of germination and the speed germination index (SGI) were evaluated until 79 days. It was observed that, so much for germination percentage as for SGI, there was not significant difference for the interaction among the two factors, maturation stadium and scarification, however, there were significant differences among the maturation stadiums and between seeds scarified or not. The seeds from green fruits presented lower germination percentage and slower germination when compared with seeds from yellow or red fruits; the seeds from yellow or red fruits didn't differ statistically to each other. To seeds scarificated, independently of the maturation stadium, presented germination percentage significantly larger and the germination was significantly faster when compared with the seeds without scarification.