Alcohol dehydrogenase 3 genotype as a risk factor for upper aerodigestive tract cancers

Objective: To assess alcohol dehydrogenase 3 (ADH3) polymorphism at position Ile349Val as indicator of risk factor for upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer to verify its association with UADT cancer in nonalcoholic or nonsmoking individuals.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Primary care or referral center.Patients: the study group consisted of 141 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx admitted for surgical treatment. The comparison group consisted of 94 inpatients without cancer from the A. C. Camargo or other São Paulo (Brazil) hospital and 40 healthy individuals.Intervention: All participants were interviewed and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. After written informed consent was obtained, 20 mL of blood was collected in heparinized tubes.Main Outcome Measures: Odds ratio for ADH3 genotypes using logistic regression models.Results: After adjustment for sex, age, tobacco use, and history of cancer in first-degree family relatives, a significantly higher odds ratio for UADT cancer was observed among individuals with AA genotype and low cumulative alcohol consumption (:5 100 kg of ethanol) (odds ratio=3.8 [95% confidence interval, 1.5-9.7]). A 4-fold increase in odds ratio for UADT cancer among individuals with AA genotype and low tobacco consumption (:525 pack-years) was also found in the adjusted model.Conclusions: These results suggest that genotype AA may be a risk factor for UADT cancer, especially in individuals with low alcohol or tobacco consumption. However, further epidemiological case-control or cohort studies, preferably prospective, are needed to establish the exact role of ADH3 polymorphism and its association with the development of UADT cancers.

Oxacillin Resistance and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Other Staphylococci Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection

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

Ultramorphology of digestive tract of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner, 1818) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) at final larval development

The digestive tract of insects is an important natural, physical, and chemical defense barrier against pathogen invasion. Certain. lepidopteran caterpillars are serious pests of agricultural crops and their biology has received much attention, but little is known about the larval noctuid gut. The morphological analysis of the digestive tract in Anticarsia gemmatalis under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a good model for studies about its defense mechanism. The material was fixed (2,5% glutaraldehyde solution; 0.1 M-phosphate buffer, pH 7.3), post-fixed (1% osmium tetroxide in the same buffer), dried at critical point, gold coated and analyzed in a SEM 515-Philips. A. gemmatalis digestive tract consists of a straight duct of varying length and diameter, subdivided in three main regions: the foregut formed by the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, and crop; the midgut that is the largest portion of the digestive tract without noticeable morphological differentiation along its length; and the hindgut that is morphologically differentiated in pylorus, ileum, colon, and rectum. Although the general morphology of the A. gemmatalis digestive tract is quite similar to the other Lepidoptera species, the anatomical array of the crop muscular layers is quite different comparing with the description for other larval insect.

Ultramorphology of the Digestive Tract of Paratrechina longicornis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrastructure of the ducts of the reproductive tract of males of Melipona bicolor bicolor Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Meliponini)

The present paper describes the ultrastructural features of seminal vesicle, post-vesicular vas deferens and ejaculatory duct of Melipona bicolor bicolor from newly emerged and mature males. Although the results do not show very consistent morphological signs of secretory activity by the epithelium of these organs, lipidic droplets and lamellar granules present in mature males' seminal vesicles and the vacuoles present in post-vesicular vas deferens are probably secretion. Besides, the spermatozoa in the lumen are immersed in a material of characteristic structure, which must be produced in superior regions of the reproductive system of immature males, not studied here. The presence of sperm cells, apparently in cytoplasm vesicles of seminal vesicle and post-vesicular vas deferens, suggests spermiophagy by their epithelium.

First report of endocytobionts in the digestive tract of ponerine ants

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

Virus present in the reproductive tract of asymptomatic drones of honey bee (Apis mellifera l.), and possible infection of queen during mating

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

Frequent respiratory pathogens of respiratory tract infections in children attending daycare centers

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalence of virulence factors in Escherichia coli strains isolated from the genital tract of healthy cows

Determinou-se a prevalência dos genes de virulência expressando fimbrias, produção de hemolisina, colicina e aerobactina em cepas de Escherichia coli obtidas do trato genital de vacas saudáveis que não apresentam sinais clínicos indicativos de infecção. A presença dos genes responsáveis pela expressão de fimbrias (pap, sfa, afa) foi avaliada através de reação em cadeia da polimerase utilizando primers especificos para cada um dos genes, nenhum deles foi detectado em qualquer uma das cepas isoladas. A prevalência dos fatores de virulência foi de 90,4%, 69,8%, 28,5% para colicina, hemolisina e aerobactina, respectivamente. A análise da patogenicidade das cepas do trato genital pode contribuir para o entendimento do comportamento das cepas de E. coli.

Accuracy of simple urine tests for diagnosis of urinary tract infections in low-risk pregnant women

Alterações anatômicas e fisiológicas da gravidez predispõem gestantes a infecções do trato urinário (ITU). O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a acurácia do exame de urina simples para diagnóstico de ITU em gestantes de baixo risco. Fez-se uso do estudo de desempenho de teste diagnóstico realizado em Botucatu, SP, com 230 gestantes, entre 2006 e 2008. Os resultados mostram que a prevalência de ITU foi de 10%. A sensibilidade foi 95,6%, especificidade 63,3% e acurácia 66,5% do exame de urina simples, em relação ao diagnóstico de ITU. A análise dos valores preditivos positivo e negativo (VPP e VPN) mostrou que, na vigência de exame de urina simples normal, a chance de haver ITU foi pequena (VPN 99,2%). Frente ao resultado alterado desse exame, a probabilidade de haver ITU foi baixa (VPP 22,4%). Conclui-se que a acurácia do exame de urina simples como meio diagnóstico de ITU foi baixa, sendo indispensável a realização de urocultura para o diagnóstico.

Effect of broiler breeder age on pancreas enzymes activity and digestive tract weight of embryos and chicks

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

First-void versus midstream urine culture for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in the urinary tract

Quantitative Ureaplasma urealyticum culture was performed on clean first-void and midstream urine to evaluate the presence of these mollicutes in the urinary tract. The results, expressed as color changing units (CCU), showed that 14 (63%) of the 22 Ureaplasma urealyticum positive patients yielded counts equal to or higher that 10(7) CCU/mL for both the initial and the middle urine specimens. No abnormal chemical or microscopic findings (protein content, leukocyte numbers) were observed. The occurrence of U. urealyticum in midstream urine samples, even when numbers are considered, may be no more than a guide to the presence of ureaplasmas in the urinary tract.