Análise molecular dos éxons 8 a 11 do gene da p53 em amostras de câncer de colo de útero no Rio Grande do Norte

Mutations on TP53 gene are common in human cancer but not in cervical cancer where they are rarely found and the inactivation and degradation of p53 protein are attributed to the action of E6 viral oncogene from high risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Analysis of cervical cancer cell lines suggests that HPV negative samples shows mutation on TP53, but clinical approaches didn t confirmed this hypothesis. However, in most TP53 mutations studies on cervical cancer, only the exons 5 to 8 were analyzed. Approximately 90% of mutations described are on this region. Recent studies on several cancer suggests that mutation frequency in the other exons must be considered. The aim of this work was to verify whether mutations on coding and non-coding regions occur in cancer tissue from cervical cancer in patients from Rio Grande do Norte using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) as screening tool. Exons 8 to 11 were analyzed including some introns from 80 tumor samples and 8 peripheral blood samples from healthy women. DNA were submitted to PCR using primers with GC clamp on the end of one of them. The results were observed for each region after DGGE and silver staining. It was observed no amplified fragment with different migration profile from those obtained from DNA of peripheral blood. These results agree with those from literature where TP53 mutations in cervical cancer have been described in a very low frequency

Characterization of excretory/secretory antigen from Toxocara vitulorum larvae

Toxocara vitulorum is a nematode parasite of the small intestine of cattle and water buffalo, particularly buffalo calves between one and three months of age, causing high morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this research was to characterize the excretory/secretory (ES) antigens of T vitulorum larvae by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot (WB), using immune sera and colostrum of buffalo naturally infected by T vitulorum. The parasitological status of the buffalo calves was also evaluated using sequential fecal examinations. The results showed that the ES antigen revealed eight (190, 150, 110, 90, 64, 56, 48, and 19 kDa) protein bands by SDS-PAGE. The majority of these bands were recognized in the sera and colostrum of infected buffalo with T vitulorum when analyzed by WB. However, particularly fractions of high molecular weight (190, 150, 110, and 90 kDa) were represented in more prominent bands and persisted in the groups of buffalo calves at the peak of egg output, as well as during the period of rejection of T vitulorum by the feces of the calves. During the period of post-rejection of the worms (between the day 118 and 210 of age) the serum antibodies did not react with any protein bands. on the other hand, sera from buffalo calves at one day of age (after suckling the colostrum and at the beginning of infection) reacted with the same bands detected in the serum and colostrum of the buffalo cows.

First in vivo evaluation of the mutagenic effect of Brazilian green propolis by comet assay and micronucleus test

Propolis is a hive product containing chiefly beeswax and plant-derived substances such as resin and volatile compounds. Propolis has been used in various parts of the world as an antiseptic and wound healer since ancient times, and interest in the product has recently increased. Considering the lack of data concerning the in vivo mutagenicity of green propolis, the capacity of this natural product to cause damage to the DNA was evaluated, using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and micronucleus test, in the peripheral blood cells of mice. The doses tested by gavage were 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg. Micronucleus and SCGE assays showed that green propolis caused an increase in the damage to DNA in the peripheral blood cells of mice. The polychromatic: normochromatic erythrocytes ratio was not statistically different from the negative control. Considering the doses and the results obtained in this study, the acute consumption of green propolis produced some mutagenic effects on the blood cells of mice. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clastogenicity of Piper cubeba (Piperaceae) seed extract in an in vivo mammalian cell system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Absence of mutagenicity effects of Psidium cattleyanum Sabine (Myrtaceae) extract on peripheral blood and bone marrow cells of mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mutagenicity of the Musa paradisiaca (Musaceae) fruit peel extract in mouse peripheral blood cells in vivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The mutagenic potential of Clusia alata (Clusiaceae) extract based on two short-term in vivo assays

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Lack of clastogenic/genotoxic effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia extract on Swiss mouse peripheral blood cells

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

Genotoxicity testing of Ambelania occidentalis (Apocynaceae) leaf extract in vivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of the potential genotoxic risk of medicinal Tamarindus indica fruit pulp extract using in vivo assays

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

DNA damage in patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery under inhalation or intravenous anesthesia

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

Relationships between cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori and DNA damage in the gastric mucosa

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is believed to dispose carriers to gastric cancer by inducing chronic inflammation. The inflammatory processes may result in the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that damage DNA. In this study, we investigated the relationships between DNA damage in the gastric mucosa and cogA, vocA, and iceA genotypes of H. pylori. The study was conducted with biopsies from the gastric antrum and corpus of 98 H. pylori-infected and 26 uninfected control patients. H. pylori genotypes were determined by PCR and DNA damage was measured in gastric mucosal cells by the Comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis). All patients were nonsmokers, not abusing alcohol, and not using prescription or recreational drugs. Levels of DNA damage were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the H. pylori-infected patients than in uninfected patients. In comparison with the level of DNA damage in the uninfected controls, the extent of DNA damage in both the antrum (OR = 8.45; 95% Cl 2.33-37.72) and the corpus (OR 6.55; 95% Cl 2.52-17.72) was related to infection by cagA(+)/vocAs1m1 and iceA1 strains. The results indicate that the genotype of H. pylori is related to the amount of DNA damage in the gastric mucosa. These genotypes could serve as biomarkers for the risk of extensive DNA damage and possibly gastric cancer. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas de serpentes Crotalus durissus terrificus (cascavel) criadas em cativeiro

As serpentes peçonhentas dos gêneros Bothrops e Crotalus têm sido mantidas em cativeiro visando à extração de venenos para a produção de imunobiológicos. O conhecimento da fisiologia desses animais e as alterações na concentração de proteínas e suas frações séricas são importantes para a identificação precoce de importantes enfermidades que cursam com estados de hipoproteinemia e hiperproteinemia. O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a concentração de proteína total e o perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas de serpentes Crotalus durissus terrificus (cascavel) criadas em cativeiro. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue da veia coccígea ventral de 21 serpentes adultas e sadias, divididas em dois grupos: Grupo 1 de 12 machos com peso médio de 588,89±193,55g, e Grupo 2 de nove fêmeas com peso médio de 708,33±194,04g. A proteína total sérica foi determinada pelo método de refratometria e a eletroforese em gel de agarose. Obtiveram-se valores da proteína total sérica (g/dL) de 4,51±0,50 para machos e de 4,82±0,72 para fêmeas, e para machos e fêmeas de 4,64±0,61. Foram identificadas pela eletroforese quatro frações protéicas (g/dL): albumina, a, b, g-globulinas e calculada a relação albumina:globulina. As serpentes fêmeas apresentaram maiores valores para as variáveis, albumina e para a relação albumina/globulina (AG) diferindo significativamente (P<0,05) do grupo de machos, porém sem significado clínico.

Oxidative stress status of highly prolific sows during gestation and lactation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do Tratamento da Paracoccidioidomicose Com O Ketoconazol

Foram, tratados 12 doentes atendidos na Disciplina de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu com diagnóstico etiológico de paracoccidioidomicose que apresentavam lesões orgânicas múltiplas e evolução prolongada. O tratamento foi realizado por 18 meses, com o ketoconazol, pela via oral, nas doses diárias de 400 mg no primeiro mês e de 200 mg nos meses seguintes. Todos os doentes foram acompanhados durante o tratamento e, em média 4 meses e meio após o mesmo, clínica, radiológica e sorologicamente pelas reações de imunofluorescência indireta, precipitinas e imunodifusão em gel. A competência imunitária foi avaliada em todos os doentes antes do tratamento e repetida em quatro, no final do mesmo. Os resultados mostraram que houve recaída em 5 doentes. A droga foi bem tolerada e a imunodifusão em gel e a hemossedimentação foram as provas que mostraram maior paralelismo com a evolução clínica.