Antigenic Activity of Bacterial Endodontic Contents from Primary Root Canal Infection with Periapical Lesions against Macrophage in the Release of Interleukin-1 beta and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha

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

Relationship Between the Prevalence of the Dentigerous Cyst and the Odontogenic Keratocyst Tumor and the Current Etiologic Hypothesis

Cysts are considered as nonneoplastic benign lesions that, when present for a long period of time, can cause some discomfort, especially related to the treatment form. Among the types of cysts of the maxilla, the dentigerous cyst (DC) presents substances between the dental follicle and the crown of the tooth with high potential for resorption, and the odontogenic keratocyst tumor (OKT) characterizes for its noticed rapid growth pattern and the possibility to develop carcinomas in the lesion wall. The DC is the most common type among the developing odontogenic cystic lesions, while the OKT represents 10% of these lesions. The prevalence of the OKT found in the current study was superior to the DC, opposing data of the evaluated literature, as well as the predominance in relation to the age group. Dentigerous cyst cases were found mostly in younger individuals, whereas the OKT was observed mainly in individuals between the third and fourth decades of life. This fact reflects the fragility of these features while establishing the presumptive diagnosis and insinuates the strong relation with a probable genetic predisposition. In relation to sex and race, the findings in this article were similar to those found in the literature, highlighting the possibility of a hormonal involvement. However, the anatomopathologic examination remains essential to define the main diagnosis of the lesions observed by means of imaging examinations, providing for safer diagnoses to plan the treatment.

Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha and Interleukin-1 beta Modulate Calcium and Nitric Oxide Signaling in Mechanically Stimulated Osteocytes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Conservative Management of a Large Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor in the Maxilla

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor is characterized by high recurrence rates. Conservative or aggressive management has been suggested as a method of treatment. Decompression is a conservative treatment that has been used in the treatment of large odontogenic cysts. The authors report a case of a 14-year-old patient with a keratocystic odontogenic tumor located in the right maxilla, which was treated by decompression followed by enucleation with curettage. The lesion did not recur on follow-up for 3 years after the enucleation surgery.

Effects of extracts from Brazilian sun-mushroom (Agaricus blazei) on the NK activity and lymphoproliferative responsiveness of Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice

Agaricus blazei Murrill, is an edible and medicinal mushroom which is popularly consumed due to its antitumoral properties. The immunomodulatory effects of methanol (METH), dichloromethane (DM) and n-hexane (HEX) extracts of this mushroom were evaluated in Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice. Subcutaneous inoculation of Ehrlich tumor cells inhibited the natural killer (NK) activity of spleen cells (specific lysis = 6.18 +/- 2.56%) compared with normal mice (17.59 +/- 7.77%). Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with the extracts for 10 days restored the natural killer activity against Yac-1 target cells and the best results were observed by treatment with the HEX extract (21.48 +/- 15.26%). Treatment of the animals with the HEX extract for 10 days was also able to stimulate the mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative activity of spleen cells. Thirty days after the treatment, all groups presented low proliferative activity. Specific antibody production was observed to be higher in the groups treated with the DM or METH extract 30 days after the treatment. Analysis of the 3 extracts by gas chromatography mass spectrum (GCMS) and magnetic nuclear resonance (MNR) showed that the HEX extract contains mainly sugar and fatty acids and that the METH extract also contains sugar and possibly amino acids. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Caracterização estrutural do fator de crescimento de fibroblasto-10 (FGF-10) e seu papel na fisiologia folicular ovariana

Background: Interest in folliculogenesis has grown extensively in recent years. Nevertheless, several aspects of follicular activity are still poorly understood. Thus, in vitro culture of ovarian follicles using new substances has been established as a very viable model, enhancing the prospects for a better understanding of follicular activity. Among the family members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGFs), FGF-10 has received recent attention for its ability to regulate the development of ovarian follicles and oocyte maturation. Given the relevance of FGF-10 in the folliculogenesis process, this review aimed to describe the structural features, expression and the main biological effects of FGF-10 on the development of ovarian follicles in mammals.Review: Along this work, it was shown aspects related to structural characterization of FGF-10 and its receptors, as well as FGF-10 expression in different cell types, emphasizing its importance to follicular development. FGF-10 is a paracrine member of the family of FGFs, and is characterized by promoting biological responses via cell surface receptors (FGFRs) of tyrosine kinase-type. of these receptors, FGFR-1, FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 may undergo alternative transcriptional arrangements, enabling the formation of two isoforms (b and c) that have varying degrees of affinity for the various FGFs. Thus, seven FGFR proteins (FGFRs 1b, 1c, 2b, 2c, 3b, 3c and 4) with different binding specificities are generated from the four FGFR genes. The FGFRs transmit intracellular signals after binding with the ligand through the phosphorylation of tyrosine, which activates various transduction patterns in the cytoplasm. The signal transduction of FGF-10 may occur through three main pathways: protein of rat sarcoma (Ras)/MAPK, PLC gamma/Ca(2+) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), which are involved in the transmission of biological signals, leading to cellular proliferation and differentiation. FGF-10 mRNA expression was detected in the ovarian stroma, oocyte and theca cells of preantral and antral follicles. on the other hand, the expression of mRNA for FGF-10 receptors was found in, granulosa cells, theca cells, cumulus cells and oocytes. Although FGFs are widely distributed in different tissues and cell types, the importance and function of FGFs in the ovary are still poorly documented. FGF-10 has been shown to be an important mediator of mesenchymal and epithelial cell interactions during follicle development, promoting follicular survival, activation and growth. Besides the action on folliculogenesis, FGF-10 was recently identified as a growth factor able to improve oocyte competence. However, in antral follicles, the presence of FGF-10 is associated with increased follicular atresia, which matches its anti-estrogenic action.Discussion: From this review, we can conclude that FGF-10 is an important regulator of female reproduction. This growth factor acts in follicle survival, oocyte maturation, expansion of cumulus cells and proliferation of granulosa/theca cellsthrough direct and/or indirect actions in the control of folliculogenesis. Furthermore, FGF-10 seemed to have different effects throughout the follicular development. However, it is necessary to perform additional studies that may provide a better understanding about the importance of FGF-10 during folicullogenesis.

Evidence of epigenetic regulation of the tumor suppressor gene cluster flanking RASSF1 in breast cancer cell lines

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

Relação peso-comprimento e fator de condição de Oligosarcus hepsetus (Cuvier, 1829) no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar - Núcleo Santa Virgínia, Mata Atlântica, estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Foram analisados a relação peso-comprimento e o fator de condição de Oligosarcus hepsetus no Rio Grande do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar - Núcleo Santa Virgínia, São Paulo. A relação peso-comprimento foi estimada para imaturos, fêmeas e machos, através da expressão P = aCb. Os parâmetros a e b foram estimados após transformação logarítmica dos dados de peso e comprimento e subsequente ajuste de uma linha reta aos pontos pelo método dos mínimos quadrados. Para fêmeas e machos foram obtidas as equações da relação peso-comprimento por período do ano (outono, inverno, primavera e verão), utilizando o peso total e o peso sem as gônadas. O fator de condição dos imaturos foi mais alto do que para machos e fêmeas, possivelmente, devido ao gasto energético com o desenvolvimento dos ovócitos e em menor grau dos espermatozóides. Esta espécie apresentou maiores valores de fator de condição no outono devido ao acúmulo de gordura e nas demais estações estes valores diminuíram devido ao longo período reprodutivo. As condições ambientais da Mata Atlântica parecem ser primordiais para o desenvolvimento das estratégias reprodutivas apresentadas por Oligosarcus hepsetus.

Annexin 1: differential expression in tumor and mast cells in human larynx cancer

Annexin 1 protein (ANXA1) expression was evaluated in tumor and mast cells in human larynx cancer and control epithelium. The effect of the exogenous ANXA1 (peptide Ac 2-26) was also examined during the cellular growth of the Hep-2 human larynx epidermoid carcinoma cell line. This peptide inhibited the proliferation of the Hep-2 cells within 144 hr. In surgical tissue specimens from 20 patients with larynx cancer, ultrastructural immunocytochemistry analysis showed in vivo down-regulation of ANXA1 expression in the tumor and increased in mast cells and Hep-2 cells treated with peptide Ac2-26. Combined in vivo and in vitro analysis demonstrated that ANXA1 plays a regulatory role in laryngeal cancer cell growth. We believe that a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of ANXA1 in tumor and mast cells may lead to future biological targets for the therapeutic intervention of human larynx cancer. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Differentially expressed genes in giant cell tumor of bone

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

A influência do fator de vibração térmica na densidade eletrônica de cristais bidimensionais

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

Casearin X, Its Degradation Product and Other Clerodane Diterpenes from Leaves of Casearia sylvestris: Evaluation of Cytotoxicity against Normal and Tumor Human Cells

An EtOH extract of the leaves of Casearia sylvestris afforded new clerodane diterpene, casearin X, together with the known compounds casearins B, D, L, and O, and caseargrewiin F Casearin X degraded to the corresponding dialdehyde when stored in CDCl(3). The diterpenes isolated were cytotoxic to human cancer cell lines, with caseargrewiin F being the most active and the new clerodane, casearin X, the second active compound with IC(50) values comparable to the positive control doxorubicin. All isolated diterpenes showed lower activities against normal human cells than against cancer cell lines, which might indicate a possible selective action on cancer cells. Casearin X dialdehyde was not cytotoxic to cancer cells indicating that the occurrence of these CO groups at C(18) and C(19) is incompatible with the cytotoxic activity.