Effects of aluminium chloride and aluminium chlorohydrate on DNA repair in MCF10A immortalised non-transformed human breast epithelial cells

Use of underarm aluminium (Al)-based antiperspirant salts may be a contributory factor in breast cancer development. At the 10th Keele meeting, Al was reported to cause anchorage-independent growth and double strand DNA breaks in MCF10A immortalised non-transformed human breast epithelial cells. We now report that exposure of MCF10A cells to Al chloride or Al chlorohydrate also compromised DNA repair systems. Longterm (19–21 weeks) exposure to Al chloride or Al chlorohydrate at a 10−4 M concentration resulted in reduced levels of BRCA1 mRNA as determined by real-time RT-PCR and BRCA1 protein as determined by Western immunoblotting. Reduced levels of mRNA for other DNA repair genes (BRCA2, CHK1, CHK2, Rad51, ATR) were also observed using real-time RT-PCR. Loss of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene function has long been associated with inherited susceptibility to breast cancer but these results suggest that exposure to aluminium-based antiperspirant salts may also reduce levels of these key components of DNA repair in breast epithelial cells. If Al can not only damage DNA but also compromise DNA repair systems, then there is the potential for Al to impact on breast carcinogenesis.

A glimpse of the ERM proteins

In all eukaryotes, the plasma membrane is critically important as it maintains the architectural integrity of the cell. Proper anchorage and interaction between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton is critical for normal cellular processes. The ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) proteins are a class of highly homologous proteins involved in linking the plasma membrane to the cortical actin cytoskeleton. This review takes a succinct look at the biology of the ERM proteins including their structure and function. Current reports on their regulation that leads to activation and deactivation was examined before taking a look at the different interacting partners. Finally, emerging roles of each of the ERM family members in cancer was highlighted.

Stress distribution in orthodontic mini-implants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution in the resin in contact with the spirals of cylindrical and conical mini-implants, when submitted to lateral load and insertion torsion. A photoelastic model was fabricated using transparent gelatin to simulate the alveolar bone. The model was observed with a plane polariscope and photographically recorded before and after activation of the two screws with a lateral force and torsion. The lateral force application caused bending moments on both mini-implants, with the uprising of fringes or isochromatics, characteristics of stresses, along the threads of the mini-implants and in the apex. When the torsion was exerted in the mini-implants, a great concentration of stress upraised close to the apex. The conclusion was that, comparing conical with cylindrical mini-implants under lateral load, the stresses were similar on the traction sides. The differences appear (1) on the apex, where the cylindrical mini-implant showed a greater concentration of stress, and (2) along the spirals, in the compression side, where the conical mini-implant showed a greater concentration of stress. The greater part of the stress produced by both mini-implants, after torsion load in insertion, were concentrated on the apex. With the cylindrical mini-implant, the greater concentration of tension was close to the apex, while with the conical one, the stresses were distributed along a greater amount of apical threads.

Overexpression of Nrp/b (nuclear restrict protein in brain) suppresses the malignant phenotype in the C6/ST1 glioma cell line

Upon searching for glucocorticoid-regulated cDNA sequences associated with the transformed to normal phenotypic reversion of C6/ST1 rat glioma cells, we identified Nrp/b (nuclear restrict protein in brain) as a novel rat gene. Here we report on the identification and functional characterization of the complete sequence encoding the rat NRP/B protein. The cloned cDNA presented a 1767 nucleotides open-reading frame encoding a 589 aminoacids residues sequence containing a BTB/POZ (broad complex Tramtrack bric-a-brac/Pox virus and zinc finger) domain in its N-terminal region and kelch motifs in its C-terminal region. Sequence analysis indicates that the rat Nrp/b displays a high level of identity with the equivalent gene orthologs from other organisms. Among rat tissues, Nrp/b expression is more pronounced in brain tissue. We show that overexpression of the Nrp/b cDNA in C6/ST1 cells suppresses anchorage independence in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo, altering their malignant nature towards a more benign phenotype. Therefore, Nrp/b may be postulated as a novel tumor suppressorgene, with possible relevance for glioblastoma therapy. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Motstånd och stöd : en studie av svenska muslimska församlingar

Opposition and Support: A Study of Swedish Muslim Congregations Anti-Islamic attitudes are deeply rooted in Western Europe, and Muslims have, especially in the post-September 11 context, experienced discrimination and demonization. But how do anti-Islamic attitudes affect practicing Muslims and their congregations? The aim of this study, the first of its kind in Europe, is to present a statistically representative view of how Muslim congregations in Sweden experienced the reactions from the surrounding community. The results of the survey carried out show that according to the representatives of the local congregations (n=105) half of the congregations have experienced opposition from the local community and in 40 percent of the congregations criminal offences have been committed against active Muslims or their places of worship.  This opposition is closely connected with two types of situations: either international occurrences (i.e. terrorist bombings in, for example, London, Madrid) or local events that have emphasized the presence of Islam in the public sphere. A multivariate analysis of the results of the study shows that the strongest opposition has taken place in small municipalities with a large proportion of immigrants. However, opposition does not preclude support. On the contrary, opposition appears to have a mobilizing effect on those who support the right of Muslims to exercise freedom of religion. However, neither opposition nor support are the key factors affecting whether congregations see themselves as established in the local community. The degree of anchorage depends on the demographic composition of the congregation and on the degree of contact that the members have with the surrounding community.

Distribuição do sistema radicular de porta-enxertos de umezeiro enxertados com o pessegueiro 'Aurora-1'

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

Distribuição do sistema radicular do pessegueiro 'Okinawa' propagado por sementes e por estacas herbáceas

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

Olhares sobre a formação do professor de matemática. Imagem da profissão e escrita de si

The main focus of this thesis is the formation of a mathematical teacher at a college institution. The general aim is to describe and to analyze the formation process of a mathematical teacher which is an undergraduate student in Mathematics at the Instituto de Educação Superior Presidente Kennedy IFESP, in Natal-RN. It is based on a qualitative ethnographic approach, and has its theoretical anchorage in the (auto)biographical narratives, the social representative theories, and the mathematical education. The number of participants in this investigation was 12 undergraduate students, which corresponds to 25% of the total number of students. The corpus utilized in our analysis included 48 (auto)biographical essays, 12 (auto)biographies (formation's memories), and 12 contextualization files, besides the research's diary. The sources were obtained from the whole program of studies, i.e. from November 2003 to December 2006. The analysis revealed that the reminiscences of the 12 students' academic trajectory influenced their professional formation, since their images of a mathematical teacher were intrinsically related to the one they had before. These representations were being either demolished or constructed in a network along the assertive image of their profession, changing afterwards the mathematical representation and the teaching way of this discipline. Our study also shows that the beginning of their teacher career was marked by mechanical practices influenced by their old teachers. The (trans)formation of themselves and their teaching practices happened in a smooth way as soon as they increased their knowledgements in Mathematics, and it reflected upon the way they learned mathematics. The writing of their (auto)biographies helped the set up of new knowledgements, leaving to a self-consciousness as well as a self-formation, and contributed for the construction of a new way to see and to live the profession. Therefore, a mathematical teacher, for the undergraduate students of the IFESP involved in this work, is made at the interface of the familiar, academic, and professional context, besides the reflexive writings about the formation path, the way of life and the relationships among them

A Modified Technique of Rat Tail Suspension for Longer Periods of Observation

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

Use of 4 Immediately Loaded Zygomatic Fixtures for Retreatment of Atrophic Edentulous Maxilla After Complications of Maxillary Reconstruction

This article reports the 20-month clinical outcome of the use of 4 zygomatic implants with immediate occlusal loading and reverse planning for the retreatment of atrophic edentulous maxilla after failed rehabilitation with autogenous bone graft reconstruction and maxillary implants. The intraoral clinical examination revealed mispositioned and loosened implants underneath a maxillary complete denture. The panoramic radiograph showed 6 maxillary implants. One implant was displaced into the right maxillary sinus, and the implant anchored in the region of tooth 21 was fractured. The other implants presented peri-implant bone loss. The implants anchored in the regions of teeth 21 to 23 and 11 to 13 were first removed. After 2 months, the reverse planning started with placement of 4 zygomatic fixtures, removal of the implants migrated into the sinus cavity and anchored in the region of tooth 17, and installation of a fixed denture. After 20 months of follow-up, no painful symptoms, peri-implant inflammation or infection, implant instability, or bone resorption was observed. The outcomes of this case confirm that the zygoma can offer a predictable anchorage and support function for a fixed denture in severely resorbed maxillae.

Distalização dos molares superiores com aparelho Pendex unilateral: estudo piloto com radiografia panorâmica

OBJETIVO: o presente ensaio científico põe em pauta o efeito imediato da distalização unilateral de molares superiores, lançando mão do distalizador intrabucal Pendex de ação unilateral. METODOLOGIA: o estudo prospectivo foi conduzido em três pacientes na dentadura permanente madura, no estágio de adolescência, que apresentavam uma má oclusão Classe II, subdivisão. O aparelho Pendex foi instalado com a mola distalizadora de TMA, construída apenas no lado direito. A metodologia baseou-se nas radiografias panorâmicas inicial e pós-distalização para quantificar a inclinação axial mesiodistal dos molares superiores. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: os resultados mostraram que os molares do lado esquerdo mantiveram sua inclinação mesiodistal inicial, sugerindo ancoragem, enquanto os molares do lado direito foram inclinados para distal, à semelhança do que ocorre com a distalização simétrica dos molares superiores, obtida com o aparelho Pendex convencional. Os primeiros molares foram inclinados 11,5º, enquanto os segundos molares foram inclinados 21º para distal.

Tratamento da má oclusão de Classe II, divisão 1 de Angle, com protrusão maxilar utilizando-se recursos ortopédicos

OBJETIVO: o presente trabalho tem o propósito de apresentar uma revisão da literatura acerca do tratamento da má oclusão de Classe II, divisão 1 de Angle, tendo a protrusão maxilar como o principal componente dessa má oclusão, durante a fase de crescimento e desenvolvimento craniofacial. Serão apresentadas as características de cada um desses aparelhos, os seus componentes, a forma adequada de utilização, os seus mecanismos de ação e, principalmente, os seus efeitos em todo o complexo dentofacial. CONCLUSÃO: nos casos em que se verifica apenas a protrusão maxilar, sem envolvimento mandibular, e se faz necessário o controle vertical, pode ser indicado o AEB, conjugado ao aparelho removível derivado do aparelho preconizado por Thurow. Já nas situações de combinação da protrusão maxilar com a retrusão mandibular, uma opção de tratamento é o ativador combinado à ancoragem extrabucal.

Avaliação qualitativa em modelo experimental fotoelástico do sistema de força gerado pela mola T centralizada com pré-ativações preconizadas por Burstone

OBJETIVO: avaliar o sistema de forças gerado pela mola T centralizada no espaço interbraquete, com pré-ativação preconizada por Burstone. MÉTODOS: utilizando-se modelos fotoelásticos, a mola T com pré-ativações preconizadas por Burstone, confeccionada com fio retangular de titânio-molibdênio (TMA) de secção 0,017x 0,025, centralizada e com ativação de 6mm, 3mm e em posição neutra. Para melhor confiabilidade dos resultados, os testes foram repetidos em três modelos igualmente duplicados e confeccionados pelo mesmo operador. Utilizou-se uma distância interbraquetes de 27mm. Para compreensão dos resultados, as franjas foram visualizadas através do polariscópio, fotografadas e analisadas qualitativamente. RESULTADOS: por meio da análise qualitativa da ordem de franjas no modelo fotoelástico, notou-se que, nas extremidades de retração e ancoragem, ambas apresentaram simetria no sistema de força, em toda extensão radicular.

Sistema de Apoio Ósseo para Mecânica Ortodôntica (SAO®): miniplacas para ancoragem ortodôntica. Parte I: tratamento da mordida aberta

Este trabalho descreve uma nova forma de ancoragem por meio de miniplacas denominada SAO®, Sistema de Apoio Ósseo para Mecânica Ortodôntica. Após a descrição do sistema, protocolos de tratamento para mordidas abertas esqueléticas são apresentados. A aplicação de cantiléveres e alças apoiadas diretamente nos tubos do sistema de ancoragem permite que associações de problemas verticais e sagitais (Classe II e III) sejam tratadas de formas distintas. A aplicação de forças leves e constantes e o controle tridimensional das forças aplicadas são o grande diferencial desse novo sistema.

Intrusion of teeth with class III furcation: a clinical, histologic and histometric study in dogs

Aim: To assess orthodontic intrusion effects on periodontal tissues in dogs' pre-molars with class III furcations treated with open flap debridement (OFD) or with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) associated to bone autograft (BA).Material and Methods: Class III furcations were created in the pre-molars of seven mongrel dogs. After 75 days, teeth were randomly treated with OFD or GTR/BA. After 1 month, metallic crowns were assembled on pre-molars and connected apically to mini-implants by nickel-titanium springs. Teeth were randomly assigned to orthodontic intrusion (OFD+I and GTR/BA+I) groups or no movement (OFD and GTR/BA) groups. Dogs were sacrificed after 3 months of movement and 1 month retention.Results: All class III furcations were closed or reduced to class II or I in the intrusion groups, while 50% of the lesions in non-moved teeth remained unchanged. Intruded teeth presented higher probing depth and lower gingival marginal level than non-moved teeth (p < 0.01). Clinical attachment gain was reduced in the intrusion groups by the end of retention (p < 0.05). OFD+I presented smaller soft tissue area and larger bone tissue area than other groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Orthodontic intrusion with anchorage via mini-implants improved the healing of class III furcation defects after OFD in dogs. GTR/BA impaired those results.