Breast cancer with choriocarcinomatous features

This report describes the case of a 45 year-old patient with breast carcinoma characterized by choriocarcinomatous features, presence of bizarre anaplastic cells with areas of necrosis and multinucleated giant cells. The immuno-histochemical analysis showed positivity for chromogranin and β-HCG. The tumor size was 5.7 cm at the largest axis and it was refractory to initial neo-adjuvant treatment. Mastectomy was performed and after microscopic and immuno-histochemical examination it was diagnosed as carcinoma with choriocarcinomatous features. These lesions are rare and liable to synthesize hormonal substances not specific to breast tissue. Its diagnosis is highly significant to the therapeutic and prognostic approach insofar as these lesions are potentially aggressive.O presente relato descreve um caso de carcinoma mamário em paciente de 45 anos, com diferenciação coriocarcinomatosa, caracterizado por presença de células bizarras, anaplásicas, com áreas de necrose e células gigantes multinucleadas, com imunopositividade para a subunidade β da gonadotrofina coriônica humana (β-HCG) e cromogranina, medindo 5,7 cm no maior eixo, refratário ao tratamento neoadjuvante inicial. Realizada mastectomia, cujo diagnóstico após análises microscópica e imuno-histoquímica concluiu tratar-se de carcinoma com características coriocarcinomatosas. Tais lesões são raras, capazes de sintetizar substâncias hormonais não próprias ao tecido mamário, sendo o diagnóstico de grande importância para a abordagem terapêutica e prognóstica, pois constituem um grupo de lesões potencialmente agressivas.Faculdade de Medicina do ABC Serviço de Patologia da MamaFMABCUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPFMABC Laboratório de Análises ClínicasUNIFESP, EPM, São Paulo, BrazilSciEL

Effects of the administration of a catalase inhibitor into the fourth cerebral ventricle on cardiovascular responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between brain oxidative stress and cardiovascular regulation. We evaluated the effects of central catalase inhibition on cardiovascular responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke. METHODS: Male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SH) (16 weeks old) were implanted with a stainless steel guide cannula leading into the fourth cerebral ventricle (4th V). The femoral artery and vein were cannulated for arterial pressure and heart rate measurement and drug infusion, respectively. The rats were exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke for 180 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks (CO: 100-300 ppm). The baroreflex was tested using a pressor dose of phenylephrine (8 μg/kg, bolus) and a depressor dose of sodium nitroprusside (50 μg/kg, bolus). Cardiovascular responses were evaluated before and 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after injection of a catalase inhibitor (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, 0.001 g/100 μL) into the 4th V. RESULTS: Vehicle administration into the 4th V did not affect the cardiovascular response, whereas administration of the central catalase inhibitor increased the basal HR and attenuated the bradycardic peak (p<0.05) to a greater extent in WKY rats exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke than in WKY rats exposed to fresh air. However, in spontaneously hypertensive rats, the effect of the catalase inhibitor treatment was stronger in the fresh air condition (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration of a catalase inhibitor into the 4th V combined with exposure to sidestream cigarette smoke has a stronger effect in WKY rats than in SH rats.Foundation of Support to Research of Sao Paulo State (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo - FAPESP)Universidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaFaculdade de Medicina do ABC Departamento de Morfologia e FisiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, EPM10/17769-7SciEL

Breast cancer with choriocarcinomatous features

This report describes the case of a 45 year-old patient with breast carcinoma characterized by choriocarcinomatous features, presence of bizarre anaplastic cells with areas of necrosis and multinucleated giant cells. The immuno-histochemical analysis showed positivity for chromogranin and β-HCG. The tumor size was 5.7 cm at the largest axis and it was refractory to initial neo-adjuvant treatment. Mastectomy was performed and after microscopic and immuno-histochemical examination it was diagnosed as carcinoma with choriocarcinomatous features. These lesions are rare and liable to synthesize hormonal substances not specific to breast tissue. Its diagnosis is highly significant to the therapeutic and prognostic approach insofar as these lesions are potentially aggressive.O presente relato descreve um caso de carcinoma mamário em paciente de 45 anos, com diferenciação coriocarcinomatosa, caracterizado por presença de células bizarras, anaplásicas, com áreas de necrose e células gigantes multinucleadas, com imunopositividade para a subunidade β da gonadotrofina coriônica humana (β-HCG) e cromogranina, medindo 5,7 cm no maior eixo, refratário ao tratamento neoadjuvante inicial. Realizada mastectomia, cujo diagnóstico após análises microscópica e imuno-histoquímica concluiu tratar-se de carcinoma com características coriocarcinomatosas. Tais lesões são raras, capazes de sintetizar substâncias hormonais não próprias ao tecido mamário, sendo o diagnóstico de grande importância para a abordagem terapêutica e prognóstica, pois constituem um grupo de lesões potencialmente agressivas

Lack of Association of Homocysteine Concentrations with Oxidative Stress, Alterations in Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Endothelial Reactivity in Prepubertal Children

Background and Aims: Our purpose was to assess the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (alterations in the lipid profile, fasting glycaemia, high arterial pressure values, oxidative stress, increased intima media thickness and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation) in prepubertal children with elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Methods: in a cross-sectional study, 35 children with Hcy levels >= 7.3 mu mol/l were matched by gender and age with 29 children with Hcy levels mu mol/l. Our collected data included weight, height, waist circumference, systemic arterial pressure, lipid profile, fasting glycaemia and oxidative stress markers. A Doppler ultrasound was performed to measure the carotid intima media thickness and the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the lipid profile and fasting glycaemia, blood pressure or oxidative stress. Overweight and obesity (body mass index z-score > +1) were more frequent in the group with Hcy mu mol/l when compared to the group with Hcy mu mol/l [13/35 (37.1%) vs. 4/29 (13.8%); p = 0.035]. After adjusting for nutritional status, there were no differences in the intima media thickness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation between children with high and low Hcy levels. Conclusions: Among the cardiovascular risk factors investigated in the present study, which was based on prepubertal children, only overweight and obesity were associated with increased Hcy concentrations (>= 7.3 mu mol/l). Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, BaselNucleo de Estudo, Pesquisa e Assessoria em Saude (NEPAS) da Faculdade de Medicina do ABCFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Biochem, Dept Morphol & Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Biochem Course, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Fac Med ABC, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Innate Errors Metab, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Biochem, Dept Morphol & Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Biochem Course, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Fac Med ABC, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Innate Errors Metab, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Endothelial, renal and hepatic variables in wistar rats treated with Vancomycin

Vancomycin (VCM) is indicated in combat against Gram-positive infections, but it is not considered a first-choice drug because of its adverse effects. It is believed that oxidative stress is the primary mechanism of endothelial injury and the consequent VCM toxicity, which varies from phlebitis to nephrotoxicity. Moreover, dose recommendations, dilution, rates and types of infusion are still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different VCM dilutions in endothelial, liver and kidney injuries by biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis. Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups and subjected to femoral vein cannulation for drug administration. Control groups received 0.9 ml of saline and the others received VCM (10mg/Kg/day) at dilutions of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/mL for 3 and 7 days. Homocysteine, hs-CRP, AST, ALT, GGT, urea, creatinine, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol were analyzed. Kidney, liver and cannulated femoral vein fragments were collected.This study showed alterations in ALT which featured hepatotoxicity. However, drug dilutions were not able to show changes in other biochemical parameters. In contrast, kidney and endothelium pathological changes were observed. More studies are needed to characterize VCM induced kidney and endothelium toxicity and biochemical markers able to show such morphological modifications.A Vancomicina (VCM) é indicada no combate à infecções por Gram-positivas, porém não é considerada um agente de primeira escolha por causa dos seus efeitos adversos. Acredita-se que o estresse oxidativo é o principal mecanismo responsável pela lesão endotelial e consequente toxicidade da VCM, que varia desde flebites à nefrotoxicidade. Ademais, as recomendações de doses, diluições, taxas e tipos de infusão ainda são controversos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito de diferentes diluições de VCM na lesão endotelial, hepática e renal utilizando parâmetros bioquímicos e análise histopatológica. Ratos Wistar foram divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos e submetidos à canulação da veia femoral para a administração de medicamentos. Os grupos controle receberam 0,9 ml de salina e os outros receberam VCM (10mg/Kg/dia) nas diluições de 5.0 e 10.0 mg/ml durante 3 e 7 dias. Homocisteína, PCR-us, AST, ALT, GGT, ureia, creatinina, licopeno, alfa-tocoferol, beta-caroteno e retinol foram analisados. Fragmentos de rins, fígado e veia femoral canulada foram coletados. Este estudo mostrou alterações na ALT, caracterizando hepatotoxicidade. Entretanto, as diluições dos medicamentos não foram capazes de evidenciar alterações nos outros parâmetros bioquímicos. Por outro lado, alterações histopatológicas foram observadas nos rins e endotélio. Mais estudos são necessários para a caracterização do efeito da VCM quanto à toxicidade nos rins e endotélio e ainda na busca de marcadores bioquímicos capazes de evidenciar tais alterações morfológicas

Hormonal Receptors in Skeletal Muscles of Dystrophic Mdx Mice

Introduction. Several evidences show that muscles have an endocrine function. Glucocorticoid, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone receptors have already been found in normal skeletal muscles, but not in dystrophic muscles. Methods. the gene expression of hormone receptors was compared between dystrophic and healthy muscles in mdx and C57BL6 mice strains. Results. the mdx mice showed a significant increase in the steroid receptors mRNA when compared to the C57BL6 mice: levels of androgen(s) receptors in the heart, estrogen receptors alpha in the EDL, and estrogen receptors beta in the quadriceps were increased. in addition, significant lowered levels of some other hormone receptors were found: corticosteroid receptors in the EDL and estrogen receptors alpha in the quadriceps. Conclusion. Dystrophic muscles bear significant differences in the expression of hormone receptors when compared to the C57BL6 mice strain. the importance of such differences is yet to be better understood