EGFR/erB-1, HER2/erB-2, CK7, LP34, Ki67 and P53 expression in preneoplastic lesions of bronchial epithelium: an immunohistochemical and genetic study

A prognostic interpretation of preneoplastic lesions would have impact in bronchial carcinoma early diagnosis and through the study of Erb-B family receptors as they have an important role in lung carcinogenesis. The existence of drugs as tyrosine kinase inhibitors stressed the importance of studying gene alterations for selected chemoprevention schemes and characterization of carcinogenesis. Bronchial preneoplastic lesions were characterized by immunohistochemistry using the antibodies LP34 (high weigh molecular cytokeratin), CK7, chromogranin A, Ki67, p53, C-erbB-2 and EGFR. HER2 and EGFR gene copy number was also evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization in those lesions. The expected results defined the origin cell for basal cell hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia as adaptative lesions and dysplasia. By known experiences and published data, beyond the stem cell, the spectral evolution of bronchial preneoplastic lesions was demonstrated by characterizing basal cells (LP34) and their neoplastic potentiality. Dysplasias showed a higher expression of EGFR, Ki67 and p53 with a stepwise increase with the gravity of the respective grading. C-erbB-2 immunohistochemical overexpression was a rare event in preneoplastic lesions. Polysomy was the main mechanism for EGFR and HER2/neu higher gene copy number and together with increased proliferation index (Ki67) will account to preview bronchial carcinogenesis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Stability of Polymer:PCBM Thin Films under Competitive Illumination and Thermal Stress

The combined effects of illumination and thermal annealing on the morphological stability and photodimerization in polymer/fullerene thin films are examined. While illumination is known to cause fullerene dimerization and thermal stress their dedimerization, the operation of solar cells involves exposure to both. The competitive outcome of these factors with blends of phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and polystyrene (PS), supported on PEDOT:PSS is quantified. UV–vis spectroscopy is employed to quantify dimerization, time‐resolved neutron reflectivity to resolve the vertical composition stratification, and atomic force microscopy for demixing and coarsening in thin films. At the conventional thermal stress test temperature of 85 °C (and even up to the PS glass transition), photodimerization dominates, resulting in relative morphological stability. Prior illumination is found to result in improved stability upon high temperature annealing, compatible with the need for dedimerization to occur prior to structural relaxation. Modeling of the PCBM surface segregation data suggests that only PCBM monomers are able to diffuse and that illumination provides an effective means to control dimer population, and thus immobile fullerene fraction, in the timescales probed. The results provide a framework for understanding of the stability of organic solar cells under operating conditions

Diabetes Mellitus e AVC Isquémico – estudo prospetivo em doentes internados no Hospital de Braga

Introdução: A diabetes mellitus (DM) é um fator de risco major para o acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) e tem sido demonstrado que diabéticos que sofram AVC apresentam pior prognóstico, com maior morbimortalidade. Objectivos: Determinar a prevalência de DM em doentes internados por AVC isquémico. Comparar variáveis demográficas, prevalência de complicações, tempo de internamento e mortalidade intra-hospitalar entre diabéticos e não diabéticos. Avaliar controlo glicémico e terapêutica usada no tratamento da DM. Material e métodos: Estudo observacional, analítico e prospetivo de doentes internados por AVC isquémico, no Hospital de Braga, entre Agosto e Novembro/2013. Análise estatística: SPSS versão 20. Resultados: Dos 134 doentes incluídos, 30,6% tinham diagnóstico prévio de DM, 79,9% tinham mais de 65 anos e 53,7% eram mulheres. A mediana de idades foi de 79 anos, sem significância estatística entre os doentes diabéticos e não diabéticos (p=0,624). A mediana da glicemia na admissão hospitalar foi 115mg/dl, com significância estatística entre os grupos (156 vs 108mg/dl; p<0,05). O tempo de internamento mediano foi 10 dias para ambos os grupos. Embora sem significância estatística, a prevalência de complicações neurológicas e infeciosas foi inferior nos diabéticos (24,4 vs 36,6%;p=0,167), assim como a mortalidade intra-hospitalar (2,4 vs 10,8%;p=0,106). Não se verificou significância estatística entre glicemia à admissão, prevalência de complicações e mortalidade intra-hospitalar. No grupo de diabéticos verificou-se maior prevalência de antecedentes de HTA, dislipidemia, obesidade, doença coronária, fibrilação auricular, doença renal crónica e AVC prévio. Nos diabéticos, a mediana de HbA1c foi de 7,2%, não tendo sido verificada significância estatística entre a HbA1c, prevalência de complicações e mortalidade intra-hospitalar. Relativamente à terapêutica da DM, à admissão vs alta hospitalar, 61,0 vs 56,1% estavam medicados com antidiabéticos orais (ADOs); 17,1 vs 17,1% com insulina e ADOs, 9,8 vs 24,4% apenas com insulina, e 12,2 vs 2,4% sem terapêutica medicamentosa. Entre os diabéticos, 26,8% foram observados pela Endocrinologia para orientação terapêutica. Destes doentes, verificou-se maior prevalência de doentes sob terapêutica prévia com insulina (63,6 vs 36,4%;p<0,05), com uma taxa de início de insulinização de 9,1% na alta. Conclusão: O controlo glicémico no grupo de diabéticos é razoável, na maioria dos doentes, tendo em conta a faixa etária e a pré-existência de comorbilidades e complicações crónicas. Admitimos que a ausência de maior prevalência de complicações e mortalidade no grupo de diabéticos vs não diabéticos, poderá estar relacionada com a dimensão reduzida da amostra

Changes of Soluble CD40 Ligand in the Progression of Acute Myocardial Infarction Associate to Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphisms and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor But Not to Platelet CD62P Expression

Reported in vitro data implicated soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis. However, whether sCD40L could exert that influence in endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis after injury in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the association of sCD40L with markers of platelet activation, endothelial, and vascular function during a recovery period early after AMI. To achieve this goal, the time changes of soluble, platelet-bound, and microparticle-bound CD40L levels over 1 month were assessed in AMI patients and correlated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations, and platelet expression of P-selectin (CD62P). The association of soluble form, platelet-bound, and microparticle-bound CD40L with CD62P expression on platelets, a marker of platelet activation, was also assessed to evaluate the role of CD40L in the thrombosis, whereas the association with eNOS and VEGF was to evaluate the role of CD40L in vascular dysfunction. This work shows for the first time that time changes of sCD40L over 1 month after myocardial infarct onset were associated with G894T eNOS polymorphism and with the VEGF concentrations, but not to the platelet CD62P expression. These results indicate that, in terms of AMI pathophysiology, the sCD40L cannot be consider just as being involved in thrombosis and inflammation but also as having a relevant role in vascular and endothelial dysfunction

Stratification of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Based on Soluble CD40L Longitudinal Changes

Involvement of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in thrombosis and inflammation on the context of coronary artery disease is currently being revised. In that perspective, we had studied the association of sCD40L with markers of platelet activation and markers of endothelial and vascular function. On that cohort, a stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 1 month after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was observed based on concentrations of sCD40L. The study intended to identify the groups of AMI patients with different profiles of sCD40L concentrations and verify how medication, clinical evolution, biochemical data, and markers of regulation of endothelial function at genetic (endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms) and post-transcriptional levels (circulating microRNAs) affect sCD40L serum levels. Lower quartiles of sCD40L (<2.3 ng/mL) were associated with higher concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high frequency of G894T polymorphism, and altered expression of a set of microRNAs assumed to be involved in the regulation of endothelial and cardiac function and myocardium hypertrophy, relative to patients in sCD40L upper quartiles. A characteristic sCD40L variation pattern in STEMI patients was identified. Low levels of sCD40L 1 month after PCI distinguish STEMI patients with worse prognosis, a compromised cardiac healing, and a persistent endothelial dysfunction, as given by the association between sCD40L, NT-proBNP, G894T polymorphism, and specific profile of miRNA expression. These results suggest sCD40L could have a prognostic value in STEMI patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Short-term versus long-term changes in the benthic communities of a small coastal lagoon: implications for ecological status assessment

The characteristic high variability and low predictability of coastal lagoons, due to strong changes in marine and freshwater inputs, make these ecosystems an interesting casestudy. The small Melides landlocked coastal lagoon in SW Portugal is a paradigmatic example, with a biological community highly stressed by these phenomena. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected in 1998/99 and 2009 and each year, in different seasons and addressing different environmental conditions influenced by the connection to the sea and rainfall regime. Major spatial and temporal patterns in benthic communities were investigated using some invertebrate attributes (e.g. community composition, density, species richness and diversity). A very low taxonomic species richness and diversity was found in the Melides lagoon and only a much reduced number of species occurred along all sampling periods and in both sampling campaigns. Although the colonization events play a crucial role, the persistence of the observed species was mainly associated to abiotic factors, such as salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. Despite the potential reduction in anthropogenic pressure, by the construction of a sewage treatment plant and a reduction of urban occupation, the ecological status did not improve and the high level of natural environmental variably in the lagoon seems to be the dominant stressor influencing benthic invertebrate communitie

Commentary – ordering lab tests for suspected rheumatic disease

One of the least-appreciated advances in pediatric rheumatology over the past 25 years has been the delineation of the many ways in which children with rheumatic disease differ from adults with the same illnesses. Furthermore, we are now learning that paradigms that are useful in evaluating adults with musculoskeletal complaints have limited utility in children. Nowhere is that more true than in the use of commonly used laboratory tests, particularly antinuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) assays. This short review will provide the practitioner with the evidence base that supports a more limited use of ANA and RF testing in children

Business networks and their effects on tourism.

O presente artigo tem como objetivo propor um modelo de alinhamento competitivo para a rede de atores do turismo, visando aumentar sua coes?o e facilitar a busca de objetivos comuns. Tal proposta foi definida com base na expertise dos autores na analise de redes de turismo, aliada a resultados obtidos na pesquisa em Ouro Preto (MG). Dessa forma, foi poss?vel perceber o peso dos atores envolvidos em fun??o dos crit?rios de escolha utilizados pelos visitantes para configurar seu caminho dentro da regi?o tur?stica analisada e, assim, refor?ar os relacionamentos existentes.The relationships between firms, to be successful, demand high levels of transparency, information and physical flows of goods and services, in order to provide free access for all people involved in doing business together. The same can be said regarding flow of money resources and talents needed by the processes and operations performed by the network. Thus, the main idea involves reaching balance conditions in terms of sharing the results obtained by all participants, considering their objectives and goals, to keep the network form of organization as being an adequate strategy. This proposal was defined from the authors? expertise in analysis of tourism networks, together with results obtained on research in Ouro Preto. Thus it was possible to realize the weight of the players involved depending on the selection criteria used by visitors to configure their way into of the tourist region analyzed and thereby strengthen existing relationships

Intact triacylglycerol profiles of fats and meats via thermal imprinting easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Thermal imprinting (TI) on a paper surface, using minimal solvent amounts, followed by direct analysis of the triacylglycerols (TAG) content via easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) is shown to provide a fast protocol to analyze TAG in meats and fats. The technique is simple, fast and eco-friendly requiring no hydrolysis, derivatization or chromatographic separation. The entire TI-EASI-MS protocol is performed in a few minutes and with minimal sample handling and solvent consumption. The TAG profiles obtained via TI-EASI-MS are shown to be quite similar to those obtained using GC and MALDI-MS analyses, and the imprinting and mailing of the imprinted paper in a sealed plastic bag is proposed for remote TI-EASI-MS analysis of meat and fat samples.41135513557Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Financing Agency of Studies and Projects (FINEP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq