Polymorphisms in regulatory regions of Cyclooxygenase-2 gene and breast cancer risk in Brazilians: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is up-regulated in several types of cancer, and it is hypothesized that COX-2 expression may be genetically influenced. Here, we evaluate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the COX-2 gene (<it>PTGS2</it>) and the occurrence of breast cancer among Brazilian women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted prospectively in two steps: First, we screened the promoter region and three fragments of the 3'-untranslated region of <it>PTGS2 </it>from 67 healthy Brazilians to identify SNPs and to select those with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of at least 0.10. The MAF of these selected SNPs was further characterized in 402 healthy volunteers to evaluate potential differences related to heterogeneous racial admixture and to estimate the existence of linkage disequilibrium among the SNPs. The second step was a case-control study with 318 patients and 273 controls designed to evaluate <it>PTGS2 </it>genotype- or haplotype-associated risk of breast cancer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The screening analysis indicated nine SNPs with the following MAFs: rs689465 (0.22), rs689466 (0.15), rs20415 (0.007), rs20417 (0.32), rs20419 (0.015), rs5270 (0.02), rs20424 (0.007), rs5275 (0.22) and rs4648298 (0.01). The SNPs rs689465, rs689466, rs20417 and rs5275 were further studied: Their genotypic distributions followed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the MAFs were not affected by gender or skin color. Strong linkage disequilibrium was detected for rs689465, rs20417 and rs5275 in the three possible pairwise combinations. In the case-control study, there was a significant increase of rs5275TC heterozygotes in cases compared to controls (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.01-2.06; P = 0.043), and the haplotype formed by rs689465G, rs689466A, rs20417G and rs5275C was only detected in cases. The apparent association with breast cancer was not confirmed for rs5275CC homozygotes or for the most frequent rs5275C-containing haplotypes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results indicate no strong association between the four most frequent <it>PTGS2 </it>SNPs and the risk of breast cancer.</p

Micropropagação de violeta-africana (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.): efeito da Benzilaminopurina na multiplicação Micropropagation of African-Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.): effect of Benzylaminopurine on multiplication

A violeta-africana (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.) é uma espécie cultivada como ornamental pela beleza de suas flores e folhagem. A Benzilaminopurina (BAP) pode ser utilizada na multiplicação in vitro dessa espécie, no entanto, inexistem informações mais detalhadas sobre as respostas obtidas sobre a multiplicação, em uma faixa ampla de concentrações. Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar o efeito do BAP na multiplicação in vitro de violeta-africana. Foram utilizados, como explantes, tufos de brotações das cultivares Optimara Miki, Optimara Maki e Optimara Akemi, com tamanhos entre 0,8 e 2,0 cm. Empregou-se o meio MS, com concentrações de nutrientes minerais e vitaminas reduzidas à metade, suplementado com mio-inositol (100mg L-1), sacarose (30 g L-1) e ágar (7 g L-1). Os tratamentos utilizados foram: 0,0; 0,44; 1,78; 3,08 e 4,44 mM de BAP. O pH do meio foi ajustado para 5,8 antes da esterilização. O material vegetal permaneceu em temperatura de 24 ± 2 ºC, fotoperíodo de 14 horas e densidade de fluxo luminoso de 40 mmol c4m-2 s-1. As avaliações do número total de brotações e do número e altura de brotações maiores que 3 mm foram realizadas aos 46 dias. A adição de BAP ao meio de cultura foi essencial para a multiplicação das culturas. As respostas aos tratamentos variaram entre os genótipos utilizados. Maiores resultados de número total de brotações e número de brotações superiores que três milímetros foram observados em concentrações de BAP situadas entre 1,78 e 4,44 mM. A altura das brotações decresceu com a utilização de BAP.<br>African-Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.) is an ornamental plant widely cultivated, because of its beautiful foliage and flowers. Benzylaminopurine (BAP) can be used to violet multiplication, but there weren't information about results with several concentrations. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of different concentrations of BAP on the multiplication of violet cultures. One utilized, as explants, shoot clusters of cultivars Optimara Miki, Optimara Maki e Optimara Akemfrom, with height from 0,8 to 2,0 cm. One utilized MS medium, with half concentration of mineral nutrients and vitamins, suplementated with myo-inositol (100 mg L-1), sucrose (30 g L-1) and agar (7 g L-1). The treatments applied were: 0.0, 0.44, 1.78, 3,08 e 4,44 mM of BAP. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 5,8 before sterilization. Cultures remained at 24 ± 2 ºC, photoperiod of 14 hours and 40 mmol cm-2 s-1 of light density flux. Total shoot number and number and height of shoots with more than three millimeters were evaluated at 46 days. Addition of BAP to the culture medium was essential to multiplication of cultures. Responses of treatments varied between cultivars. Best results of total shoot number and number shoots with more than three millimeters were found with concentrations between 1.78 e 4.44 mM. The height of shoots decreased with the addition of BAP

Dental pain prevalence and association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in schoolchildren, Southern Brazil, 2002 Prevalência de dor de dente e associação com cárie e condições socioeconômicas em escolares, sul do Brasil, 2002

The objective of this study was to assess the relation between dental pain, dental caries and socioeconomic status among 12- and 13-year-old schoolchildren enrolled in a public school in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil in 2002. This study was a cross-sectional study involving 181 schoolchildren. Dental pain experience was the dependend variable analyzed. Socioeconomic data of the children's families were obtained through a questionnaire. Dental caries experience was registered according to the DMFT index (WHO, 1997). The field workteam consisted of an examiner and a recorder. The statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and the non-conditional multiple logistic regression. The response rate was 93.4%. The intraexaminer agreement measured on a tooth by tooth basis was high (kappa > 0.73). Dental pain prevalence was 33.7% (CI95% 26.0-42.0). The multiple regression analysis, adjusted by sex and other variables, showed that children with DMFT > 1 presented 2.9 (OR CI95% 1.4-6.1, p < 0.01) more chances of having dental pain when compared with those with DMFT < 1. Children whose mother's schooling level was equal or less than 4 years presented 2.5 (OR CI95% 1.2-5.6, p = 0.02) more chances of having dental pain when compared with others whose mothers had more than 5 years of schooling and, finally, children whose family income was up to U$67.00 showed 3.2 (OR CI95$ 200,00 mensais apresentaram 3,2 (OR IC95% 1,2-8,4, p = 0,02) vezes mais a chance de apresentarem dor em relação às com renda maior. Alto ataque de cárie dentária, baixa escolaridade materna e baixa renda familiar estiveram associados, independentemente, à dor de dente na população estudada

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