Infecção pelo vírus Epstein-Barr tem influência sobre o desenvolvimento do carcinoma de laringe? Detecção de EBV pelo Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction em tecidos tumorais de pacientes com carcinoma de laringe

O vírus Epstein-Barr (EBV) é um conhecido vírus carcinogênico. A associação entre EBV e alguns tumores sugere que também pode haver correlação entre carcinoma de laringe e EBV. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo pretende determinar o papel do EBV na etiologia do carcinoma de laringe. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo sobre EBV por reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real em tecidos tumorais de 25 pacientes com carcinoma de laringe e 17 pacientes com lesões benignas de laringe; análise da relação entre presença de DNA viral e tabagismo, etilismo, localização e diferenciação tumoral. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos de controle e de estudo para positividade da PCR para EBV (p > 0,05). Não foi identificada relação estatisticamente significativa entre positividade para EBV e diferenciação tumoral, localização da neoplasia, tabagismo ou etilismo (p > 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados sugerem que, a despeito de sua identificação em alguns carcinomas espinocelulares de laringe, a presença de EBV não teve qualquer influência na patogenia do carcinoma de laringe

Evaluation of the natural killer cytotoxicity and the levels of cytokines in rats with type I diabetes mellitus

Type I diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent DM = IDDM) is a chronic disease characterized by specific destruction of pancreatic β cells, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. Immune mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, and environmental factors are all implicated in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes. This study was aimed at determining the efficiency of cytokines, natural killer (NK) cells in the pathophysiology of IDDM. Therefore, we evaluated the plasma levels of cytokines by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the cytotoxicity activity of NK cells by anti-candididal index in rats with type I diabetes. We found that the cytotoxicity activity of NK cells in IDDM groups significantly decreased compared to the control groups. The levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in IDDM groups were slightly higher than in healthy controls. These results indicate that the changes of TH1 type cytokines such as IFN-γ and NK cell activity can play a role in the etiology of IDDM. The data may provide new strategies for the treatment of IDDM

The effects of fluconazole and cytokines on human mononuclear cells

Candida infections are common infections and fluconazole is one of the most frequently administered antifungal agents in their treatment. The resistance developed against antifungal agents has necessitated the improvement of new treatments. This study focuses on the investigation of the effect of fluconazole and cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on chemokine production and anticandidal activity of human monocytes. In the study it was observed that GM-CSF caused an increase in candidacidal activity of monocytes. Anticandidal activity of GM-CSF + IFN-γ combination was not found to be more effective than GM-CSF or IFN-γ alone. The presence of cytokine and fluconazole caused an increase in the levels of CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines. Accordingly, it was considered that chemokines could contribute to the efficacy of fluconazole in C. albicans infections. Besides, in order to strengthen the immune system some cytokines might be used in addition to antifungal agents for the treatment

A new device to produce a standardized experimental fracture in the rat tibia

Objective: To develop and introduce a new device to produce a standardized closed experimental fracture in the rat tibia

The relationship between cervical human papillomavirus infection and apoptosis

Purpose: Cervical carcinoma is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Viral infections, especially human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, are important factors in its etiology. Changes in apoptotic regulation are considered to have an important role in the carcinogenesis development. In this study, the relationship between apoptosis and HPV infection was investigated. Methods: HPV DNA and HPV DNA type 16 positivity were detected in 110 cervical smear samples with Real Time PCR and sequencing was performed for HPV DNA type 18. The presence of apoptosis was investigated using TUNEL and Annexin V staining methods and analyzed by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry. Results: HPV DNA type 16 was detected in 9 samples (8.1%), HPV DNA type 18 positive in 6 samples (5.4%) and HPV types other than HPV type 16 and HPV type 18 in 9 samples (8.1%). A decrease apoptosis was found in HPV DNA positive samples compared with controls (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The decrease of apoptosis during HPV infection might cause cellular immortality and then malignant transformation

Molecular investigation of a fungemia outbreak due to Candida parapsilosis in an intensive care unit

We investigated a nosocomial cluster of four Candida parapsilosis fungemia episodes that occurred in a neurological intensive care unit over a two-week period. The four infected patients had received parenteral nutrition through central lines, and all four had catheter-related candidemia. All of the isolates were susceptible to all of the antifungals tested, including amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, and caspofungin. They had strictly related fingerprints, based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Additional DNA sequencing data revealed that they were same strain. Although no isolate of Candida parapsilosis was recovered from other clinical, surveillance, or environmental samples, nosocomial spread of this yeast ceased, following the reinforcement of infection-control measures. Candida parapsilosis may require an intravascular foreign body to cause fungemia, but this outbreak shows that it can be transmitted nosocomially and can cause epidemics