Vascular endothelial growth factor and KIT expression in relation with microvascular density and tumor grade in supratentorial astrocytic tumors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between microvascular density and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and KIT as possible markers of angiogenic stimulus in astrocytic tumors and correlate it with histopathological grading. METHODS: We enrolled 99 surgical specimens of supratentorial astrocytic tumors for analysis of VEGF and KIT and subsequent correlation with MVD and grading. RESULTS: KIT and VEGF expression correlated with microvascular density (p<0.005) and both VEGF and microvascular density correlated with grading (p<0.005). KIT had no significant relationship with grading (p=0.657). CONCLUSION: KIT and VEGF constitute important pathways in the angiogenesis of astrocytomas and therefore are promising prognostic tools and options for therapeutic intervention

PESSOAS LGBTI+ E A COVID-19: PARA PENSARMOS QUESTÕES SOBRE SAÚDE

Objetivo: refletir teórica e criticamente o cenário da situação de saúde de pessoas LGBTI+ frente ao Covid-19 em contexto de pandemia no Brasil. Método: Estudo teórico e reflexivo estruturado a partir do arcabouço teórico e analítico de gênero e dos achados empíricos sobre a pandemia do novo Coronavírus, causadora da Covid-19. Realizou-se a decomposição não estruturada dos achados publicados na mídia digital e nas bases de dados científicos sobra a Covid-19, bem como a interseção com a saúde de pessoas LGBTI+, especialmente no Brasil. Resultados: Há repercussões negativas geradas pela Covid-19 à saúde de pessoas LGBTI+ que são intensificadas por ações biopolíticas determinantes de exposição humana à vulnerabilidade, negação de direitos, discriminação, violências e iniquidades, que potencializam a degradação da saúde e a condição humana. Conclusão: O surgimento da Covid-19 precipita e intensifica as vulnerabilidades e iniquidades em saúde de pessoas LGBTI+, conduzindo-as à marginalização e ao risco expressivo à vida.Descritores: Pandemias. Infecções por Coronavírus. Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero. Gênero. Diversidade de Gênero

Lymphatic vessel density and VEGF-C expression are significantly different among benign and malignant thyroid lesions

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine neoplasia worldwide. The route for metastasis and loco-regional invasion preferentially occurs by lymphatic vessels. For this reason, the assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) is supposed to represent both a prognostic parameter and also a potential therapeutic target. In order to evaluate the value of LVD in benign and malignant thyroid lesions, we analyzed 110 thyroidectomy specimens using D2-40, a specific marker for lymphatic vessels and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), the most potent molecule of lymphatic proliferation. LVD was significantly different between papillary and follicular carcinomas in total (p = 0.045) and peritumoral area (p = 0.042). Follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma showed an important difference of intra- (p = 0.019) and peritumoral (p = 0.033) LVD. VEGF-C was more markedly expressed in malignancies than in benign lesions (p = 0.0001). Almost all cancers with high positive VEGF-C expression also exhibited increased peritumoral LVD (p = 0.049) when compared with the benign lesions. Indeed, the high peritumoral LVD of malignant thyroid lesions is an important finding for surgery planning and supports the practice of total thyroidectomy in malignant thyroid neoplasm's since the lymphatic peritumoral vessels definitely are an escape path for tumor cells

Absence of RKIP expression is an independent prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer patients

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and the presence of lymph node metastasis an important prognostic factor. Downregulation of RKIP has been associated with tumor progression and metastasis in several types of neoplasms, being currently categorized as a metastasis suppressor gene. Our aim was to determine the expression levels of RKIP in gastric tissues and to evaluate its impact in the clinical outcome of gastric carcinoma patients. RKIP expression levels were studied by immunohistochemistry in a series of gastric tissues. Overall, we analysed 222 non-neoplastic gastric tissues, 152 primary tumors and 42 lymph node metastasis samples. We observed that RKIP was highly expressed in ~83% of non-neoplastic tissues (including normal tissue and metaplasia), was lost in ~56% of primary tumors and in ~90% of lymph node metastasis samples. Loss of RKIP expression was significantly associated with several markers of poor clinical outcome, including the presence of lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the absence of RKIP protein constitutes an independent prognostic marker for these patients. In conclusion, RKIP expression is significantly lost during gastric carcinoma progression being almost absent in lymph node metastasis samples. Of note, we showed that the absence of RKIP expression is associated with poor outcome features of gastric cancer patients, this being also an independent prognostic marker.Olga Martinho was recipient of a PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/36463/2007) from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal

Presence of Organic Pesticides in Commercial Rainbow Trout Farms

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of pesticides in different matrices, such as: water, fish, soil and feed, during rainbow trout production in a raceway system. During the rainy and dry periods (2014 and 2015), the parameters temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (OD) and alkalinity were also evaluated. The water matrix residues were extracted by the Luke method and fish, soil and feed matrices were extracted by the modified QuEChERS method. The extracts were evaluated by multi-residue HPLC-MS / MS analysis with limit of detection - LOD (1 ppb) and limit of quantification - LOQ (10 ppb). For the water matrix, residues of organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, anilinopyrimidines, strobirulins and alkyl sulfite were detected in the trout cultures. However, only organ phosphorus insecticides (chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos) were quantified. In trout farm A was detected and quantified chlorpyrifos at 0.019 mg/L point A1 and dichlorvos at the concentrations of 0.136 mg/L point A1 (tributary) and 0.0465 mg/L point A6 (effluent). In trout farm B, dichlorvos were quantified at 0.0209 mg/L point B1 (tributary) and 0.0578 mg/L point B9 (tributary). All concentrations of pesticides described were above the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) recommended by the European Union. For soil and feed matrices there was no detection of pesticide residues for the trout farms. For the fish matrix there was no detection of residues in trout farm A, but there was detection (within the limit of the equipment) of trout farm B in the tissues: gills, liver and kidney. The physicochemical variables evaluated may have provided the pesticides hydrolysis and the rainy season may have influenced the greater amount of residues in the water, but within the limits of detection of the equipment. However, dry period may have influenced the concentration of chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos. The identification of residues in the rainbow trout tissues in trout farm B in October suggests that further studies should be carried out to verify the possibility of bioconcentration in the tissues due to the different classes of pesticides that can be found in the aquatic environment

Water Quality and Effluents Generated during Rainbow Trout Culture in a Raceway System

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of water and the polluting load generated by two commercial trout farms (A e B) in a raceway system during the years of 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the rainy season (October to March) and dry season (April to September). Six collection points demarcated in the trout farm A, with total 84 samples and 9 collection points in trout farm B, with total 126 samples. The collection points defined as follows: tributary, effluent, upstream and downstream in the two trout farms. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (OD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3 +NH4+ ), nitrite (NO2- ), nitrate (NO3- ), phosphate (PO43-), alkalinity, turbidity and thermotolerant coliforms were determined according to the protocol described in Standard Methods Water and Wastewater (APHA, 2008). Analyzes of temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity performed in situ. The Physiochemical variables evaluated between the rainy and dry seasons, in the A and B trout farms, differed for EC, BOD, NH3 +NH4+ , PO43-, TDS, temperature and turbidity. In trout farm B, chloride and pH levels also showed significant differences. About the collection points, the two trout farms presented differences for TDS. The trout farm A showed difference for BOD and trout farm B, for alkalinity and EC. There was an interaction effect between collection points and rainfall and dry seasons as a source of variation in the two trout farms, with differences observed for the variables EC, TDS and temperature, but there were also differences in trout farm A for BOD and NH3 +NH4+ , in the trout farm B, the alkalinity presented significant differences (p<0.05). In the study with thermotolerant coliforms in the trout farm A differences were observed between rainy and dry seasons, but without differences between the collection points. In trout farm B there was no difference between rainy and dry seasons. Regarding the presence of Escherichia coli bacteria, no difference observed in trout farm A, only in trout farm B there was difference. It was demonstrated in this study that the physicochemical and microbiological alterations evaluated are within the standards of comfort for the cultivated species and in accordance with the effluent release standard of the Brazilian legislation, showing minimal impact to the receiving water bodies

Ecologia de ervas-de-passarinho Neotropicais: um importante componente do dossel de ecossistemas brasileiros

Mistletoes have been studied in temperate countries regularly because they can be pests of cultivated plants and forest plantations. In comparison with temperate habitats, little is known about the ecology of mistletoes in the Neotropics. More emphasis should be given to neotropical mistletoes because they could be important elements of plant communities, acting as key resources for pollinators, seed dispersers and herbivores. Using a combination of findings from early mistletoe studies and empirical evidence from several recent case studies, we report emerging patterns of mistletoe interactions with associated organisms and propose aims for further studies. There has been increasing interest in working with mistletoes in Brazil. Although there are some data on the ecology of mistletoe seed dispersal, reproductive biology studies are scarce and represent a wide range of fieldwork to be explored. Knowledge of the basic biology of mistletoes will be very important for modeling their spatial distribution using metapopulation or epidemiological approaches. In this review, we summarize the studies conducted in the neotropical region in order to provide a framework for current research and new ideas for future investigations of mistletoes, especially in Brazil.Ervas-de-passarinho têm sim sido regularmente estudadas em países temperados por afetar negativamente espécies cultivadas e florestas manejadas. Em comparação com ambientes temperados pouco se conhece sobre a ecologia das ervas-de-passarinho neotropicais. Desta forma, é necessário maior conhecimento sobre o grupo porque são importantes elementos de comunidades vegetais, atuando como recurso-chave para polinizadores, dispersores de sementes e herbívoros. Através de uma combinação de trabalhos clássicos já publicados com evidências empíricas recentes, nós apresentamos padrões emergentes da interação entre ervas-de-passarinho com os organismos associados e questionamentos para estudos adicionais. Existe um crescente interesse neste grupo no Brasil. E embora existam informações sobre dispersão de sementes, estudos sobre biologia reprodutiva são raros e representam um campo a ser explorado. O conhecimento da biologia básica das ervas-de-passarinho será relevante para modelar sua distribuição espacial usando uma abordagem metapopulacional ou epidemiológica. Nesta revisão nós sumarizamos os principais estudos conduzidos na região Neotropical para fornecer um panorama atual das pesquisas desenvolvidas, bem como novas ideias para futuras investigações, especialmente no Brasil.26427

Ecologia de ervas-de-passarinho Neotropicais : um importante componente do dossel de ecossistemas brasileiros

Ervas-de-passarinho têm sim sido regularmente estudadas em países temperados por afetar negativamente espécies cultivadas e florestas manejadas. Em comparação com ambientes temperados pouco se conhece sobre a ecologia das ervas-de-passarinho neotropicais. Desta forma, é necessário maior conhecimento sobre o grupo porque são importantes elementos de comunidades vegetais, atuando como recurso-chave para polinizadores, dispersores de sementes e herbívoros. Através de uma combinação de trabalhos clássicos já publicados com evidências empíricas recentes, nós apresentamos padrões emergentes da interação entre ervas-de-passarinho com os organismos associados e questionamentos para estudos adicionais. Existe um crescente interesse neste grupo no Brasil. E embora existam informações sobre dispersão de sementes, estudos sobre biologia reprodutiva são raros e representam um campo a ser explorado. O conhecimento da biologia básica das ervas-de-passarinho será relevante para modelar sua distribuição espacial usando uma abordagem metapopulacional ou epidemiológica. Nesta revisão nós sumarizamos os principais estudos conduzidos na região Neotropical para fornecer um panorama atual das pesquisas desenvolvidas, bem como novas ideias para futuras investigações, especialmente no Brasil.Mistletoes have been studied in temperate countries regularly because they can be pests of cultivated plants and forest plantations. In comparison with temperate habitats, little is known about the ecology of mistletoes in the Neotropics. More emphasis should be given to neotropical mistletoes because they could be important elements of plant communities, acting as key resources for pollinators, seed dispersers and herbivores. Using a combination of findings from early mistletoe studies and empirical evidence from several recent case studies, we report emerging patterns of mistletoe interactions with associated organisms and propose aims for further studies. There has been increasing interest in working with mistletoes in Brazil. Although there are some data on the ecology of mistletoe seed dispersal, reproductive biology studies are scarce and represent a wide range of fieldwork to be explored. Knowledge of the basic biology of mistletoes will be very important for modeling their spatial distribution using metapopulation or epidemiological approaches. In this review, we summarize the studies conducted in the neotropical region in order to provide a framework for current research and new ideas for future investigations of mistletoes, especially in Brazil

QUALIDADE MICROBIOLÓGICA DE LEITE DE TANQUE DE REBANHOS LEITEIROS DO ESTADO DE ALAGOAS, BRASIL

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica de amostras de leite cru resfriado e pasteurizado provenientes de três regiões do estado de Alagoas (Litoral, Agreste e Sertão). De cada fazenda foi coletado 3 tipos de amostras de leite: amostras dos quartos mamários, amostras do leite de tanque e amostras do leite UHT (Ultra Hight Temperature). Os rebanhos eram constituídos de animais de diferentes raças, idades e estágios de lactação. Foram realizados ensaios para contagem de micro-organismos mesófilos, psicrotróficos, coliformes totais e termotolerantes e Staphylococcus spp.. Nenhuma das amostras de leite UHT apresentou presença de nenhum dos micro-organismos em estudo, evidenciando que para esse tipo de leite, as amostras estão totalmente dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação vigente quanto à qualidade microbiológica. As amostras de leite resfriado apresentaram mesófilos (>3 Log₁₀ UFC/ml), psicrotróficos ( 1100 Log₁₀ NMP/ml) e termotolerantes (3 a >1100 Log₁₀ UFC/ml), além da alta frequência de Staphylococcus spp. (2,8 a >3 Log₁₀ UFC/ml). A presença desses micro-organismos pode estar associada às más práticas de manejo de ordenha, bem como higiene do ambiente e deficiências na refrigeraçao, o que pode ocasionar deterioração do produto e contaminação dos animais e consumidores finais