Reduced Myelin Basic Protein and Actin-Related Gene Expression in Visual Cortex in Schizophrenia

Most brain gene expression studies of schizophrenia have been conducted in the frontal cortex or hippocampus. The extent to which alterations occur in other cortical regions is not well established. We investigated primary visual cortex (Brodmann area 17) from the Stanley Neuropathology Consortium collection of tissue from 60 subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or controls. We first carried out a preliminary array screen of pooled RNA, and then used RT-PCR to quantify five mRNAs which the array identified as differentially expressed in schizophrenia (myelin basic protein [MBP], myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein [MOG], β-actin [ACTB], thymosin β-10 [TB10], and superior cervical ganglion-10 [SCG10]). Reduced mRNA levels were confirmed by RT-PCR for MBP, ACTB and TB10. The MBP reduction was limited to transcripts containing exon 2. ACTB and TB10 mRNAs were also decreased in bipolar disorder. None of the transcripts were altered in subjects with major depression. Reduced MBP mRNA in schizophrenia replicates findings in other brain regions and is consistent with oligodendrocyte involvement in the disorder. The decreases in expression of ACTB, and the actin-binding protein gene TB10, suggest changes in cytoskeletal organisation. The findings confirm that the primary visual cortex shows molecular alterations in schizophrenia and extend the evidence for a widespread, rather than focal, cortical pathophysiology

Endoscopia respiratória em 89 pacientes com neoplasia pulmonar Respiratory endoscopy in 89 patients of lung neoplasms

Objetivos: As neoplasias pulmonares são uma das mais freqüentes causas de mortalidade no Brasil. Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar o diagnóstico dessas neoplasias através da fibrobroncoscopia. Método: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, 89 pacientes no período de cinco anos, divididos em dois grupos: grupo 1 (n = 53) -- presença de lesão visível à endoscopia, grupo 2 (n = 36) -- ausência de lesões na endoscopia. Na revisão dos prontuários retiraram-se os dados epidemiológicos, os achados endoscópicos, os exames cito e anatomopatológicos, bem como o exame que proporcionou o diagnóstico final. Resultados: Os achados endoscópicos indiretos de neoplasia corresponderam a 59,5% e a presença de tumor na luz brônquica a 48,8%. O tipo histológico mais freqüente foi o carcinoma epidermóide (59,5%), seguido do adenocarcinoma (15,7%), carcinoma indiferenciado de pequenas células (10,1%) e outros (14,7%). Nos tumores visíveis ou não na endoscopia o estudo anatomopatológico da biópsia brônquica e/ou da citopatologia do lavado e do escovado brônquico mostrou sensibilidade de 83,1% no diagnóstico de neoplasia pulmonar. Quando a lesão era visível à inspeção endoscópica, a sensibilidade atingiu percentual de 96,2%, sendo a biópsia positiva em 94,2% e a citologia em 43,75%. Quando não se observava lesão brônquica o rendimento foi sensivelmente menor (63,8%): a biópsia mostrou percentual de 72,7% e a citopatologia de 38,4%. As complicações menores decorrentes do exame endoscópico ocorreram em 11,2% dos pacientes; não ocorreram complicações graves. Conclusão: A fibrobroncoscopia foi um excelente método para investigação de pacientes com suspeita de neoplasia pulmonar com sensibilidade de 83,1%; sua sensibilidade foi maior nas lesões visíveis. Nas lesões não visíveis a sensibilidade aumentou com a biópsia endobrônquica.<br>Objectives: Lung neoplasms are one of the most common causes of mortality in Brazil. The objective of this survey is to evaluate the diagnosis of these neoplasms using fiberoptics bronchoscopy. Methods: 89 patients were analyzed retrospectively in a period of five years. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 53) -- the presence of visible lesion on endoscopy, Group 2 (n = 36) -- the absence of visible lesion on endoscopy. Epidemiological elements, endoscopic discoveries, cytopathologic and anatomopathologic examination were performed in the review, as well the examination that provided the final diagnosis. Results: The findings of indirect endoscopies of neoplasms corresponded to 59.5% and the presence of tumor inside bronchi was 48.8%. The most frequent histologic type was the epidermoid carcinoma (59.5%), followed by adenocarcinoma (15.7%), small-cell carcinoma (10.1%), and others (14.7%). In endoscopically visible or not visible tumors, the anatomopathologic study of bronchial biopsy and/or the cytopathologic examination of the bronchial washing and brushing showed a sensitivity of 83.1% in the diagnosis of lung neoplasms. When the lesion was visible on endoscopy, the sensitivity was 96.2%: positive biopsy was 94.2%, and cytology was 43.75%. When the lesion in the bronchi is not observed, its addition was significantly small (63.8%), namely: biopsy registered 72.7% and cytopathology 38.4%. Not significant complications resulting from the endoscopic examination occurred in 11.2% of patients and there were no serious complications. Conclusion: The fiberoptics bronchoscopy was an excellent method to investigate patients with suspicion of lung neoplasms, with 83.1% of sensitivity. This sensitivity was higher in visible lesions and in non-visible lesions when endobronchial biopsy was used