Alterations in epidermal growth factor receptors 1 and 2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) shows a 5-year survival rate below 10%, demonstrating the urgency in improving its treatment. Alterations in epidermal growth factor receptors are closely related to malignancy transformation in a number of tumors and recent successful targeted therapies have been directed to these molecules. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the expression of EGFR and HER2 and evaluated EGFR mutation profile as well as the presence of mutations in hotspots of KRAS and BRAF in ESCC patients. Methods: We performed RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and Fluorescent in situ hybridization to determine EGFR and HER2 expression in ESCC patients, and direct sequencing and PCR-RFLP for mutations and polymorphism analysis. Results: Our results showed an increased EGFR mRNA expression in tumors compared to surrounding tissue (p T) in 2.1% of the patients, and at codon 787 (G>A) in 79.2% of the cases. This last polymorphism was also evaluated in 304 healthy controls, which presented a similar frequency (73.7%) in comparison with ESCC patients. The absence of mutations of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF as well as the overexpression of EGFR and HER2 in less than 10% of the patients suggest that this signaling pathway is altered in only a small proportion of patients with ESCC. Conclusion: HER receptors target therapies may have the potential to be effective in only a minor fraction of patients with ESCC.12Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

In vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of extracts, fractions and a substance isolated from the Amazonian plant Tachia grandiflora (Gentianaceae)

Tachia sp. are used as antimalarials in the Amazon Region and in vivo antimalarial activity of a Tachia sp. has been previously reported. Tachia grandiflora Maguire and Weaver is an Amazonian antimalarial plant and herein its cytotoxicity and antimalarial activity were investigated. Spectral analysis of the tetraoxygenated xanthone decussatin and the iridoid aglyone amplexine isolated, respectively, from the chloroform fractions of root methanol and leaf ethanol extracts was performed. In vitro inhibition of the growth of Plasmodium falciparum Welch was evaluated using optical microscopy on blood smears. Crude extracts of leaves and roots were inactive in vitro. However, chloroform fractions of the root and leaf extracts [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 10.5 and 35.8 µg/mL, respectively] and amplexine (IC50= 7.1 µg/mL) were active in vitro. Extracts and fractions were not toxic to type MRC-5 human fibroblasts (IC50> 50 µg/mL). Water extracts of the roots of T. grandiflora administered by mouth were the most active extracts in the Peters 4-day suppression test in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. At 500 mg/kg/day, these extracts exhibited 45-59% inhibition five to seven days after infection. T. grandiflora infusions, fractions and isolated substance have potential as antimalarials

O estresse na atividade ocupacional do enfermeiro Estrés en la actividad ocupacional del enfermero The stress in nursing professionel

Trata-se de uma investigação exploratória para compreender o estresse em diferentes ocupações do profissional enfermeiro, tendo como objetivo analisar o que é estresse para o enfermeiro, identificar os elementos estressores em diferentes atividades ocupacionais deste profissional e averiguar se a atividade ocupacional exercida pelo enfermeiro, é percebida como estressante. A amostra constituiu de três grupos de enfermeiros (assistenciais, administradores e docentes) inseridos no serviço público da cidade de Brasília - DF e os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas individuais semi-estruturadas. Não existe uma clareza sobre o conceito de estresse, mas os enfermeiros vivenciam estressores diversos: relacionados aos fatores intrínsecos ao trabalho, às relações no trabalho, aos papéis estressores e à estrutura organizacional.<br>El presente es un estudio exploratorio para comprender el estrés relacionado con las diferentes actividades ocupacionales de las enfermeras profesionales. Nuestros objetivos son: conocer el significado del estrés para el enfermero, identificar cuales son los factores estresantes en las distintas actividades ocupacionales de este profesional y establecer si la actividad ocupacional realizada por el enfermero es percibida como estresante. La muestra fue conformada por tres grupos de enfermeros (asistenciales, administradores y docentes) que trabajan en el servicio público de la ciudad de Brasilia- DF. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Aunque no tienen un concepto claro de lo que es el estrés, las enfermeras viven diversas situaciones estresantes; relacionadas con los factores intrínsecos del trabajo, con las relaciones personales, con los roles estresantes y con la estructura de la organización para la cual trabajan.<br>The general purpose of this exploratory research was to understand the stress in different nursing occupations, aiming at determining the meaning of stress to nurses, identifying the stressors regarding different nursing occupational activities and investigating if the nurses' occupational activity is perceived as stressful. The sample consisted of three groups of Nurses (clinical, managers and professors) working in the public service of the city of Brasília and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Although the concept of stress is not clear among nurses, they do experience diverse stressors; related to intrinsic job factors, to relationships at work, to their roles and to the organizational structure

Dor e funcionalidade na atenção básica à saúde Pain and functionality in primary health care

A dor osteoarticular e a funcionalidade são elementos ligados à saúde dos indivíduos e, portanto, influenciam o modo de interação entre si e entre eles e o meio ambiente que os cerca. Contudo, não são muitos os estudos que levantam essas questões de saúde na população em geral, sobretudo quando aproximamos o olhar da atenção básica sobre elas. Este artigo tem o objetivo de fornecer dados iniciais sobre dor e funcionalidade nos indivíduos com queixa osteoarticular em uma população adscrita a uma unidade básica de saúde (UBS) e suscitar o debate sobre integralidade da atenção nesse serviço. O trabalho descritivo foi realizado na UBS (n1=64) e nos domicílios (n2=48), entre indivíduos a partir dos 20 anos de idade. Foi aplicado um instrumento de avaliação de funcionalidade e a Escala Visual Analógica de dor, e foram exploradas questões sociodemográficas. Com esses instrumentos, buscou-se avaliar o perfil dos indivíduos em relação ao seu grau de dor musculoesquelética, o grau de funcionalidade nas atividades da vida diária, idade e ocupação. Nos resultados, encontramos uma predominância do sexo feminino nos dois grupos, 84,37% e 81,25%, respectivamente. Quase metade das pessoas com dor musculoesquelética eram donas de casa, e a média de idade entre os grupos estava acima dos 55 anos.<br>Musculoskeletal pain and functionality are linked to the individual health and, thus, influence the mode of interaction between individuals and between them and the environment that surrounds them. However, there are not many studies that question such health issues concerning the population in general, especially when we look at these issues from the basic care point of view. The aim of this article is to present initial data on the subject of pain and functionality in individuals with musculoskeletal complaints enrolled in a primary care unit and prompt a discussion on how complete the services provided by these units are. This study was carried out in a primary care unit and various households, among subjects aging 20 years or older. A functionality assessment tool and a Visual Analogue Scale were applied, and social and demographic issues were also considered. By using these tools, it was made an attempt to evaluate the profile of individuals in association with their degree of musculoskeletal pain and the degree of functionality in the activities of their daily lives, ages and occupations. We found a predominance of women in both groups: 84.37% and 81.25%, respectively. Nearly half of all people with musculoskeletal pain were housewives, and the average age between groups was over 55