Estudio de la anemia falciforme a través de juegos educativos en una universidad pública del estado de Paraíba, Brasil

As hemoglobinas são macromoléculas responsáveis pelo processo de trocas gasosas no organismo humano. As hemoglobinopatias são doenças das hemoglobinas que acontecem devido a processos mutacionais nas cadeias globínicas.  A anemia falciforme é a doença genética de maior prevalência no mundo, no Brasil a incidência e prevalência da doença é considerada um problema de saúde pública sendo o nordeste brasileiro a região de maior prevalência. Ainda desconhecida por grande parte da população e dos profissionais da saúde tem na educação em saúde o seu processo de disseminação do conhecimento. Considerando estes fatos, o presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar as intervenções lúdicas eficazes nessa prática, com vistas a subsidiar a reflexão e o aprimoramento do ensino nessa área. A elaboração dos jogos de xadrez, damas, jogo da velha e quebra cabeças composto com elementos inerentes a esta hemoglobinopatia, vem a propiciar aos alunos do curso de farmácia da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, campus Campina Grande, o contato lúdico no aprendizado desta patologia, proporcionando a estimulação cognitiva no processo ensino/aprendizagem. Devido aos bons resultados obtidos, intenciona-se a utilização dos jogos em palestras escolares e no processo de educação de agentes e profissionais de saúde.Hemoglobins are macromolecules responsible for the process of gas exchange in the human organism. Hemoglobinopathies are diseases of hemoglobins that happen due to mutational processes in the globin chains. Sickle cell anemia is the most prevalent genetic disease in the world. In Brazil, the incidence and prevalence of the disease is considered a public health problem, with northeast Brazil being the most prevalent region. Still unknown by most of the population and health professionals, health education has its process of knowledge dissemination. Considering these facts, the present study aimed to identify effective playful interventions in this practice, with a view to subsidizing reflection and improvement of teaching in this area. The elaboration of chess games, checkers, tic-tac-toe and puzzle composed with elements inherent to this hemoglobinopathy, provides students of pharmacy at the State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande campus, the playful contact in the learning of this pathology, providing cognitive stimulation in the teaching / learning process. Due to the good results obtained, it is intended to use the games in school lectures and in the process of education of agents and health professionals.Las hemoglobinas son macromoléculas responsables del proceso de intercambio de gases en el organismo humano. Las hemoglobinopatías son enfermedades de las hemoglobinas que ocurren debido a procesos mutacionales en las cadenas de globina. La anemia falciforme es la enfermedad genética más prevalente en el mundo.En Brasil, la incidencia y prevalencia de la enfermedad se considera un problema de salud pública, siendo el noreste de Brasil la región más prevalente. Aún desconocida por la mayoría de la población y los profesionales de la salud, la educación sanitaria tiene su proceso de difusión del conocimiento. Teniendo en cuenta estos hechos, el presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar intervenciones lúdicas efectivas en esta práctica, con el fin de subsidiar la reflexión y la mejora de la enseñanza en esta área. La elaboración de juegos de ajedrez, damas, tic-tac-toe y rompecabezas compuestos con elementos inherentes a esta hemoglobinopatía, viene a proporcionar a los estudiantes del curso de farmacia en la Universidad Estatal de Paraíba, campus de Campina Grande, el contacto lúdico para aprender esta patología, proporcionando estimulación cognitiva en el proceso de enseñanza / aprendizaje. Debido a los buenos resultados obtenidos, se pretende utilizar los juegos en conferencias escolares y en el proceso de educación de agentes y profesionales de la salud

Methylation status of ANAPC1, CDKN2A and TP53 promoter genes in individuals with gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is the forth most frequent malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic alteration, occurring through a methyl radical addition to the cytosine base adjacent to guanine. Many tumor genes are inactivated by DNA methylation in gastric cancer. We evaluated the DNA methylation status of ANAPC1, CDKN2A and TP53 by methylation-specific PCR in 20 diffuse- and 26 intestinal-type gastric cancer samples and 20 normal gastric mucosa in individuals from Northern Brazil. All gastric cancer samples were advanced stage adenocarcinomas. Gastric samples were surgically obtained at the João de Barros Barreto University Hospital, State of Pará, and were stored at -80°C before DNA extraction. Patients had never been submitted to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, nor did they have any other diagnosed cancer. None of the gastric cancer samples presented methylated DNA sequences for ANAPC1 and TP53. CDKN2A methylation was not detected in any normal gastric mucosa; however, the CDKN2A promoter was methylated in 30.4% of gastric cancer samples, with 35% methylation in diffuse-type and 26.9% in intestinal-type cancers. CDKN2A methylation was associated with the carcinogenesis process for ~30% diffuse-type and intestinal-type compared to non-neoplastic samples. Thus, ANAPC1 and TP53 methylation was probably not implicated in gastric carcinogenesis in our samples. CDKN2A can be implicated in the carcinogenesis process of only a subset of gastric neoplasias.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FINEP/CT-INFRAFAEPAUniversidade Federal do Piauí Colegiado de BiomedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MorfologiaUniversidade Federal do Pará Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Laboratório de Citogenética HumanaHospital João de Barros Barreto Serviço de CirurgiaInstituto de Investigaciones BiomedicasUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de GenéticaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MorfologiaFINEP/CT-INFRA: 0927-03SciEL

Aspectos socioeconômicos e de condições de saúde em populações quilombolas no estado do Piauí, Brasil

Among the group of excluded individuals in Brazilian society, the most marginalized are still blacks. In this group, rural blacks are the most alienated from the new processes of social construction. The present study aimed to analyze health and socioeconomic aspects in quilombola communities in the state of Piauí. The research presents socioeconomic and health aspects in 15 communities in the State of Piauí. It is an exploratory, cross-sectional study of qualitative and quantitative nature, where the target population was 1,239 members in 15 quilombola communities identified in the State of Piauí. The average age was 30.1 years, with the age range between 0 and 89 years. Females were 55%, males 45% of the population. Illiterate were 20%, while 47.6% had not completed elementary school. Income of up to two minimum wages was 88.6%. Students 27.9% and rural worker 39.5% were the majority of the population. Of the houses, 74.1% had little or no sanitary condition. The use of medicinal plants occurred in 32.5%. The non-use of pesticides was reported by 96.8% of farmers. Inbreeding marriages were detected in 18.0% of the studied families. The research indicates the need for public policies focused on the characteristics and needs of these populations. Entre el grupo de individuos excluidos en la sociedad brasileña, los más marginados siguen siendo negros. En este grupo, los negros rurales son los más alienados de los nuevos procesos de construcción social. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la salud y los aspectos socioeconómicos en las comunidades quilombolas en el estado de Piauí. La investigación presenta aspectos socioeconómicos y de salud en 15 comunidades del estado de Piauí. Es un estudio exploratorio, de corte transversal de naturaleza cualitativa y cuantitativa, donde la población objetivo era 1,239 miembros en 15 comunidades de quilombolas identificadas en el Estado de Piauí. La edad promedio fue de 30.1 años, con un rango de edad entre 0 y 89 años. Las mujeres eran el 55%, los hombres el 45% de la población. Los analfabetos eran del 20%, mientras que el 47.6% no había completado la escuela primaria. El ingreso de hasta dos salarios mínimos fue del 88,6%. Los estudiantes 27.9% y los trabajadores rurales 39.5% eran la mayoría de la población. De las casas, el 74.1% tenía poca o ninguna condición sanitaria. El uso de plantas medicinales se produjo en el 32,5%. El 96.8% de los agricultores reportaron la no utilización de pesticidas. Se detectaron matrimonios de endogamia en el 18.0% de las familias estudiadas. La investigación indica la necesidad de políticas públicas centradas en las características y necesidades de estas poblaciones.Entre o grupo de indivíduos excluídos na sociedade brasileira, os mais marginalizados continuam ainda sendo os negros. Nesse grupo, os negros do meio rural são os mais alijados dos novos processos de construção social. O presente estudo objetivou analisar aspectos socioeconômicos e de saúde em comunidades quilombolas no Estado do Piauí. A pesquisa apresenta aspectos socioeconômicos e de saúde em 15 comunidades no Estado do Piauí. É um estudo exploratório, transversal de natureza qualitativa e quantitativa, onde a população alvo foi de 1.239 membros em 15 comunidades quilombolas identificadas no Estado do Piauí. A idade média foi de 30,1 anos, sendo o intervalo de idade entre 0 e 89 anos. O sexo feminino foi 55% , masculino 45% da população. Analfabetos eram 20%, enquanto 47,6% tinham o ensino fundamental incompleto. Renda de até dois salários mínimos eram 88,6%. Estudantes 27,9% e trabalhador rural 39,5% era a maioria da população. Das moradias, 74,1% apresentavam pouca ou nenhuma condição sanitária. O uso de plantas medicinais ocorreu em 32,5%. A não utilização de agrotóxicos foi relatada por 96,8% dos agricultores. Foi detectada a presença de casamentos consanguíneos entre 18,0% das famílias estudadas. A pesquisa indica a necessidade de políticas públicas voltadas para as características e necessidades destas populações

Drifter technique: a new method to obtain metaphases in Hep-2 cell line cultures

The Hep-2 cell line is derived from laryngeal carcinoma cells and is often utilized as a model in carcinogenesis and mutagenesis tests. To evaluate the proliferative potential of this line, we developed a cytogenetic methodology (drifter technique) to obtain metaphases from cells that loose cellular adhesion when they underwent mitosis in culture. By this procedure, 2000 cells were counted, resulting in a mitotic index (MI) of 22.2%. Although this MI was not statistically different from the one obtained using either a classical cytogenetic method or a cell synchronization technique, the drifter technique has the advantage of not requiring the use of some reagents for the obtention of metaphases and also of diminishing the consumption of maintenance reagents for this cell line.A linhagem celular Hep-2 é formada por células de carcinoma da laringe e é muito utilizada em modelos de carcinogênese e mutagenêse. Para avaliar o potencial proliferativo desta linhagem, desenvolvemos uma metodologia citogenética (técnica do sobrenadante) para obtenção de metáfases a partir de células que, ao entrarem em mitose, perdem adesão celular, ficando em suspensão no meio de cultura. Através deste procedimento, foram contadas 2000 células, correspondendo a um índice mitótico (IM) de 22.2% . Apesar de o IM obtido por esta técnica não ter sido estatisticamente diferente do IM obtido por outras metodologias citogenéticas clássicas, a técnica do sobrenadante é vantajosa porque elimina o uso de alguns reagentes utilizados na obtenção de metáfases e também diminui o consumo de reagentes de manutenção desta linhagem.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal do Pará Centro de Ciências Biológicas Departamento de BiologiaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de GenéticaUniversidade Federal do Pará Centro de Ciências Biológicas Departamento de GenéticaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MorfologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MorfologiaSciEL

Methylation status of ANAPC1, CDKN2A and TP53 promoter genes in individuals with gastric cancer

5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table.-- et al.Gastric cancer is the forth most frequent malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic alteration, occurring through a methyl radical addition to the cytosine base adjacent to guanine. Many tumor genes are inactivated by DNA methylation in gastric cancer. We evaluated the DNA methylation status of ANAPC1, CDKN2A and TP53 by methylation-specific PCR in 20 diffuse- and 26 intestinal-type gastric cancer samples and 20 normal gastric mucosa in individuals from Northern Brazil. All gastric cancer samples were advanced stage adenocarcinomas. Gastric samples were surgically obtained at the João de Barros Barreto University Hospital, State of Pará, and were stored at -80 degrees C before DNA extraction. Patients had never been submitted to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, nor did they have any other diagnosed cancer. None of the gastric cancer samples presented methylated DNA sequences for ANAPC1 and TP53. CDKN2A methylation was not detected in any normal gastric mucosa; however, the CDKN2A promoter was methylated in 30.4% of gastric cancer samples, with 35% methylation in diffuse-type and 26.9% in intestinal-type cancers. CDKN2A methylation was associated with the carcinogenesis process for ~30% diffuse-type and intestinal-type compared to non-neoplastic samples. Thus, ANAPC1 and TP53 methylation was probably not implicated in gastric carcinogenesis in our samples. CDKN2A can be implicated in the carcinogenesis process of only a subset of gastric neoplasias.Research supported by FAPESP, FAEPA, CAPES, CNPq, and FINEP/CT-INFRA (#0927-03).Peer reviewe

DNA mismatch repair gene methylation in gastric cancer in individuals from northern Brazil

7 páginas, 3 tablas, 1 figura.-- et al.Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies. DNA methylation is implicated in DNA mismatch repair genes deficiency. In the present study, we evaluated the methylation status of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 in 20 diffuse- and 26 intestinal-type gastric cancer samples and 20 normal gastric mucosal of gastric cancer patients from Northern Brazil. We found that none of the nonneoplastic samples showed methylation of any gene promoter and 50% of gastric cancer samples showed at least one methylated gene promoter. Methylation frequencies of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 promoter were 21.74%, 17.39%, 0% and 28.26% respectively in gastric cancer samples. MLH1 and PMS2 methylation were associated with neoplastic samples compared to nonneoplastic ones. PMS2 methylation was associated with diffuse- and intestinal-type cancer compared with normal controls. Intestinal-type cancer showed significant association with MLH1 methylation. Diffuse-type cancer was significantly associated with MSH2 methylation. Our findings show differential gene methylation in tumoral tissue, which allows us to conclude that methylation is associated with gastric carcinogenesis. Methylation of mismatch repair genes was associated with gastric carcinogenesis and may be a helpful tool for diagnosis, prognosis and therapies. However, MSH6 does not seem to be regulated by methylation in our samples.This study was supported by grants from FAPESP, FAEPA, CAPES, CNPq and Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP/CT-INFRA 0927-03).Peer Reviewe