Clinical checklists in the selection of mentally retarded males for molecular screening of fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is the most frequent cause of inherited mental retardation. The phenotype in this syndrome is quite variable and less conspicuous in younger patients, making clinical diagnosis difficult and thus making molecular diagnosis necessary. The use of clinical checklists in mentally retarded individuals can help selecting patients to be given priority in the molecular investigation for the fragile-X mutation in the FMR1 gene. We evaluated two clinical checklists in a sample of 200 Brazilian male patients with mental retardation. The highest scores in the two checklists concentrated among the 19 males (9.5%) found to carry full mutations. Our results confirm the importance of fragile-X checklists as a clinical tool in the study of mentally retarded patients.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Genética e Biologia EvolutivaUNIFESPSciEL

AZT on telomerase activity and cell proliferation in HS 839.T melanoma cells AZT na atividade da telomerase e na proliferação de células de melanoma HS 839.T

PURPOSE: To evaluate telomerase activity and proliferation of HS839.T melanoma cells, subjected to the action of AZT. METHODS: Cells were grown in triplicate, AZT at different concentrations: 50, 100 and 200&#956;M, was added and left for 24 and 48 hours, and its effects were compared with the control group. Telomerase activity was detected by PCR and cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT. RESULTS: After 24 hours, there was no inhibition of cell proliferation or telomerase activity when compared to the control group. After 48 hours, there was a momentary decrease, suggesting that the cell lines used in this study are sensitive to AZT, but quickly recover both the enzyme activity and cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: The action of AZT on the melanoma cells studied, at the concentrations and times tested, did not inhibit telomerase activity nor affect cell proliferation.<br>OBJETIVO: Avaliar a atividade da telomerase e da proliferação de células de melanoma HS839.T submetidas à ação do AZT. MÉTODOS: As células foram cultivadas, em triplicata, com diferentes concentrações de AZT: 50, 100 e 200µM, por 24h e 48h, seus efeitos comparados com o grupo controle. A atividade da telomerase foi detectada por PCR e a proliferação celular avaliada por MTT. RESULTADOS: No tempo de 24 horas, não houve inibição da proliferação celular e da atividade da telomerase em comparação com o grupo controle. No período de 48 horas, houve uma diminuição momentânea, sugerindo que as células das linhagens utilizadas neste estudo são sensíveis ao AZT, mas que recuperam a atividade enzimática e proliferativa. CONCLUSÃO: Nas células de melanoma HS839.T estudadas e nas concentrações e tempos propostos, a ação do AZT não inibiu a atividade da telomerase e não afetou a proliferação celular