dPORE-miRNA: Polymorphic Regulation of MicroRNA Genes

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules that act as post-transcriptional regulators and affect the regulation of protein-coding genes. Mostly transcribed by PolII, miRNA genes are regulated at the transcriptional level similarly to protein-coding genes. In this study we focus on human miRNAs. These miRNAs are involved in a variety of pathways and can affect many diseases. Our interest is on possible deregulation of the transcription initiation of the miRNA encoding genes, which is facilitated by variations in the genomic sequence of transcriptional control regions (promoters). Methodology: Our aim is to provide an online resource to facilitate the investigation of the potential effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on miRNA gene regulation. We analyzed SNPs overlapped with predicted transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in promoters of miRNA genes. We also accounted for the creation of novel TFBSs due to polymorphisms not present in the reference genome. The resulting changes in the original TFBSs and potential creation of new TFBSs were incorporated into the Dragon Database of Polymorphic Regulation of miRNA genes (dPORE-miRNA). Conclusions: The dPORE-miRNA database enables researchers to explore potential effects of SNPs on the regulation of miRNAs. dPORE-miRNA can be interrogated with regards to: a/miRNAs (their targets, or involvement in diseases, or biological pathways), b/SNPs, or c/transcription factors. dPORE-miRNA can be accessed a

Lack of evidence for KRAS oncogenic mutations in triple-negative breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mutational analysis of the <it>KRAS </it>gene has recently been established as a complementary <it>in vitro </it>diagnostic tool for the identification of patients with colorectal cancer who will not benefit from anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies. Assessment of the mutation status of <it>KRAS </it>might also be of potential relevance in other EGFR-overexpressing tumors, such as those occurring in breast cancer. Although <it>KRAS </it>is mutated in only a minor fraction of breast tumors (5%), about 60% of the basal-like subtype express EGFR and, therefore could be targeted by EGFR inhibitors. We aimed to study the mutation frequency of <it>KRAS </it>in that subtype of breast tumors to provide a molecular basis for the evaluation of anti-EGFR therapies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Total, genomic DNA was obtained from a group of 35 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded, triple-negative breast tumor samples. Among these, 77.1% (27/35) were defined as basal-like by immunostaining specific for the established surrogate markers cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and/or EGFR. <it>KRAS </it>mutational status was determined in the purified DNA samples by Real Time (RT)-PCR using primers specific for the detection of wild-type <it>KRAS </it>or the following seven oncogenic somatic mutations: Gly12Ala, Gly12Asp, Gly12Arg, Gly12Cys, Gly12Ser, Gly12Val and Gly13Asp.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found no evidence of <it>KRAS </it>oncogenic mutations in all analyzed tumors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study indicates that <it>KRAS </it>mutations are very infrequent in triple-negative breast tumors and that EGFR inhibitors may be of potential benefit in the treatment of basal-like breast tumors, which overexpress EGFR in about 60% of all cases.</p

FRÊNULO LABIAL SUPERIOR E INFERIOR: ESTUDO CLÍNICO QUANTO A MORFOLOGIA E LOCAL DE INSERÇÃO E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NA HIGIENE BUCAL SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR LABIAL FRENULUM: CLINICAL STUDY OF MORPHOLOGY, POSITION OF ATTACHMENT, AND INFLUENCE ON ORAL HYGIENE

Foi realizada uma pesquisa visando a avaliação morfológica e o local de inserção dos frênulos labiais superiores e inferiores. A amostra foi constituída de 100 pacientes em condições sócio-econômicas semelhantes, tendo-se observado que o frênulo labial simples foi o mais prevalente, inserindo o superior na gengiva inserida e o inferior, na mucosa alveolar. A distância média da inserção, em relação à borda gengival livre, foi de 4,4 mm para o superior e de 5,6 mm para o inferior. Foi possível, nessas áreas, manter o controle clínico da placa bacteriana<br>A study was carried out to evaluate morphology and position of attachment of the superior and inferior labial frenulum. One hundred patients were evaluated. In this sample, the simple labial frenulum was the most prevalent. Superior frenulum insertion was most frequently found in the attached gingiva, while insertion of the lower frenulum was predominantly located in the alveolar mucosa. The mean distance from the frenulum attachment to the gingival margin was 4.4 mm for the superior frenulum, and 5.6 mm for the inferior labial frenulu