51 research outputs found

    Progastrin Represses the Alternative Activation of Human Macrophages and Modulates Their Influence on Colon Cancer Epithelial Cells

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    Macrophage infiltration is a negative prognostic factor for most cancers but gastrointestinal tumors seem to be an exception. The effect of macrophages on cancer progression depends on their phenotype, which may vary between M1 (pro-inflammatory, defensive) to M2 (tolerogenic, pro-tumoral). Gastrointestinal cancers often become an ectopic source of gastrins and macrophages present receptors for these peptides. The aim of the present study is to analyze whether gastrins can affect the pattern of macrophage infiltration in colorectal tumors. We have evaluated the relationship between gastrin expression and the pattern of macrophage infiltration in samples from colorectal cancer and the influence of these peptides on the phenotype of macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in vitro. The total number of macrophages (CD68+ cells) was similar in tumoral and normal surrounding tissue, but the number of M2 macrophages (CD206+ cells) was significantly higher in the tumor. However, the number of these tumor-associated M2 macrophages correlated negatively with the immunoreactivity for gastrin peptides in tumor epithelial cells. Macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in the presence of progastrin showed lower levels of M2-markers (CD206, IL10) with normal amounts of M1-markers (CD86, IL12). Progastrin induced similar effects in mature macrophages treated with IL4 to obtain a M2-phenotype or with LPS plus IFNÎł to generate M1-macrophages. Macrophages differentiated in the presence of progastrin presented a reduced expression of Wnt ligands and decreased the number and increased cell death of co-cultured colorectal cancer epithelial cells. Our results suggest that progastrin inhibits the acquisition of a M2-phenotype in human macrophages. This effect exerted on tumor associated macrophages may modulate cancer progression and should be taken into account when analyzing the therapeutic value of gastrin immunoneutralization

    Oral mucosal lesions and their association with sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status factors

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    The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of oral mucosal lesions and their associations with sociodemographic, health, and behavioral factors in a southern Brazilian population. Information was collected from participants (n = 801) using a structured questionnaire during an oral cancer screening campaign held at an agribusiness show in southern Brazil in 2009. Data were described using frequency distributions or means and standard deviations. Associations between independent variables and outcomes were assessed using the Chi-squared test. A total of 465 lesions were detected (actinic cheilitis: n = 204, 25.5%; candidiasis: n = 50, 6.2%; fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia: n = 42, 5.2%; ulceration, n = 33, 4.1%; hemangioma: n = 14, 1.7%; leukoplakia: n = 11, 1.4%). Candidiasis, actinic cheilitis, and fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia were associated significantly with literacy. Actinic cheilitis was also associated significantly with sun exposure and hat use, and leukoplakia was associated with smoking. The high frequency of oral mucosal lesions observed highlights the importance of education about risk factors. Additionally, training of health professionals, mainly those from public health services, in the use of preventive and community education strategies is needed

    Harmful Elements in Estuarine and Coastal Systems

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    Estuaries and coastal zones are dynamic transitional systems which provide many economic and ecological benefits to humans, but also are an ideal habitat for other organisms as well. These areas are becoming contaminated by various anthropogenic activities due to a quick economic growth and urbanization. This chapter explores the sources, chemical speciation, sediment accumulation and removal mechanisms of the harmful elements in estuarine and coastal seawaters. It also describes the effects of toxic elements on aquatic flora and fauna. Finally, the toxic element pollution of the Venice Lagoon, a transitional water body located in the northeastern part of Italy, is discussed as a case study, by presenting the procedures adopted to measure the extent of the pollution, the impacts on organisms and the restoration activities

    Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

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    Perfil clĂ­nico e atuação fisioterapĂȘutica em pacientes atendidos na emergĂȘncia pediĂĄtrica de um hospital pĂșblico de GoiĂĄs

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    Nos Ășltimos anos, tem-se ampliado a atuação fisioterapĂȘutica no setor de urgĂȘncia e emergĂȘncia, visando reduzir complicaçÔes e tempo de internação hospitalar. Os objetivos deste estudo foram traçar o perfil dos pacientes admitidos na sala de reanimação do Serviço de ReferĂȘncia em UrgĂȘncia PediĂĄtrica (SERUPE) do Hospital das ClĂ­nicas da Universidade Federal de GoiĂĄs (HC/UFG) e descrever a atuação fisioterapĂȘutica nesse setor. Trata-se de um estudo observacional, prospectivo, realizado entre fevereiro e junho de 2012, para o qual foram acompanhados todos os pacientes admitidos na sala de reanimação do SERUPE. Foram avaliados 47 pacientes, 53,2% (n=25) do sexo masculino, idade mĂ©dia de 5,2±4,1 anos e 74,5% (n=35) apresentavam doenças prĂ©vias. A queixa principal mais frequente foi dispneia em 26,1% (n=29) dos casos e as hipĂłteses diagnĂłsticas mais identificadas foram doenças respiratĂłrias em 69,4% (n=43). Do total de pacientes, 76,6% (n=36) necessitaram de oxigenoterapia, 21,3% (n=10), de assistĂȘncia ventilatĂłria e 31,9% (n=15) tiveram acompanhamento fisioterapĂȘutico, 86,7% (n=13) com abordagem respiratĂłria e motora. O tempo mĂ©dio de permanĂȘncia na sala de reanimação foi de 1,9±1,5 dias; subsequentemente, 63,8% (n=30) dos pacientes foram internados em enfermaria. Portanto, verifica-se que, no setor de emergĂȘncia, existe uma grande demanda de pacientes com desordens respiratĂłrias que podem se beneficiar com a presença de um fisioterapeuta
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