Aspectos da Lusofonia: A Língua Portuguesa. Elo de Ligação e de Integração

Auf Portugiesisch träumen Thomas Sträter, Leiter der Port.-Bras. Abteilung am SÜD Als meine Mitarbeiterin in der Portugiesisch-Brasilianischen Abteilung, Filomena de Sousa Alberti, im Herbst 2011 mir ihre Idee vorschlug, in eigener Regie an unserem Seminar für Übersetzen und Dolmetschen ein Kolloquium zur Lusophonie zu veranstalten, habe ich sofort begeistert zugestimmt. Natürlich mussten dazu die notwendigen finanziellen Mittel organisiert werden. Doch dank ihrer Entschlusskraft, ihres Enthusiasmus' und der Unterstützung bei Konzeption, Planung und Durchführung durch ihre Kolleginnen Maria de Jesus Durán Kremer und Rosa Rodrigues sowie Kerstin Kock konnte das Kolloquium unter dem Titel „Facetten der portugiesischsprachigen Welt - Sprache als Bindeglied und Integrationskraft“ am Donnerstag, den 20. Januar 2011 erfolgreich stattfinden. Fünf vortragende Gäste, alle namhafte Experten auf ihrem Gebiet, trugen dazu bei, diesen Tag für ein Publikum mit über 80 Anwesenden, die nicht nur aus dem Studierendenkreis kamen, zu einer informationsreichen und anregenden Veranstaltung zu machen. Ich selbst übernahm die Rolle des Moderators, der der Abwechslung halber für unsere Dolmetscher(innen) in den Kabinen als Einziger auf Deutsch sprach, während die Vorträge auf Portugiesisch gehalten wurden und ihrerseits simultan ins Deutsche gedolmetscht wurden

RELÓGIO BIOLÓGICO: A IMPORTÂNCIA DA FITOTERAPIA

O clima brasileiro favorece o cultivo de diferentes espécies de plantas, incluindo as medicinais. A fitoterapia, como é chamado o emprego das plantas na cura das doenças, é uma prática milenar, fato conhecido pelo estudo das tradições populares e investigado pela etnobotânica. Esses conhecimentos têm sido transmitidos de geração a geração, podendo ser uma importante alternativa para tratar doenças e amenizar dores e incômodos. Mesmo com a evolução da medicina, o uso de plantas medicinais está presente na rotina de muitos brasileiros, tendo em vista o alto custo dos medicamentos. O objetivo do presente estudo é apresentar alternativas naturais para o uso de plantas medicinais, contribuindo desta forma, para a substituição dos medicamentos industrializados. A implantação do “relógio biológico” no IFC tem como finalidade fornecer medicamentos naturais para alunos e servidores, visto que quem reside dentro do campus ou mesmo para os demais alunos, possam ter dificuldades na compra de remédios farmacêuticos, as plantas medicinais podem ser uma alternativa acessível e mais saudável para os mesmos, sendo também utilizado como ferramenta de estudo e pesquisa. A área a ser utilizada para implantação do projeto poderá ser um pequeno espaço (relógio biológico ou canteiro) no setor de jardinagem/fruticultura do Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC) Campus Concórdia. Serão cultivadas diferentes espécies de plantas medicinais em formato de relógio biológico. O relógio será preparado usando pedras ou tijolos. A terra utilizada para o plantio das mudas será de boa qualidade, uma mistura de terra de mato, adubo orgânico, químico e casca de arroz carbonizada. Uma vez selecionadas as mudas das espécies medicinais, se efetuará o plantio, regando sempre que necessário. Desta forma, espera-se que o horto medicinal ou “relógio biológico implantado” com espécies medicinais, além de disponibilizar chás para alunos, servidores e professores do IFC Campus Concórdia, poderá se transformar em um laboratório vivo, tornando-se uma estratégia para promover conhecimento, bem-estar e qualidade de vida às pessoas

Interleukin-6-dependent survival of multiple myeloma cells involves the Stat3-mediated induction of micro-RNA-21 through a highly conserved enhancer

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is implicated in the pathogenesis of many malignancies and essential for IL-6–dependent survival and growth of multiple myeloma cells. Here, we demonstrate that the gene encoding oncogenic microRNA-21 (miR-21) is controlled by an upstream enhancer containing 2 Stat3 binding sites strictly conserved since the first observed evolutionary appearance of miR-21 and Stat3. MiR-21 induction by IL-6 was strictly Stat3 dependent. Ectopically raising miR-21 expression in myeloma cells in the absence of IL-6 significantly reduced their apoptosis levels. These data provide strong evidence that miR-21 induction contributes to the oncogenic potential of Stat3

The Role of lncRNAs TAPIR-1 and -2 as Diagnostic Markers and Potential Therapeutic Targets in Prostate Cancer

In search of new biomarkers suitable for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, genome-wide transcriptome sequencing was carried out with tissue specimens from 40 prostate cancer (PCa) and 8 benign prostate hyperplasia patients. We identified two intergenic long non-coding transcripts, located in close genomic proximity, which are highly expressed in PCa. Microarray studies on a larger cohort comprising 155 patients showed a profound diagnostic potential of these transcripts (AUC~0.94), which we designated as tumor associated prostate cancer increased lncRNA (TAPIR-1 and -2). To test their therapeutic potential, knockdown experiments with siRNA were carried out. The knockdown caused an increase in the p53/TP53 tumor suppressor protein level followed by downregulation of a large number of cell cycle- and DNA-damage repair key regulators. Furthermore, in radiation therapy resistant tumor cells, the knockdown leads to a renewed sensitization of these cells to radiation treatment. Accordingly, in a preclinical PCa xenograft model in mice, the systemic application of nanoparticles loaded with siRNA targeting TAPIR-1 significantly reduced tumor growth. These findings point to a crucial role of TAPIR-1 and -2 in PCa

Assessing a risk tailored intervention to prevent disabling low back pain - protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although most patients with low back pain (LBP) recover within a few weeks a significant proportion has recurrent episodes or will develop chronic low back pain. Several mainly psychosocial risk factors for developing chronic LBP have been identified. However, effects of preventive interventions aiming at behavioural risk factors and unfavourable cognitions have yielded inconsistent results. Risk tailored interventions may provide a cost efficient and effective means to take systematic account of the individual risk factors but evidence is lacking.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This study will be a cluster-randomised controlled trial comparing screening and a subsequent risk tailored intervention for patients with low back pain to prevent chronic low back pain compared to treatment as usual in primary care. A total of 600 patients from 20 practices in each study arm will be recruited in Berlin and Goettingen. The intervention comprises the following elements: Patients will be assigned to one of four risk groups based on a screening questionnaire. Subsequently they receive an educational intervention including information and counselling tailored to the risk group. A telephone/email consulting service for back pain related problems are offered independent of risk group assignment. The primary outcomes will be functional capacity and sick leave.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of screening for risk factors for chronic low back pain followed by a risk tailored intervention to prevent chronic low back pain. This trial will contribute new evidence regarding the flexible use of individual physical and psychosocial risk factors in general practice.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN 68205910</p

Large scale multifactorial likelihood quantitative analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants: An ENIGMA resource to support clinical variant classification

The multifactorial likelihood analysis method has demonstrated utility for quantitative assessment of variant pathogenicity for multiple cancer syndrome genes. Independent data types currently incorporated in the model for assessing BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants include clinically calibrated prior probability of pathogenicity based on variant location and bioinformatic prediction of variant effect, co-segregation, family cancer history profile, co-occurrence with a pathogenic variant in the same gene, breast tumor pathology, and case-control information. Research and clinical data for multifactorial likelihood analysis were collated for 1,395 BRCA1/2 predominantly intronic and missense variants, enabling classification based on posterior probability of pathogenicity for 734 variants: 447 variants were classified as (likely) benign, and 94 as (likely) pathogenic; and 248 classifications were new or considerably altered relative to ClinVar submissions. Classifications were compared with information not yet included in the likelihood model, and evidence strengths aligned to those recommended for ACMG/AMP classification codes. Altered mRNA splicing or function relative to known nonpathogenic variant controls were moderately to strongly predictive of variant pathogenicity. Variant absence in population datasets provided supporting evidence for variant pathogenicity. These findings have direct relevance for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant evaluation, and justify the need for gene-specific calibration of evidence types used for variant classification