The expression of FHIT, PCNA and EGFR in benign and malignant breast lesions

Immunohistochemical staining for FHIT and PCNA proteins was carried out in 451 breast lesions showing nonproliferative benign breast disease (BBD) (n=263), proliferative BBD without atypia (n=128), proliferative BBD with atypia (n=11), carcinoma in situ (n=15) or invasive carcinoma (n=34) and for EGFR protein in a subset of 71 of these cases. FHIT underexpression was not detected in nonproliferative lesions, but occurred in 2% of proliferative BBD without atypia, 10% proliferative BBD with atypia, 27% of carcinoma in situ and 41% of invasive carcinoma, which suggests that it could be useful in assessing those carcinoma in situ lesions (ductal, DCIS and lobular, LCIS) that are more likely to progress to malignancy. Preliminary microarray comparisons on DCIS and invasive carcinoma samples dissected from formalin-fixed paraffin sections showed a consistent downregulation of two previously identified FHIT-related genes, caspase 1 and BRCA1 in lesions underexpressing FHIT

Supply chain sustainability performance measurement of small and medium sized enterprises using structural equation modeling

Sustainability of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is significant as SMEs contribute to GDP substantially in every economy. This research develops an innovative sustainable supply chain performance measurement model for SMEs. Prior researches predominantly use balanced score card (BSC) approach that presume causal relationship of criteria and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which derive efficiency of units from a few input and output criteria. While DEA is effective for policymakers, BSC is more suitable for individual SME. The proposed method that uses structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to derive the relationship of criteria and criteria weights formulates regression-type models for a specific region as well as for specific SME. The SEM-based supply chain sustainability performance measurement model is beneficial to policymakers as they can determine means for improvement at a regional level. The proposed method could also facilitate managers/owners of individual SMEs with measures for improving their supply chain sustainability performance. The method has been applied to three varied geographical locations in the UK, France and India in order to demonstrate its effectiveness

Evidence for the ‘Good Genes’ Model: Association of MHC Class II DRB Alleles with Ectoparasitism and Reproductive State in the Neotropical Lesser Bulldog Bat, Noctilio albiventris

The adaptive immune system has a major impact on parasite resistance and life history strategies. Immunological defence is costly both in terms of immediate activation and long-term maintenance. The ‘good genes’ model predicts that males with genotypes that promote a good disease resistance have the ability to allocate more resources to reproductive effort which favours the transmission of good alleles into future generations. Our study shows a correlation between immune gene constitution (Major Histocompatibility Complex, MHC class II DRB), ectoparasite loads (ticks and bat flies) and the reproductive state in a neotropical bat, Noctilio albiventris. Infestation rates with ectoparasites were linked to specific Noal-DRB alleles, differed among roosts, increased with body size and co-varied with reproductive state particularly in males. Non-reproductive adult males were more infested with ectoparasites than reproductively active males, and they had more often an allele (Noal-DRB*02) associated with a higher tick infestation than reproductively active males or subadults. We conclude that the individual immune gene constitution affects ectoparasite susceptibility, and contributes to fitness relevant trade-offs in male N. albiventris as suggested by the ‘good genes’ model

A inclusão da equipe de saúde bucal na Estratégia Saúde da Família: entraves, avanços e desafios

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir a inclusão da saúde bucal na Estratégia Saúde da Família, em cidades de uma microrregião do sudeste do Brasil, sob a perspectiva dos recursos humanos. Foram aplicados questionários aos integrantes do serviço de saúde bucal: dentistas, auxiliares e gestores. O instrumento considerou três dimensões: como e porque se adotou o novo modelo, como o serviço está se reorganizando e que avanços foram percebidos pelos profissionais. O motivo mais mencionado pelos gestores, para inclusão da Saúde Bucal foi a possibilidade de mudança do modelo tecno-assistencial. Dentistas e auxiliares quando questionados sobre sua motivação, também consideraram prioritariamente a possibilidade de mudança na prática. Observou-se ainda que existem nós críticos na contratação e capacitação de recursos humanos para atuar na equipe de saúde bucal e na integração entre os profissionais de saúde. Mas o acesso está melhor, seja pela organização efetuada, seja pela expansão de equipes. Os municípios da microrregião ainda enfrentam percalços para que o funcionamento do serviço de saúde bucal, após a Saúde da Família, apresente avanços reais nas práticas de atenção. Porém, os avanços existem e estes devem ser reforçados, para consolidação do sistema de saúde e melhoria na qualidade de vida da população