HTLV-I/II e doadores de sangue: determinantes associados à soropositividade em população de baixo risco

OBJECTIVE: Blood donors in Brazil have been routinely screened for HTLV-I/II since 1993. A study was performed to estimate the prevalence of HTLV-I/II infection in a low risk population and to better understand determinants associated with seropositivity. METHODS: HTLV-I/II seropositive (n=135), indeterminate (n=167) and seronegative blood donors (n=116) were enrolled in an open prevalence prospective cohort study. A cross-sectional epidemiological study of positive, indeterminate and seronegative HTLV-I/II subjects was conducted to assess behavioral and environmental risk factors for seropositivity. HTLV-I/II serological status was confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) and Western blot (WB). RESULTS: The three groups were not homogeneous. HTLV-I/II seropositivity was associated to past blood transfusion and years of schooling, a marker of socioeconomic status, and use of non-intravenous illegal drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The study results reinforce the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement of blood donor selection process.OBJETIVO: Doadores de sangue no Brasil têm sido avaliados sorologicamente para o HTLV-I/II desde 1993. Assim, realizou-se estudo para estimar a prevalência dessa infecção em população de baixo risco e para melhor compreender os determinantes associados à soropositividade. MÉTODOS: Doadores de sangue soropositivos (n=135), soroindeterminados (n=167) e soronegativos (n=116) foram arrolados como participantes de uma coorte aberta e prevalente. Estudo transversal dos participantes desses três grupos avaliou fatores de risco comportamentais e ambientais para soropositividade. O status sorológico foi definido usando a reação de EIA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) e o teste Western blot (WB). RESULTADOS: Os três grupos apresentaram heterogeneidade entre si. A soropositividade mostrou-se associada à história pregressa de transfusão de sangue, em nível educacional, como um marcador de condição socioeconômica e ao uso de drogas ilegais não endovenosas. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados confirmam a importância de um monitoramento e refinamento do processo de seleção dos doadores de sangue

NDRG1 protein overexpression in malignant thyroid neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of the N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 protein in benign and malignant lesions of the thyroid gland by immunohistochemistry. INTRODUCTION: N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 encodes a protein whose expression is induced by various stimuli, including cell differentiation, exposure to heavy metals, hypoxia, and DNA damage. Increased N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 expression has been detected in various types of tumors, but the role of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 expression in thyroid lesions remains to be determined. METHODS: A tissue microarray paraffin block containing 265 tissue fragments corresponding to normal thyroid, nodular goiter, follicular adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma (classical pattern and follicular variant), follicular carcinoma, and metastases of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal anti- N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 antibody. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical expression of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 was higher in carcinomas compared to normal thyroid glands and nodular goiters, with higher expression in classical papillary thyroid carcinomas and metastases of thyroid carcinomas (P < 0.001). A combined analysis showed higher immunohistochemical expression of NDRG1 in malignant lesions (classical pattern and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas, follicular carcinomas, and metastases of thyroid carcinomas) compared to benign thyroid lesions (goiter and follicular adenomas) (P = 0.043). In thyroid carcinomas, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 expression was significantly correlated with a more advanced TNM stage (P = 0.007) and age, metastasis, tumor extent, and size (AMES) high-risk group (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid carcinomas showed increased immunohistochemical N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 expression compared to normal and benign thyroid lesions and is correlated with more advanced tumor stages

Foxp3 expression is associated with aggressiveness in differentiated thyroid carcinomas

OBJECTIVES: Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) expression has been observed in human cancer cells but has not yet been reported in thyroid cells. We investigated the prognostic significance of both FoxP3 expression and intratumoral FoxP3+ lymphocyte infiltration in differentiated thyroid carcinoma cells. METHODS: We constructed a tissue microarray with 385 thyroid tissues, including 266 malignant tissues (from 253 papillary thyroid carcinomas and 13 follicular carcinomas), 114 benign lesions, and 5 normal thyroid tissues. RESULTS: We determined the expression of FoxP3 in both tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes using immunohistochemical techniques. Cellular expression of FoxP3 was evident in 71% of benign and 91.9% of malignant tissues. The nuclear and cytoplasmic expression patterns were quantified separately. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that cytoplasmic FoxP3 expression is an independent risk factor for thyroid malignancy. Cytoplasmic FoxP3 staining was inversely correlated with patient age. Nuclear FoxP3 staining was more intense in younger patients and in tumors presenting with metastasis at diagnosis. FoxP3+ lymphocytes were more frequent in tumors smaller than 2 cm, those without extrathyroidal invasion, and in patients with concurrent chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated FoxP3 expression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma cells and found evidence that this expression may exert an important influence on several features of tumor aggressiveness

Head and Neck: Primary oral mucosal melanoma

Primary Oral Mucosal Melanoma (POMM) is an aggressive and rare disease that involves mostly the hard palate and upper gingiva, followed by mandibular gingiva, lip mucosa, and other oral sites. POMM develops primarily between the 5th and 8th decades of life and most studies report a similar distribution between males and females. In contrast to cutaneous melanomas, the risk factors and pathogenesis are poorly understood. However, genetic profiling of mucosal melanomas have identified a number of altered genes, such as KIT, BRAF and N-RAS, suggesting that molecular pathways like the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (RAS/MEK/ERK) and the phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase-PTEN pathway (PI3K/AKT/PTEN/mTOR) might be used for potential targeted therapy

Endocannabinoid system and periodontitis: mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Abstract Introduction Periodontitis is a major public health problem. Although the principle of periodontitis therapy is mainly focused on removing dental biofilm and associated factors, its physiopathology enrolls different molecular and inflammatory events related to the host immune system, as the participation of the endocannabinoid system. Objective This review aimed to explore and elucidate the mechanisms and roles of the endocannabinoid system on periodontitis physiopathology and its possibilities for future related therapies. Material and method An electronic search was carried out on the PubMed platform for studies involving the action of the endocannabinoid system on periodontitis. Result Nineteen clinical and preclinical studies were included in this narrative review. Conclusion Cannabinoid receptors type 1 and 2 are integral components of the endocannabinoid system, manifesting in various forms in the periodontal tissues. The actions and mechanisms through which cannabinoid receptors are activated in healthy or inflamed sites remain the focus of ongoing investigations. Moreover, phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids show therapeutic potential, with pre-clinical studies indicating benefits in reducing inflammation and facilitating tissue repair