Hoxb7 overexpression leads triple-negative breast cancer cells to a less aggressive phenotype

HOX genes appear to play a role in breast cancer progression in a molecular subtype-dependent way. The altered expression of HOXB7, for example, was reported to promote breast cancer progression in specific subtypes. Here we induced HOXB7 overexpression in MDA-MB-231 cells, a cellular model of the Triple-Negative breast cancer molecular subtype, and evaluated the phenotypic changes in cell viability, morphogenesis, migration, invasion, and colony formation. During the phenotypic characterization of the HOXB7-overexpressing cells, we consistently found less aggressive behavior represented by lower cell viability, inhibition of cell migration, invasion, and attachment-independent colony formation capacities added to the more compact and organized spheroid growth in 3D cultures. We then evaluated the expression of putative downstream targets and their direct binding to HOXB7 comparing ChIP-qPCR data generated from HOXB7-overexpressing cells and controls. In the manipulated cells, we found enriched biding of HOXB7 to CTNNB1, EGFR, FGF2, CDH1, DNMT3B, TGFB2, and COMMD7. Taken together, these results highlight the plasticity of the HOXB7 function in breast cancer, according to the cellular genetic background and expression levels, and provide evidence that in Triple-Negative breast cancer cells, HOXB7 overexpression has the potential to promote less aggressive phenotypes.This research was funded FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020—Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030562), Portugal 2020, and Portuguese funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior in the framework of the project PTDC/BTM-TEC/30562/2017

Produção de morango no Distrito Federal.

O morangueiro no Distrito Federal; Perfil dos produtores; Práticas culturais; Controle fitossanitário; Comercialização; Dificuldades e desafios.bitstream/item/109187/1/CNPH-PROD.-DE-MORAN.-DO-DF.-09.pd

Late-onset of eruptive syringomas: a diagnostic challenge

Syringoma is a benign, adnexal tumor of the eccrine sweat gland ducts. Eruptive syringomas are a rare variant, occurring before or during puberty in most cases. A 57-year-old man was observed in our department, with a 10-year history of multiple brownish papules (1-4mm in diameter), localized on the neck, shoulders, trunk and axillae. The clinical diagnosis was cutaneous mastocytosis. Histopathological examination from a papule in the trunk was compatible with the diagnosis of syringoma. The patient was treated with isotretinoin, without any improvement. The clinical diagnosis of eruptive syringoma is difficult and histological examination is crucial for its diagnosis. Long-term morbidity is not associated with syringomas; they are treated for cosmetic reasons with unsatisfactory results

Pet ownership during the first 5 years after breast cancer diagnosis in the NEON-BC cohort

Background Although human-animal interactions (HAI) have been associated with health benefits, they have not been extensively studied among cancer patients nor which factors may influence HAI during cancer survivorship. Therefore, this study aims to describe pet ownership in a breast cancer cohort within 5 years post-diagnosis and to identify associated factors. Methods Four hundred sixty-six patients from the NEON-BC cohort were evaluated. Four groups of pet ownership over the 5 years were defined: 'never had', 'stopped having', 'started having' and 'always had'. Multinomial logistic regression was used to quantify the association between the patient characteristics and the groups defined (reference: 'never had'). Results 51.7% of patients had pets at diagnosis, which increased to 58.4% at 5 years; dogs and cats were the most common. Women presenting depressive symptoms and poor quality of life were more likely to stop having pets. Older and unpartnered women were less likely to start having pets. Those retired, living outside Porto, having diabetes or having owned animals during adulthood were more likely to start having pets. Women with higher education and unpartnered were less likely to always have pets. Those living in larger households, with other adults or having animals throughout life, were more likely to always have pets. Obese women had lower odds of stopping having dogs/cats. Women submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and longer chemotherapy treatments were more likely to stop having dogs/cats. Conclusions Pet ownership changed over the 5 years and is influenced by sociodemographic, clinical and treatment characteristics, patient-reported outcomes and past pet ownership, reflecting the importance of HAI during cancer survivorship.This work was funded by FEDER through the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization and national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology-FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) under the project 'A five-year prospective cohort study on the neurological complications of breast cancer: frequency and impact in patient-reported outcomes' (POCI-01-0145-FEDER016867, Ref. PTDC/DTP-EPI/7183/2014), and national funding from FCT under the Unidade de Investigacao em Epidemiologia-Instituto de Saude Publica da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (UIDB/04750/2020). Individual grants attributed to NA (SFRH/BD/119390/2016) and FF (SFRH/BD/92630/2013) were funded by FCT and the 'Programa Operacional Capital Humano' (POCH/FSE). Data management activities up to the first year of follow-up were supported by the Chair on Pain Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto and by the Grunenthal Foundation-Portugal

Dermatite de contacto alérgica a sombra de olhos

Introdução: A dermatite de pálpebras secundária à exposição a cosméticos é descrita na literatura entre 2.5% e 26%. A maquilhagem pigmentada pode conter alergénios metálicos, incluindo níquel, crómio e cobalto. Caso clínico: Doente do sexo feminino, 52 anos, cabeleireira, com antecedentes de atopia. Recorreu à consulta de Dermatologia com história de prurido, eritema e descamação das pálpebras com 7 meses de evolução. Na sua história médica passada foi referida dermatite do lóbulo da orelha aos brincos. Foi encaminhada à consulta de Alergologia Cutânea para realização de testes epicutâneos com a série básica do Grupo Português de Dermatite de Contactos, série cosméticos, série cabeleireiro e os produtos pessoais da doente (em teste semiaberto). Foram observadas reacções positivas ao sulfato de níquel 5% em vaselina (++ em D3) e valentina D kejal® (sombra de olhos cinzenta). Conclusões: Os cosméticos são uma potencial fonte sensibilizante da pele da face, especialmente em mulheres com atopia e alteração da barreira cutânea, o que favorece a penetração de alergénios. Isto permite que o níquel em baixas concentrações, mesmo que, como contaminante, desencadeie reacção palpebral.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quality of life trajectories in breast cancer patients: an updated analysis 5 years after diagnosis

Letter to the editorThis work was funded by FEDER through the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization and national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) under the project ‘A five-year prospective cohort study on the neurological complications of breast cancer: frequency and impact in patient-reported outcomes’ (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016867, Ref. PTDC/DTP-EPI/7183/2014), and national funding from FCT under the Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016867, Ref. PTDC/DTP-EPI/7183/2014), and national funding from FCT under the Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB/04750/2020/PT). LLC was funded under the scope of the project ‘NEON-PC—Neuro-oncological complications of prostate cancer: longitudinal study of cognitive decline’ (POCI01–0145-FEDER-032358; ref. PTDC/SAU-EPI/32358/2017). Individual grants attributed to NA (SFRH/BD/119390/2016) and FF (SFRH/BD/92630/2013) were funded by FCT and the ‘Programa Operacional Capital Humano’ (POCH/FSE). Data management activities up to the first year of follow-up were supported by the Chair on Pain Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, and by the Grünenthal Foundation—Portugal

Understanding cost escalation in nuclear reactor construction projects

This work seeks to evaluate overnight construction costs (OCC) and lead time escalation of nuclear reactors from 1955 to 2016. To this end, a comprehensive database of commercial Light Water Reactors (LWR) was developed and a statistical analysis was conducted. Findings reveal that there is significant delay in lead time, especially for the last generation reactors constructed from 2010’s. This results in the escalation of capital costs rather than a decline. Average OCC of newer reactors are 60% higher than the ones implemented in the earlier stages of the nuclear era. This suggests a negative learning curve effect for both OCC and lead time, which threats the market and financial sustainability of current and future nuclear energy projects. Although this is a general trend, this negative effect is country specific and, thus, induced by national policies and regulatory frameworks. Therefore, the role of nuclear technology to cope with the decarbonisation of the power sector must be better evaluated, taking into account the real cost impacts of nuclear technology implementation.This work was also funded by the Brazilian research funding agency CNPq.This work was funded by the Brazilian research funding agency CNPq and the Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme Fellowship within the 7th European Union Framework Programme, under the project NETEP- European Brazilian Network on Energy Planning (PIRSES-GA-2013-612263)

Cancer-Related Neuropathic Pain, Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Cognitive Decline in a 5-Year Prospective Study of Patients with Breast Cancer—NEON-BC

This study aims to estimate the prevalence and to identify the determinants of cancer-related neuropathic pain (CRNP), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and cognitive decline among patients with breast cancer over five years after diagnosis. Women with an incident breast cancer (n = 462) and proposed for surgery were recruited at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology-Porto in 2012 and underwent systematic neurological examinations and evaluations with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before treatment and after one, three, and five years. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of CRNP and CIPN, and multivariate linear regression for the variation in MoCA scores. Prevalence of CRNP and CIPN decreased from the first to the fifth year after diagnosis (CRNP: from 21.1% to 16.2%, p = 0.018; CIPN: from 22.0% to 16.0% among those undergoing chemotherapy, p = 0.007). Cognitive impairment was observed in at least one assessment in 17.7% of the women. Statistically significant associations were observed between: cancer stage III and both CRNP and CIPN; triple negative breast cancer, chemotherapy, axillary node dissection, older age, higher education, and being single and CRNP; taxanes and fruit and vegetable consumption and CIPN. Anxiety, depression and poor sleep quality at baseline were associated with decreases in MoCA values from pre- to post-treatment and with CRNP. Follow-up protocols should consider the persistence of CRNP, CIPN, and cognitive impairment for several years following diagnosis. © 2023 by the authors.Funding: Data management activities at baseline and one-year follow-up were supported by the Chair on Pain Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto and by the Grünenthal Foundation-Portugal. Three-and five-year evaluations were conducted within the research activities of the Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit, UIDB/04750/2020) and Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR, LA/P/0064/2020) funded by national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education), and of the project ‘A five-year prospective cohort study on the neurological complications of breast cancer: frequency and impact in patient-reported outcomes’ (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016867, Ref. PTDC/DTP-EPI/7183/2014) funded by ERDF through the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization and by FCT. L.L-C. and S.M. were also funded under the scope of the project “NEON-PC—Neuro-oncological complications of prostate cancer: longitudinal study of cognitive decline” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032358; ref. PTDC/SAU-EPI/32358/2017). Individual grants attributed to N.A. (SFRH/BD/119390/2016) and F.F. (SFRH/BD/92630/2013) were funded by FCT and the ‘Programa Operacional Capital Humano’ (POCH/FSE)