Metal concentrations in the whole blood of farmers in southeast Brazil.

In this study, we measured Ni, Co, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the whole blood of farmers from southeast Brazil to address the factors influencing human exposure in this population. The factors included smoking, alcohol consumption, aging, body composition, gender, and feeding preferences, which were measured through carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition. We also calculated and compared the reference values (RVs) of the measured elements to evaluate ongoing exposure levels.

Tobacco use modify exon IV BDNF gene methylation levels in depression.

This study aimed to investigate BDNF gene methylation in individuals with depression based on tobacco use. Therefore, 384 adults from southeastern Brazil were recruited to assess depression, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and methylation by pyrosequencing exon IV promoter region of the BDNF gene. The Generalized Linear Model (GzLM) was used to check the effect of depression, tobacco, and the interaction between depression and tobacco use in methylation levels.

Chlorine, chromium, proteins of oxidative stress and DNA repair pathways are related to prognosis in oral cancer.

The comparison of chemical and histopathological data obtained from the analysis of excised tumor fragments oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with the demographic and clinical evolution data is an effective strategy scarcely explored in OSCC studies. The aim was to analyze OSCC tissues for protein expression of enzymes related to oxidative stress and DNA repair and trace elements as candidates as markers of tumor aggressiveness and prognosis. Tumor fragments from 78 OSCC patients that had undergone ablative surgery were qualitatively analyzed by synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence for trace elements.

PAI-1 expression in intratumoral inflammatory infiltrate contributes to lymph node metastasis in oral cancer: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Immune cells contribute with mediators in the protein expression profile of the tumor microenvironment. Levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are elevated in non-malignant inflammatory conditions; however, the association between PAI-1 expression and inflammation remains uncertain in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study aimed to investigate PAI-1 expression in mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate in OSCC and its role as a prognostic marker.

Alcohol consumption, depression, overweight and cortisol levels as determining factors for NR3C1 gene methylation.

The NR3C1 glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene is a component of the stress response system, which can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. NR3C1 methylation has been associated with trauma and mental issues, including depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and personality disorders. Previous studies have reported that stressful events are involved in NR3C1 gene methylation, suggesting that its regulation under environmental effects is complex.

Elemental characterization of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and its relationship with smoking, prognosis and survival.

Oral cancer squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) mainly affects individuals aged between 50 and 70 years who consume tobacco and alcohol. Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of known toxic and carcinogenic molecules, and a few studies have sought to verify the relationship of such trace elements as risk or prognostic factors for head and neck cancer. We obtained 78 samples of tumor tissues from patients with OCSCC, and performed a qualitative elemental characterization using the micro X-Ray Fluorescence technique based on synchrotron radiation.

Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Residents from Remote Areas.

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for depressive symptoms among rural residents in Brazil. A representative sample of two hundred eighty-eight volunteers aged from 18 to 65 years was included and determining factors for high BDI-II score were investigated through a multivariate logistic model. Sadness, loss of pleasure, crying, worthlessness and loss of interest in sex are more likely to be observed in females, and risk factors to this high depression score among rural residents were shown to be: female gender, tobacco use, pesticide application, poor self-perceived health and presence of chronic disease.

Risk factors for depression in adults: NR3C1 DNA methylation and lifestyle association.

Objective: The aim of this study was to verify determinant factors for depression and analyze the relationship between possible changes in HPA axis and depression, in this case NR3C1 DNA methylation and serum cortisol levels.

Methods: 349 adult volunteers were recruited to evaluate depression, socio-demographic, economic and lifestyle factors, serum cortisol levels and NR3C1 DNA methylation by pyrosequencing. Depression determinant factors were investigated using a Poisson regression model with robust variance (p < 0.

Psychosocial stress and central adiposity: A Brazilian study with a representative sample of the public health system users.

Objective: To assess the association between indicators of psychosocial stress and central adiposity in adult users of the Unified Health System (SUS) from Southeast of Brazil.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 adults (20 to 59 years old) from the city of Alegre, Southeastern Brazil. The simple random sample represented the population using the public health system of the municipality.

JMJD1A, H3K9me1, H3K9me2 and ADM expression as prognostic markers in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: Jumonji Domain-Containing 1A (JMJD1A) protein promotes demethylation of histones, especially at lysin-9 of di-methylated histone H3 (H3K9me2) or mono-methylated (H3K9me1). Increased levels of H3 histone methylation at lysin-9 (H3K9) is related to tumor suppressor gene silencing. JMJD1A gene target Adrenomeduline (ADM) has shown to promote cell growth and tumorigenesis.

Pesticide exposure, tobacco use, poor self-perceived health and presence of chronic disease are determinants of depressive symptoms among coffee growers from Southeast Brazil.

The lifestyle and other factors associated with the appearance of several health conditions that affect quality of life in rural zone is an issue that has been increasingly explored. Brazil is the largest coffee-producing nation in the world and has been a considerable consumer of pesticides since 2008. The aim of the present study was to investigate factors that could be contributing to the appearance of depressive symptoms in rural workers.

Evaluation of RET polymorphisms in a six-generation family with G533C RET mutation: specific RET variants may modulate age at onset and clinical presentation.

Context: We previously described a six-generation family with G533C RET mutation and medullary thyroid carcinoma, in the largest family reported do date. Of particular interest, phenotype variability regarding the age of onset and clinical presentation of the disease, was observed.

Objective: We evaluate whether single SNPs within RET oncogene or haplotype comprising the RET variants (defined by Haploview) could predispose to early development of MTC in this family and influence the clinical manifestation.

A novel germ-line point mutation in RET exon 8 (Gly(533)Cys) in a large kindred with familial medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Familial medullary thyroid carcinoma is related to germ-line mutations in the RET oncogene, mainly in cysteine codon 10 or 11, whereas noncysteine mutations in codons 13-15 are rare. We now report a new missense point mutation in exon 8 of the RET gene (1597G-->T) corresponding to a Gly(533)Cys substitution in the cysteine-rich domain of RET protein in 76 patients from a 6-generation Brazilian family with 229 subjects, with ascendants from Spain. It is likely that the mutation causes familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC), because no other mutation was found in RET, the mutation cosegregates with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or C cell hyperplasia (CCH) in patients subjected to surgery, and family members without the mutation are clinically unaffected.