The protective effect of Canova homeopathic medicine in cyclophosphamide-treated non-human primates.

Background: Canova activates macrophages and indirectly induces lymphocyte proliferation. Here we evaluated the effects of Canova in cyclophosphamide-treated non-human primates.

Methods: Twelve Cebus apella were evaluated.

Prognostic value of the TP53 Arg72Pro single-nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility to medulloblastoma in a cohort of Brazilian patients.

Medulloblastoma is a highly cellular malignant embryonal neoplasm, being the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, accounting for 20-25 % of pediatric central nervous system tumors. To investigate the effect of the TP53 Arg72Pro single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on clinicopathological and phenotypic parameters, we performed a case-controlled study of 122 patients and 122 healthy controls from Brazil. No significant associations were found between the TP53 Arg72Pro genotypes and the clinicopathological parameters studied.

Differential proteomic analysis of noncardia gastric cancer from individuals of northern Brazil.

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The identification of new cancer biomarkers is necessary to reduce the mortality rates through the development of new screening assays and early diagnosis, as well as new target therapies. In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis of noncardia gastric neoplasias of individuals from Northern Brazil.

hTERT, MYC and TP53 deregulation in gastric preneoplastic lesions.

Background: Gastric cancer is a serious public health problem in Northern Brazil and in the world due to its high incidence and mortality. Despite the severity of the disease, more research is needed to better understand the molecular events involved in this intestinal-type gastric carcinogenesis process. Since precancerous lesions precede intestinal-type gastric cancer, here, we evaluated the hTERT, MYC, and TP53 mRNA and protein expression, as well as TP33 copy number, in gastric preneoplastic lesions.

hTERT and TP53 deregulation in intestinal-type gastric carcinogenesis in non-human primates.

Despite the high incidence, the molecular events involved in intestinal-type gastric carcinogenesis remains unclear. We previously established an intestinal-type gastric carcinogenesis model in Cebus apella, a New World monkey. In the present study, we evaluated hTERT and TP53 mRNA expression, as well as their protein immunoreactivity, in normal mucosa, non-atrophic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and intestinal-type gastric cancer samples of non-human primates treated with N-methyl-nitrosourea.

Epigenetic mechanisms in gastric cancer.

Cancer is considered one of the major health issues worldwide, and gastric cancer accounted for 8% of total cases and 10% of total deaths in 2008. Gastric cancer is considered an age-related disease, and the total number of newly diagnosed cases has been increasing as a result of the higher life expectancy. Therefore, the basic mechanisms underlying gastric tumorigenesis is worth investigation.

Prevalence and clinical features of respiratory syncytial virus in children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in northern Brazil.

Background: Childhood pneumonia and bronchiolitis is a leading cause of illness and death in young children worldwide with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) as the main viral cause. RSV has been associated with annual respiratory disease outbreaks and bacterial co-infection has also been reported. This study is the first RSV epidemiological study in young children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Belém city, Pará (Northern Brazil).

Clinical implication of 14-3-3 epsilon expression in gastric cancer.

Aim: To evaluate for the first time the protein and mRNA expression of 14-3-3ε in gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: 14-3-3ε protein expression was determined by western blotting, and mRNA expression was examined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in gastric tumors and their matched non-neoplastic gastric tissue samples.

Results: Authors observed a significant reduction of 14-3-3ε protein expression in gastric cancer (GC) samples compared to their matched non-neoplastic tissue.

Lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by activated Cebus apella macrophages treated with a complex homeopathic immune response modifiers.

Introduction: Canova is a complex homeopathic medicine that enhances a specific immunologic responses against several exogenous and endogenous conditions. Canova activates macrophages both in vivo and in vitro.

Aim And Method: We evaluated the effects of macrophages activated by Canova in vivo and ex vitro in the proliferation of lymphocytes.

Studies of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in red blood cells of Colossoma macropomum exposed to methylmercury.

The frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and morphological nuclear abnormalities (NA) in erythrocytes in the peripheral blood of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), treated with 2 mg.L(-1) methylmercury (MeHg), were analyzed. Two groups (nine specimens in each) were exposed to MeHg for different periods (group A - 24 h; group B - 120 h).

Comet assay and micronucleus test in circulating erythrocytes of Aequidens tetramerus exposed to methylmercury.

Background: Comet assay and micronucleus test have been used increasingly to evaluate the genotoxicity of many metals and their organic compounds in aquatic ecosystems. The use of endemic aquatic organisms as biological sentinels has proved useful in environmental monitoring. In this study, the genetic damage caused by methylmercury (MeHg) in Aequidens tetramerus (commonly called acará-sela) was assessed using the comet assay and by testing for micronucleus and other nuclear abnormalities.

In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of artemether, an antimalarial drug, in a gastric cancer cell line (PG100).

Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide, obtained from Artemisia annua, and extensively used as an antimalarial drug. Many studies have reported the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of artemisinins; however, there are no studies that compare such effects between cancer cell lines and normal human cells after treatment with artemether, an artemisinin derivative. Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent type of cancer and the second highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide.

Assessment of genotoxic effects of (4-methoxyphenyl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone in human lymphocytes.

(4-Methoxyphenyl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone (PHT) belongs to the phenstatin family. This compound has been studied due to its potent cytotoxicity and ability to inhibit tubulin assembly. The present study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic potential of PHT in human lymphocytes.

Experimental gastric carcinogenesis in Cebus apella nonhuman primates.

The evolution of gastric carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. We established two gastric carcinogenesis models in New-World nonhuman primates. In the first model, ACP03 gastric cancer cell line was inoculated in 18 animals.

In vitro evaluation of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of artesunate, an antimalarial drug, in human lymphocytes.

Artesunate is one of the main antimalarial drugs used in several countries. It is a semisynthetic compound derived from artemisinin, a substance extracted from the Chinese plant, Artemisia annua L. Despite the widespread use of artesunate as an antimalarial drug, there is a lack of data regarding its genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes.

APOA4 polymorphism as a risk factor for unfavorable lipid serum profile and depression: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster is closely involved in lipid metabolism, and its polymorphisms have been associated with coronary heart disease and lipid plasma levels. Here, we aimed to investigate associations of APOC3 (3238C>G, -482C>T, 1100C>T) and APOA4 (Gln360His, Thr347Ser) polymorphisms in 382 individuals from a cohort of a Longitudinal Brazilian Elderly Study with major age-related morbidities and with lipid and protein serum levels.

Materials And Methods: The whole sample was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

MYC, TP53, and chromosome 17 copy-number alterations in multiple gastric cancer cell lines and in their parental primary tumors.

We evaluated whether MYC, TP53, and chromosome 17 copy-number alterations occur in ACP02, ACP03, and AGP01 gastric cancer cell lines and in their tumor counterpart. Fluorescence in situ hybridization for MYC and TP53 genes and for chromosome 17 was applied in the 6th, 12th, 60th, and 85th passages of the cell lines and in their parental primary tumors. We observed that three and four MYC signals were the most common alterations in gastric cell lines and tumors.

SMARCA5 methylation and expression in gastric cancer.

Here, we first evaluated SMARCA5 expression and promoter DNA methylation in gastric carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR were analyzed in 19 and 48 normal mucosa and in 52 and 92 gastric cancer samples, respectively. We observed higher immunoreactivity of SMARCA5 in gastric cancer samples than in normal mucosa.

Genotoxic effects of aluminum, iron and manganese in human cells and experimental systems: a review of the literature.

There is considerable evidence indicating an increase in neurodegenerative disorders in industrialized countries. The clinical symptoms and the possible mutagenic effects produced by acute poisoning and by chronic exposure to metals are of major interest. This study is a review of the data found concerning the genotoxic potential of three metals: aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), with emphasis on their action on human cells.

Survivin -31C/G polymorphism and gastric cancer risk in a Brazilian population.

Gastric cancer, despite its decline in incidence, remains a public health problem worldwide, especially in Brazil, where higher incidence indexes are still described. The Survivin gene codifies a multifunctional protein involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and inhibition of the apoptotic pathway, and a polymorphism (-31C/G) located in its promoter region is associated with gene regulation. In order to evaluate the correlation of this polymorphism with gastric cancer risk in a northern Brazil population, we sequenced a fragment containing the polymorphism in individuals with gastric cancer and controls.

Inhibitory effect of pisosterol on human glioblastoma cell lines with C-MYC amplification.

Despite the remarkable progress in the characterization of the molecular pathogenesis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), these tumors remain incurable and, in most cases, refractory to aggressive cytotoxic treatments. We conducted a morphological and cytogenetic study in two GBM cell lines (U343 and AHOL1), before and after treatment with pisosterol (at 0.5, 1.

Ultra-deep sequencing reveals the microRNA expression pattern of the human stomach.

Background: While microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in tissue differentiation and in maintaining basal physiology, little is known about the miRNA expression levels in stomach tissue. Alterations in the miRNA profile can lead to cell deregulation, which can induce neoplasia.

Methodology/principal Findings: A small RNA library of stomach tissue was sequenced using high-throughput SOLiD sequencing technology.

Absence of CIP1/KIP1 hypermethylation in gastric cancer patients from Northern Brazil.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate the protein expression and methylation pattern of P21(CIP1) and P27(KIP1) genes.

Patients And Methods: Twenty samples of gastric tumor and non-tumoral tissues of patients from Pará state, Brazil were collected. Methylation patterns were assessed by bisulfite sequencing, and protein expression evaluated with immunohistochemical analysis.

Cytogenetic characterization and evaluation of c-MYC gene amplification in PG100, a new Brazilian gastric cancer cell line.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent type of cancer and the second cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The genetic alterations described so far for gastric carcinomas include amplifications and mutations of the c-ERBB2, KRAS, MET, TP53, and c-MYC genes. Chromosomal instability described for gastric cancer includes gains and losses of whole chromosomes or parts of them and these events might lead to oncogene overexpression, showing the need for a better understanding of the cytogenetic aspects of this neoplasia.