Redox-responsive polyurethane-polyurea nanoparticles targeting to aortic endothelium and atherosclerosis.

Aortic endothelial cell dysfunction is an early trigger of atherosclerosis, the major cause of the cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nanomedicines targeting vascular endothelium and lesions hold great promise as therapeutic solutions to vascular disorders. This study investigates the vascular delivery efficacy of polyurethane-polyurea nanocapsules (Puua-NCs) with pH-synchronized shell cationization and redox-triggered release.

Benefits of Well-Being Training in Healthy Older Adults.

Introduction: Several studies have shown that psychological well-being (PWB) can be promoted through positive psychological interventions (PPIs). Although these interventions have shown promising results in clinical settings, only a few studies have investigated their effectiveness in older adults, and they have rarely considered an active control group. In addition, generalisation effects of the PWB training to quality of life (QoL) and to untrained cognitive abilities have never been considered.

[Antologus and heterotopic splenic regeneration in rats].

Purpose: verify the cytological and histological aspects of the regeneration of fragments of autologous and heterotopic spleen implanted in peritoneal cavity and subcutaneous screen in Wistar albino rats.

Methods: forty four Wistar rats were assigned to one of two groups A (n=22) and B (n=22), which received their implants in subcutaneous screen and peritoneal cavity, respectively, under anesthesia. Those groups were redistributed in two other subgroups A1 (n=11) and B1 (n=11), which received one and four splenic fragments in the areas of study.

Cancer incidence in eighteen cities of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: As in Brazil cancer registries are mostly based on large cities, there are no estimates per state or per region and information on the disease incidence in the vast in-land areas is very scarce. An incidence survey was conducted in 18 major cities of the state of São Paulo, excluding the capital, aiming to collect information about cancer incidence in the state of São Paulo.

Methods: Of the 18 cities in state of São Paulo included in the survey, all had available resources for cancer management.

[Hystological types and mortality for gastric cancer in São Paulo, Brazil].

The objective of this study was to analyze, according to Lauren's classification, the prevalence of a hystological type - intestinal or diffuse -, among gastric carcinomas. The authors reviewed 650 hystological sections from a Hospital in the City of São Paulo during a 30-year period, following the definitions of the above classification. After the 50's the intestinal type proved to be prevalent, reaching 62.

Esophageal schistosomiasis in a patient with megaesophagus.

The authors report a case of schistosomiasis of uncommon location. A patient submitted to esophagectomy for Chagas' megaesophagus was found to have eggs of Schistosoma mansoni upon pathologic examination of the surgical specimen. The authors discuss the anatomopathological aspects of schistosomiasis, as well as its occurrence in other rare sites.

Increased incidence of cystic fibrosis gene mutations in adults with disseminated bronchiectasis.

In order to identify a possible hereditary predisposition to the development of obstructive pulmonary disease of unknown origin, we have looked for the presence of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) gene mutations in unrelated patients with no signs of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We screened for 70 common mutations, and also for rare mutations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. In this search, different CFTR gene mutations (R75Q, delta F508, R1066C, M1137V and 3667ins4) were found in five out of 16 adult Italian patients with disseminated bronchiectasis, a significant increase over the expected frequency of carriers.

Homozygosity for a novel splice site mutation (2790-2 A--->G) preceding exon 15 of the CFTR gene in a cystic fibrosis patient of North-East Italian descent.

We have been screening a cohort of 225 chromosomes from cystic fibrosis patients for mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene using a combination of DGGE,RNA-SSCP and DNA sequencing. A novel splice site mutation was detected by multiplex DGGE in a homozygous patient. Restriction-site generating PCR (RG-PCR) analysis demonstrated that both parents carried the same mutation.

Analysis of the complete coding region of the CFTR gene in a cohort of CF patients from north-eastern Italy: identification of 90% of the mutations.

A complete coding-region analysis on 225 cystic fibrosis (CF) chromosomes from a cohort that includes all the affected subjects born in two North-Eastern Italian regions over eight years was performed. In a previous study, we identified mutations on 166/225 (73.8%) CF chromosomes after screening for 62 mutations.

Complete detection of mutations in cystic fibrosis patients of Native American origin.

An increased incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) has been reported in some populations of Native Americans of the Southwest such as the Pueblo, which is a genetic isolate. As the most common mutation found in Caucasians (delta F508) was absent and only one chromosome carried the G542X mutation, we decided to analyze the entire coding sequence of the CFTR gene in eight Pueblo CF patients. We have identified four different mutations: G542X, R1162X, 3849+10kbC-->T, and D648V that account for these 16 haplotypes.

Screening of 62 mutations in a cohort of cystic fibrosis patients from north eastern Italy: their incidence and clinical features of defined genotypes.

The frequency of 62 different CFTR mutations in 225 chromosomes from a CF birth cohort, which includes all the affected subjects born in northeast Italy during a 10-year period of time, was investigated. New mutations were also searched by the analysis of 15 different exons. The total proportion of CF chromosomes with detectable mutations is 73.

Nonspecific necrotizing petrositis: an unusual complication of otitis in children.

Three cases of an unusual form of suppurative chronic otitis media in children 2 and 3 years old are presented. The clinical feature common to all cases was otorrhea, beginning at the first months of life, with a silent evolution to a complete peripheral facial paralysis. In one case the facial paralysis was bilateral.

Atypia in adenomas in three populations with different risk for large bowel cancer: Cali, São Paolo, and New Orleans.

A double-blind study of atypia in colorectal adenomatous polyps was done with autopsy material from Cali, Colombia (low colon risk), São Paulo, Brazil (intermediate risk), and New Orleans, Louisiana (high risk). An interobserver reproducibility of 82% was obtained. The prevalence of atypia in polyps increased with the cancer risk and also with the size of polyps, but some exceptions to the rule were found.

Cancer and "cancer related" colorectal lesions in São Paulo, Brazil.

A series of 832 necropsy specimens were studied grossly with a magnifying lens and all lesions identified were studied microscopically. The age and sex-specific prevalence of adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps is reported and results are compared with those of other populations. A correlation was made between polyps and cancer of the colon and rectum (407 cases).